Local mum making more sustainable choices to save money

A Mount Duneed mum is buying more items second hand in a bid to save money as new data shows the rising cost of living is more of a concern to Australians than climate change.

Mount Duneed mum Ruby Dwyer has been shopping more items second-hand in a bid to save money during the rising cost of living and reduce waste. Picture: Supplied

A Mount Duneed mum is buying more items second hand from op shops in a bid to save money and reduce waste, as new data shows the rising cost of living is more of a concern than climate change.

Ruby Dwyer said this year had been particularly “challenging”, because her family was living on a single income while she was on maternity leave.

Ms Dwyer, who had her first child Jack last year, said she had to buy more from op shops such as clothes, books and toys and repair items instead of throwing them away.

She bought a majority of the “big-ticket” baby items for her son from Facebook marketplace.

Ms Dwyer said she bought a pram, which retailed at $1500 new, for $400 secondhand.

“The fact that we don’t have as much dispensable income has definitely encouraged us to buy second hand,” Ms Dwyer said.

“I’ve also joined the toy library in Torquay to help reduce our costs.

“You pay an annual fee and you volunteer a couple of times a year and you can go and borrow toys.”

But the 34-year-old is not the only Australian buying more second hand items to help keep more money in her back pocket.

New data from recycling company Cleanaway found 75 per cent of people who are purchasing second-hand from op shops or Facebook marketplace are doing so to save money.

The data also showed 79 per cent of Australians ranked the rising cost of living as a bigger issue than climate change.

Geelong Sustainability chief executive Dan Cowdell said he was not a surprised people are more concerned about cost of living than the climate emergency, but he said the two issues were closely linked.

“A lot of the cost of living issues are being driven by the high cost of fossil fuels,” Mr Cowdell said.

“It’s affecting the fuel in our cars, how we power our homes, heating our hot water.”

Mr Cowdell said is great to see people rethink their choices and get back to a circular economy which helps to reduce waste and in turn save people money.

“We have moved into a culture were people are constantly consuming all these new products,” Mr Cowdell said.

He encouraged residents to reduce their food waste and shop at local farmer’s markets where produce can be cheaper.

For more information, visit geelongsustinability.org.au/low-impact-living.

Originally published as Local mum making more sustainable choices to save money