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Posted Sept. 23, 2013

Student Living - Eco-Style!

Life as a postgraduate student can be busy and exciting, with studying, socialising and deciding on a career path. Despite the busy life you are leading, you may also want to take the time to ensure that your lifestyle is eco-friendly.

Waste Not, Want Not One way to do this is to make sure that you only buy as much food as you need, as well as ensuring that it is stored correctly. This may seem obvious, but it is estimated that the average UK household throws away approximately 18 per cent of the food purchased. Food waste has an impact on the environment, as much of it goes into landfills. Avoiding making unnecessary purchases will help your finances, as well as the environment. Leftover food or products nearing their expiry date should be frozen for later use, where possible.

Going Places You many also want to think about the way you travel to lectures. Walking or cycling when possible will have less impact on the environment than using a car or public transport. It could also save you money and help you to keep fit. It can be difficult to make the time to exercise when you are studying, so choosing a mode of travelling that gives you a bit of a work out will help your fitness levels. You can find more suggestions of ways to keep fit here .

Shopping Shopping in an eco-friendly way can also benefit both you and the environment. You may not have a lot of spare cash as a student, but you may still want to buy a new outfit for a night out. If you shop at a vintage fair you can find a great new outfit for a bargain price, plus you will be helping the environment by reusing items, rather than buying new. Vintage fairs are also good for finding unique items, so you won’t have to worry about anyone having the same outfit! Charity shops are also worth a look for your shopping needs.

If you need any new furniture, you can shop at antique shops instead of buying newly made furniture. This needn’t be expensive, as you can buy items fairly cheaply, then refurbish them to your taste.

In The Home You can try to make your home more eco-friendly by avoiding buying cleaners with toxic chemicals. This will not only reduce your toxic burden on the environment, it will also make your home healthier. Cleaning products can be made from scratch using easily obtainable ingredients, such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. If you do not want to make your own, you can look for more environmentally friendly brands that use natural ingredients.

Volunteering If you want to go further to help the environment, you can look for volunteer opportunities in your area. Activities can include footpath maintenance, hedge planting and building areas for wildlife. This can also be a good way to meet new people, as well as giving you experience for your resume. More information on volunteering can be found here .

By making some small changes, you can help the environment and save money.

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