Being Greener Isn’t as Hard (or Expensive) as You Think

A lot of people think that living a more eco-friendly lifestyle is something that is difficult, expensive and often boring, but that really could not be further from the truth. Sure, you can spend a lot of money on green gadgets and the like and you can reduce your lifestyle to the bare minimum, but you really don’t have to. There are so many small switches and simple changes you can make to, at the very least, achieve being greener and it probably isn’t as hard (or expensive) as you think.

Use the car less

One of the biggest things you can do to improve your eco-credentials is to ditch your car completely and use other methods of transport such as bicycles, public transport or your legs to get around, but by no means is this essential. Simply not using the car for journeys that are less than a mile or two will make a huge amount of difference to the planet without impacting your life very severely. You may even find that you enjoy the morning cycle to work or early evening walk to the shops, and you’ll certainly get fitter as a result. You’ll save money at the petrol pump too! It really isn’t any hardship.

Or switch to a greener car

If you really don’t want to give up on using the car as frequently as you do, you could also look into getting a more environmentally friendly vehicle next time you upgrade. There are more electric or hybrid cars on the market than ever before and these can considerably reduce your emissions. I know they are expensive though, which is why it is also worth considering switching from petrol to diesel which gives out approximately 20 percent less CO₂. If you do this, it means you don’t even have to give up fancy fast cars like the New Jaguar XE is that’s your thing. Compromise is the key to this eco-friendly thing and there is almost always an acceptable compromise you can make no matter what your lifestyle is like.

Buy Second-hand

If beautiful designer clothes are your thing, you might think that there is no way you can give them up to reduce the burden of toxic chemicals and air miles that they produce, but you’d be wrong! It’s never been easier to find decent quality second-hand clothing from the biggest and best designers on the planet. By buying used, you can reduce your personal burden on the earth and save a surprising amount of money.

Or buy Eco Brands

If second-hand isn’t your thing, or you can’t find what you want by buying second-hand, you could look outside of your usual design houses to the increasing number of eco-conscious designers of which there are many. Whether you’re into boho chic or classic style, I can guarantee you will be able to find eco-friendly wardrobe additions to meet your needs. Admittedly, these can be as, if not more expensive, than traditional designers, but due to their eco nature, they do tend to use high-quality natural materials, which means, if you look after the right, they could last you a lifetime.

Eat more pulses

One of the areas that put a lot of people off going green is food, They think that they’ll have to become a tofu eating vegan if they want to make a difference. Again, this really is not the case. Although tofu is great – you should try it – there is no need to give up meat and cheese if you really do love it. What you can do instead is buy a little bit less of it and bulk your meals out with foods that impact on the earth less instead. Pulses are great for this because they have a pretty neutral flavour and can easily be added to soups, stews and casseroles without changing the core of the dish. They’re also dirt cheap and so very good for you, so it’s a win-win situation. Give it a try and I’m sure you’ll be a convert.

And Eat Local

Eating locally produces food is also a good way to cut down on your carbon footprint because you’ll be eating food that hasn’t been transported thousands of miles to get to your plate. A lot of people think that local produce is always more expensive, but things like potatoes and eggs can be bought locally for not much more than you can get them at the supermarket, and they tend to be fresher, which means they taste better and last longer) thus cutting down on food waste too.

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

This might sound like a lot of hassle, but actually it can take you as little as a couple of minutes, it’ll save you money and you’ll get rid of all of those harsh chemicals around the home. The staples of homemade cleaning products are white vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice, which you can buy pretty much anywhere, but if you want to make them smell even more amazing, you might want to invest in a couple of essential oils too.

Switch to a Green Energy Supplier

It will take you just a few minutes to switch to a green energy supplier and costs are competitive. Many green energy companies even offer incentives such as store vouchers to anyone who switches, so at the very least, check it out.

Switch to LED Lightbulbs

While we’re on the subject of energy, it’s worth mentioning that switching to LED lightbulbs will make your home more energy-efficient. It will also save you money in the long-term because they have a much longer life span than traditional lightbulbs. Here in the UK and the EU, you can no longer even buy the old-style bulbs but if you’re reading this from elsewhere, it’s an easy change you can make.

Switch Everything Off

Another simple energy tip that could save you money as well as being great for the planet is switching appliances off at the wall when you aren’t using them. It’s amazing how much energy those little standby lights can use over the course of a year!

Use Libraries

Using libraries instead of buying books, DVDs, games and toys – some places even have tool libraries now – is a great way to cut your family’s consumption and save a little cash. It’s also a good way to get more involved in your local community and show your support for what is a vital community resource for a lot of people. If you have kids, they’ll love getting lost in the stacks and being able to bring home as many books as they can carry. 

Or Borrow from Friends and Family

Instead of buying that new lawnmower, why not borrow your neighbours or instead of buying a new food mixer when you know you’ll only use it a handful of times a year why not see is a friend would be happy to lend you theirs when you need it. As long as you’re willing to let them borrow some of your stuff too, it can be a great way for you all to save money without having to do without the things you need when you need them.

Recycle and Upcycle

Instead of throwing things out when they get a bit tatty or there’s an obvious use for them anymore, think creatively and see if you could reuse them instead. For example, you can turn an old chest of drawers into a fancy bed for your dog, old jam jars can be painted and used as tealight holders and old t-shirts can be made into a one-of-a-kind blanket to decorate your home. Not only will this keep your stuff out of landfill and potentially save you money, but it could be a brilliant new hobby for you and the family too.

Staycation

Instead of going abroad for every holiday, why not explore the beauty of the Lake District or Cornwall instead? We have so much beauty right on our doorstep, but many of us have seen far more of other parts of the world than we have our own. This is such a shame and staying in the country for your next holiday will at least mean no airport queues!

Do What you can

None of us is perfect. And if we try to be perfect, we will most likely fail at living a more eco-conscious lifestyle.  The best thing you can do if you want to be a little greener is to take baby steps, change what you easily can and keep building on from that. If there’s something less than green that you truly love, keep doing it – make changes where you can but if not don’t sweat it. We all have our part to play but we still need to live, love and enjoy life and being green shouldn’t and doesn’t need to get in the way of that. You’re doing your best and that’s what matters most!

* Disclosure: This was a collaborative post