GoodLiving Tips

Tip of The Week

This tip of the week is my tip of the year so far!  An Antisnor ring - it actually works!  It works by using acupressure (form of acupuncture without the needles) to stop you snoring at night.  You put it on your little finger of your left hand up to an hour before going to bed and that's it!  I was skeptical but I had to try something to stop my wife's snoring (OK, mine really!).  It can take up to 10 days to take effect, mine reduced dramatically and went over a period of about 4 days.  They offer a 30 day money back guarantee so what is there to loose!  I even find that I start yawning and am really ready for bed after about 15 mins wearing it.  I think it also helps you sleep deeper as you don't snor in deep sleep. 

Tip of The Week

My tip this week is to be creative when thinking of things you need - can you re-use something else?  My wife wanted to grow some vegetables but our garden has 3 inches of top soil.  The solution - some containers such as a water tank from a friend loft they no longer require!   Next time you go to the tip, see what there is you can re-use.  We have found the staff there really helpful and friendly if you ask them for anything.  We rescued a water butt - has a small crack in the bottom but I am sure we can repair that.

Tip of the Week

My tip this week is to look around you and see the wonder of creation.  I think we miss so much of the beauty in the ordinary and extraordinary around us as we rush from one thing to another.  As you walk life you head and look around you.  You may be surprised at what you see.  Walking to dog in our local park we came across a heron and a pair of song thrushes in their nest.

Tip of the Week

Over the last few days I have been reminded in how effective our No Junk Mail sign is on our letterbox. We used to get shed loads but now get hardly any. Over the weekend I have seen people delivering junk and  bypassing our house (and the few either side of us who also have similar signs).  We do get the occasional leaflet and if I happen to see it coming through the door I open the door and politely l point out the sign handing the leaflet back.  This happened on Saturday and the reply came back 'it is not junk it is advertising' !!!! For more details and where to get a sing see here.

Tip of the Week

How many times have you gone to buy something but have not got a plastic bag alternative with you and have to be-grudgingly use a plastic bag?  We here's the answer - an Onya bag.   Small enough to keep in your coat pocket or handbag.  Leave one in every coat!

Tip of the Week

Check out the great competitions at The Big Green Switch - and while you are there you may get some fresh ideas as well!

Tip of the Week

My tip of the week this week is have a clear out of your bathroom cabinet.  How many medicines have you got that are well, well past their date?  Whilst you are at it, read the ingredients and see if there is more natural alternative.  Have you tried Chinese herbs?  We use them for all colds etc.

I am away working for a week so may not get a chance to update the blog much.  The week includes my first trip on the Eurostar (having worked for an airline for so long you tend not to use it!) which I am looking forward to.  To Brussels with a lower impact to the environment!

Tip of the Week

I know everyone is banging on about recycling, but do you recycle all you can?  Can you recycle more with a little bit more effort, another trip to the recycling centre?  I have just walked the dog and it is bins/recycling day here.  I was still amazed at how much rubbish is still being put out - 7 bags at one house (OK, it may have been all their rubbish for the entire year, but I doubt it, there was no sign of any recycling out) that is in a borough where the council are good at recycling most things.   Have a look at the recycling page, perhaps it will prompt you with something else you can do. 

Tip of the Week

Back in the land of the web.... 

My tip this week is to move to rechargable batteries.  I know there is quite a high initial outlay for the batteries/charger but you will save shed loads over time as well as stopping harmful chemicals polluting the land when batteries get disposed of incorrectly.  I did quite a bit of research before making the leap, more details can be found in the living room section.

Tip of the Week

My tip this week is to take the time (20 mins) to watch the Story of Stuff.  What do you think of it?  I think it is one of the most clear communication on the issue of consumerism I have seen.

Tip of the Week

Only buy jiffy bags that are stuffed with shredded cardboard (such as Jiffy original ones) rather than bubble wrap as they are 100% compostable and biodegradable. 

Tip of the Week

It's all over the press today, it's funny as it was going to be my tip of the week anyway - bottled water.  How about giving up buying bottled water - just try it for a week and see how you get on.  Fill a used bottle with tap water and carry that around instead.  Think of all the money you will save.  Think of all the plastic bottles you would not be using.  Think of people around the world who do not have clean drinking water, we do and we still choose to buy bottled water....  For more tips see the Water section.

Tip of the Week

My tip this week seems to be a big one, but is far easier than you imagine!  It is to move to the only ethical phone provider in the UK - The Phone Coop. The prices are pretty much the same as BT but you have peace of mind that they are 100% ethical.  They have won Ethical Consumer magazine and Which awards.  It is far easier to move than you anticipate.  We moved over a couple of years ago and it was seamless. 

Tip of the Week

Change to THE only electricity provider that sources all its energy from 100% renewable sources - Good Energy.  Ecotricity does have a 100% renewable tariff but still sources 75% of its energy for its main tariff from coal, gas and nuclear.  It is so easy to change, it does cost slightly more but the more people that move to them the cheaper it will become.  When we changed the increase was only about £20 a year - well worth the peace of mind that we are using 100% renewable energy.  Other 'green' tariffs do not supply 100% renewable.  So, what are you waiting, for sign up here! 

Tip of the Week

Apparently you are more likely to change your partner than your bank!  About 5 years ago we got so fed up with our bank we moved to Smile, the Cooperative's internet bank.  Awesome and ethical.  The Coop is the only ethical bank with current accounts.  Ask yourself what your bank does with all your money - what does it invest it in?   Switching couldn't be easier.  If you use Smile you don't have to do everything on-line you can ring up 24x7 and use The Coperative bank branches and post-offices.   So, new year, new ethical bank account?  Smile has won Your Money best internet bank for 6 years in a row.  For more details and info on ethical investments see the Bank section.

Tip of the Week

One of my favourite tips and the most popular one searched for is homemade shaving oil.  This for both men and women.  I use it pretty much every day and it is fab.  If you have not used shaving oils before then I know it sounds a bit scary but I found it a much much smoother shave than using foam/gels.  I have a 5 o'clock shadow by midday so have to shave every day which I find most annoying.  For the simple and easy recipe and more tips around shaving see the bathroom section.

Tip of the Week

New Year is a great time for a de-clutter.  Time to find a new home for presents you got and do not want (we did very well as most people know we like things like luxury food items we can enjoy!) and while you are at it go round the house and have a good de-clutter.   We find de-cluttering theraputic and having less means you enjoy what you have more.  We find when our house is free of so much 'stuff' it is a more peaceful and relaxing place to be.  So de-clutter and make use of freecycle,   ebay and charity shops. As a rule of thumbs we say if we haven't used it for 6 months why are we keeping it ("just in case" does not count!!).   For more details see the Recycle section. 

OK, so there may well be a clutter fairy but you will realise that the vast, vast majority of what you get rid of you never need and soon forget about and the benefits that brings far outweighs the annoyance of needing that one thing you did get rid of that is probably very cheap to get again or can easily borrow from someone else!! 

Don't be like my father-in-law who has a garage full of 'stuff' that 'will be of use one day'.  He even bought a new cordless drill as he saw one for only £4.99 'just in case' his current one breaks!!

Pause For Thought

Hi, it is a busy time of year.  How about taking 2 mins out for a pause for thought.  What do you want from this Christmas time? What do you want from life?  What do you want to achieve next year?

Tip of the Week

My tip this week is buy rechargeable batteries.  We have just got round to doing this, I think both the poor experience in the dim and distant past and the fairly hight initial cost has made me hesitate up to now.  Having looked in to it we made the leap and bought a charger and some batteries.  It did make us stop and think how many batteries do we actually need?  Thankfully not many, perhaps a result of de-cluttering over the years. 

It can be  a bit daunting deciding what to go for, there are more options that I thought (you can even get 'Hybrio' batteries that come pre-charged and keep their charge for about a year!).   Battery Logic have a good site explaining everything.  I didn't realise that rechargeables can actually outperform disposables by 10-20 times in things like digital cameras (as longs as you buy the right ones!).   As for makes, Uniross are seem to be the largest, a name I remember from the early days of rechargeables.  We actually went for Ansmann, they cost slightly more (not much) but a number of places seems to recommend them over Uniross and they have won a lot of awards.   

Choosing the make you want to go for is the first step, then you need to decide the power rating of the batteries you need and the type of charger (fast, slow, intelligent...).  Basically get as powerful batteries as you can afford and the best charger you can afford as it will look after the batteries.  Don't go for a super fast charger unless you really need it as the slower the charge the better for the battery in the long run.  We spent £60 on a good charger and 12 batteries that will last 1000 charges each.    That's 0.5p per battery if you had to buy the equivalent disposables!!   As we use 100% green electricity (see Utilities) so it is even more environmentally friendly.

Tip of the Week

This weeks tip is to think about Christmas preparations. December is a time of preparation for Christmas so whilst opening your advent calender spend some time thinking about how you can be more environmentally friendly and ethical this Christmas. To get you started I have put some ideas down on a new Christmas page.