For some reason, there seems to be a stigma that living green means spending lots of money. However, that isn’t true! Being green can apply to all lifestyles (yes, even the broke college kid life). In the day and age where it’s become “trendy” to be green, rather than doing it just to do it, people seem to be splurging on name brand products where there’s plenty of other, cheaper green solutions available.
One of the more popular brands in the reusable water bottle world is Hydro Flask. Hydro Flask is an awesome company that makes not just water bottles but tumblers, food storage containers, coffee travel mugs, straws, and more. Their products are double-walled vacuum sealed insulated to ensure that your beverage is super toasty for up to six hours or super icy for up to 24 hours. Plus, the metal walls mean they are BPA free. However, no matter how awesome I think their products are, they are personally out of my price range. Yet growing up, my parents raised me to have one of the sharpest thrift store eyes around. These mad skills led me to find a Hydro Flask tumbler at the Paws-Abilities thrift store in Gunnison for just $2.50. It has one small chip in the paint but its completely functional. Plus, it’s my favorite color! I’ve been using this cup for everything from coffee to juice and I’ve loved it. Thrifting and buying items second hand is one of the easiest and most cost efficient green living solutions there is. Almost everything I own is from a second hand shop. I even snagged a pair of Chacos for $8.99! I suggest trying your hand at thrifting and let us know what you find!
As far as affordable reusable water bottles go, my Nalgenes have personally never let me down. I bought one of mine over five years ago for $8 and it has been my trusty sidekick ever since. The classic 32 ounce wide mouth bottle currently runs for $10.99 on their website but you can find Nalgenes at plenty of local stores if you don’t want to buy one online or pay for shipping. I understand that some people prefer metal bottles over plastic for various reasons such as taste and maintaining temperature, but I never have an issue with the way my water tastes and I actually prefer room temperature water. Doesn’t mean you can’t still pop ice in and enjoy cool water. I also love that Nalgenes weigh a lot less than a lot of other bottles on the market. Not to mention they are pretty much indestructible.
Another popular product that seems to go hand in hand with Nalgenes, are splashguards. These awesome little devices make it easier to drink out of the wide mouth on the go, make pouring water feasible, plus only cost around $3. I LOVE my splash guard, but a word to the wise is WASH, WASH, WASH! Wash your splashguard thoroughly and often to prevent bacteria growth on both the guard and your water bottle.
The reusable straw game has obviously skyrocketed as of recently, and with that, so has the amount of companies making reusable straws. As awesome as the larger name brand companies or popular Instagram accounts are, a straw is a straw. All of the smaller and lesser known companies are just as awesome. Whether you’re looking for a metal straw or a silicone one, there are tons of products on the market. I purchased a package that came with 3 metal straws, a cleaning brush, and a carrying pouch for just $4, plus free shipping! I’ve seen some other companies selling straws for $10-20, but there’s really no reason to be spending that much money.
What money saving green tips do you have? Send them our way via email or by tagging our Instagram, @gunnigirlsgogreen.
XX Erin
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