Most of what we buy we don’t need, but the culture of consumerism is so ingrained that we believe we do, or, at least, that we deserve to have what we want. Retailers, manufacturers and their advertising agencies tell us so. But is it necessary to become a nonconsumer? The evidence that humanity is suffocating its home planet is mounting; biodiversity loss, global heating, … [Read more...] about Nonconsumerism: why shopping is killing the planet
frugal living
Climate Crisis: how to act NOW to protect the planet
The science is unquestionable, the message loud and clear, we need to change our way of life. And now. A climate emergency is under way. The only place we know of in the universe which can support humanity is dying. The lives of its seven billion inhabitants are at risk. The response should take the form of a global crisis plan in which the governance of nation states becomes … [Read more...] about Climate Crisis: how to act NOW to protect the planet
Why I left my PhD
I left my PhD after a year. I loved my topic but I didn't want to just read about it, I wanted to live it. I didn't feel the need to prove my knowledge and experience to others and I didn't need to be recognised as a master of my field. The passion was certainly there (in bucketloads), and I did want to promote the idea to others. But that is not a PhD. Talking my thoughts … [Read more...] about Why I left my PhD
How to thrive as a one income family
We have made a choice to live on one income in order to home educate our son. It could have been that we set things up more equally, with us both spending some time working and some time with our child. And maybe that would have been better in some respects. But my partner has a career he loves and has worked hard at, and after taking maternity leave, I didn't feel ready to … [Read more...] about How to thrive as a one income family
Mortgage-free at 40
I always intended to be mortgage-free before I turned 40 and we made the deadline with months to spare. It took us 12 years. I’m proud of our achievement, but we took an unconventional path. It’s the first house we bought and will probably be the last. We bought it in a city with cheap housing and, although it’s on a quiet street close to the city centre it was relatively … [Read more...] about Mortgage-free at 40
