"Stop throwing money down the drain": 10 easy ways to save money and be more sustainable...

Here are six ways to find new clothes without buying new clothes .

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5. Go reusable.

Carrying your own reusable items with you everywhere not only lets you say goodbye to single-use plastics, it also saves loose change.

Some cafes will even give you a 50 cent discount if you can bring your own alcohol and pay about for a reusable mug. Responsible Cafes is a great guide showing which cafes are offering a discount near you.

6. Turn off the light.

It's easy, but if you're not in a room, make sure the lights and appliances are off. Better yet, use a timer on your devices so they don't drain power when not in use.

Switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs can help you save up to 85% on your energy bill, and in many cases they last longer too.

7. Make a homemade cleaning spray.

Turn your leftovers into an all-purpose cleaner: simply place all the used citrus peels in a jar of white vinegar and leave in a dark place for three weeks.

After the time, strain the liquid, add the same amount of water and pour into a bottle with a spray bottle. Voila - a DIY surface cleaner.

8. Read more, save more.

Join your local library and feed your bookworm for free, especially if you're someone like me who only reads a book once and then gathers dust.

If you're not a big reader, many local libraries also allow you to download audiobooks and e-books for free while paying the authors the royalties they deserve.

9. Stop wasting water.

A dripping faucet that only drips twice a minute wastes about 260 liters of water per year.

If we compared that to a bottle of water, that would be about $900 worth of supposedly clean drinking water going to waste.

Fix your faucets and stop throwing money down the drain.

10. Choose vegetable options.

It's no secret that vegetables and tofu cost a lot less than meat.

You don't have to give up meat completely to reap the planetary benefits.

Go to the planet one day a week (Meatless Monday sounds great) or choose one meal a day to save on meat and money.

Lottie Dalziel is the founder of Banish with a mission to help Australians reduce their waste with the right products and information. Follow Lottie on Instagram for more great tips.

Featured image: Getty.

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