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Sustainable back-to-school ideas that save money
I can’t quite believe it’s already August, which means I’m starting to wrap my mind around back-to-school season. It feels like summer just got started, but September is coming quickly with it’s back-to-school shopping list. Between clothes, shoes, backpacks, school supplies, lunches, and fall gear, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that everything needs to be new. The good news is that getting ready for a new school year doesn’t have to mean buying everything brand new. With a little planning it’s not hard to use items already on hand, shop secondhand, and be intentional about things that do need to be purchased. These simple choices allow…
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6 Ways our Lives Became More Sustainable by Moving to the City
To say I’ve had a major life change in the last month is an understatement. I recently bought my first home and moved right into downtown Vancouver. Major cities don’t come across as the most environmentally friendly places, but my life has become instantly more eco-friendly since moving here only a few weeks ago. Eco-Friendly Changes Resulting from our City Move While I knew there was going to be some immediate impact to our lifestyle moving to the middle of a city, I didn’t realize how immediate the sustainable lifestyle changes would be. Moving to a concrete jungle doesn’t scream sustainable lifestyle to me, but I was pleasantly surprised at…
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Spend once, replace hundreds: Simple reusable swaps
Making the switch to reusable products doesn’t have to mean replacing everything overnight or spending a fortune. In my experience, the best swaps are often the simplest ones—the items you use every single day. Many of them pay for themselves surprisingly quickly, all while helping reduce household waste and the number of single-use plastics you bring into your home. If you’re taking part in Plastic Free July, or you’re simply looking for practical ways to live a little more sustainably, starting with a handful of reusable essentials is a great place to begin. There’s no need to aim for perfection. Swapping out just a few simple disposable items can have…
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DIY Stainless steel cleaner: A simple plastic-free swap
Stainless steel appliances are a popular choice for modern kitchens, but keeping them free of fingerprints, smudges, and water spots can be a challenge. I recently found myself finishing a kitchen renovation, ready to move back in and clean my very dirty stainless steel appliances, only to realize I couldn’t find my usual cleaner anywhere among the boxes. Rather than buying another bottle, I looked around the house and mixed up a simple DIY version with ingredients I already had on hand. To my surprise, it worked really well! While there are plenty of commercial stainless steel cleaners available, many come in single-use plastic bottles and contain ingredients you may…
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Preparing for Plastic Free July 2026
Plastic Free July 2026 is only a few weeks away! It’s a great time to start thinking about not only how you want to participate this year but also about the plastic that keeps sneaking back into our lives. What is Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July is a global environmental campaign that encourages people to reduce their use of single-use plastics during the month of July and beyond. It began in 2011 in Western Australia and has since grown into one of the world’s largest plastic waste reduction movements, inspiring millions of participants across nearly 190 countries. Plastic Free July is a chance for people to learn practical ideas…
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Borrow, swap, rent: 10 things you probably don’t need to own
These days, buying something is almost too easy. Need a thing? A few taps, one quick checkout, and it’s on your doorstep tomorrow. But a lot of what we buy only gets used once in a while — and could just as easily be borrowed, shared, swapped, repaired, or rented instead. Finding alternatives to buying new isn’t about deprivation. It’s about saving money, reducing waste, and making better use of the things already around us. In many cases, it can also create more connection with neighbors, friends, and community. Here are some everyday things we often rush to buy — even though there are simpler and more sustainable ways to…
