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HOME DIY

5 Ways to elevate your home without spending a penny

We all want our homes to look and feel like a space we can be proud of. However, to really achieve this, we need to spend money. But what happens when you can’t afford to dip into your savings right now? Here are some each home hacks to elevate your space…

Money Saving Tips

How to make saving money your top priority this year

Let’s chat about something that’s on everyone’s mind as we stride into this year: saving money. When you know how, it’s easy to transform your financial habits into a treasure trove of savings this year…

Living Spaces

3 Reasons to embrace minimalism when you want to save money

If you’re considering reducing your possessions and embracing a minimalist lifestyle, there are many benefits – including saving money every day. Here are 3 reasons to consider letting go of some of your belongings if you’re moving house or want to cut costs.

Home buying

4 Hidden costs to consider when buying a house

Even though it might appear to make sense to buy rather than rent, to move to an area where property is cheaper or to downsize to save money on your mortgage, there may be some hidden costs you should consider before buying a house – is the move worth it?

Home buying

How to buy your own home on a budget with shared ownership

With soaring interest rates, unaffordable property prices and saving for a deposit often out of reach, it may feel like you’ll never get a chance to buy your own home. Here’s how shared ownership is helping first-time buyers to invest sooner rather than later…

Bedroom

6 Soft furnishing sewing projects & how to find fabrics on a budget

Making your own soft furnishings is one of the easiest DIY projects to tackle for your home. Here’s a round-up of simple sewing projects (and some no-sew ones too!) that’ll help you update your decor. Plus, I’ve shared some thrifty ways to get hold of suitable fabrics too…

Special Occasions

6 Affordable & handmade gifts for friends and loved ones in 2023

When it comes to showing our appreciation for the special people in our lives, gifts play a significant role – and I’m not talking about gifts that are over-the-top and impossible to afford, but thoughtful gifts that come from a space of love and empathy. Here are 6 affordable present ideas…

Money Saving Tips

3 Ways to save money on (almost!) everything you buy

If you’ve got things to buy – whether it’s a gift, back-to-school clothing or even your weekly food shop – there’ll probably be a way that you can save money on your purchases. Here are three ideas to help you cut the cost of your shopping…

Weddings

7 Top money-saving tips for your wedding catering

When a wedding is on the horizon and you’re sticking to a budget there are countless things to think about, so take the catering off your list with these handy tips to help you cut the cost of feeding your guests…

Valentine's Day

How to source your dream engagement ring on a thrifty budget

While the prospect of getting engaged can set happy butterflies bumbling around your stomach, the feeling often gets tempered by the thought of having to pay for all that this entails. Here’s how to save money on your engagement…

Garden

The best houseplants to buy on a budget

Houseplants are great for health, productivity and positivity. They brighten a room, release oxygen into the air, remove toxins from the atmosphere and add character to your home or office. But they do tend to cost money. Here are some ways to still grow house plants, without the hefty price tag…

Bedroom

3 Hottest wallpaper patterns to try & how to do it your own way

Wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to bring a whole new look to your interior. Just a roll or two can make all the difference with a feature wall that brings impact and colour. Here are three of the hottest trends, and different ways to make them work in your home…

Money Saving Tips

4 Pain-free ways to cut the cost of your monthly bills

Many budgeting articles will advise you to give up lots of your favourite things if you want to save money. However, it IS possible to reduce your monthly costs without missing out on the essentials for a happy life – here are some pain-free ways to make savings on your bills…

Money Saving Tips

7 Ways to cut the cost of running a vehicle for your freelance business

When you’re self-employed or running an independent business, there are so many things that you need to consider when forecasting and recording your expenses. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to cut down on the costs associated with the vehicle you use for work – here are some ideas…

Home buying

How to continue saving a deposit for your first home during the cost of living crisis

If you’ve been trying to save for your future home and now the cost of living crisis has hit, you might be thinking that it’s no longer possible to put aside any cash for your deposit – or for any other goal you have. But there ARE still ways that you can keep saving and organise your finances to make your homeowning dream a reality…

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…

Bathroom

How to build a bathroom when you’re on a budget

Five years on and my bathroom renovation is still going strong – and we revamped the room on the tightest of budgets. Here are some tips on how to save money when you’re decorating the smallest room in the house…

MONEY MANAGEMENT

Things I wish I had known when buying and maintaining my first car

I love a bit of hindsight and today I’m sharing some of my own in the hope that it might help new
drivers or first-time car buyers to find a safe vehicle and get a better deal. Here are some of the
things I wish I had known when I was buying my first car…

Kitsch Kitchen

My thrifty kitchen makeover – how to save money on flooring

After years of talking about it, months of planning and weeks of installation, my newly remodelled kitchen is complete! Of course, I tried to save money at every stage of the renovation process so here’s how I got the floor of my dreams for a fraction of the cost…

Good Causes

How would your life change if you won the lottery? (hint: not much!)

Whenever I enter a lottery, competition or raffle I start to wonder what it would be like if I won. I mean, you’ve got to be prepared, right?! So, today I’m sharing my thoughts on how my life would be different after that big win – I’ve surprised myself with the answers…

HOME DIY

House & garden tour of Life Of Isatu’s minimalist home

With the sun shining and summer still in full swing, I thought that today would be a great time to share a garden tour of Isatu Chaborn’s incredible property, including a ‘before’ and ‘after’ of the epic transformation.

DIY

Home renovation tips – How to plan your next big DIY project

Although I’m a keen DIYer, home renovations are not the same as home repairs, so it’s certainly something that needs a little more planning than simply getting out your toolbox! Here’s a guide to organising your next DIY project, step-by-step…

Home buying

8 Renting & budgeting tips for first-time tenants

When you’re searching for an affordable rental there’s much more to consider than just the monthly cost of rent. Here are 8 things you should factor into your budget when you’re moving into a rental property for the first time…

Money Saving Tips

6 Messy habits that save me time and money

In today’s post, I’m admitting to some rather messy habits I have but I want to share them for good reason – I think they actually save me both time and money every day. Do you do any of these hacks or have any similar time-saving tips? Let me know!

STYLE ON A SHOESTRING

3 Autumn/Winter wardrobe essentials for work, rest and play

Although I already have a wardrobe full of my absolute favourite clothing (and I get excited when it’s time to pull out the jumpers and jeans for autumn!) I’ve noticed a few gaps and have found the ideal seasonal items to fill them…

Money Saving Tips

Four ways to save money on your petcare budget

When looking for ways to be frugal, it’s a good idea to look through all the categories in your budget as there are always some places you can save money or some bills that could be a little lower. While it’s essential to get the optimum care and products for your pet, shopping around and being a little wiser to better deals means you can cut a substantial amount from your petcare budget. Here are 4 ways you can look to reduce your petcare outgoings…

Money Saving Tips

Pros & cons of leasing a family car when you’re on a budget

Without the worry of maintenance and reliability, car leasing can be a handy way to stick to a budget while still driving the latest vehicles. But what if you have a family? Is leasing a good option if you have kids? Here are some of the pros and cons:

Home buying

4 Thrifty ways to pull off moving house (without spending a small fortune)

Moving to a new house can be an expensive and stressful time. If you have just bought a property, you will be tied up in actually paying for it, not to mention stamp duty and all the other fees you might have to pay. Even if you are renting, you’ll have parted with your deposit and money might be tight. It is time to save some money and the best place to do so is in the move itself. Here are some thrifty ways to move house…

Personal development

Reading week tips: 6 Ways you can help your teen to settle into university life

If your teen has gone away to uni this year, what can you do to help them prepare for their life at University? Sure they might already be settling in, but they’ll be home for their first mid-semester ‘reading week’ soon and with many first year students having second thoughts about their choice of university or course, this is an important time to support them and help them stay in uni. Here’s some advice I could have used when I was studying…

Money Saving Tips

When you get the urge to shop do these 5 things instead…

I sometimes just get the urge to shop. Even as a wannabe-minimalist and thrifty gal (whose job relies on it!) it is sometimes just too hard to resist the lure of the high street. If you’re trying to stash the cash (like me) but sometimes just get the urge to shop (also like me) here are 5 things you can do instead to satisfy that urge to shop while still saving money…

Days Out

4 Unexpected reasons why travelling by train = a low-cost day out

On my recent short break I went on a couple of train journeys. Not only was it very enjoyable to sit back and take in the scenery rather than having to drive and navigate, it also turned out to be somewhat of a money-saving venture too. Here’s why travelling by train can save you money in some rather unexpected ways…

Money Saving Tips

How to save money for your life goals & back-up fund (the easy way)

If saving money was made easier, you would be much more likely to do it. So I’ve come up with some of the easiest possible ways to ensure that you save rather than spend and, if you follow these tips, your savings’ account should soon be full and you won’t have to worry about having money for those essentials that come up from time to time.

Hen parties

How to be the ultimate Maid of Honour at your best friend’s wedding

OMG your bestie has just asked you to be maid of honour at her wedding, yay! What a great honour! But with this honour comes great responsibility, too. Because being the M.O.H is so much more than being the female version of a best man. You’ll be chief opinion-giver for dresses, flowers and decor, you’ll become an event planner, and you’ll be your pal’s life coach and emotional support throughout the whole process. Actually, Maid of Honour is one of the most integral roles at a wedding so here’s just some of the important M.O.H duties that you might need to take on in the run-up to your best friend’s big day and how to smash it…

travel

How to tick off your bucket list on a budget – Niagara Falls

Living on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t still tick a few things off of your bucket list. I mean, saving your extra cash for travel should be one of the benefits of a thrifty life, shouldn’t it?! Even so, there are savings to be made every time you travel and it IS possible to make a trip to an iconic destination, like the Niagara Falls much more affordable. Here’s how…

LOW-COST RECIPES

The #FoodSavvy challenge – How I reduced my food waste in February

For the entire month of February, I took on environmental charity Hubbub’s #FoodSavvy challenge to try to reduce my food waste within 4 weeks. Did you know that in Norfolk and Suffolk alone up to 113,000 TONNES of food waste goes in the bin? Here’s how you can reduce your food waste too…

Bathroom

4 Things you can do to refresh your bathroom without breaking the bank

Every now and again, most homeowners seek a change; something that will give a fresh new look to their home or a project that will reflect their changing needs or personal preferences. If the time has come to give your bathroom a nice uplift and create a more luxury look, the ideas below will help you get started…

Special Occasions

6 Simple yet effective ways to save big on the cost of your wedding

Weddings are rarely budget-friendly and more often than not, both the bride and groom end up spending a fortune on their big day. However, if you plan in advance, every wedding is filled with a multitude of cost saving opportunities. Here, are 6 tips to help you save big on your wedding costs…

Festive

How to cut the cost of a Christmas stocking in half

Did you know that the average cost of a Christmas stocking adds up to over £70? Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? That’s why I jumped at the chance to cut this cost by half and share the results of my Christmas stocking haul with you today. Plus, you can win all the items in my retro stocking in my giveaway below so read on to enter the competition…

Cruelty-free Life

5 Easy (money-saving!) ideas to make your home and life more sustainable

Everyone wants to do their little bit to help the environment and there are so many effective, yet simple changes that could be done around the house that could help the world become more sustainable. Here are just 5 great ideas that you could do on a day-to-day basis that will really contribute to a better planet. Oh, and some of them will even save you some money too..!

travel

A beach holiday for every budget – 5 epic coastal spots around the world

Beaches make the ideal spot for getting away from technology and the noise of busy city streets, which is why so many people want to include a a coastal spot in their holiday planning. Whether you prefer a relaxing break, enjoy snorkelling or love getting stuck into water sports, a beach is a vital part of any holiday. Here’s how to find a coastal break to suit all budgets…

Special Occasions

3 Things you really shouldn’t scrimp on for your thrifty Autumn wedding

Even though it may seem like your autumn wedding means endless spending, really there are only THREE wedding components that are worth investing money in. If you prioritise these three areas when setting your budget, everything else will naturally fall into place – without the need to spend a fortune on every little detail..!

DIY

Will your next home be a shipping container?

In a move to combat the issue of affordable homes in cities, it has been suggested that recycled shipping containers could be the perfect material to construct safe, liveable and comfortable tiny homes. But, just how true is this claim, and how likely is it that your next home could be a shipping container? Here’s just how usable shipping containers are and how they are currently being used…

Special Occasions

How to save money on your engagement ring

If you’re happily coupled up and are starting to look at engagement rings, this is the blog post for you! The trouble with engagement and wedding rings is that the price tag is often way beyond our reach. I mean, would you rather spend money on the ring, or the wedding itself, or your future together? There are many types of rings out there, all priced differently, so which is the right one for you – and for your budget too?

THRIFTY LIVING

How to buy a new handbag without breaking the bank

I was watching How to Shop Well for Less last week and couldn’t believe how much it’s possible to spend on a handbag! I’ve never spent more than £15, I’m sure! But maybe I’m the exception and many people might not be able to find the bag of their dream on a budget. Here are some ways to shop while staying thrifty…

Bedroom

How to prepare your spare room for Airbnb hosting

Offering holiday accommodation in your spare room is a great way of making a little extra cash. But how do you do it? Here are some easy ways to keep a spare room useful for yourself AND comfortable enough for Airbnb guests.

Money Saving Tips

Simple ways to find more money for your savings

If you’ve been saving for something special lately, or you simply want to make sure that you have some emergency savings in place for a rainy day, the following tips will help you to find more money for your future…

Festive

Making your money go further this Christmas

The decorations and mince pies are already on sale in many shops around the UK now and, with the nights starting to draw in, thoughts turn to Christmas. And also to the expense associated with the festive season, which for some is a stressful time of year. Here’s how to plan your budget ahead and keep yourself feeling happy about ‘the most wonderful time of the year’…

Personal development

4 Ways to manage the budget of your small business

Managing the budget for your small business is one of the main things that an entrepreneur needs to deal with. No matter whether your business project meets the objectives set out in the beginning, and is delivered on time, if it goes wildly over budget, it is not going to be considered a success. And, of course, it is easy for businesses to go over budget, especially when changes are made. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover some top tips on how to manage the budget of your small business effectively.

Money Saving Tips

5 Tips to make your printer ink last longer

It’s the little light that fills us all with dread. Today, an inkjet printer might be cheap to buy, but it almost seems cheaper to throw it away and buy a new one that to put in new ink cartridges! Printers can have a thirst that is downright scary, particularly if you use your for printing out photos or artwork with any kind of regularity – here’s some tips for making your ink cartridges last longer…

Beauty

3 Ways to save money on beauty and cosmetics

Great news! Your beauty and cosmetic routines do not have to consist of costly, overpriced products and procedures. I’ve been blogging about cruelty-free beauty for a few years now and I’ve found that it’s not only an ethical way to shop, but it’s also cost-effective too. That said, you don’t have to splash out for named brands and special formulas when you can DIY some beauty items and get a discount on the rest. Here are a few tips on how you can save money whilst still looking good…

LOW-COST RECIPES

Guest post: 4 Quick, easy and low-cost homemade baby food recipes

When your baby makes the big transition to eating solid foods, it’s an exciting time and they should enjoy trying out new tastes and textures. Here’s how to create some delicious homemade dishes for your little one at a fraction of the price of ready-made meals.

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