Being Green Can Save You Money!
There is a common misconception that being green has to cost a lot of money. It doesn’t. My green journey started, by accident, I didn’t have a disposable income, I had to make everything I had go further and last.
Yes, in an idea world we would all use organic, eco products for absolutely everything and shop in package free stores and only buy local, but that’s unrealistic. Nobody should be getting themselves into financial difficulties in order to be “green”.
There are changes we can all make that won’t break our bank balances and may save the earth.
Fixing broken items rather than replacing.
Shopping seconds hand
Repairing, revamping, reusing, rewearing products you already have.
Swap and share clothes/accessories with friends - it’s amazing how different an outfit can look by adding a scarf and changing the belt.
One of the best ways to be greener is not to waste anything. To use everything to the max:-
Leftover Chicken Curry & Peaches
Tastes like Coronation Chicken
Keeping leftovers rather than throw them way, then making sure you actually use them- even if it means putting a quarter of a portion of something in the freezer, then marrying it up with something else further down the line.
Make bubble and squeak, pan hash, and other leftover meals
Use the whole veg. The only time I peel potatoes is for roasting. The rest of the time it’s skin on - apparently the skin has great nutritional value as well as making the potatoes go further and reduces waste (have I mentioned reducing waste enough yet! 😳)
Coop idea -
One way to reduce waste is by reducing the amount of packaging we buy.
Join with friends/family/neighbours. Buy large bag between you, (the humungous bags of rice, pasta, etc, you see in the bulk buy isle of a supermarket.) then divide it between you all.
This can:-
save money
Reduce amount of plastic packaging (by taking your share home in reusable tubs/packaging)
Give you a large bag for future use (my daughter uses our empty bags, to transport her rabbits bedding and litter tray waste, from her house to our compost heap - she brings me the sweetest gift 😂)
How can something so Cute make so much waste
reusing single use plastic bags
the inside of cereal packets are great for rolling out pastry (I also cut it up and use in between pancakes, (sausages, and other items I don’t want sticking together) when I freeze them. Makes it easier to just defrost what I need.
Bread bags can be used as you would “sandwich bags” you’d buy from the supermarket. Them washed and reused until they rip.
Once finished with, recycle single use plastic at your local supermarket
Growing your own food (even if it’s just a small pot of your favourite herb on the windowsill) can save money and, let’s face it, more plants in the world can only be a good thing! (The other day I asked our grandson, almost 3, if he wanted to go and see friends. He replied no and had a bit of a tantrum. I asked him if he wanted to go look at trees. He got up, stopped stropping and excitedly asked if we could go to The Random Cafe and look at plants too! That’s my boy 😍)
Little Man checking on the Urban Orchard
Over the years we, as consumers, have been conditioned, by TV chefs, to buy the freshest ingredients we can find, but honestly we don’t need to. For a long time I was one of those shoppers that always went to the back of the shelf to get the longest life date on everything I bought, regardless of when I was planning to use it. This is wasteful if I’m using it in the next few days. By shopping for only the dates we need we help reduce supermarkets waste.
Shopping at The Random Cafe Sustainability Shop, and the reduced section in shops, can save a lot of money as well as saving food from waste. We, now, often go there first, see what’s on offer and plan the weeks cooking around our findings.
Other tips (just incase you haven’t had enough already)
If you do peel veg:-
Veg peel makes great crisps (wash, dry and fry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper or your favourite seasoning, delicious)
Veg peelings and veg ends make great stock (keep a bread bag in the freezer, add peelings as you get them. Once bag is full boil up and make stock.
Potato and Parsnip Peel Crisps
Keep chicken bones in the freezer (in an old bread bag) once full, mix with veg scraps and make stock - if you’re feeling super green, the bones can also be re boiled with water and vinegar to make bonemeal for the garden.
I know, there’s a whole load of information in this post, and so much more I could add but have restricted myself (yep, just think how long it would be if I let my neurodiverse brain run wild 😂)
Let me know if you’d like me to go deeper into any of these tips in future blog posts.
#togetherwecanmakeadifference