How to Live More Sustainably On A Budget

When I first got into living sustainably, it felt daunting and expensive. Everywhere had me buying new (more expensive things) and I just knew that didn’t feel right. So after a little (not too complicated) thinking, I realized that truly sustainable living absolutely costs less money – short terms and long term. Here are a slew of eco friendly habits that can actually save money and help us all learn how to live more sustainably on a budget!

How to Live More Sustainably On A Budget

It seems so basic, but the big picture of sustainable living is about:

• reducing waste
• conserving resources

And on the day-to-day, it’s about making mindful decisions that lower financial and environmental impact. No decision is too small! And can I tell you? We’ve been living more sustainably for nearly 7 years (it started just after my son was born, so I’ll always have a timeline) and it feels so much easier.

It isn’t restrictive and it isn’t all that overwhelming (nothing is perfect)! It feels easier because we’ve developed systems, learned lessons, and are in a groove. But sustainable living also feels easier because we aren’t overloaded with long lists of items to buy.

We aren’t overwhelmed with too many clothes causing decision fatigue. There are fewer choices to make each day and it all just kind of clicks now – I can’t imagine going back!

What Does it Mean to Live Sustainably

Small changes do add up and every single thing you do helps the overall cause in the long run. So before you think it’s impossible to live sustainably and stay on budget, let’s chat. At its core, living sustainably means buying less new stuff, using what you own, and tapping into borrowing from your community – all absolutely free things.

It’s important to understand (and remind yourself) that living sustainably isn’t all or nothing – it’s small consistent somethings that really make a difference. No one of us can do it all, but we can all do a little! So find what works for you (no matter your budget)!

Why is it Important to Live Sustainably

Reduces Household Expenses Over Time

If you remember that sustainable living generally means wasting less and buying less, it’s easy to see how it can save money. Initially this might look like just using up what you have.

I always like to remind friends (and myself) that the most sustainable thing is the one you already own! One friend took this a step further to note that the most sustainably thing is also the thing your friend already owns (i.e. we borrow and share when we can)!

And while reusable items are more expensive upfront, in the long run, the single use expense is actually money saving!

Lowers Waste and Consumption Habits

When we buy more things, we usually end up tossing or “donating” things – things that likely have more use in them. All of these things eventually go to landfills, so if you limit (slow down on) replacing items, you’ll be creating less waste.

Supports More Mindful Spending Decisions

Once you shift your mindset to need over want, you make more mindful spending decisions. I used to be swayed by impulse purchases in store (and online).

I’m not perfect, but now I usually come out of a store or complete an online order for just the thing(s) on my list. I see where my needs are and shop accordingly.

I admit to LOTS of online window shopping (though that desire and gratification has certainly diminished). I certainly do still have wants, but they play a small part in our overall shopping

Contributes to Long-Term Environmental Impact

And all these seemingly small, inconsequential changes really do add up over time.

Only in the last year or so have I also come to see that while living more sustainably was the goal, what I have no is a life with less decision fatigue and less overwhelm.

I know every item in my wardrobe, know how it fits, and how it fits well with other pieces in my closet. I very rarely feel like I have nothing to wear (see my guidelines for how to create a minimalist wardrobe – that isn’t capsule size, nor does it feel limiting).

Because I’ve also done lots of research of materials and brands, there are just so many out there I’d never support. I’ve tried all the options I’m ok with and found the one that works best. Things like:

• the best bamboo toilet paper
• the best organic bath towels
• the best vitamin C serum
• the best natural foundation

Is Sustainable Living More Expensive

It’s interesting because while many sustainable items are more expensive upfront, the truth is that using what you have (plastic or otherwise) is actually the most sustainable option.

There’s a lot of crossover (and confusion) between living sustainably and clean living. The two have a lot of things in common, but they’re not the same. Clean living says glass containers are safest. Sustainable living says that when (and only when) you need to replace your food containers, you should buy glass over plastic to avoid microplastics and the production of petroleum-based materials.

At its core, sustainable living is not more expensive because it isn’t about what to buy – it’s about not buying at all. And when the time comes to buy new things, yes, items will cost more upfront. But there’s two things to remember.

Sustainable items should last you much longer and be reusable, so the cost per use goes WAAAAY down. Think more that these items are a good quality. Think about the long run of the item and how it will save you in the months and years to come.

It’s also important to keep in mind that you aren’t just paying for the thing itself when prices are higher. Truly sustainable items should take into consideration labor standards, transportation emissions, and an overall carbon footprint. You can’t have the cheap labor priced items with the fair labor component!

How to Live a More Sustainable Life On a Budget

All our lives are different and we’re all at different places on the spectrum of sustainable living (and no one is perfect). Below are a variety of ways you can start (or continue) to live sustainably while keeping your budget in mind.

How to Eat Sustainably on a Budget

The first and most important step I suggest to people trying to live more sustainably is to avoid food waste. It’s so easy to throw food away because it’s gone bad or because you just have too much, but that’s the first step you should really take.

Here are a variety of ideas for how to avoid food waste. My big tips are to learn when produce is in season (get my free seasonal produce printable), how to store produce properly, and to prioritize avoiding food waste in your at-home cooking.

Beyond that, it’s great to buy foods grown, farmed, ranched, and/or produced locally. This is easiest when you shop at farmers markets but it’s possible in grocery stores too.

Maybe it’s within 100 miles. Maybe it’s more, but it’s best to avoid food grown internationally and flown thousands of miles to get to your stores and markets.

How to Shop Sustainably on a Budget

There are so many things to considering when shopping when you’re trying to live sustainably. What materials is it made of? Where was it made? Who was it made by and what are the conditions? How long will it last? Is it high quality enough to live up to your standards?

While some sites and companies push you to buy only from brands doing it all, I’m not quite so perfect. Every single items in the ‘plus’ column is good. Multiple checks in the ‘plus’ column is a good one.

When it comes to clothing I try to buy organic cotton clothing when I can. I look for fair trade or US-made labor conditions. And I know it needs to suit my style.

A go to for me is PACT (read my Pact clothing reviews to see why). I also think these are the best sustainable underwear brands and you can learn more about sustainable shoe brands (an unexpected challenge when it comes to sustainable fashion). Every site has at least one big sale per year, so you can keep an eye and shop during the sale to save money!

How to Travel Sustainably on a Budget

Travel can be expensive even if you don’t care about doing it more sustainably. I wrote a whole post on sustainable travel tips. A few easy ideas specifically related to sustainable travel on a budget are to use public transportation as much as possible, bring a refillable water bottle to avoid buying new, and skip souvenir shopping!

How to Make Your Home more Sustainable on a Budget

For the full picture, read how to make your home more sustainable. Home expenses are never cheap are they? Many of the ways to make your home more sustainable will save money in the long run, but they do not save in the short run.

But there are so many ways to make small everyday changes around your home that are GREAT on a budget. They’ll actually really start saving you more money. Think:

• turn off lights and appliances when not in use
• schedule appliances to run during off peak hours
• use cold water for laundry
• water plants outside is early morning or evening to limit evaporation

Sustainable Swaps for the Home

When the time comes to start making sustainable swaps in your home, you can really start in any room you desire. Here is a whole write up on sustainable swaps around your home from the kitchen to the bathroom and your shower products!

Hopefully this gives you a lot of ideas for how to live more sustainably on a budget. Remember that any one action you take (including busying less) really does make a difference. If you’d like a clear path to living more sustainably within just 30 days, sign up for my Eco Everyday course – a month long series of short and quick emails giving you specific actions to take to live more sustainably. All the for the price of a latte! Get it here.