I live an abundant life on a small, private pension.

I live an abundant life on a small, private pension.

This website provides tips and encouragement for others that want to simplify their life, reduce consumerism, reduce the waste of the planet’s resources, and be more content with what they already have.

Recipes & Food
Saving Money
Toni G

Hello, I’m Toni.

Being frugal is not about deprivation and ‘being cheap’. It involves making the best use of your resources and skills to enable you to have more choices in how you live your life.

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A simple, frugal life does not have to involve feeling poor without luxuries, or be just about surviving.

You can feel rich in so many other ways. Through planning, having a positive mindset, using nature’s resources, and by reducing waste, it is possible to thrive, and live your best life, even on a small income.

Simple.

Stay close to nature in all that you do.

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Frugal.

Mindfully use your money and resources.

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Heart.

Life.

Find joy every day, make time for self care, and be your authentic self.

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Latest from my blog

  • How did we become so greedy?

    Published On: September 30, 2024Categories: Wellbeing

    I need to reduce my weight for health reasons as I have not lost some of  the weight that I gained during the pandemic.  It has made me examine more closely what I consume, and [...]

  • Autumn meal plan

    Published On: September 29, 2024Categories: Saving money on food

      My Autumn meal plan for this week is all about eating from the fridge, cupboards and garden whilst providing hearty meals.  The temperature has dropped dramatically and it is starting to feel chilly.  I [...]

  • Air fryer smoked cheese and apple quiche

    Published On: September 29, 2024Categories: Light Meals, Recipes

    I wanted to make something nice for lunch to have with salad from the garden.  I  needed to make something quickly and have been meaning to make this air fryer smoked cheese and apple quiche [...]

  • 21 Garden jobs in Autumn

    Published On: September 25, 2024Categories: Growing Food

    We are officially into Autumn now and the last of my summer crops are finishing.  I am still hanging on hoping that some of my tomatoes may go red but I have harvested a lot [...]

  • Experimenting with Amaranth

    Published On: September 23, 2024Categories: Growing Food

    I grew a new crop to me called Amaranth. I had heard that you could grow it like Quinoa that I tried for the first time last year. I am always interested in things that [...]

  • Home made ‘Twix’ biscuits.

    Published On: September 21, 2024Categories: Baking, Recipes

    A memory came up on my FB from 2 years ago when we made short bread to take as a present to my great, great aunt, and for the neighbours who had been keeping an [...]

  • Mediterranean garlic crust pie

    Published On: September 18, 2024Categories: Mains, Recipes

    My friend said that she needed to go to the supermarket as she had nothing in to feed the 3 of them tonight.  However, she had no money. I had none to lend her. She [...]

  • Be gentle with yourself

    Published On: September 18, 2024Categories: Wellbeing

    It took me a long time to learn to be gentle with myself when I was feeling down.  I felt like a failure, and guilty. I am writing this today for a friend in the [...]

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Fresh, organic produce on a shoestring.

Growing your own food.

Grow Your Own Food

Slow down, relax and start…

Living simply.

Living Simply

Favourite recipes

Using affordable ingredients and what you already have in the store cupboards, as well as what you can grow and forage.

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Salmon.

Salmon Mediterranean kebabs.

Ripe blackberries.

Blackberry crumble.

Lemon balm iced tea.

Lemon balm iced tea.

Four Lollies.

Cooling Recipe.

Pasta and tomatoes.

Quick cheap pasta dish.

Herbs and pan.

Preserving herbs.

Padding out salads.

Padding out salads.

Pasties a frugal filling meal.

Pasties – a frugal filling meal.

You might not be able to control how much money you have, but you can control what you do with it.

I hate to throw left over food away, there’s almost always a meal you can make with it. Once you change your mindset, it’s surprising what you can save with a little thought and a little planning.

Saving Money