My Thrifty Life by Cassie Fairy | Inspiration for living a lovely life on a budget

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…

STYLE ON A SHOESTRING

Thrifty fashion tricks for a summer wardrobe overhaul

Our personal style should be based on more than just whatever piece of clothing happens to be on top of the pile. Your clothing is

Money Saving Tips

Best multi-use items to bulk buy to save on household & beauty products

Life is already busy enough as it is, without the constant need to pop into the shops whenever you run out of household essentials. However,

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.

Days Out

How to save money on musicals – and my list of must-see shows

Every year new productions launch and more stage shows go on tour. And that means more tickets to buy! But it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to see the musicals you love – here’s how to cut costs on going to the theatre…

Special Occasions

4 Last minute low-cost gift ideas and days out for Father’s Day

It’s Fathers Day on Sunday but don’t worry if you haven’t sorted out a gift for Dad – here are 4 ideas for great last-minute gifts that you can make or organise yourself…

Garden

Gardening on a budget – how to save money on plants, tools and compost

The average Brit spends £345 per year on their garden, however you don’t have to spend a small fortune to add colour and vibrancy to your garden this summer! Here’s how…

THRIFTY LIVING

“Your Thrifty Life” Newsletter – Please subscribe to my monthly round-up!

Great news! The GDPR has prompted me to make some changes around here at Cassiefairy HQ. Firstly, I’ve updated my privacy policy but I’m sure

THRIFTY LIVING

4 Easy ways to save money on your next holiday

Going on holiday is often seen as the ultimate expense. People save up all year in order to be able to afford a few weeks

Bathroom

How to update your bathroom on a budget: Adding a shower & storage

Are you getting ready to renovate your bathroom? If you are looking to add more storage or find space for a shower, today’s blog post

STYLE ON A SHOESTRING

Versatile clothes you should pack for your next holiday

With the scorching hot temperatures we’ve been enjoying this week and the fun-in-the-sun feeling I got from the bank holiday, my thoughts turned to holiday

Days Out

Beach essentials for a fun (and free!) family day out at the seaside

If you’re planning a holiday or a day out at the beach this summer, there are a few essentials you’ll need to make the day

DIY

How to make a DIY pallet bench for your garden

Ahh isn’t it nice when the sun shines? Don’t you just want to sit out in the garden and watch the world go by? Here are some ideas for making your own bench (using pallets – a big win for upcycling!) and finding lovely garden furniture if you’re on a budget…

Money Saving Tips

How to buy a family car on a budget

It’s time to buy a new car for the family, but you’re on a budget. So, you’ll probably want to stick to used vehicles to

STYLE ON A SHOESTRING

3 Classic outfit essentials every wardrobe needs

There are just three essentials that every wardrobe needs to give you a strong foundation to build upon with your own unique style. Read on

Money Saving Tips

How to cut your day-to-day spending to save for a rainy day

Unexpected expenses can appear from anywhere — and most of the time, we aren’t financially prepared to deal with the issue. Whether it’s a broken-down

Garden

Why choosing faux plants for your home is a great idea

If you want to bring the outside in without any mess or fuss, artificial plants are one of the best accessories you can add to

Anniversary parties

Weddings on a budget – How to find a low-cost cake

A wedding cake is an important part of a traditional wedding reception, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune on something

Special Occasions

How to throw a frugal yet fabulous wedding

Most couples don’t have a blank cheque to spend on making their wedding dreams become reality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a breathtaking

Days Out

Thrifty Mother’s Day ideas to suit all budgets

Mother’s day is coming up on 11th March so I thought I’d share some thrifty tips for ways to celebrate with mum that’ll suit all

Blogging

Thrifty ways to increase your credit score

The average UK household owes over £8,000 in debt (not including the mortgage) which is why many more people are becoming more thrifty! The great

travel

Top 5 winter holidays on a budget

I’ve put together a list of my top budget winter holiday destinations to help you beat those winter blues and save cash by travelling out

HOME DIY

My Thrifty 50s Kitchen Renovation: A low-cost worktop & upcycled cupboards

Here’s how I refreshed my kitchen with just a few tins of spray paint and a sparkling new worktop…

DIY

5 Ways to transform your garden on a budget

Spring is fast approaching and if your garden seems to be lacking lustre now is the perfect time to get started on those outdoor projects

Days Out

3 Ways to enjoy the great outdoors on a tight budget

This year, many Brits are vowing to live healthier and be more active by spending time outdoors. Not only do you get to have quality

Special Occasions

How to pick a special occasion outfit you’ll wear again

Shopping for special occasions. It’s something that I really don’t like to do. Sure, I love buying the happy couple a wedding present, and it’s

Money Saving Tips

How to choose the best savings account for you

Do you want to kick-start your savings for the coming year? This is the ideal time to get ahead on your financial goals and a

HOME DIY

New year, new kitchen – my plans for a thrifty renovation

Oooh it’s the 12th December already! Who else thinks that December is the fastest month of the year? Blink and you miss it. I’ve barely

Festive

Festive tablescapes – How to dress your dining table for Christmas

How are you decorating your dining table this Christmas? Will you be adding crackers? Have you got a beautiful floral display planned? Are you decorating

Festive

What my Christmas would look like if I won the lottery…

I’ve been daydreaming again, and this time it’s about my perfect lottery-winner’s Christmas. Indulge me for a moment. I’m not saying that I want to

HOME DIY

Planning a successful home renovation

As you might have seen over the past few months, I’ve been renovating my new home this year. It’s time-consuming, costly and really tiring! But

Money Saving Tips

How to save money on everyday home expenses

There are so many expenses to consider when purchasing your first home or choosing to rent a property. Maintaining and running a household can be

Days Out

Low-cost (and free!) festive days out in East Anglia

There’s nothing I love more at this time of year than filling up my weekends with festive fun. There are so many fantastic events taking

travel

That was a rookie error: How to avoid classic travel booking mistakes

Do you know someone who almost always snag the best travel deals and never seem to experience any hitches with their booking plans? While I

Personal development

Calling all freelancers – 5 reasons why you should study bookkeeping

Whether you are considering a change of career or adding some qualifications to the experience you already have, one of the professional development courses that

Weddings

Frugal shopping tips for your wedding outfits

Weddings should be a day to remember, but that day doesn’t have to revolve around how much money you have spent on it. When it

Money Saving Tips

4 Pots of money that you didn’t know you had

Today’s money-saving (or should that be money-finding?) blog post is an interesting one and it’s a topic that I’ve only just started to research. I

Special Occasions

How to create a budget-friendly outdoor wedding

For many people, their special day is all about being with friends and family in familiar surroundings, having a celebration to remember. With Pinterest taking

Bathroom

5 decor changes that’ll completely transform your bathroom

With the amount of time that we spend in our bathrooms on a weekly basis, it is a wonder that we don’t put more effort

Birthdays

Gift ideas to build memories (and how to do it on a budget!)

Some people are just naturally good with gift buying, whereas others are just not that gifted (excuse the pun!) It’s always a tricky time when

Autumn

The ultimate ‘Pomegranate Noir’ scented candle sniff test

Have you heard about the candle that shoppers going wild about this summer? It’s a budget version of the Jo Malone ‘Pomegranate Nioir’ scented candle

HOME DIY

Need a new kitchen? Get the show home look for less

When it comes to renovating my home, the kitchen is the room I am most excited about tackling. The kitchen is traditionally the heart of

Seasons

Get the ultimate beach look for less

There’s no better reason to make summer your favourite season than the opportunity to hit the beach. With the heat ramping up as the summer

Bathroom

5 Ways to spruce up your bathroom for summer

The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, and the sun is out in full force. That’s right – summer is well and truly here

THRIFTY LIVING

Affordable kitchen updates for decorating on a budget

Renovating a whole kitchen space can easily be an expensive and time-consuming process. This may be the reason why many people end up neglected their

Weddings

Unexpected wedding costs you might not have considered…

It’s no secret that weddings are expensive and, despite the determination to stick to a predetermined budget, it’s easy to overspend on your big day.

Bathroom

Create a holiday-home inspired interior fit for a staycation

This little run of bank holiday weekends has got me thinking about the summer holidays – has it been the same for you too? If

DIY

How you can halve the cost of decorating your home

If there is one thing that I have learnt on my quest for a thrifty home, it’s that low-costs doesn’t automatically mean low-quality or low-value.

HOME DIY

How to reinvent a second-hand kitchen

Buying a kitchen second-hand may seem unheard of, but it can be a great way to update your home on a budget. So many people

Special Occasions

Personalise your wedding reception (& cut costs too!)

One of the most important days of your life is your wedding day. It’s just one day of celebration, yet we spend more money on

Autumn

Household DIY – How to install laminate flooring

I’ve recently laid laminate flooring in two rooms of my home and I can honestly say that it was a really easy process. I thought

HOME DIY

Small decor changes that make a big impact

Many people think that they have to spend thousands of pounds on changes to their home to make a huge impact, but it can be

Anniversary parties

Valentine’s gifts & an idea for a romantic evening at home

With Valentine’s Day coming up next week on the 14th February, I thought I would share some ideas with you for an inexpensive night in with

Art & Photography

A low-cost way to decorate your walls for autumn

Today’s blog is a quick and easy decor update that can make your home feel really autumnal in a matter of minutes. And you don’t need

Festive

My new Christmas decorations theme – Blush pink & oodles of glitter

So now that bonfire night has exploded all around the country last weekend, I think I can safely move on to Christmas. That’s the rule,

HOME DIY

How to create a farmhouse feeling in your home

I don’t know why, but autumn always makes me want to start nesting. My thoughts turn to cosy farmhouses and blazing fireplaces in country homes.

Autumn

Tuesday Shoesday – Blue suede boots for autumn

I’ve never seen an autumn like it. There are so many leaves on the ground at the moment that you can’t really see the grass

Bathroom

Guest Post – 6 basic tips for designing your bathroom

Is it your first time designing a full-on renovation for your bathroom? It’s easy to get bewildered by the many design combinations that you can

Events & Entertainment

Hands up – Who is a fan of the Great British Bake Off?

Unlike other TV competitions like Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Sewing Bee, which I have followed from the very first episode, I was

Special Occasions

How I saved money on my wedding by Laura from Devine Bride

As you may remember, I’ve been asking some of my favourite bloggers to help me out with some guest posts this summer so that I

Bathroom

A beach bathroom makeover on a budget

With more sunny days than not in recent weeks, my thoughts have turned to summer holidays. While I’m not actually planning to jet off anywhere luxurious

Garden

Guest post DIY Project – Make your own personalised wedding bouquet

One of the key things that a bride-to-be should consider for her wedding (besides her wedding dress of course!) is the wedding bouquet. Any bride

Good Causes

Wear your support with Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

Can you believe that Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has already been running for 20 years?! I remember being a teenager when this ground-breaking campaign first launched – where

HOME DIY

How to turn a basic kitchen into a luxury space

A luxury kitchen equals expensive, right? And there’s no way that you’re going to spend all your hard-earned cash on a kitchen when you’ve got

HOME DIY

Map geek + Tips for adding personality to your rented home

Even though we all like our homes to reflect a little of our own style and personality, it can be difficult to make your house

Garden

Thrifty tips to give your home ‘Kerb Appeal’

When renovating or updating our homes, many of us tend to focus mainly on the interiors. Interior design is very important, as your home needs

HOME DIY

Guest post: Create your dream kitchen on a budget

Refurbishing your kitchen does not always have to be a costly venture. By picking your finishes wisely and by planning and doing certain things yourself, you can really cut your expenses right down.

HOME DIY

Thrifty ways to renovate your home

If you’re anything like me, the chances are you want your home to look as perfect as possible but you also have to be mindful

Thrifty gifts

Giving (and getting!) a gift from Secret Santa

Okay, okay, I know it’s October, but when Debenhams got in touch to see if I wanted to join in with their blogger Secret Santa

Festive

My top tips for Christmas budgeting & saving

In our house the countdown to Christmas has begun. Not only am I super-excited that my favourite time of year is less than 10 weeks

Take care and stay safe...