Going Green?!
Going green..don’t let that term scare you, or think it’s hard. Here are 5 products that you can change out today that won’t break the bank.
Going Greener?
Ok, so I am an avid recycler…. I mean we live in Japan right now and they recycle EVERYTHING! And I LOVE it! Don’t get me wrong I have recycled for a very long time, just not like this. They literally take the caps off bottles and that is separate, they recycle Styrofoam, yes you read that Styrofoam! I wish the United States recycled like Japan, it would be a way greener planet if they did.
Anyways, back to my point. Even though I was recycling, I saw how many things we were wasting, and we were wasting a lot. We were buying paper towels like nobody’s business, going through a pack of Bounty’s 16 mega rolls like twice a month! Not only that, the Ziploc bags I was using (I’m a freezer meal planner) was A lot as well. Just think all that plastic! I was buying the gallon and quart freezer bags all the time, one time I stocked up and bought 4 boxes each, thinking that would last me a few months… boy did I miscalculate.
I didn’t realize how many we were going through! Another thing that I was very scared and weary of trying was reusable pads. Yea, I get it, it sounds gross doesn’t it? That’s what I thought as well. Let me tell you, I wish I would have made the switch to reusable pads sooner! They are AMAZING! I cannot stress enough how comfortable, easy, non-messy they really are! This is coming from someone who tried cloth diapering and loathed it because it was way too messy and just disgusting for me. More power to the parents who cloth diaper because I just couldn’t.
I was so amazed with these reusable pads I got my 12-year-old to make the switch as well. If you are “Iffy” like I was don’t worry! Not only are they cheap to try, I’m sure once you try them you will NEVER go back to disposable pads. Now for the moment you all have been so patiently waiting for… Here are my links for discounted Green items from Amazon.
These are ALL products I Use personally!
Bamboo reusable towels:
For reusable food wrap (an alternative to plastic wrap)
If you want meal planning tips as well, which saves the planet if you are using reusable products, and you buy less therefore wasting less! Head on over to my page TIPS, HERE.
Just think at all the money you will be saving by Going green today! Just by switching to one or two things will save you hundreds each year. I have calculated just our savings from buying reusable paper towels and pads and drumroll please! $337! That’s just two of the products, and I only did one pack of pads and paper towels per month and we probably go through more, so that’s the low end! We probably save more around $400 from switching just those two. Imagine if you switched to all of these products. I will update it when I figure out that number. I’m curious as to see it as I’m sure you are too!
Comment below if you have switched anything and how much you are saving per year by going green or even per month! I would love to see all of your savings! What are you doing about Going Green? Something about saving money always puts me in a Great mood and makes me want to just brag lol. Every time I save a lot at a store I come home and tell my hubby, guess how much I saved? LOL If you ask him: what’s one thing your wife loves doing? He would reply with save money…
I am looking for other (easy) ways of going green so if you have any Tips please let me know, bonus if they can be used in the kitchen!
Update: we recently moved into a rental to the states (not our choice) but I am finding it hard to justify planting a small garden because we will be here for not even a full year. So, come at me with your easiest (and fastest) plants that I can plant now and can enjoy the fruit of our labor! We love gardening but are having a hard time justifying it right now, so please talk me into it. I’m always up for more going green challenges!
Be sure to follow me on social media and don’t forget to grab your FREE MEAL PLAN HERE and tag me in your going green posts! I would love to see them!
What an eye-opener Felicia! I live in the UK and there is a lot of wastage here as well. I wish everyone starts thinking like you and makes a switch to go greener. This planet will be in so much better position. Global warming will be reduced and so many species can be saved too. Our ecosystem is disturbed because of our wrong choices. One step at a time towards sustainable choices and we can make this world better together!
Yes Ashh! You are 100% correct. If we all did just a little this world would be so much better off.
I have started using the menstrual cup since last month. Have stopped using single use plastic and carry cloth bags for shopping. I’d like to try bamboo re-usable towels. Agree with you, these small changes by each one us can make a big difference.
Thank you so much Shilpa for doing your part in helping our Earth!
I have stopped using kitchen paper paper towels. I now use cloth.
Thank you for doing your part to save our environment 🙂
Hey Felicia, it was really a nice post. Thanks for sharing.
In India we are now being encouraged to use menstrual cups instead of disposable sanitary napkins. In fact, we also make our newborns to wear reuseable diapers. And it all just because of eco friendliness.. I feel this good.
We are at a point when we must seriously reduce our consumerism and be conscious of what we consume. We really need to dial down the plastic and other non-recyclable packaging and storage. The Earth is groaning under the pressure and it is well known that our natural resources are diminishing at an alarming rate. You are right about taking stock of where we are – scary! As a child of the sixties, I grew up in a family where everything was reused. We barely had any plastic – there was always an environment friendly alternative for everything. Sigh. Progress brings its own issues. Thank you for the eco-friendly recommendations, Felicia!
Hi Felicia. I love your style of writing. I’m currently a freelance content writer and is currently learning all things blog-related myself. ? To be honest I’ve never heard of reusable pads before. I’ll definitely read up on it. I generally don’t like pads and prefer tampons. Plus I’m fairly certain that I’ve entered perimenopause so I’m not sure if I’ll be needing sanitary products for an extended period. Anyways I love your article and look forward to reading some more so please keep blogging.?
Wow that’s impressive. Love the changes that you have made in your kitchen and life to be more sustainable. I have heard about reusable pads but never tried it. Will look it up in the supermarket on my next visit. I generally do not use any plastic pouch or even plastic containers. I started discarding plastic and replaced it with Glass Containers a few years ago. The only thing I would like to change now is to lessen the use of cling wrap, maybe just use containers to store leftovers.
I live in Croatia and we too recycle EVERYTHING. We don’t have a choice actually 🙂 We only have to pay for the garbage that we don’t recycle, so of course, everyone recycles. When I was reading the part where you are talking about cloth diapers and reusable pads – ooooohhhh, how I know what you mean! I was determined to use cloth diapers… and I really did try… But, as you said, that is a messy job. All that washing, the pee everywhere… that just wasn’t for me. BUT one the other hand, I can not live without reusable pads! The reason I switched to reusable pads is that disposable pads always gave me some infections and irritations. The plastic in that “lady part” was just not for me. So when I discovered reusable pads, my “little lady” was so grateful. I NEVER got an infection again! And they are so comfortable like I am not even wearing them. And they are so pretty, right? 🙂 I mean, all those designs to choose from 🙂 How couldn’t I buy them 🙂
Hi Felicia, oh cool! I’m definitely keen to go greener. I already recycle (in a limited way – no styrofoam) and yup, I use cloth pads and they’re great. There’s an amazing initiative here in South Africa to give out cloth pads to young girls who miss School days during their period because they can’t afford pads.
I also never managed to use cloth diapers – not because I didn’t want to or thought I would be squeamish but because we just didn’t have the money to fork out on the initial kit at the time.
We regretted it later, we never realised how long we would be using disposable diapers. If I had the chance to do it over again, I’d do my best to go with cloth diapers, or better still learn the subtle art of elimination communication and “potty train” at 3 months. When I heard this was possible, I was gobsmacked. We missed that milestone and the 15-month one and it all just went pearshaped from there. Ho hum, the joys of parenting.
Great post! I am always curious how going green could actually look and you gave me a lot of great ideas!
Felicia I have been looking at getting reusable pads for myself and I want to get some for my daughter one day too. She is way too young now though. Have you heard of period panties? They look fabulous. I’ve also got a few friends that are using the menstrual cup and they rave about it but I just don’t think I will be comfortable using one of those!
I really do think that eco-friendly menstrual products are the way to go. Thank you for sharing your experience with reusable pads.
I use a menstrual cup in combination with reusable pads and I have to say that I am reborn! I always had really bad painful period but when I started using the cup it all went away. Some days I don’t even remember I am having my period. A menstrual cup is a fantastic product BUT you have to find the right one because there are so many out there.