Anyone who knows me will know that Master C is a massive train fan. He's just obsessed with them. One of his most common questions at the moment is "Mummy.... When are we going to do something trainy?" Combine his train addition with my love of all things thrifty, and it will be no surprise to hear how big a fan I am of the Family and Friends Railcard. We've had one since Little Miss C was old enough to need train tickets buying for her (children under the age of five don't need a ticket on most trains) and it must have saved us hundreds and hundreds of pounds in that time. Living in St ... read more
The best things in life are free
It may sound like a bit of a cliche, but the the truth is that the best things in life are free, especially if you're having to tighten your belt a bit financially, like were having to at the moment. Years ago, free samples were the sort of things that you might get given as you walked through a shopping centre or past all the shops in the centre of town. Occasionally you might even get someone come to your door offering things like washing powder or other domestic products. The advance of the internet has changed all that though, and the people giving out free samples in the street have been ... read more
Saving Money with LED Lighting
If you’re frugal with your household bills, and looking for an extra way to cut costs, you might want to try LED lighting. LED lighting is one of the major ways to save money on your bills, without compromising on the quality of your lights. Here’s how you can save money with LED lighting. How LED Saves Money LED saves money for two reasons: firstly, LED bulbs use less electricity than traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs. Secondly, they last for more longer than other types of light bulbs. You can replace a 60w halogen bulb with a 9w LED bulb – this will use 85% less electricity. ... read more
Moving House The Thrifty Way
Moving to a new house has got to be one of the most expensive things you can do. If you are buying, you have likely already landed thousands on a deposit, legal fees and insurance. If you are renting, you’ve already spent time saving up for a few months of rent and a holding deposit, as well as letting fees. This is all before you pay out for a moving van and potentially a hotel to hold you over until everything is unpacked. Like we said – expensive! Image Source Thankfully, there are ways to save money when you move to a new home. From checking out storage near you and bartering on ... read more
British Steaks at Aldi – Peppered Steak Recipe
Steak is one of those meals that I love, but one that I don't cook very often. Not because it's difficult or anything like that, but mainly because I always look at it as a bit of a treat and hence something that can be a bit expensive. When Aldi sent me through some steak facts and a tasty looking recipe for Peppered Steak (see below) I thought I'd better rectify that matter. It did prompt some questions between me and the other half about what type of steak we both like, and also how we like our steak cooked. Compatible as we are, it turned out that both of us are in the 22% of the ... read more
Thrifty Shortcuts To A Rustic Home
Modern decor styles are quickly falling out of fashion. Go to any new bar or restaurant and you’ll find a rustic look with exposed brick and thrift store furniture everywhere. It looks as though it’s all just been thrown together but in reality, it still takes a lot of planning. It can be quite expensive, even though it looks like everything has been found on the street. If you think that rustic decor would work in your house but you don’t want to spend loads of money on it, then DIY is the way to go. There are countless ways that you can make your own furniture and fixtures to give you that ... read more
How To Get Free Makeup & Perfume
It might seem unbelievable to get free makeup, but the truth is that it is quite easy to get many great samples and some full sized ones too. Getting free makeup is as easy as visiting makeup company websites, visiting makeup counters in department stores, and clipping coupons in the Sunday paper. If you want to learn about some additional strategies for getting free makeup, keep reading. 1. Free Makeup from Department Stores Go to your local department store like John Lewis, Debenhams or House Of Fraser and head for your favorite makeup counter. It is important to check online as well ... read more
Three ways to raise money quickly
Even those of us that are the best budgeters in the world sometimes need to raise cash quickly. There could be a multitude of reasons - everything from a change in personal circumstances to an unexpected household bill. To be blunt, sometimes you just need to get your hands on some cash quickly, and the need to do so can be quite daunting. It can feel like quite an isolating experience too, especially if you don't feel you can talk to people about why you need the money. Here are my top three ways to get your hands on money quickly. 1. Sell, sell, sell Most of us have things sat ... read more
Making the most of your Amazon Prime Subscription
Let's talk about the last minute reality of being a busy mum can we? The way that we're pulled in about a million and one directions at once, and working out the logistics for your little darlings can sometimes feel like you're planning to take a whole army into battle for six months. We've got Little Miss C's birthday this week, so as well as all the usual things that keep me busy all week I've also been trying to also do all those extra things like arrange a party, sort part bags, buy presents and bake a cake. Finding time to do all of this can be a bit of a challenge, but thanks to ... read more
How to buy toys cheaply with The Amazing Mystery Box
As a parent I'm always looking at thrifty ways to live life and provide for my kids. The truth is that family life is expensive and there always seem to be things that need buying. One area where I try really hard to save money though is when it comes to gifts - both for my own kids and for others - and hence I'm always after ways to buy toys cheaply. I'm often trying to pick up things that I know my kids wants for birthday and Christmas in advance when I see them in a sale or promotion, and I also have a "present cupboard" where I pop things that I pick up over the year that can then be used ... read more