The best ways to go green to help save the planet as well as your money

GOING green can be great for your purse as well as the planet.

Sustainable September ends today but tomorrow sees the start of ‘Unblocktober’, showing how simple swaps can save our seas and watercourses by cutting down on plastic use.

Here is my guide to the best eco buys on sale this week plus ten tips on how to start going greener.

1) Swap water filled products for solid ones. They use less packaging and fuel to transport.

TRY: Bubble & Scrub Family Shampoo and Body Bar, £5.99 at Amazon.co.uk 

2) Try reusable food wraps instead of cling film or plastic bags.

TRY: Beeswax sandwich wrapper, £7.99 at re-wrap-it.co.uk

3) Replace single-use tea bags, some of which contain plastic, for loose leaf tea.

TRY: Morrisons Red Label Loose Tea 250g, £1.25 at Morrisons

4) Ditch handwash and shower gel to go back to traditional soap. It’s cheaper and longer lasting plus less plastic waste.

TRY: ASDA Sensitive Soap Bar 4 x 125g. 95p at Asda

5) Change to reusable coffee cups and water bottles.

TRY: Morrisons 400ml Stainless Steel Travel Mug With Handle, £3 at Morrisons 

6) Try powdered detergent. The box is simpler to recycle.

TRY: Tesco Non Bio. Detergent Powder 2.6Kg, £2.50 at Tesco

7) Swap plastic cotton buds for paper versions.

TRY: Nutmeg 200 Paper Stemmed Cotton Buds, 50p at Morrisons

8) Buy items in bulk and bring your own non-plastic bags.

TRY: Morrisons The Best Reusable Woven Bag, £1 at Morrisons

9) Try eco period products instead of tampons and towels.

TRY: BeYou Menstrual Cup, £14.99 at Ocado

10) Ditch plastic sponges and scourers for biodegradable loofahs.

TRY: Loofco Washing Up Pad, £3 at theplasticfreeshop.co.uk 

Prices correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Website of the week

SEEING your teen off to Uni this week? Or simply want to learn how to cook, quick and nutritious dishes? The check out Cathycourtnutrition.com.

Run by registered nutritionist and former Netmums founder Cathy Court OBE, the blog features scores of smart ideas on cooking on a budget.

Cathy’s blog includes how to cook on campus, simple meal planning, leftover recipes, making wise choices with use-by and best before dates plus affordable recipes ranging from substantial salads to student staples.

Cathy said: “It’s always tempting to think quality food is too expensive and end up on a diet of takeaways and unhealthy processed foods, but there are definitely ways of eating very well on a student loan.”

See cathycourtnutrition.com

Cathy’s Tips for Families on a Budget

Being able to cook a few meals from scratch and being clever about the food you buy can save you a lot of money over the academic year

1)    Getting to grips with how to stir-fry. It’s so versatile and cheap to cook as you can add in virtually any leftover vegetables you happen to have in the fridge.

2)    Chose cheap cooking equipment in case it gets trashed at Uni. Look for cheap supermarket brands or scour second-hand shops.

3)    Go veggie or part veggie. Plant based proteins tend to be cheaper than meat and fish/ There's plenty of variety, from lentils and chickpeas to beans, tofu and soy products. 

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