It’s pretty obvious that in today’s day and age, there is a lot of waste happening. Whether it be food, materials, or time, waste is all around us. So what are some things we can do to save money and reduce waste? I’m so glad you asked.
01
Reduce! Limit what you buy
Obviously, the first thing we can do to save money and prevent waste is to reduce our consumption. Unnecessary buying of items is the biggest culprit. So stop buying unnecessary and useless stuff! I see this a lot in a couponing group that I’m a part of. Just because it’s a good deal, doesn’t mean you need to go buy a ton of something. Especially if it’s going to go to waste. If you have a plan for it, or it’s necessary, great! But don’t buy stuff just because it’s a good deal.
02
Reduce how much you use!
This can mean getting scrappy or just being mindful of how much of something you’re using. For example, cutting sponges (or cleaning sponges) in half can help you make a product go farther. Ensuring you’re using the right amount of hair products (gel, shampoo, conditioner, etc.) can also stretch those items and help you save. I’m not suggesting you sell yourself short on things, but being mindful of this can certainly help. This can apply to all sorts of things: toothpaste, laundry/dish soap, even electricity!
03
Reuse!
You can reuse so many items. Glass jars, clothes, bags, etc. I’ve even seen people take thrifted items and remake them into something else. I love seen candles in old teacups. The possibilities are endless!
04
Find new purpose
Sometimes we can find a new purpose for an item that seemingly has come to the end of its life. The first one I think of is old shirts. My family use to rip or cut them up and use them for rags in the barn. I’ve also cut up shirts and used them to make a scrap rug (this was in combination with material that was already cut up and I had thrifted). Is it perfect? Nope! I love it anyways though (see featured image). I’ve also seen people make bags or different clothes, stuffed animals, and more! The internet is full of ideas!
05
Recycle
This may be a more traditional idea, but recycling can help with money too! Especially with pop cans or glass bottles. I’ve seen people do fundraisers by collecting and returning bottles and cans. When I got laid off in 2021, there was someone who posted on social media about some cans and bottles that they didn’t feel like returning. My husband went and picked them up and returned to them and we made close to $100. It was a huge blessing for us at that time. Now that may only work in certain states or countries, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.
06
Recycle
You can also recycle in non-traditional ways, although this may look similar to reusing. You can use grocery bags as trash bags, or give egg cartons to small farms or other people you know that can reuse them! We try to always return ours to my family because they have chickens! I’ve also seen people recycle/reuse glass jars for canning or filling with treats and gifting. The possibilities are endless!
What other ideas do you have? Share your thoughts below!