Life & hacks facts

Tips, tricks and remedies that will change how you go about everyday tasks, for the better.

Coffee grounds (in moderate doses) are a healthy source of nutrients for your soil and are also great for deterring aphids. Simply mulch around your plants with your morning’s coffee leftovers.

Oatmeal bath

Organic porridge oats make a wonderful skin softener when added to bath water. Cut some squares of muslin measuring approximately 20 x 20cm. Place a handful of oats together with some herb flowers, or a sprig or two of your chosen herb, on each square of muslin. Gather up the corners and tie securely with ribbon or string to form a bag. Make the ribbon long enough to tie to the hot water tap so that the running water deluges the bag, or just drop the bag into the bath and squeeze it until water turns milky. From A Guide to Natural Housekeeping by Christina Strutt

Grow food, not lawn

If you hate mowing the lawn or paying someone to do it for you, why not convert it into a vegetable garden instead. Check out foodnotlawns.com for extra tips.

Two ways with strawberries

Use an egg slicer to slice strawberries or kiwifruit for a pavlova. Another way to prep strawberries is to use a reusable stainless steel straw to push the stem and core out, instead of cutting the top of the strawberry off with a knife. This keeps the strawberry’s shape and creates less waste.

Gift idea

A pretty cup and saucer from a thrift shop filled with confectionery or dried flowers makes a lovely gift.

Carry cash

Research shows if you pay in cash rather than with a credit card, you’ll likely spend less. Try leaving the credit card at home and carry $100 cash instead.