24 actions for 2024

Keep hearing new year, new me? Stepping into a new year can make us all question what we can do to lead happier, healthier lives - but making lots of ambitious resolutions can often leave us feeling like we’ve bitten off more than we can chew.

That’s why we’ve put together a big list of 24 actions you can take throughout the year which can help you to pick up more sustainable habits, whilst also helping you to save money, learn new skills, make friends and hopefully become even healthier and happier. Dive on in to learn more about our top 24 tips for 2024…

1 - Plant trees whilst you browse

Did you know that some internet search engines offer unique benefits just for using them? Ecosia is a newer search engine which uses revenue from adverts to plant new trees all over the globe. So, simply by searching and browsing, your actions are helping to make the world a greener place! Check out Ecosia here.

2 - Sign up to our newsletter

Our monthly newsletter is packed full of handy tips, guides, inspirational stories, and exciting opportunities to get involved with In Our Nature projects across Manchester. So if you’re looking for a quick win, let us do some of the work, and subscribe here.

3 - Give your wardrobe a DIY glow up

Making our wardrobes go further can be a great way to explore new trends without breaking the bank. Just because an item is a bit older, or even damaged, doesn’t mean it’s gone for good! From dying old t-shirts, patching over holes in denim jeans and jackets, and creating new accessories from our old garms, there are loads of ways we can restyle our wardrobes for less. Check out these tips for more.

4 - Cook up a storm

Batch cooking is a great way of preventing food waste at home and has a bunch of other big benefits too, including saving energy, saving money and – maybe the most precious of all – saving our time. By cooking more food than we need, we can save some leftovers for later in the week to take to work or for when we can’t be bothered to cook something up from scratch. Check out this batch cooking guide for more.

5 - Explore your ward’s carbon footprint

Different areas across Manchester have a different effect on our cities carbon emissions, depending on things like the age of our homes, how they were built, and the technology they use. That’s why we’ve begun creating carbon footprints for each ward in Manchester to help us understand how our carbon footprints differ between areas, and see what changes we can make to become more efficient. See if your area is on the list!

6 - Take a load off and wash clothes less often

Did you know washing our clothes less can make them last much longer? Each time you wash something the fabric begins to degrade (and can release micro-plastics into the environment!). Washing on cool and eco settings will help to save on your energy bills too. If you find a small stain, try spot cleaning it instead of throwing the whole item in the wash (check out this spot cleaning guide for more!)

7 - See if you’re eligible for energy support

There are lots of different initatives that exist to support people in making their homes more energy efficient, but they aren’t always easy to find. That’s why we put together a list of resources for people living in Manchester who might be eligible for support, like installing a new boiler or receiving a discount on insulation. Head here for more info.

8 - Shine a little light: switch to LED lightbulbs

Since older incandescent lightbulbs utilise most of their energy to produce heat rather than light, LED lightbulbs are way more efficient and help us to light our homes at less cost. Plus, they’re super durable and should last for thousands of hours of use.

 9 - Try meat free Mondays (and maybe Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays too)

Meat is a massive contributor to global emissions and climate change (FAO), and our demand for meat has caused hugely unsustainable farming practices around the world. By cutting down the amount of meat we eat, even just a little bit, we’re helping to reduce emissions and encourage more sustainable ways of farming. Plus, veggie life can be just as healthy, nutritious and tasty!

10 - Embrace refillables

Refillable containers are all the rage right now, and with good reason! Whether you’re bringing coffee, soup, water or a crunchy salad on your journey, these trusty companions can go wherever you go, and keep your energy levels topped up throughout the day. They also stop us from buying single use containers which will go straight into the bin, and they save us from spending money on even more packaging.

11 - Get energy smart with a smart meter (they’re free!)

Smart meters are a brilliant way of understanding how we use energy in homes and they can help us to identify areas where we can prevent energy from going to waste too. The best bit? They’re also free! Simply contact your energy provider to have one installed. Find out more here.

12 - Cultivate an oasis of herbs

If you’ve never grown plants, fruit or veg at home, herbs can be a great place to start! They only take up a little bit of space, they don’t require lots of attention, and they can go in almost everything you cook. Plus, they’ll last for ages and save you from having to buy new herbs in your weekly shop. Sound good? Check out this guide to growing at home!

13 - Explore Manchester’s parks

Greater Manchester is full of wonderful local parks, from the giant Heaton Park up in North Manchester to the new Mayfield Park right in the heart of the city. Getting outdoors has a range of wonderful benefits for our physical and mental health. Check out our guide to see how you can reach some of our favourite MCR parks by public transport.

14 - Become a freezer fanatic

The freezer can be one of your biggest kitchen allies, and it can store more items than you might think! Whether you’re going away on holiday, storing some leftovers or you want to save something from going to waste, there are lots of foods you can store in your freezer – from bread to eggs (yup, even eggs!) – which you can save and use whenever you need them. Head here for more freezer facts!

15 - Gift your old phone

In most of our homes in the UK there are often multiple old mobile phones lying around, which have been retired in favour of newer models. But, often our old phones still work perfectly fine and could make the world of difference to someone who doesn’t have a phone at all. Initiatives like Hubbub and O2’s Community Calling seek to collect old phones and redistribute them to those in need, to help reduce digital exclusion and prevent working mobiles from being thrown away. Head here to find out more info about Community Calling and see whether you could donate your old phone too.

16 - Make second-hand your first choice

Buying second hand is now easier than ever thanks to the likes of Vinted, Ebay, and Facebook Marketplace. Whether you’re looking for a bike, a wardrobe or a winter coat, shopping second-hand will likely save you lots of money without forcing you to sacrifice on quality.

17 - Reduce food waste (and try your hand at composting) 

Food waste is a huge issue here in the UK, with lots of the food we buy every week sadly ending up in our bins. There are lots of simple things we can do to make the most of our delicious grub, such as meal planning, batch cooking and finding recipes for our leftovers. Composting would also make a big difference, as it helps to break down biodegradable materials which can then be used as natural fertilizers in our gardens, and help us to grow more from scratch.  

18 - Reuse containers to make your own plant pots

When you begin growing at home you’re likely to make a few mistakes along the way until you learn more about what plants need to thrive. In this more experimental phase, you can save some money and prevent landfill waste by using old plastic or metal containers (such as butter tubs, yoghurt pots and tin cans) to plant as many seeds as your heart desires!

19 - Bring your garden to life 

There are lots of things you can do to make your garden a wilder, more buzzing place. Start by planting wildflowers and letting your grass grow longer to encourage pollinators, create DIY bird feeders out of discarded materials, and even have a go at making your own pond!

20 - Find some friends to grow with

Growing alone can be a bit of a struggle, especially if you don’t know where to start. Thankfully, there are lots of groups across Manchester who can help! This growing network of community groups is always on the lookout for new members who can create a greener Manchester. Take a look to see where your nearest garden is.

21 - Design your own bug hotel

Insects and bugs play a vital role in bringing our gardens and greenspaces to life, and bug hotels are a great way to give them a little helping hand. Bug hotels can be made out of all sorts of leftover materials, and can be great fun to make with little ones too. Explore our bug hotel guide for more.

22 - Embark on a tasty treasure hunt

Foraging can be a super interesting and rewarding hobby that you can do alone or with friends, while helping us to explore lots of different types of plants in our local environment. Things like mushrooms, wild garlic and wild fruits can provide us with lots of new recipes to try out and give us a new appreciation of nature. If you’re thinking of going for a forage, please seek advice from professionals or begin by going on a local foraging workshop.

23 - Take the chill off and become a draught hunter

Unfortunately draughts can be found all over our homes, mainly around our windows and doors. Spending some time hunting for draughts can be a rewarding experience, as once you’ve found the source of the chill you can do something about it! Strips of draught tape are available at most DIY shops, and they can be really useful in helping to seal gaps around leaky windows or doors, and even be used on your loft hatch. Take things up a notch by making a DIY draught excluder to keep your home even more toasty, like this one made from an old pair of jeans!

24 - Find your local repair café

We’ve all felt the pain when a trusted household item breaks on us, and the stress of having to buy a replacement. But, did you know that lots of our common household items can often be easily repaired instead of being replaced? More and more repair café’s are popping up across the city, like this one at the Boiler House in Moss Side where skilled experts help residents to repair their items (for free). So, the next time your toaster is on the blink, head to Google to find your nearest repair café!