5 sustainable practices I live by

There are so many sustainable choices that can be made it can be overwhelming to know where to start and honestly what you can afford. Here are a few I do that are now embedded in my life that not only help the planet but also save me money!

1: Shopping secondhand clothing

Over the years of running my own first business (you can read more about there here) I developed a real passion for finding more sustainable ways to work in and consume fashion. So naturally I spent more and more time shopping second hand. I began to LOVE it. The thrill of hunting through all that was there and finding something unique that no one else had. Now it's the only way I purchase new clothes. The bargains that I have found are enough to keep me going back so it is a great way to save money!

2: Using the 30 rule

Now there is often going to be a time where I will need to buy something new rather than second hand. So, I will often ask myself "am I going to use this at least 30 times?" If it's a yes, then I will get it. If not, then I don't really need it, so I won't get it. This has helped save me a lot of money over the years as I am not getting something I am not going to use. Simply using something you have as much as you possibly can is the easiest way to live more sustainably.

3: Starting my own garden

Now this is taken a lot of time to build up, but it has been the most fun. The key I think is to start small. It also means it doesn't matter if you have a small space. I started with a few things in pots, and I set the goal of just learning - that way I could take the pressure off if anything died. I also played around with collecting seeds from foods I had bought, kept them on a wet paper towel until it started sprouting then popped it in some soil. This worked well with beans, and I currently have a cherry tomato growing from this process. Once I even put a red potato in some dirt and let it do its thing and 3 months later, we harvested nearly 30 new potatoes - all for FREE! Going in with no expectations and seeing what works for you is so much fun and perfect for the environment.

4: Compost my food scraps

Since starting my garden, it was also the perfect time to start a compost. Luckily, we got a compost bin and a compost starter brick as a Christmas present (I knew I was an adult when I was so excited to get that!) So, over the last year I have been able to save all my food scraps from going to landfill and have made my own compost. I have been able to use it on my garden beds and in my pots to create really healthy soil for my plants to grow.

5: Using public transport

I use public transport quite a bit. I'm going to be honest I think it's because I really don't like driving if I don't have to lol! But it means I am using my car less, so I am saving money on petrol. Using public transport also helps reduce your carbon emissions so it's a win win.

I'd love to know what you do in your day to day as I am always looking for new sustainable habits to incorporate in my life. I cannot wait to see.