How to Successfully Participate in Plastic Free July
Our Trainers coach their clients to understand their goals and how to align these goals with spending. In addition to personal goals, like saving for a house, paying down debt, or taking a vacation (when it’s safe again!), there are also world goals that many of us have. We can make an impact on these goals with our money, and at The Financial Gym, we love when the financially savvy decision also makes a community impact! One way we can all impact our world in a positive way is to reduce our consumption of plastic, especially single use plastic.
Many people take the month of July and challenge themselves to a “Plastic Free July.” The plastic free July initiative that started with a small team in Australia and now includes millions of participants across the globe. The intention is to reduce plastic use by refusing single-use plastic. Deciding to eliminate plastic can be a daunting intention, much like the intention to whip your finances into shape. Here are some tips and reflections from our team about starting your plastic free journey.
Set Realistic Goals
Much like setting financial goals, setting realistic plastic elimination goals will be key to your success. The same way you wouldn’t set a goal of being a millionaire by 2021 if you don’t have a fully funded emergency fund, you also shouldn’t decide to completely eliminate all plastic in one month. Set realistic goals for yourself; for example, reduce your take out container consumption over the course of a month or try not to use any plastic bags for a month. You can also focus on one or two areas of your life or home to reduce your plastic consumption. Can you swap out your bathroom bottles for bars of soap and shampoo? Can you invest in sustainable food wrappers like beeswax wrappers instead of plastic wrap? Can you invest in reusable glass containers and buy items like nuts, seeds, and grains from large bins rather than plastic containers?
Have an Accountability Buddy
While we don’t know of any businesses that offers a Certified Plastic Reduction Trainer, we do know that having someone hold you accountable will help you be more successful! Share your plastic reduction goals with friends and family, and some people may even want to join in. Telling people about these goals can help them feel more real to you. You might even be able to make an impact on plastic use for a group; for example, if you tell friends you’re bringing your own cups or utensils instead of using plastic at a picnic, then maybe the whole group will follow your lead!
Be Forgiving with Yourself
Finally, give yourself forgiveness when you can’t avoid single use plastic! We see financial missteps all the time, but we also know that when our clients focus on their goals and that bigger picture the missteps can be just a temporary wrong turn. The same is true for your plastic journey! It’s okay if you forget to bring your reusable bag to the grocery store- forgive yourself and make a plan to remember the next time, maybe by putting a small bag in your backpack or putting a note on the back of your door.
Ways to get started:
Bring your own bags to the grocery store
Invest in a good reusable water bottle & tumbler (this will save you money down the line!)
Refuse plastic straws when you’re dining out (you can even buy a reusable metal straw if you love straws!)
See if there is compost pickup in your area! In NYC you can check out GrowNYC
Reduce your takeout consumption, since a lot of takeout comes in plastic containers
Purchase eggs in cardboard cartons rather than plastic cartons.
Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters or invest in a refillable metal lighter.
Make fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It's healthier and better for the environment.
Eliminate plastic from your food storage by using reusable containers and plastic wrap replacements
When online shopping, chose environmentally friendly stores
Ready to take your finances to the next level?
To get started schedule a free 20 minute consultation call to speak to a member of our team. We will ask you a few basic questions to get to know you more, walk you through our financial training program steps, and of course answer any questions you may have. No pressure to join!