Earthgirl's Final Battle

earthgirl

Hi Karma! Lovely to see you!

I just realised I didn't make a list for improving my finances which is the reason I'm supposed to be here! After saying we were all healthy I got a phone call from the school and ds1 has had a duvet day - he didn't look well bless him, so we had quite a bit of time just relaxing.

I have had a think through things, and I think I'll start by doing the following:
-hunting down my flask to use when I normally get a coffee pod in the library
-organise my store cards and use them
- remember cash back on any remaining presents (mostly done)
- get OH to look at cheap car replacements (electric?) bits keep falling off mine


I've found a local nature reserve has family volunteer afternoons one Saturday per month. This is ideal - amuses the children and I get to help out too. So one Saturday afternoon per month I can help there, one we can help my mother in law, one my friend and the other host or organise a simple event for the foodbank.

apple_muncher

Lovely to have you posting again, and great to hear how well things are going.


Hope a duvet day has helped ds1.

beanielou

earthgirl wrote: »

Yes really good Beanie, probably should have looked over my goals before now though :rotfl:

Hope you are well x

Plodding on of course:p

themadvix

Hi Earthie, good to see you!

The volunteering sounds like a great opportunity - you forgot the exercise benefits from it too!

We're seriously considering our future flights. We're off to the States in May and will be offsetting our carbon through the best scheme we can find (not cheap, but helps alleviate the guilt). I know it's not really the answer though, so I don't know that we'll be flying again for a long time. Will be switching our credit cards to earn Avios so that we can exchange for Eurostar travel (I hope?, need to look into this more!) and learning to travel more slowly (but see more en route). It's very difficult though!

apple_muncher

We have dh's mum in Texas; sdd1 in Canada; sdd2 + sds out in Oz.... It's a lonnnng way by boat...

earthgirl

themadvix wrote: »

Hi Earthie, good to see you!

The volunteering sounds like a great opportunity - you forgot the exercise benefits from it too!

We're seriously considering our future flights. We're off to the States in May and will be offsetting our carbon through the best scheme we can find (not cheap, but helps alleviate the guilt). I know it's not really the answer though, so I don't know that we'll be flying again for a long time. Will be switching our credit cards to earn Avios so that we can exchange for Eurostar travel (I hope?, need to look into this more!) and learning to travel more slowly (but see more en route). It's very difficult though!

Great to see you and great ideas! I'll look into that. Yes we are also going to pay to offset, but I'm thinking now the kids are older, a meandering European train trip might work?!:eek:

apple_muncher wrote: »

We have dh's mum in Texas; sdd1 in Canada; sdd2 + sds out in Oz.... It's a lonnnng way by boat...

I thought that boats would solve the carbon/travel problem but I've read that its very similar to flights anyway I'm just focuing on doing my best really.

earthgirl

DS2 is better thank you - just a cold.

This place is magic! I have made great progress in just a few days and having a bit of accountability is just like waving a magic wand for me! Thanks for having me back

So I have:

Finances
found a cheap but totally ethical gentle soap that doesn't hurt my skin - £2.65 from a local health shop. Shampoo and conditioner bars also there for a similar price. It looks like it will last for ages so will probably be as cheap as normal shampoo - and much cheaper than face wash. I looked at castille soap but it was quite expensive.

I've been cycling and walking a lot more. It takes longer but I enjoy it and it saves a few pennies in petrol.

I have come up with 5 vegetarian meals to add to my meals. Which I'll double and freeze. I also have 5 chicken, 5 fish which I double, but the vegetarian is much cheaper.

Environment
I have reinstated the recycling bags in my office at work and I'm taking charge of emptying them, I'll be encouraging everyone too.

I have had a massive investigation into recycling in my area and the sort of recycling available, so I can sort mine out much better now. Its - great almost everything can be recycled! I'm aiming to work off a much smaller general waste bin - bucket size, and recycle everything else.

Charity
I have suggested office team building at the foodbank this year.

I've signed up to family volunteering at the nature reserve.

I got a couple of presents in the oxfam sale - £15 on funny gift cards, one for my secret santa.

Karmacat

Brilliant! Loving the environmental research here where I'm catsitting, there are 3 zero waste shops within walking distance (!!!) but of course they're all really expensive. Another one is eye wateringly so: a family apple pie, from a dedicated gf factory, for £17, not kidding.


I found a few Terracycle recyclers in my neighbourhood, for various things, so I can start on more as well. Not a long term solution, but it certainly shows the powers that be that the demand is there.

earthgirl

Karma thank you so much! This is another reason why this site is fantastic - ideas from people who know much more than me

I have had a look at the terracycle site and whilst I still think reduce and reuse are better options, there are somethings that can be recycled that we already have hanging about ( beauty product bottles, toothbrushes, bread bags, crisp packets).

Also I will try to get the crisp packets recycled at work.

In terms of money saving, today I plan to batch prep my veggie meals, clean with vinegar etc, cycle to MIL to do some work in her house/ garden.

themadvix

Apple, I totally appreciate that it's different when you have family abroad - we're fortunate that we don't, but I can't imagine the guilt I would have about the seeing/travelling/not seeing/travelling conundrum. You have my sympathy!

Earthie - I think I would have loved a meandering train journey around Europe when I was young! What an experience!!

If you can stretch to it (and are up for buying in bulk), Two Farmers make lovely crisps that come in compostable packaging. I don't think they're that expensive given the quality, but appreciate they're probably more than Aldi crisps or whatever! We cut out crisps as part of being plastic-free a long time ago, so we're very excited that we might be able to get them again now! Have tried the salted and the salt and vinegar (I insisted we got hold of a couple of packets before buying a case!). Would say the salt and (cider) vinegar ones are very cider vinegary - i.e. you can taste the apple flavour, so might not be for everyone.