How to waste less this Christmas

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Let’s face it, Christmas can be a time of waste.

With all the best intentions in the world, as we give and receive gifts, eat food, drink wine and generally have a good time, there will be things that get leftover and thrown in the bin which puts the environment on a high waste alert.

We aren’t saying don’t have fun and relax, but we are going to look at how you can enjoy Christmas without adding to landfill sites and blowing your carbon emissions out of the water.

Buy pre-loved
When buying gifts, you don’t have to get something that is bright, shiny and brand new. Spending an afternoon at antique markets and visiting charity shops is a fun way to find some really unique gifts that will be just as good, if not better, than something going to a new home for the first time. Books, soft toys, vintage clothes and china are all out there for the taking and you never know, you could spark nostalgia with the gifts you give this year and make someone feel really loved.

Think about gifts that keep giving
You don’t have to buy physical products. How about a pass to the local petting farm? A gym membership? A cookery course or an art class? These could really help someone out and they will know you have thought about them with your choice of gift, and of course an experience means no waste.

It’s all in the wrapping
Once you have a present, think about how you wrap it. If your sister is fashion mad, wrap that vintage scarf in the pages of an old copy of Grazia, for kids, use comics, and for your TV bonkers dad, the Radio Times covering his box of chocolates will be perfect. This means you recycle and cut down on glitter and ribbon that isn’t good for anything at all.

Be a smart shopper
We have all been there – the night before Christmas and the supermarket is carnage and not a lot of fun as people buy as much food as they can. Make a list of what you need, don’t go for the BOGOF offers and keep to a budget.

Don’t waste food
If you do over do it on the dinner front, don’t just put the remains in the bin. Veg and meat can be put in the fridge and eaten the next day, soups and curries can be cooked and frozen and if you have more than you need, make up parcels and give them to a local soup kitchen or shelter – someone will be very grateful you don’t bin what is probably great food.

Save power
We all love Christmas lights, but they don’t need to be on 24/7 for the whole of December and January. Put them on in the evening and turn them off when you go to bed. Use LED lights and go easy on outside decorations, as they can eat electricity and ramp up your bills as well as your emissions.

Recycle
The tree, decorations, wreaths, cans, foil, bottles, plastic and food are all recyclable. It might seem like a pain, but if we all do this it does make a difference. Also, if you have gifts that aren’t for you, why not give to someone who would like them, take them to a local hospital or donate to a charity shop or library. You might not want it, and you might not want to offend the recipient by asking for a receipt, so do something for someone else and you will be glad you did.

Got a create less waste tip? Send it our way, we are all ears.

Team Pure Beauty

Easy ways to create a clutter free home

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Whether it’s a pile of clothes on your bedroom floor, or a stack of dirty dishes in your sink, keeping top of cleaning at home can be hard and clutter can soon take over.

If you feel you’re living in a state of constant mess, we have some ideas to help you take back control and get a home that is clean, clear and clutter-free which means you can sit back and relax.

A place for everything
If you get home and put your phone, keys and purse straight on the kitchen table, this needs to stop. Have a designated space or bowl for essential items and this clutter free game-changer will keep things tidy and save you constantly looking for lost belongings.

Have hooks by the front door
Having a simple set of hooks by the front door means you’ll always know where they are – simple but true. Get in the door, shut the door, put the keys on a hook and you’ll never look back.

Keep shoes out of the house
Leaving dirty shoes at the front door won’t only keep dirt out but it will save them being left all over the house, making a mess, tripping you over and generally cluttering things up.

Have a clear out
We aren’t saying you need to declutter your house in a day because you’ll be exhausted, instead clear the clutter in bite-size chunks of time – think 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Go room by room, drawer by drawer, cupboard by cupboard or shelf by shelf – whatever works for you. Ensure you have rubbish, recycling and donation bags as well as a duster and cloths so you can clean as you go.

Buy less
We know that those BOGOF offers are tempting, but if you bulk buy toilet rolls, washing powder and dishwasher tablets or having too many pairs of jeans, where are you going to put them? Each time you are about to buy something, ask yourself, do I really need it, is there somewhere for it to go in my home and am I buying it for the right reason? If you answer no to even one of these, put your card away and keep clutter at bay.

Check out the garden
It’s not just our houses that can get full of clutter, but outside spaces too. From lawn mowers and plastic slides, to old wooden benches and hoses, it is amazing how much ‘stuff’ gets slung in the garden which leaves it looking cluttered and messy. Set aside an afternoon and get to work clearing out, tidying up and straightening out your outside spaces so they are places you want to spend time, rather than somewhere all the junk is stored.

Recycle
Not only does recycling help keep the environment safe, it keeps clutter out of your house too. Cardboard boxes, cans, old clothes, broken toys, unused phones, comics and books are often found in corners, cupboards and under tables where they gather dust and clutter things up, so sort them out, recycle them and free up your space.

Keep it up
Once you have made steps to sort out the clutter, do your best to keep it that way. Not only will having less clutter mean you won’t have to tidy up as much, but you’ll also be able to find things because they won’t be under a pile of dusty papers, they’ll be where you left them.

Team Pure Beauty

Eat well on a budget

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We all know how important it is to eat well and have a highly nutritious diet, but doing that a budget doesn’t always seem possible.

We have had a look at how you can eat well and save pounds on your waistline and shopping bill.

Have a plan
Boring, maybe. Effective, definitely. Having a weekly meal plan means no last-minute microwave meals or takeaways because there is nothing in the cupboard. You can cover breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day of the week and will find that in no time at all you will no longer reach for the crisps when you come home from a hard day at work because you don’t know what to eat.

Buy what you need
Doing a ‘big shop’ might not be helping your quest to be healthy or to save money. Buy what you need for the next few days, then that is what you have to eat meaning you will have less waste. You might also find shopping online, using the cheaper and free delivery slots, helps you stop going buying the BOGOF offers you don ‘t need instead stock up on cans and other non perishable items that can be cheaper when bought in bulk.

Shop late in the day
You will be amazed at the fresh produce that is reduced at the end of the day to ensure it sells. Bananas, fish, meat, yogurt and bread are all up for grabs at a knock down price so be savvy and save money.

Freezer happy
Freeze any unused food, batch make curries and pasta sauces and if you aren’t going to eat something before (see above) the ‘best before’ – freeze it.

Buy frozen
Speaking of frozen food, you will find you waste less if you go for these options in the supermarket. Frozen fruit and vegetables are just as good for you than the fresh varieties as they are picked at the peak of freshness and frozen to seal in their nutrients. You will find many frozen fruit and vegetables come pre-chopped, ready to use and in handy portion sizes which not only help you eat sensibly but also save waste.

Don’t be a brand snob
Yes, the big brands have a good reputation but things like tinned tomatoes and sweetcorn, cereals and nuts will taste just as good whether they are the supermarket’s own option or the shiny famous choice. Go on, give it a go.

Be pulse happy
Beans, lentils and chickpeas are some super cheap but also packed with fibre, vitamins and are low-fat too. Using them to replace mince or chicken in meals like chilli con carne or chicken curry and you instantly have a cheaper, healthier and even tastier option.

Buy meat for less
If you spend longer cooking your meat, you can go for cheaper cuts like braising steak, shin or shoulder. Putting these in a slow cooker with hearty vegetables and stock is a great tasting meal at a good cost and if there are leftovers, have them for lunch the next day.

Cook from scratch
Forget creamy sauces and salt rich dressings and instead prepare your food from scratch. Social media has a wealth of great recipes that are easy to follow and as you tuck in you know exactly what you are eating.

Think about what you drink
With the new sugar tax now launched, there is one more reason to cut out the nutritious poor fizzy drinks from your diet. Water with lemon and cucumber is a great hydrator, smoothies offer a fruity punch and green tea is a sensible coffee swap.

Eating the healthy way doesn’t have to cost the earth but it certainly can help save some money.

Team Pure-Beauty

Get on top of your finances in 2018

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Do you know how much you can afford to spend each month, or do you keep using you cards and then lie awake at night working out how you’ll pay for everything?

With Brexit just over a year away, businesses concerned about the future and the world in a volatile place, money worries are on the rise, as are prices, and debt seems to be a bigger issue for many people.

While rent and council tax take up a big chunk of incomes, those large costs often aren’t the problem, it’s the smaller bills that add up and the unexpected expenses that can cause stress.

We have had a look at how to keep on top of things so you don’t feel like you’re going under every time you look at your statement.

Have a budget
Yes, it sounds simple but sometimes going back to basics can be a good idea. Making a list of the money coming in and out each month lets you see exactly what is happening with your finances, rather than burying your head in the sand. Firstly look at income, then list all of your fixed costs and should including your housing, utility bills, standing orders, car payments, insurance and phone bills. Then look at your fluctuating costs such as food shopping, entertainment, holidays, pets and anything else you have to cover. With all of this in hand you can work out how much is left, or not, and where changes could potentially be made.

Shop for the bargains
We all like nice things, but there are many savings to be had out there, and deals can really help keep you buoyant. Buying presents in the sales, stocking up on school uniform when it’s half price and shopping around for cheaper car insurance might seem like an extra job to add to your list, but the pounds soon add up. It is also worth looking at the money off vouchers on leaflets, loyalty cards and incentives as these can make a real difference to your pocket.

Meal planning
Another way of saving money is by actually only buying the food you need and not letting fresh items go to waste. Before you go shopping, work out what you are going to eat in the week, include packed lunches and snacks, and only buy those items. Yes, BOGOF might seem like a deal you can’t miss out on, but when that extra cake or loaf of bread goes mouldy, you haven’t saved anything at all.If there are items deals going cheap at the end of the day, buy them but only if you are going to eat or freeze them straight away.

Turn off your lights
It is amazing how many people leave lights on, have the heating burning at full blast when they are out and let the water run as they brush their teeth. All of these things cost money, so turn things down and switch them off if you want to save money, and the environment.

Second hand options
Vintage, retro, upcycle are all on trend and for a good reason, they offer value. You don’t have to buy everything new and if you go to charity shops, car boot sales and auctions, you will amazed at the bargains there are to be had.

Rainy day fund
We all like to think the unexpected won’t happy to us, but it does. If you can, try to save a little money each month so that if the car does break down or the boiler goes wrong, you have a buffer and don’t hit the red.

Keep on track
Once you have your finances in place, don’t them slip. Making lists, having a database and checking your online banking on a weekly basis can help you keep on track. If you do feel things are spiralling out of control, talk things over with a trusted friend or speak to Citizens Advice Bureau but don’t let the bills pile up and the stress get on top of you.

How to keep up the good work after Dry January

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If you were one of the thousands who made it through Dry January without a drink, congratulations.

The temptation to make up for lost time might cross your mind, but Long Islands Ice Teas all night long, might not be the best idea for your head, you waistline or your pocket.

What we are say is, you don’t need to give up booze altogether, but there are many benefits of cutting down how much you drink. In the short-term you will feel fresher when you wake up in the morning, have more energy, enjoy clearer skin and even lose those stubborn extra pounds.

Over time you will find that consuming less alcohol will have so many plus sides you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

Improved mood
There is no doubt that drinking can make you feel depressed and hangovers often make you feel down in the dumps anxious and so cutting back could really make you feel happier.

Better sleep
Drinking can really disrupt your sleep patterns and prevent you from getting the good quality sleep that keeps you healthy. Cutting down on alcohol should help you feel rested when you wake up and drink free days will really improve your sleep.

Improved behaviour
Judgement and behaviour often go out of the window, especially when you’ve had one too many. Irrational and aggressive behaviour easily happens after a big night out and memory loss only make things worse the next day. Go easy on the beers and even offer to be the designated driver every now and again and lay off the booze altogether.

Better health
You might think that a regular drink helps you relax and unwind, but the reality is it can play havoc with your immune system and internal organs, so don’t over do it or you could pay the price with colds and infections.

With all of this said, we have had a look at how to keep your drinking at a sensible level all year round, rather than for just one month.

Make a plan
Make a decision about how much you are going to each week, set a limit and write it done.

Budget for It
Don’t forget that booze costs pounds, so just be aware of what you are spending on drinking each week and pair that up with your plan.

Do it together
If you tend to drink with work colleagues, family members, your partner or friends, let them know your new drinking intentions and see if they want to put a limit on things too.

One step at a time
We aren’t saying give up the juice right this minute, but if you make small changes every week, you will soon find you are drinking less and loving the benefits.

Go Small
Yes, BOGOF offers and happy hours are fun, but they can be your ruin. Go for singles over doubles, have a bottle of beer rather than a pint and don’t go large when it comes to the size of your wine glass.

Swap it for water
To get ahead of the game, before your first alcoholic drink and between each subsequent one, have a glass of water.

Alcohol free days
Try to have several drink free days each week and see how you sleep and if your mood improves when you swap a G&T for a cup of tea.

See the savings
Put the money you save on drink each week into a jar and treat yourself to a spa day, new haircut or those shoes you have always wanted at the end of the year.

Most of all, enjoy a happier, healthier, wealthier you.

Team Pure-Beauty