Gear up with these sustainable living tips to combat inflation
Has your usual hawker fare gotten more expensive in the past few weeks?
About nine in 10 people surveyed by DBS have been feeling the pinch of inflation
in Singapore, with many experiencing it first-hand through their purchases. To cope, more than half surveyed said they would be
changing their spending habits within the next six months.
The majority of respondents said they would save more by opting for cheaper alternatives, and prioritising their spending on necessities,
such as groceries and food items, utilities and dining out.
Well, here’s another tip on how to stretch your dollar – embrace a sustainable lifestyle. Why live sustainably,
you may ask? By practicing some of these eco-friendly habits, you’ll soon find yourself spending less.
How to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, and save money while at it
1. Leave no ingredient behind
Many of us who are financially-savvy (or perhaps, who have a bad memory) bring a shopping list to the supermarket to ensure we stay within our budget.
But we may not realise we’re also “wasting” our money when we bin leftover ingredients or dishes. Let’s make the most of what we buy and practice sustainable living.
Turn vegetable scraps into a delicious stock, stale bread into bread pudding or broccoli stems into hummus! A sustainable lifestyle can be… delicious.
Take inspiration from these hawkers on how they create Singapore’s iconic dishes such as Bak Kut Teh or prawn noodles with sustainable living and minimal food waste in mind.
Check out also how Ilya Nur Fadhly, winner of DBS’ Zero Food Waste Challenge on MasterChef Singapore, demonstrate sustainable living as he turns leftovers into a winning dish.
2. Reduce your electricity consumption at home
Here’s another practical sustainable living tip. Lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint by switching to
more energy efficient consumption habits.
For instance:
- Beat the heat by using fans instead of air-conditioning
- Switch off your storage water heater when not in use
- Purchase energy-efficient appliances with five ticks
- Switch to LED light bulbs
FYI, some electricity retailers offer green electricity plans that tap on solar energy or are carbon neutral. Turning to renewable energy is
part of how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle but these green electricity plans are usually pricier than the standard plans,
where the emissions from burning fossil fuels are not offset.
3. Bring Your Own
The next time you head out, save on spending on bottled water (actually, skip the plastic straws too even though that’s usually free).
Tap water in a water bottle is just as hydrating.
Bring along a container and/or reusable cup for food and drinks. This is another perk of sustainable living as you not only skip the takeaway
surcharge levied by some merchants, but some businesses also offer incentives or discounts when you bring your own container, bag or cup, for instance.
4. Recycle your empties
Have empty or expired cosmetic products lying around at home? Don’t throw them out.
Many beauty and cosmetic brands offer recycling programmes that reward customers who return their empty
packaging – more benefits of sustainable living!
This way, you can continue to indulge in your favourite beauty products and live a more
environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
5. Take public transport
Rounding up our tips: Make the switch from private to public transport!
Public transport is not only more affordable, it
has less carbon emissions compared to private cars.
Reducing carbon emissions also brings about health benefits as there is less pollution in the air.
Sustainable living does not always have to come at a great cost to your preferred way of life. The benefits of sustainable living are manifold, and can be easily incorporated into everyday life!
