Going Green for Earth Day: 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Waste and Save Money

How to Go Green Without Spending Too Much Green

Apr 08, 2025

Looking to go green without going broke? Here are 3 simple and affordable Earth Day tips that reduce waste, save money, and simplify your life—no greenwashing here!

As soon as I typed that title, I thought, “Please don’t let anyone think this is greenwashing!” So let’s clear that up right away:

This post isn’t about buying expensive eco-branded gear or pretending we’re perfectly sustainable. It’s about making real, practical choices that are better for the planet and your bank account.

Let’s jump into three simple ways you can reduce waste, save money, and simplify your life—without falling into the trap of performative eco-consumerism.

#1: Switch from Paper Towels to Reusable Cloth Towels (and Napkins)

If you have a full roll of paper towels, it’s almost a guarantee you’ll use half the roll for the tiniest spill. Been there. Done that. It wasn’t until the early pandemic (cue the paper product shortages!) that I decided to finally switch to reusable cloth towels.

I ordered a set of 24 “Unpaper Towels” on Etsy for $59.36, and we haven’t looked back since. Our system is simple: use the towel, toss it in the laundry basket. We still keep one emergency roll of paper towels for messes too gross to face with cloth. (Because—let’s be real—some things are just not laundry-worthy.)

Why it matters: Less waste, less money down the drain, and no more panic-buying bulk paper towels.

#2: Limit Online Shopping

Hi, I’m an introvert. So yes, I prefer online shopping over going to the store. But online shopping comes with a cost—literally and environmentally.

This month, I challenged myself to place only one order each at Amazon, iHerb, Vitacost, and Walmart. Why? Because not planning ahead causes me to keep placing an order a few times a month and it adds up. Shipping costs, packaging waste, unnecessary purchases—they’re all habits that compound.

Why it matters: Consolidating orders means less waste, fewer impulse purchases, and more money saved.

#3: Meal Prep (for All Three Meals)

We meal prep every meal for the week. Not because we’re perfect, but because we know if we don’t, we’ll end up snacking on junk or living off my personal kryptonite: Cooper Sharp Cheese.

Meal prepping isn’t just good for your health—it’s also great for your wallet and the planet. You only buy what you need, you waste less food, and you avoid random midweek grocery trips (and their temptation aisles).

Why it matters: Less food waste, fewer grocery runs, and more time to enjoy life.

Our plan allows for flexibility to have burger night with friends.

So What Does This Have to Do With Earth Day?

Simple: We reduce consumption and waste in ways that make our lives easier. These aren’t massive lifestyle overhauls. They’re tiny shifts that save money, reduce clutter, and lessen our environmental footprint.

We won’t have to worry about paper towel supply chain issues anymore.
We cut back on packaging and unnecessary purchases with smarter online shopping habits.
We stopped throwing away food thanks to intentional meal planning.

Earth wins. Our wallets win. We win.

What are your favorite low-cost ways to live a little greener? Share them in the comments—I’m always looking for new ideas (bonus points if they save money too!).

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