10 Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Changes That Will Save You Money

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Being eco-friendly and saving money are two things that don’t always go together. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. There are ways for you to do both, and they don’t have to be difficult either! Try these 10 Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Changes That Will Save Money, and encourage others to do the same.

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1. Buy Only What You Need and Use

This can be a difficult one for many of us, myself included.

While this one seems like a no brainer, it is so easy to go overboard when there is a SALE! Or a CLEARANCE!

Think about how excited did those two words make you feel? Now think about how often you buy something just because there’s a drop in the price. Maybe two items from this aisle, and another from that aisle over there.

Take a moment next time you’re out shopping. Look at your basket and count how many things in there you currently use, and how many you WILL use. Now I’m not talking about things you have some intention of using someday. I’m talking about things you are going to use once something you already have runs out.

Like soap for example, or toilet paper, or razors. Cans of food that you commonly use within 6 months or so.

You probably have more than you think.

So next time you need to go shopping, go with a list of only what you need for that week, or two weeks, or a month. How ever long you shop for. Go directly to those aisles, avoiding anything that looks flashy or on sale.

And make sure you avoid getting groceries when you’re hungry. In fact you may need to pack some snacks before you go to get your groceries.

Think of how much less waste you create. How much less consumption and demand on products there is. And how much space and money you are saving yourself.

The focus is all on mindful shopping and spending.

2. Use Reusable Items

This is another no brainer. There are so many items and options available to us these days that we could live almost completely on reusable items. Plus, they can save you a ton of money!

So what might some of these items be?

Paper towels
Wet wipes and diapers (for the parents out there)
Menstrual pads and tampons
Cleaning wipes
Wool dryer balls
Soap dispensers
Spray bottles
Glad jars
Ziplock bags
Etc.

So as you can see, there are tons of reusable items you can use. And not only does this reduce waste and pollution, but this also saves you tons of money. Think about how many paper towels you would use in a day. And think about how many rolls and dollars you’re saving by using reusables.

A crazy amount right?

And think about how many diapers one child will go through in a year. It is estimated that an infant will go through approximately 3000 diapers or more per year, according to brightly.eco.

And what about women during their period? Over a years time a woman will use approximately 260 pads, creating an overall 200,000 metric tons each year for all period products, according to Womena.dk. These can take as long as 800 years to decompose.

Think about how much these items cost you over a year, and think about how much it will cost you to buy one reusable set of these items. The savings will add up within a year, and you will start to see a big difference in your bank account.

3. Walk, Bike, or Carpool

This is another one of those heavily encouraged ways of reducing an individuals impact on the environment. And while its not always an option due to weather conditions, safety concerns, or extensive distances, it definitely has its benefits.

For one, you are saving yourself some gas money, as well as wear and tear on your car. Secondly, you are benefitting from the positive impact this has on your health. All that fresh air, and extra time spent soaking up some vitamin D, and overall exercise.

And if you decide to carpool, you are benefitting from some extra socialization time with friends, colleagues, or family members. Plus, if you enjoy listening to podcasts, or shows, this is a great time to catch up, especially if you’re not carpooling with people you like.

4. Line-Dry Your Clothes

This is one of my favorites.

It is something that my family used to do quite a bit in the summers, and our clothes would always smell so amazing.

Plus, while they are hanging outside, they are getting the wrinkles removed by the suns solar heat. And an added bonus of using sun energy is that the UV light can help to sanitize and kill bacteria on your clothes.

Unfortunately, this option may not be available to all people as they may not have a clothes line, or outdoor space available.

But for those who are interested, don’t have a clothesline but do have a little outdoor space, I may have an idea for you.

Try using this Bamboo Laundry Rack for both indoor and outdoor use.

Using this rack can help you save around $100 a year if you use your own dryer. You will save even more if you have to use laundromats. And, the other benefit to hang drying your clothes is that you will extend the life of the material.

Being eco-friendly definitely has lots of perks!

5. Adjust the Thermostat, and Open the Windows

While this option may not be suitable, or available to everyone, adjusting your thermostat during summers and winters can save you quite a bit.

Even adjusting the temperature in your house by a few degrees, especially on days when the weather is nice, can save you hundreds per year in your electric or gas bill. On days where the weather is nice enough, especially in the spring and fall, try turning your thermostat off, and open the windows.

Not only does turning off the thermostat remove a ton of energy consumption for the day, but the fresh air can be so…refreshing.

This is a great way to help remove some of those toxins, bacteria, and other nasty things we can’t see. After a long winter of illnesses and sealed up houses, opening your windows on a beautiful day can help remove a lot of that, and improve your homes circulation.

So what better way to take care of yourself, your home, and your bank account, than to adjust the thermostat or open the windows?

6. Switch to Longer Lasting LED Light Bulbs

The longevity of an LED lightbulb is all dependent on its level of daily use, and its brightness. But, on average LED bulbs can last anywhere from 6 years, to as long as 20 years. And according to energy.gov this can mean a savings of up to $225/year on average in your energy bill.

And the price of these LED bulbs run about $1.50 a piece as compared to incandescent bulbs which are usually $1 for a single bulb. So while the upfront cost may be a little bit more, LED lightbulbs typically use much less energy and last about 25 times longer.

So, to sum it up, LED light bulbs are the way to go when saving money and extending the life of your lighting supply.

7. Make Your Own Cleaners, DIY

If DIY is not for you, that’s okay, because there are plenty of other options that work great and are still eco-friendly. However, I recommend giving DIY a try because it can be very satisfying, and beneficial in other ways.

When you make your own cleaners, like a multipurpose cleaner, or a soap or detergent, you know exactly which ingredients are going into it. And knowing exactly what’s in the things you use to clean your dishes, clothes, and even your body can bring you peace of mind. Plus, when you make your own, you avoid a lot of that excessive plastic waste from the bottles and containers of the cleaners.

I recommend trying Whole Naturals Castile Soap because it is made all vegan, organic, and cruelty free. Meaning this is about as safe as you can get for you and your home.

And if you are interested in trying some DIY cleaners for yourself, check out how to make 3 Simple DIY Cleaners.

The Castile Soap I recommend using is a very versatile soap, and is used in some of my cleaning recipes, and is also great for personal use. I’ve found it does an excellent job with cleaning my face, it works great as a shaving soap or hand soap, and can even be used on your pets.

Although I haven’t tried it out on my pets yet since I have a cat, and they… clean themselves.

And the other benefit to making DIY cleaners is how much money it can save you. When you buy the ingredients for your cleaners, you can buy them in bulk sizes, and make large batches. Thus, saving you money due to the nature of buying in bulk.

8. Be More Thrifty

Being thrifty can sometimes seem out of style, feel a little embarrassing, or look like you can’t afford new things.

But this isn’t the look I’m talking about here. When I say be more thrifty, I mean find those beautiful and amazing finds that they don’t have in stores anymore. Find that one piece of furniture that fits just right in your living room. And save more money thrifting so that you can spend that on your next vacation, night out, or new movie you’ve been dying to see.

Thrifting is also a great way to save money while also being eco-friendly. When you thrift, instead of buying new, you are lowering the demand on new products, and thus fewer new products are made. You are also giving a new home to items that may have otherwise been thrown away into the landfill. And thus, you are doing one more thing to save your local ecosystem.

And in terms of style, because a lot of thrifted items may no longer be in production, you get to rock that one of a kind look.

9. Sell Your Unwanted Items

Selling items that you no longer want not only saves you space, and organizes your environment, but it can also make you money.

Places like Facebook Marketplace are a great option for many people to sell extra things around the house and avoid tossing them in the trash. The benefits of marketplace is that you have an enormous audience who can find exactly what they want in one place. Ebay or craigslist is another great option as well to sell extra items.

You can set the price of your items to either sell fast, or make you more money. The choice is yours.

But when you sell your unwanted items, you also declutter your living space and make more room for an organized home.

Some people even make a hobby of either thrifting and upgrading their unwanted items for better ones, or newer styles. I’ve seen them sell their coffee table and find a different style online. And then they use their creativity to update or up-cycle that new one, and either resell at a higher price to make a profit, or use it themselves.

Its a great way to give old things a newer and better home, while also saving or even making money.

10. Adjust Your Home to be More Energy Efficient

This last one can be a bit more difficult for those who have no control over their housing efficiency. But, there are still ways where you can incorporate energy efficiency while also saving money.

I highly recommend checking out my free PDF Printable which includes 12 pages and over 96 ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. I go through about every room in the house and provide a list of ideas and options that you can try, to make your house and lifestyle more energy efficient, and less wasteful.

These home changes include some of the ones I’ve mentioned in this post, and some that I haven’t. But changing your home to be more efficient is one of the best ways to live a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.

What are some methods that you use to live more eco-friendly, sustainably or efficiently?