We here at the Yorkie are conscious that the world is in crisis. To be precise, a climate crisis. While we don’t all have the impact of the mighty Greta Thunberg, we can all make a few very small changes to our everyday activities that can help a little. We all want to be living a low-budget Eco-life, and you have to start somewhere.
It’s time to panic about the state of our environment, so every little thing really does matter.
Students and young people don’t always have control over the way they heat their homes, how they travel or how they fund things. So here we have put together a list of a few things that can be achieved with little or no financial consequence to push you towards a low-budget Eco-life.
Buy local (And plastic free!)
While a small contribution, buying local and avoiding single use plastic are vital ones. The fewer food miles you get through in a week, the less the planet suffers. In York you can take a trip to the market on shambles for your staples and head over to the Bishy Weigh for more specific items as well as packaging-free items like pasta, cereal and grains.
There’s also a Lush on Coney Street where you can get your packaging free bathroom essentials.
Eat less meat
While some people can go completely cold turkey (forgive the irony) on meat and become vegetarian or vegan, many people see this as an impossibility, or simply don’t want to. Now this is fine, but worldwide meat consumption will have to drop by 90% before 2050 if the planet is to stand a chance of staving off the worst results of climate change. Just eating a few meat free meals will make a difference. So, the next time you fancy a chicken kebab, maybe reach for the less meaty option instead.
Think ahead (and buy without packaging!)
A surprisingly simple path towards a low-budget and eco-friendly life is some good old-fashioned planning. This can be as simple as purchasing a water bottle (glass preferably), a lunch box – and essential accompanying snack boxes – and a coffee cup. The Attenborough Effect has had a big impact since the release of Blue Planet, but there is always more to do.
You’d be surprised how much less packaging you will use and how much money you will save! You won’t buy snacks if you have them with you.
Be conscious of power and water usage
Those lush bath bombs might be nice, but it would be better for the planet if you picked up some package free body wash and throw on the shower. Not only will you use less water (so long as you don’t spend longer than 15 minutes in there) but according to the Huffington Post, showers are not only better for the environment but also better for your skin.
You probably can’t change your house insulation or throw some solar panels on your roof if you’re renting or haven’t got much money in the bank, but there are some small things that you can do. Obvious things like not leaving lights and appliances on when they aren’t in use, as well as not leaving your phone on charge over night will also make a difference.
Grow your own food
There are several benefits to growing your own food, and top of this list is that it reduces your carbon footprint. While you can do this in a garden if you have one, there is also the option of going tiny! You could grow vegetables in a plastic tray with a little soil, plenty of sunlight and water. Peas start off small, but the shoots could feature in a lunch time salad.