10 Sustainable Living Ideas That Will Save You Money

Saving money and doing your part to protect the environment are great concepts. If you aren’t sure how to do this, these 10 ideas will help you make positive changes. You can implement several of them into your routine. It is a great way to feel good about your choices. It also sets a great example for others to follow.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies

Marketing gives the impression you have to pay for cleaning supplies with various chemicals to get your home clean or to kill germs. However, many of them contain ingredients that are too harsh. They are especially risky to children and pets. There is the risk that children or pets will get into them when you aren’t looking too.

Choose eco-friendly cleaning supplies, they get your home clean and kill germs. Yet they are free of chemicals. Many items you already have in your home can be used to clean. For example, baking soda and vinegar. Various forms of herbs can be used to clean with and lemon juice does wonders. You will be impressed with how great they work and the money you save.

Go Paperless

Junk mail and bills you don’t need in a physical form continue to waste trees. When you go paperless, you can cut out the clutter. Sign up to get email alerts for bills and online access to your accounts. Make digital copies of information rather than printing it out.

Most consumers make impulsive buys based on junk mail they receive or magazines that show up in the mail too. When you no longer see those items, it is easy to cut back on the unnecessary spending. You may not realise how much you spend annually on such marketing tactics but it all adds up.

Invest In Durable Products

Avoid cutting corners when it comes to durability. If you pay less, but have to replace those items sooner, you didn’t really save anything. In the long run, you actually pay more. This also means more items going to the landfills. Research products and their durability before you buy them. While you will pay more initially, it will be worth it. You will get more value out of that investment.

Programmable Lights

Leaving lights on so you don’t come home to a dark house is common. The last thing you want is to fall. However, you waste plenty of electricity when you leave them on for hours at a time. Consider programmable lights that will come on at a set time. You can choose motion lights that only turn on when there is motion. They can be a good solution when you pull up to the house as they will provide enough light for you to get indoors.

Solar power lights are a good choice for outdoors too. They will recharge during the day and offer a light illumination after dark. They are perfect to line a walkway or driveway to give you light where you need it the most. Solar powered night lights are a great idea for your bathrooms or a child’s room.

Programmable Thermostat

Reduce your heating and cooling bills by at least 10% by installing a programmable thermostat. You can select the desired temperature for the home. It will only turn on for the heat or air conditioning to reach that desired temperature. You can program it to be different while you are away from home. Then you can set it to heat up or cool down the home prior to your arrival. This is a better choice than allowing it to run all day.

Reduce Meat Consumption

The cost of meat is very high, and the amount of water it takes to raise animals is very high. Explore menu options where you cut out the meat one or two nights per week. Your family won’t miss it, they will love the new recipes and ideas in the rotation. It will reduce the amount of gas emissions in the environment and slash your grocery bill. Often, meatless entrees are also healthier for us.

Reduce Paper Product Use

The volume of paper products the average family uses is very high. They are costly and they end up in landfills. Change to reusable towels when you can. They can replace the use of paper towels. Old shirts and towels can be used to dust and clean with so you aren’t using paper products.

Look for toilet paper made from recycled products. You can also consider switching to a bidet. Then you won’t need toilet paper at all. Many of them have a built-in dryer for your convenience. They also use far less water than a typical toilet.

Unplug Electric Items Not In Use

Too many of us are in the habit of leaving electronics plugged in, even when we aren’t using them. There is still power going through them, you are still paying electricity for them. Get into the habit of unplugging them when they aren’t being used. It will take some time to remember but once you make it a habit, you will reap the savings from that point forward.

Upcycle And Donate

Before you toss out items that will end up in the landfill, can you upcycle them? Can you donate them for someone else to use? The goal of upcycling is to take something that would otherwise go to a landfill and continue to use it. A great example is using old tires to create a sandbox or a flower pot in your yard.
Doing this will reduce the amount of money you spend on materials. If you do have to buy any materials, try to buy those that are recycled. They tend to have plenty of life in them, but they are sold for significantly less than new materials.

You may no longer have a use for certain items, but there are families doing without. They would love to have those items. Donate them to local organisations so they can receive them. Many people shop second-hand shops so those are good choices to take your donation items.

Water Usage

While it is important to drink plenty of water each day, buying it in plastic bottles is a waste of money. Studies show many of these products aren’t any healthier for you than regular tap water. If your water at home isn’t the quality you seek, consider investing in a filtering system. You place it on your sink and you can then drink the tap water that you love. Put it into reusable jugs you can take with you just about anywhere.

Cut down on water usage in your home by only doing laundry and dishes when you have a full load. Avoid operating the dishwasher unless you have to. That is a huge water waster! If you must use it, wait until it is completely full before you run it through a cycle. Collect rain water to use for plants. Keep your grass cut short so you can water and use less to keep your yard looking amazing.