Hi KCL! I used to think that maintaining sustainable living habits is expensive – but that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, making a few smart sustainable switches can benefit the planet and your wallet too! Here are some of my top tips on how to make your lifestyle a little kinder to the climate while saving you some money at the same time.
In the home
One of the first things that comes to mind when we think about how to live more sustainably is to reduce our energy usage. This doesn’t have to mean living in darkness – here are some steps you can take that you probably won’t even notice! Make sure you’re not using more energy than you need by turning off the lights when you leave a room and try wrapping up in a blanket or jumper before turning on the heating if it’s chilly. Something that I didn’t know until recently is that when it comes to laundry, a cold wash washes clothes just as well as a hot one does, and it uses significantly less energy in the process. There are lots of sustainable options for laundry products on the market now, and I’ve found that making the switch from laundry liquid to laundry powder has reduced how much plastic I’m throwing away (and it’s usually cheaper, too!). In the bathroom, I’ve managed to make a number of sustainable switches over the years that didn’t cost a lot. Reusable products such as makeup pads, razors, cotton buds and menstrual cups may seem like the more expensive option at first, but they can help you save a significant amount of money over time, as you don’t need to repurchase them so often.
In the wardrobe
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average person spends a hefty £608.40 a year on clothes! It’s no secret that fast fashion is highly detrimental to the environment, and that a lot of us buy more clothes than we actually need. I’ve stuck to only buying my clothes second hand for four years now, and I don’t think I’ll ever look back! I’ve had the best luck with the apps Vinted and Depop, which help you to find items from specific brands, or specific styles, and the clothes on there are often far cheaper than buying new. Charity shops are also always a good bet, and it’s so rewarding to find a piece you really love after a little searching. They are also great for buying household items such as cutlery and crockery at a fraction of the price, as are sites such as Ebay. You can also use these sites to make some extra money from selling the things you don’t need anymore and save them from going to waste in the meantime!
In the kitchen
In my opinion, the best piece of advice to live by when it comes to being more sustainable in the kitchen is to simply buy what you need. Make sure you make a shopping list before you go shopping (and don’t do your food shop while hungry!), and use what you have bought before it’s too late. Always remember to check the expiry dates on food products before purchasing, supermarkets will always display at the front the items that are about to go off, meaning you might end up throwing a lot of food out if you’re not careful!
I find it helpful to plan my meals for the week before I do my food shop, and cook my meals in bulk on the weekend to eliminate the need for impulsive takeaways and buying lunch while I’m out and about. I try and shop in the evening, because this is when items often get reduced. Apps like TooGooToGo and Olio let you rescue unsold food from restaurants and cafes at a fraction of the price- a perfect alternative to a takeaway when you fancy something different.
Out and about
As I’m sure you know well by now, getting out and about in London can quickly become very expensive! Bringing a water bottle with you when you’re out can help you to avoid buying single-use plastic bottles in a pinch. You can easily refill it when you need to at one of 5000 Refill Stations, which can be located on the Refill app. Using a reusable coffee cup can not only reduce waste but can get you a discount on your hot drinks- you can buy one at any King’s Food venue, and you’ll get a free drink in the process, as well as a 10p discount every time you use it! If you love a night out- I’d recommend making it a habit to use public transport to get home instead of an Uber – after a while, all the rides home start to add up, and it’s not just cheaper to take public transport, it’s kinder to the planet as well. If you have a railcard, you can link it to your Oyster at any tube station and get a third off the journey you’re already saving on!
I hope that you will consider some of these tips in your everyday life, notice a difference at the end of the month, and feel that you’re doing your bit, however small, to look after our planet!
For other helpful money-related information, you can access the King’s Student Money Mentors Blog at: https://blogs.kcl.ac.uk/moneymentors/
King’s Student Services Online also has an article on ‘5 Steps to more sustainable living‘!
Iman Chala
King’s Student Money Mentor
Part of Money & Housing Advice
The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts.