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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.
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.
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.
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:
Related read: Living Room Ideas On a Budget
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:
Here are some other reusable products that will save you money in the long run:
Related read: 5 Best Personal Finance Tips From The Man Who Helps Financial Advisors
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.
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.
Related read: How to Become Financially Independent
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.
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Budgeting and Saving Money
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