Helloooo 2022, we welcome you with open arms! At the start of every year, people vow to start fresh, introduce new habits and become new people. So, how will you be embracing the “new year, new me” life? Did you know that by making the switch to a sustainable lifestyle, this can save you money in the long term? Let’s talk about it!

Goodbye single-use pads and tampons, HELLO menstrual cups or period underwear!

Have you wrapped your head around the concept of menstrual cups? Menstrual cups are the zero-waste alternative to pads and tampons which catch blood, instead of absorbing blood. We also love the fact that menstrual cups can be left in for up to 12 hours and can safely be re-used for at least 5 years! Let’s face it, we know the inconvenience of having to visit the bathroom every 4 hours all too well.

So, how will you save? The average person changes their tampon every four hours. A box containing 32 tampons costs $4. Using one tampon every four hours equals six tampons per day. Multiply 6 tampons by the average cycle of 5 days and that’s 30 tampons per cycle. That means you need ~1 box per month which equates to $48 per year. In five years, you’ll be spending $240 on tampons alone. Whereas, you could simply spend $35 on one menstrual cup that will last you just as long.

Does the menstrual cup not suit your needs? Here we have another alternative period product for you! It is Period Underwear!

Period underwear is a great alternative to single-use period products. The period underwear gusset is designed with triple or more layers that help to absorb your period blood and draw away the moisture and stay leakproof.

There can be different absorbency options from light, moderate to heavy flow. For example, the heavy flow could absorb up to 3 tampons worth of blood! Isn’t that amazing!

How you will save?
The average person changes their tampon every four hours. A box containing 32 tampons costs $4. Using one tampon every four hours equals six tampons per day. Multiply 6 tampons by the average cycle of 5 days and that’s 30 tampons per cycle. That means you need 1 box per month which equates to $48 per year. In five years, you’ll be spending $240 on tampons alone. Whereas, you could simply spend around $130 on 5 Period Underwear that will last you for 2 years!

Curious on how Period Underwear works? Read all about it here: https://theecowarrior.eco/all-about-period-underwear/

Goodbye plastic razors with disposable cartridges, HELLO safety razors!

Fact: Plastic razors have a MUCH shorter lifespan than Safety Razors. They are designed to be used a few times and then thrown away into the trash. They’re also not easily recyclable because they’re made from several different plastic materials. What’s the alternative? Plastic-free Safety Razors that use stainless steel blades!

So, how will you save? Plastic razors are designed to last anywhere between 5-10 shaves which cost approximately $5 for one. Let’s say you shave once a week which means one razor will last you ~2 months. In one year, you’ll need six razors which gives you a total spend of $30. In six years, this will cost you $180!

On the other hand, one Safety Razor ($34) will last a lifetime(!). The only expense there is are the Double-Edge Replacement Blades at $2 for a pack of 5. If one blade has a useful life of 16 shaves (8 shaves per side), you will only need to change the blade every 4 months! With a pack of 5 replacement blades, this will last you 1.5 years! In six years, you’re looking at spending only $8!

Curious on how to use a Safety Razor? Read all about it here: https://theecowarrior.eco/how-to-use-a-double-edged-safety-razor/

Goodbye paper coffee cups, HELLO reusable coffee cups!

Are you a serial coffee drinker? Do you mindlessly toss out paper cups after you take that last sip of deliciously brewed coffee? Did you know that you can save money by simply bringing your own cup? Of course, the amount of savings depends on the individual café. Let’s get into it!

So, how will you save? On average, coffee shops offer a discount of $0.20 to $0.50 off your drink. Say you typically purchase one coffee a day in a working week. By bringing your own Reusable Coffee Cup, you could save $2.50 per week. In one year, that adds up to $130 in savings!

Get your reusable coffee cup in here: https://theecowarrior.eco/product/the-eco-warrior-cork-cup-12-oz/

Goodbye plastic produce bags, HELLO organic cotton produce bags!

Are you the primary grocery shopper in your household? Let us tell you that you could be saving the environment with one simple change! Supermarkets supply plastic produce bags to hold your loose produce. We get it, they keep everything separated and tidy in the trolley. But what if we told you that there is a sustainable alternative to these plastic bags? Say hello to Reusable Produce Bags made from organic cotton.

So, how will you save? Organic Cotton Produce Bags are eco-friendly as they are biodegradable and unlike plastic bags, will not take 1000 years to degrade. For $15, this gets you four Reusable Produce Bags. That’s four less plastic bags every time you shop, assuming you purchase ~4 fruits/vegetables/loose goods per shop. But most importantly, your efforts would be contributing towards reducing the overall consumption of single-use plastics bags and improving the health of our planet!

Goodbye bottled soaps, HELLO bar soaps!

Question: Did you know that bottled soaps are mainly comprised of water? In other words, ‘Aqua’, as written in the ingredients list of many bottled soaps? Typically, you’ll find ‘Aqua’ at the beginning of the ingredients list in liquid soaps. Why? Ingredients are listed in descending order by quantity. So, why pay for soap that is basically water? Switch to bar soaps – it’s quite possibly the easiest way you can save the planet by reducing excessive chemicals, additives, and plastics.

So, how will you save? For the average person who showers once daily, a 500mL bottle of body soap that costs $5 lasts approximately 2-3 weeks. In one year, you’re spending $86 on soap alone! On the other hand, a well-drained bar of soap costing $6.50 should last 4-6 weeks. In one year, you’re spending $56 – that’s a total saving of $20 per year!