One of the unanticipated benefits (really!) of the coronavirus crisis has been the decrease in air pollution and CO2 emissions across the world — particularly in some of the world’s biggest cities. It’s amazing to see how just a week or two of having people stay home has had such an impact on our environment.
While broad sweeping changes are certainly needed to address climate change long-term, it’s interesting to see how these seemingly small changes can make a difference. For a long time, I thought I didn’t have the money or time to do the issue justice. I was too busy to plant a garden. I couldn’t afford to buy organic. And yet, over the past few years I’ve learned there are many ways to live a sustainable lifestyle that can actually help you save money (and the planet) in the process.
Here are some ideas:
· Purchase a CSA Share: A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share is a great way to support local farms and get fresh (even organic) produce. You pay an upfront fee in exchange for what’s ready for harvest each week throughout the growing season. Our share last year worked out to about $18/week for a 12-quart box of produce — even cheaper than the grocery store!
Tip: Nervous about paying the upfront fee? Consider borrowing it from your savings. Then, pay it back in weekly installments. In our case, we set up an automatic transfer of $18/week from our checking account to our savings account throughout the growing season so the cost of the CSA was factored into our weekly grocery budget.
· Shop at the Farmer’s Market: Not quite ready for the CSA commitment? Shop your local farmer’s market. Take your grocery list to the farmer’s market and see how many items — beyond just produce — you can purchase there. Better yet, buy the best-looking items from the farmer’s market and frame the meals for the next week around what you purchased.
Tip: Love having fresh cut flowers to brighten up your home? Farmer’s markets are a great place to buy them. They offer a wide variety of long-lasting flowers at unbeatable prices.
· Focusing on Quality, not Quantity: It’s amazing (and a little depressing) how much money we’ve spent on clothes, bags, coats, and household items over the years because we bought the cheapest product and it wore out so quickly. Sometimes the item with the best deal isn’t really the best value. We’ve started to buy higher quality items when we can. We’ve pay a little more upfront, but we also know the items are made to last so we won’t have to buy them again for a while. This means less waste and less money spent over the long-term.
Tip: As you’re investing in items, try to buy from companies that stand behind their products if something happens to them. We’ve been particularly impressed with Patagonia, which is committed to repairing their merchandise and providing you with a new item, if needed.
· Minimize Your Life: Downsizing from a 4-bedroom home to a 2-bedroom apartment almost half its size was probably one of the best moves my husband and I could make to simplify our lives. I realize this isn’t for everyone, but the next time you’re searching for a new home or apartment, step back and ask yourself: How much space do we really need? The best part: Less space often comes at a lower price tag.
Tip: While you may not be looking for a new home in the near future, you can also minimize by decluttering your home. Challenge yourself to throw away as a little as possible: Sell or donate old furniture, and recycle old electronics.
· Buy Directly from the Source: Some green-friendly items (like fair trade coffee or sustainable cleaning supplies) can be extra expensive when you buy them from the grocery store. When possible, go directly to the producer of the item to see if you can get a better deal. It may be less convenient, but it’s likely to save you money over time.
Tip: Found an item you can’t live without? See if there’s a monthly club or bulk deal you can get directly from the producer.
· Audit Your Transportation: One of the best parts of moving to the city is that my husband and I very rarely use our cars now. We try to walk as many places as we can and only take an Uber or drive when it’s really necessary. We’ve saved a lot of money on gas and parking fees in the process. Once the weather is nicer, we’re also hoping to start biking more to give us an even larger radius we can go without driving.
Tip: Pay close attention to the places you go on a regular basis, like work, your gym, or the grocery store. Could you use more sustainable transportation to get there — by foot, bike, train, or bus? Could you carpool with someone who lives nearby?
What other ideas do you have for living sustainably while also saving money in the process?
As a reminder, I’m offering free access to my favorite money dates from my Date Night Club during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope these casual, insightful, and even fun series of questions and activities can help you and your partner get on the same page about your finances – even in the midst of these challenging circumstances. I guarantee you it will be an hour well-spent. There are a variety of topics available from goal setting to debt reduction to prioritizing your financial goals – so you can come back again and again.