During the past 15 years, I have realized many benefits from living simply. This lifestyle delivers financial freedom, less waste and a desire to shop sustainably, just to name a few.
[bctt tweet=”“The most sustainable purchase is left on the shelf.” —Joshua Fields Millburn” username=”simplyenoughamy”]
Over time, I found that living simply and sustainable practices go hand-in-hand. It opened my eyes to how owning less means living more.
To start, our family eliminated excess shopping and created a strong financial plan. We paid off $30K of debt, followed a budget, and saved aggressively. It was a turning point that prioritized experiences over stuff.
In the years to come, travel brought us to peaceful ocean waves, still quiet of the mountains, and the majesty of our national parks. Having witnessed these treasures first hand, I turned my focus yet again, to preserving them and living more sustainably. Now, we take great care to purchase without plastic and consider an item’s origin.
Here are 5 easy ways to get started in your own home.
1. Paper Towels Under the Sink
I placed my paper towel holder under the sink. Yes, we still use paper towels. I’m not suggesting you quit cold turkey. However, you can buy a lot less. We have significantly reduced the amount we use. And I keep a few spare dishcloths under the sink to grab instead of a paper towel.
2. Wash Large Freezer Ziploc Bags
If you removed all plastic from your home, well done. I have not and may not ever completely eliminate plastic. But I have significantly reduced our footprint. Currently, I purchase freezer-grade Ziploc bags for freezing bulk meat and batches of baked goods. Then, I re-wash and re-use these bags several times. In the end, I use one box of bags every 12-18 months. This is very achievable if you’re just getting started. Also, I no longer use plastic sandwich bags, which brings me to my next suggestion.
3. Paper Bags for Sandwiches and Snacks
I love the “If You Care” brand Paper Sandwich Bag and the parchment paper and muffin papers. Sandwiches stay in a bag for a short period of time and don’t need a sealed plastic bag.
Single-use plastic threatens the health of our planet, as estimates show by 2050, the ocean could have more plastic than fish. So, I look for opportunities to reduce the amount of plastic I bring into my home. Additionally, I recycle any plastic bags at my local grocery store.
4. Pack Lunches in Containers
It’s tempting to pack lunches in a bunch of plastic bags. But with the right tools, you can pack a healthier and sustainable lunch. Instead of fruit cups, pudding, and the like, try replacing these items with whole foods and homemade options. I love Rubbermaid containers for my son’s lunch. Having one color helped him keep track of his containers at the lunch table. And he’s a big fan of a warm thermos full of his favorite pasta or soup. Dinner leftovers make a great school lunch. By changing the way I pack lunches or a picnic, I eliminate convenience purchases, reduce clutter, and eat healthier.
5. Reusable Shopping Bag
I have a small, lightweight shopping bag in my purse all the time. So, I can avoid plastic shopping bags no matter where I shop. Plastic bags are not only terrible for the environment but a source of clutter too.
What changes help you live more sustainably?
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These are all awesome suggestions! I would love to wash and reuse freezer bags but I know my husband would resist and I’m not ready to poke that bear…
Thanks Janet. I also pick my battles. Very wise. I believe I started washing the bags and my husband came around to it without me saying anything. But I respect, to each their own. So glad you liked the suggestions.
I’m a big fan of reusable containers. It does save a lot of plastic. My biggest savings has been using my Swell water bottle. I also love not having to haul heavy water bottles into my shopping cart at the grocery store, so it is a double win!
Thanks Seana. YES! Been there, done that on hauling cases of bottled water. I’ve heard good things about Swell.
I love the Millburn quote.
I recently listened to a seminar about being more environmentally friendly and it was suggested to make one small change at a time, just as you did here. My first change was to start using glass food storage instead of plastic. No more plastic bags or containers. And I didn’t send any to the landfill. My sister was happy to receive them. I am trying to use less paper towels. I’ll try your suggestion of putting them in a cabinet.
Thanks Janet! Me too, his quotes are always so thought-provoking. We too have migrated to mostly glass. I love that you’re making more changes too. Even my husband agrees that hiding the paper towels has helped. Good luck!
I love all these suggestions. I also use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels for most spills,etc and always for my kids to use in place of napkins. I also wash large & small plastic storage bags but I think switching to the paper bags for sandwich size bags is even better! I’ll definitely try it now. I’ve been meaning to switch to silicone for the large storage bags, too. Have you tried them? What are your thoughts on those?
I was wondering if someone would ask me about the silicone bags. 🙂 I have not tried them yet so I couldn’t recommend it. I think I’m overwhelmed by how many brands there are. So I’m hoping someone will suggest a brand that they like for me to try. I recently bought two Norwex Enviro-cloths and the glass polishing cloth. I LOVE them. They were a great investment.