Saving money and the planet with IKEA

It's time for a final update on my Live Lagom challenge with IKEA. 

Back in December last year I was invited to take part in a sustainability project run by IKEA. It involved (responsibly *cough*) shopping for good in their store that would help me and my family to save money and save the planet by taking little steps on a journey towards sustainability. This is me with my haul. Spoilt brat I know.

I tried to focus on energy saving and making the home a warm and cosy place to be. Armed with rugs, duvets, lightbulbs, and state of the art cooking equipment it wasn't hard to do.

This is the shame of my bedroom before the project began. New bedding and green plants transformed the space from mess to rest. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Sidelights with energy saving LED lightbulbs are now used all over the house, as well as extension leads that can be turned off easily with the flick of a switch so power saving mode isn't continually used, and rechargeable batteries. Heating was also turned down and cooking times reduced significantly (by as much as 80% in fact). I haven't managed to calculate the exact savings due to the temperature of different months and the fact that I also changed to a cheaper supplier (one of the knock on effects of the project).

Another saving I've made is switching my bin collection from every two weeks to - wait for it - every 2 months, simply by being more organised and recycling properly.

However one of the major bonus for me was the aesthetic 'hygae' that the project brought. My home is now simply a cosier, nicer place to be. And, amazingly for me, is more organised too.

The kids are fully on board, running around shouting at each other for leaving lights on and having a real understanding of why a rechargeable battery is so much better than a throw-away-pollute-the-planet one. 

And we've ever started planting stuff. My favourite, Sweet Pea is currently taking root, and tomatoes, basil and parsley are all well under way. I have to say it's a little addictive. 

Looking back on all those baby steps I'd say we've come a long way with zero pain and lots of pleasure along the way. If you get a chance to Live Lagom a little I'd highly recommend you embrace it. There are tons of tips on Hubbub who are IKEAs charity partners on the mission. 

Enjoy and adjo.

How to Live Lagom with IKEA

Lagom isn't a word you're likely to have come come across in the past. Unless of course you're Swedish that is.

Last year's buzzword 'Hygge' came from the Danes. Hygge roughly translated means to 'make cosy and enjoy the good things in life' - think warm blankets, comfort food, friends and log fires... Nice.

'Lagom' from the Swedes means 'The right amount is best'. Not too much, not too little, just right. A bit like a Swedish Goldilocks with her porridge if you will.

So to Live Lagom is to do what you personally can to live a balanced life - particularly in terms of the environment. Try not to buy too much food that then goes to waste, try to wash your clothes in warm water, change some light bulbs, ditch the car for the local shop run.... Basically it's doing what you can without going overboard.

When IKEA told me about their Live Lagom project I was sold almost immediately. I had become a little lazy in my recycling efforts and one too many times had caught myself chucking a hard-to-wash can or jar in the bin because 'well what difference is it really going to make...?'

Looking at some of the facts available from IKEA brought me fully on board. The £500 I was given to spend on IKEA sustainable products had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with it of course.


If you need some convincing if doing a bit of Live Lagoming yourself is worth it have a look at these:

That's some pretty impressive motivation right there.

My product choices were primarily kitchen, energy and 'hygge-ing' related. More efficient cooking, less energy waste, and more cosying up of our home.

I'll be sharing my product choices and what made the most difference very soon. Once I've unpacked them all that is.