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A seminar was lead by David McCabe and Philip Stroughair, both Chartered Accountants with a personal interest in “living simply”. The format was strongly interactive with suggestions and ideas from the floor all of which were noted on computer and projected onto the wall as the seminar progressed. Fun and plenty of laughter was the order of the day. At the end of the seminar all participants were given a hard copy listing all the ideas and suggestions that arose during the morning to take home with them whilst others were sent a soft copy by email.

The seminar was structured along the following lines:

1. Buying food and cooking – reduce meat and increase fruit and vegetables, get your own hens, grow your own vegetables, shop at LIDL etc.
2. Lifestyle choices – use public transport, cycling, walking, make your own sandwiches for lunch, cut back on magazines, lattés, cable TV, central heating, repairs, clothes, avoid use of credit cards etc.
3. Boosting your income – take part-time jobs, market your hobby (e.g. arts and crafts), clean out the attic and garage, use E-bay, rent out one room (boarder), etc.
4. Once-off decisions – take cheaper holidays, change to a smaller car, seek cheaper house and motor insurance, insulate your home, and seek financial advice.

At the end of the seminar a “Feedback Form” was circulated and some of the comments were as follows:

“Develop a barter system within the church.”

“Set up a directory of talents whereby members of the church could offer their skills free of charge to other members e.g. painting, plumbing, car maintenance, personal finances”

“Review my tax credits”

“Paying myself a cash allowance on Monday morning and making it last the week”

“Bake my own wholemeal bread”

“Shop in charity shops”