green/ethical challenge

nethesi

Hi Folks,

Just thought I'd post and update on my money saving/ethical challenges:

Household energy use (November's challenge): well still on the 'Good Energy' tarriff. OH and I have been getting much better at turning off lights, computer and other appliances - our microwave cooker and computer are now turned off at the wall. We've also turned off one of our phones completely. Not to mention unpluggin our mobile chargers. So so far so good.

Christmas: Well obviously not much happening on that at the moment but have set up a £50 a month saving (not really ethical but certainly MS). We also bought our Christmas cards from our local Oxfam half price last week - £1.25 for 10 (bought 40) with all profits to charity. I also bought various end of gift line tags from a co-op department store: very cheap and I think the co-op is pretty ethical/green. The cards were 50% recycled card as well.

Reduced transport emissions: Doing OK coping without the car so far. Touch wood. OH had a puncture today leaving university and because he didn't have his spanner with him he had to get the bus home (7 miles walk otherwise!). But he seems pretty cheerful about it. The only really naughty journey I've done was a taxi ride to the hospital for my check up on my arm, and that was so I could leave work a bit later... but I walked back so not so bad I guess. The money we've saved so far in just under 2 weeks is probably in the region of £60 as well :j Will post a full comparison between January and November in terms of transport costs at the end of the month


xxx

VJ13

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nethesi

OK so time to review January's challenge:

Well firstly dispite sore tempatation (were offered a car for free by family) we have managed without a car and I reckon for most people living in towns who are healthy it should be doable.
How?
I work 10 minutes bike ride from home - so that's easy you say but we specifically moved to a location where at least one of us would be near work.
OH is a trainee teacher and for some of the time he is at Uni 8 miles away - he bikes or gets the bus when he needs to wear a suit. THe rest of the time he is on placement at the moment about 20 miles away. He gets there by biking about 2 miles each way to the station and getting the train the rest of the way - not so easy but actually quicker than driving!!
Leisure activities: OK so it might limit you if there are places far from public transport you want to get to but we live in a town with no railway and have this month visited family a good distance away and stratford on avon. Plus you can always take a taxi. Or bike, or bus. Or car share/rent a car for a special trip.

Hospital appointments: I broke my elbow a couple of months ago and to get ot the local hospital I used a taxi. I could have biked it actually but my bike didn't have a lock on it. However I think that taking a taxi once in a while is far better than having a car and

Did we save money - did we ever!

Last month we spent £200 on petrol, £50ish on insurance, £10 tax and that ignores the cost of buying the blooming thing - £260

This month? £40 on train fares (rising to £120 next month for OH placement...), £20ish on bus fares and £7 on a new lock for my bike: £67 this month, more like £150 next month!

And when my OH gets a permanent post it will go down massively as we plan to make sure that he can bike to work and I currently already do!

Will post my February challenge later.

But if you're reading this far I'd definately suggest you consider cutting out the car or at least use it less. We wont be getting another one...

Rachel

Ken68

Good for you Rachel..wish I could be so positive.
January not too bad..got the car insurance down £80 by going to a broker, and Martin's advice recently even more next renewal, tho this aint so good when supposed to be packing up the car.
Down to shopping once a month, so a lot more walking anyway.2006 has been a good 'grow your own vegetables' year, so will extend this in 2007.
Ray Mears foraging series on BBC2 is interesting. Lots of free stuff out there.
Bought some white vinegar yesterday for cleaning purposes. Must have got the wrong stuff, the place smells like a fish and chip shop. :-)) Gradually using up the old chemical laden cleaners.
Cheers for now.

nethesi

Fresh from the sucess of January's challenge I've decided to do something a bit more fun for February:

Redecorate, and re-furnish (where necessary) our flat but in a money saving and cheap style

To do:
Get rid of some of our old bits on freecylce: already done appart from our 30 year old (second hand...) armchair. Saved on landfill, benefited others and saved money on getting the council to collect it!
Repaint.
Re-grout the bathroom
Replace bathroom carpet with lino/similar
Get hold of a new computer desk - will look in charity shops for sturdy old item
Ditto possibly a dresser/small bookcase
Clearout under the bed
Clear out the hall cupboard (both are loft substitutes and full of everything).

Items which I clear out I'll put on freecylce or we are helping with a swapshop at the beginning or march so I'll put aside for that (really nice things will go to charity shops - ahve already taken some books down).

Buying furniture from charity shops is cheap, recycling, helps the charity and we'll get a good quality piece of hardwood furniture!

Not sure how we're going to make redecorating MS and green, although we'll do as much ourselves as poss (may splash out on the lino as it's a fiddly job going round the loo, bath and sink) - tips and hints welcome!

Rachelx

nethesi

Hi All,

Just posting an update on my challenge.

February's challenge was a toughy to complete in a month - refurbish the house MS and ethical style.

I found actually that a lot of the problem with our house was clutter so have used Freecycle to get rid of lots of junk <cough> lovely things.

We also did a spring clean but the biggest outstanding item is our bathroom as our bath needs resealing and raising so it doesn't pull off again. On going... but we'll be doing it ourselves as cheap as possible (nothing particularly ethical there)

March's challenge:

Get more involved in my local community.

So far identified:
1. Going ot church more
2. Helping out the political party we support
3. Organising a petition jointly with the above to pesuede the coucnil to waive planning permission for installing solar pannel's on non-listed buildings outside conservation areas.
4. Helping out at a 'Swap-shop' this coming Saturday
5. Taking part in a bike ride/protest about the filling of a local lake (v pretty and has a good variety of natural life) with ash from a power station

All of these things are vaguely ethical and beneficial (with the possible exception of delivering leaflets to houses that aren't interested! - although I argue that political involvement is a civic duty) and importantly free so will save money too! :beer:

Mind you am v busy at work at the moment so that's also saving me money: we don't get overtime but I can't spend anything when I'm sat at my desk at 7.30pm...

So Feburary's challenge - by and large OK but ongoing.

March's challenge here I come

Ken68

Thank you for the reminder, Net.
Am Freecycle tho yet to de- clutter.
Have sprung clunged so ahead a bit.
Sow seeds this month, finish off the freezer contents, parsnips and leeks still in the ground. Not buying food, cut out the beer and biscuits,tho still a sucker for cheese.
Car use under control, less than 20 mile a week.
Will use it less as weather warms. Get the bike out.
Curious what you can do when you write it down. Make it happen challenge.
Have started marking on the shopping list "Non essential" items. Helps to identify waste.
Ever onwards.

pollys

My challenge for March - De-clutter, this is ongoing but I'm getter there. We have also cut down car use so will continue to do this. I don't often shop in a supermarket but have given them up completely for Lent. I've also given up meat,fish, cakes, biscuits and crisps.

Well done for getting involved with the community Net, I help in school (volunteer) and they have just asked me if I want to go on a day course next week it's free! I said yes then found out it's maths, not my favourite subject.

Ken68 I'm not sure how many miles I do each week, I'll keep check, thanks for the idea.

Good Luck

nethesi

Hi Ken, Polly,

Great - glad you guy's are keeping on, it's really encouraging to know you guys are taking part. Ken: Good idea on the shopping list marking - I'd never thought of that, and biking great - save petrol and gym fees! Although can be miserable in the rain...

Very brave of you Polly to cut out all that for lent: I've given up alcohol and sweet things and thought I was doing well: maybe next year...
How good you are to volenteer in a school: good luck with the Maths course: you'll be able to add up all your savings...?! Seriously though it's a great skill to work on and as you say Free!!

Good luck guys - it's Mad March Money saving for me