Money and Sustainability – Save money while saving the planet!

As we celebrate Earth Day, we wanted to reflect on consumerism and why it has taken over our lives, our finances, and the earth. We need to be aware of the ways we can make individual change. Doing this can help us save money while saving the planet!

Did you know the U.S. has not always been a consumer society? Before World War II resourcefulness and thrift were valued. But things changed to help our economy. President Eisenhower declared that the US’s ultimate purpose was to produce more consumer goods. This came after economist Victor Lebow claimed that we should; “make consumption our way of life, convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption… we need things consumed, burned up, replaced, and discarded at an ever- accelerating rate”. Sounds crazy right?! Well, unfortunately that is today’s reality!

Personally, the more I thought about the ways I could make my lifestyle eco-friendly; the more I realized that my ideas were not unique. Many of these things were done my grandparents and mom who grew up in Mexico a less consumer society. This made me realize that it would not take much effort to live a more sustainable lifestyle and help reverse some of the damage consumerism has done to the planet and our wealth.

The following tips can not only help reduce waste but can keep extra money in your pocket!

Shop Second-Hand

If you grew up with older siblings, you probably grew up wearing hand me downs. You may not have appreciated it back then but doing that reduced unnecessary waste not to mention saved your parents money! As adults we should continue by buying second hand which is a great option to reduce direct consumerism and make use of something someone else does not need anymore.

There are lots of different ways to do this such as apps to buy used clothes Poshmark, Threadup and apps to buy used item such as OfferUp, Facebook Market, Craigslist. You can also sell clothes on these apps, make extra money (use code “Maricruz16” to save $10). And make sure your good clothes do not go to waste! You can also buy from your local thrift store or flea market. Let’s reduce the stigma that comes up when purchasing second-hand and realize that you can save money while saving the planet!

Use rags instead of paper towels

This simple change can reduce the number of trees cut down for paper towels; the amount of waste you produce and send to landfills and save a few dollars each week. On average a family of 4 uses 8 rolls of paper towels a month, but many use more than that. We all know a few people who use multiple sheets for everything from drying hands, to wiping a small spill! Assuming 4 rolls cost $13 that is about $312 of annual expensive for the average family. Rags can cost you little to nothing and a few reusable paper towels can cost you anywhere from $20-$50 and last you five years or more. You can also use old T-shirts as rags and extend their life a little longer before throwing them away!

Ditch one time use cutlery and napkins

Plastic plates, cups and forks provide us with an instance of convenience, but they stay on our planet for hundreds of years! So whenever possible eat with a reusable cutlery instead of plastic versions. Whenever you “throw away” a disposable item keep in mind that it does not go away; it stays on our planet for hundreds of years! You can avoid that by using a reusable version instead. These are also one-time purchases and save you money instead of constantly restocking disposable items.

Similarly, napkins are an expense that add up throughout the years and can be cut down significantly if you opt for reusable napkins. Reusable napkins can be a one-time purchase that lasts years. Although, they require some maintenance it is worth it and should not be too much of a hassle to add to your regular laundry day.

Compost food scraps

Composting food scraps instead of putting them in trash bags and sending them to landfills leads to less production of methane and creates a cycle which is more sustainable and better for our environment. There are many ways to compost and save money too! Personally, I use food scraps in my own backyard, and which help me save on fertilizers and soil purchases. Your city might also collect compost which can help reduce your garbage collection bills.

Line-drying clothes and use dryer balls

Yes, the way our parents or grandparents might have done it! If you have the space, consider line-drying your clothes. Dryers can waste a lot of energy resulting in a higher electricity bill. The California Energy commission says that line drying can save you about $84 a year. In addition to that $84 there is also the benefit of making your clothes last longer. The dryer can cause damage to your clothes making it shrink, change color and deteriorating the fabric. Line drying can avoid this and a few shopping trips to replace that worn out clothes.

If you don’t have the space to line-dry or go to a laundromat, consider using dryer balls which reduce the drying time and will save you a few quarters every time you do laundry adding up to a decent amount of savings!

Solar Panels

If you are a homeowner or have the ability to influence your landlord consider installing solar panels in your home. Although they will be an expense up front they can save you a lot of money in the long term. Savings can be anywhere from $20,000-$30,000 in about 20 years which is a significant amount of money. It is also just a cleaner way to get energy.

Eat less meat

Meat is simply not good for the environment especially if it is eaten for most meals every day. It takes over 20,000 liters of water to produce a pound of meat, not to mention the land that the cow takes up and the amount of methane that is produces. Studies have found that livestock is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined!

Try to consume less meat, this can save you money because meat tends to be expensive. Try to eat more meals with plant protein such as legumes, beans, nuts and vegetables (broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes). For comparison, the average price of one pound of uncooked ground beef in the US is $5.57 while the price of a one-pound bag of dry garbanzo beans is $1.78 and it yields 7 cups of cooked garbanzo beans. I stopped eating meat in 2018 and have not looked back! Although, I know this may be a big lifestyle change just reducing your regular meat consumption can make a difference.

Use a bidet

Bidets are not commonly used in the U.S. but are very popular in many other places around the world. A bidet offers an alternative to toilet paper use. Toilet paper can add up to about $100 per year per person and the cost of a bidet can cost you $30. They are easy to install and can be used for years by everyone who shares a toilet. Stop rubbing start washing 😉

Use a menstrual cup

Menstrual cups are reusable and can last you many years instead of buying tampons or pads every month. They can cost as low as $6. Throwing one single pad away is the equivalent of throwing away 5 plastic bags. A few every month for ~35 years of your life adds up to a lot of plastic waste and money! That can be avoided with a few menstrual cups and save you lots of money.

We hope you can find ways to incorporate a few of these to your everyday choices and save money while saving the planet. Don’t forget that small changes can make a big impact! For more info on consumerism and the impact it has on the environment check out this video!