Want to save some money by not having to buy some of your common household products over and over again?

Replace some of your disposable products with these eco-friendly options and save yourself a ton of money over time.

Not only will you be saving money because you’re not buying products over and over again but you will save time not having to run out everytime you run out of an item.

Plus you will be saving the environment as well! What’s not to like?

21 Eco-Friendly Products that Save Money!

 

TIP: A lot of my favorite Eco-Friendly product suggestions are available on Amazon and will ship free in 2 Days with Amazon Prime! Interested in trying Amazon Prime? Grab a free 30 Day Trial of Prime.

1. Wool Dryer Balls

Constantly buying dryer sheets?

Wool dryer balls are a great replacement.  Dryer balls replace dryer sheets & liquid fabric softeners and they will last for a long time!

They soften your laundry naturally— no chemicals or synthetics used (great for those with sensitive skin & babies). They also shorten drying time so you’re saving money that way as well.

Just think of how much you spend on dryer sheets now? If you’re afraid you will miss the dryer sheet smell then add some of your favorite essential oils, like lavender, to the balls for some nice scent.

Grab a set of wool dryer balls and start saving money now.

Have them already? Let me know how you like them in the comments.

 

2. Reusable Sandwich Bags

Stop buying ziplock bags and replace them with reusable sandwich bags. They are perfect for food like sliced fruit, sandwiches, sticky or messy foods as well as any dry snacks.

They wash easily and last a long time. Grab a few sets if you think you will need them and you will save way more money then you invested in no time especially if you take a sandwich or snack to work daily.

Great for sending them to school with the kids too, Amazon has some really cute designs to choose from to make them fun for the kids.

No more plastic baggies, plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Replace them with reusable sandwich bags.

3. Reusable Bowl Covers

Reusable bowl covers are a perfect addition to the reusable sandwich bags mentioned above. I look for non-toxic and food safe fabric like the ones below.

These are great for covering large salad bowls, servers and casserole dishes and everyday leftovers in the fridge. So much better than fighting with plastic wrap and constantly having to buy more when you run out.

Fabric bowl covers help create a waste-free lunch! No more plastic baggies, plastic wrap or aluminum foil and go green with these pretty fabric bowl covers.

They look nice in the refrigerator as well! Grab some reusable bowl covers.

4. Reusable Straws

Reusable straws are a great way to save money and are usually safer and good for both hot and cold drinks.

I recently ordered some for my grandmother because she has to drink everything even hot beverages with a straw.

They have them in silicone and stainless steel and most come with a cleaner to clean them properly.

Silicone ones are great for kids as they are soft and won’t hurt them. I found these ones below on Amazon. They are BPA free/non-toxic and safe to be used over and over again.

They come in a variety of colors so each child and member of the household can have their own and they come with a gadget to clean them out inside.

Grab a set of reusable straws for your family. 

5. Odor Eliminator

Are you constantly buying odor absorbers like Febreeze or shoe deodorizers or powders for your sneakers? Replace those with a natural odor eliminator.

These Freshenbag Natural Air Fresheners below are a great example. They are made of activated bamboo charcoal which is an eco-friendly natural odor absorber.

Great as a shoe deodorizer, closet deodorizer, gym bag deodorizer, or simply place in your car, refrigerator, bathroom, and pet litter box areas. Eliminates odors naturally without filling the environment with chemicals.

They clean the air naturally and help prevent mold and mildew by absorbing excess moisture, preventing the formation of airborne mildew known to trigger allergies and asthma.

All you do is place the activated bamboo charcoal in the sun for 2 hours once a month to naturally rejuvenate the charcoal and these odor absorbers will last for up to 2 years!

They come in all shapes and sizes but I like this 12 pack of Freshenbag Air Fresheners so I can throw everywhere I want them. Perfect fit for the car and in shoes and gym bags.

6. Makeup Eraser Cloth

I love makeup remover wipes as much as the next girl because of their ease of use but they get costly and just get thrown away after each use. I also tend to need more than one to remove my eye makeup.

Replace your makeup removers with a reusable makeup remover like the MakeUp Eraser and save money.

The Makeup Eraser removes 100% of your makeup with water only. Just wet the cloth and remove your makeup. This includes waterproof eyeliner and mascara, HD makeup and much more.

You can still follow up with your favorite skincare products but you will know your face is free of makeup and your pores can absorb your skincare products better.

7. Reusable Notebooks

Are you constantly buying notebooks? Replace them with reusable ones.

What are reusable notebooks?

They have a few different ones on the market but they are basically notebooks that wipe clean with a damp cloth or in the microwave in some cases (see my article on the Best Reusable Notebooks for more options).

The Rocketbook Everlast reusable digital notebook is my favorite because when used with Pilot FriXion pens it wipes completely clean and dries in 15 seconds.

PLUS, you can blast your old notes to Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, Box, OneNote, Slack, iCloud and email with a click! This eliminates having to save old notebooks for reference.

No more wasting paper – this environmentally-friendly notebook option can be used endlessly.

Grab my favorite reusable notebook the Rocketbook Everlast.

8. Steam Mop

Are you a Swiffer or mop user? If you are then you’re probably constantly buying refills and floor cleaners. You can replace ALL THAT with a steam mop. I have two steam mops because I just love them.

The fact that I can just add water and clean my tile and my sealed hardwoods with one product that is safe and chemical free is great! It saves me money and time and its fun to use.

The BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop is a crowd favorite.

9. Reusable Travel Cup

Most of us know that making our drinks at home will save us a bunch of money. Having a nice travel mug that can keep our cold drinks cold and warm drinks warm is a great way to make bringing our drinks with us easier and more convenient.

The Chillout Life mug is a great affordable example but there are many others out there you can try. Find one that works for you!

10. Grill Mat

Are you always using foil on the grill or in the oven? Replace your foil with these reusable cooking mats.

These Grillaholics Grill Mats are the ones I have and use. They work with any kind of barbecue grill and can be cut to any size or shape to fit any need.

I love that it saves my grill grate and still gives me grill lines. You can also use them to grill veggies and smaller food items and avoid losing them as they fall into the grates.

They are reusable and dishwasher safe and clean easily. I also love that they are made from a premium heat resistant PTFE-Fiberglass coating and contain no PFOA, silicone, or other harmful chemicals. They can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and will not burn.

Grab a set of Grillaholics Grill Mats.

 

11. Cleaning Cloths

Get rid of those paper towels and dusters and clean with microfiber cloths. Microfiber cloths clean gently and remove dirt and grime like a magnet.

They are highly absorbent, lint-free and streak free. Great as a kitchen cloth, drying cloth for the car, for windows and pretty much all-purpose household cleaning cloths.

I found these microfiber cloths on Amazon. They are super absorbent and hold up to 5-6 times their weight in liquid (based on their testing.) They are machine washable or can air dry.

Grab a set here.

 

12. Fridge Fresh

Are you wasting money on your veggies because they go bad in your refrigerator? Keep food in your refrigerator fresher longer with a device like the Fridge Fresh.

The Fridge Fresh is a small device that uses activated oxygen to kill pollutants and microbes once placed in your refrigerator.

Pollutants and microbes are what cause fresh produce to welt and mold at a faster rate.

This device prolongs the shelf life of fruits and other produce by 7-10 days!

They actually have clinical data that confirms the ability of FRIDGE FRESH to extend the life of raw fruits & vegetables, deter molding and eliminate refrigerator odors to support their claims.

13. Baking Mat

Do you bake? No more buying parchment paper. Try these reusable baking mats. They sit right on your baking pan eliminating the need for parchment paper, oil or cooking sprays.

Grab a set of baking mats and save money.

 

14. Glass Storage Containers Instead of Plastic

Glass storage containers are non-porous so they won’t absorb food odors, flavors, or stains and last a lot longer than plastic! The Pyrex ones below are the ones I have and they have BPA Free airtight lids.

They come with different sizes so you have a container for pretty much everything.

Check out these glass containers.

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15. Reusable Refillable Coffee Filters For Your Keurig 

Do you have a Keurig?

I love my Keurig but buying K-Cups constantly can get expensive plus I love my Nescafe Tasters Choice coffee so being able to brew it in the Keurig is perfect.

Grab these reusable k-cup filters which work PERFECTLY in a Keurig coffee maker.

These are used just like a k-cup–fill and use, then rinse. They are easy to dump the used grounds out and rinse and you’re ready for your next cup. Having a set is a plus so everyone in the family can have theirs without waiting for cleaning the previous one.

Grab a set of reusable coffee filters. 

16. Hand Towels

This one is an obvious one but so many people still buy paper towels. It is an easy transition to change to hand towels. Keep a few of them around to dry your hands instead of using paper towels.

Buying these along with the cleaning cloths mentioned above will replace the need for paper towels altogether.

17. Reusable Shopping Bags

Reusable shopping bags are great for the environment and with more and more grocery stores getting rid of plastic bags and charging if you do need one you will want these.

Grab your favorite design and sizes of reusable bags.

 

18. Water Pitcher

Replace all those water bottles with a water pitcher and save a bunch of money. Keep all those bottles out of the landfill and put money back in your wallet.

Grab a water pitcher that fits your family.

19. Rechargeable Batteries

Save money on batteries and use rechargeable ones. All you need is a battery charger and to buy rechargeable batteries. Amazon has a brand and Energizer has some great ones as well.

Grab a set of rechargeable batteries for your remotes and other battery powered items.

20. Programmable Thermostat

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat then you definitely should invest in one. Being able to program your heat for different times of day and when your away will save you a lot of money in heating and air conditioning costs.

I was able to grab the Nest Thermostat on sale and I love it.

 

 

 

21. Reusable Baking Cups

If you bake a lot then these reusable baking cups are perfect. Ditch those disposable paper cups. Plus no greasing or cooking spray needed. If you buy lots of disposable baking cups then these are a great replacement.

 

Do you have a favorite eco-friendly product that you recommend? Leave a comment and let me know!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here

CHROME EXTENSIONS THAT SAVE YOU MONEY

 

You’ve probably been there, your shopping online about to check out and then realize oh wait, maybe there’s a coupon code to make this cheaper?  So you open up another browser tab and start searching for a coupon code.

If you’re lucky you find one within a few minutes but then you still have to copy the coupon code and go back to your other browser tab and paste it in.

Or maybe you already checked out and then realized there may have been a coupon for that purchase! Nothing is worse than knowing you could have spent less money.

Even if you consider yourself a savvy shopper and you always search for coupon codes and go through cashback sites before you shop, wouldn’t it be great to just shop online and not have to start at one website and copy and paste coupon codes in each time you shop?

Well, now you don’t have too. Many coupon and cashback websites are now creating Chrome extensions that sit right in your browser and will let you know when savings are available. They are super simple to install and only take a minute.

You can get cash back and save money instantly with these money-saving Chrome extensions. They are all free when you sign up and some even give you a bonus for signing up.

Below is a list of five of my favorites. Give them a try and see which one you like best.

BROWSER EXTENSIONS THAT SAVE YOU MONEY

 

1. Genie From Retailmenot

Genie is a brand new Chrome extension from Retailmenot (a coupon and cashback website that I love), so I was excited to give it a go. Get savings without the hassle! Genie will find and apply coupon codes and cash back so you never miss savings at checkout.

They also have an APP you can download on your phone to save money! You can grab that here. 

 

2. BeFrugal Add-On

The BeFrugal.com Add-On is a Chrome extension that helps you save with online, restaurant and in-store printable coupons, and earns you cash back when you shop online.

It features coupons for 50,000+ online stores and restaurants and earns you an average of 7% cash back on 5,000+ online stores.

First, you want to create an account with Befrugal if you want the cash back If you use my referral code we both get $10! Her is my referral link here.

Then go on over to download the Chrome Extension here. 

 

3. Honey

The Honey Chrome Extension finds and applies every available coupon code for you at checkout, so you don’t have to search for a coupon ever again.

Honey will automatically detect the savings. Shop on Amazon? Honey detects savings opportunities on Amazon and shows you the lowest price of all the sellers!

4. Ebates Chrome Extension

Ebates is by far one of my favorite cash back programs. Check out my full Ebates review.

Ebates is free to join and you get a $10 bonus for signing up!

When you download the Ebates Chrome Browser extension you will automatically see cashback alerts when shopping in your Chrome browser, compare store cash back amounts when searching, and save even more money with the Ebates coupon code finder.

It’s a great way to never forget to go through Ebates before you shop! Definitely a money saver and money maker.

I’ve made over $600 with Ebates so far and I don’t shop that much. Sign up here.

Now, this next one will save you money by stopping you from impulse buying! When I found this I thought it was very unique and worth adding to the list. Sometimes we just need to be stopped from making a purchase.

5. Icebox for Chrome

The Icebox for Chrome extension replaces the buy button on the most popular e-commerce stores, automatically saving you from your weakest moments. So if you feel like you may be doing a lot of impulse buying then you may want to try this extension out. This is a great extension to enable during a no-spend month.

So what do you think? Are you going to download any of these Chrome extensions? Why?

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here

HOW TO LIVE ON ONE INCOME

Is it possible to live on one income?

I hear this question a lot and it really all depends on a families individual circumstances and how much work and sacrifices they are willing to put into making it possible.

Whether you’re planning to live off of one income in the future or you’re living on one income now these tips will help you.

There are many reasons why a couple may want or need to live on one income. Maybe one needs to care for the kids, pursue a degree, or start a home business.

Maybe one of you has an unsteady job? Has an illness or disability. Maybe you are single or divorced and now down to one income. Whatever the reason, you will want to read on and implement as many of the tips mentioned below as possible.

If you’ve been living on two incomes for a long time you may struggle for a while but in the end, you should be able to make living on one income work.

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TIPS FOR LIVING ON ONE INCOME

 

GET YOUR FAMILY ON THE SAME PAGE

Whatever the reason for becoming a one income household, you’ll want to talk it over with your spouse or partner.

Make sure that you both agree that this is the right decision.

Sometimes it actually may be more beneficial for one of you to stay home and care for the children or pursue schooling then it is to work a job that pays just enough for childcare or doesn’t have room for growth.

Sit down and create a pros and cons list and then go through this article and discuss if you think it will work for your family.

PAY DOWN DEBT

If you’re going to live on one income then getting rid of your debt is key! If you have credit card debt then start calling those credit card companies to try and lower your interest rates.

Pay more than the minimum and get the highest interest card paid off first. Once that is paid off use the money you were using to pay that one each month and put it on the next one.

Keep doing this until all cards are paid off and try not to use your cards anymore.

If you have a mortgage see if you can switch to a biweekly payment. Paying biweekly will help you get your mortgage paid off sooner and with less interest (see my article: Pay off your Mortgage Faster with 2 Simple Steps).

Student loans? Car payments? Get those interest rates down as well if you can and start getting those paid off. You can try and consolidate into a lower interest loan.

Try and get that car paid off right away if possible so you don’t have that payment each month.

The less money you have to put toward debt each month the less income you will need coming in. This will make living on one income much more doable.

SETUP AN EMERGENCY FUND

I usually recommend at least 3 to 6 months worth of expenses in an emergency fund. If you’re currently on two incomes and you can save more than I would recommend do 6 months or more.

An emergency fund should be separate from your regular savings but easy enough to get to in case of an emergency. Online savings accounts usually will earn a lot more interest than a standard bank savings account and can be linked to your regular checking or savings account easily for transferring money when needed (usually in a couple days notice).

CREATE A BUDGET

Before you can really go into a one income family situation you need to create a budget! A lot of people hate that word and think budgets are stupid or just get frustrated at the thought of one but it really is for your benefit!

You see when you create a budget you learn a lot of things about yourself and your family. You see how everyone is spending their money and where money is being wasted.

You may even find there are things you’ve been spending money on that you had forgotten all about like ongoing monthly subscriptions or annual fees.

You may even discover that you’re spending $200 a month on coffee and decide that you can make it at home and cut that expense immediately.

Use the budget printables in my Freebie Library to help you track your spending and create your budget. You can also read my article on creating an effective budget to get more help.

CUT COSTS

The less you spend the more you can save and the less income you will need. It’s that simple. Once you have created your budget and have tracked your spending, you should be able to see what your costs are.

Start analyzing what areas you can reduce spending. What bills can you lower? What subscriptions and expenses can you eliminate?

Have cable? Consider getting rid of it and just keeping the internet. You can use an HD Antenna and get a bunch of local channels.

With options like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime I really don’t see a need for cable anymore. If you have a Smart TV you can get set up right away. If not you can grab a Fire TV Stick which will basically turn your TV into a Smart TV.

Can’t fathom cutting the cord or stuck in a contract deal? Then get rid of extra cable boxes, extra channels or special extended packages and go as basic as possible. Most contracts allow you to change your plan without any fees so double check first.

Have a gym membership you never use? Get rid of it. Go with a friend as a free guest on their membership or exercise at home.

BUY ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

There are a lot of items you may be buying over and over again that can easily be replaced with an eco-friendly option. Consider paper towels, for example, they can easily be replaced with hand towels.

Dryer sheets can be replaced with wool dryer balls (I love wool dryer balls) and sandwich bags can be replaced with reusable sandwich bags.

Constantly buying Swiffer or mop refills? Invest in a steam mop and never buy another refill again.

For more ideas, check out 21 EcoFriendly Products That Will Save You Tons of Money!

MEAL PLAN

If you’re not sure where to start with planning your meals, you can make it easy by taking stock of what is in your kitchen.

Take note of everything in your pantry and refrigerator, write it down, and see what meals you can make from those ingredients.

You can do themed days like taco Tuesday or meatless Monday etc. If you want to make it super easy I suggest trying out $5 Meal Plan.

Erin Chase (the $5 Dinner Mom) creates meal plans that will feed your family on a budget each week. With $5 Meal Plan, you not only get the meal plans but also the shopping list!

Check out $5 Meal Plan and get everything done for you.

ENJOY CHEAP OR FREE ACTIVITIES

There are so many free activities that you can do with your family! If you’re on Facebook you can check out the local events in your area. You can also Google free local events and the name of your city or state.

You can go hiking, to the park, have a picnic or plan for free museum or zoo days in your area. There are endless possibilities. Just plan and bring food, drinks, and snacks so you’re not tempted to go eat out and spend money.

START COUPONING

Couponing can save you hundreds of dollars a month or more. Taking some time to learn how to use coupons and coupon apps will cut down your expenses a ton.

Even if you don’t have a ton of time or patience there are easy ways to incorporate couponing into your life. You can check out How to Coupon Even If You’re Busy 

GIVE YOURSELF A GROCERY BUDGET MAKEOVER

We talked about budgeting early on in this article but I wanted to mention it again, specifically when it comes to your grocery budget. For most families, groceries are a HUGE expense each month.

Meal planning as mentioned above and couponing really help you get your grocery budget down but if you really want to cut your budget immensely I recommend a grocery budget makeover.

Erin Chase from $5 Dinners cut her grocery bill in half using a combination of strategic grocery shopping, meal planning & couponing methods and has a free workshop and course for learning her techniques.

Check out the Free Grocery Workshop.

I took her full course and I loved it. Cutting down your grocery bill will be immensely helpful when living on one income.

BUY THRIFT

If you suddenly find yourself needing new items, consider buying thrift. It’s especially great for replacing items that break like appliances.

There is always someone out there trying to get rid of something you may need. Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and Letgo. I have friends who have gotten great deals on these sites.

Note: When using the services mentioned above just always be cautious and make sure sellers have a good rating and if you need to meet up then always meet up in a public place and bring someone with you.

For thrift clothing, check out local thrift stores and online sites like Poshmark (use code: BYXWR and get a $5 credit), ThredUp and Schoola.

BE HAPPY WITH LESS

Going through these steps may seem at first like you are depriving yourself but after a while, you really won’t miss most material things. Learning to be content with less will make living on one income so much easier.

Experiences are more filling than things so get out there and enjoy nature and spend time with loved ones.

I recommend reading or listening to an audio version of The More of Less by Joshua Becker. It will help you shift your mindset for the better.

I always remember at the beginning of the book him talking about cleaning out his garage and how much time out of his life he was taking to move around, clean and organize these material possessions. Time that he could have been using to do other things like play with his son or spend with his wife.

He said “the more stuff you own, the more stuff owns you” and that has stuck with me because it is so true. Who wants to spend a weekend organizing and cleaning?

The less you have or need means less money you’re spending and less time you are taking to care for your “stuff”.

CONSIDER DOWNSIZING

Are you house or car poor? Consider downsizing your home if it makes sense financially. Do you really need all the space you have? Is there somewhere cheaper you could live?

Are you paying to much for your car each month? How about for the insurance? Can you get a cheaper car or go down to one vehicle?

These aren’t options for everyone but some to consider if you need to reduce expenses further.

PRACTICE LIVING ON ONE INCOME

If you’re reading this because you want to leave on one income in the future then start living on it now to see if you can make it work. Put all your income away into a savings account and just live on the one income you want to live on later.

This will give you an idea of how it will be. Pretend the other income does not exist. If you haven’t already been through the other steps then you may need to just put half of an income away for now until you can get down to just the one income.

DO SIDE JOBS OR AT HOME JOBS IF POSSIBLE FOR EXTRA CASH

Going down to one income doesn’t mean you can’t contribute to the household at all. Maybe you can pick up a side hustle. There are so many ways to make money now that you can easily work a side gig when needed.

Some things to consider are:

Deliver food with UberEats or Doordash.

Become a personal shopper with Instacart.

Start a blog to make money.

Start a home business that allows you to be flexible like a party planning business.

Become a freelance writer or virtual assistant.

Tutor students or teach music lessons.

Whatever you have a passion for or can pick up when you have extra time is perfect.

If you want to live on one income or really have no choice then following these steps WILL help. You just need to be willing to give them a try! Challenge yourself and try each one that applies to your situation.

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What did you think of this article? Was it helpful? Have questions? Leave a comment!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here