In these somewhat trying economic times thrift is fast becoming an essential way of life for many of us. It might not sound much like fun, but in an article in the Sunday Times Style magazine this week, entitled 'Credit Crunch Chic: How to save pots of money', India Knight showed that, far from being a bore, thrift can awaken your creativity and give you a great sense of personal satisfaction.
Making your own has always been a staple of a thrifty lifestyle. Giving someone a present that you have crafted from your own hands speaks volumes about how much you value them, and the objects created have a personal originality which money simply cannot buy. This might all seem a bit daunting, but if you need a little helping hand to start crafting, Ecocentric have some great kits, like the 'stitch you own donkey' and the 'make your own owl bag'.
The article also talked about 'doing your bit'. By cutting down on needless consumption you can reduce your emissions and help the environment, even in just a small way. Energy saving lightbulbs are a great way to lower your carbon footprint and achieve big savings in your energy bills. Shopping locally or online is also recommended - keep it local to reduce transportation costs, and shop online to curb thoughtless impulse buys.
Above all, thrift is about living a lifestyle which is more at one with yourself and the world. It's about appreciating what you have now, not lusting after something you want in the future. By focussing on the smaller things around us and the quality of the interaction we have with those close by we can hopefully all gain a deeper satisfaction from life and ultimately be happier and more fulfilled.
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Well, lets face, saving money has always been one of the biggest incentives to go green and there doesn't seem to be any better time than now! Anyone interested might also want to check out this guide to green driving for some ways to cut costs when you can't avoid taking the car out: http://www.envweb.co.uk/guides/greendriving.html . Never underestimate the uses of vegetable oil!
It is amazing the effect that just driving more efficiently can have on fuel efficiency. Just driving more smoothly (ie not accellerating and breaking too much, use engine breaking), and sticking to the speedlimit on motorways can get an extra few miles per gallon - all helps the wallet!
Oh, and take all the unnecessary junk out of the boot! it just weighs down the car...
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