Everyday Hero: Debs

I've always been a bit quirky in my thinking and reading habits - how many teenagers do you know who enjoy reading household hints and tips books?

In need of a little inspiration on your journey to a more sustainable life? We’ve interviewed 6 women, mums like you and me, who are on their own sustainable journey, to ask them how they manage it, what their top tips are, and how they stay motivated.

Next up, it’s community clothes swap organiser, household hints guru, blogger and incredibly lovely woman, Debs…

A bit about you

I'm a 37 year old wife and mum, but I try not to be only defined by those roles. I've always been a bit quirky in my thinking and reading habits - how many teenagers do you know who enjoy reading household hints and tips books? However all that 'early research' stood me in good stead, and I'm now often the point of contact for friends with stain removal queries, questions like how to get the smell of wee out of a car seat, and other such fun delights!

I've been involved from the early stages in developing a couple of facebook groups, Harlow and Enfield Free For Families, which serve to help people in the community share used but reuseable items with others. And I also have a blog: It's my life.

What inspired you to live more sustainably?

Wow, this is a big question. I was raised in a family where my dad was diagnosed with coeliac disease. Back then there were no quick fixes or convenience foods available, so I learnt to cook from scratch at an early age.  As I grew older I discovered not everyone had had this opportunity, and so many rely on products that I look at and think, “but it's so easy to make that from scratch!” Plus I love things like charity shopping, and passing on things like baby clothes. Living simply is ingrained in me I suppose - it's like there's something inside my gut that it makes sense to re use things as much as possible over buying new products.

I've discovered that some of my 'make do and mend' philosophies are becoming more mainstream as more people realise there are direct links between how we live and the environment.

In the last four or five years I've made the connection between how we live and how that affects the environment. And as i've connected on facebook with other similar minded people, I've discovered that actually some of my 'make do and mend' philosophies are becoming more mainstream as more people realise there are direct links between how we live and the effects on the environment.

What have you done and what difference has it made?

Right from the start we used second hand clothes for our children. I cannot even begin to calculate how much money we must have saved over the years! I also love being able to give clothes away when my children have outgrown them. When my children were younger I ran two community wide clothes swaps for people to bring children's clothes and other items like toys or equipment to, and then people took what they needed. We knew there would be people who would bring and not take, and those who needed to take, but couldn't bring. But it worked out brilliantly and people were generous and went away feeling blessed

At home, a lent challenge to reduce plastic inspired me to think more about what's coming into my house. For example I started using cloth sanitary pads and I love them. They fit into my life so easily and really didn't add any extra burden. When packing lunches for myself and the children, I have a drawer full of assorted plastic pots which I use to hold my dinner leftovers, sandwiches, homemade muffins or cake, pieces of fruit, and anything else we want to pack! If I can't avoid packaging - for example things like popcorn and crisps, I use big packets and decant small amounts into pots.  And when I shop, I tend to buy the majority of our meat, and veg when I can, from the reduced shelves. This has benefited our finances, and I like to think it's helping to reduce food waste too.

Trying to live more sustainably is an ongoing process, but I've realised that even little changes like reusing my shopping bags, or switching to cloth menstrual products, add up to a big difference when we all try to do them.

What advice would you give to parents who struggle to fit eco changes into their hectic lives?

Start small. Don't try to do everything at once. Look at what's bugging you, and start from there. If it's the amount of washing you have to do, try a quick sponge down of a school jumper to make it wearable for a second day. If it's school lunches, try making something at the weekend that can be frozen, or kept in a box for the week - for example baking flapjacks might save a cereal bar wrapper every day. It might look small, but at the end of the year, that's a whole pile of wrappers that you've not added to landfill.

Always take your reuseable bags! They can be folded up and shoved in pockets, handbags, or car boots. So easy to have with you, and so helpful. Try clipping one to your keys, or other ways you can make using them a habit.

Don't beat yourself up. You're never going to be able to do it all. But the small 'drop in the ocean' changes you can manage, are adding up to make a difference. And they're teaching your children good habits that they will naturally pick up and run with.

Your number 1 eco swap…

I think for our family it's checking out the charity shops before hitting the high street. Whether it's for items for school uniform, baby clothes, toys, games, items for dress up themed days at school, and even Christmas presents. A lot of people are put off by the slightly worn stereotype image they have of charity shops, but we've often found brand new clothes and games. It sounds like hard work, and it does depend on what's in your area, but even as a full time working mum I've managed to fit it into our lifestyle.

I often thank 'future thinking Debs' for being able to put my hand on the exact item we need at the time we need it - an example would be school uniform. I know the size my son is in currently, so I'm on the look out for items in perhaps any of the next three sizes up. These then go in a box in the loft, or a drawer under my bed, so when he has a sudden growth spurt I can go 'shopping' in my house, and get out exactly what we need, without even having to leave the house.

Then for items that are a bit more urgent, I don't narrow my specification down too much.. Think outside the box! Or tell me what you need and i'll go looking for you :)

Whats the 1 song that never fails to give you a hit of inspiration?

I think it will have to be I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. It was the song I sang to my baby girl in hope that 'tonight's gonna be a good night'! Back then it meant come on, let's get some sleep! But now it just makes me feel happy, and gives me the feeling that there's hope for whatever the next situation that I'm facing!