Since I’ve been in college, environmental activism has been quite important to me.
I have begun to realize that even the littlest things we do can have either a negative or positive effect on the environment depending on how we choose to do them.
I’ve also noticed that you really learn the value of a dollar once that dollar actually belongs to you and not your parents.
I am not saying that this at all an easy task. Like most Americans and college students, I am a big fan of convenience. Fast and easy almost always beats healthy and environmentally sound.
However, I’ve found that there a lot of simple ways that I can reduce the negative effects my life has on the environment and also save myself a little money and I want to share the with you.
Not all of these ideas are going to work for everyone’s life and I agree that there are certain things you just can’t give up, and you shouldn’t have to.
But I also believe that there are some ways that everyone can make their lifestyle even just a bit greener.
Don’t let anyone tell you that your actions don’t matter in the grand scheme of things because they do, everything matters.
My first change, boycott the bottle. It all started with a campaign run by a student organization I participate in called MSPJ (Mercy Students for Peace and Justice).
The campaign called Saint Xavier students to sign an agreement to stop purchasing plastic, disposable water bottles. To supplement this agreement, each student that signed was given a reusable water bottle to carry with them.
I did take this pledge and I’ll be the first to admit that I am not successful at it one hundred percent of the time. Sometimes you forget your water bottle and you need water, what can you do?
But that’s the key, it’s not about torturing yourself, it’s about slowly trying to make a change.
Even if you fill up your water bottle instead of buying one just a handful of times, you’re already making a difference.
And hey, it doesn’t cost a dime to fill up your water bottle in the diner so you’re already benefiting from making an environmentally conscious choice.
The second tip I’m going to give is try to reuse as much as you can.
My roommates and I have pretty much discovered that you can repurpose just about anything.
Things plastic bags, glass bottles, boxes and even leftover food can all be used again or adapted to serve a different purpose. But one of my favorite things to reuse is clothing.
Sometime last spring, a friend of mine introduced me to an app called “Vinted”.
On this app, you can purchase and trade clothing items with other users for a low cost and a low shipping rate.
It’s a fantastic way to get new items for less money and also get rid of some of the items you no longer wear.
Even better than that, you’re interacting with a real person, not a store or a corporation. So, that means prices and trading options are almost always negotiable and shipping is generally fast.
The app facilitates the sale itself and keeps your information safe, but other than that, its just two people swapping material goods. It’s like an online resale shop.
At first I thought, it doesn’t matter if I buy my clothing from a store, its already made, the damage has been done. But the truth is that it does matter.
It all goes back to a very simple principle that everyone knows, supply and demand.
The fewer items we purchase from stores, the fewer items they make.
Yes, it is still very important to support the economy and buying from stores is not wrong.
I still have my favorite stores and I still spend money there.
No one should have to give up the things they love or that make them happy, no matter how superficial those things are.
But, each of us can make a difference by changing our lifestyle in ways that are the most simple, convenient and comfortable for us.
It’s all about balance and thinking critically about what you need, not just what you want.
There is something everyon can do.
We are all of different incomes and lifestyles, but there are small life adjustments well within everyone’s means that can help create a better environment and save money and resources. Those minor changes add up in major ways.
Bridget Goedke
Senior Viewpoints Editor