Tell me at one or two small thing you've done to make your life easier

[listsandbudgets]

I've done 2 this year

1. I've unsubscribed / marked as spam from nearly all my mailing lists. Now my inbox is an oasis of calm and I don't spend what feels like hours every week wading through emails I don't want My spam file is brimming over!
2. I found a sharpie and (once I was sure they were the right way round!) labelled my double fitted sheets with side and top - wish I'd done this years ago not having to shuffle them about trying to work out which way up they go

Why wouldn’t you just use a glass Pyrex bowl or similar? Save the bag, even if the veg peelings do need to go into general waste.

Biodegradable waste bags are only degradable when composted in industrial waste facilities. In landfill, they will not degrade at all. They, along with biodegradable nappies, are two of the biggest eco cons sold to consumers.

Are there many places now that don’t allow you to recycle food waste? That is truly bonkers.

I live in Leeds and no food recycling here

Can you share your 31recipes please?

Ok I’m not in the UK, just assumed most places would have food recycling.

We don't have food recycling here either but we do have a garden so we have a compost bin. Not everyone can do this though.

@listsandbudgets a very small thing learnt from a YouTuber. I put the Dishwasher tablet into the dishwasher when I empty the clean dishes. That way I’m never caught out later when running the dishwasher or asking someone else to run it. Serves as an indicator that the dishes in the dishwasher are yet to be washed when the tablet compartment is shut.

Also always always unplugging the hair straighteners. I have spent many an hour and even days on my holidays agonising 😩if I left them switched on. Ditto with Irons.

I use a smart plug for things like hair straighteners then you can just turn on and off from your phone. It alleviates the worry.

I became single 2 years ago and have remained so out of choice and feel so much happier and FREE!
I’ve also given up caffeine and that’s had lots of health benefits.

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I live in a block of flats we haven't got food waste bins yet, apparently they were due the end of last year but none of the flats in my town have them yet.

I'm a big fan of Thortful for cards, love that you see who designed each one & their other creations. Some very rude funny ones too!

Not exactly life changing, but before I go to bed, I put water in the kettle and place a mug, spoon and coffee tin next to it. Means when I come down the next morning I just flick the kettle switch and spoon in the coffee and can slowly ‘come to’ without having to think😂

The smart plug is GENIUS, I’m away to add one to the ever growing Amazon basket! Thank you!

Ive asked for this thread to go into Classics, there are so many great ideas!

NE coast, we don't have food recycling, but we do compost ours. It's not an option if you don't have a garden, obviously

Our council don't do food waste recycling - they used to do about 20 years ago and then stopped. So, food waste has nowhere else to go other than in the black bin!

@SpiralDiderotEffect

Also always always unplugging the hair straighteners. I have spent many an hour and even days on my holidays agonising 😩if I left them switched on. Ditto with Irons.

Buy straighteners (and an iron) with an automatic self-turn off mode. Calms me down a lot!

When I bought my GHD only some models have this but now almost all of them do.
https://help.ghdhair.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006572059-Does-my-styler-have-a-sleep-mode

@Kazzyhoward

ll our old holiday photos have all be scanned and uploaded to dropbox and the actual photo albums ditched.

This is awful and really sad. I'm very focussed on this as have just had a bereavement and have elderly relatives.

Huge loss of pleasure. It is such a lovely thing to give someone a photo album to leaf through. Especially if you have had a relative die to look at physical photos all collected together in one place is such a comfort.

Whatever you think about the fact you can just look at digital photos, no one does really in the same way as having a weekend and a spare moment to look through it. A digital photo frame isn't the same. Plus digital photos tend to have repeats of the same image than no has bothered to edit so scrolling through 10 photos of uncle jack with his christmas dinner takes the joy away. Whereas an actual photo album has the editting done, only the best are there - plus old analogue photos taken with film were taken more selectively anyway because of the cost of printing. They really do record a family over time in significant moments and joyful moments of family life.

Plus when you die, unless you have been very regimented and given all the passwords and details to a surviving child/relative, all these photos may be lost when you die or if you develop dementia/memory loss. And to retain it in the family you are relying on that happening from child to child. Law of averages means there will be unexpected premature death where no one has planned for it or to hand it on. On the other hand, the photo album is right there- a physical part of your life and your history and who you are - that can always be found and handed on.

A family photo album across generations is a lovely thing to have and to pass on. It's so sad that someone would just throw them away.

Plus a scan of an old photo is never going to be as good quality as the actual printed analogue image was, you will get loss and degredation.

It has made me really sad for you and your family and descendants. What a terrible decision.

Because I don't want my bin stinking the kitchen out?! That might not bother you in your home, but it does me! I happen to like a kitchen bin, so won't be getting rid of it, it's just better if food waste is bagged before it goes in! Thank you for your input, not necessary, but thanks anyway!

Same, Leeds here too! Our recycling is shocking compared to other places isn't it?! We lived in Bradford for a year and they have recycling nailed! Nowhere I know over here does food waste recycling!

All the people arguing about food waste - a thing to make your life waaay easier - get a waste disposal unit

No smelly food waste ever again. It all gets broken down into tiny bits, is biodegrable and gets washed away.

Bought a property with one there already and would never be without one again.

Our buses in town run on biogas from food waste!

Good for your town then!

Instant Pot lots of you tube videos ive had 2 in the last decade wouldnt be without it between that and the 2 drawer ninja i can get a chicken straight out of the freezer and have a sunday dinner made in 45 min

With 3 kids in the scouts, I widh I had thought of this years ago!