Have you ever dreamt of crafting your own delicious brews right in the comfort of your home but feared it might be too costly? Good news! It’s possible to build a home brewery by upcycling second-hand items…
Whether you’re looking for ways to save money on painting or are interested in the methods we used to prevent dampness in an indoor-outdoor area, the second phase of my porch makeover project can help…
The interior of your home is the ideal place to combine all your favourite things while expressing your personality at the same time. Follow Sally’s example and surround yourself with playful pieces, animal prints and glinting gold details to create a home that feels completely unique to you.
If you fancy growing your own veg at home this year, you don’t need to order loads of seeds and sets. Did you know that you can regrow your own veg from kitchen scraps? Here are some ideas to get your veggie patch started…
Well, actually, the plot expands. We’ve taken on a larger allotment so that we can grow even more of our own fruit and veg this year. Here are our plans for the bigger veggie patch…
If you want to give your mum something unique for Mother’s Day this year, look no further! Today’s blog post contains two DIY upcycling ideas that you can make at home to create a fashion gift for your mother that no-one else will have…
If you’re looking for inspiration for your life, career or even just your wardrobe, here are three books you should read this year to help you achieve your passions and creative goals.
Downsizing might not be an option for all of us to save money on our bills but, if you’re living in a property that’s bigger than you need, you may want to investigate the option of moving house and cutting your costs at the same time. Here are some things to consider…
The February half-term holiday can be a tricky one for keeping children entertained. The winter weather means it’s not always possible to get outside and do something active, so why not try one of these creative, educational and fun activities at home instead?
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…
Today’s home tour of a converted barn provides plenty of Christmas decor inspiration for creating a minimal and modern interior that’s full of festive touches and cosy details…
It would be nice to enjoy a bit of family time over Christmas but, these days, it’s more likely that each member of the family will be glued to their own phones or devices rather than spending time together. Here are a few suggestions to get your family to spend some quality time together this Christmas…
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…
If you’re looking for special gifts for the children in your life, this gift guide has some of the most adorable, fun and educational gifts available this year. So, if you want to want to teach kids about recycling, magnetic forces, bees or being creative, here are some ideas to inspire your shopping.
If you’re planning a Christmas gathering at home and want to make your garden look just as inviting as your interior, here are a few ideas for decorating your garden with fairy lights to create cosy ambience and festive feel…
With a glut of pumpkins and squashes at our allotment, I thought it was about time that I came up with a recipe to cook them. Here’s my latest attempt at making a creamy pumpkin soup and, thankfully, it turned out absolutely delicious! Here’s how I made it…
It can be an exciting time when you’re starting up a small, independent business however, there are certain things you’ll need to consider from the off, such as paperwork, finance and operating factors. Here’s a handy list of the things you should look at when you set up your own business…
We’ve had a bumper harvest at the allotment this year – especially with our fruit trees, squashes and tomatoes. So, I’ve been preserving as much as I can and I’m sharing some ideas for your using and storing your allotment produce today…
If you’re tackling a home revamp this year, why not consider shopping secondhand for your furniture? It’s certainly a great way to save money and lets you put your own stamp on your interior by creating something completely unique to you. Take inspiration from these talented interior Instagrammers and their 5 amazing upcycles…
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…
After many months of wrangling with pests, birds, bugs (and even bunnies!) at my allotment, I’ve decided to try out some tunnels to see if they can help us to grow bigger and better veggies…
We all want to enjoy the summer holidays with our families but the costs involved can soon add up. Whether you’re taking day trips or enjoying a staycation, here are some simple ways to save money during the school holidays…
If you’ve got a glut of blackcurrants in your kitchen garden or allotment, now’s the time to make some pots of jam for the coming year. It’s a great way to preserve your produce and makes a lovely gift for family and friends…
So, you’ve been on a lovely day out with your family, you’ve celebrated a special occasion or you’ve enjoyed the trip of a lifetime – and you took plenty of photos while you were there. But what do you then do with those snaps? Leave them languishing unseen on your phone? Maybe now’s the time to do something creative with them instead…
I’ve noticed something that almost all the allotments near me have in common. They’re all packed with upcycling projects. In fact, you’d probably find it hard to find anything new! Here are some of the interesting and amazing upcycles I’ve spotted at the allotment…
Around the UK the summer holidays are starting and families have a long six weeks of fun stretching out ahead of them. So, what can you do with your kids to fill those days with entertaining, educational and fun activities? Here are some ideas…
Whether you’re heading to a wedding, looking for the ideal birthday gift or simply want to show a friend how much you care, a gift hamper is always a winner. It’s a thrifty way to treat that special someone AND it can be customised to suit their interests. Here’s how to make one yourself…
Even though we’re at the height of summer and it’s time to harvest the results of all that spring planting, there are still some crops you can plant in July to make the most of your allotment plot. Here’s what I’ve been sowing and my shed plans…
Something that I’m really pleased with on my plot is the insect-proof mesh tunnel that we’ve built using old water pipes. It has been really helpful in keeping my brassicas safe from ‘brassica massacre’ – here are the latest pics from my plot…
If you’re growing cabbage, broccoli or spouts in your veggie patch, you’ll know how difficult it is to keep the cabbage white butterflies (and the very hungry caterpillars they produce) off your plants. Here’s how to DIY an insect-proof mesh tunnel to prevent brassica massacre…
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…
With students returning to college, 6th form and university for the summer semester now seems the ideal time to share some studying tips for exam season. Here’s some advice for completing your coursework and timetabling your revision this summer…
I’m back with another allotment update and today it’s all about my new (old) greenhouse. It took quite some doing but we’ve been able to move the ivy-covered, cracked-glass frame to my veggie plot and have made some improvements…
With energy prices already increasing and set to rise even higher this winter, now is the ideal time to start making plans to reduce your costs and budget for your bills. Here are some ideas on saving energy (and saving money) to get you started…
Playing in the garden and getting really messy is one of the joys of childhood. So why not help your children to enjoy playing with sand, mud and water outside by constructing this DIY ‘mud kitchen’ from old pallet wood…
My little allotment is coming along nicely so I thought now would be a good time to share a quick update. We’ve been tidying the plot, making some repairs to the fence and shed, and have even planted some veggies – here are some pics of progress…
Wouldn’t it be great to make some extra cash on side? Even if you don’t think you’ve got the skills to launch a creative business, I’m here to show you otherwise. Here are three side hustles you can try out and maybe make a bit of money from your creativity…
For many schools around the UK, the half-term holiday begins on 28th May so I thought I would share some activities to keep youngsters entertained. Here are some ideas for imaginative play, indoor and outdoor fun and even some educational activities…
The Norfolk & Norwich Festival takes place this year from 13th-29th May so I’m sharing a round-up of some of the free and family-friendly events you can enjoy…
Exciting news! I’ve just got my first ever allotment! I’m super-keen to get started on preparing and planting the plot and I’m going to take you along for the journey…
Support independent creatives and artists this spring by shopping for unique Mother’s Day gifts and cards. I’ve put together a list of makers that I’ve shopped with in the past so I hope you’ll find something fab for your mum here…
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…
If you want to grow your own veg but without the hard labour of digging over a veggie patch, here’s a quick and easy DIY video that’ll show you how to build no-dig beds for your garden or allotment…
If you didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions (or if you did but stopped in January!) that doesn’t mean you can’t make a start on your goals for the year right now. Here’s why it’s better to begin your New Year’s resolutions in February anyway…
With half-term approaching (or already begun in some parts of the country) I thought I would share some activities and ideas for keeping little ones entertained during the school holidays…
There’s nothing better than an old family photo to bring a sense of history to your home – but what if those ancient snaps are damaged or discoloured? Here are some ideas for repairing them and including those precious memories in your interiors…
Whether you want a cute way to celebrate Valentine’s Day or simply want to capture some memories with your significant other, a couple’s photoshoot is a fun activity to plan, and you can DIY it – here’s how…
Today’s blog post tackles some of the more ‘traditional’ new year’s resolutions that many of us make – to be more healthy and to make time for self-care. Here’s how to make sure you keep up those great wellbeing goals all year round…
Today is the 4th article in my series of blog posts to help you achieve your New Year’s goals and it’s all about clearing your home of clutter and getting better organised this year (one of my personal goals!) Here are my top tips for creating a tidy and peaceful home this year…
If your new year’s resolution is to be more creative, here are some ideas to help you bring more craft, art and creativity into your lives and boost your mental wellbeing in 2022!
After a tough 20 months, you may want to cut the cost of Christmas 2021. That’s why I’ve provided are some thrifty tips for you – both my own and from the experts – to help you save money on gifts, decorations and entertainment…
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…
Although there haven’t been many things to harvest this month, I have still been out in the garden preparing the veggie plot and planting our over-winter crops…
If, like me, you’ve become used to doing your own hair and beauty treatments over the past couple of years, you may well want to continue enjoying spa-like sessions at home. Here are some ideas to pamper yourself this autumn…
Whenever I have a wardrobe clear-out, I like to make the most of the items I’m decluttering, so here are some ideas for reusing (or retailing!) your old clothing…
This month, I’ve been preserving my apple harvest so I’ve shared a recipe for cinnamon apple jam below if you want to give it a go. Plus, there have been a few vegetable latecomers this year…
Buying your very first house is a joyful time but the truth is that it’s never cheap and often there’s not much money left for the interior. That was certainly the case for me when I bought my fixer-upper home!
All cats are sensitive to stress and this can have a significant impact on their physical and emotional health. So, seeing as a happy cat is more likely to stay healthy than an unhappy cat, here are some tips for cheering up your kitty…
As someone who ended up with quite a lot of student debt after graduating from university, I would have certainly done a few things differently – here’s my advice for organising your finances while you’re a student…
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…
Seeing as it’s only 15 weeks until Christmas, I thought I would share some super-easy ways to start putting money aside now, so that you’ll be much more prepared when December rolls around…
Although these three lifestyles offer very different ideas they also have one important thing in comment – and that’s helping you to cut costs. Here’s how to adopt a ‘less is more’ mentality and save money as a thrifty essentialist minimalist…
During August we’ve been enjoying the fruits of our labour with plenty of veg to harvest but we’ve also dealt with blight, non-ripening peppers & fruit trees desperate in need of pruning. Here’s how we got on & more info on the DIY greenhouse we built…
With the soaring price of wood and a need to create more growing space in my veggie patch, I’ve come up with a way to make a low-cost planter out of pieces of furniture that were headed for the skip. Here’s how…
2021 marks the 10th Anniversary of the My Thrifty Life blog and I’m excited to tell you what celebrations I’m planning and how you can get involved..!
It’s mid-way through the summer holidays and I thought now would be the ideal time to share some ideas for activities and games that parents and kids can play together, whatever the weather…
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…
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…
When you’re starting out as a freelancer or launching your own company it’s an incredibly exciting time and here are some business essentials you may want to consider when you become self-employed…
The thing that usually puts me off baking my own cakes and desserts is the cost of the ingredients – which is precisely why I’ve decided to put my thriftiness to the test and try to make the cheapest ever chocolate cheesecake…
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