Does zero waste mean zero money?

A lot of us struggle with zero waste sometimes because of how expensive it is to go for products that have little to no plastic in them. We generally end up avoiding plastic-packaged products, which are usually cheaper. However, we forget how going zero waste really can save us a lot of money in the long term. That’s why I put this list for myself and all of you just as a daily reminder that saving the environment doesn’t necessarily mean emptying your pocket.

These are general tips on how to save the environment while saving your money:

• · Reuse your old toothbrushes as cleaning brushes to clean hard-to-get-to areas like your drain. You can also use them as eyebrow brushes or to smooth out your baby hairs.

• Recycle your unwanted clothing by using it as rags or even transforming a simple top into a bag! Pillow cases make excellent bread or produce bags!

• Use plastic bags as bin bags. Lets face it, sometimes we go into a store and we forget getting our totes or forget to decline one from the person at the till, either way, we end up getting some extra ones. Either re-use these as regular shopping bags or you can use them as bin liners so you don’t have to buy extras. Some large supermarkets like Sainsbury’s or Morrisons even offer a service where you can recycle your bags.

• Refilling stations. Lots of supermarkets offer this nowadays, where you can refill your milk bottles. This ends up being cheaper than buying the carton.

• Save jars and containers that can be used. I like to repurpose these: I use them to put home-made cleaning products, beauty products, for storage and refilling pantry items at the grocery store. You can also save nice-looking bottles and keep them as décor around your house! I once put a flower in a glass bottle and it looked really pretty and chic! You can even get crafty with it and maybe paint it!

• Exchange recycling for money. Some neighbourhoods have this service, where you can do that-it’s worth checking out.

• Buy reusable packaging! I bought bees' wax wrap and silicone covers to save on clingfilm and it's amazing! You might find these products initially expensive but over time, you'll find yourself spending less because you're reusing the product over and over again!

• Make your own products. I’ve only ever made deodorant at home but you can prepare a lot of products at home: some people make their own surface cleaner, lip balm, body butter, body lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.

A home-made deodorant that I've put in a what used to be a jar of coconut oil.

• Buy multi-purpose cleaners. If you can’t make your own, don’t worry! You can buy multi-purpose products like Sal Suds, which I haven’t tried yet but have heard great reviews about and I plan on buying soon. These will save not only packaging but money. There are also some brands that are similar in price to regular ones. I am currently using bio-D, and if you checkout our post on instagram, you'll know about the price comparisons! There are also places where you can refill your ecover washing liquid!

• Make your own clothes, I know this sounds pretty ancient but I’ve actually learned how to crochet a while back and ended up making this beautiful cover for my bedside table. You can make gloves, scarfs, dish cloths, general cleaning cloths. You can even make your own reusable cotton pads for makeup removal.

• Bring your own packaging to shops! As you already know, in Europe they charge you at stores for any bags you use. And even though most of them are 50p or less, it adds up over time, where you’ll find yourself with £10 worth of plastic bags in your house that you could have used on something else! Some coffeeshops even offer a discount if you bring your own cup. Don’t forget to bring your own water bottle too; so you can ask for a free water refill at any café or restaurant-at least that’s what I do in London ;)

• Go paperless on subscriptions for memberships. A lot of memberships that you pay for will let you get a discount if you ask for coupons and updates to be delivered via email or text instead of paper. Thus, you’ve kept your money and still got your news.

• Buy a water dispenser. If you live in an area where tap water isn’t safe to drink, buy a water cooled/dispenser or install a filter. You can subscribe with the water cooler company to bring you a set amount of water tanks every month and they take away your empty ones and refill them. Thus, you save money that would’ve been spent on mineral water.

• Buy second hand. You save money, get hold of unique non-mainstream pieces and although it takes a while to find something good, the gratification at the end is a reward!

• Meal prepping and making your own food. The internet has made it easy, simple and cheap to cook. You can find new recipes for ANYTHING online. Meal prepping and buying things in bulk will not only make you aware of what’s going into your food but also in charge of the waste you produce. Dining out and leaving the disposal of trash on others isn’t really considered zero waste. You also get greater portions for lower prices!

So hope these tips have helped you and if you have any additions or think of I've missed anything please comment below to inspire the rest of us!

Have a lovely day!