Living a sustainable lifestyle in college can sometimes be difficult, especially if you don’t have a lot of money to spare. However, it better to focus on the things that we can afford to help make our Earth a better place! Here are some of the best and affordable ways to live susatinable in college.
Refuse the Free
I love getting free things on campus as much as the next person. I even went an entire year with out buying cups, because I just kept grabbing free ones whenever I saw a table, but there should be a limit for yourself on what you take. Think to yourself, “am I ever going to use this item?” Even if you might think so, is it going to be used within the next day? Week? Month? Sometimes it’s better to let it go, before you become a hoarder of the free things.
Buying Used Items
Now when I say used items, I’m not just talking about clothes. Most of us by now know that you can get pretty cute and affordable clothes from Goodwill or other thrift stores, but I talking about what is past the clothing racks. Gently used items like plates, glasses, storage, and even furniture can be found at Goodwill! A decent couch from Goodwill will cost you under $50! That’s a great alternative than buying brand new furniture for a college house you don’t plan on being in for a long time. Other places to look for gently used items include apps like Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, and I have even seen a try to sell his couch on Tinder.
Using Less Single Use Paper and Plastics
This one is harder for most people because we’ve become so reliant on paper towels and plastic sandwich bags, but it is easier than it seems! You can buy an extra set of dish rags to use incase of any spills or accidents. Cloth napkins are also cute and can add a personal touch to your kitchen! Also, the ad newspapers that get delivered in the mail are great for cleaning mirrors and glass. Sandwich bags can easily be replaced by reusable silicone bags or a reusable plastic container. These containers are super cheap to buy and will last you years! One of ways I reduce using single-use plastics is by saving the food containers I get from eating out. Those plastic containers are made from a heavy- duty plastic that is perfect for packing lunches in!
These are just a few easy ways to make a sustainable lifestyle change! Of course there are more than we all can do to play our part in saving the climate and keeping the Earth safe, but here is a great place to start!