budget tips

How many toxic items can you find in your home that don't need to be there at all? What are the things you can just get rid of without replacing them with a cleaner option?

Air scents are a big one. Candles, wax melts, air fresheners, Febreeze, etc. are all highly toxic items since they're heavy in artificial fragrance. The good news is that you really don't need to replace these items. All they do is add scent to your home, and that isn't necessary. However, if you do feel like you need it, read about 3 Ways to Have a Nice-Smelling Home Without Toxins.

Maybe you feel differently, but to me, conditioner, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are other items that don't make any difference in my life. I can go without them quite easily.

Receipts are another easily ditchable item. I've been learning recently that the coating on the thermal paper receipts are printed on can transfer through the skin and disrupt the endocrine system (hormones). And honestly, how often do we actually need to have a receipt? Just say no when asked if you want one.

While healthy foods have a reputation for being pricey, convenience foods and going to restaurants are almost always more expensive for the amount of nutrition they provide.

Sure, it may seem expensive to buy quality grass-fed meat, fresh minimal-ingredient bread, and condiments without dyes and high fructose corn syrup to make yourself a hamburger. But consider the nutritional benefits compared to a drive-through burger that probably doesn't actually cost any less.

If you make the bun from scratch, it literally costs almost nothing. If you're really ambitious, you can make the condiments, too.

You don't have to make everything from scratch to make a difference, though. Just build your repertoire one item at a time. Knowing what ingredients are going into your food is a huge step in a low-toxin lifestyle.

If you need some inspiration, start with 5 Foods to Make From Scratch to Save Money.

Buying concentrates of household products is quite often cheaper than buying the same product pre-mixed. 

For example, the household cleaner I use comes in a bottle of concentrate that makes around 30 spray bottles of cleaner. While $25-30 can seem like a lot for a bottle of concentrate, when you figure that's only $1 per bottle of prepared cleaner, you realize it's much cheaper than even the cheapest toxic cleaners in the store.

Besides paying less, you also have less packaging, and you don't have to worry about replacing the product as often, which leads to less shipping or fewer trips to the store.

Usually, you get a better price per pound/ounce/serving when you buy a product in larger quantities. So if it's an item that won't go bad or you'll use up that larger quantity of before it expires, you can save money by buying in bulk.

This works well for many pantry staples, like flour, sugar, rice, dried beans, and other grains. I even buy cheese in bulk boxes of 12 blocks at a time. It takes me about three months to go through them, and since they're individually sealed, they last that long.

You may also be able to buy DIY staples like castille soap, beeswax, and others in large enough quantities to last you for some time, allowing you to make many foaming hand soaps, salves, etc.

If you're into preserving food, you can benefit from bulk shopping there, too. I've bought flats of apples to can applesauce and strawberries to dehydrate.

If you'd like a good source for mostly clean bulk groceries, check out Azure Standard.

Everyone loves to find a good sale, but with consumable products, you can save money by having extras of your commonly used items on hand and restocking them whenever a sale comes along.

For example, when one of the meat delivery subscriptions I use has a sale on ground beef or chicken breast, I'll order extras to have in my freezer. It saves me from buying them at full price the next time. I also use this method with items like pantry staples, supplements, tinctures, essential oils, and any household cleaning or personal care items I commonly use.

Patience is a virtue, and it can often save you money. This works best for the larger investments, like cookware, water filter systems, grounding sheets, bread makers or proofers, pillows or mattresses, saunas, etc.

If you want an item that's a strain on your budget, do some research and decide on one or two companies you'd be comfortable buying the product from. Follow them on social media or, better yet, get on their email list (email subscribers sometimes get extra deals that don't go out to the entire public).

Then, sit back and wait and watch. Save up the cash you need, and when you see the item go on sale, snatch it up!

Though a non-toxic journey can seem overwhelmingly expensive at times, using these tips and tricks will help you along the way.

Remember that doing too much and putting yourself under financial stress will not yield a healthy result, so don't do anything that is simply too much.

However, also remember that non-toxic items are an investment in your health. They are worth pursuing, even if it means cutting back on some other areas of your life.

Find a balance that works with your budget and your life.

As a health coach, I've partnered with some companies I trust, and this lets me pass on some savings to you. If you want some links and codes for discounts, they're on My Favorite Things list.