When it comes to sustainable home solutions, more often than not they tend to cost more than they save. So if you do not want to completely redesign your home's energy system, here are some great money-saving hacks that will help the environment too.
Whether you're using sustainable garden ideas in your outdoor space regularly or are simply looking for ways to reduce waste, figuring out easy quick swaps to make in your daily routine can be a great place to start.
Aside from the usual ways to live sustainably, there are some helpful habits you can pick up which will stop you from using and buying more than you need.
Considering this, we spoke to a sustainability expert to find out what hacks we could use to live a much greener more financially responsible life.
Five home hacks to save you money and reduce waste
So what steps can you take to create a more sustainable home? Similar to the ways you can improve your home's health, there are several steps you can take to make more sustainable choices and actions.
Here are five sustainable home hacks recommended by Bernie Wiley, Director of Sustainability at Who Gives A Crap, the ethical toilet paper brand.
1. Go solid
One of the easiest ways to reduce your plastic consumption as well as save money, is to go solid with your cleaning products. Aside from levelling up expert cleaning hacks, choosing solid products for your personal hygiene is also a really great idea.
"Bar products like soaps and shampoos can often go further and last longer than their liquid counterparts, making them a great money-saver. With minimal packaging of recyclable paper or cardboard, these bars are also a more planet-friendly alternative to plastic bottles," explains Bernie.
Another advantage of solid cleaning bars is that they take up a lot less space in your bathroom, so if you're constantly looking for ways to declutter your bathroom and keep it free from an endless supply of bottles, go solid!
2. Bulk buy
If you're a member of a larger household you may have already been bulk buying for a long time, but there's no denying the money it can save you in the long run. Unless you're trying to learn how to organise a small space in your home then bulk buying may make that a little difficult.
Bernie is quick to highlight just how useful bulk buying is, when the space allows of course. "Save by switching up your shopping habits to favour bulk buys. While this may be a larger initial investment, bulk items are often sold at a cheaper rate per unit, saving you money in the long run," he says.
And it's not just food, Bernie explains that cleaning products, pet food, tissues and more can all be bought in bulk too. Shopping this way will also help you automatically cut down on your plastic usage, it's a win-win!
3. Reuse food containers
Similar to how you'd use eggshells in the garden instead of putting them straight in the bin, you can reuse your old food containers too. Whether it's old jam jars or plastic Tupperware from your weekend takeaway, these seemingly single-use items can be used for months after you first get them.
"You can reuse old storage containers, everything from old jam jars to yesterday’s takeaway boxes can be given another life with leftovers. These are particularly great for decanting food from home for snacking when you’re on the move, avoiding the additional plastic of pre-packaged snacks which can also often be more expensive," says Bernie.
4. Remove single-use products from your life
It's not just making the most of the single-use items you already have but also trying to avoid using them or buying them altogether. Only purchasing reusable products is the most effective way of reducing your waste consumption.
Swapping your regular cling film use with clean tea towels, beeswax wrap or even silicone bowl covers can stop your need to ever purchase the plastic wrap again. "You’ll always get more for your money when you can reuse an item. For instance, when tackling daily spills in the kitchen, opting for reusable dishcloths instead of traditional paper towels will mean you get hundreds of uses rather than just one," explains Bernie.
If you want to clean your house like a professional there's nothing like a high-quality microfibre cloth and of course, you can wash and reuse for as long as possible.
5. Choose refillable
In more recent years, a lot of brands have begun selling refills for their beloved products, whether that's your favourite multi-purpose cleaner or body lotion. Not only do these refills usually come in recyclable packaging but they're often cheaper too!
Bernie explains that these refillable products stop plastic bottles from ending up in landfills, with billions collecting there each year. "So opting for refillable products can make a positive impact on the environment as well as your wallet - as you are paying for the contents of the product not just the packaging," he says.
So when you're next shopping for your kitchen cleaning routine, why not opt for a refillable option and save yourself some money in the long run?
Now you've incorporated these sustainable home hacks why not take it outdoors by installing a rain chain or even trying your hand at rainwater harvesting? Both these instalments are a great way to increase your garden's eco-friendliness whilst cutting down your costs and consumption of water.
