front door

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.

---

Frugal green living is important for everyone because environmental issues affect all of us, not just the people who can afford to be eco-conscious.

Plus the concept of frugal green means you are saving money! And that is always helpful.

This is why I created this blog, to help people save money, find financial freedom, and have choices in life.

Reducing your carbon footprint is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and the planet.

But how do you save money while also making a difference? It’s possible!

This is why choosing to be frugal green is so important!

These are all frugal ways that I have personally done or heard of other people doing as well. They are tried-and-true methods of living a more frugal life, and I hope that you will find them helpful. Plus help the environment at the same time.

This is a win-win situation.

• Have you ever wondered how to be environmentally friendly?
• Do you want to save money and the environment at the same time?

This article has 91+ frugal green living tips that will help! Let me know which ones are your favorites!

How to save money and be frugal green?

There are many ways to be frugal green and save money while helping the environment.

Plus in the long run living green costs less.

We will cover ideas for your kitchen, car, shopping and so much more. There are many other ways to be frugal green, so find what works best for you and make a difference!

These are ways to live more sustainably while saving money.

Importance of Sustainability and the Environment

You can save money and help the environment without making any major changes to your lifestyle.

Some easy ways to do this include, but are not limited to, changing your habits at home, buying used instead of new, and being more conscious about how you use energy.

Every day you can make the decision to choose to be a thrifty person.

Top 10 Best Frugal Green Living Tips

In order to save money and be more environmentally friendly, try some of these tips:

1. Reduce your use of plastics. This means bringing your own bags to the grocery store, refusing straws when you order drinks, and not using disposable utensils or plates.

2. Make Recycling a Priority. Recycling is important, and everyone should do their part to make it a part of their everyday routine. It’s not just for plastics and paper- there are many different things that can be recycled. By taking small steps like bringing a reusable coffee mug, we can all make a big difference in the long run.

3. Ride a bike or walk instead of driving. Not only is this better for the environment, but it’s also a great way to get some exercise.

4. Do the “green thing” and buy things secondhand! When you’re considering your lifestyle choices, buying things secondhand is a great way to do the “green thing.” You can save money and help reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills.

5. Only buy what you need. Many times we buy things out of convenience or wants. Truly evaluate whether the purchase is necessary or if you can save money by buying used.

6. Compost as much as possible. Not only does this help reduce waste, but it also helps create nutrient-rich soil for plants.

7. Consider your carbon footprint. Americans use a tremendous amount of resources and impact the planet in many ways. We consume a lot of energy, materials, and water. Our lifestyles have a big environmental impact. There are many ways to be frugal and environmentally conscious, including recycling and reducing food waste.

8. Cut Out Paper and Plastic Waste. One way to be more frugal and green is to reduce the amount of paper and plastic waste you produce. Technology has greatly improved in many ways to cut down on plastic and paper consumption, so take advantage.

9. Think Before You Throw Away and Buy New. We are way too quick to toss things and replace them without even thinking. Next time before you throw it into the landfill, think about how you can reuse, repurpose, or give away the item.

10. Upcycle. The concept of upcycling has gained popularity in the past years. It is a simple way of taking something ugly and worn down, putting some TLC into it, and making it into something beautiful.

Related Reading: Top 10 Influential Frugal Living Tips with a Big Impact

Frugal Green in the Kitchen & Table

There are a number of ways to save money and be frugal green in your kitchen.

Use a Reusable Coffee Mug. So simple and easy to do. Pick your favorite up here.

Skip plastic straws. This is a simple thing to do for the environment. Buy reusable straws. And don’t forget the cleaning brush (hint… the cleaning brush will save you from throwing away your reusable straws.)

Skip the Paper Plates and Plastic Utensils. You will be shocked to see the waste this creates. Invest in quality dishes you like and don’t be afraid to wash them up.

Invest in a Water Filter. If you’re looking for ways to improve your diet and save money, consider investing in a water filter. We upgraded to an under-the-sink mount water filter and it was the BEST choice ever! This is the exact one we bought.

Cook at Home. Making your own meals can save you a lot of money in the long run. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save by cooking simple meals yourself.

Grow a Kitchen Garden. One way to reduce your food costs is to grow some of your own fruits and vegetables. You can start with a kitchen garden, which is a small plot of land near your house where you can plant fruits, vegetables, and herbs. if you don’t have space, check out these Aerogardens.

Stop Using Plastic Wrap. To reduce your reliance on plastic wrap is to invest in some beeswax food wraps. These work just as well as plastic wrap, but because they’re made of natural materials, you can reuse them over and over again!

Air dry dishes. This is because air-drying dishes use less energy than running a dishwasher and takes up less time.

Stick With Instant Pot. When you’re cooking, try to use a microwave or pressure cooker instead of your oven. Ovens produce a lot of heat and use up a lot of energy, so using these other appliances will help conserve resources. This is the Instant Pot/Air Fryer Combo I love (and use ALL.THE.TIME)!

Frugal Green Cooking & Menu Plan

This may not seem as environmentally conscious as other areas, however, it will help your wallet more.

Buy produce at the local market. Fruits and vegetables tend to be cheaper at the market than they are at the grocery store, so this is a great way to save some cash while also doing your part for the environment. Plus you save on the costs of trucking in the produce and support local.

Join a CSA. These community-supported agricultures have become popular ways for consumers to buy local and seasonal food directly from the farm. You normally have a dollar amount buy-in or a certain number of hours worked for food.

Enjoy Organic Foods. Organic foods may be worth the extra cost – organic food has a higher nutritional value than conventional food, plus it’s better for the environment because it doesn’t require pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Go Meatless. Americans, on average, eat twice the recommended amount of meat. Meat production is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Consider your carbon footprint when making dietary decisions.

Shop Grocery Weekly Ads. Start by looking out for food sales at the grocery store. This can help you save money while also being more mindful of the environmental impact your food choices have.

Meal Plan. One great way to save money on groceries is to plan your meals ahead of time. This allows you to be more strategic in your shopping and can help you avoid buying items that you don’t need.

Use Leftovers. When you’re cooking a meal, always cook a little more than you need. This way, you’ll have leftovers that can be used to make another meal or stored in a glass jar for later use.

Pantry Challenge Time! One way to save money on your groceries is to consider doing a pantry cleanse. This means eating all the foods in your pantry that are sitting there. Then, only buy groceries that you know you’ll use. This can help you avoid overspending and wasting food.

Skip Pre-Made or Boxed Mixes. Making your own is a more affordable option, as pre-made or boxed mixes can be expensive. There are many recipes online that are healthy and affordable, and by planning ahead you can save time and money.

Shop the Perimeter of the Grocery Store. A lot of people want to save money and be more environmentally friendly, but don’t know where to start. One way to do both is to try to stick to the perimeter of the grocery store. This means avoiding the center aisles, where most processed foods and extra packaging are found.

Buy Generic Brands. Generic brands are less expensive than their name-brand counterparts. This is because generic brands do not have the same marketing and advertising costs as name-brand products. Many times the quality is the same or better!

Key Frugal Green Ideas While Shopping

These are environmentally friendly ways to improve your shopping habits. Many people may call this frugal minimalism.

Donate First. It’s easy to just dispose of something when it’s no longer needed, but sometimes that thing could be reused or recycled. For example, if you have an old TV that isn’t being used, try selling it or donating it before throwing it away. There are a lot of people who might need your old TV, and you can get some money for it if you sell it.

Buy Refurbished. On the other hand, if you’re in the market for a new TV, think about buying one that is refurbished instead of buying a brand-new one. Refurbished electronics often come with the same warranty as new ones and cost way less than buying a brand-new model.

Try Fixing First. Just because something is broken doesn’t mean you have to throw it away! Many times, things can be fixed very easily and cheaply. If your electronic device is leaking toxic chemicals, however, you should definitely not try to fix it yourself–take it to a professional recycler instead.

Reuse your own grocery bags. This will save both money and the environment, as disposable grocery bags often end up in landfills. Also, many stores are now charging for grocery bags, so save a few bucks at the store.

Do not buy new books. You can borrow books from the library or from friends, or you can buy them used. Buying new books wastes resources, and it’s often cheaper to buy them used.

Use the Library. The library has a wealth of books, movies, and music that you can borrow for free. Plus you can find access to tons of digital resources as well.

Shop Second-Hand Stores for your needs. These are great places to find clothes, furniture, and other household items at a fraction of the price.

Stop buying the paper version of the newspaper. Instead, get the daily news online for free. Not only will you save a few bucks each month, but you’ll also help reduce deforestation.

Shop at Sustainable Businesses. Thankfully, many companies focus on being sustainable businesses by making changes from production, to packing to shipping. As a whole, the industry could do better to create less waste. One sustainable company is the Everyone Store.

Think Twice on Gifts. Really consider what someone would want for a gift. Too many times we opt for quick and cheap gifts that are materialistic in nature and never be used. So, consider some of these money gift ideas instead.

Frugal Green Cleaning Products that Are Eco Friendly

You may not be environmentally aware of the hazards of using most cleaning products. In fact, you should check your normal cleaning products with EWG’s database and their standards.

DIY Baking Soda & Vinegar. Using green cleaning products is usually more expensive than traditional ones. Baking soda and vinegar are easy-to-find, cost-effective alternatives to environmentally unfriendly cleaners.

Use Microfiber Cloths. Personally, this is my favorite way to cut the expansive (and not-good-for-you) cleaning products. These microfiber cloths are just as effective at cleaning and will save you money in the long run.

Skip the Disposable Rags. Use up-cycled rags from old clothes to pick up spills.

Stop Using Air Fresheners. Reduce or eliminate the use of air fresheners, which release harmful chemicals into the air. Plus they are super costly!

Frugal Green & Energy Use in the Laundry Room

Use Detergent Powder. Washing your clothes in a washing powder uses less water than liquid tabs, which come in more plastic packaging. Also, the powder is a much better environmental solution and better for your body. This is the detergent powder we use and love (and those I recommended it to love it as well)!

Sniff Test. Implement the sniff test and only wash clothes when they fail the sniff test. Beware of this recommendation with teenagers!

Line Dry Clothes. Additionally, line drying clothes throughout the year can save a ton on your energy bill! Plus your clothes do not wear as quickly.

Watch Your Hot, Wash in Cold. One easy way to save money on your household bills is to reduce the amount of hot water you use. Heating water takes up a large percentage of the energy used in households, so by washing your clothes in cold water, you can cut down on your energy usage significantly.

Frugal Green in the Bathroom & Morning Routine

Use Less Shampoo or Soap. In order to save money on your grocery bill, you can use less shampoo than is recommended. If everyone did this, it would result in significant monetary and plastic savings.

Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. It is important to turn the tap off while brushing teeth in order to conserve water. Many people forget to do this, and as a result, millions of gallons of water are wasted every year.

If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If the toilet water is yellow, it’s ok to let it mellow. You don’t have to flush to turn it off every time. Thanks to auto-flush toilets in most places this is very common for people to forget to flush at home.

Take Cooler Showers. This may not be everyone’s favorite. But take a cool shower rather than a piping hot shower. Most of the energy used is the hot water heater warming up the water.

Use Every Last Drop! There are a few ways to get the most out of your products and conserve them- one way is to leave bottles upside down for a couple of hours after you’ve used them so that you can get the last bit of product out. You can also roll up toothpaste tubes to get the remaining paste out. Here is a great product to help you squeeze every expensive ounce out.

Related Reading: Billionaire Morning Routine: How To Achieve Success In Life

Green Lot with Frugal Green Landscaping

Xeroscape Your Lawn. Lawns are often seen as a status symbol, but they’re actually quite expensive and environmentally damaging. They require large amounts of water, fertilizer, and pesticides to maintain, which can leach into the groundwater and pollute the environment.

Change Mowing Schedule. Additionally, lawn mowing emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Water Less Often. While this sounds great in theory, you may not be able to fully switch to xeriscaping your yard. If you can’t switch, then check out this Rachio to lessen your dependence on water.

Frugal Green Home Ownership

There are many ways to save money and be more environmentally conscious at the same time when owning a home.

Your home is probably one of your biggest expenses, so it’s important to take measures to conserve energy and save money. Plus there are many ways to reduce the amount of energy your home consumes!

Home Improvement Math. When considering whether or not to make an improvement to your home in order to reduce your carbon footprint, always do the math to see if the improvement will actually pay for itself. Sometimes it will and sometimes it won’t so be sure to weigh all of the options before making a decision.

Downsize Your Home. If you live in a large house, consider moving into a smaller one. This will help you save on your energy bill and make your home more efficient.

Install low-flow fixtures. One way is to install low-flow fixtures, such as showerheads and faucets. This will reduce your energy use and, in turn, your monthly bills. You can also save water by taking shorter showers.

Hang UV Blocking Curtains. By stopping the sun from heating up your house with curtains during the day, you can save on cooling costs in the summer. Using UV blocking curtains is something we did and notice a significant difference in the summer and winter.

Run Appliances with Full Loads Only. Wait until you have a full load of dishes or laundry before running the dishwasher or washing machine. You would be surprised at the amount of energy and water it takes to run those appliances.

Be Reasonable with Air Conditioning Temperature. In the summer, don’t crank up the air conditioning to save on your energy bill. You can also set your thermostat a couple of degrees higher in the summer to save money. Also, you may want to start cooling your house earlier in the day to prevent your AC unit from working overtime and consuming more energy.

Program Your Winter Heating Temperature. In the UK, A/C is not as common as it is in other countries. Central heating is used more often and is set to a lower room temperature for the summer and a higher room temperature for the winter. This is because people want to save on their energy bills.

Open Windows to Cool House. When the weather is nice, open your windows to allow for natural cooling. This is a simple and cheap way to cool your house. Especially after a nice cool thunderstorm.

Buy Energy Efficient Appliances. Energy-efficient models might be more expensive in the short term, but they will save you money in the long run and help reduce your environmental impact. However, these products should only be bought when the older model is worn out–don’t replace something just because it’s energy-efficient!

Replace Windows. On the one hand, it’s a great idea to replace your windows with more energy-efficient models if you’re staying in your home for many years. However, if you plan on moving within a few years, it might not be worth the investment. You’ll need to weigh the cost of the windows against how much money you’ll save on your monthly energy bill.

Get a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats are a great way to save money on your energy bill. You can set them to turn off or down when you’re not at home, or during times of the day when you don’t need as much heating or cooling.

Look for Energy Leakage. The typical older home has enough energy leakage that it’s the equivalent of leaving your front door open all year long. You can combat this by installing weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows and adding insulation to your attic. Most utility companies offer an energy audit.

Weatherize your Home. Weatherizing your home is a great way to improve energy efficiency and save money on your energy bills. There are many things you can do this and varies on the area of the world you live in.

Sustainable Frugal Green Transportation

Ditch the Car Completely. One of the biggest expenses for many people is their car. Whether you’re paying for car payments, insurance, gas, or maintenance, it can be a lot of money. You can eliminate this expense by ditching the keys and taking public transportation. Not only will you save money on your monthly expenses, but you’ll also help the environment!

Buy Hybrid Cars. Hybrids cars are expensive but they could help you save money on fuel in the long run – hybrids tend to have lower emissions than conventional cars. So, it might be time to say bye to that beater car.

Drive Less and Play Your Route. Driving less is the biggest way to reduce fuel-guzzling trips. Take it a step further with UPS research on their strategic delivery methods and focus on making only right-hand turns.

Carpool Whenever Possible. carpooling is a much more green choice than driving alone.

Look Into Car Sharing. When you only need a car occasionally, or for short trips, it might be more convenient and affordable to use a car-sharing service. Car-sharing services offer the opportunity to have access to wheels when you need them, and they’re flexible and convenient for short trips.

Invest in Electric Scooter. This mode of transportation is the uber-popular. You don’t need cash for gas, money for registration fees, and completely reliable to get around quickly. Check out the best electric scooters on the market.

Ride a Bike. A commuter bike is much cheaper than a car. Plus you get the added benefits of exercise and no carbon waste. Or upgrade to an E-bike.

Telecommute. If you can do your work remotely, then telecommute more often than not. This will save on transportation costs as well as pollution.

Walk More Often. Plan your day around being able to walk places that take under 30 minutes to get there. Then, it is better to walk than drive. Plus you can hit your 10000 steps quicker. It is a triple for the win – health benefits, free exercise, and fresh air!

Don’t Run Your Engine Unnecessarily. Leaving your engine running unnecessarily while stationary can waste fuel and cause environmental damage. Make sure to turn your engine off when you’re not moving to save money and help the planet!

Drive More Efficient. When it comes to saving fuel, one of the best ways is to drive more slowly and efficiently. This will help you save petrol or diesel and reduce your carbon footprint. For example, slowly put your foot on the accelerate to maintain a speed.

Frugal Green Budgeting Per Month

Choose To Save Rather Than Spend. Every tie you actively choose to save your money rather than spend it. You help the environmental impact. We have plenty of popular money saving challenges to help you save more money today.

Pay Bills Online. When you pay bills online, you can save a lot of time, space, and money. You can also save paper by paying your bills online–instead of receiving paper statements in the mail, you can access them online.

Find Free Things to Do. This one is a win-win for frugality environmentalism. Focus on finding activities from this list of things to do with no money. Many of them are already frugal green wins.

Opt for Paperless. And finally, if you pay your bills online, you may automatically receive discounts on some of your monthly bills! Many companies now charge a $2-5 paper statement to be mailed.

Focus on Financial Independence. This may seem like a crazy idea, but it is true. The more you save, the faster you reach financial independence. In fact, this is with the Frugalwoods decided to be frugal in the first place.

Follow Simple Frugal Living Green Ideas – Way to Go Green

Reduce, reuse, recycle. This old mantra is more important than ever in today’s world. By recycling everything you can, you can help conserve resources and keep waste out of landfills.

Your Mindset is Everything. Just like with anything, if you decide to commit yourselves to become environmentally aware, then you are likely to succeed. You don’t have to become extremely frugal overnight. You just have to remember that mindset is everything in this process.

Turn off electronics when not in use. This includes televisions, computers, and other appliances. By turning them off, you’re conserving energy (and saving money). Plus some older appliances might be fire hazards if left plugged in.

Stop Junk Mail. One way to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive is to go through your postal mail and ask to be removed from lists you’re not interested in. This can be done by contacting the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) or specific companies that send you unsolicited mail.

Grab a Sweatershirt or Blanket when Cold. Instead of automatically adjusting the programmable thermostat higher, you can also save by wearing a sweater or using a blanket. Maybe turn on the fireplace before putting the heating on.

Invest in Renewable Energy. In today’s world, it is more important than ever to invest in renewable energy. There are many reasons for this:

• First and foremost, using renewable energy helps to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, which are finite and contribute to climate change.
• Renewable energy also creates jobs and supports local businesses.
• And finally, investing in renewables reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, helping to fight climate change.

In the long run, renewable energy can save you money and reduce emissions by providing power more reliably, often more cheaply than a traditional power source.

Are You Ready Live Life Frugal Green?

Living a more frugal lifestyle is good for the environment because it costs less.

It doesn’t take much to make small changes in your life that will have a big impact on the planet. For example, consume less and you’ll be doing the most earth-friendly thing you can do.

There are dozens of ways to save money and be more environmentally conscious which we covered in this post.

Being frugal and being green often go hand in hand.

However, most people lose steam after just a couple of weeks. So, do not attempt to do each frugal green living habit.

• Pick your top 3 with the biggest impact.
• Add one another 1-3 frugal living tips every month or so.

Over time, you will be surprised to see how easy it is to live frugal green, while also helping you to save money while also protecting the environment.

You can be the frugal green girl or gal with a few of these simple habits. Or choose to follow a frugal blog or frugal forum.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Source: moneybliss.org