Green and thrifting tips for the home

So following on from my thrifty fashion tips I thought I would do a post on some green and eco friendly ways to save and make money around the home. Now more than ever people are watching their pennies,with the way the world is going now it's impossible not to feel the pinch, with job losses and food, utilities and travel costs rising while wages are staying the same it can be a pretty testing time for most of us. Thrifting really is the new chic thing to do and here are a few helpful tips that we have been sticking too lately

We love thrift stalls

In the home

1. Be energy conscious - switch off lights and appliances in rooms your not using and don't leave anything on stand-by over night or when your out and about.

2. Conserve water - it really is our most precious resource. Don't leave taps running while brushing your teeth or washing the dishes and why not decanter boiling water from a kettle into a flask - that way it will keep hot for far longer for when you want another cup of tea.

3. Don't reach for the central heating every-time it starts to get cold - make sure you have thick curtains on your windows to help keep the heat in the room, also have some nice knitted blankets near your sofa you can cosy under and wear a nice warm jumper. Why not have a go at making your own draft excluder.

Making draft excluders is not as hard as it looks

Food

Plan ahead - never go to supermarket without a list and a plan for the week - you will always end of up spending more than intended if you do. Also cook from scratch and in bulk and freeze what you don't use - it's really easy to learn 4-5 basic recipes that can go a long way and are healthier for you.

Buy bargain kitchen accessories - I often find really unique and cute mugs, cups and utensils at charity shops as well as fruit bowls and other bits and bobs that would cost a lot more if you bought them in a high street store.

Bake your sweet treats - it's so much cheaper, for very little money you can bake 12 muffins easily and freeze them so you always have something sweet in the house.

Mr A loves homemade banana and apricot muffins

Saving money and making money

There are ways to make a little bit of income while still being green, eco and creative.

Start a blog - especially if you have a unique knowledge in one area or simply want to share your ideas, you never know where this may lead, especially if you have a creative skill you want to show off like knitting or sewing - it can be a real platform for your talent and may lead to some paid work - you also have the chance to network with some wonderful people.

Recycle your old phone - we all update our phones year on year and apparently there are a lot of old phones lying around in people's houses, why not send it to a company that can put it to good use or dispose of it properly and also pay you some money for example Top Dollar Mobile reduce electronic waste and are a great choice to recycling your phone

Use cashback websites for your purchases - there are a lot around, we currently use topcashback and it really does add up a lot. We also use apps like vouchercloud and O2 priority for money off deals with food and leisure - its well worth the try.

Work freelance - if you have a creative skill such as design, illustration, writing or photography why not offer it on People per hour or if your a home maker and love to sew beautiful things why not sell your crafts on websites like etsy.

Some homemade bunting makes our fireplace feel more homely