How Sustainable Choices Can Boost Your Bank Account and the Planet
Let’s be real—most people want to live more sustainably, but they also need to make ends meet. In a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing, making eco-friendly choices can sometimes feel like an expensive luxury. Organic food, green cleaners, and sustainable products are often marketed at a higher price, which makes many people think: “I’d love to live greener, but I can’t afford it.”
Here’s the truth: going low-waste doesn’t have to cost more. In fact, it can save you money faster than you think. The secret isn’t in buying every new “eco-friendly” product you see, but in shifting habits and finding smarter, reusable solutions that cut expenses long-term.
At Earth Warrior, we’re all about turning discarded textiles into useful, beautiful products that last. But we’re also about equipping you with practical tools to live better with less. So let’s dig into the low-waste swaps that are not only better for the planet, but will put money back in your pocket, almost immediately.
1. Ditch Paper Towels for Cloth Rags or Re:towels
Savings: $150–$300 per year
The average family uses around 1–2 rolls of paper towels per week, which adds up to over 100 rolls a year. At $1.50–$3 per roll, that’s hundreds of dollars literally thrown in the trash.
Instead, swap them for reusable cloth rags or Re:towels. You can upcycle old clothes, cut worn-out bath towels into squares, or invest in durable, machine-washable cloths like Earth Warrior’s Re:Towels.
How it saves:
One set of 10–20 rags or Re:towels can last several years.
They can be tossed in with regular laundry, so there’s no extra wash load.
They replace napkins, cleaning wipes, and even produce-drying towels.
Earth Warrior Tip: Keep a small basket or bin under your sink for “used cloths” so they’re easy to swap out.
2. Reusable Water Bottles > Single-Use Plastic Bottles
Savings: $200–$600 per year (or more)
Buying bottled water regularly is one of the most wasteful, and expensive habits. A reusable bottle costs as little as $20 new or $5-$10 at a thrift store and pays for itself in less than two weeks. Even if you buy bottled water only a few times a week, it adds up quickly.
Cost comparison:
A case of bottled water: $4–$6 (and gone in days).
Tap water: pennies per gallon, often safe due to municipal regulations.
Pro tip: If you’re worried about taste, add a water filter pitcher ($30–$50) that lasts years.
Eco + Wallet Win: Fewer bottles in the landfill, and more money in your pocket.
3. Switch to Refillable Cleaning Products
Savings: $100–$250 per year
Most household cleaners are 90% water in single-use plastic bottles. By switching to refillable concentrates or making your own DIY versions, you save big.
Easy swaps:
Vinegar + baking soda for all-purpose cleaner.
Concentrated dish soap and hand soap refills from a refillery.
DIY laundry powder made with washing soda and castile soap.
Earth Warrior Tip: Buy in bulk at your local refillery or support refill stations when you find them. Each refill saves a plastic bottle and a few dollars.
4. Reusable Cotton Rounds, Makeup Wipes, or Face Cloths
Savings: $80–$200 per year
Makeup remover pads, cotton balls, and disposable wipes are a sneaky expense that add up quickly over the course of a year. Swapping to reusable alternatives is not only a win for your wallet, but also a major waste reducer.
Earth Warrior’s reusable makeup wipes are designed to replace hundreds of single-use products, giving you a soft, durable, and eco-friendly option that lasts for years. They’re gentle on your skin, washable, and ready to be used again and again.
If you’d rather DIY, you can easily cut up old towels, flannel pajamas, or t-shirts into squares that work for your needs, anywhere from 2x2 inches for quick makeup touch-ups to 5x5 inches for a larger face cloth feel. This flexibility lets you customize your wipes to fit your skincare routine perfectly.
Earth Warrior Tip: Keep a small basket or jar of clean wipes in your bathroom, and a separate bag for used ones. Just toss them in with your regular laundry, no special wash needed.
5. Menstrual Cups or Cloth Pads
Savings: $120–$250+ per year
A menstrual cup (around $30–$40) lasts up to 10 years. Cloth pads last about 5 - 10 years with proper care. Compare that to buying tampons or pads monthly at $10 - $20, and you’ll see major savings.
Financial perspective: That’s $1,200–$2,500 saved over a decade. Enough for a vacation, a savings boost, or to pay down debt.
Bonus: No last-minute runs to the drugstore when you run out.
6. Handkerchiefs Instead of Tissues
Savings: $30–$75 per year (or more during cold season)
Disposable tissues pile up fast, especially during allergy season or a winter cold. A pack of handkerchiefs can last for years, saving you money while reducing waste.
They’re soft on your nose, easy to wash, and you’ll never face that “oh no, I’m out of tissues” moment again.
Earth Warrior Tip: Keep a few folded handkerchiefs in your bag, coat pocket, or nightstand for convenience.
7. Borrow or Share Instead of Buying New
Savings: Hundreds per year
From power tools to camping gear to kids’ toys, many items are used only occasionally. Before you buy, ask yourself:
Can I borrow it from a friend or family member?
Is it available in a Buy Nothing group?
Does my city have a “Library of Things” for tools or household items?
Example: Instead of spending $80 on a leaf blower you’ll use once a year, borrow onefrom a tool library. That’s $80 saved instantly.
8. Reusable Food Wraps vs. Plastic Wrap
Savings: $50–$100 per year
Plastic wrap is flimsy, single-use, and can’t be recycled. Beeswax wraps, fabric bowl covers or silicone lids are a reusable solution that lasts for months or years.
Make your own: Old fabric scraps + beeswax = eco-friendly wraps that cost pennies compared to buying new boxes of plastic wrap.
Eco + Wallet Win: Less plastic waste, fresher food, and long-term savings.
9. Coffee at Home with Reusables
Savings: $500–$2,000 per year
Daily coffee runs are a budget-buster. At $4–$6 per cup, one coffee a day costs over $1,200 annually. Multiply that by two people in a household and the expense skyrockets.
Swap it out: Brew at home using a French press or pour-over system. Use a reusable filter or compostable options.
Bonus: Invest in a travel mug you love, this makes bringing your own coffee feel like a luxury rather than a sacrifice.
10. Bar Soap and Shampoo Bars
Savings: $50–$150 per year
Liquid soap is mostly water and comes in bulky plastic bottles. Bar soap and shampoo bars last longer, are often cheaper per use, and come in minimal packaging.
Travel-friendly: No leaks, no wasted product, and you can take them in your carry-on with no liquid restrictions.
11. Shop Secondhand First
Savings: Limitless
Shopping secondhand keeps good-quality items in circulation while saving you serious money.
Smart secondhand buys:
Kids’ clothing (they outgrow sizes so quickly).
Furniture (often solid wood at a fraction of the cost).
Electronics (refurbished laptops or phones can save hundreds).
Earth Warrior Style Tip: Organize a clothing swap with friends—refresh your wardrobe for free while keeping textiles out of landfills.
The Bigger Picture: Saving More Than Just Money
Low-waste swaps aren’t only about dollars and cents. They reconnect you with your values, reduce landfill waste, and help you live more intentionally. Each swap is a small step that saves money now and builds a healthier planet for future generations.
When you stop buying disposables, you start living more mindfully. You buy less, but better. You take care of what you own. You reduce dependency on extractive industries. And you keep more money in your wallet.
Ready to Start? Here’s How
1. Do a Waste Audit – Write down the top 5 disposable items you throw away most often.
2. Choose 1–2 Swaps at a Time – Avoid overwhelm; start where you’ll save the most money first.
3. Use What You Have First – Repurpose before you purchase. Old jars, rags, and containers are perfect.
4. Track Your Savings – Write down what you’re no longer buying. Motivation grows when you see the numbers.
Final Thoughts: Living Low-Waste is Living Abundantly
The biggest myth about sustainable living is that it’s expensive. The reality? Waste is expensive. Disposables are expensive. Convenience is expensive.
When you shift to a low-waste lifestyle, you’re not just helping the planet—you’re giving yourself financial breathing room. Whether it’s saving $1,000 a year on coffee, $300 on paper towels, or $250 on single use menstrual products, these swaps add up quickly
At Earth Warrior, we believe you don’t need to buy your way into sustainability. You just need to shift your habits, one intentional swap at a time.
Your wallet and the Earth will thank you.
Keep the Momentum Going
If you enjoyed this article, explore more circular living stories and guides:
Conducting Your First At-Home Waste Audit: A Beginner's Guide
Learn how to track what you throw away, uncover wasteful habits, and take the first step toward a more intentional, sustainable lifestyle.
Sprouting Fun: Growing Food from Scraps at Home
Discover how to regrow green onions, lettuce, and other veggies right from your kitchen scraps—saving money and reducing food waste.
Drowning in Stuff: How Overproduction is Overwhelming Our Recycling Systems
Take a closer look at the hidden costs of overproduction, why recycling alone can’t keep up, and how shifting to circular systems makes a difference.
Make the swap today: Explore Earth Warrior’s Re:Towels and handkerchiefs. Durable, reusable, and planet-friendly alternatives that keep money in your pocket.
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