Sustainable fashion on a budget & other tips for living well

By Molly Mitchell

Last Updated: July 10, 2019

Sustainable fashion on a budget & other tips for living well

In This Article

  • Help the planet by focusing on buying fewer clothes that you will love longer.
  • Planting flowers alongside crops or gardens can protect them from pests. Toss that pesticide and try flower power!
  • Ecotourism on a shoestring budget is totally possible. We've got tips on how to make it work.

Fast fashion is super problematic in a lot of ways, including its negative impact on the planet and exploitative treatment of workers. But more sustainable and ethical options aren't always easy to find and are typically pretty expensive. Don't worry, though, we've rounded up some simple fashion choices you can make to help the Earth!

  • Try a capsule wardrobe to cut down on your shopping in a way that still leaves you with plenty of outfit options. Implement this method by paring down your wardrobe to a few high-quality pieces you love that can easily be mixed and matched for many years to come.
  • If you go ahead and clean out your closet like decluttering guru Marie Kondo, try these tips to get rid of stuff in a responsible way, instead of sending it to the landfill.
  • Check out clothing brands prioritize sustainability by buying back old clothes to resell.
  • Have you ever had to buy an outfit for just one occasion, like a wedding or graduation? Instead, try renting an outfit of buying so you don't have 10 unused pieces hanging in your closet.
A row of poppies in a crop field.
Planting flowers alongside crops can keep pests at bay. Gorgeous!

 Need pesticide? Try flower power 

Flowers are the prettiest pesticides ever–and the healthiest! Farmers are testing how planting wildflowers, poppies, cilantro and other flowers can attract good bugs like bees and ladybugs that keep away pests that damage crops. Fewer pests means fewer pesticides. You can try it in your garden, too!

Ecotourism is for everyone

Ecotourism spots may seem like they're always an international flight away, but there are plenty of eco-friendly fun times to be had a little closer to home and on a more reasonable budget. Take advantage of national parks, sightseeing by bike or even working on an organic farm for unique experiences you’ll want to tell your friends about. 

Green construction

An engineer from India quit her job in New York City and to build sustainable, affordable homes in her home country using agricultural waste . These homes aren't just better for the environment, they're also improving the quality of life for the occupants.