We do hear a lot about the positive difference that can be made through sustainable living, but knowing how to live sustainably and practically is not always well understood. The good news is that practical, sustainable living is not as complicated as it may sound.

As sustainability experts know, changing your lifestyle and features of your home, brings you opportunities to enjoy cost savings, a simplified life and a healthier approach to living.

Even small steps towards practical, sustainable living can make a huge difference. Also, once you start to implement particular changes, others will logically follow and seem all the more easy and manageable to do.

So, how can you live in a more practical, sustainable way?

Examine your energy use and consider alternatives

Many people now enjoy the benefits of renewable energy by way of solar panels on the roof of their own home. With solar panels, not only do you help with the generation and contribution of a renewable source of energy, you will quite soon appreciate reductions in your energy bills. Although solar panels do involve a significant financial investment, many people find that they soon recoup the money paid to purchase and install their solar panels and sometimes never pay an energy bill again.

Opt for biodegradable

A very good way to live more sustainability is to stop, or limit, your use of plastic bags. Make the conscious change to biodegradable bags, as this alternative reduces future toxicity and involves the use of less petroleum.

Understand what is different about being ‘green’ and being ‘sustainable’

On many occasions, being green has little to do with sustainable living. It’s crucial to understand that being sustainable means taking the actions that cause the least impact, result in the least amount of waste and involve an indefinitely repeatable cycle that does not cause damage.

Limit and eliminate oil, gas and petroleum usage

It is increasingly understood that oil is a finite resource. Reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of anything that comes from oil, is absolutely vital to true sustainability. However, genuine, authentic sustainability requires elimination of all petroleum and fossil fuels.

Distinguish wants from needs

We are bombarded by marketing and advertising that tries to convince us that we absolutely need products. However, to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, it is essential to change this way of thinking. To live sustainably, products should only be bought when they are absolutely needed. This means, you should not own multiple numbers of particular items and you should learn how to properly care for the things that you have, rather than always paying for maintenance and repairs.

Reduce waste

Today, most individuals and households create far more garbage than they should. In order to genuinely reduce waste, changes across almost every aspect of life are necessary. It’s critical to look for areas of excess and implement changes in what you use and/or how you use it. For example you can reduce landfill and help the planet and your garden by composting your green waste.

Sustainable living is important and can also be very practical. The best thing about practical, sustainable living is that it simplifies and streamlines life, while making it more natural and healthy.

Photo Credit: Joi Ito under Creative Commons license. Neighbour’s Compost.

1. Ask if there are any ways of getting a discount

e.g., you may be able to get a discount on your car insurance if you take an easy online defensive driving course, or by giving them the details of the college where you received your degree.

Companies won’t offer these discounts until you ask!

2. Sign up to be a member of an organization that has prenegotiated discounts with the company you wish to purchase with.

This is outsourcing the process of negotiating the discount to the organization who has already negotiated it. For example, you can sign up to the Freelancers Union for free just by giving your email address. You’re then able to get discounts on Geico insurance among other perks. Once you know what you want to buy, Google around for organizations that have negotiated discounts with that company.

3. Show evidence of a better alternative offer.

If you can show evidence of another company’s offer you should be able to get the company you want to work with to match or beat that offer, provided that all the terms are similar. Sometimes you can get a company that offers better terms, offers, or perks to match a competitor’s offer. You get the price and the extras you want.

4. Get something extra thrown in.

If there is something you would need to buy anyway, you may be able to get this thrown in with your purchase, which is in effect a discount. Come to negotiations armed with things you are going to need to buy that could be included in your package by the supplier.

For example, someone who is selling you the filing cabinet should be able to throw in a box for files for you. Think about what additional items you would need to purchase immediately to make your purchase usable.

5. Do your research online first.

Car buying is a completely different experience these days because you can do all your research online, see who has the car you want available, and the play these dealers off against each other. Go in knowing the price you want to pay. If they will still make some profit on the deal, it’s in their interests to do the deal.

6. Just flat out ask.

For example, “Can I have a loyalty discount? I’ve been with this company for X years.” Or, emphasize your desire to do future business. Be specific i.e., I’ll be ordering again next month if we can agree on a price.

“Can you give me the wifi for free?” – This actually works at hotels I’ve found!

Sales people are experts in their jobs and you shouldn’t underestimate them. Wherever possible don’t go into situations without information about what discounts it’s possible to get. However when this isn’t possible, ask cold and hope you get lucky with a salesperson who is willing to work with you.

Always questions any assumptions you have about services where it might not be possible to get a discount. However also take care to not give service providers the impression you’re going to be e pain in the butt to work with.

photo credit: Unhindered by Talent via photopin CC