Shopping at my local bulk-food store the other day, I treated myself
and my partner to some chocolate-coated strawberries: 10 of them,
in fact. I popped them into my glass jar and went to the till. “That’ll be
$22.50, thanks!” I was told. Gulp – I certainly made sure we appreci-
ated them later that night.
I don’t own a house or have a tribe of hungry mouths to feed, so I’m
lucky to be in a position where I can occasionally splurge on such
treats – but I’m aware that’s not the reality for everyone. While eco
stores like this are hailed as a solution to the problem of overpackag-
ing, their cost (and the cost of choosing the ‘eco-friendly option’ when
it comes to most things in life) can make it difficult for larger families
and those on a tight budget to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
If you’re someone who wants to make change at home and needs to
do it on the cheap, I’ve got your back. Over the past few years, I’ve
discovered a few nifty tricks to save cash and the planet. Firstly, eat
your strawberries au naturale, not dipped in chocolate! And then...Use what you have
If your Instagram feed is anything like mine, it’s filled with dreamy
images of bamboo cutlery and ceramic mugs. #zerowaste is trend-
ing, and that’s a beautiful thing. However, we don’t need to buy more
stuff to stop the stuff. The number one most sustainable (and wallet-
friendly) action we can take is not to buy new. You don’t need a fancy
straw to stop sucking – use your mouth instead! An old glass jar with
rubber bands wrapped around it is an unusual (and effective) alter-
native to buying a reusable coffee cup. If you’ve got sturdy plastic
containers at home already, don’t toss them out in favour of aestheti-
cally pleasing stainless steel ones. Always ask yourself, “Do I really
need this?” before whipping out your wallet.Give your belongings a second life
Turning something old into something new is a great skill to have and
the best way to save some dosh. If you’re not a particularly crafty
cat, you’ll find plenty of upcycling inspiration and DIY tutorials online- with a few snips of your scissors, you can turn your fave t-shirt
that you stained with curry ( just me?) into a reusable bag, sew your
own cutlery wrap from leftover fabric, and chop up your old sheets
to make cloth napkins or produce bags from them. It’s cool to be
creative!
Borrow, don’t buy
For bigger ticket household items that you’ll only use occasionally,
try your local ‘tool library’: you’ll find a plethora of useful products
like tools, tents, lawnmowers, bodyboards and sports equipment
that you can use for a nominal fee while taking part in the sharing
economy. And don’t forget about your local library – as well as the
obvious fiction section, they also offer cookbooks, music, movies,
newspapers and more.Budget in the bathroom
Making your own beauty products will not only save you money, but
also limit your exposure to harmful chemicals and help minimise
the plastic in your bathroom – a win for you and the environment!
Alternatively, bar soap is a natural, affordable alternative to body
wash – store away from moisture to ensure longevity, or add leftover
odds and ends to a ‘soap saver’ bag to make them go even further. A
menstrual cup, while admittedly an upfront cost, is a game-changer
when it comes to making your periods waste free, and will pay for
itself by saving you money on pads and tampons. And when it comes
to your daily shower, try cutting five minutes off your time to reduce
your carbon emissions and your energy bill.Be prepared
Every Sunday, before I head to my local farmers’ markets, I write
down what I’ve got on for the following week and make a meal plan
accordingly. I then check my pantry and write a shopping list of
everything I need. This might sound like way too much organisation
for a sleepy Sunday, but it’s been a revelation for me. Meal planning
and buying food in advance means you avoid that hangry dash to the
supermarket – shopping with a grumbling belly almost always results
in an overfilled fridge and wasted produce. In Australia, one in every
five shopping bags of food gets tossed in the bin, but by dedicating a
bit of time at the start of the week, you’ll avoid ordering last-minute
takeaway and reduce your food spending – which means you might
even be able to splurge on those special chocolate-covered treats
from time to time. “
”
We don’t need to buy
more stuff to stop the stuff