One of the main reasons I became vegan was the fact that eating a vegan diet is much gentler on our environment. I think our beautiful planet is an amazing gift and I am sad that we are killing it with all of the toxic gases we pollute the air with, the waste we let accumulate on our soils, and the mercury and other poisons we are killing our sea creatures with. This is why I decided, around the time I became vegan, that I would do everything I could to live a more eco-friendly life, not just by changing the way I eat, but by changing the way I live.
Unfortunately, it is not always very cost effective to live an eco-friendly life-style. Trying to buy organic fruits and vegetables can quickly drain your weekly food budget and leave you famished. Buying organic clothing is almost impossible if you are on a budget, the prices are so outrageous! Switching out all your plastic storage containers for glass ones and investing in cloth napkins and reusable bags will set you back a pretty penny initially, even if it will save you money in the long run.
For those like me, who wish to live an eco-friendly lifestyle without going into debt, I have compiled a list of tips and tricks. I want to note that I make every effort possible to buy organic because I want to support the practice as much as possible. I also make an effort to buy things made in the USA, however, I also practice all the tips below on a daily basis to help offset the cost of the organic, made in the USA, uber-expensive things I splurge on!
1. For clothes and big purchases, I try to buy used. I believe this is one of the most eco-friendly practices you can have because you are reusing a product that is already in the market instead of buying something new that used energy to be made and transported. You are taking something from someone, who otherwise would have thrown that item away, and giving it a new life instead of adding more “stuff” to our environment that will eventually get thrown away. When I buy used, I do not mind buying stuff that is not organic or made in China because I am not supporting China, or non-organic practices, I am supporting the person who I bought the item from, and keeping my money within my local community.
There are several ways to fine good quality second hand items:
1. www.craigslist.com
2. www.ebay.com
3. Amazon sometimes has used stuff for sale
4. Shop at your local thrift store- you will be amazed at some of the awesome things you can find!
5. Go to garage sales
3. Sign up for eco-friendly daily deal websites- These websites have exploded! And with deals up to 50% off, it is no surprise. Here are some that focus on organic, earth-friendly items:
1. Gathergreen
2. Eco Baby Buys
3. Mama Bargains
4. Buy fruits and vegetables from the Farmer’s Market instead of the grocery store. Buying organic, local fruits and vegetables is much cheaper when you buy direct from the Farmer and your local Farmer’s Market, than if you try to buy organic vegetable at the Grocery Store. Although, I end up spending more that I would if I bought non-organic produce at the grocery store, it is worth it to me because I am supporting my small local farmers and it is much cheaper than buying the organic stuff at the supermarket!
5. Shower every other day- This one will probably gross some people out but you do not need to shower everyday! Instead, on the days you do not shower, wipe yourself off with a damp towel and put on some extra deodorant. I promise, no one will be able to tell! By cutting your showering time in half you will be saving water, saving money on your water bill, and buying less showering products since you will only be using them half as much!
6.Save glass jars- Whether it is peanut butter, or a jar of olives, we all buy food products that come in glass jars. Next time you have an empty jar on your hands, instead of throwing in the trash or recycling it, wash it and save it. You can use it as storage for homemade sauces, dressing, and leftovers. It is much safer than plastic, and much cheaper than buying a whole new set of glass storage containers!
7. Buy online- I get a ton of my all natural and organic beauty products, supplements, and food products online at a much cheaper price than I would pay at my local health store. My favorite online store right now for specialty items such as all natural and organic shampoo, hemp seeds, chia seeds, protein powders, etc. is Vitacost.
8. Buy in bulk- For things I use a ton that I know will not go bad, I buy in bulk online from Amazon or other online stores. I can get organic cashews, almonds, grains, coconut oil, and other non-perishable, specialty food items at a discounted rate buy buying in bulk. Which makes it much more affordable for me to buy organic.
9. Make your own cleaning and beauty products- there are a ton of online resources with recipes for homemade beauty and cleaning products that are all natural and do not have any harmful chemicals and pollutants. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Eartheasy is a website with a natural cleaning solution for just about every type of stain, and every inch of your house!
2. Good article on how to make a Non-toxic cleaning kit here.
3. Vegan Beauty Review is a blog that has a ton of articles on homemade vegan beauty care.
4.Search Google and find tons of blogs and articles on DIY beauty products and cleaning products!
10. Be minimalist- In my opinion, this is one of the hardest but most important tips to being a frugal eco-friendly person. Only buy what you absolutely need. You will create less waste later on and spend less money. The best way to do this is never impulse buy. Anytime you want to buy something take some time to really think it through. Do I really need this? Will I use it? Is there something I own right now that will work instead? Can I buy it used? Do I already have one? These are just some of the questions you should always be asking yourself before you buy anything.
Sorry for such a long post! What are your tips for being more environmentally friendly on a budget? I would love to hear them!
