5 Practical Tips For Clean Living On a Budget
melaniedj • 16 July 2021
I’m no clean living guru, rather, I'm what you’d call a reluctant crunchy.
Though I’m definitely getting more and more crunchy, I still truly seek to find unbiased information and make decisions based on the set of facts that I have.
By nature, I’m a skeptic.
In college, I wrote a persuasive essay arguing two opposing viewpoints, and my professor's comment was, “Great critical thinking. You’re equally persuasive with each argument, I’m not sure which side you’re on. Are you sure you want to be an accountant?”
While it’s true we are told many lies about the safety of products that we consume for monetary gain, we are also told lies about the harm of certain products for monetary gain.
Thus, it’s important that you think critically (and practically) based on the facts you have by constantly asking yourself critical thinking questions anytime you are being persuaded.
When it comes to cleaning products, I’ve changed my mind after doing a lot of my own research in the past year about the human immune system, studies showing the effects of consistent exposure to toxic chemicals, and corruption/suppression of information.
For this reason, I’ve started overhauling our home ditching and switching products, starting with our cleaning supplies.
I try to find products that strike a balance between practical, affordable, and safe.
Cause $90 shampoo just isn’t in the budget.
The upfront cost when you begin the switch to clean living seems like a lot (and it can be).
However, be encouraged! I think you’ll find that certain product alternatives to the generic/cheaper brand are actually cheaper or only a little bit more expensive.
Here are my tips for non-toxic living, of course, as always… on a budget!
CLEAN LIVING ON A BUDGET
These are the steps I’m personally taking right now as I make the switch to a more natural, non-toxic, clean-living lifestyle.
In addition to DIY recipes, I am currently using the Young Living Thieves Starter Kit.
OVERHAUL ONE STEP AT A TIME
It is tempting to throw everything in your house in the trash once you decide to switch to a more non-toxic lifestyle.
When I first began the switch, this is exactly what I did. I’m kind of a go-big-or-go-home kind of person. Well, not kind of. I just am. Everything was going great until I realized I had to replace it all. Needless to say, back to the trash I ran.
Instead of throwing everything out, prioritize and move one step at a time.
You can even break everything down into micro-steps if you’re on a really tight budget.
Just with anything else (like personal finance) , baby steps are still steps forward!
- Cleaning products (this can be broken down further into smaller “sections” if you will, such as kitchen cleaning, laundry, dish detergent, etc).
- Haircare
- Makeup
- Skincare (lotions, face & body wash, sunscreen, etc)
- Baby products
- Food/Nutrition & Supplements
I’ve decided to start switching out my cleaning products first and I’ve been replacing them with the Young Living Thieves brand.
I plan on doing my cosmetic products next. This will make me weep. I love my high-end super toxic makeup ;) But! I’m going to give the Young Living Savvy Minerals line a try, and use some tips I’ve researched to make it go as far as possible.
Price-wise, the makeup will be an easier switch because I buy mostly high-end makeup anyway.
PUT IT IN THE BUDGET
Don’t buy it unless it’s in the budget. If you've never made a budget before, this step-by-step guide will help you do get started.
Ideally, you could throw everything in your home out and replace it with non-toxic products the same day. But that takes time and money. Just like with everything else, we need to consider opportunity cost before making decisions!
Overhauling your home to make it a safer, cleaner environment is not a license to go on a shopping spree and spend frivolously.
Rather, plan for the cost of product replacement. There are two ways you can do this:
- Add a line item in your monthly budget. Decide on a fixed amount you can spend per month on clean living products. If you’re using Young Living, you can sign up for essential rewards, meaning if you place a recurring monthly order (like a subscription), you earn rewards points. Utilize this feature if you have a fixed monthly amount to spend!
- Create a sinking fund & allocate any money leftover at the end of the month into it. If you’re on a really tight budget or getting out of debt, this is the route to go. You won’t have the benefit of a consistent amount to spend every month, but you will have a start!
CALCULATE THE COST & COMPARE
Before dropping a chunk of change on non-toxic, clean living products, run the numbers.
When I bought the Young Living Thieves Starter Kit, the cost wasn't the issue, it was the perceived VALUE I was getting for the cost that made me reluctant.
However, after running the numbers based on a number of reviews from others, some simple math determined using Young Living for my household cleaner would actually be a wash in regards to cost.
Though it seemed like it would be more expensive in the long-run, the fact is that it's actually just a greater up-front cost.
DIY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
DIY as many products as you can. There are SO many different natural recipes you can try that end up being way more cost-effective than anything you can get from the store.
Vinegar, water, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, essential oils, etc. are inexpensive ingredients that are common in DIY recipes.
You will save tons of money using just these ingredients and replacing toxins in your home.
Many times, influencers (for lack of a better word), make you feel like if you don’t use their product they sell or promote to make money, you’re not doing it right.
This goes for companies like Young Living as well. However, there are DIY recipes that work just as well that are a heck of a lot cheaper!
Keep in mind:
- This will take some trial and error. You likely won’t love every DIY recipe you try. Some of them won’t work as good as the store-bought ones, but it’s worth trying a few to find one that works for you!
- With DIY products, a little goes a long way. You’ll be tempted to add more ingredients than a recipe calls for because let’s be honest… sometimes you’re just thinking there’s no way this will work. Stick to the recipe! If it needs adjusting, you can do that later.
- You can find DIY recipes that work just as good (or better) than anything you buy- toxic OR non-toxic. Furthermore, it doesn't have to be either/or. I've found a great balance between purchasing products from a company like Young Living, but DIY'ing some things too.
While I am loving the Young Living products I’m using, if there’s a cheaper route that is just as effective that I love just as much, I’m going to use it.
Hint: recipes to come soon!! Stay tuned :)
I’ve been trying out ALL KINDS of recipes. My husband calls me the fruity-tooty queen. His own words for crunchy ;)
CUT COSTS TO MAKE ROOM IN THE BUDGET
If you’re like hey, yes, I want to do this… but I’m not sure where the money is going to come from, here are a few ways you can cut costs in your budget to make room.
- Start using cash envelopes.
- Meal plan to save money on groceries/dining out.
- Set up a sinking fund.
- Cut cable and/or Netflix.
- Do a money-saving challenge.
- Trim the eating out budget.
If you’ve never made a budget before, you’ll be amazed at how much money you can save and how much you were wasting before budgeting! Once you start budgeting, you suddenly feel like you have a lot of money. Instead of wondering where all your money went, you TELL It where to go.
You can get started with my free monthly budget template !
MY REVIEW OF THE YOUNG LIVING THIEVES STARTER KIT
I signed up for Young Living to get the 24% product discount and try the Thieves Premium Starter Kit.
Additionally, I wanted to show that just because a product seems expensive up-front, doesn't mean it is more expensive! Often times, high-quality, clean-living products in the end cost less or just about the same as the cheaper, toxic version.
Because these products are more efficient, versatile, and need more dilution, they are more sustainable.
All that being said, I want to review the Young Living Starter Kit I purchased.
This is exactly what comes in the Young Living Thieves Starter Kit:
- Thieves® 15-ml - Absolutely love. Smells delightful and can be added to so many different "recipes" for cleaning.
- Thieves® AromaBright™ Toothpaste - Has a different taste. It feels like it melts in your mouth. Definitely an acquired taste.
- Thieves® Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash - Not a fan. Tastes even stranger than the toothpaste and did not leave a good taste in my mouth.
- 2 Thieves® Household Cleaner - Hands down my favorite product in. the starter kit. I use it to clean every single room, appliance, and surface in my home (countertops, floors, cabinets, furniture, carpet, laundry stains, etc).
- 2 Thieves® Foaming Hand Soap - Love this product, but not worth the cost for me. You can DIY a foaming hand soap for way less.
- 2 Thieves® Spray - I personally don't use often enough to buy on a regular basis. Smells great and works great, however.
- 2 Thieves® Waterless Hand Purifier - Works great, love the smell, too expensive for me. I don't use hand sanitizer often enough to make it worth it.
- Essential Oil Magazine - Great resource, have referred back to it a few times!
As I mentioned before, I'm a reluctant crunchy. I'm going to be honest when I review clean living products and whether I think they are really worth the cost.
I will be repurchasing the Thieves household cleaner, Thieves toothpaste, and Thieves essential oil. Everything else that came in the starter kit was not worth the cost in my opinion.
Additionally, you can DIY the exact recipe Young Living uses yourself as long as you have the Thieves essential oil. More to come after I try it myself!
Stay tuned for more on my reluctant crunchy journey! ;)
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