10 Sustainable Living Ideas That Actually Save You Money

I think it’s often assumed that the idea of sustainable living goes hand-in-hand with spending a ton of extra money. But I have good news for you: there are actually a lot of ways to save money by being sustainable! I’m here to let you in on 10 ideas for how to do so. Keep reading to learn how you can do it!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, so if you purchase through these links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Try no-spend November

No-spend November is precisely what you might expect: an entire month without spending. Some people go all-out and don’t even buy groceries during this month, others simply eliminate purchases that they’ve deemed frivolous or unnecessary. Either way, this is an excellent way to save money, cut down on consumption, and reduce waste.

Ps. You can do a no-spend month any month of the year, even though November has traditionally been the month when a large community does it together! 

Buy second hand

Where my thrifters at?! Buying second-hand goods can be a lot of fun, and you actually don’t even need to go to a thrift store if you don’t want to! Consignment stores, Facebook Marketplace, and online thrift stores are just some of the additional places you can buy second-hand. This option is great for saving money and participating in slow fashion, saving money on great furniture, decorating your home on a budget, sourcing for events and more. Plus, it can be exhilarating to find that funky, perfect-for-you item that you might otherwise never find and you get to help protect the earth by saving something from the landfill. Nice!

Walk, bike or take transit

You can cut back on your contribution to air pollution by walking and biking whenever possible, or by taking public transit such as buses, shuttles and trains. Since transit generally operates on a regular basis regardless of how many people use it, your transit use will add virtually no additional environmental impact.

Pursuing these options will save gas money at worst, or allow you to go completely car-free at best, saving on gas money, insurance, maintenance, and the cost for a car itself. Pretty dang cool. I (April) been mostly car-free for the last several months in Vancouver… so I can personally attest to how doable this is, especially living in a city that is well designed for public transit (full disclosure, though, I do use the Evo car share program when I need to go out of town).

Air-dry laundry

This sustainable living idea is probably most cost-saving (and time-saving!) for those who use coin laundry, but others can also benefit from the savings on electricity. You may need to invest in a small indoor drying rack, but that’ll typically pay for itself within 10-15 loads and after that you save $2-$3 per load by avoiding putting your clothes in the dryer. Plus, air drying usually helps clothes maintain their integrity longer, which means a slower item turnover in your closet which means fewer clothing purchases. 

Use reusable items

You can cut back on a lot of waste by replacing disposable items with reusable ones. Think about the plastic material many of us use daily: water bottles, plastic wrap, ziplock bags, straws, etc. It’s super easy to switch all of those over to alternatives, such as beeswax wraps or metal straws. Consider also replacing paper products such as paper towels and using a microfiber cloth instead, and replacing items such as cotton balls/pads with reusable organic cotton or bamboo rounds. Though the initial cost of reusable items may be higher than disposables, the small investment will quickly pay for itself.

Pack your own lunch

Eating out can eat up a massive hole in anyone’s budget (pun intended...). Packing your own food not only saves money, but can also save on the waste created by disposable items that a restaurant might provide... Plus you save time and possibly even gas by not having to leave your workplace to pick up lunch. Bring your own food to work in a reusable container, and if your workplace doesn’t provide kitchen essentials, consider bringing your own reusable plate, bowl, silverware, and anything else you may need. 

Install a water-conserving showerhead 

Save on water and money by installing a water-conserving showerhead. A similar sustainable living idea is the option to take shorter showers. Either option can significantly cut back on water consumption and add a few extra dollars to your pocket by saving money on your water bill.

Shop farmers markets for local produce or start a garden 

Buying local reduces the fossil fuels used to transport goods across long distances, and farmers’ markets are a great place to buy directly from local vendors while maintaining a lot of options. Also, local produce is often organic which means there are no pesky pesticides polluting the ground, air, and your own body. Though it’s not always cheaper to buy local, you should be able to find a few vendors that can help you achieve your goals of sustainability and savings. If all else fails, look for some sales! 

You could also consider growing your own garden. Tending even just a few plants can have a positive impact on your spending and on the environment, and may just be the fun new hobby you’ve been searching for during the pandemic.

Buy high-quality products 

High quality isn’t always synonymous with more expensive. But even when it is, purchasing items that are built to last will often save you money and reduce waste in the long run since the slower item turnover will naturally lead to a reduction in your spending and consumption over time.

Repurpose items

Repurposing can be incredibly fun and serve as a wonderful creative outlet! Those random wooden palettes you found at grandma’s house last week? Turn them into some wall decor, a shelf, or coasters. Wash cloths looking a little ragedy? Use them to stuff a new pillow for your dog (if you have one) or use them to clean up any glitter or paint spills from your kids or yourself. Truly, the possibilities are endless once you decide to view items as what they could be, rather than what they were. Some projects may take some time and a initial financial investment in small items like nails, but there’s also so much that can be done with old items for a very low price, if not for free.  Also, don’t feel like you always need to turn things into something bigger and better. The goal here is to extend the life of items and find new ways to use them. For example, maybe once those rags have been used for cleaning up paint one too many times, they can be used to catch and sop up any drips when you change the oil in your car.

How many of these sustainable living ideas have you already implemented? Which are you excited to try? Let me know in the comments! 

About the contributor

Amanda is a wife to one enchanting husband and mama of the most perfect baby boy. A lover of the outdoors, she lives tiny in the middle of a national forest in Colorado.