If your New Year’s resolutions involve saving money, time or the planet – or all three – we’ve got some great suggestions for eco-friendly challenges that will help you achieve your goals this year.

1 -Try a no-spend month
During a no-spend month, the idea is not to spend money on anything except essential items such as food, transport, bills and housing. The rule is simple: take one month off from your usual spending habits in order to build up a significant amount of savings in the bank as well as reducing your footprint as a consumer. Essentials could include rent/mortgage, bills, healthcare and groceries, while non-essentials are things like eating out, takeaway coffees, cinema tickets and new clothes. At the beginning of the month, make sure all your essentials are covered, and stock up on pantry items and bathroom essentials such as eco-friendly toilet paper.

2 - Sign up for Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. The Plastic Free July challenge simply means refusing single-use plastics and you can sign up for the challenge here. You’ll receive tips and tricks in regular weekly emails during July to help you keep motivated throughout the month. You can also read stories about Plastic Free July participants and other news and updates about this fantastic global movement.

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3 - Go plogging
Have you ever heard of plogging? It simply means jogging and picking up litter. The term “plogging” is coined from the English phrase “jogging” and “plocka upp”, a Swedish term that means “picking up”. The movement launched in 2016 and took off swiftly around the globe, allowing people to combine two of their passions – running and taking care of the environment. All it takes is a bag, some gloves and some running shoes to get started. Find out more here.

4 - Eat and shop local        
Eating and shopping locally doesn’t just reduce your carbon footprint; it also benefits your local economy and local producers. Avoid the big chain stores and supermarkets and seek out farmers markets and local vendors who carry local goods for your purchases. Eat at local, small, family-run restaurants and support local businesses too.

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5 - Green up your home
Small changes around the house can make a significant impact on the environment. Fix any leaky taps, switch your light bulbs to energy saving ones, pop a two-minute timer on every time you have a shower and don’t run the tap while you brush your teeth. Check out our blog on easy low-cost ways to green up your home for more ideas.