A few years ago, I was desperate to cut our living expenses so I could quit a job I hated and stay home with my kids. After making a plan to get out of debt, my husband and I committed to “living like no one else, so later we could live like no one else.” So the budget cutting began.
I quickly found some obvious ways to reduce our monthly expenses: ditch the satellite, change our cell phone plan, cancel the gym membership.
When I looked at our trash bill and decided we could do with a much smaller can, I didn’t realize that I was making a decision that would impact more than the size of our garbage receptacle. In order to switch to the smallest garbage can, we had to make some serious changes in our house, changes that we’ve stuck to because they lower our budget and lower our family’s footprint:
Recycling
I had never recycled before. Our city’s garbage service didn’t offer it as an option and I grew up in a house where everything went in the trash. When I looked at all of the garbage we were producing that could have been recycled, I knew it was unacceptable and I needed to do something about it.
We started a simple recycling system (if you could call it a system – we just put stuff in a big box) and took the stuff in to the recycling center when it got full started overflowing. I might get actual recycling bins someday.
Composting
My parents have chickens, so when I became more aware of all the waste we were producing, I decided that we needed to save our kitchen scraps (there were also efforts made to reduce food waste) to give to the chickens since we were at my parents’ house so much.
When we moved a little farther away, we started a compost pile in the backyard so we wouldn’t have to throw more stuff away. Someday, I’d like a compost tumbler or two to speed up the process.
Refusing
I was bringing in a lot of unnecessary waste and I didn’t even realize it. Food packaging was the main offender, so I got a lot pickier about the products I would buy and made sure I had my reusable grocery bags on hand when I entered the store (if I don’t remember, I’ll often just carry the stuff out, which helps me remember the next time).
Here are some ways I refuse to bring in waste:
- Refill liquid castile soap at Whole Foods
- Refill maple syrup
- Purchase honey in bulk (reusable gallon jars) from a local farmer
- Purchase food from bulk bins, either reusing the same plastic bags or using cloth bags
- Use reusable produce bags
- Buy milk in glass bottles that can be returned or reused at my house
- Refill printer ink at Costco
- Buy bulk food that comes in bigger containers, rather than a bunch of small ones
- Take a mason jar with my cuppow or reusable water bottle when I’m out and about
- Make my own stuff, like kombucha, yogurt, etc.
Reusing
The move to a smaller garbage can also prompted me to buy things I could reuse. I realized that pretty quickly with diapers – it’s really easy to fill a tiny garbage can with diapers when you’ve got two kids who aren’t using the toilet. The decision to ditch disposables really reduced our waste and made a huge difference in our budget.
These are some of the things we use now instead of disposable goods:
- Cloth napkins
- Kitchen hand towels
- Glass spray bottles for homemade cleaners
- Egg cartons
- Plastic zipper bags
- Cloth diapers and wipes
- Menstrual Cup
- Hankies
- Glass jars of all sizes
This isn’t a complete list (some stuff has become so normal that I forget we never used to do it), but it’s a start. There are numerous ways you can lower budget just by addressing what’s creating waste in your home (I didn’t even talk about energy waste!).
Ikea has different sized recycle bins with lids ranging from $3-$12. We used 3 stacked in our one bedroom apt in the pantry & emptied it about once every 10 or so days.
reusable menstrual pads. Thinking about going to the cup next. We recycle, compost, etc. Gave up paper towels and working on giving up plastic containers.
I love my Diva cup. I think every woman should have one, it’s easy, can be in all day, and is safe (unlike tampons).
Okay I have looked at but not sure I understand exactly how this thing works? My mind is going all over the place…when I google it it just keeps coming up with opporutunities to buy it…not what or how it works.
At a glimps it reminds me of the camping urninal thing we use but don’t understand how that can be affective with a menstural cycle.
Kathy Lee, google Diva Cup or go to Divacup.com , before my hysterectomy I used one and loved it!
Great list on ways to reduce waste. Looking forward to checking out more of your blog.
You can get free recycle bins from… your local shoe store! They have great free boxes, some of which are tall and skinny, and perfect as recycle bins! I cut trash bags to be flat and stapled them to the inside of the boxes to make them more resilient and somewhat water resistant. I have several lined up on the wall of my garage and use them to sort my recyclables.
Our recycle bins are reused mulch bags hung on the garage wall. They are easy to hang on permanent nails and unhung to carry to the recycling center.
Nothing beats a beautiful tattooed girl
Hi Nina!! First, I LOVE your blog! I’ve started living simply (as simply as an undergrad can while living with her parents). I saw your quote about living like no one else, so later you can live like no one else, and I have to ask, are you Dave Ramsey fan? Love that man!
Anyway, I just want to say that your blog is wonderful and I am SO grateful for the information you are providing!
So many great ideas! I’m recently trying to explain to my kids how important is to try reducing the waste we produce and how many good profits this brings to nature and to people at all. Your post gave me some good ideas to try as a beginning. Thank you for sharing all this great information!
Thanks so much, Doris! Glad it was helpful. 🙂