Avoiding the Christmas Rush
For many people Christmas is the most stressful time of the year. It shouldn’t be. Yes, Christmas is a traditional time of giving, and there’s nothing … Read more
Simplicity
Soft landing or brutal crash?
Energy will never be as cheap as it is now. The question is do we act now and transition to a low-energy society while energy is still … Read more
8 good reasons to take your kids camping
There are many good reasons why you should get your kids out camping. It might be easier to stay at home where everything is convenient, where there … Read more
Small is beautiful
E.F. (Fritz) Schumacher (1911-1977) was a German-born British economist, writer and social commentator. He is best known for his critique of Western economies and his proposals … Read more
Microadventures
As Art Buchwald said, “The best things in life are not things”. The best things in life are intangibles like relationships, life events and experiences. Good experiences last … Read more
In praise of the bicycle
Do you remember riding your bike as a youngster? The exhilaration, freedom and sheer joy of propelling yourself wherever you wanted go? Your bike was literally … Read more
How to avoid packaging
People might think that by eliminating plastic shopping bags they are doing their bit for the environment. There has been too much focus on shopping bags when … Read more
Why cash is best
There are a number of good reasons why cash is best when buying things: For a start it’s real. Paying in cash forces you to consider the real purchase price. You have no choice but to consider how much money you’re paying overall, and not just what you’ll have to pay as a deposit or on a periodic basis.
Making Do
In any situation or circumstance people have to make do with what they have. In modern western market societies give us more goods and services than we need for well-being. People work hours longer than they need to and often go into debt so that they don’t have to make do. Subsequently the art of making do has been lost. We New Zealanders have a long proud tradition of making do.