Buying Goods

• Tips on what items to buy in order to stretch your dollar while reducing your environmental impact
• A rundown on the importance of buying local
• How to tweak your diet in order to reduce waste and eat healthier!

Sustainable living is something we’ve all heard about. We all want to live long and healthy lives while leaving a healthy planet for our kids and loved ones. However, the execution of these ideas can be difficult. How can we be happy, healthy, and respectful of our planet while also juggling all of our other obligations? Down below we’ve written a guide outlining changes when grocery shopping that can go a long way towards living a healthier and more sustainable life! Enjoy 🙂

Buy Sustainable

Despite everyone’s constant efforts to save money, we will always have to buy things. This is just a part of the three certain things in life: Death, Taxes, and spending money. With this in mind, we can have a huge impact by having our money work not only for us but for our planet.

Green Goods

Buy biodegradable or recyclable products. Nothing is wrong with needing some cups and silverware for your dinner party; However, the utensils you use for an hour or two shouldn’t be sitting in a landfill for the next 10,000 years. Taking this a step further, try to buy reusable goods like reusable bags or personal water bottles. This is beneficial to you, as well as the environment. You’ll steer clear of plastics and mother nature will be very thankful! You’ll also save money in the long run and your wallet will be even happier. 

Always remember, something being disposable does NOT mean that it’s more convenient. Just because something is out of your sight, it doesn’t mean it’s out of mind. Someone, maybe even an animal, will have to deal with that plastic bag, cup, or wrapper that you just threw away

Buy Local

When shopping, try to buy local. These items have less of a carbon footprint because less is required to transport them to the store and ultimately to you! In addition, the money spent on these products is more likely to go directly back to help the people in your community.

Think about your Diet

Last but definitely not least, think about what food you buy! We’ve all got to eat so a little unified effort will work wonders for our ecosystems. Try to buy local produce. It is usually fresher, cleaner, and the money helps support local farmers and markets that provide great services but work on extremely tight margins. 

Cut back on meat and increase the amount of veggies you eat. Livestock farming is resource-intensive and is one of the main contributors to climate change. In addition, your newfound diet will leave you feeling healthier than ever. 

Finally, be mindful of waste! Try to have a net-zero of food waste in your household. What this means is really think about how much you’ll eat before cooking. Afterward, try to use anything you don’t eat as compost. Eat what you can and return the rest to the earth (if possible)! With time you’ll be happier, healthier, and at least a couple hundred dollars richer!

Connect with those around you

Its old news that our planet is in need of some help. A lot of damage has been done so no matter how sustainable you are, the key to a better future is a global effort. Therefore, try to not only reduce your footprint but help others! 

Help Your Neighbor

Start by telling your family about sustainable habits they could easily take part in or let them know about local farmers markets they could go too for their groceries. Try to show them the way not only by leading by example but actively helping them! Let them know where they can get reusable grocery bags. Tell them about the bus line they could be taking to work daily instead of driving. Let them know about sustainable investments they could be making! They could be happier, healthier, and have more money to spend on making memories instead of buying gas or unnecessary disposable goods. Not only will they thank you but you’ll be providing a boost to sustainable companies and industries that will only go towards a brighter future for everyone.

Buying and Connecting sustainably are things that we can all do that’ll go a long way towards improving our lives and communities!