Your good ideas
The winners for December are marked with a lightbulb below.
Philip Eastwood, Crook
I would love to donate my unused tent to provide shelter for a family or group of people because as a sale item it would realise little of it's true value.
Leanne Mutter, Ashford
Website giving: www.freerice.com Various games help you collect rice to give to poor countries. www.everyclick.com search engine that donates to charity every time you shop. www.thehungersite.com click to give website - no money needed.
Catherine Smith, Bradford
My good idea is to always keep internal doors closed even if you're not in or during the night, then they retain the heat.
Rachel Hill, Banbury
Encourage children to walk more by giving them a 'shopping list' of things to spot on the way (hopefully this will include squirrels rather than the lesser-spotted crisp packet!). They concentrate so hard on spotting every item, they forget to complain they are tired, so you can leave the car at home more often!
Eddie Galvin, Newbiggin-by-the-sea
Sharing - the key to all our futures. If we can develop sharing along side working together we may end up with the world we all want.
Kirsty Elliott, Scunthorpe
Take 30 mins each day to do something for yourself and then you will be more productive and energised.
Tamara Nobes, Carmarthen
Swap all your light bulbs for energy saving ones! You'll save electricity - let alone money!
Susannah Leggatt, Leicester
Grow your own veg, get in the garden, in the fresh air, you get lots of exercise and you eat good stuff too. Even having just some tomatoes and a few herbs on your window sill makes you feel good.
Diana Adams, Annan
Shop at Oxfam to help recycle things other people no longer want and donate the things that you no longer want too. It makes sense and helps loads of people.
Sarah Harman, London
Love more.
Paula Gallivan, Bristol
Make a phone call to friends/family every day .. just to say hello! You will feel great and it's always nice to keep in touch with loved ones.
Imogen Kupper, Lincoln
Don't waste money buying bags to put your packed lunch sandwiches in. Inside packets from cereals and bags for loaves of bread do just the same job. And if there's any fruit remains left (apple cores) or plasticky things like yoghurt pots, take them home to put in a composter or recycling bin.
Lisa Sheehy, London
Remember to put some of your change into your pocket, so if you see a homeless person who really needs it and you are rushing, you don't have to rummage in your bag for your purse!
Nicki Bane, Alton
Recycle your unwanted Christmas gifts on freecycle.
Maya Russell, Wokingham
Advent calendars with lovely pictures behind each window can be recycled for a few years - if the windows don't shut, just use a small bit of blue-tac for this. It's a good feeling when you get the advent calendar out again.
Francesca Hyde, London
Cook from scratch - it's always cheaper and more nutritious than buying a ready meal. You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen, many dishes can be ready in 30 minutes. There are plenty of resources that have fast recipes.
Amanda McCormack, Bideford
Save the world from plastic carrier bags. Make yourself a t-bag. Pop into your local Oxfam and pick up a t-shirt. Sew back and front together along the waist line. Sew the ends of the sleeves together and hey presto! A lovely shopping bag - just pop your goodies in the neck hole.
Martin Andrews, Derby
Join Freecycle! It's a free way of giving and receiving unwanted items that still have use in them! I have re-homed a TV, a computer monitor, books and a bag of wool, and have received a box of books, a computer part, a set of candles and a guinea pig! It's a great way to save money, keep things out of landfill and make new, local friends!
Jane Green, Annan
When online food shopping search fairtrade and add one item to your basket for each shop.
Cathy Lennon, Preston
I have recently had a clear out of my cd collection - and found that there is a website to 'recycle' them and turn them into cash. It's called musicmagpie.co.uk. You type in the barcode number of the cd and they give you a price for it. You need to be able to send them a minimum of 5 CDs - they supply you with a postage paid jiffy bag by post. I received my cheque a couple of weeks or so later.
Jennifer Lemaitre, Swindon
Use scrunched up old newspaper to clean windows and mirrors. This cleans them better than a chamois leather and saves you from using window sprays.
Rachel Cameron
When staying in a hotel keep the miniature toiletries that come free in the bathroom and donate them to your local care home for the elderly.
Cindy George
If I want to buy something, I have to recycle something first! Stops me making pointless, wasteful purchases. If I have nothing to recycle, I give something to the charity shop, or make a donation, so I don't just buy without thinking about it.
Tracy Baker, Abertillery
Don't waste expensive beauty products add a little water to shampoo conditioner and moisturiser to get the dregs from the bottom. saving some money during the credit crunch.
Hazel Smithies, St Helens
Recycle your Christmas and Birthday cards. Cut them in half and use the back for notes or shopping lists. Use the front of the card as postcards, or cut out the pictures to reuse on your handmade cards.
Laura Annsford, Dymock
All those xmas pressies you cant/don't want to use donate them to your local oxfam so they can be sold to raise much needed money.
Amanda Borley, Towcester
I try to buy products with as little packaging as possible. Or if there is packaging I try to re-use or recycle.
Mark Giles, Hereford
Every day, take time out to really LISTEN to what someone is saying to you - it'll make their day!
Matthew Burton, Nottingham
Rather than going on a nutty diet change the way you look at food. Only eat food that is not pre-produced. If it's made only with natural ingredients eat it. If it is processed in any way don't touch it.
Sue Lemmon, Great Yarmouth
Oxfam run recycling "boot sales" where people can buy and sell second hand goods..Stall fees go to Oxfam of course (also anything that people do not want to take home again)
Ian Brooks, Fife
I save up all my magazines until i pay a trip to the local hospital, and leave them in the waiting room, as theirs are so old!!
Jo McGawley, Knutsford
Don`t be fooled into thinking you need to wash and dry your hair every day...once a week is fine as it allows time for your natural oils to redevelop and self cleanse your hair. Also saves on packaging of your shampoo, water from the shower and electric on all those hair appliances!
