There's a big buzz around repurposing and upcycling at the moment, and it's easy to see why: preventing waste is one area where frugal and green living come together, and if you're not already worrying about the state of the planet, the odds are you'll have given some thought to your financial predicament.

Over the next few weeks we'll be looking into all sorts of creative ways you can re-use objects around the home and turn them into unique objects that are even better than new. This week, the theme is lighting: follow the jump for some great ideas for lighting up your home in style using free or inexpensive materials that would otherwise go to waste.

Making Christmas a green event is already fraught with difficulties, but what about doing it on a budget? We're used to shelling out massively at this time of year, but as our guide will show you, it's quite possible to make it a green and affordable occasion.

Click on the image below for some smart strategies for a sustainable celebration.

After wading through a most unwelcome mountain of junk mail as I attempted to leave the house this morning, I was very much cheered to stumble on this piece of artwork, made by creating a collage entirely out of 'direct marketing' leaflets. The process to create this eyecatching piece of contemporary art is astonishingly simple, and has been documented stage by stage here.

It certainly made me want to get out my scissors and have a go, but if you'd like to rid your life of unwanted mail without going to quite so much effort, remember you can always sign up with the Mail Preference Service.

[Via Re-nest]

Offices, like all communal spaces, are notorius for descending into messy chaos if people don't take responsibility for keeping them clean, and when it comes to ensuring a tidy carbon footprint, it's exactly the same deal.

The first thing to remember when trying to green up your office is to talk to everyone in it and make sure they don't have any funny ideas about what this might entail. Do they, for example, think it's impossible to recycle plastic, or that buying in bottled water is a good idea? Clear up any myths, assign roles and draw up a rota for recycling, composting, charity shop collecting and any other great ideas you might have. Then make sure you've got the following solutions in place...

Follow the jump to find out what else you can do to make your office a greener place

I may be in my thirties, but to me, September still feels like 'back to school' time every time it rolls around: it's the time of year to get organised, re-jig your wardrobe, get down to wok and most importantly...buy stationery!

How can you ensure that all that buying and stocking up has as small an impact on the planet as possible? Here are a few tips in our green 'back to school' guide, whether you're really going back into education, or just like to pretend you're still 12.

Read on after the jump for our suggestions

Having thought I'd 'got the set' when it came to kitchen cupboard ingredients with hidden uses, I was amazed at the number of suggestions I received for other handy and green ways to tackle household chores using safe substances. And thanks to Cafedirect, I've now discovered a whole load of uses for coffee I never knew about, from you pest control to beauty needs.

Read on to find out about coffee's hidden uses!

Since I've been editing hippyshopper, I've been amazed to discover how many safe and non-toxic everyday substances work wonders around the house, and are more than sufficient for the jobs we tend to give use harsh chemicals for.

I thought I'd already got the set, but then I discovered another un-sung wonder substance: soda water. Read on after the jump to discover its hidden powers...

Related: Top 10 eco-friendly uses for olive oil | Top 10 eco-friendly uses for salt | Top 10 eco-friendly things to do with lemons

Cutting down on salt in your diet will do your body a lot of good, but it's surprisingly useful in other walks of life.

Follow the jump for our list of alternative uses for salt, from a magic method of cleaning up cracked eggs, to soothing body treatments. All of these pieces of wisdom will give you a healthier use for this cheap and plentiful substance, and will help you cut down on your use of chemicals at the same time.

Related: Top 10 eco friendly uses for lemons | Top 10 eco friendly uses for olive oil

We're all converts to olive oil and the health-giving properties it brings to our diets. But there are many more uses for the Mediterranean staple than you might think, and it can be used as a greener alternative to all kinds of everyday household products. Follow the jump for the full list.

1. Shave. Olive oil can provide a closer shave when used in place of shaving cream. This reduces your 'chemical splash' and stops you having to use dubious chemicals on your skin.

2. Shine stainless steel. Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.

3. Remove eye makeup. Dab a little under the eyes and rinse off with a washcloth. Quick, easy and no parabens!

Related: Top 10 eco-friendly uses for lemons

Lemons are our friends, and so are the people at Eco Street, so we thought we'd share their top tips on how the humble lemon can help you live an eco-friendly life. From cooking to cleaning to fighting off a cold, lemons really can do a lot for a small fruit. Read on for 10 eco-friendly things that you can do with lemons, then hot-foot it to your local farmers market to stock up!

1. Grow a lemon tree - the most eco-friendly thing to do with lemons is grow them so that you have your own carbon neutral supply. These can be grown in the UK, believe it or not.

2. Highlight your hair - much better for you and the environment than commercial bleaches. Mix the juice of one lemon with one teaspoon of salt and apply to your hair with a comb. Get out into the sun for a couple of hours. Do some vegetable gardening, tend your lemon tree, go for a walk, you get the picture. Don't do this too often, it will dry your hair out.

More lemony tips after the jump