Leading a sustainable lifestyle is not a mere trend anymore. Sure, many of us have switched from using plastic bags or avoid the occasional plastic straw; but, making an actual lifestyle change seems confusing and, quite honestly, expensive. A sustainable lifestyle aims to reduce one’s use of natural resources and cultivate habits that leave less of an ecological footprint on the world.
Sustainability, in general, is perceived to be expensive, though. If we go by our understanding of conscious-living from social media, it translates to celebrities using trendy jute bags and influencers wearing sustainable but often high-end labels. They may seem affordable, but buying them can create quite the dent in our pocket. We forget that the aim of leading a sustainable lifestyle is to buy less and not more. Here are some ways you can adopt a sustainable lifestyle– without stretching the budget.
Eat Local – According to the Food Revolution Network, Eating local food reduces CO2 emissions by reducing food miles — the distance food travels from farm to consumer. Not only that, eating locally grown food is a healthier option, according to experts, since the produce takes it’s a natural course to grow; hence, the use of pesticides will be minimal. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables authentic to your location can also help boost the economy.
Consider buying used products – Be it furniture, clothes, or even electronic appliances; used products are cheaper. Of course, it’s key to purchase items that are in good condition. So, if you do a little internet-digging, it’s not too hard to get your hands on a vintage home-decor piece or a lovely couch at a throwaway price.
Swap everyday items – We don’t put too much thought while buying a toothbrush, do we? Swapping a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo variant can be the first step toward saving the planet. The same applies to plastic straws, which can be traded with metal straws, and plastic bags can be replaced with reusable cloth bags.
A lot of these items cannot be bought all at once. Locating stores that sell organic products and dividing the stuff you need into immediate and long-term baskets can help ease the load of spending quickly.
Consider remaking old clothes – Buying from thrift stores to adapting a capsule wardrobe, people are adopting new ways to be conscious without compromising on fashion. Converting old clothes instead of throwing them away can be unexpectedly refreshing. Take your used pair of jeans to a local tailor or cut your teeshirts and transform them into crop tops; it’s not that hard, really. Repurposing what you already have instead of longing after buying more is a great place to start.
The small things matter – From trimming a few minutes off your showers to save water, to consciously turning off lights while leaving the room, it all counts.
Don’t be too hard on yourself for the occasional slip-up or indulgence. However, understand that the implications of our actions are more significant than they may seem. Not only are we contributing to a better and greener future, but are also influencing people we interact with– using herd mentality to the world’s favor, for once. Planning out this journey is more comfortable and cheaper than putting it off.