Q: For the new year, I was interested in ideas for saving money and not wasting as much. Any suggestions?
A: It’s a great resolution for the new year and so much of what we might do for the good of the environment also makes the most financial sense. These aren’t meant to be items for a to-do list that you’ll feel guilty about later, rather, ideas for getting more and more aware of the waste around you and thinking about the easiest ways for you to avoid contributing to the problem.
I looked back at a few of the past eco-advice columns for ideas and consulted a lovely book by Alexa Kaye called Eco-Thrifty, with suggestions for living well and more sustainably.
The lowest-hanging fruit are the simplest, most common-sense practices that might have become bad habits: things like not running the hot tap in the kitchen excessively, as it uses loads of electricity, turning off lights in empty rooms or forgoing paper towels for a washable rag. When it comes to dish washing liquid, a little goes a very long way, so there is no need to pour it on.
Food waste was an important topic last year and eating locally, buying thoughtfully, and making batches and freezing were some of the best suggestions. I just named a dish “kitchen sink soup,” as we used most of the vegetables we found in the house, many on the brink of going bad and made a wonderful pot of winter soup which lasted a few days.
Also in the kitchen, Kaye suggests you add a tiny pinch of salt to milk to help it keep longer; halved avocados can be saved in the fridge, face down in a bowl of lemon water; and, lemons can also get limescale off the inside of a kettle – put a half lemon and some water in and boil it a couple of times. Of course, remember to be cautious with the kettle, boiling only what you’ll need because it’s one of the higher consumers of electricity in the house.
Kaye also points to the vinegar-baking soda-lemon powerhouse combo, which can clean so many things and lets you avoid buying chemical-ridden products which you’ll be exposed to and which can wind their way into the water system.
THOSE COFFEE CUPS
I am still shocked by the statistic from a few years ago that 22,000 coffee cups are disposed of every hour in Ireland. Opting for a coffee in a real mug in the shop or bringing your handy travel mug is the way to help bring that number down. In 2023, Killarney banned single use coffee cups, they were so overwhelmed by the waste. You can bring your own mug, sit in the café and enjoy a moment, or put a deposit on a reusable one which you’d need to return to any café or restaurant – it can even be returned at the Dublin airport.
One of my favourite suggestions was to use the library and buy more second-hand and vintage. This goes for clothing, books, kitchen gear, furniture and technology. Refurbished computers and phones are cheaper and environmentally sensible, and going second hand you might realise a beautiful table, decorated porcelain plate or a funky wool coat carries a whole history with it and has a unique style that you couldn’t replicate today. You’ll also be buying a table from a tree that’s already been cut down, not cutting down a new one.
If you garden, one of the best pieces of advice is to compost, which is doubly impactful: the food waste that goes to landfill not only gets wasted, but emits methane, a greenhouse gas, while, when it’s used in compost, it avoids being wasted and becomes a positive resource for better growth. You’ll also skip having to buy compost in the shop. Growing your own flowers and veg is also a great way to add colour, and some food, to your home. The tiniest of kitchen gardens can supplement food on your table – there is nothing like a veggie stir-fry with some of it straight from the back yard. And, plant plant plant! Small trees and hedges can do magical things for your home, helping absorb water, offering fruits, providing a home for innumerable species and adding green and beauty to your space.
These might seem like tiny actions but all of it adds up. And, once you’re in the habit, you’ll be surprised how easy it is and by the ideas you might have that others haven’t thought of. Please let us know if you think of anything else – no idea is too big or too small when it comes to the earth.
