Tips for feeling good in 2022...without breaking the bank
For many of us, 2022 signals a beacon of hope for the future. As we leave the tumultuous, unknown era of 2021 and are well up wind of the foreboding and ever so doomed 2020, a lot of us are looking to the future. And in that future, we should strive to not only better circumstances of our own lives such as our eating habits, exercise regime and personal goals, but also the circumstances of the world around us too. Here are our top tips on how to feel good this year, without breaking the bank.
- More food, less waste
At Setovilla, we are passionate about food and, more importantly, being resourceful with food. As an organisation, we are dedicated to using sustainable practices when manufacturing our delicious ọkọ drinks, but we also have some pretty neat tips for being sustainable at home too!
Buy local and reduce plastic: Supporting local businesses such as green grocers and deli counters is a great way to reduce your carbon food footprint. You will often find the veg at greengrocer stalls to be vibrant, full of flavour and, most importantly, plastic free!
Check out your local market day and pay them a visit. Those guys are up and out extremely early, setting up stalls in all kinds of weather conditions so make sure you pop down every once in a while and say hi. Any good market stall will be able to talk you through their produce so you will know exactly where your food comes from, farm to plate!
The rise of the food waste site: Sites dedicated to reducing food waste in the supermarket and restaurant industries are becoming ever more popular. At Setovilla, we are big fans of the TooGoodToGo app, which tells you what food bundles you can pick up from restaurants, cafes, and shops at the end of each day. This is a great way for treating yourself without breaking the bank, as many of the deals are up to 70% off!
TooGoodToGo also has a great Instagram page which provides handy tips on how to reduce food waste at home and really make the most of each ingredient, so be sure to give them a follow and try out their handy tips!
- Make thrifting cool again
Yep, you heard it; Thrift shops, Charity shops, Vintage stores – anywhere you can hunt down items your mom wore in the 80’s! The fast fashion industry makes up 10% of the worlds global emissions and 20% of water wastage. It is one of the worst industries for the planet and we make it worse by throwing away perfectly good clothes that often end up in landfill.
Browse your local charity shops: This is where you really find the bargains and hidden gems! If you know how to look, charity shops can offer up some really good pieces not just in terms of clothing but also furniture and accessories too. We suggest taking a friend and visiting your local high street to see what you can find!
Online thrift stores: Online thrifting has boomed recently, especially with the Covid restrictions that have stopped us from shopping in person. Today, there are an abundance of online shops which sell used or rejected clothing for a fraction of the cost. We recommend checking out Thirft+ and Thrifted for the best vintage outfits. Also, visit LostStock who are intersecting return packages, which would normally be sent to landfill, and selling them on for cheaper.
Make your money back: Whilst your online shopping for new, old items why not make your money back? It’s now so easy to become a seller with apps like Vinted, Depop and eBay becoming ever more popular and easier to use. Having a rummage through the back of your wardrobe and selling on those items you no longer wear is a really great way of reducing waste and giving old clothes some new love!
- Love in the community
Our final recommendation for feeling good is to get involved with your local community. It sounds a little whimsical but becoming an agent of change in your local community, getting to know your neighbours, and understanding the community’s needs is the gift that keeps on giving.
Volunteering is for awesome people: If you don’t know where to start, it’s always good to research local charities and find out if they need volunteers; doing this will introduce you to a wealth of different people who can help you learn and grow as an individual. Many charities will have different roles needed for different times so it’s easy to fit volunteer work around an already busy schedule. We would recommend volunteering your skills, or something your passionate about as this will help pique your interest in the role. For example, if you are creative, offer a creative service like writing or graphic design or if you’re good with people, ask to be an in-person volunteer.
Encourage neighbourly love: doing something as simple as introducing yourself to your neighbours is a really great way to get involved in a local community! In this day and age, we have an abundance of communication capabilities so why not suggest a neighbour WhatsApp group or Facebook page where people can share information, offer services, or simply have a chat!
Fix what’s wrong: If there’s something in your community that bothers you, look to see how you can fix it. Often you will not be alone in your thoughts and talking about your frustrations with other members of your community can do a lot of good. Write to your local councillor or start a petition if you think there is something that could do with improving.