Isn't sustainable living far too expensive for a student? Reader Julia de Laat, also known on Instagram as ‘Duurzaam op kamers’, tries to put an end to this prejudice. We spoke to this sustainable student. What are her tips?
Budget tips from a sustainable student
‘As a student, I have been trying to live sustainably for several years. I regularly get questions about this, because many people think that sustainable is also often more expensive. And of course that doesn't fit the life of a ‘poor’ student. I now know that this is completely unjustified. Sustainable often means thrifty. It is a lifestyle that suits students. You just have to know how to do it. Especially for readers of thegreenlist.nl she shares her budget tips for all students - and anyone who likes to watch the little things.
Detergent expensive? Well no, do-it-yourself!
‘One of the first things I encountered as a student was that detergent and also personal care products are so pricey. So I started googling and found several blogs that showed that making detergent myself saves a lot of money. After a few tries, I made my own recipe developed for making detergent. It's not much work at all and also great fun to do!’ Besides detergent, you can make many more cleaning and care products yourself and save money. Check them out here!
Furnishing your student room expensive? No ya, you can fix this almost for free
Living on your own is a great but also very expensive step. When it comes to furnishing your home, you can also succeed budgetproof. Julia's room is proof of this: ‘Furniture, cutlery, crockery, plants (pots), electronics, white goods: you name it and I found it in a thrift shop for next to nothing. With a lick of paint you can give even the oldest, ugliest furniture a refresh.’ Julia finds those free items on Marktplaats. ‘Here you can set an alert for free ads in your area. You have to react quickly, because there are always many hijackers on the coast. But this is the way to furnish your home cheaply and sustainably as a student.’ If you still have a small budget left, from a sustainability point of view, it is still worth buying your washing machine and fridge new, as they are often much more energy-efficient than old ones. You can also lease a new one, of course!
Borrowing stuff instead of buying it
‘Tools, party supplies, clothes, books: you don't necessarily have to have everything.’ Most students will have that realisation because that room is just way too small for a lot of stuff. But Julia deliberately shares her stuff because it is more sustainable ánd cheaper. ‘I am a fan of neighbourhood libraries (these are small bookcases on the street where you can borrow books), the lending app Peerby and my social network also gets me a long way.’ Borrowing stuff from friends, family and housemates. Top plan!
The life of a sustainable student on a small budget: vegan budget cooking and thrift shopping.
An affordable vegan diet as a sustainable student
Vegetarian or vegan food is becoming increasingly popular and accessible. And more supply of meat substitutes also means the price of these products is coming down. So good news for people with small wallets! If, like Julia, you like to hunt for offers, she has a great follow tip on Instagram: @bonusvegan. ‘She collects all vega(n) offers per supermarket every week. As soon as I spot an offer, I try to stock up big and freeze as much as possible.’
Student life: packaging-free shopping at the market
Shopping at the market is always a good idea in terms of sustainability. Julia: ‘I often find a lot (more) local seasonal produce from local farmers there. And then I also bring my own cloth bags and jars. That way, I also save waste. My tip: go to the market at the end of the day, then you can often get an extra discount. If your study or part-time job doesn't allow it, you can often find stalls near supermarkets and shopping centres. They too often stunt at the end of the day with good offers: ‘a kilo of tomatoes for a euro, I'll take it!’
Scoring free clothes
Second-hand clothes are cheap, but even cheaper is free clothes. Julia participates in The Clothing Loop and likes to participate in clothing swap parties. Gosh, that sustainable student life is not so crazy. Want to know more about The Clothing Loop? Then check out our review here.
More cheap second-hand bargains
- Also see: thrift store shopping tips for finding cool outfits.
- Also see: Tips for finding the best Marketplace treasures.
Photo credits: Julia de Laat.
