How a sustainable lifestyle can contribute to saving money for students

The first time I heard the word „sustainability“ was back in 2019, from some students in Marburg. At the time, I was planning to move to Marburg and was searching for a room in a shared flat (WG). In Marburg, some WGs organize castings to choose a person who shares similar interests and habits with them. One of the WGs that invited me for a casting asked me a question right at the beginning: „Do you know anything about sustainability? And what are you doing to contribute to sustainability?“

This question caught me off guard and left me feeling overwhelmed. In my home country, I had never heard of sustainability, and even in Germany, I hadn’t come across the term until that moment. The students kindly explained the meaning of the word and shared their lifestyle with me. It felt a bit too much at the time—for instance, I couldn’t imagine making my own soap or hand cream at home. To me, it seemed too time-consuming, especially as a student.

However, some aspects of their sustainable lifestyle really intrigued me, and I slowly began integrating these habits into my own life. In this blog post, I’d like to share some of these habits with you. They not only have a positive impact on the environment but also help to save money.

1. Reduce Food Waste

To reduce food waste, I started creating a weekly meal plan. Whenever I go grocery shopping, I take a list of the required ingredients and strictly follow it to avoid unnecessary purchases. After a few weeks, I noticed that I was also saving time at the supermarket. Moreover, to further reduce food waste, I try to use fruits and vegetables even if they don’t look as fresh anymore. For example, if you have brown bananas, don’t hurry to throw them away. Brown bananas are very ripe and sweet, making them perfect for tasty pancakes.

One more tip to save money: shop at discount supermarket chains. You can find more information about them online.

2. Avoid Plastic Bags

In Germany, you have to pay for plastic bags, so bring a tote bag or rucksack with you when shopping. This simple habit not only reduces plastic waste but also saves you money.

3. Use Reusable Bottles

Instead of using single-use plastic bottles, choose reusable ones, such as those made from stainless steel or glass. You can carry them everywhere. After just one month, you’ll notice how much money you save compared to buying bottled drinks.

4. Bring Reusable Containers

When dining out, if you have leftovers, it’s better to bring your own container instead of using a plastic or paper one provided by the restaurant. One advantage of using a glass container is that you don’t have to worry about sauces leaking, which has happened to me several times with other containers.

5. Make Your Own Household Cleaners

Making household cleaners is very easy. All you need are three ingredients from the supermarket: baking soda, citric acid, and vinegar. These are inexpensive, highly effective for cleaning, and much better than commercial cleaners that contain various chemicals.

6. Choose Reusable Utensils

Opt for reusable utensils rather than disposable ones to reduce waste.

7. Save Paper, Go Digital

Whenever possible, choose digital options over paper to reduce waste and save resources.

8. Declutter and Sell What You Don’t Need

Decluttering your home not only creates more free space, but also allows you to sell items you no longer need, giving them a second life while earning you some extra cash.

9. Visit Flea Markets

At flea markets, you can find not only clothes and household items but also books, bicycles, plants, and other interesting and useful stuff. It’s a great way to find unique treasures while promoting reuse and sustainability. 

10. Go Car-Free

Going car-free helps reduce emissions, protects the environment, and saves money on fuel and maintenance, but it also boosts your health by encouraging more walking, cycling, and other forms of physical activity.