This week has been Zero Waste Week, so I have been aiming for low waste living. I have had the concept of keeping our waste low at the back of my mind throughout the week. My money saving efforts have continued, however!
Being conscious of the waste you produce tends to have a beneficial effect on your bank balance anyway, I find. I have been buying less crap, avoiding unnecessary packaging, keeping food waste to an absolute minimum and generally being more aware.
Obviously, at the end of Zero Waste Week I don’t intend to go back to any bad habits! I am trying to be greener every day; this designated week is intended to create awareness and help spread the message.
Avoiding plastic packaged food
If you follow me on YouTube, you may have seen my video showing my attempt to do a zero waste shop at Lidl. Interestingly (and annoyingly!), if you buy unpackaged goods they tend to cost more. This is the case even at a budget supermarket like Lidl.
I actually spent slightly more on some things that I found with no packaging, such as peppers and tomatoes, but saved on others, such as a giant cabbage and some kiwis.
Buying second hand
As you would expect from me since I am buying only second hand for the whole of 2021, I have been in the charity shop this week.
I found this cute cat mug for my daughter’s birthday for £2, a birthday card for 50p, a T-shirt dress for myself for £1, a beautiful tea tray for £1.50 and some pretty plates for 50p each. The Shirley Hughes books are a blast from the past. We had the exact same set when our lot were small and I love them! They are for Mr Shoestring’s niece.
I have actually been interviewed this week by a journalist from the Daily Express regarding my second hand journey. As a result I have been trying to tot up how much I have saved from buying preloved. It’s hard to say, but I easily got £650 just from the larger items I have bought in recent months. If I add in all the small items of clothing and gifts, by the end of the year it will be £1000 plus, I am sure. When it is published I will let you know!
Free day out
We are really lucky to be just 30 minutes or so from beautiful coastline here in Essex. Last Sunday we had a day at Wrabness beach, took a walk to Grayson Perry’s House for Essex, then moved on for a mooch around Mistley and Manningtree. I love this whole area and would really like to move that way one day. We shall see!
We packed up a picnic and flask, our towels and costumes and headed off. So the whole day cost hardly anything, apart from the petrol and an ice cream. The ice cream lady insisted on giving his own one for free. I wasn’t sure about this, but it seemed rude to refuse. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and no harm done or upset tummy.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a day out.
A bit of DIY
Mr S has been hard at work still painting the picket fence at the front of the house. It isn’t as simple as doing the painting, as the vegetation needs to be cleared back first, so it is a big job. He has now moved on the the fence at the side.
It’s worth painting and repairing it. Obviously, keeping things in good repair saves them having to be replaced too soon.
A frugal birthday
As I mentioned before, it is my eldest daughter’s birthday this weekend. We could go to a fancy restaurant, but to be honest we all generally prefer to stay home to eat. We will get a more frugal takeaway instead.
She has found a very reasonably priced Greek restaurant on her delivery app, so if this lovely weather continues we will eat it outside on the patio and pretend we are in the Mediterranean!
I hope you had a good week. Are you aiming for low waste living too?
I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.
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