Making A Start On Zero Waste

My name is Ariana and i produce a lot of rubbish. So i decided to do something about it and joined the Zero Waste Movement. 

I'd never really thought about how my trash could effect the planet so much. But upon watching documentaries i realised that not only am i contributing masively to landfill site  and all kinds of pollution. I'm also contributing to the overall effect of Climate Change. Climate change is something i feel really stongly about and thinking about it i just knew that it was time to change. 

Now i know a Zero Waste lifestyle isnt going to happen overnight. But im taking small steps everyday to reduce my plastic usage and my overall waste amount. Here are some of the things that i have done so far and maybe you could try too. Like Tesco's say... "Every Little Helps". 

This one might seem like a no brainer, but the first thing i did was switch to cotton bags from supermarket plastic bags. Not only does this save you money in the long run it also cuts down on plastic waste. I started off by purchasing a few cotton bags of various sizes, some for bulky items and some smaller ones for fresh produce. 

My next step was to purchase a non-plastic water bottle. So whilst browsing in T.K.Maxx i came across the Apana Glass Water Bottle. Its only downside is that its lid is made from Plastic :/ but its better than a dispoable plastic bottle. I use this bottle everyday now and dont know why i didnt think about the change earlier.

Now when it comes to the bathroom there are so many changes that you can make! I've started off small by producing some products from Lush, including the Montalbano shampoo bar, T'eo Solid Deoderant Bar, Miles of Smiles Toothy Tabs and Needles and Pines Shower Jelly. (I'll be reviewing all of these products in my next blog, so make sure to check that out!) almost all of these products come without plastic, but for the ones that do come with plastic there are various ways to use the packaging after. 

My final step that i have taken so far is cancelling my Birchbox subscription and changing my bills to paperless. This saves on paper waste and cuts down on carbon emissions at the same time so its a win win :) 

Im always looking for new ways to cut down on my trash, so feel free to leave any hints and tips in the comments section! (They'll be much appreciated) 

Thats all for now.

Over and Out.

Joining the 'One For One' Movement

Joining the TOMS 'One For One' movement is something that i never thought that i would do. Mainly because i wasn't keen on the shoe design. But over time i've kept looking at them and have grown to love them. And so last week i decided to purchase my first ever pair of TOMS shoes. And you know what, im glad i did. Now that they have arrived i love them even more and i feel like i've done a good deed for the week by helping a child somewhere by giving them a pair of shoes. 

Although it may seem small to us in a well developed country, but having a pair of shoes can mean the world to a child elsewhere. I may have only made a very small difference to my wardrobe but in turn i have made a huge difference to someone else's life. Which enriches me personally as i feel better for it. 

As well as buying TOMS shoes that are many other ways that we can help the less fortunate. For example: TOMS also offer to give out sight treatment to people when a pair of their glasses are purchased. And a similar act is made when purchasing any of their other products. 

Another way that you can help is to go barefoot on 'One Day Without Shoes' which is on May 12th 2017. By doing this and posting a photo on some source of social media TOMS will gove a pair if shoes for everyone who tags them #TOMS. 

After making my first purchase, i have decided to buy more of their shoes over time as i find that they make great shoes for summer holidays and light walks out because they are light and airy. I am also vouching to purchase one of their bags to help others in another way. 

If you know of any other ways that we can help please feel free to comment below and over time i'll personally try to ahieve all of them to make the world a better place over time. 

Much Love

MadRamblings

Money Saving Troubles

Sometimes we all need to save a bit of money, whether you saving for a new car, moving house or just saving for a rainy day it can be hard to make all those pennies add up. So here i am trying to help you out with hints and tips. 

I tend to find that its not always about saving money but about spending less. You can do this in many ways. I recently found an internet challenge that asks you to not buy any toiletries for a month. (E.G. Shower gel, shampoo, body spray etc). The aim of it is to use up all your old bottles first. I decided to take on this challenge and have now find that i have enough body products to last me at least a year!!!  So by using up your old products you in turn save a fair amount if money which can be added to that all important piggy bank 🐷. 

Another thing that i've found is that eating meals out can cost you well over £2000 a year!! Which is quite a large amount of money if you ask me... To reduce this amount we can make more meals at home or if you dont have time every night you can always make meals in bulk and freeze them for whenever you're in a rush. 🍴🍕

A further option to "spend less and save more" is to look for free things to do. Whether you have children or not you dont need to spend a huge amount on days out. Using apps such as "Foursquare" you can find many fun things to do and it often provides information on the price. The kids will always enjoy free days in the park come rain or shine ☔️☀️

There are many other ways to save money but these tend to be the main few that i follow. Do you have any other ideas?? I'm always looking for new ways to add to my money pot and pay off my debts. So please add any ideas to the comments section 😊

Love Ariana