3 Affordable Changes To Sustainable Living

Yeah, I suppose it’s trendy, but I really am passionate about taking good care of myself and my family. And I definitely care about saving money and being self sufficient.

As I’ve mentioned before, my parents were very self sufficient, and I’ve been attempting to return to that method of living.

You might have read my other post about herb gardening in small a small space. I wrote it from the perspective from when I had a tiny amount of space and little money. So I think that’s helpful if you’re in that situation.

Happily, for me, I’ve been able to move out into an area with garden space and a big backyard. Actually, you can go read one of my latest blog posts on canning to hear more regarding the fun I’ve been having with that.

This post will likewise be a little more geared towards people that have homes and backyard space, however, I do believe there are ways to get things to work in whatever space you’re in (talking from experience).

Here are 3 simple ways you can start living more sustainably today.

 

Recycle

(credit: http://www.cafepress.com/ reduce-reuse-recycle gifts)

I bet you saw this one coming from a mile away.

It really is the easiest thing you can do today to start being self-sufficient and sustainable.

I’m lucky enough to live in a location where the blue recycling bins are offered by the city, and they come and collect them weekly.

It merely takes a little more time and effort to sort and make sure that the material going to recycling is clean. We use these budget-friendly bins for easy sorting in my home.

That may not seem entertaining, but it is simple. And a lot of the times these facilities will pay you for your material.

Who doesn’t want a little extra cash?

Other times you have to pay to get the bin, which just seems backwards to me.

Go to iwanttoberecycled.com to learn more about recycling in your area!

Along with just reusing everything, upcycling and cutting back on throwaway items will help make a significant difference in being sustainable. I pack genuine silverware and I commonly reuse lunch totes if they’re clean when I pack lunches. I also have a reliable water bottle from REI that I drink from constantly.

And ultimately, a fun part of recycling and sustainability is being creative with your waste. I like making presents outside of things that most people would throw away.

Below are two interesting things I’ve done with our old wine bottles. I completely adore the small wine cork succulents.

(Credit: left – http://www.viralnova.com/wine-bottle-crafts/ right – https://www.favecrafts.com/Wine-Bottle-Crafts/Whimsical-Wine-Cork-Crafts)

Garden

I am aware this is an idea for those who possess space and a backyard. But I will still say that it’s doable on a small scale in an apartment. Give it  some time, and you won’t have as many upfront gardening and canning tasks.

For places that are small, growing on a porch or in a place where there’s just enough room is  simple enough to get berries and fresh veggies. This will help you live sustainably on a budget and in a small space.

And should you reside in a rural area, many farmers will come let the public pick for a small sum. So that can save some funds be a great way to can some fresh veggies.

(Credit: left- http://blog.rent.com/apartment-gardening-grow-your-thanksgiving-ingredients/ correct – http://jobandwork.asia/home/mini-garden-suggestions-asian-condo-apartment-dwellers/)

For those of you with room, make the most of it! Grow plant fruit trees, some luscious veggies, get into it. It is a major money saver.

You can eat fresh and healthy all of the time. You freeze whatever you don’t eat and can the rest. And you will save buckets of money. Trust me. Gardening is the way to go.

(Credit: left – http://www.bringthefarmtoyou.com/canning-2/   right – https://earthchildjordykm.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/veggie-gardens/)

*Added Bonus: Nothing ever tastes better than that feeling of eating all your own food that you provided for yourself like the self-sufficient person you are.

Chickens!!!!

This was so much fun as a child (and your kids should appreciate them also!). This was clearly one of the very first things we did when we went into our new house. We bought chickens for their eggs.

The fresh eggs save money (and there are always plenty!). Additionally they don’t desire a ton of space either, and they create compost naturally for the soil in your garden. So, they’re worth it.

Chicken runs are pretty simple as far as building things goes. Just remember to use recycled materials to be really sustainable. And it can be elegant or as easy as you like.

(Credit: left – http://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chicken-coops-housing/how-to-build-chicken-runs-and-coops-from-recycled-materials/ right – https://homesteading.com/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop/)

I’d only go with hens, as the roosters are usually territorial and can really annoy the neighbors with their cock-a-doodles. Also, try to never mix a batch of adult chickens with another batch of adult chickens. It’s usually best to after the first batch to raise some chicks to become a part of the nest.

 

Bonus: Solar Power

(Credit: http://www.absolarenerji.com.tr/gunes-enerji-sistemi-nedir/)

Ha! Wager you didn’t think you were going to be in luck to get a bonus idea in the end, huh?

Solar power is more easy to get and more affordable to have than ever. (I know I sound like an informational, but if you’ve looked at the research, you’d know this is a true statement) Check out my blog post on dwelling solar systems and if it’s worth it to you to have them or not.

Solar energy not only saves you tons of cash (like tens of thousands) over time, but it’s also unbelievably clean, renewable, and sustainable.

Based on what type of solar power option you get (PPA, lease, or purchase), you can get your solar panels up and installed on your roof at almost no cost to you personally. You’d of course have to join a contract with the solar firm to buy your electricity from them. So essentially they put up a power system at no cost on your roof and then you pay your energy bills at a lower cost. Seems simple enough.

I Love it!

Or you can always purchase them outright. Though the prices seem a little steep for me, this strategy does save you the most money overall, making your energy bills almost completely non-existent.

There really are so many choices, at first I felt so lost, it’s definitely not something you can do overnight, I personally talked with multiple companies, and had them look at what their competitors were offering me, to drive the price down until I felt comfortable moving forward.

Conclusion

There you’ve got it 3 (plus a bonus) ways to living more sustainably. Fully easy, totally worth it. You’ll be well on your own way to self-sufficiency and saving money immediately.