Short Term Spending for Long Term Savings: My Top 10 Money Saving Green Products
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on whether or not the zero waste lifestyle is expensive. My hope was to shed some light on the misconceptions about the lifestyle and express my opinions on the lifestyle cost over time. (check it out first if that sounds interesting!) Building on that notion, today’s post is getting into the specifics of initial cost versus long term savings.
Upfront costs are inevitable in many instances of our lives. We make expensive purchases such as homes, vehicles, our education, and electronics all for the sake of needs or reaching achievements in life. We justify the high price tag because we are gain long term value from these things. We often will spend lots of time weighing our options, or doing research to make the right decision that is best for us.
Similarly, the zero waste lifestyle uses an ‘asset’ perspective when it comes to just about everything in life. Instead of focusing on the initial savings or affordability, all purchasing choices of a zero-waste individual are focused around the greater good of both our planet, and their wallet. Even decisions for simple everyday purchases like paper towel or household cleaners are considered thoroughly and consciously. Weighing the pros and cons of the product’s environmental impact, lifecycle, and whether or not it holds significant long term value.
To show you clear examples of the long term savings that can happen by being more thoughtful about your purchasing habits, I’m getting into my top ten favourite sustainable swaps that can save you money over time. I’ve paired each example with a graph to compare the cost, lifespan, and overall savings. As for the cost calculations, I took an average of the top sellers of each product here in Canada, so it might vary if you live elsewhere. You will see it is pretty amazing to see the lifetime spending difference of each.
If you are interested in living more sustainably at home and making zero waste swaps to reduce your environmental impact, these 10 are a great place to start. In the future, consider building your own comparisons before making purchases in order to weigh the true cost of items over time. At the end of the day, being a conscious consumer is being a greener consumer!
How can a Bidet help you Save Money?
Adding a bidet to your toilet can lower your total toilet paper consumption, and in turn spending, by up to 70% or more. Say you currently spend $5.99 on 8 rolls of toilet paper every month. That amounts to $71.88 a year, and approximately $5,031.16 over the course of your lifetime. With a bidet, that cost of paper drops down to $1,509.34 in your lifetime (taking into consideration you will still need a bit of toilet paper) or just $21.56 per year. To increase savings even more, it is possible to keep a basket of clean rags near your toilet and eliminate the need for toilet paper.
| PRODUCT | A Bidet | Toilet Paper |
|---|---|---|
| COST IN 2 YEAR | Upfront Cost: $150 - $300 | 8 Rolls X 24 months = $145 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | OVER 5 YEARS | SINGLE USE |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | 2 CUPS OF WATER PER USE | 592 CUPS OF WATER PER ROLL |
| LIFETIME EXPENSE | 1,509.34 | 5,021.16 |
How can a Steamer Help you save money?
The fewer cleaning supplies you need to buy, the more money saved. When used properly, a steamer kills 99.9% of household germs like salmonella, E. Coli and Staphylococcus, so there is no reason to supplement with harsh chemicals with most regular cleaning needs. Using a steamer can lower your cleaning product costs by up to 96.5%. If you spend $10 on cleaning supplies a month, that amounts to $120 per month and approximately $14,400 over the course of your lifetime. If you eliminate $10 average spending after putting up the cost of a steamer than can last up to 15 years if cared for properly (be sure to use distilled water) then investing in a steam cleaner is totally worth it.
| PRODUCT | A Steam Cleaner | Cleaning Products |
|---|---|---|
| COST IN 2 YEAR | Upfront Cost: $60 - $150 | $10 X 24 months = $240 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | OVER 10 YEARS | 1 MONTH |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | NO CHEMICAL LEACHNG OR TOXIC MATERIALS | HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND PLASTIC PACKAGING |
| LIFETIME EXPENSE | $300-$500 | $14,400 |
how can led bulbs help save you money?
If you haven’t made this swap yet, this one is a no brainer. It is a super affordable option that will save you on a ton of energy consumption and money over time. You just need to consider the upfront cost. I found that you can spend up to 80% less energy with LEDs rather than using traditional incandescents. It’s an added bonus that they can last up to 25 times longer too!
| PRODUCT | LED LIGHTBULBS | TRADITIONAL INCADECENTS |
|---|---|---|
| COST OVER 2 YEAR | Upfront Cost: $15 X 5 = $75 | $5 X 10 BULBS = $50 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | OVER 15 YEARS | 1 MONTH |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | LESS ENERGY CONSUMPTION, NON-TOXIC CONSUPTION | MORE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, HARMFUL LEACHING CHEMICALS PACKAGING |
| LIFETIME EXPENSE | $300 (OR LESS) | $21,600 |
how can unpaper towels Help save you money?
Paper towels are honestly just a waste of money all together. You can save up to 89% by switching to reusable paper towels. Why spend so much on something that you are just going to throw out almost immediately? All the deforestation, emissions, and chemicals from their lifestyle go to waste in mere minutes. Investing in a couple sets of unpaper towels (or simply settling for scraps of fabric and dish rags) can help you save a lot long term. Microfiber unpaper towels are worth the investment in my opinion because they are often made from recycled materials and are quick drying which makes them a bit more sanitary than a usual cloth.
| PRODUCT | UNPAPER TOWELS | PAPER TOWELS |
|---|---|---|
| COST OVER 2 YEAR | Upfront Cost: $15 X 2 = $30 | $12 X 24 MONTHS = $288 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 2 YEARS | 1 USE |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | LESS WASTE, LESS PAPER USE | DEFORESTATION, MORE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, HARMFUL LEACHING CHEMICALS PACKAGING |
| LIFETIME EXPENSE | $900 | $8,640 |
How can a programmable thermostat help save you money?
Programmable thermostats (or their fancier smart thermostat counterparts) can hugely impact your overall energy consumption and costs. Over a lifetime, programmable thermostats can save you 10-30% on your energy bills. They work to self manage heating and cooling to best fit the needs of your environment. Rising and falling depending on the use of your home and time of year. Many newer energy efficient ones are able to transition into a new temperature in a slow way to maximize this effect and prevent you from constantly toggling with the device.
| PRODUCT | PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT | BASIC THERMOSTAT |
|---|---|---|
| DEVICE COST | $25-50 | $90 - 200 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 10 YEARS | 10 YEARS |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | LESS ENERGY USE, LESS GRID POLLUTION | INCREASED/WASTED ENERGY |
| LIFETIME SAVINGS | UP TO 30% | N/A |
How can reusable silicone storage bags help save you money?
Reusable silicone bags are a great solution to a common household need, storage. Instead of purchasing single use plastic bags, silicone storage provides a long term solution that is easy to care for and will help your wallet out too. In my analysis of this household staple replacement, I noted an average savings of 79% over the course of a lifetime from switching to silicone bags. The initial expense of this one is pretty similar too, you just don’t need to buy them as often!
| PRODUCT | Silicone Storage Food Bags | Plastic Storage Food Bags |
|---|---|---|
| COST IN 2 YEAR | 10 BAGS X $12=$120 | 5 BOXES X $22= $110 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 3-5 YEARS | DAYS |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | CAN BE RECYCLED | ENDS IN LANDFILL |
| AVERAGE LIFETIME EXPENSE | $1,600 | 7,700 |
How can rechargeable batteries help save you money?
Batteries can be an expensive household item if you need to purchase them often! Reusable batteries are easy to find and will save you a ton of money over time. If you go through approximately 1 pack of AA batteries and 1 pack of AAA batteries every 3 months, by my calculations you can save up to 87.5% from swapping for rechargeable ones. Please remember that batteries that aren’t disposed of properly can pose a serious environmental problem in landfills. Battery acid can contaminate soil and and water leading to toxic effects. Reducing the number you use can help, but even when they are ready to be disposed of it is important to do so responsibly.
| PRODUCT | REUSABLE BATTERIES | SINGLE USE BATTERIES |
|---|---|---|
| COST OVER 2 YEAR | Upfront Cost of 2 Packs: $20 X 2 = $40 | $16 X 8 MONTHS = $128 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 5 YEARS | 1 USE/3 MONTHS PER PACK |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | LESS TOXIC WASTE | SINGLE USE, CHEMICAL LEACHING |
| LIFETIME EXPENSE | $480 | $3,840 |
How can reusable coffee filters help save you money?
Reusable coffee filters can save you a lot of money over time for your morning brew! Up to 86% over a lifetime in fact. Did you know that the majority of coffee filters are bleached with chlorine? While it is a relatively ‘safe’ chemical, there is still the factor of waste volume to consider too. If you compost at home, this can help but I argue its best to just eliminate waste and purchasing habits in as many areas as possible to benefit long term finances. Just be sure to consider your water use with this one! Rinse out grinds with leftover water or brush with a scrub brush when possible.
| PRODUCT | REUSABLE COFFEE FILTERS | SINGLE USE FILTERS |
|---|---|---|
| COST OVER 2 YEARS | Upfront Cost: $25 | $4 X 12 MONTHS = $96 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 8 YEARS | SINGLE USE |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | LESS WASTE, LESS PAPER | SINGLE USE, CHEMICAL LEACHING (IF BLEACHED) |
| LIFETIME EXPENSE | $200 | $1,440 |
How can a low-flow showerhead help save you money?
A low-flow showerhead can pay for itself in the first year of having it. It can decrease your water consumption from showering by up to 60% per month by implementing a small vent and increasing air flow throughout the fixture. This helps keep the water pressure strong while saving your water bill and the planet. Similarly to the programmage shower head, I would consider this a worthwhile swap to make given the rate in which you see a return.
| PRODUCT | ECO SHOWER HEAD | REGULAR SHOWER HEAD |
|---|---|---|
| COST OVER 2 YEAR | Upfront Cost: $80 | Upfront Cost: $40 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 15 YEARS | 10 YEARS |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | LESS WATER USAGE | EXCESS WATER USAGE |
| LIFETIME SAVINGS | 40% OF MONTHLY WATER BILL | N/A |
how can REUSABLE BEESWAX WRAPS help save you money?
Plastic wrap is a staple in many homes. While it is effective at securely storing leftovers, it is a not great for the environment and can encour quite an expense over a lifetime. By swapping from plastic wrap to beeswax wrap, you can save up to 58% on spending over the course of your lifetime. Not to mention these organic wraps are biodegradable when you are finished with them instead of encoring more plastic waste!
| PRODUCT | Silicone Storage Food Bags | Plastic Storage Food Bags |
|---|---|---|
| COST IN 2 YEAR | 2 PACKS X $15 = $30 | 12 BOXES X $6= $72 |
| HOW LONG IT LASTS | 1 YEAR | SINGLE USE |
| NOTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | BIODEGRADABLE, NATURAL | PLASTIC WASTE, ENDS IN LANDFILL |
| AVERAGE LIFETIME EXPENSE | $900 | $2,160 |
What other products should analyze? Let me know in the comments.
Hey, Claudia here
I am a senior graphic designer, a dog mom, an advocate for a zero-waste lifestyle, climate change, and sustainability. My articles are based on personal experience and well researched to give you the best source of information for all things zero-waste.