Amazing Monthly Eco Challenges That Save You Money

Try these amazing monthly eco-friendly challenges that are easy, fun, and budget-friendly. Save money while living more sustainably—one month at a time.

You may have seen different monthly challenges mentioned on social media, in magazines, or via other lifestyle platforms. Some are date-specific, such as October’s Inktober (drawing something every day) or November’s Movember (growing moustaches for men’s health issues). Others are general ideas that can be taken up at any time, like 30 Days of Decluttering or the Push-Up Challenge.

The idea behind all of these events is to do something consistently throughout a designated period to raise awareness, generate funds, or take positive action—either for a cause or to support lifestyle improvements. The aim is to learn something while engaging in an activity that feels meaningful, fun, and potentially transformative in your daily life.

These challenges cover a vast array of topics, themes, and issues—including how to protect the planet, often with a focus on sustainable living practices. Finding ways to tackle the ongoing impacts of climate change, along with the urgent need for action, can sometimes feel overwhelming or confusing. This is where eco-friendly challenges can help bridge the gap and introduce us to new environmentally minded behaviours, solutions and initiatives.

This post is part of the Climate Change Collective, a dedicated group of bloggers that tackle environmental and climate-related issues. The lead topic this month, ’How Sustainable Living Helps in Uncertain Economic Times’ was written by Michelle from Boomer Eco Crusader.

Why You Should Take Part in a Monthly Eco Challenge

Becoming aware of just how disruptive and damaging global warming is—and how slow world leaders, government officials, and polluting industries have been to implement robust, positive systemic change—can make individual efforts feel deeply disheartening. It’s easy to slip into apathy or climate despair when the sheer scale of the problem makes it seem as though nothing can truly make a difference.

However, every time we speak out or share valuable resources or encouragement, every sustainable choice we make, and every time we advocate for comprehensive, innovative climate action—particularly when we use our collective power—progress is made.

And part of this unified momentum can take the form of a monthly eco challenge, as these are a great way to:

• Make sustainable living feel achievable by breaking it into smaller, manageable steps.

• Learn about climate change in a way that’s accessible and easy to digest.

• Try out new habits without needing to commit long-term from the outset.

• Adopt small environmental changes that, over time, build into a noticeable and lasting impact.

• Nurture a feeling of connection, encouragement, and mutual motivation.

If you’re interested in starting your journey towards a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle, take a look at the challenges below and see how you can get involved.

Amazing Monthly Eco-Friendly Challenges To Try Out

Some challenges are designed for specific months—usually because the time of year lends itself to a particular sustainable action, or there’s a national or global event to tie in with. Other environmental activities and goals can be taken up at any time, offering a useful introduction to an issue or lifestyle change.

With this in mind, here are a range of eco challenges you might want to explore:

Veganuary (January)

• General Info: An international campaign encouraging people to try a vegan diet for a month. It began in the UK and now has participants in many countries, including the USA, Germany, Australia, and beyond.
• Environmental Impact: The campaign promotes sustainable living by reducing reliance on animal agriculture—a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water consumption.
• Money-Saving Perks: A vegan diet often centres around budget-friendly staples such as beans, lentils, grains, and seasonal vegetables, which can help reduce grocery bills.

No Mow May

• General Info: A conservation effort inviting individuals to pause lawn mowing during May, helping to create a welcoming environment for pollinators such as bees and butterflies and promoting local biodiversity.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing lawn mowing helps increase wildflower growth, which supports pollinators crucial for ecosystems and food production, and decreases carbon emissions from lawnmowers.
• Money-Saving Perks: Less frequent mowing lowers fuel and maintenance costs for lawn equipment and reduces water usage needed for lawn care, saving money on utilities and garden upkeep.

Plastic Free July

• General Info: A global movement encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to reduce single-use plastic consumption throughout July to raise awareness about plastic pollution.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing plastic use helps decrease plastic waste entering oceans and landfills, protecting wildlife and reducing microplastic pollution in ecosystems.
• Money-Saving Perks: Choosing reusable alternatives like cloth bags, refillable bottles, and bulk purchasing often saves money over time by cutting down on disposable item costs.

Second Hand September

• General Info: An international initiative first started by Oxfam UK that encourages people to buy secondhand clothes and goods throughout September to promote sustainable fashion and reduce waste.
• Environmental Impact: Choosing secondhand reduces demand for new clothing production, which lowers resource use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fashion industry.
• Money-Saving Perks: Buying secondhand items is often significantly cheaper than purchasing new, allowing for quality goods at a fraction of the price and reducing overall spending.

Buy Nothing New Month (October)

• General Info: A social movement that began in Australia that has since gone international. This challenge asks people to avoid buying new items for the entire month (except essentials like food and hygiene products), encouraging mindful consumption and reuse.
• Environmental Impact: By avoiding new purchases, participants help reduce manufacturing demand, which lowers resource extraction, energy use, and landfill waste—benefiting both the environment and personal financial health.
• Money-Saving Perks: Focusing on using what you already have, borrowing, swapping, or buying secondhand can significantly cut personal spending and encourage long-term frugal habits.

No Waste November

• General Info: A global, youth-led effort founded by Dr Jane Goodall and developed by young people from Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, England, and New Zealand. It encourages individuals to reduce waste across all areas of life—food, packaging, energy, and more—by examining and changing how much personal waste is produced.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing waste sent to landfill helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources, supporting a more circular and sustainable economy.
• Money-Saving Perks: Cutting down on waste often leads to more efficient use of food, energy, and materials—ultimately lowering household bills and promoting smarter, more intentional spending habits.

Local Living Month (anytime)

• General Info: A month-long challenge where participants commit to buying locally produced food and goods whenever possible, supporting independent shops, farmers, and makers. The focus is on shopping local, shopping small, and strengthening community ties.
• Environmental Impact: Buying local reduces food miles and the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. It also supports more sustainable, small-scale production methods and boosts local economies.
• Money-Saving Perks: Purchasing seasonal produce and locally made items often leads to savings, especially when buying directly from producers or markets, and helps avoid the hidden costs of heavily packaged or imported goods.

Declutter and Donate Month (anytime)

• General Info: A flexible, self-paced effort that encourages people to spring clean their homes by clearing out unused belongings and either donating, repurposing, or selling them. It’s a chance to refresh your space while supporting others.
• Environmental Impact: Decluttering mindfully helps reduce waste through recycling and reuse, keeping items out of landfills and encouraging more thoughtful, sustainable consumption habits.
• Money-Saving Perks: Selling unwanted items can generate extra income, while donating can support those in need and reduce the temptation to buy unnecessary replacements.

Reusable Habits Month (anytime)

• General Info: A month-long personal goal to build sustainable habits by consistently using reusable alternatives—such as bags, bottles, coffee cups, food containers, and cloth napkins—instead of single-use items.
• Environmental Impact: Embracing reusables—particularly those not made from plastic—helps reduce plastic waste, lowers demand for single-use items, and lessens the overall environmental footprint of everyday routines.
• Money-Saving Perks: Investing in reusables can lead to long-term savings by avoiding repeated purchases of disposable items. Many cafés and shops also offer discounts for bringing your own containers, cups or bags.

Green Ways to Go (Anytime)

• General Info: A personal, eco-conscious intention to choose greener transport options—such as walking, cycling, carpooling, or using public transport—whenever possible, instead of relying on driving a car.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles helps cut greenhouse gas emissions, decrease air pollution, and ease traffic congestion, while supporting healthier and more sustainable communities.
• Money-Saving Perks: Greener travel often leads to lower fuel and parking costs, reduced car maintenance expenses, and, in some cases, access to discounted travel passes or shared transport schemes.

Water Wise Month (anytime)

• General Info: An initiative encouraging people to reduce their water use through simple, sustainable habits. Ideas include taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing teeth, running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, and flushing toilets less frequently. People are also encouraged, if possible, to install water-saving devices like low-flow showerheads or tap aerators, fix dripping taps promptly, collect rainwater for gardening, water plants during the cooler parts of the day—typically early morning or in the evening—to minimise moisture loss, and avoid bottled water by using a refillable bottle instead.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing water consumption helps conserve a vital natural resource, lowers energy use associated with water treatment and heating, and eases pressure on local ecosystems and water supplies.
• Money-Saving Perks: Using less water leads to lower utility bills. Small changes like fixing leaks, limiting lawn watering, and switching to efficient appliances can result in long-term savings.

Energy Smarts at Home (anytime)

• General Info: A self-guided chance to adopt energy-saving habits at home. Tips include unplugging devices when not in use, switching off lights when leaving a room, using energy-efficient bulbs and appliances, washing clothes in cold water, air-drying laundry, and adjusting thermostats slightly to reduce heating and cooling demand. Installing smart plugs, using natural light during the day, and layering up instead of turning up the heat are also encouraged.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing household energy use lowers greenhouse gas emissions, eases strain on the power grid, and supports a more sustainable and climate-conscious lifestyle.
• Money-Saving Perks: Energy-efficient habits can significantly cut electricity and heating bills over time, especially when combined with smart devices or off-peak energy use. Small daily actions add up to meaningful savings.

The Green Clean Routine (anytime)

• General Info: A project encouraging the use of chemical-free, natural cleaning methods at home, such as vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and castile soap, instead of conventional cleaning products containing harsh chemicals. It promotes DIY recipes for cleaning solutions and mindful choices to reduce exposure to toxins.
• Environmental Impact: Using natural cleaning products reduces the release of harmful chemicals into waterways and indoor air, benefiting both ecosystems and human health by lowering pollution and toxic waste.
• Money-Saving Perks: Many natural cleaning ingredients are inexpensive, multi-purpose, and readily available, allowing households to save money by making their own products rather than buying commercial cleaners.

It’s important to remember that not every sustainable switch or eco-friendly habit will be practical or possible for everyone all the time—and that’s completely okay. What matters most is doing what you can, when you can, in a way that suits your life and circumstances. Whether that means making one small change, adapting part of a suggestion, or simply staying aware of your choices, it all adds up. Sustainability isn’t about being perfect—it’s about progress. Every small action, taken with intention, can still make a meaningful difference.

Useful Tips for Sticking With an Eco Challenge

Committing to a monthly eco-friendly habit can be a powerful way to grow your environmental impact, but having a few practical strategies in place can make it easier to stick with and enjoy. Here are some simple, supportive tips to help you stay motivated and make your efforts more manageable:

• Start with one challenge that feels achievable for your lifestyle.

• Have a go at tracking progress with a journal, checklist, or calendar.

• Share your goals or results with others to stay motivated.

• Reflect each month on what worked and what habits you’d like to continue.

• Be patient and compassionate about your progress—you’re not aiming for perfection.

• Set realistic goals and adapt them as needed.

• Remember to celebrate incremental wins to stay motivated.

We are on Earth to take care of life. We are on Earth to take care of each other.
| Xiye Bastida—Indigenous Otomi Mexican Climate Activist

In Summary

Taking part in an eco challenge—whether for a month or in some other way—isn’t about ticking every box. It’s about staying curious, trying something new, and learning how best to protect the planet. There’s something powerful in recognising that everyday choices connect to a much bigger picture. These challenges offer a chance to build habits that feel good and contribute to a healthier world.

But personal action alone isn’t enough. As we explore what’s possible in our own life, we must remember to speak up and push for broader change too. Demand more from governments, industries, and corporations whose decisions shape the systems we live within. When individuals act and raise voices together, we send a strong message that sustainable living matters—and that we all have a role to play.

Which eco challenge are you most interested in trying? Have you already made any small changes that have had a big impact?

---

Further Info:

A Zero-Waste Challenge for Kids – Earth.Org.Kids

Power to the People: How Micro-Renewables Fight Poverty And Enhance Community Resilience – Earth.Org