During the year we make condiments and other useful items for the larder, depending on what we can grow, forage, or purchase for a good price. I don't make everything each year as I would [...]
My pantry and freezer are always full, despite my food budget being below £700 a year. I think that it is so important to have a stock of food as we never know what is [...]
Today is the 80th anniversary of VE day. Spending a lot of time with my grand parents as a child, I automatically picked up some of the war time habits and knowledge in my food [...]
In the UK at Easter and Christmas time. half price joints can often be found in the supermarkets. Sometimes I buy beef ones and sometimes I buy pork ones. My friend said to me that [...]
I apologise that I have not posted for a while but I have been sent a few curve balls recently, including my lap top packing in. I am attempting to write this on my phone [...]
I don't buy lettuce. Instead I grow my own, inside in winter, and outside in summer. I have always grown lettuce, even when I had a flat without a garden. Lettuce seeds are so cheap [...]
We were having an Italian style meal this evening. I wanted some garlic bread but we did not have any garlic. I therefore made it with wild garlic. I had been lucky in that we [...]
We have been away on a small break and I had brought back left over food. We were sell catering and cooked all of our own meals to save money. So many people tell me [...]
It is Mother's Day here on Sunday in the UK. I am hard to buy a gift for as being older, I no longer need more 'stuff'. In fact I am trying to declutter my [...]
This week is food waste action week here in the UK. I pride myself in having no food waste in my house. We use everything that we buy, get from the community fridge, or we [...]
Stream lining anything makes it easier to manage. This is why I like to keep my food simple. If I was to make lots of difficult and sophisticated meals every week, it would cost a [...]
A plan to deal with increased prices.
Published On: March 10, 2025Categories: Saving Money
All of my bills are rising. As I get my annual statements I see that things like Council Tax have risen by 15%, and my water bill is up by £120. My insurances have risen, [...]
Mr S loves beetroot and it is full of nutrients. We do grow 2 crops of beetroot but I don't have enough room to grow as much as I would like. I do not like [...]
The wild garlic is already abundant here in an ancient, sheltered wood near where I live. At this time of year I pick it a couple of times of week, incorporate it into my food, [...]
Some one asked me the other day what my main staples are. They have changed over the last few years as prices have risen. Eggs would definitely been on there a few years ago, but [...]
How supermarkets trick us into spending more
Published On: February 10, 2025Categories: Saving Money
Any one that is in my group, or who reads my blogs regularly, knows that I am on a mission to use the supermarkets as few times as I can this year. We are making [...]
11 ways to earn money if you do not have a job
Published On: February 4, 2025Categories: Saving Money
Prices are constantly increasing, and I know a lot of people that do not want to go to work in a proper job, especially retired people, but need a little bit more income. Here are [...]
Coffee and tea have really increased in price. I don't actually drink either, but Mr S drinks both. This year I am trying to embrace winter, and so have decided to try to make 'teas' [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Frugal laundry and personal hygiene in winter
Published On: January 5, 2025Categories: Saving Money
At this time of year, winter, it is harder to be frugal with laundry in the UK. Things can rarely be dried on a line outside for almost 6 months of the year. Even in [...]
The fridge and freezers are always full at this time of year and so we normally do a pantry challenge to make sure that everything is used up and nothing is wasted. This year we [...]
Reason for and against a ‘no spend’ January
Published On: December 30, 2024Categories: Saving Money
If you are new to saving money, have a large debt that you want to reduce, want to save for a holiday, or want to improve your spending habits, then having no spend months is [...]