low waste – Thrifty Mango

January 5, 2021July 15, 2021

My Eco New Year Resolutions

In my last post, I listed my new year resolutions but guess what?… There's more! Although 2021 has already started, I wanted to write a separate blog post for eco-friendly and sustainable goals I have for this year. Being a student means there are plenty of goals I can't reach with my limited resources and budget. So I've decided to keep these as realistic and accessible for me as possible- especially if I want to achieve them all in one year. I don't have the budget to invest in a micro-fibre filter or completely off-set my carbon footprint and I don't have to do that to help the environment. If you're looking for inspiration to become more eco-conscious this year then you've come to the right place. So without further ado, here are my eco-friendly goals for 2021...

November 16, 2020November 20, 2020

Make do and Mend

When I first stumbled upon The Closet vintage shop, hidden away down a small lane in a part of Aberdeen I had never been to before, I was pleasantly surprised. I was greeted with clothing rails tightly packed with vintage silk gowns, velvet and fur coats, floral embroidered skirts, leather and denim jackets, colourful swing dresses and smart three-piece suits. Delicate pearl necklaces dangled from jewellery hangers placed on top of drawers overflowing with beaded evening bags. Tall glittery 70s go-go boots sat proudly on a shelf next to the window, sparkling under the overhead lights. Hanging from the ceiling, handbags and hats vied for my attention. In the centre of the shop was a circular rail of shirts with every pattern you can think of printed on them. Sitting next to the door, beside a rail of brightly patterned dresses that were waiting patiently to be priced, was Elane, the owner of the shop. She was wearing blue jeans dungarees, a pair of silver high heeled boots with matching fur cuffs, teamed with an acid blue denim jacket and a cream woolly bobble hat on her platinum blonde head. She greeted me with a surprised smile, as if she was shocked to see a customer, and then a jolly "Hello". I've been a regular customer ever since...

November 10, 2020December 8, 2023

My Guide to a Thrifty Christmas

It's approaching that time of year when we all bring our Christmas trees down from the attic and decorate our homes with tinsel, cards and baubles. There are many reasons to start making thrifty Christmases an annual tradition. It's more eco-friendly as it saves items that are in great condition from going to landfill. It can save a lot of money and you are donating to a good cause by buying from charity shops. However, there's a stigma around buying gifts secondhand. Some people think that giving someone a secondhand gift is cheap and insincere. But I disagree. I don't think there's any shame in thrifting for gifts. Christmas can be a difficult time for those with severe budgets so shopping secondhand is a great way to find amazing gifts for a lot less money. Some parents scrape by for months before Christmas so that their children can receive presents from Santa. Gifts should always be appreciated- brand new or not. So, whether you're looking for eco-friendly gifts or you're on a budget, here's my guide to a thrifty Christmas...

November 3, 2020July 15, 2021

Cheap Ways to Help the Environment

Money is often the reason why many people hesitate to buy eco-friendly products and alternatives. Rightfully so; being sustainable sounds great on paper but it can be expensive in practice. Don't have the money to get a micro-plastic filter installed or an £8 jar of plastic-free toothpaste every month? Me neither. Tired of people telling you that you have to spend money to be environmentally friendly? Same here. I've done a little research into ways to reduce my impact on the planet without whittling my savings away and I thought I'd share some of them with you...