Being 'green' on a budget...?

Sarahsaver

Is it possibe?
Is this indeed the right board? Prompted by a discussion about 'value' ranges, many of us have to chose between 'saving the planet' ??? or saving money. What tips do you have for being green [glow=red,2,300]and [/glow] mean!!!
Lets start.
I have no car - saves money and also is a green thing to do.
I recycle because it costs me nothing and should create revenue for the local authority.
I buy second hand clothing regularly.
I make my own laundry detergent - less chemicals AND cheap.
I wanted an allotment but the ones near here have a long waiting list.
I am not allowed livestock in my garden.
I do not buy any orgnanic produce as i find its cost prohibitive, unless its reduced to clear ;D
I do not get any of the 'environmentally friendly' cleaning products for the same reason, but also I use vinegar for quite a few different jobs in the house.
What do the rest of you do?

John_M_Business

You're already WAY ahead of me... and I thought I was green :-[

Anyway, in general 'cheap green-ness' usually means doing things yourself - like making your own detergent. Most other 'green' products, like the Ecover range, are more expensive because of these reasons:
- They appeal to a smaller (but growing!) base of potential customers and are therefore smaller scale (which usually means greater manufacturing cost per unit)
- They have less competition
- They have to also consider the environment when it comes to their factories and packaging (also generally more expensive).

Regarding Organic produce, I agree, but that's because of the additional hassle and lower-production per acre of organic farmland. However, I see Organic as first and foremost a decision for the 'self' - i.e. most people choose it to benefit their own health primarily... Whereas choosing 'green' is for self and others (and planet!).

One thing that I would recommend (which seems to work so far) are these 'laundry balls'. I think they're available from Green Baby amongst others. Now, they're not perfect, and if you have got a wash with 'soil' in it, then they don't clean perfectly... but:
a) They help you have some washes without any detergent
b) They also mean reduction in quantity of detergent used
c) They last a long time (they're 'said' to last 1,000 washes, I'm not so sure whether it will be that long, but even if it's a few hundred... the environmental and cost savings are apparent)

Anyway, I'd be interested in seeing any other tips...

Lucie_2

My first thought was " I do nothing 'green'", but actually there are a few little things I do:

Recycle everything possible - paper, glass, plastic, tins. Carrier bags I save for my friendly local greengrocer to re-use.
Compost - in my free compost bin of course!
Minimise use of detergents by using lower amounts than specified by manufacturers. I don't buy Ecover etc for the same price prohibitive reasons as mentioned above.
More "community friendly" than "eco friendly", but I shop at a local greengrocers & try to use markets rather than supermarkets where possible.
I eat a fair bit of fruit & veg from F-in-law's allotment, plus eggs from next doors allotment. In laws are totally fruit & veg self-sufficient.

That's about it - not a lot, but better than nothing. None of it is a huge effort really.

I buy organic as a taste choice rather than an environmental one. Always organic eggs, often organic carrots (covered in muck from the veg man), sometimes organic "other things" - always when reduced to clear!

kissmekate_2

Just seen the laundry balls on TV. Called eco-balls cost £35 for a pack of 3 from The green people. Said to be good for 2000 washes each, equates to 2 pence a wash.


Does anyone know of anywhere cheaper? as I am seriously concidering this option

Sarahsaver

qvc have them, i saw them for just over a tenner when they were on offer once.
i bought some from the net a couple of years ago, they were cheaper even getting them from abroad.I did find i needed conditioner or just something to brighten whites occasionally.

jo_b_2

The eco washing balls were discussed on this site a while back, but can't for the life of me remember which board. ::) The search facility won't work for me either!

From what I can remember, the general consensus was that these balls don't actually work any better than washing without any powder/detergents etc. Apparantly, there's no scientific basis to the eco-balls' claims and it is just the water that is providing the cleaning action.

I have never tried them myself so can only repeat my vague recollections. If anyone could track down the original thread, that would be really useful.

Sarahsaver

Its something to do with ionisation.
When ive read up in my chemistry textbooks I will be able to answer properly!

MMMIARMW_II

Just a suggestion, I know you said organic produce from the supermarket was cost prohibative.

But if you want local/organic fruit & veg have you though of joining a veg box scheme? There are loads around some better than others but you alway seem to get far better value fruit & veg compared to a supermarket.

Some areas also do have food co-operatives (some operate for those on low incomes).

A search of the internet & soil assoication should bring up any schemes in your local area.

Sarahsaver

Ive tried its like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
On my local market i can get 3lb of bananas for £1, i can get a sack of onions for 99p down the road, most fruits i can get on the market for £1 for 3lbs. There is no way organic could beat that.

MarkyMarkD

My nearest box scheme lists cauliflower at £1.62 each.

Dream on!

I wouldn't EVER pay more than 75p for a cauliflower.

Sarahsaver

more like 30p! ;D
I think its better for my kids to have fruit and veg no matter what the origin, than to only get organic which would mean we wouldnt have as much.
In one week we eat 3lb bananas, 3lb apples, 2lb carrots, a punnet of grapes, a load of satsumas etc... plus they get fruit at school because we live in a 'deprived' area.