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Special Occasions

It’s party time!

Find frugal inspiration for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, hen nights, parties, festive celebrations & more!

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day gifts that you can organise right now

If January has ran away with you and all of a sudden Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, don’t worry – here are some romantic gift ideas and experiences that you can still order today and receive in time for Valentine’s…

DIY

DIY Project: Christmas tree wall shelves for festive treats

If you find it difficult to fit a Christmas tree into your home, here’s a handy solution: build these DIY shelves in the shape of a Christmas tree! It’s ideal for the festive season and beyond. Check out the easy step-by-step to make a unit like this for yourself…

Festive

4 Things that’ll help you move house before Christmas

At this time of year, everything seems to be about ‘doing it before Christmas’. The celebration provides a handy marker to complete your goals before the end of the year. But what if moving into a new house is your goal? Here are some ways you can achieve it before Christmas…

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…

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…

Easter

Easter gifts for kids (that aren’t made of chocolate)

If your children have already been given enough chocolate for Easter, maybe they would prefer a few non-sweet treats? These Easter-inspired gifts are ideal for keeping kids entertained during the school holidays and can teach them a little something too..

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…

Festive

Merry Christmas everyone

I’m taking a break for Christmas so I wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a brilliant new year!

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…

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.

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…

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…

Events & Entertainment

How to plan a summer garden party for the Platinum Jubilee weekend

With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations only a month away, many of us are making plans to celebrate with our friends, family and neighbours over the the bank holiday weekend. Here are some ideas for organising a decadant garden party on a budget…

Special Occasions

My top 4 non-physical & consumable gifts for Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day fast approaching at the end of March, now is the perfect time to start shopping for something special for your mum. My approach is always to find a non-physical gift that can be enjoyed over a prolonged period so here are some present ideas that do just that…

Sweet Treats

5 Indulgent foodie gift ideas for Valentine’s Day

If there’s one way to anyone’s heart, it’s through food. Valentine’s food gifts are guaranteed to get the heart of your Valentine racing – if only because these delicacies are positively mouth-watering! Here are five indulgent foodie gifts I would personally love to receive and I’m sure your partner will, too…

Events & Entertainment

3 Romantic ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day at home

Sure, it’s nice to go out to celebrate Valentine’s Day but sometimes you just want to stay at home. It’s certainly a money-saving option, as you can enjoy lovely food and a cosy ambience at home for a fraction of the price of your big night out. Here’s how to create your dream Valentine’s date from the comfort of your own home…

FRUGAL FUN TIMES

How to DIY your own custom sequin party hats + PDF template

Whatever the celebration, a party hat is the ultimate accessory to get the party started! I’ve made a template that you can download and use to DIY your own party hats in any colour and finish to suit your theme. Here’s how…

Festive

Unique gifts from small indie businesses and crafters

Whenever I’m looking for gifts, whether at Christmas or throughout the year, I always head to local and independent businesses first. If I can find a special present while also supporting a small biz or local maker, all the better! Here are some gorgeous gift ideas from crafters and small brands…

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…

Beauty

Natural and sustainable beauty gift ideas for Christmas

There’s nothing more luxurious than receiving a lovely skincare or haircare treat at Christmas. Even though we all joke about getting a pack of ‘smellies’ each year, it actually feels rather pampering to receive a cruelty-free, natural product, especially if it has the added bonus of being recyclable too. Here are some sustainable gift ideas…

Festive

Sustainable Christmas Gifts for children and teens

Whether you’re buying presents for your family or a Christmas Gift Appeal, it’s a good idea to make sustainable choices when shopping for those presents. I’ve put together this festive gift guide for children to get you started…

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…

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