Rising temperatures and rising prices – how to embrace your sustainable side on a budget

Hagley Park, Christchurch on a beautiful summer day. Source: My Guide Christchurch.  

From changing up your transport to foraging for food, I sought out some waste-reducing tips to help make the most of your money. 

It takes balance to live more sustainably, said Imogen McRae from UC Sustainability. 

“Some ways to live more ‘sustainably’ save you money, whereas some come at a higher cost.” 

Some of McRae’s top tips include opting for a bike or the bus, shopping local, and educating yourself on gardening and foraging. 

“Come along to our community garden [Te Ngaki o Waiutuutu] on campus. You learn how to garden and get to take home fresh, nutritious and free kai from the māra! Any foraged food is free too - just make sure you exercise foraging etiquette and save some for others.” 

McRae also said shopping plastic-free, at places like farmers’ markets and Bin Inn, often worked out cheaper. 

“Each new thing you try to live more sustainably, for example, trying bulk bin shopping, starting a compost, buying second hand instead of new, switching to solid shampoo/conditioner bars, buying local produce from a  farmers market, brings a sense of pride. 

“You feel better knowing your choices are aligned to your values. Amidst all the bad climate news, you can feel better knowing you're making changes for good. Don't frame it as reducing negative impact, but increasing positive.” 

In terms of being able to see the fruits of your own labour, McRae said attending plating days or supporting predator trapping can have direct impacts to restore the biodiversity around you. 

“It's not just about saving the planet; the planet will endure whether humans are around to see it or not.”   

“Making these changes are about feeling more connection with your environment and people, and truly living in a deeper sense. It is freeing to break away from the societal norms of consumption and capitalism and only just coping with the pressures of a fast-paced life.”  

Maria Lamb, Waste Minimisation Officer for the Christchurch City Council, encourages students to be “food savvy.” 

She also shared some of her budget-friendly tips and tricks, which included knowing how to store food correctly, keeping vegetable scraps to use in soups, and meal planning. 

“Shopping wisely will prevent unnecessary items being purchased [and] you will create less waste by storing food correctly,” she said. 

“Explore local growers or explore opportunities to go food foraging locally.”