I don’t think about the things that I reuse as much these days because it’s become second nature to me. It’s actually one of my favorite ways to save money because not only am I saving money, but I’m also doing something good for the environment too. All the more reason to figure out ways to reuse or reduce my waste.
We are know the 3 R’s; reduce, reuse, and recycle. Do you partake in all of these things? I hope you recycle whatever you can recycle because it can really help the environment. Recycling doesn’t save you as much money, nor is it as good for the environment as reducing and reusing. When you reduce and reuse you’re saving the cost of the energy it takes to make that new item that you were going to use.
Even if it was something that was recycled it still takes energy to actually recycle. People have to go around picking up your recyclables. They then have to take them somewhere where they are sorted. Then they are taken somewhere to be used for something new. If you find a way to reduce or reuse something instead you’re saving all that energy.
But you don’t have to really care about all that to reduce and reuse. If you care about money then you can do it for that reason alone. There’s no excuse for not saving your money. Try saving your money with some of my favorite ways to reduce and reuse.
1- Stop using so many paper napkins
You might not really think about this one because it’s just so easy to use paper napkins all the time. However, I changed to cloth napkins a few years ago and I love it. You can buy a whole bunch of them and use them instead of the one time use paper napkins. It’s really easy to just throw them into the washer with the rest of your laundry. Then they’re good as new. You’ve now saved yourself from buying paper napkins all the time.
I still use paper napkins every now and then for some things that I don’t want to get on my cloth napkins, but it’s so much less use. You know what else? I love the feel of using the cloth napkins instead of the paper. Makes me feel like I’m at a fancy restaurant or something when we make dinner at home, even though we’re just eating pizza. It’s really an easy one to give a go for a very small investment. Now, I prefer my cloth napkins, and I think you would too.
2- Get your own water bottle
Everyone needs to drink water, but does it have to be from a plastic bottle? You should have some plastic bottles on hand in case of an emergency, but it shouldn’t be a habit. I don’t like drinking out of plastic anyway. Don’t ask me why, but it just doesn’t taste as good. You might be thinking, “oh whatever”, but let me tell you this. I had a friend that hated drinking water because it didn’t taste good. I saw they were using a plastic bottle. I told them to try getting a water filter and putting it in a glass water bottle instead. It converted them into a water drinker. They couldn’t believe the difference it made in taste.
Now, this won’t be so black and white for everyone, but water does have different tastes. Sometimes you have to find the right water filter that gives you the taste you’re looking for in your water. Even different waters that are sold in plastic bottles will taste different. So if you try your first filtered water in a glass bottle and you don’t like it you shouldn’t just give up. Give it a chance with another type of water filter. You might find that you like the taste a whole lot better.
Once you find your favorite glass water bottle and your go to water filter you’ll be saving all sorts of money by not having to buy plastic water bottles all the time. This takes a little bit of effort, but you can also feel good that it’s good for the environment too.
3- Reuse those bags
We get bags from everywhere. You shop at the grocery store and you’ll come home with bags. You’ll buy those zip lock bags and use them. You’ll get paper bags from your shopping trip. Then what are you doing with them? Are you throwing them away after just one use? I hope not. I never do unless the bag has had it.
With Ziplock type plastic bags I will sometimes just wash those and reuse them. Especially when whatever was in them wasting so messy anyway, like a sandwich for lunch for example. A quick rinse by hand and then I let them air dry. They’re good to go again for another use.
When you get your plastic grocery bags you can store them away and use them as trash bags in your bathrooms and anywhere else you have a smaller trash can. I try not to get any plastic bags unless I need them to use for trash. I never buy trash bags for the bathrooms. I use the free ones that are given to me with my groceries.
I use the paper bags for my recyclables. I have a separate “trash can” for things that are to be recycled, but you’re not supposed to put those plastic grocery bags into the recycle bin. You can put paper bags in there though. So I use the paper bag in there, fill it wil things that need to be recycled and then simply just take out the whole thing and but the whole bag in the recycle container I have outside. Nice and easy, and it keeps my recycles bins inside clean.
4- Bring your own shopping bag
Those plastic and paper grocery bags are such a waste though. If you don’t need them for other uses that don’t just keep taking the free stuff that you don’t need. Instead you can take your own shopping bag with you the next time you shop and you’ll be doing good for the environment. In some places, like Bi Lo, you’ll also be literally saving money because you brought in your own bag. They’ll count the bags and discount you five cents per bag. It’s not much, but it all adds up. Take 5 bags each time and that’s a quarter a week. 52 weeks and that’s $13.
Saving money and the environment isn’t the only reason why I take my own bag around when I grocery shop. It’s also a lot easier to carry when I get home. With my own shopping bags I can put them on my shoulders and carry a lot more much more easily than with the plastic bags. I really do prefer using them. I also take a cooler bag for my cold item and it keeps my ice cream and milk cold in the car.
5- Quit using non reusable plastics, silverware, containers etc
Do you find yourself using plastic silverware because you don’t feel like doing the dishes? I get it, we all like to be lazy every now and then, but don’t make it a habit. You’re just throwing money away. It’s cheaper for you to use your real silverware and then just wash them with the rest of the dishes.
Some of these things might not seem like they’c really make that much of a difference to the environment, or even your wallet. But it all adds up. If everyone in the world were to use one less paper napkin a week, or one less plastic water bottle a week, or one less of anything that you can reduce or reuse then it would really make a difference. That’s billions of water bottles saved or paper napkins saved. Plus millions of dollars saved too.