 
Estimated Monthly Savings: $30
Are you throwing away your hard-earned cash on disposable products? Products you only use once hurt your budget–and the environment. Here are 3 of the most common disposable products–and their money-saving reusable alternatives.
Sandwich Bags
Packing your own lunch and snacks is a great way to save money. However, if you use disposable bags, you’re throwing out some of your savings each day. The average person uses an estimated 540 sandwich bags per year–that works out to 2,160 bags for a family of four. That’s a lot of plastic to put into a landfill, and a lot of money you could be saving by not buying bags for sandwiches and snacks.
Luckily, there are many reusable alternatives to sandwich bags. These include plastic, glass, and stainless steel containers, as well as reusable cloth zipper pouches. A small investment in these containers now can add up as you wash and reuse your containers for years to come.
Paper Towels
The average person uses around 45 pounds of paper towels each year. It seems silly to pay for all those towels that are just going to be thrown away! Cloth towels is an easy alternative with many applications. Many people use absorbent dish towels or microfiber cloths instead of paper towels. Even if you just cut down on the number of paper towels you use, you’ll notice a change in your household expense budget.
Water Bottles
If you buy bottled water, you’re spending 1,000 times more money than you would on tap water. That’s a huge difference! Stay hydrated and keep your money by investing in a reusable water bottle. Reusable water bottles are also available with features such as a compartment for infusing fruit or the ability to keep water cold for hours. Switching to a reusable bottle can help you keep more of your money while helping keep plastic out of landfills.
Reusable products require a small initial investment, but they can really save you money in the long run. Making these simple changes can help you cut down on the amount you spend on household expenses. It can also help you live a more sustainable lifestyle.
