Posted: February 17, 2021

Frugality is one of my highest values. We have a limited amount of resources on this earth, and it’s important to use them wisely.

Frugality is about more than saving money. It is our duty.

I’ve compiled this list of things I do to use less resources. Many of these habits can be adopted with zero personal cost. Convenience is a trap, and after a little while, it becomes easy to do the right thing.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in helping the environment - I would encourage you to adopt the habits which seem easy to you. It’s okay to leave the rest for now.

• Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without: do you really need a replacement, or do you just imagine so?
• Wash your clothes with cold water
• Wash your clothes less often (particularly sweaters and pants)
• Choose clothing with 100% natural fibers
• Use powdered laundry detergent
• Wash your hands with cold water
• Use a bandana instead of qtips to clean your ears
• Buy food in bulk - avoid individual packs
• Drink tap water, instead of cans or bottles delivered by truck
• Use re-usable shopping bags
• Favor locally-grown, in-season produce
• Sprout your own produce
• Make your own nut milks (it’s more efficient to ship dry nuts)
• Use bar soap instead of liquid soaps
• Avoid magazines and other disposable paper, read online (you already have a computer)
• Favor mechanical tools over electrical ones
• Favor walking or biking over motor vehicles and buses
• Eat less (obesity is shockingly expensive)
• Make less trips to the store, purchase in bulk
• Favor online shopping, especially if you live in a population center
• Favor wood over plastic when possible
• Favor durable tools that won’t need replacement
• Maintain your possessions well
• Share tools with friends, so fewer are needed
• Take shorter and/or cooler showers
• Be satisfied with what you have, actively appreciate your possessions
• Favor dry foods eg oatmeal and rice over bread
• Drink loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags
• Make coffee in a french press, moka pot, or aeropress to save paper and enjoy better coffee

Enjoy!