19 Cheap Habits That Are Actually Better For The Planet

Of course, no one person can fix every environmental problem. That's absurd! But while we all know that the big companies are doing most of the world's polluting, we, the people, don't exactly lack agency, either. We're totally capable of making choices that reduce harm to the planet, and that's a good thing!

Cows with their calves grazing on a green pasture with a forest in the background under a cloudy sky
Austen Hayes / Getty Images

In the interest of learning more earth-healthy habits, I recently asked the BuzzFeed Community for their cheap, easy habits that help the planet. Here are some of the best answers:

1."I bring my own drink, a bottle of water, every time I go out to eat to avoid ordering bottled water in the restaurant. I live somewhere in Asia where a bottle of mineral water can cost up to $5 in restaurants."

A clear glass of water and a water bottle on a polished wooden table indoors, with blurred background elements

2."Eating less meat/animal products. Agriculture is a massive contributor to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Eating plant-based meals is cheap, healthy, and saves the planet."

"It's not like you have to be a vegetarian or a vegan, just don't always eat meat."

userrname

3."Stop buying fast fashion. I know it feels good to feel 'trendy' — I do. But those clothes are made with plastic [and] horrible chemicals, [and are] made by people working for pennies in horrible conditions."

Several women, including guests at the Shein fashion event, pose in trendy outfits with a mix of casual and chic styles featuring boots and stylish accessories
Several women, including guests at the Shein fashion event, pose in trendy outfits with a mix of casual and chic styles featuring boots and stylish accessories
Workers at sewing stations in a large garment factory, occupied with various tasks. Air circulators with colorful fan blades are seen at each station
Workers at sewing stations in a large garment factory, occupied with various tasks. Air circulators with colorful fan blades are seen at each station

Anthony Devlin / Getty Images for Shein, Jade Gao / AFP via Getty Images

"[A lot of] people... are totally OK with that as long as they don't have to see it happening. The good thing about not buying fast fashion is that it saves you money, your clothes look better, and they last longer."

—Anonymous

4."Buy less stuff."

—Anonymous

5."Recycle everything that you can. If you do use certain disposable products like foil or paper towels, try to reuse them before throwing them away."

A public recycling station with bins for metal, paper, and plastic bottles next to a green garbage can in a park setting with trees and buildings in the background

6."One totally free idea that will save you money and take quite literally ZERO effort is to stop buying stuff like the following things: dryer sheets, avoidable plastic, and cars with low MPG. Also, recycle."

A silver Ford F-150 pickup truck driving on a road with other vehicles in the background. Trees and a building with a spire are visible. Texas license plate is visible

—Anonymous

Artistic Operations / Getty Images

7."Trying to reduce food waste as much as possible has been my biggest [change], and we're winning! We make [only] enough to eat, anything else is leftovers/frozen, and [we] buy only what we need."

"I was ashamed of our waste before; we were not only eating out four to six times a week, but [were] buying enough groceries to cook for the whole week, too. We'd get lazy [and] end up tossing out so much food, it was disgusting.

"Now my husband and I are more conscious about what we buy, prepare, and eat, and the food waste has gone down quite drastically. Now we feel guilty for tossing a quarter of an onion, LOL. But seriously... once you get the hang of it, have backup recipes for everything you buy so you end up with as little waste as possible, or plan a lot for leftovers so every scrap is used, it gets so easy and addictive and you end up getting very creative in the kitchen, too."

morgan_le_slay

8."Weed out single-use items, [like] paper plates... paper towels, plastic utensils, [and] straws — anything that has a sustainable, long-lasting [alternative]."

A person wearing glasses drinks from a plastic water bottle. The close-up captures their profile and the water inside the clear bottle
A person wearing glasses drinks from a plastic water bottle. The close-up captures their profile and the water inside the clear bottle
A hand holding up a large Stanley travel mug with a handle and straw against a twilight sky
A hand holding up a large Stanley travel mug with a handle and straw against a twilight sky

Oliver Helbig / Getty Images, Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

"Buy a reusable water bottle. They don't have to be expensive, my daughter has an Owala one that she's been taking to school every day for two years and it's in great condition. Think how many plastic single-use bottles that would be!

"Simple things like switching to laundry sheets instead of plastic jugs, [or] glass soap/cleaner bottles with tablet refills. Those are products you're buying anyway that are a simple switch.

"Bamboo toothbrushes. Use old towels and clothes for cleaning rags to eliminate paper towels. [Or use] cloth napkins; they're cheap or easy to make yourself!"

jessethecowgirl

9."Invest in quality products (look for used!) and repair rather than replace. Support a local business! (Handymen, cobblers, tailors, etc.)"

Person standing outdoors on uneven ground, shown from the knees down, wearing dark jeans and black lace-up boots

10."I recycle my used batteries in the bins at the supermarket. I also found a place with bins outside the entrance for recycling small electronics, and when my kettle stopped working, I took it there to be recycled."

Person in a blue jacket and gloves sorts various types of batteries on a conveyor belt in a recycling facility

—Anonymous

Baranozdemir / Getty Images

11."Air-drying clothes. I have a fairly inexpensive clothesline horse. It’s been going strong for nine years."

"I can line dry four loads of laundry in across two days in the North Carolina summer. [There's] no cost beyond getting the clothesline and clothespins."

—Anonymous

12."Single-use plastic. Obviously, no one person can eliminate plastic [altogether], but it's been a change that makes me feel so much cleaner; I try to avoid single-use plastic WHEREVER I can, and I've found that I actually used it a lot more than I thought."

Plastic bag containing three oranges

13."I’m vegan, I buy 95% of my clothing second-hand, and reduce-reuse-recycle like a madwoman."

Multiple packages of raw poultry, with white labels, are displayed in a grocery store's refrigerated section

14."[I use a] SodaStream rather than bottled, carbonated water, a fold-down clothes dryer when I can't hang washing out, [and I] reuse coffee grounds in the garden as plant food."

—Anonymous

15."Create 'no car' days, arranging your life so that you don't need to drive anywhere for as long as possible, even if only for a day each week."

A woman in a blue dress walks down a city street with a large green quilted item strapped to her back

—Anonymous

South_agency / Getty Images

16."Cold water for washing all your laundry."

—Anonymous

17." As Vivienne Westwood said, 'Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity.'"

Folded knitted sweaters with recycle symbol tags and barcodes on a wooden surface
Folded knitted sweaters with recycle symbol tags and barcodes on a wooden surface
Row of neatly hung shirts and jackets displayed on wooden hangers
Row of neatly hung shirts and jackets displayed on wooden hangers

Alexandr Lebedko / Getty Images, Xxwp / Getty Images/iStockphoto

"It's important to wear what you own more than once, that the clothes you wear are comfortable and flattering, and that you shouldn't just throw away clothes when you want to downsize. Think, 'Who might want these?'

"Are there clothing drives in your area? Can you renew them or patch them up? Buy what looks and feels good on YOU, not other people."

—Anonymous

18."I soak my orange & lemon peels in vinegar, strain, and then use the glorious smelling potion to clean and freshen my kitchen."

A glass jar filled with pine needles and orange peels next to a small green vial and an empty glass bottle in the background

19.And finally: "A change I found easy and constructive was to stop buying clothes from places like Shein and Forever 21. Once I learned about how bad their clothes and business practices were, I stopped forever."

A woman stands in a subway car, focused on her phone. Other passengers are seated around her, all engaged with their own activities

In short, most answers seem to be along the lines of less plastic, less energy use, and less consumption in general — which is so easy to do, because it actually involves not doing stuff. Let me know your thoughts down below. And if you have any more positive habits to share, I'm happy to hear them! Who knows — your tip might help someone make a positive change in their life.

Note: Some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity.