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This guide has 80 fantastic frugal green living tips that are perfect for living a more sustainable lifestyle while still sticking to your budget in 2024. If you’re keen to reduce your impact on the planet while still maintaining frugal habits, you’ll find some great ideas and tips here.
I recently saw a tweet about someone who used to buy paper plates because they were ‘cheaper’ and more convenient.
That person is obviously an extreme version of frugality, but do you ever read some frugal living tips and just kind of…cringe, for the planet?
Jump straight to the 80 frugal green living tips.
Your Money Is A Vote
On this blog, I talk a lot about living frugally, and while I’m all about getting the most out of my money, these days I prioritize spending my money on brands that are ethical, sustainable, and eco-friendly first.
Even though it might not always feel like it, whenever we spend money, we’re making a vote with that choice.
A vote that tells that brand, that corporation, that big, conglomerate, that we’re OK with their current practices – whether that’s a company making a big push towards more eco-friendly packaging and manufacturing, or a company that uses non-recyclable products and zero goals to reduce their carbon emissions.
When we shop consciously, making a choice with our money to support the brands that are making an effort to be more eco-friendly, we’re using our money to signal that we support those changes.
So while being frugal and saving money where you can is, of course, great, aligning how you spend your money with your values is arguably more important than ever.
can You be Both Green and Frugal?
If you’re on a strict budget, you can absolutely still live an eco-friendly lifestyle. In fact, living a frugal lifestyle almost inadvertently lends itself to a more sustainable lifestyle in many aspects, and only becomes easier once you bring some awareness to the way you want to live your life.
A few habits and goals that many frugal people have that align with green living include:
- Aiming to reduce food waste by meal planning and prepping each week
- Cutting down on how much you spend on new clothes and other items every month
- Reducing how much you pay towards fuel and vehicle costs by walking, cycling, or using public transport instead
What Is Meant By ‘Green Living’?
Green living means choosing a lifestyle with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly habits. For many people, however, it can feel as though choosing a more sustainable lifestyle means foregoing any semblance of frugality.
That’s what inspired this list – to show that in fact, frugal living and green living go hand in hand.
80 Frugal Green Living Tips
Frugal Eco-Friendly Tips Around the Home
1. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use
This may be something you’re already in the habit of doing, but it’s always worth reiterating,
Turning off the lights of rooms you’re no longer using, and unplugging laptop chargers and other gadgets not in use is a small but effective way to conserve energy in your home and save money.
2. Use low-energy appliances
There’s really no reason not to put energy-saving LED light bulbs in all your lights and lamps around the home.
Even better, get some solar-powered lights near your windows for free, eco-friendly light sources!
3. Consider downsizing
Downsizing is an increasingly popular trend. Not only will a smaller house save you money in terms of mortgage/rent, energy bills, and other related housing expenses, but you’ll also have less room for extra stuff.
Not sure a tiny home is for you? There are plenty of alternative living options that aren’t just a hefty mortgage and a two-bed home.
4. Heat the human, not the home
This is an especially good piece of advice to follow in the colder months. Instead of using lots of energy and money by popping the heating on every time you get cold, focus on what you can do to keep yourself warm – instead of your home.
Layering up, placing a hot water bottle on your lap, and slipping on some cozy socks to battle a cold home is the ultimate frugal green living tip. Alternatively, you might find a space heater more energy-efficient for heating up individual rooms. We covered the cheapest type of heater to run based on 2023 electricity prices so you can choose to most efficient heater for your needs.
5. Consider a zero-waste challenge
Zero-waste living focuses on a lifestyle with zero (or in some cases, as little as possible) waste. That means avoiding items that can be recycled, growing your own veg and shopping local, avoiding plastics, and repurposing items you already own.
6. Invest in your home
Invest in sustainable items that will last you years. The saying ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ holds true for many, and isn’t the most eco-conscious approach to shopping, either.
Focus on allocating a portion of your budget towards items that are sustainable and high-quality – even if it takes a little longer to create the home you want.
With time, you’ll have a collection of quality furniture that will stay with you for years – meaning you can save money in the long term.
7. Use biodegradable bin bags
Garbage bags go straight to landfills, and take an estimated 10 to 100 years to fully decompose! A biodegradable bin bag, however, should take two years or less to fully degrade.
8. Forego plastic straws
Replacing plastic straws with paper is really quite easy nowadays in the UK because so many restaurants and takeaways have already adopted this sustainable practice. However, at home, investing in a set of metal or glass straws is not only eco-friendly – but you’ll save a lot of money compared to buying single-use straws every time you need one!
9. GET SOME DIY SKILLS
If something in your house breaks, get into the habit of trying to repair what you have rather than simply throwing it out and replacing it.
The latter option might seem easier and more convenient, but it’s not exactly conducive to an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Besides, there’s a sense of frugal satisfaction to be gained from fixing something broken and making it last way longer than the price you paid might suggest.
10. Borrow and share within your community
If you’re thinking about buying a new item but know that you only really need it for one specific purpose, why not consider calling on your circle of friends and family first to see if you could either borrow it or go in together and save money by sharing the item?
This is a great sustainable option for things like carpet cleaners, stand mixers, DIY equipment, etc.
11. Get your shoes reheeled
Did you know that you can make your shoes last double (or even longer) than their standard lifetime by getting them reheeled? Often, the soles of our shoes wear out far quicker than any other part of the shoe, so getting them reheeled means paying a fraction of the cost of an entirely new pair of shoes (and significantly less waste!).
12. Use cloth napkins
Replacing paper napkins with reusable cloth napkins is a simple and sustainable swap you can make instantly for every meal.
13. Avoid air conditioning
If you live somewhere that reaches high temperatures in the summer, it may be fairly common place to rely on air conditioning to keep your home cool. However, an air conditioning unit hikes up your energy bill up an additional $76 – $168 a month – not to mention it’s impact on the environment. Opt for cheaper alternatives to cool your home such as pulling down the blinds, opening windows at night (if safe) and on the shady side of your home, and running fans which are far more energy efficient.
14. Keep your home at the same temperature in the winter
On the flip side, turning up your thermostat during the colder months is a surefire way to skyrocket your energy usage and bills. It’s more frugal to limit your central heating to a few hours in the morning, and a few hours in the evening. Turning down your thermostat by even one degree could save up to 10% on your energy bill, so keep it at a steady 18 – 19 degrees and add an extra layer if you get a little cold.
15. Use curtains to keep your home cool in summer, and lock heat in the winter
Curtains may be a more expensive initial investment, but after that, they’re a far more energy-efficient way to control the temperature of your home. Close the curtains against the hot sun in the summer to keep your home cool, and close them in the winter to prevent the heat from your home escaping!
Just make sure you open your curtains and crack a window every day to keep the air flowing in your home.
16. CUT DOWN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
There are many ways you can cut down on single-use plastics. Some include:
– bringing your own carrier bags when shopping (keep some bags in the boot of your car if you’re prone to forgetting)
– choosing loose fruit and vegetables rather than the ones wrapped in plastic
– shopping in bulk food stores if you have one nearby
– storing your leftovers in reusable containers rather than using cling film or plastic food bags
– get a keep cup for takeaway coffees
– request that takeaway places don’t give you plastic cutlery with your orders (deliveroo actually has this as a pre-selected option these days!)
– use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters
As you’ll probably notice, most of the tips above involve reusing containers, produce bags, stainless steel straws. Once you’ve invested in these things (all very cheap purchases), you’re pretty much good to go full-on eco-warrior frugal genius.
Cleaning green and Frugal Ideas
17. Make your own cleaning products
Have you ever considered making your own cleaning products? The ingredients required to make them are a fraction of the cost of brand cleaning products, and you’ll be using non-toxic, natural chemicals (such as lemons, white vinegar, and bicarbonate of soda) around your home.
18. Repurpose your clothes as cleaning rags
Instead of putting your old t-shirts covered in holes straight in the bin, why not repurpose them and make them into rags for cleaning?
19. Use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels
If you’re in the habit of using paper towels to mop up spills and stains in your kitchen, swapping these out for reusable microfiber cloths is a cheap and sustainable swap you could easily make this week.
Frugal & Green Food ideas
20. Reduce your meat consumption
Meat costs a lot more money than plant-based foods such as beans and legumes. The animal industry is also the biggest contributing factor to carbon emissions. So, cutting down on your meat consumption should be at the top of your list.
Not ready to go vegetarian or vegan in an instant? First off, I highly recommend at least doing some research into the animal industry and its impact on the environment. That way, if you continue to eat meat and consume eggs and dairy products, at least you’re making an informed decision to do so.
Secondly, even just reducing your consumption of animal products will make a significant difference. Schemes like Veganuary (going vegan for the month of January) and Meatless Mondays are all supportive communities that can be a great place to start.
21. GET GREEN-FINGERED and Grow your own Veg
Save money on your food shopping and reduce your carbon footprint by growing your own vegetables. I got an allotment during the pandemic in 2022, and it has been such a fun hobby to do (although, admittedly, more work than I first thought – but worth it!).
Home-grown vegetables not only taste better, but they’re obviously much cheaper and mean you can enjoy your veg and not worry about where it’s come from (and all the transport emissions involved in that).
22. GET A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
This is such a simple way to simultaneously save money and be more eco-friendly that I fail to understand how anyone can ignore this tip.
Spending your money on plastic water bottles is unnecessary and expensive. Invest in a good reusable water bottle, and get into the habit of filling it up and taking it with you before you leave the house.
If you need it re-filled, coffee shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars are only too happy to do that for you in my experience (plus you can always find a water fountain when out and about).
23. start Meal planning
Cut down on waste and save money by planning out your meals each week. Going shopping pre-armed with a grocery list and your weekly meal plan is a great way to cut costs and ensure you only buy what you need.
24. Use reusable food produce bags
Avoid single-use plastic bags when food shopping and buy some cheap reusable food produce bags instead. These are always a great way to store your fresh produce in the fridge.
25. Aim to cook the correct serving sizes (no leftovers)
If you find yourself constantly throwing away leftovers after each meal, make an effort to really perfect your portion sizes – even if that means storing half an onion in the fridge for another day!
26. Or, cook in bulk and freeze your meals
Alternatively, go big and make one recipe last several meals. If you don’t like eating the same meal multiple days in a row, you could portion out what you’ve made and freeze it.
27. Cook from scratch
Cooking from scratch is much more sustainable than ready meals in plastic containers, and tastes much better, too! What’s more, you’ll often find that you can cook an identical meal as your favourite ready meal completely from scratch for a fraction of the price.
28. Use a service such as HelloFresh for the exact quantities you need
If any of the above ideas just don’t sound feasible to your lifestyle, you could consider using a subscription service such as Hello Fresh. Hello Fresh send you the exact quantities of ingredients you need for each meal in recyclable packaging, which means much less waste. This might not be the most frugal option if you’re used to cooking from scratch, but it’s a massive saving compared to frequent takeaways and ready meals.
29. WASTE LESS & RECYCLE
Being more frugal and more environmentally friendly is all about being more mindful about the way you live, and that includes wasting less.
I always recommend meal planning to anyone trying to stick to a budget, and this is one of the best ways to avoid food waste, too.
For the things you do need to throw about (both food and otherwise), think about trying to only buy things that you can recycle. You want the majority of your household to be recyclable waste if at all possible.
30. Use an airfryer or slowcooker for less energy
An air fryer uses considerably less energy than a traditional oven, and so does a slowcooker. Consider either of these two options to start living a more frugal green lifestyle.
31. Repurpose your food
Did you know that if you place a carrot stem in water, a new carrot will start growing? Same with celery, and a wide number of other vegetables. You can propagate a single basil leaf into a new basil plant, and take the seeds from your vegetables and start your own vegetable garden.
Your food scraps can be put to good use, too. Store your vegetable skins and offcuts in a ziplock bag in the freezer and once you’ve got enough, you can boil them down with water and herbs and make your own vegetable stock.
32. Shop seasonally
Shopping for seasonal produce is one of the most frugal green habits you can start building today. Buying produce that is out of season typically means a higher price tag and several thousand air miles have gone into getting it in front of you – which is neither good for your bank balance or the planet. Buying produce that naturally grows in your country at this time of year, however, is often cheaper and is far more eco-friendly.
33. Bring your own lunch
Instead of buying lunch out (draining your wallet and contributing more waste), aim to bring your own lunch to work, college, or school with you every day. If you’re not a fan of cold lunches, you could get an insulated lunchbox or a food thermos to keep your hot meals warm.
34. Make your own compost heap
If you have space in your garden, you could use certain food waste items for your own compost heap (that can then be used to grow your own vegetables in the future!). Ideal items for a compost heap include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, and prunings from your plants.
35. Use food containers instead of foil
Another quick frugal green living tip is to use reusable food containers instead of tinfoil when storing leftovers. Struggling to get stains out of your food containers? Fill it with about 1 cup of hot water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and let sit for around an hour, then rinse.
36. Use silicone/beeswax wrap instead of cling film
Another great sustainable swap that will save you money in the long term is to use beeswax wrap instead of single-use cling film. You can use beeswax wrap multiple times so it’s a great alternative that doesn’t cost much.
37. Invest in a good quality pan – like a cast iron skillet
If you have one good quality pan that you really look after, you won’t have to buy another for years. A cast iron skillet, for example, can be used over the stove and in the oven, is easy to clean, and lasts decades if cared for properly.
This ultimate list of vegan cast iron skillet recipes shows you just how versatile a good pan can be!
Frugal Green Shopping
38. Buy second-hand
Second-hand items have become far more popular in recent years as selling apps such as Poshmark, Depop, and eBay have made it far easier to buy and sell great quality second-hand items.
Buying clothes second-hand means you get a great bargain, reduce the amount of fast fashion going straight to landfill, and gives you a far greater choice of unique items that are true to your individual style, rather than just following trends!
39. Sell second-hand
Equally, it’s never been easier to make extra cash and reduce the amount of waste you put into landfill by selling on your second-hand items. From selling your second-hand clothes, shoes, and accessories to putting up old furniture for sale on Facebook Marketplace, selling your items (or donating them, failing that) is a frugal green living habit that just makes sense!
40. Shop small, shop local
When possible, support your local businesses rather than shopping with the huge conglomerates that dominate so much of the retail industry. Amazon may be convenient, but it’s not necessarily the most frugal or sustainable place to be shopping.
41. Buy in bulk
In some cases, it makese sense to buy in bulk. You’ll save money, use less packaging, and will be stocked up for much longer than if you were buying one pack of something at a time.
This guide to buying in bulk provides some helpful tips on what you may want to mass-buy and what’s not worth the cost.
42. Replace, don’t add
A great minimalist habit to get into is to seek to only replace possessions, rather than adding. If you have a old pair of jeans that’s on it’s last legs, sell, recycle or donate that pair and then replace them with a new pair (perhaps thrifted online).
This reduces the amount of waste you produce, reduces clutter around your home, and creates a much more frugal shopping habit that will stick with you long-term.
43. Reuse your shopping bags
If you have that one cupboard in your home that stores hundreds of plastic shopping bags, you’re not alone. You may always have good intentions to use them again, but it’s all too common to get to the checkout and realize you’ve left all your bags at home!
A good tip is to store some bags in places where you’re likely to have them to hand if you to go to the shops. For example, put some in the boot of your car, in a place you’ll see as you’re walking out the door, a few in your handbag/backpack, maybe even one in your coat pocket!
Sustainable habits for BOOKS & PAPER
44. Use your local library
Rather than buying new books everytime you want something new to read, take advantage of your local library. They’re free (all you need is a library card!), and a great resource to find fiction and non-fiction alike. Plus, using your library means less space in your home being cluttered up with books you’ll only read once.
45. Listen to more audiobooks
Alternatively, you could listen to audiobooks instead of buying books. Obviously, this means less paper, but audiobooks are often far cheaper than hard copies. As an additional plus, audiobooks are great to listen to when you’re on a walk or driving, something you can’t do with a regular book!
46. Recycle your paper – or better yet, go paperless
If you’re not already, make sure you’re recycling all your paper. Get a shredder to protect your personal information. Better yet, aim to go paperless altogether. Opt for email or phone only contact for your subscriptions, bank etc, and this should dramatically cut down on the amount of paper waste you have.
This guide to going paperless provides a useful breakdown of how to tackle a pre-existing mountain of paperwork.
47. Read the news online
If you’re in the habit of buying a newspaper for your daily news, try to switch over to the online version of the site. It’s cheaper than buying a paper copy and gives you more options which sites you look at – giving you a generally fairer overview of current events.
Frugal green Transport tips
48. Don’t leave your engine running
Try to avoid leaving your engine running in any situation – whether that’s running the car while you load it up or to heat your car up. This uses up your fuel and puts unnecessary CO2 into the environment. Even in heavy traffic that’s not moving, you could consider switching your engine off altogether.
49. Get an electric or hybrid car
If you’re thinking about getting a new car in the future, consider opting for an electric or hybrid car instead of petrol or diesel. Just by using an electric car instead of a petrol one, you could save approximately $610 (£513).
50. Drive more efficiently (also a good way to save on fuel costs!)
Another frugal green tip regarding your car is to drive as efficiently as possible. Maintaining a steady speed and avoiding braking too hard are both things that can conserve fuel without too much effort. This guide to saving money on fuel is packed with more tips you should find helpful!
51. Aim to walk, cycle, or use public transport more often
Walking, cycling, or using public transport to get around not only saves money on fuel but will also reduce your carbon footprint.
If these aren’t options for you, you could also look into whether your company has a carpooling scheme (or you could set one up!).
Frugal & Sustainable tips for Parents
52. Use reusable nappies
All parents will relate to how many nappies you get through in a single day, and when you’re trying to be more sustainable, it can be a horrible feeling sending so much waste straight into landfil..
Reusable nappies are an initial investment, but considering many last right up until your toddler is ready to start potty training (so from newborn to around 3 years old), they are definitely a cost-effective alternative to disposable nappies.
53. Avoid single-serve snacks and food pouches
Another cost-effective and more environmentally friendly tip is to avoid the single serve baby food pouches and snacks. These are definitely convenient, and no judgement if you like a grab and go meal sometimes!
However, if you can try to get into the habit of batch cooking some meals for your baby (even better, just give them what you’re having!), you’ll be using far less packaging and saving a lot of money.
54. Use reusable wipes
Like disposable nappies, baby wipes are another thing that take many years to degrade in landfill and can really add up when using them for nappy changes and cleaning your child up in between meals and playtime!
Reusable wipes like Cheeky wipes are extremely cost-effective as they will last years if cared for properly, and can be used for just hands and faces, or you could get two sets for nappy changes too.
55. Avoid nappy bags or use compostable ones
Investing in a dedicated nappy bin will mean that (if you’re using disposable nappies), you don’t need to put your nappy in a plastic bag everytime you have to dispose of one. Better still, buy compostable nappy bin liners.
56. Buy second-hand toys
Any parent knows how quickly your baby grows out of their toys – it can feel like you only used something once or twice before your child is on to bigger and better things. That’s why buying second-hand toys is such as good deal – often, they’ve only been used lightly and have plenty of life them (not that your toddler minds a few scuffs here and there!). Plus, buying second-hand massively reduces the amount of plastic going straight to landfill.
57. Buy second-hand clothes
Buying second-hand children’s clothes is another great frugal green living tip. Before your baby turns 12 months, clothes will often go up in sizes every three months as your baby grows so fast, then shifting to every 6 months. That’s a lot of new sets of clothes to kit your child out in – and a lot of clothing sent to waste before it’s been used to the end of it’s lifetime.
You can find so many fantastic deals on second-hand children’s clothes that have barely been worn and are in pristine condition, making an easy environmentally friendly change that will save you a fortune.
58. Sell or donate your old items
On the flip side, join in the cycling of selling and buying second-hand by putting up your child’s old clothes and toys for sale! I’ve made a killing selling my daughter’s second hand clothes on Vinted (only available in the UK) – most are in great condition because she grows so quickly, and sell very quickly as a result.
In about a month, I’d made an extra £75 selling some of her baby clothes, and felt great knowing that someone else was going to get that extra wear out of them.
59. Use the sales to your advantage
A great tip is to use the seasonal sales to your advantage. For example, at the end of summer sales, stock up on clothes for next summer – you know your child will need that size, so you may as well get them at a bargain! Likewise, it’s never too soon to stock up on Christmas presents – if you see a bargain in the sales, grab it and store it for a later date. Whether you need a gift for your own child or for one of the many birthday parties you’ll be attending, it’s a good idea to have a stock of toys that didn’t cost you full price!
Frugal Green Tips for the Bathroom
60. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
Get into the habit of conserving less water whenever you can – starting with when your brush your teeth. Just wet your toothbrush, then turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, then rinse. This is a small habit for conservnig water that can really add up.
61. Use face cloths instead of disposable wipes
If you’re in the habit of using disposable makeup wipes at the end of the day, replacing them with a environmentally-friendly face cleanser/make up remover and reusable face cloths is not only better for the environment and your bank balance – but your skin will thank you too!
62. Use shampoo and conditioner bars for less packaging
Shampoo and conditioner bars are growing in popularity because they have zero packaging and are generally made with organic, sustainable ingredients. You might just have to sample a few different ones to find the right for your hair type.
63. Use an eco-friendly deodorant
Eco-friendly deodorants like Wild use considerably less packaging than standard deodorants, and are a frugal investment in the long-term as the refill packs are cheaper than buying a new deordorant can every month or so.
64. use a menstrual cup
Menstrating women can make huge savings by replacing tampons and pads with a reusable menstrual cup. The small silicone cup can be reused every cycle, and is very simple to wash.
65. Or, opt for period pants
Alternatively, period pants are another frugal green alternative to traditional menstrual items such as sanitary towels. Designed to be suitable for use for the entire day or night, these are an initial investment – but are far more comfortable and can also be reused every cycle (just read up on the correct care and washing instructions).
66. Opt for sustainable affordable cosmetics and skincare
These days, sustainability is an increasing top priority for buyers – and that means many brands are changing how they create, package, and market their products in order to be more aligned with their target audiences.
As a result, there are far more skincare products and cosmetics that are both affordable and sustainable. Take a look at these best affordable skincare products for some inspiration – the guide features plenty of vegan, cruelty-free products all under $25.
67. Flush the toilet less
If it’s yellow, let it mellow – if it’s brown, flush it down! Did you know that approximately 30% of the total water a household uses is from flushing the toilet? That is a lot of fresh water easily saved if you’re living it after use. I started doing this overnight, primarily because the bathroom is right next to my toddler’s bedroom and I didn’t want to wake her! Saving water is a great plus too, though.
68. Use compostable floss
Floss is another bathroom essential that goes straight to landfill after every use. A simple, frugal swap is to simply buy compostable floss instead!
69. Invest in plastic-free cotton buds
Likewise, save the planet with no harm to your budget by getting plastic-free cotton buds – such as ones made from bamboo. If that doesn’t seem feasible to you right now, how much do you really need cotton buds? Could you replace what you use them for with a reusable cloth?
70. Use natural cleaners
Using natural, homemade bathroom cleaners is another great frugal green living tip. You’ll need two cheap key ingredients: white vinegar, and baking soda. That’s it!
71. TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS
Lower your water bills and be more environmentally friendly by making a consciousffort to reduce your water usage.
This includes shorter showers, but also things like not leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth, filling a washing up bowl with water instead of just running the tap on full etc.
Eco-Friendly Frugal Tips for Laundry
72. Use boxed washing powder instead of liquid tabs
Boxed washing powder is cheaper, more environmentally friendly (because it uses less water), and often comes in recyclable cardboard packaging. This is a no brainer!
73. Think before you wash
How often do you wash your clothes? Are you in the habit of chucking a t-shirt straight in your laundry basket after wearing it for a few hours, or do you wait until you can literally see dirt before you wash something?
If you’re the former, it may be worth getting comfortable with the idea of wearing some items of clothing multiple times before you put them in the wash – don’t let yourself become smelly, but equally, you’d be surprised how long some items can go without needing to go straight into the washing machine.
74. Use a clothesline or airer instead of the tumble dryer
A tumble dryer is a massive drain on your energy bill, so if you’re running it multiple times a week, then your bills are probably much higher than they need to be! In the warmer weather, try using a clothesline to dry your clothes outside (if you have suitable outdoors space, that is).
In the UK, clothes airers (also known as a clothes hores) are a popular way to dry your clothes indoors. They may take a little longer to dry, but you’re making a huge saving on energy.
75. Make your own laundry detergent
Have you ever considered making your own laundry detergent as a frugal green living swap? This recipe for homemade detergent uses just a couple of eco-friendly ingredients.
76. Only use your dishwasher and washing machine when full
This is another frugal and eco-friendly tip that is simply a matter of changing your habits. Instead of putting the dishwasher and washing machine on when you have a few things that need cleaning, try to wait until they’re at the maximum capacity to conserve water and energy.
Frugal Green Living Tips for Travel:
77. Avoid flights
This may be a controversial suggestions, but the most frugal and sustainable way to travel is to simply avoid flying altogether. Staycations in your own country, preferably by using train, are a great alternative.
If that’s not for you, perhaps you could limit the number of flights you take and look into offsetting your flight’s carbon emissions.
78. Take carry-on only
Additionally, travelling like a minimalist is a frugal habit to form and prevents you from picking up more items along the way. This guide into minimalist travel is a useful starting point.
79. Use a reef-friendly sunscreen
Reef-friendly sunscreens are often no more expensive than standard ones, but are far more environmentally friendly for our oceans!
80. Avoid mini toiletries
Mini toiletries are far more expensive than the standard sizes and a waste of plastic. If you need to take toiletries in your carry-on, invest in some recycled plastic toiletry bottles to dispense your existing shampoo, conditioner etc into.
…That’s it! 80 frugal green living tips to be more sustainable without blowing your budget. I hope these tips have given you some inspiration on potential ways you could start making slightly more eco-friendly habits that are still aligned with a frugal mindset.
Frugal Green Lifestyle: Frequently Asked Questions
How to live green and frugal?
Frugal living and green living actually go hand in hand without much effort. If you take a look at a lot of your frugal goals, you’ll notice that many of them tend to already focus on less waste – be that less energy, less money, or less possessions.
Of course, it might be almost impossible to incorporate all 80 ideas into your lifestyle. Living a green life on a budget is about reshaping your existing lifestyle and habits into something that still works for you and your family, but has an added emphasis on sustainability.
For me personally, that means giving up meat and most dairy products, growing my own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, walking or cycling whenever possible, buying plastic-free local produce, buying many pantry items in bulk, and selling/buying second-hand clothes and furniture. Your green life might look a little different, but it’s about finding the habits that work for you and gradually making a big change in your impact on the planet.
What Are The Benefits Of Eco Living?
There are so many benefits of eco-living. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- Reducing your carbon footprint on the planet
- Spending your money with smaller, sustainable businesses
- Connecting with the planet and re-learning skills your ancestors had (such as gardening, knitting, and foraging)
How Do You Completely Live a Completely Green Lifestyle?
If you feel inspired by this post, you could set yourself a challenge to achieve a completely green lifestyle. In all honestly, however, even the most eco-conscious human will still have an impact on the planet. It’s not necessarily about going to extremes, but more about doing what you can. A completely green lifestyle might incorporate:
- An ‘off-grid’ home setup
- Going vegan (perhaps even raw vegan)
- Living a zero-waste lifestyle
- Growing and harvesting your own food
- Only walking and cycling anywhere
- Using fresh natural water sources to drink, wash, and clean your clothes
Is being vegan cheaper than eating meat?
Being vegan can be extremely budget-friendly, but it can also cost far more than a meat-focused diet. It depends on what you buy. If you are going vegan with sustainability in mind, then you might shop seasonally and focus on more vegetables, beans, and legumes in your diet, which is very frugal. A vegan diet of fake meats and vegan junk food, however, is neither eco-friendly nor budget-friendly.
Do I have to go vegan to live green?
Reducing your meat consumption is one of the best things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment, it’s true. However, there doesn’t have to be such a black-and-white divide – often, this alienates people and puts them off making any changes altogether.
Why not focus first on cutting down from having meat in seven dinners a week to just five? Or just eating meat at dinner, and having vegetarian breakfasts and lunches? Assess what will work for you and your lifestyle. If you’re making changes and doing your bit, that’s more than a huge majority of others.
Will living a frugal green lifestyle really make a difference?
For a lot of people, though, saving the world is just too big a concept to wrap our heads around. When we hear things like the ocean being occupied by more plastic than fish by 2050, ice caps are predicted to be melted by x, and X, many of us might find the same thought cropping up: how could one person possibly change any of that from happening?
When I stopped eating meat and dairy products, I had a lot of conversations with people who still ate meat about my choices.
Most people were simply interested in what had triggered me to make such a big diet change and wanted to hear my thoughts. When I explained that among the many reasons I chose to go vegan was a profound concern for the environmental impact the animal industry has on our planet, many responses boiled down to one key come back: sure, that makes sense – but is going vegan really going to make any difference?
Well, perhaps not. But if I go vegan, and my old school friend goes vegan, and a few people that I know from University go vegan and inspire their friends to cut down how much meat and cheese they eat, and a neighbor feels inspired to cut down their meat intake, who maybe inspires their children to go vegetarian – who maybe inspire their friends to do to the same – well, we’re talking a much bigger impact.
That’s the point. You, as one person, might not make a huge impact on your own – not enough to save the planet. But if all of us, as one collective, start taking steps to be more environmentally friendly, we could still reverse where things are going.
Did these frugal green living tips inspire you? Let us know in the comments!
Related posts you might like:
- 120+ Vegan Meal Prep Ideas That Take 30 Minutes Or Less
- 45 Frugal Living Tips To Try in 2022
- What Is A Minimalist Diet? How To Simplify Your Food
- 10 Alternative Living Options Instead Of Getting A Mortgage
- 10 Simple Ways to Get Started with Minimalism
Author Bio
Yasmin Purnell is a freelance writer and the founder of The Wallet Moth. Yasmin is on a mission to help her readers achieve control of their own finances and live an independent life that isn’t controlled by a number in a bank account. When she’s not tapping away at her keyboard, you’ll find Yasmin spending quality time outdoors with her daughter, cooking up a plant-based storm on ByTheForkful.com, or enjoying a yin yoga class.