Care for the environment is generally regarded as a sacrifice we each need to make. However, living a sustainable life is not only better for the environment but also for your wallet.
Big-ticket items like EVs, solar panels, or heat pumps are well-known ways to save money while being good for the environment. However, this article will focus on the more minor and often overlooked ways of saving money with sustainable decisions.
Water Filters
An accessible improvement anyone can make is installing water filters and reducing the cost of buying bottled water. It costs less than $250 to replace your tap and have a filter under the sink that mineralizes and improves tap water quality to the level where you’re comfortable giving up bottled water.
If you like sparkling water, you can buy soda machines to carbonate your tap water. You can also have a tap and filter that carbonates your water directly at the tap.
Reducing plastic use helps the environment and helps your wallet, too.
Made @ Home
Another way to reduce plastic is to start making yogurt at home with the help of an inexpensive machine.
Pasta is another thing you can easily make at home with the help of a pasta extruder machine.
Finally, if you’re passionate about cooking, you can make jams, sauces, ice cream, and many more.
Not only are these homemade goods tastier, healthier, and better for your wallet, but they also reduce packaging and carbon footprint.
Buy High-Quality
One of the most impactful things for the environment and your wallet is having things last longer without needing replacing.
When buying home appliances, consider purchasing higher-quality products that are better, more energy-efficient, and will last longer. A dishwasher lasting 15 years instead of 7 is a massive help for your wallet and the environment.
Aim for mid-tier and high-tier electronic devices, as these will last longer. A flagship phone can easily be kept for 4 years; the same is valid for laptops or other electronics.
Buy high-quality clothes that will look better and last longer while being more sustainable at the same time.
Buy Second Hand & Rent
If you can’t afford a new car or phone, buying secondhand is also good for the environment, as it extends the product’s lifetime and doesn’t require manufacturing a new one.
Renting is also an option if you don’t have a constant use for specific products. For example, if you live in a big city and only need a car twice a year when you go on vacation, renting one when you need it is easier than owning one. The same can be valid for gardening and building equipment you use scarcely.
Conclusion
The best way to save money is not to spend it; the best way to help the environment is to not consume what you don’t need. Don’t think about sustainability only as a way to help the environment but also as a way to help your bank account.