You don’t need to be an eco-warrior to do your bit for the environment. Small things can make a huge difference. Here we have 5 great tips for saving money and doing your bit to stay green!
- Avoid food waste
Try food shopping at the end of the day when many fresher items are reduced but still great to eat. Stir fries, salads and fresh foods are not only healthy but you’ll be doing your bit to avoid unnecessary waste. Don’t shop when you’re hungry and always take a list so you only buy what you actually need. In fact, the average person throws away 30% of their food as it goes out of date, so only stocking up on what you need is great for your waist, and the environment too!
- Have a clothes party
Buying new clothes is a sometimes a necessity, but how many clothes do you have in your wardrobe that have never been worn with the labels on?! Why not have a clothes party with your friends and swap outfits – perhaps something you thought was a great idea but had second thoughts on will be perfect for your best friend or neighbour, plus a clothes party is great fun and a good way to connect with others too! If you are concerned about social distancing, you could even throw a clothes party via Zoom – get those old clothes out and bag some great new outfits in the process!
- Walk instead of using the car
Again, not always practical, but for shorter trips to the school gates, your local shop or even to work, consider walking whilst the weather is nice and get some much-needed fresh air. Walking also has added benefits of reducing stress, helping to keep you fit and healthy and is wonderful for your mental health and wellbeing, so ditch the car and walk whenever you can!
- Turn off your devices
Instead of putting your television on standby, switch it off, and only put your mobile phone or other devices on charge until they are fully charged to save electricity. When your mobile phone is continually connected to your data source it also dwindles your battery life so consider actually turning your mobile off completely overnight and reduce the stress of being connected 24/7 whilst extending the overall lifespan of your phone.
- Use energy saving technology
Energy saving lightbulbs are a large outlay up-front, but over the lifetime of the bulb you will actually save money and help the environment. In addition you could look at using Smart plugs that work on a timer, smart sockets that cut the power when your device is in standby mode and energy monitors that show you which appliances in your home are using the most energy.
Do you have more tips for helping the environment? Share these on our social media pages – we’d love to hear from you.
