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

  • Managing my freezers to save money

    Published On: January 19, 2025Categories: Saving money on food

    Why I have two freezers Having two freezers has made my life so much easier, and managing them has saved me money.   One is the bottom half of a fridge freezer that has 3 drawers.  [...]

  • Mexican Rice

    Published On: January 14, 2025Categories: Light Meals, Mains

    I wanted something filling for lunch and we have a lot of bits and pieces around to use up, including a small chicken breast that I had taken out of the freezer a couple of [...]

  • Quick Tarts

    Published On: January 13, 2025Categories: Desserts, Saving money on food

    Whenever the oven is on, I try to fill it. We are always baking ahead, not only to save money, but to save time. I will often cook some pastry pie lids or some tart [...]

  • Ham and Leek cheese and potato bake

    Published On: January 13, 2025Categories: Mains

    We are doing a pantry challenge, and so I am using up things from the freezer and cupboards for the next few months.  I have lots of Christmas left overs, including a ham joint that [...]

  • Journaling part 2 (benefits, getting started and prompts)

    Published On: January 11, 2025Categories: Wellbeing

    A few days ago I wrote an introduction to journaling which explained some of the different types of journaling and what you needed to start journaling. In this blog I will talk about some of [...]

  • Living below my means

    Published On: January 10, 2025Categories: Saving Money

    It is important to live within your means so that you do not get into debt.  However I like to live below my means as that is what has made me more secure and reach [...]

  • Introduction to journaling

    Published On: January 9, 2025Categories: Wellbeing

    I mention in some of my wellbeing blogs that journaling helps me.  People have asked me to do a blog on this topic.  Journaling is a big topic to cover and so I will start [...]

  • Reduce worry

    Published On: January 6, 2025Categories: Wellbeing

    I have noticed that a lot of people around me are full of worry at the moment, and so I thought that I would right a blog to try to help reduce that worry. It [...]

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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