A certain little lady is three this weekend so it seemed very appropriate therefore to focus this week's Thrifty Friday Five on Toddler birthdays. All children love birthdays, of that there is no doubt. But if you're not careful they can end up costing a crazy amount of money. If you want to have a huge party and spend lots of money you can, but remember that just because one family does, everyone else doesn't have to follow suit. 1. Plan toy presents in advance It's only natural that you'll want to buy your little one some presents to mark their special day, but if you ... read more
Thrifty Friday Five – Laundry
Whether you've got a big family or live on your own there are still ways to try to be thrifty when doing your laundry. 1. Make sure you've got a full load If you're going to use your washing machine then you really ought to try to do so in the most efficient way possible. Some machines have settings that alter the programmes to accommodate half loads, but the most efficient way to wash has to be to only put it on when you have a full load - it's unlikley that a washing machine really reduces the energy and water used by half if you put it on a half load setting. This might mean ... read more
Thrifty Friday Five – In the Kitchen
I'm kicking off this first week of Thrifty Friday Five with five top tips for saving money in the kitchen. 1. Meal planning One of the most effective ways to save money in the kitchen is to plan what you're going to eat in advance. It may sound obvious, but many don't do this, and even those who do don't always stick to their plan. If you ensure that you plan sensibly and only buy the food that you need, then it should help you to ensure that you don't waste money or food. I've written a separate guide to meal planning which sets out how to plan ... read more
Thrifty Mrs C – Meal Planning
There's no doubt that one of the biggest regular expenses in the kitchen is food. It's also the case that we throw away a criminal amount of food between us. In the UK it is estimated that 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink is thrown away every year and the majority of this could have been eaten. Often people either don't use everything that they've bought, or they cook more than they need and the leftovers end up in the bin. The best way to minimise food waste is to reduce the amount you buy in the first place and planning what you are going to eat can help with this hugely. ... read more