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While finding ways to avoid wasting money is top of mind for most consumers these days, I like to balance my desire to spend less with my goal of creating less trash. A year ago, we welcomed our first child into our family, and it changed how we think about the quality of what we bring into our home as well as how much trash we produce. We want a healthy planet for our son to grow up in and a happy bank account. This is how our family is wasting less in our home this year.
Prices are accurate as of June 6, 2025. Subject to change.
Branch Basics Laundry Kit in Glass
After we had our first child, I went from doing laundry a few times a week to multiple times a day. I was constantly having to rebuy laundry detergent as we simply cannot go a day without running a load anymore. I decided to switch to Branch Basics so I could easily stay stocked up without having a laundry room overflowing with heavy, bulk laundry products. The scentless formula is the perfect fit for the entire family. I can’t even remember the last time I purchased regular detergent.
Keeki Beeswax Lined Bread Storage Bag
As if grocery prices weren’t bad enough these days, try adding fresh baked goods into the mix. My family loves to pick up fresh bread from our local bakery each week, but found it was going stale faster than we could eat it. Once everyone got sick of me making croutons, I knew it was time for a solution. Luckily, the Keeki Beeswax Bread Storage Bag extends the life of our bread long enough that we can actually finish it all, without having to put up with old, stale-tasting bread.
Shelfy Fridge Purifier
Speaking of wasting money on groceries, I can’t stand throwing away expensive produce that rotted too quickly. While the Shelfy Fridge Purifier is a bit of an investment, we saw an immediate difference in how long berries and mushrooms stayed fresh. Not only is this fridge purifier saving our family money, but it saves me emergency trips to the grocery store. Like most, my toddler runs on berries, and we can’t afford to waste any.
LARQ PureVis Self-Cleaning Water Pitcher
Who wants to waste time and money buying bottled water? That being said, I don’t want to even think about how much money we’ve wasted on inexpensive water filter pitchers that simply don’t work and break way too fast. We also recently moved to an area with hard water and found our tea was tasting odd. The LARQ Pitcher PureVis solved all of our hydration problems in one fell swoop. I’m happy to report my morning tea tastes normal again, and the plant-based filters last longer than most I’ve tried. The built-in PureVis technology helps keep the pitcher cleaner between uses, and I find it reassuring to know it meets high filtration standards.
Bentgo Glass All-in-One Salad Container
We’ve used a variety of Bentgo products in our home and have nothing but positive things to say about the brand. This salad container is our current favorite for feeding our family on the go. I love how many little separate compartments there are (ideal for feeding my toddler his meals) and how compact it is in my kitchen cabinet. With the right food storage supplies on hand, it’s much easier to avoid eating out without relying on single-use solutions like plastic sandwich bags. It also guarantees we finish that head of lettuce before it goes bad.
Reader Favorites
Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash Refill
Tubby Todd bath and body products are a staple in our family. Personally, I’m a fan of using any products that are safe for my baby to use. I’m also a fan of any products that save me money. Motherhood involves a lot of shopping, and I look for ways to eliminate runs to the store as much as possible. One pouch of this hair and body wash refill lasts one child an average of nine months and replaces three 8.5-ounce bottles, three black caps, three printed labels, and three black pumps. If Tubby Todd isn’t your brand of choice, see if your favorite shampoo or body wash offers refill packs of their own, or look for refill stations in your town. We have an eco-friendly cleaning and body supply store in our downtown that offers this service.
Purefill Bod Pod Whole Body Deodorant Starter Pack
Once I began focusing on limiting the amount of plastic we bring into our home, I realized it’s everywhere. While sometimes plastic is unavoidable, I try to waste as little of it as possible. The Bod Starter Pack is a great example of how I minimize our plastic consumption. I appreciate that you can refill this deodorant and when you are ready to toss it, it’s 100% recyclable.
doTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
Cleaning concentrates are my best-kept secret (at least, until now) for ensuring I never run out of cleaning supplies while avoiding overflowing cabinets of bulk Costco finds. You can use this cleaner concentrate in so many different ways, but it really shines in kitchens and bathrooms, which is not a guarantee for all-natural cleaners. This plant-based, non-toxic solution is made of essential oils, which gives me major peace of mind now that little hands and mouths touch every surface of my home.
Truly Free Floor Cleaner
Speaking of concentrates, I have tried a good variety of Truly Free concentrates. Not all non-toxic cleaning formulas are created equal, but this brand works well. Now that our baby eats solids, I must clean the floor multiple times a day, and the easy spray formula saves me so much time. This was another essential I found myself running out of frequently, so the concentrates are key.
Blueland Hand Soap Starter Set
Concentrates aren’t just for your home, they work for your body care stash, too. Once I had a baby, I started washing my hands a whole lot more often. I found myself constantly running out of disposable hand soaps from the grocery store. Now I keep a healthy stash of BLUELAND hand soap refills on hand. They take up almost no space in my cabinet, and you can easily activate them with a little water. I like that the formula is nice and clean (pun very much intended) since I touch my baby all day long.
Feature Image Credit: Maryviolet/ iStock
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Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer based in Northern California who graduated from the University of California Irvine with a degree in Literary Journalism. She has written on a wide range of topics including finance, travel, and wellness for publications such as Elle, Coveteur, The Everygirl, and Apartment Therapy. When not whipping up articles, she works with consumer brands like Gorjana, Voluspa, Underclub, The Well, and St. John to help tell their brand stories.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
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