Save Money and Help Save The Planet Using These Eco-friendly Tips

As I’m getting older, I have become more aware of the impact we all have on the health of our precious planet Earth. It is quite apparent that if each of us were to take just a small step each day to live a more sustainable life using just a few, or all of these eco-friendly tips, we can and will make a difference. With this in mind, we need to start now in order to leave a healthier planet for the generations which follow us.

Over the past few years, I’ve made some changes in my home, which have not only saved money in the long run but are eco-friendly as well. Switching out certain things I have used which create more garbage for items that do not harm our environment is sure to make a difference. Here are very some very easy swaps you can make in your home.

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. Switch to cloth napkins – get rid of paper napkins. Cloth napkins for everyday use don’t need to be fancy. And, if you want to save even more money, watch for sales on cloth napkins and stock up. I like these cloth napkins because they are relaxed looking, and there are many beautiful colors to choose from.

. Ditch paper towels. You can use old rags/towels or, I have purchased the “ Unpaper towel”. They are very absorbent and wash nicely. These come in many different patterns and colors. For example, I choose the lemon pattern, which looks quite pretty displayed in my kitchen.

. Reusable dish covers – Switch out your plastic wrap or foil for these reusable dish covers. They fit many different size containers and look really cute! They also wash exceptionally well. Another option would be beeswax food covers. I have used these in the past and loved them.

. Ditch the foil and replace it with silicone baking mats which are reusable.

. Swap out the Ziploc-type bags and use these reusable snack bags. They come in many different size/color options, etc. Just wash them in hot soapy water and let air dry. I usually flip mine inside out to dry to help them dry faster. These in particular are BPA-free and dishwasher safe.

, Say no to single-use straws – Instead, use reusable straws. There are many options in this department. I prefer stainless-steel straws because they will last forever. There are also bamboo and silicone options available. For use on the go, get yourself a few collapsible straws that tuck away easily in your purse or pocket.

. Ditch the K-cups for your hot drinks – These create mounds and mounds of garbage and are just not necessary. Using ground coffee with a reusable filter is a great eco-friendly swap.

. Ditch the cotton rounds for makeup or nail polish removal – Switching to reusable facial rounds just makes more sense. I wash my facial rounds in a chemical-free laundry detergent so I have peace of mind knowing I’m not putting added chemicals on my face when using them.

. Use bar soap rather than liquid body wash in a plastic bottle.

. Wash your clothes in cold water – I have found a plant-derived laundry detergent that is formulated to work in cold water, which cuts down on my energy bill, and yes, my clothes are just as clean if not cleaner! Each household that makes the switch to cold-water washing eliminates about 1,600 lbs. of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

. Use beauty products that only have clean ingredients. This is a much healthier choice for you and our planet.

. Use concentrated, plant-derived household cleaners – This saves a ton of plastic being dumped into our landfills and oceans. When purchasing name-brand cleaners, you are actually mainly purchasing water. Why buy water when you can add it at home, saving money and plastic. In addition, using household cleaners that are plant-derived is much better for the environment.

. Ditch the plastic bags from the store – bring your own canvas bags instead. I love all the color choices with this brand!

. Rather than buying bottled water, purchase a stainless-steel bottle and keep refilling. You can learn many more great tips on how to stop using plastic bottles in Agi’s blog *** Karma.Style. Here is the link directly to her blog post on How to Stop Using Plastic Bottles.

. When shopping, choose to purchase from companies that are focused on the environment.

This is just a small list of eco-friendly tips to help save you money and benefit the health of our planet. As a result, by implementing even just one of the tips above, you are taking a giant step in the right direction.

.Use canvas gift bags in lieu of wrapping paper. I’ve purchased many different varieties and have not been disappointed yet. Many of these bags are so beautiful that it is like giving an additional gift to that special someone. I’ve linked some of my favorites below:

3D Design Fabric Christmas 15 x 8″

Cloth Gift Bags Christmas Design with Satin Ribbon Drawstrings 12 x 18″

Buffalo Plaid Bag 16×12 inch, 12x10inch

“Many people still believe that ‘green’ solutions are too expensive, but they are actually much cheaper when all of the costs to public health, social services, and waste handling are factored into the same equation.” – Majora Carter

***REFERENCE: For more eco-friendly tips, and fun DIY projects visit Agi’s blog Karma.Style