How does your lifestyle impact the poor?
Not a nice question. Generally it makes me feel a) guilty and b) powerless that I can actually make a difference.
God doesn't want us feeling this way. He wants us to see just how relevant our faith is to the way we live.
The purpose of this section is to pull together ideas of daily 'small steps' that we can all take to bless the poor and the world that God has made.
For bigger ideas on how to live a lifestyle that reflects a heart for those in poverty check out our guide to Food, Fashion and Finance click here to lift the label on the decisions you make very day!
Hopefully you'll have plenty more ideas, please send these to uncovered@tearfund.org
Food & drink
1. Look out for the Fairtrade mark when you shop. It guarantees that farmers receive a fair price for what they produce. Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk for the full range of products.
2. When buying meat, take into account how the animal has been treated. Organic and free range meat is now widely available.
3. Use a mug rather than a plastic cup.
Recycling & waste
1. Give your old books to charity.
2. Register for mail preference service and stop junk mail at www.mpsonline.org.uk
3. Use both sides of a piece of paper.
4. Go through your wardrobe and give away anything you haven't worn for 6 months.
5. Check out freecycle.org, a great new initiative to stop items that can be used again ending up in landfill.
Shopping
1. Decline plastic bags wherever possible. Each takes 500 years to decay. Tesco are even giving 'green points' if you re-use!
2. Pay more than the asking price at charity shops.
3. Buy an environmentally friendly washing powder (Ecover is one that is widely available).
4. Ask in shops about their ethical policies either by a customer comment card or better still, directly to the manager.
5. Try to buy goods with less packaging where possible.
At home
1. Fit energy-saving light bulbs. They'll save you money too.
2. Turn your thermostat down by one degree.
3. Don't overfill your kettle.
4. Avoid leaving appliances on standby.
5. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth.
6. Switch your electricity to a green tariff. If you are renting ask your landlord if they would consider doing so.
On holiday
1. Think about where you money goes when you book a holiday. Try to spend in a way that benefits local people.
2. Offset the carbon cost of your air travel at www.co2.org
3. Haggle on the basis of what something is worth to you, not to get it as cheap as possible.
4. Don't buy products made from endangered species e.g hardwoods, shells etc
Buy an extra gift
There are lots of projects locally that collect toys and gifts for those who are unlikely to get as much as us throughout the year. Why not buy an extra gift next time a birthday comes around (if money is tight use the three for two offer at Boots) and bring a little cheer to a stranger this year.
Give some time
With lots of holiday time as a student, why not find out where your local soup kitchen is and give a few hours to serve those who need it most.
Where is your local hospital? Why not contact their voluntary department (most have a volunteer coordinator) and spend some time visiting those stuck in bed? Or even baby-sit for a single parent so they can have a night out?
Make a birthday list with a difference
How about asking your friends and family to give some money to a charity of your choice rather than add to your collection of ‘things that will collect dust’. You can give online any time day or night to Tearfund and they don’t even need to find parking place to do it!
Buy ethical gifts in 2007
Tearfund also have a gift catalogue why not do your shopping from it for more info go to www.tearcraft.org. Tearcraft exists to benefit skilled artisans from some of the world’s poorest communities, helping them to create and market products of the highest standard and ensure that a fair price is paid for their work. That means that every purchase you make has a real and positive impact.