The Frugal Environmentalist

An environmentalist who is frugal is focused on practical ways to save money while they help reduce environmental impacts. And that is especially relevant in a time when affordability is becoming so challenging. 

Going ‘green’ doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, many environmentally friendly habits are rooted in frugality. By just rethinking how we buy, use, and maintain everyday goods, we can reduce our waste, lower expenses, and shrink our carbon footprint at the same time. First of all, we should maintain what we have in good condition so we don't have to buy something new. Newburyport is beautiful in part because great leaders, like the recently deceased Jack Bradshaw, worked hard and cared enough to keep it that way via preservation and upkeep.

A good starting point is changing our addiction to overconsumption. Overconsumption (buying too much stuff) isn’t just about how much we buy and use; it’s also about what we do with it after we’re done with it. The more we purchase, the more we throw away, creating the waste crisis that is spiraling out of control. By changing our consumption habits, we meet the criteria of the frugal environmentalist, reducing costs and saving the planet.

A first step might be to buy used instead of new wherever possible for significant savings and many environmental gains. For example, buying a used car instead of a new one saves on both price and taxes. Also new automobiles rapidly depreciate, losing money almost immediately and costing more to insure.

Environmentally it lowers overall resource use from the metal mining fields to the automobile assembly floor. Another suggestion is looking for factory-reconditioned electronics like mobile phones and laptops. Extending product life reduces electronic waste while costing less and warranties are often included. Amazon, Apple, and some of the telephone stores are good places to start looking for used electronics.

Take a clue from teenagers who embrace thrifted and vintage clothing. They creatively reduce textile waste and high-cost imported fast fashion demand. Try thrifting high quality used clothing at a fraction of retail price. Its trendy, creative, and socially responsible. Attending a professional awards gala or a 2010 graduating class sorority reunion?  Why not go retro and show up in style while not breaking the bank.

We can reduce household waste by patronizing a ‘refillery’ for personal care products. Getting shampoo, soap, and cleaning supplies from refillery shops also cuts plastic packaging waste. And it’s often cheaper per ounce than heavily advertised name-brand packaged goods. Shopping “Manager’s Specials” at the supermarket meat counter is a price saving and good eating hack. For example, food stores often offer heavily discounted packages of meat just because they are rearranging their displays for their weekend promotions and want to remove last week’s - but still fresh - items. With a bit of meal planning and freezing it’s easy to make major savings on groceries.

Everyone has been hit by high energy costs, with more bad news soon to come. Adjusting the thermostat down a bit at night, reduces fossil fuel consumption and emissions and saves money. And adding an electric blanket at night allows sleeping in cozy comfort by just heating you and your bed at night rather than the whole house. And while we’re discussion energy, consider installing a heat pump or solar panels, and consider saying yes to community vetted clean energy options, like Newburyport has negotiated for its residents

Frugal environmentalists, like the early Yankees, realize that saving money and environmental sustainability can go together and that efficiency, mindfulness, and long-term thinking save money and helps the environment. It’s a life style with simple demands. We need to embrace creativity and resourcefulness over convenience culture. Being environmentally responsible doesn’t require lots of money just good intentions and small steps. Like beginning a small savings account for our kids to teach them how to best use and save money, adopting small changes will compound over time into habits that can save our planet and save you money.

ACES invites you to read up on ideas to reduce plastics in your life at myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide and to stay updated on environmental matters by subscribing to our monthly newsletter on ACES’ website www.aces- alliance.org. Please consider joining our community of stewards committed to Make Every Day Earth Day by following our Instagram (@acesalliancenbpt) and Facebook (@ACESAlliance) pages to stay informed.

This educational column was orrigianly published by The Daily News of Newburyport on March 6, 2026.