How to Live Sustainably on a Budget- 10 actionable Ideas

We all have a misconception that it’s impossible to live sustainably on a budget. But if we want to live an eco-friendly sustainable life, there are various options available that actually will save us money in the long term.

Living sustainably doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, with a few mindful choices, you can live a sustainable life on a budget. In this post, I will give you a high-level overview of the choices you can make to live a sustainable lifestyle on a budget without sacrificing your values.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Embrace Minimalism

Most of us are blessed with more stuff than we need. When I started my sustainable life journey, I was surprised to see so much stuff in my cupboards.

I only follow one simple rule, if I buy 1 new item of anything, 1 item of the same category goes to the donation box. Because of this rule, there were several times when I stopped myself from buying new stuff as I didn’t want to put in the effort of finding another piece to give away.

I understand it will be difficult to give up those shopping trips and the pleasure we get from them, but there is no other way. We have to reduce our purchases to limit the content we have.

5 Ways to Embrace Minimalism: Unlock Sustainable Living for a Happier Life

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Buy Second-hand, Barter, Trade and Ask

Thrift stores and online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist are gold mines for sustainable shopping. I find everything at a fraction of the cost. Plus, buying second-hand reduces waste and the demand for new production.

You can trade the stuff you have and it’s not just material stuff, I have traded time, and manual labor for various things in life and I continue to do that.

There are amazing resources available all around us, we just need to get creative and ask for it.

Reducing purchasing will help with our budget and also a sustainable lifestyle.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Plan Your Meals

Food waste is a significant contributor to environmental pollution. If food is dumped along with other waste, it releases harmful gases impacting the environment and everyone’s health too.

Planning your meals well in advance can help reduce waste significantly and save you money too. I create my weekly menu every Saturday at noon and put it on the fridge. This is a fun exercise at home and both my kids have their preferences and my partner wants more healthy food, so I have a lot of fun deciding the weekly menu. Together we develop a weekly menu that hardly changes during the week. We create a shopping list and Sundays are dedicated to grocery shopping and eating out as a family.

We also try visiting local farmer’s markets to get fresh produce as it supports sustainability and also the local economy. I try to support whatever small way I can.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Opt for DIY Solutions

There are quite a lot of things that I used to buy from super market especially when it comes to the cleaning department but it has been quite a few years since I bought any cleaning supplies from the market. You can check out “5 Incredible Benefits I Discovered Using Natural Cleaning Supplies for a Healthier Home and Environment” to learn more about homemade cleaning products.

Mainly you need Baking soda , citric acid and white vinegar for most of the cleaning supplies.

Another department I have stopped visiting is personal hygiene products as most of these products come in plastic packaging which is the biggest environmental threat in my opinion. So, I have started making my own or started buying eco-friendly hygiene products be it shampoo, body wash, face wash, or several other products.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Reduce Energy Consumption

Initially, I installed solar panels in my garden and started using the natural electricity and my electricity bill went down like 30% less than average.

Most of my neighbors got curious and asked for details about it. Looking at everyone’s interest in this, I did some research and spoke to the relevant authorities and got permits, etc. After clearing all the hurdles, we installed multiple solar panels in our community garden backyard and it supplies electricity to all our houses. Almost 50 houses are covered with this non-polluting electricity.

It has been going strong for the past 5+ years with minimal maintenance. We have made a 5-member team to look after all the issues which do need some attention at times.

We also made some fundamental changes in our lifestyle, like switching to LED bulbs, starting to unplug devices when not in use, and using energy-efficient appliances. As a community, we have put together a guideline for hosting events and its working amazingly and saving us cost and carbon foot print too.

I also air-drying clothes and use natural light instead of electric lighting when possible.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Use Public Transportation or Carpool

I have a basic rule, if my destination is within 3 miles, I go by walking and it helps me get my exercise, saves fuel, and saves the environment.

For any distance longer than 3 miles, I prefer my bike and if that’s not doable, I try to opt for public transport either by bus or train as far as possible. This saves me money on gas and maintenance while reducing my carbon footprint.

But at times, public transport isn’t an option due to various factors time being the biggest one, I try to do the carpooling with friends or colleagues to cut emissions.

I am lucky that in my society, we do car-pool even to pick and drop kids at school. It saves time, fuel, and emissions.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Grow Your Food

This was my partner’s initiative as I am not very interested in gardening. But he started growing small herbs like basil, mint, coriander, lemons, and spinach on our balcony and I started feeling the difference in our usage and we all started enjoying homemade food a little more.

Slowly we got so used to having homegrown herbs that we wanted almost all our fruits and veggies to be grown at home but that was not possible due to lack of space and time. We both joined a community garden where we share resources both money and time with others and get almost all our weekly vegetables and fruits. I am sure this helps in reducing our carbon footprints to a great extent.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Buy in Bulk

There is quite a bit of stuff which is needed regularly. The biggest example of this would be toilet paper, I make sure to buy bamboo toilet paper in bulk. Generally, I get this delivered from Amazon in really big quantities and store it in my basement.

You can read about it “2 Essential Sustainable Bath Products for an Eco-Friendly Revolution”. I am also always looking for bulk bins at my local grocery store or warehouse clubs. I mainly focus on staples like grains, legumes, nuts, and dried fruits. This reduces packaging waste and often costs less per unit. Purchasing items in bulk can lead to significant savings.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Educate Yourself and Get Involved

Knowledge is power. I try to stay informed about sustainability practices and find ways to get involved in my community. I also include my kids, and friends in these gatherings and make them fun events for them to start liking it. I attend several workshops conducted by governments, NGOs, etc. I have joined local sustainability groups, I have participated in community clean-up, and beach clean-up events.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Practice Mindful Spending

As I have stated as the first item, buy less and buy what is necessary. Before making a purchase, I ask myself if it’s truly necessary. And if it’s necessary, I check if there are any eco-friendly options available that will serve the same purpose.

Avoid impulse buys and prioritize quality over quantity. Investing in durable, sustainable products can save you money in the long run.

Live Sustainably on a Budget- Conclusion

Living sustainably on a budget is not only achievable but can also be rewarding. By making thoughtful choices, I have reduced my environmental impact and also saved money simultaneously. I started with very small changes like replacing my plastic toothbrush with wooden toothbrushes and replacing my sanitary pads with the menstrual cup. It has been almost a decade-long journey and I can proudly say that I am living a bit sustainable life.  Remember, every little bit helps!

Above is only the high-level detail of each of my ideas for sustainable living. I will be writing soon in detail about each item. Please read on.

You can read my other posts here.