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Money Action = Climate Action
- Jen Scharien
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
Climate change is big and scary, like a monster under the bed – except this monster is very real and really loves carbon emissions. It can feel overwhelming when we try to understand how our individual actions can make a positive difference. But here's the good news: the best place to start is right where you are, within your circle of influence. Let's focus on what's actually within our control and then take action to engage in meaningful change.
What if we told you that you could help the climate AND your bank account? Plot twist! By embracing financial wellness, we dive deep into understanding what we truly value and become intentional with each precious dollar. When you consider climate action as part of this journey, we can align our choices with positive (or at least less cringe-worthy) impacts on our beautiful planet.
Smart Consumption: The Art of Asking "Do I Really Need This?"
Be aware of your consumption-based decisions. Before you buy, ask 'Why?' We are programmed to buy new phones, cars, clothes, or gadgets, and often we rush into these decisions without questioning why we think we need them in the first place. So pause, and channel your inner detective:
Do I really need this? Sometimes the answer is genuinely yes, but often it's "I want this because Instagram told me to", "There have been like 3 iPhones since this one, it's outdated" or "My car is almost 5 years old and it's going to start needing repairs."
Is there an environmentally conscious option? Slow down and consider who/what you're buying from. Get curious about what other options are out there. Mother Earth appreciates when you do your homework. The next section goes into more detail about this one.
Can I buy it used? While buying used can take a little more work, you can find almost anything used - if you can't find exactly what you want, can you find something similar (or sometimes even better)? Pre-loved items have a way smaller carbon footprint. Every time you buy used instead of new, imagine you're turning back the hands of time, removing toxic gases from the factory pollution and transportation that would have been incurred to make you a brand new one.
Side Note: I get all kinds of arguments for buying new electronics and cars in particular, so three additional comments here:
Argument: Financing is cheaper on new [insert name of thing here].
Financial wellness says: save-up for big purchases to reduce or eliminate the need for financing
Argument: New is more reliable.
Financial wellness says: ask yourself more questions - what does reliability mean to you? how much do you value reliability? and what are you willing to give up for it? We could go into a whole other blog post with this one, so let's jump to the punch line of my point - new is not always more reliable and not likely worth the amount you'll pay for it. You can choose reliable vendors and/or get things checked out by professionals. Don't default to 'easy' at the expense of your bank account and the planet.
Argument: I don't have the time to find it used.
Financial wellness says: Spend your time and money on what you value. Remember, this is about making a positive impact on our environment and wanting to engage in the change for a better planet - you can probably find the time in some scenarios if this is truly important to you.
Here's the environmental reality check: Every new purchase triggers a cascade of environmental impacts. Manufacturing that shiny new phone requires mining rare earth metals, factory production that guzzles energy and water, plus shipping it halfway around the world. Your "outdated" phone? It likely works perfectly fine and choosing to keep using it means avoiding all that additional environmental burden. When we default to buying new, we're essentially voting for more resource extraction, more factory emissions, more packaging waste, and more transportation pollution – all for items we often don't actually need.
Where You Shop Matters
Be mindful of where you buy. Try to limit purchases from high-polluting regions and mega-retailers when possible, and aim to buy local instead. Yes, buying local might still have environmental impacts depending on sourcing and production methods, but it's typically gentler on our planet than some major global producers.
The transportation math is pretty sobering: when you order something manufactured overseas and shipped via mega-retailers, you're supporting a supply chain that relies heavily on cargo ships (major ocean polluters), cargo planes, long-haul trucking, and multiple distribution centers. That cute sweater from across the globe? It might have traveled 10,000+ miles, generating carbon emissions at every step, before landing on your doorstep in yet another cardboard box, wrapped in plastic. Choosing local or regional suppliers dramatically reduces this transportation footprint and often supports smaller-scale, more sustainable production methods.
Source from vendors who prioritize ethics and sustainability. Look for companies that stand behind responsible supply chains and environmental stewardship. Here are some helpful resources to research company practices:
B Corporation Directory (bcorporation.net) - Certified companies meeting high social and environmental standards
Good On You (goodonyou.eco) - Fashion brand sustainability ratings
HowGood (howgood.com) - Food and consumer goods impact ratings
Ethical Consumer (ethicalconsumer.org) - Product and company ethical ratings
Quality Over Quantity: The "Less But Better" Philosophy
Sustainable and ethical products often cost more upfront, and we're not suggesting you blow your budget in the name of saving polar bears. Instead, consider spending less on volume and more on quality and value-aligned purchases.
In real life, this might look like buying perfectly imperfect fast fashion, such as Old Navy, for rapidly growing children (they'll outgrow or destroy it anyway), while investing in higher-quality, ethical, and often local goods for yourself.
These are the choices I personally make. I don't need much, so I can afford to be picky about what I do buy.
The sweet spot? Buying used for many items, especially bikes, toys, and electronics. Plus, skip the unnecessary brand-name premiums that add zero value but plenty of marketing fluff to your expenses.
Here's where it gets really empowering: when you do choose to buy something, and intentionally choose to support businesses that align with your values, this creates an amazing ripple of good feelings. When I decided to indulge in the wide leg jean trend, I chose to buy them from a local female-owned small business. Every time I wear them, I'm not just putting on clothes, I'm wearing a reminder of a choice that supported another woman's dreams, contributed to gender equity in business, and had a smaller environmental footprint. That's the kind of purchase that makes me feel good about myself and the choices I intentionally made with my money.
The documentary "Buy Now" on Netflix is a genuine eye-opener about how our consumption habits impact the environment. You might never look at your Amazon cart the same way again.
Shedding Light, Not Throwing Shade
I've written all this to try and shed light, not throw shade. I am not judging your financial choices - I am not perfect and I do not prescribe to 100% of the advice I've shared 100% of the time. What I'm presenting seems black and white, but in reality, when it comes to money and our climate, we exist in shades of grey. I'm not suggesting perfection, I'm suggesting mindfulness and intentionality in how we choose to allocate our dollars. Take what serves you and just try to do a little better where you can.
Slowing down and investing time into your spending decisions will benefit your bank account, overall financial wellness, and our planet. You can achieve more when you care more about what truly matters in life and care less about what doesn't.
Beyond Shopping: Investing and Giving with Purpose
If you want to take financial wellness and climate action to the next level, you can also use this to guide your investment and charitable giving choices. What's even cooler is that once you start to become more mindful and intentional about your spending, you make more room to build wealth and make charitable contributions. Your impact can grow bigger and stronger!
Here's a light intro to what exists in this space:
Climate-conscious Investing Options:
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) funds that screen for responsible companies
Green bonds financing environmental projects like renewable energy
Sustainable index funds tracking companies with strong environmental practices
Impact investing in companies specifically solving climate problems
Clean energy ETFs focusing on solar, wind, and renewable technology companies
Meaningful Charitable Giving:
Environmental nonprofits working on conservation, renewable energy, and policy change
Local environmental initiatives in your community (think urban gardens, watershed protection)
Climate education organizations spreading awareness and solutions
Tree-planting and forest conservation groups (because trees are basically nature's superheroes)
Organizations supporting climate refugees and communities affected by environmental changes
Research Resources for Responsible Investing:
Morningstar Sustainability Ratings for mutual funds and ETFs
As You Sow's Fossil Free Funds Database to avoid fossil fuel investments
MSCI ESG Research for company sustainability ratings
The Beautiful Ripple Effect
As we focus on building wealth through mindful and intentional money management, something magical happens: we grow the impact we can have with our dollars. Each thoughtful spending decision, each values-aligned investment, each purposeful donation creates ripples that extend far beyond our bank accounts.
The climate crisis might feel enormous and intimidating, but remember – you're not powerless. Every dollar you spend is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. And when you align your financial wellness with environmental consciousness, you're not just securing your own future; you're helping create a healthier planet for everyone.
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