Contrary to popular belief, living low-waste does not have to mean that you need to flip your world upside down and spend a fortune on expensive eco-friendly products. The best part? Sustainable living is a win-win that often pays for itself.

Whether you are a broke college kid, a parent struggling to provide for your family, or anything in between — if you want to be more environmentally conscious but don't have the money for expensive products (or no desire to buy them) then keep reading because we are going to go over some very practical and actionable tips on how you can live sustainably without spending an arm and a leg. Ranging from kitchen hacks to grocery shopping tricks, these tips are all actionable and will pay off right away — for both your wallet and the planet!

See how your daily routine has small but great effects in terms of savings and a healthier planet.

Tip #1: Get Good at Planning and Meal Prepping

The Effects of Food Waste on Your Wallet and the Environment

One surprising fact: The average U.S. family wastes roughly $1,500 in food a year! It is similar to throwing away 15–20% of your grocery dollar! Moreover, when food waste ends up in landfills it produces methane gas — a gas that is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere.

Smart Meal Planning Strategies

Menu Planning 101:

• Commit to doing this for one day each week

• Check what we already have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry first

• Plan recipes that use similar ingredients so that nothing goes to waste

• Keep a running grocery list on your phone over the course of the week

Batch Cooking:

• Make BIG batches of grains (rice, quinoa, pasta) on Sundays

• Prepare protein sources in large quantities (grilled chicken, beans, hard boiled eggs)

• Chop your veggies for the week and store them accordingly

• Have some freezer friendly meals ready when you have time

Storage Solutions That Actually Work

Food Item

Proper Storage

Shelf-Life Benefit

Leafy Greens

Wrap in damp paper towels

5-7 days

Bananas

Separate and wrap stems in plastic

3-4 days

Bread

Freeze half immediately

2-3 months

Fresh Herbs

In water, like flowers

1-2 weeks

The benefit: Family money goes 40 to 50 dollars farther, and family waste stream shrinks by 70%.

Hack #2: Make Your Kitchen Zero-Waste

Ditch Single-Use Items for Good

Chances are your kitchen is littered with single-use items. Sure, these convenience products are cheap individually but the cost adds up fast and generates unnecessary waste.

Swap These Everyday Items Out:

• Paper towels → Washable cloth rags or old t-shirts torn into squares

• Plastic wrap → Beeswax wraps or glass containers with lids

• Disposable water bottles → Reusable water bottle that is well made

• Paper napkins → Cloth napkins (washable so no disposable used)

• Single Use Coffee Pods → French press or reusable coffee filter

Creative Repurposing Ideas

Instead of recycling or throwing away items like glass jars, you can:

• Repurpose them as food storage containers for leftovers

• Use them as drinking glasses for casual meals

• Convert them into planters to grow herbs on your windowsill

• Turn small jars into organizers for things like screws or buttons

Vegetable Scraps Turn Into:

• Homemade vegetable broth (save onion skins, carrot tops)

• Compost for your garden or houseplants

• Natural cleaning solutions

DIY Cleaning Products That Work

A chemical-free alternative to all the expensive cleaners in plastic bottles you may currently use, here are some effective natural options to make yourself:

All-purpose cleaner: Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water, add 10-15 drops of essential oil (if desired) and store the mixture in a spray bottle you already have.

Scouring Paste:

• ½ cup baking soda

• ¼ cup water

• Reserve for sinks, tubs and tough stains

Money Saved: If a family of four swaps completely to make-it-yourself kitchen and home cleaners, they could save between $200-$300 per year.

Tip #3: Spend Wisely with Eco-Friendly Values

The True Price of Fast Fashion & Cheap Goods

A $5 t-shirt might feel like a steal, but fast fashion pieces usually break after one or two washes. Cheap is synonymous with expensive, especially when you consider the cost of replacement.

Quality Over Quantity Shopping Rules

Before You Buy, Ask These Questions:

• Do I really need this item?

• Am I able to borrow, rent or buy it second hand?

• Is this something I will still want in 6 months?

• How many uses does this item have realistically until it dies out?

• What is the best I can afford?

Secondhand Shopping Success

Best Places to Purchase Second Hand Goods:

• Thrift stores in nice areas

• Estate sales & Garage sales

• Online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark and ThredUp

• Consignment shops for higher-end items

• Library book sales for books & media

What to Buy Used vs. New:

Used

New

Clothing & shoes

Underwear & swimwear

Books

Personal care items (like makeup brushes)

Furniture & decor

Mattresses

Kitchen appliances

Safety equipment

Exercise equipment

Electronics (sometimes)

Seasonal Shopping Strategy

• Buy winter clothes in spring when stores are pushing to clear inventory

• Purchase summer items in fall for next year

• Shop for holiday decorations after the holidays

• Buy gardening supplies at the end of growing season

Money Saved: Those who shop secondhand as a primary medium report saving 50-80% of retail prices while ensuring the life extends on existing items.

Tip #4: The Sharing Economy

Why Getting Everything You Own Just Does Not Add Up

Consider how often you actually do use that drill, pressure washer, or fancy stand mixer. These things sit unused 90% of the time and take up room, showing nothing for the money that was spent on them.

Community Resources That You Might Not Be Aware Of

Free/Lower Cost Options:

• Public library tool library

• Community garden resource-sharing options (equipment etc)

• Neighborhood app groups for borrowing (and lending) items

• Buy Nothing groups for sharing useful household things

• Repair cafes to help repair broken tools with volunteers

Smart Subscription and Rental Services

Renting Usually Wins:

• Formal wear and costumes you only need once or twice a year

• Camping equipment you use only seasonally

• Power tools for rare home improvement projects

• Party supplies and decorations

• Baby gear kids outgrow quickly

Best Sharing Platforms:

• Rent the Runway (clothing)

• Getaround or Turo (occasional car needs)

• Fat Llama (cameras to camping gear)

• Neighbor, for storage space/parking

Start Your Own Sharing Circle

Organize sharing with friends, family or neighbors:

• Garden tools and lawn equipment

• Occasional use kitchen appliances (bread makers, food processors)

• Books and magazines

• Children's toys and games

Personal Financial Impact: Sharing communities reduce the average family yearly expenses by $500-$1,200 and strengthen people's relationships with their neighbors.

Hack #5: Energy Efficiency Without Expense

Small Changes, Big Savings

You do not have to install solar panels or totally renovate your home to see a significant improvement in energy savings and costs. Some of the simplest ways to save don't cost a thing or much.

No-Cost Energy Savers

Temperature Control:

• Lower water heater temperature to 120°F (savings of 6-10% on water heating costs)

• Ceiling fans can make you feel cooler at higher temperatures

• Keep curtains closed during hot summer days

• Keep windows open at night when the temperature cools, then close them during the warmest parts of the day

• Unplug electronics not in use – phantom load can increase your bill up to 10%!

Smart Use Habits:

• Only run dishwashers and wash machines with full loads

• Use cold water to wash clothes (90% of energy used goes into heating the water)

• Air dry your clothes instead of using the dryer

Low-Cost Upgrades With High Returns

Investments Under $50:

• LED light bulbs (last 25x longer than incandescent)

• Programmable thermostat or smart power strips

• Weather stripping for doors and windows

• Insulating water heater blanket

• Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators

Seasonal Energy Strategies

Summer Cooling:

• Use box fans to create cross-ventilation

• Cook outside or use slow cookers

• Close off unused rooms

• Plant a shade tree near south-facing windows (long-term investment)

Winter Heating:

• Set your ceiling fan to reverse and push air down

• Use draft stoppers at door bottoms

• Layer up with warm clothes and blankets

• Open curtains during the day, shut them in the evening

Energy Saving Tip

Annual Savings

Upfront Cost

LED bulb replacement

$75-100

$20-40

Programmable thermostat

$100-200

$25-50

Air-drying clothes

$85-120

$0

Shorter showers

$50–90

$0

Money Saved: Implementing basic energy efficiency measures can decrease your utilities costs by 15-30%, which could result in savings of between $200 and $400 for a typical household per year.

Hack #6: Start a Successful Home Garden

Homegrown food saves money and packaging waste from grocery foods. It tastes better than store-bought organic options, usually costs less, and is free of plastic packaging or transport emissions.

Easy-to-Grow Plants for Beginners

Herbs (Best Value, Easiest): For around $2-3 you can buy a little package of seeds:

• Basil – super easy to start from seed

• Cilantro – grows fast and provides multiple crops

• Mint – this stuff thrives just about anywhere and spreads easily

• Rosemary – this is a perennial one that will keep producing year after year without much attention

High Yielding Vegetables:

• Lettuce and salad greens — pick outside leaves as the center keeps producing

• Tomatoes — potentially 10 to 15 pounds per plant

• Green beans — produce throughout growing season

• Radishes — ready to eat in only 30 days

Container Gardening Solutions

• Window boxes for herbs and small vegetables

• Hanging baskets for cherry tomatoes and strawberries

• Stackable planters for vertical growing

• 5-gallon buckets with drainage holes for larger plants

Indoor Growing:

• Sprouts and microgreens are perfect to grow in the kitchen

• Herbs on your sunny windowsills

• LED grow lights that simulate natural daylight for year-round producing

• Hydroponic systems are a great option for apartment growing

Seed Starting and Plant Care

Seed saving tips:

• Seeds from store-bought vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, squash)

• Community seed swaps

• Bulk seeds; share with neighbors

• Kitchen scrap plant starts (green onion, lettuce, herbs)

Composting Simplified:

• Daily scraps go in a small container on the countertop

• Use food scraps and paper (brown material) in layers

• Turn your pile every 4 weeks for faster decomposition

• Finished compost can be added to soil, improving plant health

Money Saved: A $20 investment in seeds and a few basic supplies brings back $200 to $500 worth of fresh produce, cutting grocery costs (and packaging waste)!

Hack #7: Repair, Restore and Refresh Rather than Replace

Why Our Disposable Culture Really Costs Us (and the Environment)

We live in a society of replace, not repair, and this is expensive. The items we put into landfills could have years of service left. This new set of skills will give you the ability to save money through efficient repair and will be more sustainable in that unwanted items continue to serve a useful purpose.

Basic Repair Skills You Can Pick Up In 20 Minutes Or Less

Garments:

• Reattachment of buttons and small tear fixing

• Patches for wear in jeans and coats

• Fixing of trouser bottoms or alteration of sizes

• Stain removal with home remedies

Basic Electronics:

• Cleaning contacts to eliminate sporadic issues

• Replacing batteries in equipment

• Installing new firmware to make programs run faster and more efficiently

• Opening devices with proper care for cleaning gadgets

Household:

• Repair leaky faucets and running toilets

• Unclog drains without using caustic chemicals

• Tighten loose screws and hinges

• Touch-up paint on walls

When to Repair vs. Replace

REPAIR IF:

• 5 or fewer years old

• Repair cost is reasonable

• Parts are available to replace and repair is expected to extend actual physical life by at least 2 years

REPLACE IF:

• Costing more than 75% of replacement value

• Had 3 major repairs in past year

• Is unsafe to use

• Significant cost savings available from energy improvements

Building Your Repair Toolkit

Items Needed for Most Repairs:

• Screwdriver set with numerous sizes and types

• Adjustable wrench and pliers

• Tape measure and level

• Super glue and epoxy

• Duct tape (has many uses)

• Sewing kit

Community Repair Resources

• Repair cafes with pro DIYers

• Tool libraries for loaning out specialty tools

• Community college courses for basic repairs

• Local maker spaces with expert advice and tools

• Online forums dedicated to your particular repair

Cost Savings: People who repair items instead of replacing them can save $300-800 per year and learn important life skills while reducing waste.

Making It All Work Together

These seven hacks are most effective when used collectively as part of an overall low waste lifestyle. Pick your favorite one or two, start with those and work a few more in as they become habits.

Six Month Follow-up:

• Track food wastage and grocery spending per month

• Look back on utility bills for your energy savings

• Total up how much less you spent on repairs compared with buying new

• Monitor how much space and clutter has been cleared away

Build Sustainability:

• Set realistic goals and celebrate the small wins

• Accountability partners and online communities are incredibly helpful

• Progress over perfection is a mindset all should have

• Every little bit counts

One of the most wonderful things about living low waste is that it turns into a positive cycle — you save money and then have the ability to spend more on better items. Not only does reducing waste allow you to take pleasure in being kinder to the environment, but it has a snowball effect of you making more sustainable choices.

These changes do not mean sacrifice or deprivation. They just help you to live more mindfully, save your money for the things you care about, and have a cleaner environment (for you and hopefully future generations).

This list might be overwhelming, but take one hack and start today. Every step towards low-waste living helps both your wallet and our planet — whether it's taking the time to plan meals for next week, dropping by a thrift store, or learning to fix something broken in your closet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Realistically, how much money do I save with zero waste living?

By sticking with these seven hacks, the average person saves $1,000-2,500 per year. The top savings are usually from less food waste, using energy efficiently and buying more durable secondhand items rather than new products.

Does living low-waste require more time than usual?

A few changes may take more preparation to get started (meal prepping, learning repair skills), but most low-waste habits do save time over the long run. You will shop less, need to organize less, and deal with fewer broken or bad quality items.

What if I live in a small apartment with NO outdoor space?

Many low-waste practices work really well in small spaces. Container gardening, growing herbs indoors, composting services and community gardening can serve as replacements for conventional outdoor gardening.

How to invite family into a low-waste lifestyle?

Begin with changes that save money or increase convenience, such as meal planning and energy efficiency. Allow your family to select the few sustainable swaps that they are willing to embark on first. Focus on the benefits (saving money, eating healthier foods, reduced clutter) rather than environmental guilt.

Do eco-friendly products always mean more expensive?

Some of the best sustainable options also tend to be the cheapest (reusables versus disposables, homemade cleaner vs. store-bought, secondhand items vs. new). Although environmentally friendly products may have higher upfront costs, they often provide savings through their extended lifespans and decreased need for replacement items.

Where to begin? What is the best hack and why?

Meal planning and reducing food waste normally provides the most noticeable financial savings. But the key is to start with whichever hack feels most doable and excites you personally, because consistency trumps perfection every day.