Sustainability Choices that can Save you Money

We all know that making sustainable choices is good for the wellbeing of the earth, but many eco-friendly choices can also be good for your wallet. Here are some environmentally friendly choices that can save you money in the long-term:

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Bottled water can be expensive as well as wasteful. It takes a lot of resources to produce plastic in the first place, and then after it’s created the plastic can fill our landfills and waterways. Not to mention plastic water bottles can take up to 450 years to decompose! Buying and using a reusable water bottle is a simple swap that adds up over time.

Thrift and Secondhand Shop

The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity's carbon emissions. Continuously buying new clothes and cycling through trends and styles can have a really negative impact over time. Buying secondhand clothes reduces emissions, reduces harm done to garment workers in the fast fashion industry, and can save you a lot of money. Thrift stores tend to have significantly lower prices than department stores and online retailers.
 
Bonus: You can find truly unique pieces of clothing while thrifting. If you are looking to improve or refine your personal style, thrifting is a great place to start!

Visit your Local Library

Many readers know there’s nothing quite like holding a real paper book in your hand. However, the production of all that paper isn’t exactly great for the planet. Borrowing books from the library can be a huge cost savings (the average paperback novel falls into the $13.95 to $17.95 price range) and it also saves paper. If you have an eReader, you can also borrow electronic books from the library instead of paying for them.

Line and Air Dry your Laundry

We have all had that dreaded moment where we pull a shrunken piece of clothing out of the dryer. Using a clothing rack or clothes line to air dry your clothes can help save them from shrinking and other dryer related damage. It also saves a lot of energy, which saves you money on your energy bill. Plus since it improves the longevity of your clothes, you won’t have to replace them as often!

Beeswax Wrap and Reusable Bags

Packaging leftovers in things like plastic wrap, ziplock bags, single use plastic containers can add up to a lot of plastic used and a lot of money spent. Beeswax wrap is a great alternative for plastic wrap. It’s washable and reusable (not to mention it can be adorable)! Reusable plastic bags are also an easy swap for ziplock bags. And the best part is once you have these alternatives, you can permanently take ziplock bags and plastic wrap off of your grocery list.
 
Bonus: Beeswax wrap can even be made right at home!

Buy Thoughtfully and Intentionally

Our society makes it easy to buy things without much thought which can lead to overconsumption and waste. Next time you go to make a purchase, take a step back and really evaluate it. Are you supporting a company whose values align with yours? Is it something that you really need? Is it something that will last? What is the impact of this purchase? Buying thoughtfully can be a very powerful tool in sustainability, and will help you purchase less and save money.
 

If you’re interested in making your banking sustainable, consider making the switch to paperless banking.