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We've been talking about all things sustainable and eco-friendly this month, from investments to upcycling. Living more sustainably can save you a lot of cash, but there are a few traps that many will fall into in the quest for a more eco-friendly life.
While buying in bulk had the potential to save you hundreds to thousands of dollars each year, one must exercise caution when heading to Costco or a bulk food store. If you eat rice for lunch at work every day, one of the 10kg bags is, of course, a great purchase. You're saving cash buy buying a larger quantity, and you're saving the earth by butting down on packaging. However, if you buy products in bulk that you don't use or eat quickly enough, it is probably going to expire, and you will have to throw the excess away. Be sure to only bulk buy products that you can eat or consume fast enough.
We've all been here: It's January 1st, you are determined to 'get healthy' this year. You buy an expensive gym membership, new running shoes, 7 sets of activewear, 5 kilograms of protein powder, and expensive wireless headphones. You go to the gym twice, your shoes gather dust at the back of your closet, your activewear is now pyjamas, the protein powder has expired, and your headphones haven't been taken out of the box. When changing a habit or forming a new one, we feel the need to purchase new things to 'inspire' us. This is often the case with an eco-friendly lifestyle. We will want to go out and buy a set of 15 reusable jars, and replace all our cleaning products with natural ones. But doing this actually just costs more money. Take it one step at a time, and use up what you have before purchasing something new. At their core, sustainable and frugal living mean buying less.
It is very easy to make mistakes when making a lifestyle change, or trying to curb a spending habit. You will definitely slip up sometimes, and that's okay. if you spend a bit more than you'd like one week, simply make a goal to avoid doing so the following week. The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up for a small mistake, as this will make you more likely to completely throw in the towel and begin spending even more. Making small, positive changes each week will ensure you build solid money saving habits for your future.
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