We are kicking off this issue with a recommendation which we think is a brilliant new initiative.
We have recently discovered Retribe Clothing and absolutely LOVE what they are doing.
Many festival sites are left with thousands of tents, items of clothing and other bits & bobs which get used for the duration of the festival and then discarded for the convenience of a quick getaway.. Tents left still standing complete with sleeping bags and other items simply going to landfill. This is such sad and unnecessary waste and arguably an act of large scale vandalism on these often beautiful sites.
The team at Retribe are working towards a solution; they go to these sites and collect as much of the discarded items as possible. They then wash and process them to transform them into other useful items such a hammocks, bags and clothing. We absolutely love this creative and energetic approach to something so damaging and wasteful.
Its a sad testament to our throw-away culture that businesses like Retribe Clothing need to exist, but we are so glad that they do and take our hats off to them for working to find a solution to this problem!
We have some really exciting news to share! We have just finished filming the content for our new ONLINE Life Skills for Leaving Home course which will be launching in October.
It was an action packed week covering all the useful topics needed for leaving home for the first time. This would make an ideal Christmas present for anyone in your life you know who is about to, or has recently, flown the nest. We will be at The Spirit of Christmas Fair at London Olympia from 30th October to 5th November showcasing this exciting new offering. It will also be for sale via our website.
I would probably say, mastering some basic cooking skills – like boiling an egg, making a white sauce, memorising a couple of very simple one pot recipes. Can’t beat a spag bol or a chilli con carne – have that in your repertoire and you’re sorted for life! And know how to put a shelf up.
Underestimating how long projects take and how much work is involved. If you set out on a project, be realistic as to what you can achieve and always add at least 3 days to your timeframe. Doing the work yourself inevitably takes much longer than you initially expect.
Probably the two house renovation projects that we’ve undergone since getting onto the property ladder 8 years ago. We’ve now completely renovated 2 homes, doing the bulk of the work ourselves. It’s incredibly satisfying seeing the transformation of a space and even more rewarding that you’ve made that transformation with your own hands.
How to manage the weekly food shop and not to overbuy, plus, making one pot meals that can be stretched across two dinners. So a spag bol becomes a lasagne, a chilli con carne becomes enchiladas. That would have helped budgeting for food easier and saved time.
I think in this economic climate it’s very difficult to save money at the moment, but taking on the DIY jobs you can do yourself without employing a tradesperson will save you money. So painting, wallpapering, tiling, sanding flooring etc do it yourself and you’ll save a heap of money.
Anything structural that could potentially affect the integrity of the house. So a knock through or a side extension, I would leave to the professionals.
Instagram and pinterest are my go to when finding inspiration and of course, youtube for practical demonstrations of how to master particular skills.
My Dad taught me to put up my first shelf when I was 14. I haven’t looked back!
I upcycle the majority of my furniture as I prefer old furniture to modern flat pack furniture and think it’s built better and looks better. My favourite item is a second hand 1950s dresser unit in my kitchen that I bought off ebay for £80. We did make an outdoor corner sofa out of palletes – we got the pallets free from a factory down the road and my partner put it together.
If you are looking for a really fun, empowering and slightly off piste idea for your Office Christmas Party this year we have put together a fantastic package to help you celebrate the festive season with your team.
We can welcome up to 12 people to our workshop in Mid Sussex for a fun and informative morning. Topics we will cover can include how to use a power drill,. basic plumbing, decorating hacks and useful tips for the most common problems which occur around the home. You’ll have loads of fun and leave with some really useful, transformative life skills.
The session will run from 9:30am – 12:30pm and will be followed by a 2 course meal at the exceptional Sloop Pub which is just down the lane from us.
For more information or to book please drop Justin a line on 07957 420 195 or email jk@howtobasically.co.uk
