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Bedroom

4 Easy low-cost & FREE ways to refresh your bedroom for spring

Over the winter we often like to keep our bedrooms warm and cosy, with thick duvets and blankets, but there are so many benefits to refreshing your rooms for spring, including better sleep and a healthier space. These free or low-cost ideas will help you to achieve that crisp, fresh feeling…

Spring

4 Ways to adjust to daylight saving time with ease

As the clocks spring forward this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to figure out how to minimise the effects of the time change on our brains and to make sure we can still get a great night’s sleep throughout BST…

Allotment

Allotment update: Frosty days on the plot

Now that it’s winter and the ground is frozen over, what CAN still be done on the allotment? I’ve shared a rather frosty update to let you know how my veggie patch is getting on…

HOME DIY

How to heat your home well this winter with these energy-saving tips

You may think that going without heating for as long as you can is a money-saving solution to the cost-of-living crisis. However, the impact of a cold home on your health and on the property itself means you really should heat your home whenever you can. But that doesn’t mean spending a small fortune on energy. Here are some ideas to help you cut costs AND stay warm this winter…

Living Spaces

10 Things to consider before installing a cosy fireplace

There’s nothing more festive than a real log fire burning in the grate of a fireplace. However, many homes have had their fireplaces removed over the years and no longer have that cosy Christmassy feel. So, if you fancy reinstating your fireplace this winter, here are some facts to consider…

Autumn

3 Ways to minimise the cost of your autumn wedding

If you’re planning a wedding for this autumn or next, congratulations! Whether you’ve got a defined budget to stick to or simply want to create your dream wedding for a fraction of the cost, here are some thrifty tips to help you achieve that…

Autumn

Party hosting tips for an early autumn get-together

September is the ideal time for an early autumn gathering. It’s not too hot and not too cold – the ideal Goldilocks weather for an outdoor meet-up with your family and friends before the winter comes. Here are some ideas for hosting a cosy garden party this autumn…

HOME DIY

How to maintain your flooring to make it last longer

Flooring is an often overlooked part of our homes but it’s also one of the things that really makes a room look tired if it’s not kept in good condition. Here are some tips to maintain your floors and save money in the long term…

Beauty

How to make savings on your summer essentials

With the promise of a long hot summer to come, now is the perfect time to get your warm-weather essentials sorted. If you plan ahead, you’ll be able to find the best (and lowest!) prices on the things you need to survive the summer…

HOME DIY

How to create a feature wall that works for all seasons

At this time of year I often start thinking about redecorating my home. With the darker days I like the idea of adding dark colours and feature walls, but I know that it won’t work for the rest of the year. So, how do you create an interior that looks seasonal but all works all year round?

Festive

5 Upcycled (and free!) DIY Christmas wreathes

I love to make wreathes to decorate my doors at Christmas and create something special from garden foliage or leftover materials. Here are a few ideas for different styles of festive wreath to get you started…

MONEY MANAGEMENT

3 Tips for using credit wisely this holiday season

‘Tis the season to shop ‘til you drop, but are your finances prepared for the holiday’s big bill? If not, it may be tempting to borrow money to afford the festivities, but this is a quick way of putting your finances on the naughty list…

Autumn

3 Things that you can get a great deal on in September

Did you know that shopping seasonally doesn’t only apply to food? When you buy any product there will be a cheaper season to buy it and you can make some impressive savings by purchasing at the right time of year. Here are some items that you’ll definitely get a deal on in September…

Autumn

5 Ideas for autumn entertaining in your garden

Late summer/early autumn is a lovely time of year – the weather is still warm (but not too hot) and there’s plenty of plants still blooming in the garden. This combination makes it an ideal time for outdoor entertaining so here are some tips to make sure your gathering is cosy and fun…

Allotment

Grow-your-own garden July update – Harvest

I can finally report that we have been enjoying some veg from our kitchen garden! The plot is doing well, so much so that we’ve had to start freezing the excess produce! Here’s an update on this month’s bumper harvest…

Seasons

15 Ways to prepare for a long hot August

With heat waves predicted and a sunny summer ahead of us, heat can make life difficult if we’re not prepared for it. Here are some ways to get your home, your pets and yourselves ready for a long hot August…

Summer

5 Summer essentials for day trips and UK breaks

If you’re venturing out for day trips this summer, or even going on your first UK holiday in years, there are some essentials you’ll need to take with you for enjoyable and safe days in the sun. Here’s what you should add to your ‘summer essentials’ kit:

HOME DIY

Money-saving simple spring spruce-ups for your home

In the spring I love to find new ways to spruce up my home; tidying, decluttering and revamping my interior. Of course, I always want any improvements to be as low-cost as possible so here are some thrifty tips to get your home looking fab for spring…

Pets

5 Ways to keep your cat happy and healthy all winter long

Winter is a dream for some cats (cosy radiators, yay) & a right pain for others (urgh wet weather). Either way, your pet may need a little extra attention during the winter months so here are some ideas for keeping your cat happy and healthy this season…

Autumn

How to deal with darker days for better physical & mental health

With the clocks going back at the weekend we’ve now got to deal with darker days and the impending winter. And when there’s not as much daylight it’s not particularly good for our mental and physical health. Here are some easy ways to take care of yourself…

Autumn

3 Home and garden maintenance tasks to tackle in the autumn

After a long summer relaxing at home and in the garden there will no doubt be a few maintenance tasks that need doing. Some can be added to your spring cleaning list, but others would be good tackle now to keep you safe & happy over the winter months…

Autumn

4 Autumnal hot drink recipes for International Coffee Day

Did you know it’s International Coffee Day today?? There’s nothing better than wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of something hot, is there? Here are 4 tasty hot drink recipes to keep you cosy and warm in throughout autumn and into winter…

DIY

3 Space-saving Christmas trees you can DIY from upcycled materials

Over the years I’ve lived in some rather small homes and it’s been difficult to decorate for Christmas in such a compact space. However, that’s never stopped me from filling my home with festive decor each December and, in fact, I’ve quite enjoyed the challenge of making my own DIY space-saving Christmas trees. Here are three ways to upcycle pallets, pipes and paint to create your own unique festive decor that doesn’t take up too much space…

Festive

Why a DIY or vintage advent calendar is the best way to count down to Christmas…

If you’re as excited about Christmas as I am this year, you’ll be feeling ‘fizzy’ today – which is exactly how I felt when I turned on my laptop and realised that it’s the 1st December! My days just run together at times and I often lose track of the date, so it was a surprise and a joy to discover that today’s the day that I’m officially ‘allowed’ to get excited about Christmas!

Festive

3 Ways to DIY a Scandinavian style star wreath for Christmas

If you want to add some festive touches to your walls but don’t want to go all-out with tinsel and garlands, today’s DIY star wreathes could be the solution. They’re a minimalistic, Scandi-style and look great in both contemporary or rustic homes so here’s how to recreate this simple Nordic look for yourself…

Money Saving Tips

Easy maintenance tasks to help save money on car bills – even unexpected ones

Simple maintenance tasks that to ensure that your car keeps running smoothly. Not only will these fortnightly, monthly and yearly checks help to keep your vehicle in good condition, they’ll also allow you to solve any problems as soon as they arise – and before they become bigger, more costly issues. Here are some vehicle maintenance tips that might help you cut the cost of car ownership:

Festive

100 days to Christmas! How to prepare for the festive season (+ stay stress-free)

Ooh the Christmas countdown has really snuck up on me this year and now it’s just 100 day until Christmas! So? That’s ageeees away, right? Well, in the world of thrifty living and financial planning, it’s actually a great time to start thinking about Christmas and I’ve written a little something to get your festive preparations off to a flying start and help you stay stress-free this xmas…

Autumn

3 Ways to merge your summer living room decor style into autumn

Ahh it’s September. No sooner had the 1st of the month hit than my Pinterest and Instagram feeds became awash with autumnal colours and pumpkins. It’s like the whole online world was just waiting for summer to be over so that they could begin the wind-down into the cosy season. Here’s how to merge your decor from summer to autumn with the addition of just a few low cost accessories that’ll get your home ready for the changing season…

Autumn

Add warmth to your interior with these thrifty wood decor ideas

It’s easy to add warmth & autumnal vibes to your home & today’s blog post is all about using more wood in your decor. Just imagine the rustic, cosy look you can achieve with just a few low-cost items – here are 4 ideas to help you get the look for less…

Days Out

3 Low-cost (or free!) places to take the kids during the summer holidays

The school summer holidays are nearly upon us so it won’t be long before those chants of ‘I’m booooored!’ become a regular occurrence. So, if you want to entertain your youngsters during the school holidays but don’t want to spend all your savings on costly days out, here are three places you can go where you’ll find low-cost (AND FREE!) activities for kids…

Special Occasions

Meaningful gifts that mum will enjoy way beyond Mother’s Day…

Mother’s Day is coming up on 31st March so I thought I’d blog some gift ideas in advance to give you time to head to the shop or put in your orders online. There’s something for all tastes and budgets in my gift guide so I hope you’ll find something that your mum will love…

Autumn

Autumn decor projects to light up your interior this November

Autumn is here, so that means it’s time to get out the kids’ winter clothing, mow the grass one final time, and fill your home with festive decor. But if you’re not quite ready to go full-on Christmas just yet, here are some easy and low-cost ways to decorate your home for autumn using things you already have…

Autumn

Food For Thought recipe – Sirloin steak with boulangere potatoes

Did you know that on average Brits take just 26 seconds appreciating their recipes before tucking in? That’s probably how long it takes to take your plate from the kitchen to the dining table and pick up a knife and fork. Today’s blog post is all about slowing down and appreciating our meals more, including a delicious steak recipe to get you started…

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