Save Money by Reducing Waste
By Delia Passi and the WomenCertified Team
How many times have you opened the fridge to find that the majority of the food had expired or gone bad? How often do you grab a bottle of water on the run instead of filling a reusable container? In our busy society, it’s easy to overlook how wasteful we can be. Even in a tough economy, most of us still waste more food and resources than people in many countries have to begin with.
Not only is waste irresponsible and harmful to the environment, it’s also tough on our wallets. Here are some tips for living smarter and reducing waste!
Pay attention to your laundry detergent use.
A recent study by Method found that more than half of Americans either fill the detergent cap all the way to the top or simply eyeball the amount when doing laundry – which can waste a third of the bottle! (I don’t know about you, but I think laundry detergent is kind of expensive! I don’t want to buy it any more often than I need to!) Detergent waste is bad for your wallet, the environment and your washing machine. If those lines inside the cap are too hard to see (FYI manufacturers do that on purpose), determine the right amount and use a measuring cup instead.
Watch your water consumption.
The Savings Experiment by Bank of America showed that washing dishes in the sink uses more than three times more water than washing a load of dishes in the dishwasher. Who knew convenience could save time, money and the planet? Bonus: time is money for many of us, so piling those dishes in the dishwasher and walking away frees us up for other important things on the To Do List. Just be sure to wash full loads – partial loads use the same amount of water as full ones.
Minimize food waste.
The US Government says that 25% of the food Americans buy gets thrown away – which is costly both to your wallet and to the global food supply. Fruit that is just starting to go soft can be blended into smoothies, while veggies that are starting to wilt work fine in soups. Plan your meals ahead to make sure you’ll use everything you buy. Bonus: when you plan ahead, you’re also more likely to eat more healthfully! Also consider cooking big batches of soups and meals that you can easily freeze in individual serving sizes. Food is a valuable resource and one of your biggest household expenses. Shop and eat wisely!
Use a water filter instead of buying bottled water.
You probably already know that water bottles produce tons upon tons of waste a year – and cost millions upon millions of dollars in production, distribution and disposal. Some statistics say that only 10% of water bottles get recycled, so we’re permanently cluttering our planet with tons of plastic every single day! …Not to mention how much it costs you personally. Bottled water can cost up to $10 pergallon, while tap water costs less than a cent per gallon. That means bottled water is 1,000x the price of tap water! Water filters are drastically cheaper, are easy to use (some attach to your tap while others are simple pitchers) and reduce waste by tons. You know all this already. It’s time to take action for the sake of your wallet and the planet!
There are many ways to reduce waste, from turning off lights and electronics to recycling to shopping smarter. The more ways you reduce waste, the more money you save and the healthier our planet becomes! Living more responsibly is truly a win-win! |
