Being 'green' on a budget...?

Magentasue

I get a vegebox from https://www.riverford.co.uk. I did a google search and it came up with loads, most of which didn't deliver in my area. Unfortunately, they have to import stuff to fill their boxes during the lean time of late winter/early spring, which isn't quite so green.

Trudi_Lavigne

Like many of the above, we recycle (local box scheme collects paper, card, glass and tins) also plastic milk bottles at supermarket carpark.

We have a wormery for my peelings and food scraps (very small garden doesn't allow room for compost heap)

My kids are in terry nappies, only use disposibles occasionally.

I car share with my sister in law who lives nearby, we halve all running/repair costs.

I use a local organic veg box scheme, £7.50 a week for more than enough veg for all of us, and we're vegetarian so eat a lot of the green stuff.

We make our own laundry gloop. https://www.gaia-exchange.sunmaia.net/

We bulk buy our Ecover products, pulses and seeds, herby tea bags etc.. from a wholefood supplier along with a few other people so we get it delivered free and the discounts bulk buying offers. We use Suma wholefoods.

I have used a Mooncup for about a year now. Less leakage than from more conventional methods, absolutely love it, wish I'd got one years ago.

We use Long life light bulbs, very cheap from Ikea, and also Lidl.

Apart from that lot, i'm quite aware about not having radiators on in rooms that don't need to be heated, only having the hot water on enough for our needs, heating mainly the room we live in and closing curtains, having good insulation etc..

Lillibet_2

Wow Trudi, i think you're the epitimy of being green on a budget.

Not much too add btu a thread on another site reminded me of one of our green ways : only buy wine with "proper corks", not only are the plastic one bad for the environemnt unless you can find a way of recycling them, the decline in the number of cork trees is terrible for wildlife. (Sorry, Hubby is the ecologist, I can't remember all the details)

Of course, the only way you can tell what type of cork is used is to test lots of different wines........Hic!

margaretclare

Hi all

We're a couple of pensioners - not rich but a long way from being poor. But we do watch our budget v carefully.

We don't grow things - over the past 2 or 3 years we've turned our back garden into a wildlife haven. Our autumn project was getting a wildlife pond made for us and we've already had hours of pleasure watching the birds come to it, splash about, bathe etc. We have hedgehogs, frogs, toads, and foxes that come through.

Our local council has just started a kerbside collection scheme for recyclables. I've been nagging them about that for years, and I'm so glad it's finally happened.

I've recently managed to convince my husband (who likes to do the shopping) of the idea of 'reducing food miles' and we're very fortunate to live a mile from a historic little market-town which still has an independent butcher and a fruit-and-veg shop. We also have a monthly farmers' market in the WI Hall March to November.

We have a 'green bucket' in the kitchen for veg peelings, fruit skins etc, and we have compost bins in the garden where we empty the green bucket (compost bins were reduced price from local council).

We recently replaced the fridge-freezer and washer to 'A' rated.

Best wishes

Margaret

Magentasue

When my kids were little I went through an Earth Mother phase, went back to work and got lazy. 'Cos it's hard to be green on a budget but it's also more time consuming. I've always recycled but it's easier now it's collected from the council. Other things take more time, for example:

I compost everything I can in two compost bins and a wormery, grow as much veg as I can in the garden and keep hens for eggs

I buy a farm organic vegbox in phases and try to buy local produce at the market but it's four miles away and Asda is round the corner ...

I drive everywhere :-[ but try to do everything in one trip and drop off the plastic for recycling on the way

I give kids'clothes to charity rather than car booting (lazy, here)

Home cooking rather than convenience foods most of the time - when I didn't work, I was better at this

Used to use Ecover but better results from Persil etc :-[ but only wash full loads. Try to clean little and often so it can be done with just hot water and a bit of washing up liquid

Tried energy saving lightbulbs but didn't like the dim light so try to turn lights off where possible

Love me radiators on but dry stuff on them and have lined curtains in every room

Use trolley bags but get some carriers to use as bin liners

Use rechargeable batteries whenever I can, aerosols are banned and avoid packaging

Cut my kids hair and compost it ;D ;D

Never heard of a mooncup but am tempted - would be a bit of a nuisance at work though ???

Anyway, what I was thinking is you do what you can but some things become ingrained. If we're out for the day, I almost have to have cans and bottles surgically removed from my hands because I hate to see them goin a rubbish bin. Oh yeah, I avoid plastic but seem to be losing this one - plastic milk cartons et

Janice

Actually you'd probably find that a mooncup would be less of a nuisance at work - it can be put in before work and then emptied when you get home. They can be safely left in for up to 12 hours, and they hold quite a bit!!

Lillibet_2

I second that Janice, they really are easier & less hassle once you get used to them, but they do take some time to adjust too. :P

sheenagh_2

I'm up for the mooncup thing, it looks good. I had heard of it but it is great to read such recommendations. ;D I've just ordered it on-line, you should all get commission.

maddie13

i bought the eco-washing balls on ebay for £5.00 inc postage
really good

pigsonthewing

I buy second hand clothing regularly.

Well done. Re-using is more important than recycling!