With all the talk of climate change, plenty of people want to make their future travels more sustainable. However, some are concerned that it’s hard to do this without breaking the bank. Thankfully, as it turns out, there’s plenty of ways you can travel sustainably without hurting your finances.

Use reusable items

Reusable items are essential for anyone dedicated to sustainability. Single-use items have caused such a problem for the planet that the more stuff people can reuse, the better. You can get things like water bottles, travel mugs, and bags, all of which should prove helpful during your travels. You can also get refillable containers for things like shampoo, foundation, and other bathroom products. That way, you don’t have to buy travel-size bottles, saving you money and reducing potential plastic pollution.

Avoid flying where possible

Air travel is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so reducing how often you fly is probably a good idea. That might mean restricting your travels to your home nation, which aren’t short of amazing places to visit. Of course, if you want to see the world or have your heart set on a certain overseas destination, air travel might be your only option. If so, consider buying carbon offsets to compensate for the damage those flights might do.

Shop at a farmers markets

There are tons of benefits that come from buying food at a farmers market. One, you support local agricultural businesses by buying their produce and ensuring they can continue to do their jobs. Two, you help the environment by acquiring items that haven’t had to travel long distances in carbon-emitting vehicles. Three, you save yourself money that you might have spent on meals out by getting fresh, local ingredients to cook with.

Stay in locally-owned accommodation

Accommodation is typically one of the biggest expenses you have to worry about when traveling. People often assume that you have to pay big bucks to find somewhere comfortable, but that isn’t usually the case. Smaller, locally-owned accommodation can be just as comfortable and often has the added benefit of being more sustainable. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, so you’ll need to do some research. However, most B&Bs, campgrounds, and hostels are better for the planet without costing a fortune.

Don’t be in such a rush

How often do you stop and really appreciate what’s around you when traveling? Many people are so eager to see as much as possible that they hop from one place to the next in no time at all. If you want to be more sustainable. It’s worth slowing down a little. Don’t be in a rush to leave one location until you’ve really enjoyed everything that it has to offer. If you travel less, you’re not going to leave as much of a carbon footprint while you’re away.

Sustainable travel is becoming increasingly essential as the effects of plastic pollution, CO2 emissions, etc., grow more concerning. Evidently, though, there’s so much that everyone can do to help, a lot of which won’t break the bank.