Stop throwing money away
(Photo: Getty Images)
There’s no question that disposable items can be incredibly
convenient sometimes. But if you stop and think about it, they’re not
all they’re cracked up to be.
While it might be quicker to
throw something in the trash when you’re done using it than washing it
and putting it away, you do have to have to spend time going to the
store and buying the same products all over again. The costs for buying
products again and again can really add up.
Plus you’re not only
throwing away your hard earned money. You’re also disposing of the resources used to make the throwaway products and unnecessarily sending things to the landfill.
No one is suggesting that you stop using
disposables altogether, just that you give it a little more thought.
Some disposables are hard to live without (such as diapers), but the
items on the list below will be barely noticeable once you change a few
habits. You’ll need to spend a little money up front to save down the
line.
A family of four can save $3,164 a year by cutting back or
eliminating the items listed below. Of course, the final savings
ultimately depends on what you use now, how much you cut back, and local
prices. No matter the exact total, wouldn’t you rather spend money on a family vacation instead of disposable junk?
Paper
napkins
Use cloth napkins instead. Worried about the laundry piling
up? Assign a different color napkin to each family member (or try this
fun
DIY napkin project). The idea is that if the same person uses the
same
napkin at every meal, you can wash napkins less often.
Potential savings: Count on saving around $57 a year if
everyone in your family uses one napkin at every meal. You’ll also save
4,368
paper napkins from being tossed in the landfill each year.
Paper towels
Wipe up spills with cloth towels. Use rags for cleaning. You
can make your own by cutting up old sheets, T-shirts, towels, etc., or buy microfiber
towels. For windows try crumpling up old newspapers.
Potential savings: If your household uses one roll of paper
towels each week, you can save around $83 a year.
Resealable, plastic
storage bags
Reuse them by washing them out and letting air dry. (It’s
not a good idea to reuse bags that were used to store raw meat.) There are now
several kinds of reusable
sandwich and snack bags that are widely available. Store leftovers in plastic
or glass reusable containers.
Potential savings: You’ll save around $78 a year if you stop
using throwaway plastic bags for weekday lunches and storing leftovers.
Paper coffee filters
Try a reusable
coffee filter or make coffee in a French
press, which doesn’t require a filter.
Potential savings: About $15 a year if you make one pot of
coffee every day.
Single-serve bottled drinks
Carry a reusable stainless-steel bottle to transport water
and other drinks when you’re on the go.
Potential savings: About $2,187 if each member of
your family consumers one bottled beverage a day.
Aluminum foil
Save leftovers in reusable plastic or glass containers.
Avoid using foil to line baking sheets.
Potential savings: Around $64 a year if you use six rolls of
foil (200 square feet each).
Single-use batteries
It’s much easier to use rechargeable batteries than you
think. Rechargeable AA batteries and chargers, ubiquitous for TV and gaming
remotes and kids’ toys, are widely available. An added bonus: You don’t have to
run to the store when your remote runs out of juice. Just recharge the
batteries and you’re good to go.
Potential savings: If you use around 25 AA batteries a year,
you’ll save around $28 a year. You can also feel good about not
unnecessarily sending batteries to the landfill.
Disposable razors
blades
Use an electric
razor instead.
Potential savings: About $122 a year if your household uses
54 razor blades a year.
Paper publications
Read your favorite newspapers and magazines online instead
of letting the paper pile up at home. You’ll find a lot of interesting content
for free online, but even if you have to pay to read articles you’ll still come
out ahead.
For example, subscribing to the electronic edition of the New York
Times costs $29.95 a month. Compare that to the $769.60 price tag for seven-day
home delivery (It’s $608.40 if you live in the Tri-State area.)
Potential savings: Depending on where you live, you’ll
either save $530 or $369 a year.
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips
and product reviews with Yahoo! Green’s users. Send Lori a question
or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book,
Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a
Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo!
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