Family of 4, paying back £50k in 4 years whilst trying to live eco friendly

missymoo81

Ok, so One of the things I’m finding hard is a couple of weeks ago I decided to start a MAJOR declutter, we have so much stuff and everything is full to brimming. So I’ve been working through getting rid of things and being super brutal. But now I’m feeling like I should keep everything in case I need it or can reuse it. But I really need to declutter, I felt so much happier when things were leaving the house!

jwil

Welcome back Missy

Good luck with the new plans In terms of sustainability, it's worth pointing out that plastic is not all bad, and in some cases it is the best environmental option. In terms of sustainability, reducing food waste (plastic is a big contributor to reducing food waste), reducing the amount of textiles we buy and then composting or recycling what is waste rather than putting it in the rubbish bin) and generally consuming less overall will have a much greater impact than changing the type of packaging, particularly if you have to drive miles to find an alternative!

You could always look to see if there is a Terracycle collection near you that accepts chocolate wrappers and pet food pouches (my cat will not touch tinned food :mad: )

jwil

missymoo81 wrote: »

Ok, so One of the things I’m finding hard is a couple of weeks ago I decided to start a MAJOR declutter, we have so much stuff and everything is full to brimming. So I’ve been working through getting rid of things and being super brutal. But now I’m feeling like I should keep everything in case I need it or can reuse it. But I really need to declutter, I felt so much happier when things were leaving the house!

It's much easier to lead a simpler life without lots of stuff in my opinion. Unless you can see a use for it in the future, I wouldn't bother keeping it.

missymoo81

Thanks so much JWIl! I’ll take all of that onboard. I’ve found several yoghurt makers on fb does anyone have any advice or knowledge on them? There’s an easyio one for £2....

MidsHollie

Hi Missy,
I used the Vonshef yoghurt maker with the seven little jars. You buy a litre of UHT milk, mix it with a bit of probiotic yoghurt, split it between the jars and turn it on. 8 hours later you have seven pots of yoghurt and they go straight in the fridge.
My Mum had an easiyo one years (and years and years) ago. I seem to remember that you had to buy easiyo powder for it.
I would recommend the Vonshef little glass jar style one

missymoo81

Ah thanks midshollie, do you have to heat the milk first I just can’t be arsed with the preheating etc, I know I won’t do it!

MidsHollie

Nope,no preheating.
I just used to cut the top off the UHT, put the yoghurt in, stir it around in the milk and then pour the milk directly in to the glasses. So easy! And really tasty yoghurt

missymoo81

Oh wow midshollie, that’s what I need! I’m trying to find one second hand.

missymoo81

so I need go to the city and to Sainsbury’s today. I need to pick up some click and collect Xmas presents. Really chuffed managed to use a monsoon voucher I thought had expired that I got when I left a job nearly two years ago! I’d had my eye on a dress for May but it was £35!!!!! They suddenly had 25% off then something else and with my voucher I ended up paying £0.20p! Very happy with that! I need to buy more oranges, toilet roll and cheese today. Sainsbury’s have a Deli, so I’m going to take a little Tupperware pot and see if they will put it in there for me, I can put the barcode sticker on the top. Oranges are fine I can buy them loose in there. Toilet roll is really tricky, I have found some online that is from the uk, but it is twice as much as normal. It’s nearly 50p a roll and we go through 1.5 a day. I will try and go for recycled etc today and then do some research on the internet.

I’ve just had 3 biscuits for breakfast! Why?! I didn’t even want them. V cross with myself! Have a hair appointment today. So will spend a couple of hours doing that. I have a mass of curly hair so hairdressers is a must unfortunately.

Have done all my before school jobs for the morning so just chilling with a cuppa.

missymoo81

Hey guys, we’ll I went to the city and picked up the orders and presents etc. Had my hair done, sent OH to the shop he came back with cheese in one of those bags, but the good thing about that is next time when I go to the deli they can just put my cheese in that bag rather than a Tupperware. He did get loose oranges though. I picked up some recycled loo roll, but at £3.30 for 9 rolls it will have to be used sparingly. I’ve found some bookshelves that are perfect on Facebook so going to get those to clear all the Lego models from the floor.

Did some washing today with no powder or softener and the clothes seem clean and small clean, I imagine there’s a lot of residue leftover from the last wash. But that’s something, I prefer to use something though as I feel a bit better about it (massive ocd on washing clothes) will endeavour to buy the Wilco one, going to go for a mooch in the city when I have more time hopefully on Monday. Somethings are definitely cheaper, more because you’re not buying unnecessary stuff. I think my food waste will go right down. Still super tempted by the yoghurt maker! But want to make sure I will actually use it! I can pick up an easiyo one for £2 on FB tomorrow but I don’t want to just clutter up the house when I don’t know if that will work for me.
I’m in the process of using up what I have in the cupboards for food. Kiddies had pasta and ham and I had random odds and ends from the cupboard. OH Is out tonight I was going to do more sorting but am currently sat in bed under a blanket with a cuppa!!! Whoops! Such a lazy mare!