5 ways to live sustainably on a budget without spending a penny

Living with a lighter footprint on the planet is often considered expensive. Sure, it can be expensive to live sustainably, just as almost any lifestyle can be, but there is an affordable side to green living that can actually save you money instead of costing it.

Being on a budget should never be an obstacle in the way of you living a life that aligns with your ethics. Don’t let anyone convince you that you must fill your home with new, fancy things that will supposedly help make your life greener.

Although it may not be the most glamorous or ‘Instagram-worthy’, green living can be cheap and simple.

Whenever I speak on the subject of sustainable living, I always feel obliged to mention privilege. There is no denying that making a lifestyle change or even a habit change is something that should be viewed as a privilege.

Zero-waste may not be an achievable reality for all of us, but living greener certainly can be.

There are plenty of budget-friendly changes to make in everyday life, for example, buying second-hand instead of brand new and carpooling with friends instead of driving alone. Doing whatever you can is more than enough.

The following five tips for living a greener lifestyle do not even require you to spend a penny – and you might even save a penny (or more)…

1. Cut down on shopping sprees

The world is getting richer, which means more people now have disposable incomes. As a result, shopping sprees are no longer a luxury for many – they are commonplace. But there is, unfortunately, a darker side to this wealth.

Humanity’s obsession with buying shiny new things is another main driver behind the climate crisis. Transport emissions, manufacturing emissions, packaging waste, water pollution, the list goes on.

So whether it’s clothing or technology, we should aim to reduce buying new stuff whenever we can.

Besides, less is more. The fewer belongings we have, the more grateful we can be for what we have. It may feel as if retail therapy works, but the effects are not made to last.

Online and in-person shopping both have their fair share of downsides; there isn’t one that’s necessarily better than the other.

If I had to pick one, online shopping is likely the worst, simply because of how convenient it is. Some online purchases are as little as one click away and can arrive on our doorstep the very same day.

When you feel the urge to splurge, take time to research the environmental effects of the product and to find the best, most eco-friendly option available. Give yourself a “thinking period” of a day or two before you complete your purchase. You may find you don’t need it as much as you thought!

Alongside buying less, we can also be conscious of how specific purchases impact the planet and whether there is a more eco-friendly alternative out there.

Don’t buy new! Live sustainably by becoming a second-hand shopping expert

2. Think twice before you throw things away

Waste has become a part of our everyday routines. Throwing away is natural, easy, and many of us don’t think twice about where things end up.

Once it’s in our dustbin, it’s no longer our problem, but from food waste to clothing waste, everything we throw away has a price.

Food production is one of the main drivers behind climate change – it’s responsible for more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. When you are throwing away food, you are also wasting the resources it took to get that food to the supermarket.

Although food waste eventually rots in landfill, it releases deadly methane gas beforehand, warming the planet further.

Our throwaway culture is anything but sustainable. However, we can put an end to it by thinking twice before throwing things away.

For example, consider someone who can give an unwanted item a new home, or perhaps donate it. You might be surprised at the kinds of belongings that charities are looking for – blankets, bags, furniture.

Even if an item is cheap to replace, try to mend your clothing and other damaged items if you can.

Before throwing away food scraps, consider starting a compost heap for them or regrowing food scraps in your garden or windowsill!

Make use food scraps you’d usually throw away with these innovative food waste reduction tips

3. Economise your laundry routine

Laundry is, unfortunately, a necessary household chore. However, we can take small and simple steps to minimise its impact on the environment.

Washing machines guzzle up gallons of water for each load, and excessive energy is used to heat the water for hot washes.

Choose to live sustainably by washing less often and at lower temperatures, and you can keep your clothing in better condition while saving on your water and energy bills.

Washing less frequently and only when you have a substantial load of laundry can also help reduce shedding microplastics.

With each wash, thousands of microplastics make their way into waterways¹, where they pose a threat to marine life. Washing on a full load reduces the amount of friction between fabrics, therefore releasing fewer microplastics.

Tumble drying has a reputation for wearing down our clothing over time, but did you know that it’s also one of the most energy-intensive appliances in our homes?

If you truly cannot part with your dryer, you could compromise by only using it for certain fabrics, like towels. Tumble drying is often unnecessary for clothing anyway. So pop up a clothes horse and dry the old fashioned way!

Did you know that some energy providers are more ethical than others? Find out if your energy provider is vegan

4. Postpone upgrading your phone

Research suggests that our smartphones negatively impact the planet more than any other device.

They’re made up of a mixture of raw elements like copper and cobalt, which are extracted from the earth in energy-intensive ways.

The production of smartphones is where the emissions are highest, which is why it’s important to keep our phones for as long as we can.

Try to see if you can go a little longer than usual without upgrading your device, as the most sustainable phone is the one that you already own.

Plus, when you live sustainably with your phone, you may get to spend some time on a sim-only deal which can be far more affordable than pricey device plans.

Make your phone part of your pledge to live greener with these sustainable smartphone apps

5. BYOB – Bring your own bag

You don’t have to venture far from your front door to catch sight of a plastic bag blowing across the pavement or stuck in a bush or tree.

A large portion of litter worldwide is made up of carrier bags and other plastic waste, and they’re far more than just an eyesore. Plastic bags are made from fossil fuels and when discarded, they can become a choking hazard to wildlife or can release toxins into the soil.

One thing that many British households have in common is the mishmash of bags tucked away in a cupboard or hanging on a door handle.

Don’t just hide them in shame. Keep a stash in your car, fold some up into your coat pockets, and tuck a few into your handbags, backpacks, and laptop cases.

Regardless of what material your bags are or whether they’re fashionable or not, take them with you wherever you go so that you never have to buy more.

Want to lead a greener lifestyle? Learn how to make a zero-waste bathroom

Featured photo © Amax Photo via Getty Images

References

1. De Falco, F., Di Pace, E., Cocca, M. et al. 2019, The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution. Sci Rep 9. Accessed via: nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43023-x