Interesting concept with some useful information, but I found it incredibly hard-going to read sadly :(
I was somehow expecting a more colourful volume and that was perhaps an oversight on my part and not a direct fault of the book.

Still, a pleasant and useful manual of how to make subtle changes in your life to benefit your house and the wider environment. Although I do quibble the use of various eco products - as much as I desperately want to make changes for the better, eco products are significantly more expensive in the majority of supermarkets. This makes me question the use of 'budget' in the title.

Why did no one tell me you can make golden syrup at home?! This book is already worth it.

This is my first run in with Nancy, but I like her chatty style and simple instructions. Having anecdotes from her life is helpful as well, as it shows how her cleaners work in 'real' life. I skimmed some of the recipes but will definitely come back to them next time I need one, and it seems like everything is covered here!

Increasingly we all need to be using this kind of knowledge, and it's great to have it so handily compiled and ready for us here. This is a great start to get everyone going greener.

I read The Green Budget Guide without knowing anything about Nancy Birtwhistle. After finishing it, I looked up her Instagram page, and found her to be SO DARLING and sweet and grandmotherly that the tone of my review has entirely changed. Choose kindness, always, I suppose!

I did not NOT like this book. I found myself bookmarking a few interesting bits, but also spending a lot of time thinking, “This feels like something from an Instagram reel” (turns out that’s exactly what most of the tips are).

Basically, there is not much in The Green Budget Guide that can NOT be found on Birtwhistle’s Instagram page, which essentially makes the book mostly for people not on Instagram (which aren’t that many… right?). Much of the content of the book also seemed more like “general life advice” - like making an oven dessert if you are going to use the oven for supper, anyway. But now that I’ve seen her grandmotherliness on Instagram, her giving sweet and well-meaning life advice, makes complete sense.

So The Green Budget Guide, besides introducing me to Nancy Birtwhistle and her social media (which I will much rather use as reference), is a bit of a “miss” for me.

We have enjoyed Nancy's green Gardening book and decided to get this one too - full of great information and Eco friendly and cost friendly!

I absolutely love Nancy Birtwhistle, whether you're at the beginning of your green journey or already in it, this is the book for you. Packed with great tips, recipes and things you can do at home, this book has it all. There are some fantastic cleaning tips, gift ideas, cooking ideas and tips, home hacks and so much more. This book is number 3 in the range and every one is amazing! It makes me think of those good housekeeping books your mum or nan had when you read younger. Thank you to the publishers, the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book!

Solid collection of Nancy's usual useful cleaning and life tips. All explained with an accessible no nonsense approach

I remember Nancy Birtwhistle winning the Great British Bake Off way back in 2014 and being so impressed by her ability with all sorts of baking. She was obviously someone who had a huge background knowledge of all sorts of things and used them in her everyday life. Since then I've taken to following her on Instagram, not just for her (foolproof) recipes but also for her environmentally sound and economical tips for around the house and garden.

This book is an eclectic mix of all sorts of homemade recipes for cleaning products, tips for how to remove stains from all sorts of materials and a jumble of all sorts of other items that make up an essential reference book for every household. Nancy has always come across as someone you'd love to have a coffee and a chat with, a brilliant neighbour who knows everything and is happy to help. It's not necessarily a book you pick up and read in one go, but it's one that every kitchen could use on its shelf to refer to when needed. I love the fact that her items are greener as well as cheaper than most shop bought cleaners, easy to put together with ingredients that can be bought in most supermarkets and are adaptable to anyone's lifestyle. Highly highly recommended as an accessible way to make a difference.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
#TheGreenBudgetGuide #NetGalley

5* The Green Budget Guide by Nancy Birtwhistle is a genuine must have for every home - an eclectic mix of hints, tips and potions which will make life easier, resurrect items that would otherwise be discarded and some fantastic recipes along the way. All the while sustainable and entirely green thinking.

This Guide is a monster of information. No page is wasted and it is beautifully balanced in being informative but informal, without unnecessary detail.

Starting with a how-to guide to make essential home products such as green bleach and all purpose spray cleaner, it goes on to outline a host of common issues and how to deal with them. From removing soot from a carpet (I used that one and it worked a treat) to mould spores on your favourite leather shoes.

However, this is so much more than a book of household tips. Nancy has delicious recipes which are mindful of cost and great suggestions for how to be both energy and cost efficient in the kitchen.

Beyond the kitchen there are life hacks such as how to make your own de-icer for the car windscreen and what to do when the colours run in the washing machine.

I have ordered a hard copy of this book because it is a very special reference guide for when things go wrong but also an informative read about how to save time, money and cost, as well as doing your bit for the planet.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I love Nancy's Instagram account for amazing tips on saving money and being greener so I'm really excited to read this book fully which is written in Nancy's very accessible style. As well as being green, these are also money saving ideas so this will have a wide appeal to most people. Highly recommend this for a Christmas present or to kick off the new year in a green way

Lots of helpful tips in this guide, both on budgeting and saving the planet. For example the cleaners and the flexi recipes. Anyone can learn a lot from this book, in my opinion. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.