Go Green: Save the Planet – and Money
From cycling to work to using reusable water bottles, we list the small changes that can make a big difference.
If you have been inspired to change your lifestyle by Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate change protestor, you’ll probably be interested to learn that saving the planet can also be a way to save money too.
Contrary to popular belief, environmentally-friendly life changes can actually help, not hurt, your wallet—a win-win for both your bank account and the environment! Here are 5 ways to live a “greener” lifestyle.
5 ways to save the planet and money (at the same time)
Sustainability starts at home… to save money by going green, we suggest picking two or three things to off the following list that seems easy to start right away – and start doing them this week.
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Adopt Meatless Mondays
So you love beef, pork and lamb – we get it. But cutting meat from your diet even once a week will have one of the biggest positive effects. Meat is expensive and a big environmental issue in terms of clearing land for farming, cattle feed and in terms of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.
You don’t have to go vegetarian or vegan. However, start with a meat-free Monday and see if you can increase this. You will definitely notice a difference in your grocery bill.
Drive Less, Walk More
The financial benefits of driving less and walking more should be pretty straight-forward. Choosing to walk more often means not only spending less on gas, but less wear and tear on your vehicle.
If you don’t want to walk, you can also carpool. However, this can mean enduring a small amount of hassle but ultimately leads to fewer cars on the road. Another option includes public transportation options… you can save a ton of money — on car payments, insurance, gas, parking, and maintenance (by ditching the car altogether).
Try Cycling to Work
Of course, it’s one thing to walk to the grocery store every once in a while, but entirely different to walk to work every day. This is why a growing number of commuters have chosen to bike to work instead of walking or driving. It is much quicker than walking but is exceptionally cheaper than driving a car and paying for parking etc.
Biking to work every day might make that pricey gym membership unnecessary, too. So, just keep that in mind… it can be quite the workout.
Shun Straws
Around the world, many companies and people are switching to paper straws instead of plastic, choosing paper over plastic as an eco-friendly alternative such as McDonalds and Starbucks.
Think about it this way, once you’re finished with plastic straws, they are destined for landfill, where they’ll remain for centuries without breaking down. Or they end up as litter in our open spaces or in the oceans, where they can easily become harmful to marine life — by now I’m sure we’ve all seen the heartbreaking video of a turtle having to have a plastic straw removed from its nostril.
Use Reusable Water Bottles
According to the Container Recycling Institute, more than 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown away every single day. While some ultimately get recycled, others end up in landfills or as litter.
If you want to do your part to reduce the number of water bottles that we use and discard, all you need to do is purchase a BPA free reusable water bottle and carry it with you instead of buying a new one every time. It’s that simple. Not only will you cut down on plastic waste, but you’ll also save a ton of money in the process.
Thoughts?
These are just 5 of the easiest ways to save money while also saving the planet, but there are plenty more. To come up with others, think of all of the different ways you consume products, energy, and fuel, and how you can reduce your usage. You’ll be able to find more ideas here.
How do you save money while also saving the planet?