12 Ways to Shop Sustainably On A Budget

November is HERE – and you all know what that means? The holidays have begun! And while literally everything looks and feels different, we are all still pulling out our lists and checking them twice – as well as online shopping and going about our daily lives because if AT SOME POINT “All I Want for Christmas is You” has to get old, right?

Today I’m diving into the overwhelming, confusing world of sustainability in the world of fashion, and how you, as a college student (or a mom or a nurse or a barista or a businesswoman) can play a role in making the Earth just a little happier as we enter this holiday season, and year-round!

So, what does it actually mean to shop sustainably?

What’s so bad about Fast Fashion?

Why does this matter to me?

Instead of trying to spend half of this post explaining the concept, I’ve included a video that answers the questions above, and maybe other ones you may be having.

According to the EPA, in 2017 12.8 million tons of clothing and footwear were generated, or created, in the United States.

And 8.9 million tons of clothing went into landfills.

That’s a LOT of clothes in landfills! This is why slow fashion is so important!

It benefits you and the earth because:

A: buying less = spending less!

B: It limits the amount of waste that ends up in landfills

C: Fast fashion harms the environment and leads to more $$ spent, and more waste created!

D: Being intentional about our clothing purchases and buying from ethical companies…

But if you’ve looked even a little bit into the world of ethical clothing, then you know –

Clothing that helps the environment and encourages fair wages is, well, EXPENSIVE!

So I’m not going to tell you that you should blow your budgets on clothes that are more than you can afford.

Instead, I want to give you practical and applicable ways you can start applying TODAY to make your closet more sustainable!

1. Buy Secondhand!!!

If you know me, you know I LOVE to buy secondhand. It’s not only much less expensive than buying things new, but every piece of clothing you buy used means one less clothing item ending up in landfills, and less being created and consumed!

I have an entire blog post on my best tips for thrift shopping, and highly encourage you to check it out!

If Goodwill isn’t your scene, you can also shop secondhand one of the following ways:

• Secondhand boutiques like Uptown Cheapskate, Plato’s Closet, and Buffalo Exchange
• Online platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and Mercari (these are great if you are looking for a specific item/brand!)
• Instagram secondhand accounts – I’ve just recently discovered these and have quickly become a fan! A few of my favorites are:
  • @secondtimesthe_charm
  • @uplifitingnthrifting
  • @sf.threadz

2. Shop! Less!

I’m calling myself out on this one too, considering I’ve definitely done more than my fair share of online shopping since quarantine begun…

But one of the easiest ways to shop more sustainably is simply to buy less clothes and work with what you have.

Resist the urge to online shop or go to TJ Maxx or the mall to “just look around.”

You don’t need it, I promise!!!

3. If you are going to shop, shop small

Especially right now, we all know it can do a lot of good to support your local small businesses. Small clothing stores also sometimes buy their merchandise consciously, meaning all you have to do is take it off their hands!

4. Make a list (& check it twice!)

Wish lists don’t have to just be for the holidays! Making a clothing wish list for myself has probably been one of the easiest but most effective changes I’ve made in shopping more sustainably.

It’s easy. Just make a list of clothing items you want/need, and whenever you go shopping, don’t buy something unless it’s on your list!

I’m including my “list” here.

5. BE SPECIFIC and BE PICKY.

Don’t justify a fast fashion, spontaneous purchase because “you might wear it” or “it’s a good deal.”

You might find PERFECTLY broken in vintage Levi jeans for a great price, but if they’re a size too big, we both know they’ll just end up making space in your closet until you get rid of them a few years later.

Save yourself money! If you don’t love it, or it’s only somewhat close to something on your list, DON’T BUY IT.

6. Do your research

One of my favorite ways to do this is the Good On You app, which you can download on your phone. It rates clothing brands on Labor, Environment, and Animal protection.

I encourage you to research where the clothes you buy actually come from, how they are made, how their workers are treated, and how they impact the environment.

7. Limit your fast fashion purchases

I don’t want you to think you can never buy anything from a store at the mall again. Especially as a college student without much of an income, it can be difficult to buy sustainable brands.

Be kind to yourself! One fast fashion purchase is better than five!

8. Save up for nicer clothing items

As I’ve said before, sustainable and ethical clothing companies can be expensive! But that also means spending more for a higher quality, better made item that will last you longer than the sweaters that stretch out after one wash.

Instead, save up for a sustainable item that will last for years! Here are some of my favorite “save up” brands:

• Tradlands
• Suunday
• Nisolo shoes
• ABLE

Some of my favorite sustainable + affordable brands include:

• Girlfriend Collective (activewear made from recycled water bottles)
• Everlane
• Wear Pact

9. The 24-hour rule

If you’re wanting to buy something, wait 24 hours or sleep on it. If you still want it after that, go for it!

If the sale is over, it just wasn’t meant to be…

10. Unsubscribe from fast fashion promo emails

How many times has a simple email turned into a hasty purchase? unsubscribing takes no time, takes the pressure to shop off, and cleans out your messy inbox. It’s a win-win-win!

11. Think about how you’re cleaning out your closet

You don’t want to contribute to that 8.9 million tons in landfills, do you? Here are some ways you can get rid of old clothes responsible:

• give/sell to friends! post on Facebook or Instagram
• sell to one of the stores or online platforms I mentioned above to make some extra $$
• donate to a local thrift store or organization that does good for your community.

12. Be conscious of the shopping choices you make 🙂

The goal here is not to never shop again, or to only buy from uber expensive companies way out of your price range.

Set a goal as we go into the holiday season to make at least 1 thing using one of the tips above. When it comes to sustainability and making good decisions for our planet, a little bit goes a long way!