Let’s be honest; living within environmental principles gets a bit of flack for being complicated, or worse, expensive. Truth is, zero waste living saves you money. Unlike disposables, which we all know cost a fortune, there are drastic changes you can make that are not only beneficial to the planet, but also gentler on your wallet.
If you’re ready to start a green lifestyle while maintaining convenience and comfort, checkout these powerful zero-waste hacks. They are surprisingly enjoyable to try, along with being practical and budget-friendly.
Replace paper towels with cloth
One of the quickest swaps that everyone can make is ditching paper towels. In all honesty, they are incredibly useful. However, the value they come at is financially harsh and damaging to the ecosystem. Cloth rags made from old T-shirts or purchase washable towels are the perfect alternatives. Not only will you drastically contribute to environmental issues, but also saver hundreds of dollars on disposables.
Another step towards achieving long-term zero-waste goals means getting rid of single-use items. This is a great first step.
Make your own revisable cleaning supplies
Homemade cleaners can easily be made with basic ingredients such as baking soda, essential oils, vinegar, herbs, and so much more. Unlike basic grabbing cleaning products, you wont have to pay a fortune and won’t have to deal with preposterous amounts of toxic chemicals or plastic packaging.
You would be creating a less expensive solution and a greener home at the same time. This hack goes in line with your green lifestyle, while giving you the ability to make your surfaces shine, riding you with two challenges at once.
Stop wasting money on bottled water and invest in a quality water filter.
Buying bottled water? If you are, you’re wasting a lot of money. It only takes getting a moderate quality water filter coupled with a reusable bottle to save hundreds in a year.
And all of that savings aside, this change consistently reduces the amount of plastic waste and becomes a contribution to a zero waste lifestyle.
Buy in bulk and take your own containers.
Items like rice, pasta, nuts, and even spices can be purchased through bulk bins vastly reducing their price and packaging when you ensure you bring your own jars or bags.
This can be the best change for people looking to embrace going green while simultaneously reducing spending on groceries packaged in such plastic.
Single-Use Toiletries Should Be Replacement With Reusables
The bathroom offers great opportunities to save on spending. Try these:
- Use safety razors instead of disposable ones
- Switch to shampoo bars and bar soaps
- Replace cotton rounds with reusable facial pads
- opt for bamboo toothbrushes
These are more durable and cost-effective as they cut down on waste and landfills which helps with the zero-waste life.
Compost and Try to Enjoy Food Leftovers
This enhances the budget. The unused food can be saved by transforming yesterday’s dinner into today’s lunch, being creative with leftover vegetables, and freezing items that might spoil soon.
Do not throw food scraps away. Composting is a method of enhancing waste by turning it into soil instead of trash, and even apartment dwellers can use compost bins or community drop-off points.
Avoid Purchasing And Instead, Borrow
Before making a purchase, ask yourself: “Will I use this more than once?” If not, substitute it with a friend or join a local tool library.
This is an uncommon tip that turns zero-waste effort into a shared community experience, making it more enjoyable, pricier, and more strategic.
Repair Before You Replace
YouTube has a plethora of “how-to” videos that can ease the journey of sewing buttons or fixing zippers. There is no need to be an expert handyman, and at least every person should possess the skill to try and fix what is broken.
Repairing slippers that you love, or your favorite cup, even if it sounds trivial, can help minimize clutter and mitigate waste. This will not only reduce environmental harm, it is also cost-effective in the long run.
Complete Bills and Mail Online
Is all junk mail and bills, including statements from the bank, piling up in paper format? There is no need for that. The world is advancing in the digital realm and going paperless will mitigate the consumption of trees.
And not only that, the opportunity to save on time, ink, envelopes, and even stamps does arise. Make the shift regardless of how small it seems for financial and zero-waste purposes.
Embrace Secondhand Everything
Purchasing used electronics, books, furniture, and clothes can all drastically reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact. Used items save money and do wonders for Mother Nature, making it simple to achieve green goals.
Living an eco-friendly lifestyle tends to promote the use of thrift shops, swap groups, and Facebook Marketplace that save goods from ending up in landfills. Buying secondhand helps cut down energy that would normally be used to produce newer items.
Conclusion
Shifting to a zero-waste style of living doesn’t require you to let go of comfort; rather it requires a change in mindset. You will actually be able to cut down on your spending by hundreds, if not thousands, just by implementing the right zero-waste hacks.
Every step you take, starting from the kitchen to your closet, contributes to a healthier lifestyle for you, your community and the world around you. Most of these zero-waste living hacks are effortless and inexpensive, and best of all—can be done right now.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your journey towards zero-waste living and simultaneously save money while doing your bit for the planet.
