7 Ways to Save Money While Saving the Environment

This article originally appeared on The Financially Independent Millennial and was republished with permission.

Sea levels are rising, landfills are filling up, and natural disasters are happening more often than ever. Climate change is happening, and the world desperately needs your help. In this article, you’ll find ways people can save money while also saving the environment.

Going green often comes at an extra cost, but we’ve found seven ways to save the environment that will put more dollars back in your pocket. Saving money while saving the environment is a win-win that anyone can enjoy.

Ways to Save Money while Saving the Environment

7 – Reduce Waste by Meal Prepping

Meal prepping is a great way to save money because you can plan out what you buy. Since you already have the list of items you need to buy, you won’t buy as many impulse purchases. This cuts down on unnecessary spending, which can be a huge budget drain. And, thanks to the increasing popularity of services like Instacart, you can order your groceries online, and then you won’t make any impulse purchases.

However, it’s also great for the environment. For example, an estimated one-third of all food winds up in a landfill. This means that the food is wasted and the water, energy, and labor it took to produce the food. Such waste in so many sectors is terrible for the environment because we’re wasting precious resources.

But when you meal prep, you can reduce your food waste because you’re only buying what you need. This way, you’re doing your part to cut down on food waste and help save the resources it took to provide the food.

Also, make sure that you’re avoiding take-out. It can be easy to get take out after a long day at the office, but take-out is expensive and comes in disposable containers, which aren’t great for the environment. By meal prepping and bringing your lunches to work, it’s a great way to help curb the take-out urge.

6 – Eat Less Meat

At first glance, this seems a bit unconnected to saving the environment. But a pound of ground beef can take around or more 1,800 gallons of water to produce. In comparison, it only takes 200 gallons of water to make a pound of soybeans–a rich protein-packed plant-based alternative to ground beef protein. So, choosing vegetarian meals adds up in the long run since it takes less water and other resources to produce.

Let’s say that the average family of four eats a pound of ground beef on hamburger night. If they choose a plant-based alternative, they could save 100,000 gallons of water a year, even one day a week. That’s a huge environmental impact.

And plant-based dinners, if planned correctly, are demonstrably cheaper than meat-based meals. So, you’re saving the environment and caring for your wallet at the same time.

5 – Replace Energy-zapping Items in Your House

Gas, electricity, and water are some of the highest household bills and directly impact the environment. It’s why it’s essential to invest in high efficient technology to help conserve water and lower your carbon footprint. While this might seem like a way to spend money, instead of saving it, the long-term investment in cost-saving measures on your house or yard will pay dividends.

Here are some of the most cost-effective ways to upgrade your house and save money:

It saves money because it uses less water. And it’s better for the environment for the same reason.
If you have leaky faucets, this is a must. Otherwise, you’re just spending money on resources that you’re wasting. And that’s not good for anyone.
They save you money by saving energy and lowering your electric bill. Plus, these bulbs last a lot longer and won’t need to get replaced as often as other bulbs. Also, when you can, try to use natural lighting and save money and electricity that way.
Power strips can turn off a whole host of items that are using phantom power when they aren’t on. By turning the power off by the source, you’re saving money, and you’re freeing up energy to be used elsewhere on the grid.
Doing so saves water because it takes less water to flush the toilet, and better yet, it’s free to install. Therefore, you’re saving money without spending money.

Related read: Living Room Ideas On a Budget

4 – Invest in Reusable Products

Another great investment that will save you money and the environment is in items that you can reuse. Reusable items are great for the environment because they reduce overall manufacturing needs. It means that by not partaking in a one-use product, you’re not only keeping that item out of the trash, but you’re not paying for the enormous amounts of energy it took to make that single-use item.

And you can save a lot by switching to reusable items. For example, Americans spend billions on water bottles per year. By buying a reusable water bottle instead of buying one, you can save $260 a year.

Here are some other reusable products that will save you money in the long run:

Glass Tupperware lasts years longer than plastic Tupperware and can be recycled.
Cloth napkins instead of paper napkins can save you $50 a year.
Using rags instead of paper towels is another excellent way to save since it takes another line item out of your budget.
Grocery bags might be a little costly, but they keep plastic out of the landfills.
Makeup clothes can save $500 depending on the brand that you buy.
Bamboo toothbrushes are another inexpensive win.
Reusable plastic bags can save another $200 a year.

3 – Consider When You Run Your Heating or Air Conditioning

Another interesting trick is that heating and air suppliers charge more during peak times to run their services. So, if you find out what those hours are and elect to run during non-peak hours, you can save tons of money. Some gas and electricity companies even have special programs you can opt into and start saving money. It also cuts down on the overall drain of the grid during peak times, which means that the energy consumption is lower, and it saves natural resources. A win for the planet and a win for you.

And on the subject of heating and air conditioning, consider changing your thermostat when you’re not home. In the summer, set your thermostat higher when you leave. And in the winter, set it lower. For instance, if you usually keep your house at 68 during the summer while you’re at work, increase the temperature to 72. It’ll save money by using less electricity. And you can always drop it back down when you get home. There are even smart thermometers that you can program to make these changes automatically. You don’t even have to think about it.

2 – Take Advantage of Second-Hand Buying and Selling

The rise of digital flea markets has been a great environmental boost to our life. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other reselling sites have made it possible to find or sell items quickly and with ease. It’s great for the environment, too. Because you’re not paying for those production practices that are harmful to the environment, and you’re extending the life of an item that might have wound up in the trash.

It’s an excellent option if you’re looking to make some money, and you have extra things lying around your house because you can sell them on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Poshmark. Of course, it won’t always be a consistent source of income, but it helps you declutter, save money, and protect the environment.

You could even upscale old things to breathe new life into them and then use these types of online forums to market your goods. Who knows? It might turn into one of many great side hustles!

Buy Nothing groups are also a great alternative to shopping in stores–and bonus–they’re free to partake in! You search for items people are giving away and then go pick them up. Same if you list items, and it’s easier because they’re usually porch pick up. So, you don’t even have to be present.

1 – Use Alternative Modes of Transportation

It’s probably the most significant impact on the list, but also, it’s the least accessible. But if you’re a non-disabled person living in a metropolitan area, considering alternative modes of transportation is a great way to cut back on your impact on global warming.

Some great ways to save money on gas:

A decent bike on Facebook Marketplace will run you 250-300, but by biking to work 1-2x a week, you will make that money back by not spending gas. And the more you bike, the less your car gets used and the further you can push out routine maintenance, like oil changes. And if your grocery store is close, biking there for small grocery runs might not be a bad idea either.
If you live in a walkable area, try things like walking to your kids’ soccer game instead of driving there or walking to return books to the library. It’s another excellent way to avoid using your car and can be better if you have a family who can’t bike together.
It’s excellent, even if you don’t live in an urban area, because you can always catch a ride to work with a coworker who lives near you, and you can take turns driving, so the gas bill gets distributed evenly. Plus, it still keeps at least one car off the road–maybe more if you carpool with several people.
Although America’s infrastructure for public transit isn’t the best, there are still many areas that have metros or bus systems. Using them to run errands instead of your car is a great way to participate in emission-reducing activities. Bus and rail systems are much more inexpensive than maintaining a car. The more you can avoid driving, the cheaper owning your car will be.