Living sustainably doesn’t come with an extra cost. In fact, everyday choices can help you save money while contributing to a sustainable planet. Here are few tips that will help you make an easy shift to a greener, budget friendly lifestyle.
1. BYOB… Be your own barista!
Whether it’s for that 09.00 lecture or that you’re simply not yourself until you’ve had your first sip of coffee for the day, coffee can be lovely. Your takeaway coffee comes with an environmental cost, as well as the one to your weekly budget. Although they are made largely of paper, disposable coffee cups are lined with plastic polyethylene, which means they cannot be recycled at standard plants and 99% end up unrecycled. This plastic takes hundreds of years to break down.
Consider getting a King’s KeepCup which are available from all the university restaurants and cafes. It doubles as a souvenir and a sustainable, cost-effective way to drink coffee.
You might also consider buying your own coffee machine. Maybe sharing the cost with flatmates/housemates if they are coffee lovers as well. From pod-coffee machines to a French press, there’s something affordable for everyone and brewing at home is significantly cheaper than buying a daily takeaway coffee.
2. Reduce food waste and save money
In the UK, food and drink that could have been eaten but sent to the landfill in 2022 were worth £17 billion, costing the average household of four £1000 per year, and individuals £2650 per year. A quarter of the food waste happens because people cooked, prepared and served too much. So here are some tips to help you make small changes to a more sustainable and cost-effective living.
- Plan your meals: Shop with a list and buy only what you need to avoid over-purchasing.
- Extend the life of your food: Stale baked goods such as bread can often be revitalised with a quick blast in the oven or prevent them becoming stale in the first place by freezing on the day of purchase. The taste and quality will remain the same once defrosted. Plan to eat leftovers on a regular night each week.
- Cheap and sustainable food options: Check out bargain websites selling food, groceries and other products that are approaching best before dates at websites like Too Good To Go. Try food sharing – pick up good food from restaurants for free at Olio.
3. Pre-loved selling and shopping
Pre-loved shopping is basically a win-win for your wallet and the planet. Not only can you buy cheap but also convert into cash things that are no longer useful to you, while avoiding fast fashion. If you have clothes that are still in good condition but no longer worn, consider swapping or sharing them with friends. To find upcoming events visit Eventbrite – clothes swap.
Consider buying pre-loved items from boot sales and charity shops like Crisis and 10 of London’s Best Car Boot Sales. If you prefer to buy or sell your used items online, here are few websites to try:
Important to know: Be aware of scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you’re dealing with a genuine buyer/seller before parting with your cash or product and always report negative experiences. Depending on the site, you might be able to check the seller's/buyer's feedback score and rating and see comments about experience of the product or seller/buyer.
4. Save water and spend less
- Start a shower-time playlist: Taking 4-minute showers can drastically reduce water consumption, and creating a playlist of 4-minute bangers can make the experience enjoyable and easy. Looking for more inspiration? Try this Spotify playlist from The Water Conservancy to get you grooving.
- Save, don’t spill, the tea: By boiling only as much water as you need, rather than overfilling the kettle, you could save around £11 a year on your electricity bill. Setting your hot water temperature and insulating a hot water tank can save over 500kg of carbon dioxide per year resulting in saving more than £100 on energy bills.
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth: We’ve been told it for years but honestly, turning the tap off when you don’t need it saves the typical household 9,000 litres of water a year and it’s that easy. That’s less water wasted and lower bills.
5. Be energy efficient and lower your bills
- Start vampire-slaying: Unplug 'vampire' devices (that drain power when left plugged in or on standby): smart speakers, TVs, Microwaves, Phones, tablets, and laptops left on charge. Switching appliances off at the socket makes a difference. When you take a break from studying, why not give your computer a break too and switch it fully off and take it off charge. Run dishwashers and washing machines only when they’re full and hang clothes to dry rather than using a machine to save energy. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances and request a smart meter from your energy supplier to stay on top of your consumption and spending.
- Keep the warmth in and the cold out: As the cooler months approach, draft-proofing is a simple way to reduce heat leakage. Closing curtains and using draft-stoppers can make a big difference to the temperature inside a room. When you’re using a heater, closing the curtains can also help keep the room warmer for longer and smaller bills.
- Be smart with your heating: Instead of immediately switching on the heating, try adding layers of clothing when it gets chilly. When using heating only switch them on in rooms you are using or use timers, so your spaces are perfectly toasty when you need them and not heated when you don’t. These small changes can trim £100 or more from annual energy bills.
Learn more about how King’s is embedding climate and sustainability within research, education, operation, policies and services on King’s Climate and Sustainability webpage. Check out Money Mentor webpage to get more money tips from current and recently graduated students.