The Boys Archives - Page 29 of 39

This title could almost be my tagline for life. I’m no eco-warrior, I don’t only buy green or ethically produced products and every so often I stick a plastic bottle in the bin rather than the recycling.

That said – I do try!

While making small changes with my shopping and the products I use won’t change the world it will help a little and my way of think is that if we all help a little it’ll add up to a much bigger difference.
What do you do to help?

Some of my purchases are ethically motivated. I enjoy Traidcraft products (I wrote about this recently here), I choose organic food from retailers and my weekly fruit veg box is organic. I have chosen to change my light bulbs to LEDs and energy savers because it is better for the environment and my purse. I also actively support Freecycle, an organisation that helps people donate their unwanted items to others instead of dumping them in landfill. I do this because it is the environmentally-responsible thing to do and also because I have had a couple of fabulous freebies from Freecycle in the past few years as well as having enjoyed seeing others receive something of mine which they really wanted or needed. Is some of this financially motivated rather than motivated by concern for the planet? Absolutely – but I’m trying!

I am teaching the boys about waste, about not wasting food, about how to make do and mend and am trying to instil a work ethical into them so that they will grow up working for what they want and treasuring what they having rather than buying new all of the time and frittering money. Some of this teaching is for their own good, some is so that I don’t unleash two wasteful creatures into society when they are old enough to leave the nest.

I am trying to teach them how fortunate they are to have the things that they have and to show them the value of things. I feel this is important.

I’m no saint. Try as I might I can’t drink Traidcraft coffee (I am drinking Kenco though and collecting the reward codes to get myself an eco-kettle, that helps right?), I don’t want to substitute everything in my kitchen for organic and I am rather fond of my gadgets. I don’t have a super eco-friendly car (it’s not a BAD car though) and I’m sure I don’t recycle as much as I could.

I do however try and if choosing Ecover cleaning products and recycled loo paper helps a little then I’m on track.

I’ll keep trying and hopefully by this time next year I’ll have introduced a few new green, ethical and moneysaving list of things I’ve tried.

Photo credit

*Written in collaboration with the mentioned business but true to my own thoughts, feelings and experiences.

After spending the last few months bitterly complaining about the fact that spring seems to have forgotten to arrive, avoiding the gas and electricity meter man who wants to send my readings to the energy company (he caught me – darn!) and willing the sun to shine so that I can get outside in the garden, you could say that I’m ready for Summer.

Being so very ready for some sun it might seem a bit bizarre that I am already thinking about Christmas. I haven’t got one of those “days to Christmas” tickers anywhere I promise however with a huge family and our four, lots of traditions and more it is so important to plan ahead.

For the first time in years I have vouchers coming that will cover the majority of our Christmas shopping (Thanks Park!), I already have lists of what to get who so that I may keep my eyes open for bargains and I already have a few fabulous homemade wrapping paper ideas pinned in Pinterest. I’m good to go.

Being so organised I’ve started thinking about perhaps going way just before Xmas for a short holiday. In my other life as a freelance writer I’ve written a couple of articles about Lapland at Christmas and I find the idea enchanting. I’m not sure if at 2yrs old Taylor would get the full benefit yet however if not this year I’m definitely hoping to arrange magical Christmas holidays Lapland style for next Christmas. I mentioned this once before on Facebook and was surprised and secretly thrilled with the amount of people who piped up with “Yes, do it, we did and it was amazing!!”.

It really does sound like the sort of trip that would make a fantastic memory for the boys.

What do you all think? I know it’s barely spring but if we were to go away this year we’d have to think about saving, planning etc now. Have you been? What would you recommend or tell me to avoid and should I wait until Taylor is a tiny bit old (he is two now but will have just turned four before Xmas next year)? We’d like to go for a long weekend ideally but is this enough? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

*Written in collaboration with the mentioned business yet true to my thoughts, feelings and experiences

Showing all posts in The Boys

Trying Ethical, Green and Money-Saving Living

Planning Christmas Holidays in Spring