I always thought being “sustainable” at uni meant spending more money: buying organic food, switching everything you own to eco-friendly versions, or shopping from expensive ethical brands. When you’re already trying to cover rent, food, and going out occasionally, that just doesn’t feel realistic. It’s easy to feel like sustainability is something you’ll “do properly later” when you have more money, more time, or your life a bit more together.

But I still wanted to try, just in a way that actually fit around being a student. What I realised pretty quickly is that alot of the messaging around sustainability doesn’t match student life. Bulk buying, investing in long-lasting products, or shopping in specific places sounds great in theory, but not if you’re living week to week or don’t have the upfront money. So instead of trying to do everything, I focused on small, realistic changes that didn’t make my life harder or more expensive.

One of the easiest things was just buying less in general, especially when it came to clothes. Instead of defaulting to fast fashion or impulse buying online, I started checking second-hand options first. Charity shops, resale apps, even clothes swaps with friends — they’re usually cheaper, and you can find things you actually like if you take a bit of time. It’s not about never buying new things again, but just not treating it as the first option every time.

Day-to-day habits made more of a difference than I expected too. Carrying a reusable water bottle instead of buying drinks on campus saved me money and cut down on plastic without really thinking about it. The same with bringing a tote bag or just reusing the ones I already had —small things that don’t feel like effort once they become routine. None of itis groundbreaking, but it adds up.

Food was probably the hardest area to get right. I wanted to waste less, but I also didn’t want to end up not having enough food. What helped was being more realistic with what I’d actually cook. Instead of buying loads of fresh food with good intentions, I stuck to meals I knew I’d make and actually finish. It reduced waste, but it also stopped me wasting money on food I’d end up throwing away.

I also had to let go of the idea of doing sustainability “perfectly.” I still buy convenience food when I’m busy, I still forget my reusable stuff sometimes, and I’m definitely not making the most eco-friendly choice all the time. But trying to do something, even inconsistently, felt better than doing nothing because I couldn’t do everything right.

What surprised me is how much overlap there is between saving money and being more sustainable. Buying less, reusing what you already have, shopping second-hand, not wasting food — these aren’t just “eco”choices, they’re practical ones when you’re on a budget. At the same time, it’s important to be honest that not every sustainable option is accessible, and that’s not something students should feel guilty about.

For me, it became less about being a“sustainable student” and more about making small choices when I could. Nothing extreme, nothing expensive — just realistic changes that fit around everything else. Because at uni, you’re already balancing enough, and sustainability shouldn’t feel like another standard you’re failing to meet.

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