While widespread greenwashing makes people believe they have to buy the latest and greatest ‘green’ products to feel like they are. save the planet, it’s just smart marketing harnessing human psychology for the interests and earnings of a business. It is this type of marketing that has fueled the misconception that green living is expensive. In fact, when done with the right spirit of sustainability and resource efficiency, an eco-friendly lifestyle should actually be cheaper in the long run.

Here are 10 eco-responsible actions that will save you money:

1. Borrow or rent

While the consumer capitalist society we live in promotes the idea of ​​owning a lot, you can challenge this mentality of endless greed and material accumulation by saying no to full ownership. Borrowing or renting items gives the same result – use – without the need to own. Consider the following: How many items in your home do you own that you rarely use? Could you have borrowed these instead of buying to own them?

Related article: 7 questions to ask yourself before buying anything

Here’s a quick list of items you can borrow or rent and enjoy, without having to own them: books, toys, party supplies, tools, camping gear, vehicles, beach house.

2. Second hand shop

There are a lot of used items in thrift stores and thrift stores looking for a home and many of these items cost a lot less than new items (note: some of these items are still new and have never been used or worn!).

If you don’t have time to visit second-hand stores or are still under COVID lockdown, there are many second-hand markets you can browse from the comfort of your own home such as the Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, eBay and Depop to name a few.

Related Article: The Ultimate Online Fashion Store Guide to Used & Vintage Clothing

3. BYO drink bottle

Whether you’re going to school, work, the gym, or traveling, be sure to bring your own water bottle. Research shows that the world consumes a million bottles per minute. Since only nine percent of plastics are recycled (18% in Australia), most plastics are landfilled, incinerated or thrown into the natural environment. By taking your reusable, refillable bottle, you not only help save on single-use plastic bottles or glass bottles, but you also save a few dollars.

4. Limit one-time use elements

Items made for single use actually cost more in the long run when you add up all of those individual purchases, not to mention the amount of single-use packaging that needs to be processed. Towels, tissues, paper towels, water and drink bottles, plastic wrap, plastic razors, tampons, sanitary napkins, diapers – all of these can generate a lot of waste. Fortunately, there are reusable options available for all of these items, so it’s easy to make the switch. While there may be a higher upfront cost, you will see the savings add up over the longer term.

Related Article: 20 Items That Should Be On Your Zero Waste List

5. Grow your own

Growing your own organic herbs, fruits, and vegetables will help save you money and give you more control over your diet and health. Even if you live in an apartment, you can still grow herbs (this is of course if you have enough natural light). You could save $ 10 or more per week just by growing food yourself, and the benefit of growing your own food is that it helps you tune into nature’s natural rhythm.

6. Avoid private transport whenever possible

The biggest purchase people make beyond a home is a vehicle. Considering the initial cost of a car, running costs like fuel, insurance, and registration, not to mention repair and maintenance costs, it’s easy to see how a car can be a sinkhole. financial.

More affordable and greener alternatives to private transport include public transport, carpooling, carpooling, walking and cycling. And if more people chose these options, it would result in fewer private vehicles on the roads, less traffic jams, and less air pollution.

7. Train at home

Rather than hopping in your car and consuming fossil fuels just to go to the gym, or shell out hundreds of dollars each year for a membership, set up a space at home where you can work out, cut down on the workout. environmental impact of your fitness program and save money too. There are many yoga practitioners and instructors who post free fitness tips and videos online if you are a beginner or just need it. do sports at home advice.

8. Take advantage of free “green” public spaces

There are plenty of green public spaces that you can enjoy without having to pay free admission, such as local beaches, national parks, botanical gardens, and state forests. Whether you’re planning a family camping trip or looking to go hiking, a quick search online will bring up plenty of green spaces open to the public that won’t cost you anything.

Related article: 12 tips for a zero waste picnic and a plastic-free barbecue

9. Do it yourself

Doing things yourself saves a lot of money in outsourcing expenses and with so many how-to videos online, it’s never been easy to do anything. Whether you’re looking to poke holes in your socks, maintain your car, bake sourdough bread, or cook new herbal recipes, if you’ve got the will to do it, you’ll be sure to find a step-by-step guide. by step. an article or a step-by-step video to show you how. And if you need expensive equipment to do a job, don’t forget points 1 and 2: borrow, rent or buy used!

10. Barter and trade

Before money was widely used as a medium of exchange for goods and services, there was barter and trade; where people directly traded goods, services and labor without using money. Even today, in neighborhoods and communities around the world, people continue to barter and exchange their goods, work and time with people in their community without exchanging money. Keeping these transactions local ensures that the environmental footprint of anything traded remains minimal while maximizing the strength and connections of community members.

What to barter and exchange? Well, if you’ve grown a lot of lemons and limes but need avocados for example, check with your neighbors and see if anyone is up for a trade. Alternatively, if you are a mechanic and your neighbor is a plumber, you can simply barter and trade your skills for auto repairs and plumbing jobs without having to invest any money. Or you can offer to babysit your neighbors’ children if they agree to take care of yours at a later date.

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Cover image by SHVETS production.