THRIFTY LIVING

Home tour of the most glorious gold & animal print-packed interior

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.

Allotment

Allotment update: The plot thickens

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…

Home buying

How to downsize your home to save money on bills

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…

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…

Family

How to encourage your family to play games this Christmas

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…

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…

Family

Christmas gift guide for kids – educational gifts and games

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.

Side Hustle Business

Checklist of things to consider when setting up a small independent business

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…

DIY

5 Amazing upcycles by inspirational interior Instagrammers

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…

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…

Days Out

How to save money on family days out this summer

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…

Art & Photography

Creative ways to actually use your photos rather than keeping them unseen on your device

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…

Birthdays

How to DIY a customised gift hamper for any occasion

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…

Allotment

How to build an insect-proof mesh tunnel to prevent brassica massacre

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…

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…

Allotment

Allotment love – Rebuilding an old greenhouse

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…

DIY

How to DIY an outdoor mud kitchen from pallet wood

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…

Art & Photography

3 Side hustles that make the most of your creative skills

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…

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…

Happiness

New year goals: How to prioritise your wellbeing

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…

Happiness

New year goals: How to declutter and organise your home this year

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…

Art & Photography

New years goals: How to be more creative in 2022

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!

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 buying

How to decorate your first home on a very tight budget

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!

Pets

8 ways to keep your cat happy and healthy

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…

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…

FRUGAL FUN TIMES

How to save money as a thrifty essentialist minimalist

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…

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…

LOW-COST RECIPES

The cheapest ever chocolate cheesecake recipe

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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