101 simple tips to be selfsufficientish

[Milims]

39 - Stop looking at things simply for what they are and look at them for what they could be with a little imagination and ingenuity when they are finished being what they are designed to be!

40 Find space for a grow bag and grow your own salad

[red]

41 start thinking about where your food comes from and how far it has to travel, then rethink how badly you need it (hey I'm not saying I'm pure - I need coffee which has lots of food miles.. but I found I don't need out of season swedes airfreighted in to the supermarket.. I can have a different in season local veg....)

[Thomzo]

Good point Red, on the same theme:

42. Don't try to do too much in one go. Concentrate on changing just one thing at a time. Lots of small steps are easier than one huge life-changing leap.

43. Save and re-use wrapping paper and gift packaging. It's not being mean, it's helping the environment.

44. Make your own gifts: bake a cake, make biscuits, jams etc and package them in your recycled boxes.

45. Use thick curtains to help insulate your house.

46. Make sure your house insulation is as good as it can be. Contact your local council to see if you qualify for a grant.

47. Walking to your local shops gives exercise and weight training. Saves on a trip to the gym.

[the.fee.fairy]

48. Make your own lunch rather than buying one on the way to work.
49. Reuse bottles like small coke bottles for other liquids for your packed lunch.
50. Make as much of your lunch as possible from homemade/homegrown stuff.
51. Alng the same lines - there's loads of summer fetes coming up, support your local scout group/womens institute by buying their homemade wares. They're fairly cheap and damn tasty!!

[Thomzo]

48. Make your own lunch rather than buying one on the way to work.

52. Get a breadmaker and make your own bread. Then add things like cheese or bacon into the mix. A ready made sandwich!

53. Instead of buying cut flowers, look in the garden. Swap flowers in season with your neighbours.

54. No garden? Ask if an elderly or disabled neighbour needs a hand in theirs. They are often a great source of advice as well.

55. Sprout a few seeds for your salads. You only need a glass jar.

[Jerseymum]

56 - Use a lunch box rather than sandwich bags

Sarah

[mybarnconversion]

57. View everything as a foodstuff (well ... within reason). Hedgerows & gardens are full of good things to eat ... BUT make sure that ...

a) You know what you intend to eat is SAFE to eat,
b) Set boundaries you're comfortable with (roadkill is not to everyones taste ).

[Karen_D]

58. Stop buying stuff you don't need.

[red]

but coffee is a need... right?

59 consider everything you throw away and ask yourself it it has another use, either to you or someone else

[the.fee.fairy]

56 - Use a lunch box rather than sandwich bags

Sarah

60: Reuse ice cream containers/margarine tubs etc for your lunchbox!
61. Take a mug and glass to work so that you don't have to use a palstic cup.

[Thomzo]

62 - instead of using a new plastic cup for water from a dispenser, re-use an old water bottle with a sports cap fitting. It also prevents nasty spills if you knock it over.

[Jerseymum]

63 - Save string (you never know when it will come in handy)
Sarah

[Annpan]

64. Never take the car if your journey is less than 2 miles

65. Consider if you really NEED a car

[Thomzo]

66. Put a jumper on and turn the heating down. Saves money and helps the environment.

67. If you have spare boiling water, use it for something:
a) pour it over your weeds to kill them,
b) add it to your washing up water;
c) use it to soak dirt off the top of the cooker,
d) use it to soak dirty dishes prior to washing up,
e) pour it down the loo to clean it
f) sterilise the washing up sponge or dishcloth.

[Jerseymum]

68 - Re-educate yourself as a consumer when you have to rely on other sources for good/services. Learn about advertising psychology tricks and turn them on their heads so that you can buy based on need, not supplier's ideas of what you want.
Sarah