I always try to minimise our food waste as much as possible. After all, as well as tipping money in the bin, wasted food ends up in landfill emitting loads of greenhouse gases. So, save money and reduce waste!
It’s not just food waste that’s the issue, of course. Our food production creates a lot of carbon emissions, so to then throw the food away is a double whammy.
This recent article in the Guardian explains the problem in more detail.
“Our diets and agricultural production around the world are so carbon-intensive that emissions from the global food system alone would be enough to put the Paris climate goals out of reach, even if all the other major sources of emissions were closed down, research has shown…
“Food waste is also leading to excess greenhouse gas emissions: a halving of food waste would bring emissions within the carbon budget for 2C.”
Get the Olio app to reduce waste
I have mentioned the Olio app before. It is a brilliant idea to reduce waste, creating a platform for individuals and businesses to share excess food and other items with people in their community for free.
I have friends who are ‘Food Waste Heroes’. They go and collect food that would otherwise be binned from a large cash and carry, then offer it on the app. They gave me the heads up that they had a lot of lettuce and cucumbers this week, so I decided to incorporate some salad into my meal plan this week!
Looking out for Black Friday deals
As it is Black Friday week on Amazon until 30th November, I am sitting down today to see what deals I can find. I need to buy my family secret Santa for my nephew. He never gives any ideas, so usually gets a voucher, but I am thinking he might like an Echo Dot
I need to do some surreptitious investigations via my sister to check he doesn’t already have them!
Cut the wrap
Last Christmas, I managed not to buy any wrapping paper, instead using the multitude of gift bags that we have been given in the past, alongside some fancy scarves I purchased for pennies in various charity shops.
Wrapping paper creates so much waste, especially the foil covered type. This can’t even be recycled, so I avoid it.
I still have gift bags here and some of the scarves. However, for smaller gifts, this year I have also bought some reusable Christmas bags*
If I was the crafty sort, I would have made them – this would be very easy! However, I currently don’t own a sewing machine, so these seemed a good option.
It would be easy to spend this much on gift wrap, bows, ribbons and sticky tape. There are some more ideas for saving money at Christmas here.
Food bank collection update
I am still adding bits and bobs to our #foodbankadvent collection, which currently looks like this.
Throughout the year, I try to put some contributions in at the supermarket collection point, but as we head towards Christmas, I like to make a more concerted effort. We have done the #foodbankadvent collection for a few years now. This is promoted by the UK Money Bloggers community and you can read more about it here.
It’s not too late to join in. Kids love it, especially when they realise they are helping less fortunate families at a time of need. Even if you don’t buy anything especially, you could clear out your cupboards and find those unwanted tins of beans, soup or ravioli you thought you liked but will actually never get round to eating. Another way to reduce waste!
Next week I will be focussing on some treats, like chocolate biscuits and sweets, as well as some pet food.
A new jumper for Archie
I have said before that I spend more money on clothes for Archie than I do for myself, spoilt mutt. This week, my daughter joined in and bought him a B&M bargain special, this gorgeous jumper. It was only £4, and I put it on him on cold nights when the heating is off. No, we are not a household who runs the heating all night, even when it’s freezing!
I find this makes him more inclined to stay in his own bed rather than jumping on ours to snuggle up in the night. As I said, he is a spoiled dog, but doesn’t he look cute?
Anyway, have a great week and stay safe.
I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.
This post contains affiliate links, clearly marked with *. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission.
julie king says
Archie looks very proud of his new jumper x
Jo says
Hi. I have the Olio app and have had several very useful things off it. The problem is that there are so many things that I would like to have but it costs too much in petrol to go and get them. We also have a branch of the Real Junk Food Project in our area where they collect surplus food from supermarkets and you collect a bagful (at the moment) and just pay a proportion of of the food’s value. Before the March lockdown, you could choose from the shelves what you would like but now you just get handed a bag of food. Sometimes it is great and sometimes less so but it is all still saving food from landfill.