Can everyone afford to be ethical?

There has been a lot in the press recently about being green and being ethical with regards to energy bills and free range chickens. Most people would agree that it usually comes down to a matter of choice. It may cost more to switch to a green energy tariff or buy a free range chicken but most people can afford a couple of pounds a week extra to do their bit. My opinion is that is you are a bit strapped for cash them maybe smoke or drink less to save the money to afford these things (that is assuming you have enough spare cash for cigarettes and alcohol: no-one should expect families on the breadline to make their lives any harder). The real question is ‘where do you draw the line?’

I’ve been on my ethical shopping crusade for several months now and it’s been fairly successful. I have mostly been avoiding temptation and staying away from shops. I have walked past all the high street sales and ducked into the charity shops instead. So I’m feeling pretty snug and self righteous with my ethical shopping but I have struck upon a rather massive spanner in the shopping works: I have bought a house. The house isn’t the problem, its second (or third, or fourth) hand and it’s not from a high street chain store but how do I decorate it? The house needs a little work and I’m viewing it as akin to a piece of second hand clothing that needs a little repair work before I can wear it. My dilemma is do I buy a great environmentally friendly paint like ecopaint or scrimp every penny to pay the mortgage and just buy it from B&Q?

At what point do I, or anyone else for that matter, say ‘enough is enough, I’ve done my bit’ and go with the easy and cheaper option? It’s all well and good when the government and media start telling everyone to be green and turn our thermostats down but when we’re shivering with cold under three layers of blankets isn’t it time to think about ourselves again? I think some of us actually could go the whole hog if we thought that MPs and government officials were tucked up shivering in their blankets too but I sincerely doubt they are. It is a matter of personal choice and I know many people choice not to even think about it. Being ethical is difficult and it can become expensive. I have drawn my line and it lies between need and want. I need food and I need paint. I only want clothes, conditioner and non essential bits and bobs. I’ll buy food (although I try to get local, organic and free range as much as I can) and I’ll buy paint. My clothes and other frivolous spends will be ethically sourced.