A collection of articles about being thrifty, saving money and living on a budget. Discover that by using your initiative and looking for opportunities, there are many ways to change our habits to embrace a cheap, low-cost lifestyle. Modern life can be expensive and we can often feel trapped by those expenses – find a new sense of freedom by living well within your means – embrace thrift!
Getting into a thrifty mindset… will save you money. Living is expensive, just putting a roof over your head and paying the bills is expensive, let alone buying food, clothes, gifts and if you are very lucky, having enough money left over to enjoy a night out with friends. It can feel like every day is a struggle to get by, especially if you also have debts to repay.
Getting into a Thrifty Sustainability mindset can start to help make things a little easier financially for you. It won’t work miracles, but it will, over time, make a real difference to your bank balance and your peace of mind. Being thrifty is a way of life that can become quite addictive, as every time you save a few pennies or pounds… you want to save even more the next time and you look for ways to save money in every area of your life. Here are a few examples of getting into ‘how can I save money here’ frame of mind…
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- How to stop wasting food and start saving money!How to stop wasting food There are lots of things that we can do to stop wasting food. By looking at the way that we buy, store and use ingredients, we can reduce food waste and save money! Plan before you shop Before you shop, take a look in the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Do you really know what ...
- Homemade raw bars – no bake recipe!Try making these delicious homemade raw bars, with no baking required. Buying raw bars, nutrition bars or energy bars can be very expensive, but if you buy the ingredients in bulk and make them at home, they are actually pretty cheap. Have a go at making this easy recipe to ensure that you have tasty, healthy snacks, ...
- 30 DIY gift ideasChristmas is coming, which can be an expensive time of year. Just because it is the season to spend, doesn’t mean you have to! Why not have a go at these thrifty, homemade, DIY gift ideas and save money whilst creating something beautiful. If the slideshow above is not displaying correctly for you, you can visit ...
- Natural home remedies – prevent a cold & boost your immune systemTry these natural home remedies this winter, they may help to boost your immune system, or help you to recover faster from colds and flu. Traditional over-the-counter treatments and medicine can be quite expensive. You can often achieve the same results for a fraction of the cost by making your own alternative natural remedies. Obviously, these ...
- How to make Homemade Toffee VodkaThis is a really easy recipe that will produce delicious homemade toffee vodka. You could make a batch as home-made gifts. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a great idea to make and prepare DIY Gifts all year round. Have a little stockpile of beautifully-made, special presents, ready to give loved ones, family and friends. ...
- Make it: Caramelised red onion & chilli chutneyCaramelised red onion and chilli chutney is a great recipe to make this autumn. Once the chutney is sealed in the jars, it will have time to mature to be extra delicious just in time for Christmas. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a great idea to make and prepare DIY Gifts all year round. ...
- Using Solar Power – save money and live sustainablySolar power is an important natural resource that we can use more often, as we embrace a thrifty and sustainable lifestyle. You don’t need to know a lot about solar energy to make the most of it and you don’t need to spend a fortune. There are solar panels for every budget – they sell them ...
- Home Brew: Elderflower ChampagneMaking Elderflower Champagne is a fantastic way of turning free, foraged ingredients and low-cost store cupboard ingredients, into a few large bottles of actual alcohol. If you are new to making home brew, Elderflower Champagne is a great place to start. This drink is so cheap and easy to make. The result is a delicious, elegant ...
- What is a Repair Cafe? – Sustainable skillsWhat is a Repair Cafe? A repair cafe is a free meeting place, where people can bring along broken possessions to be fixed by a group of local volunteers. The volunteers have experience in repairing all kinds of items from furniture, clothes and bikes to electrical goods. Repair cafes encourage communities to reduce waste and save money ...
- How to make Dandelion JamDandelion Jam is a really unusual, but delicious treat. It is unlikely to be in your local supermarket or even your local farm shop. The fact that it is hard to get hold of makes this jam a brilliant home-made gift for friends. Try Dandelion Jam on toast or scones, pair it with cream cheese, use ...
- Grow your own – Planting & Picking calendarGrowing your own fruit and vegetables can be so rewarding, as we discovered in this previous post – Why grow your own fruit and vegetables. Different vegetables need to be planted and picked at different times throughout the year. Planting at the correct time ensures that you get the best quality and quantity of veg from ...
- Lemons – multi-talented, powerful… cheap!Lemons, often only chosen in the supermarket as a companion to gin & tonic or perhaps for squeezing over a piece of fish, but this cheeky little fruit has so much more to offer as you embrace a thrifty and sustainable lifestyle. Ahh, the humble lemon, look closer and you will discover, not only that it ...
- Free education – learn for freeReasons to learn for free What will inspire you to learn for free? Here are just a few suggestions: If you are unemployed and want to make your CV stand out from the crowd – taking a free online course will give you an edge, it will make employers notice you. It will also boost your self-esteem ...
- Why grow your own fruit and vegetables?Grow your own If you are looking for ways to save money and to live a more self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle, why not grow your own food, it’s a great place to start. Planting, nurturing, growing, picking, preparing and then eating your own food can be an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience. Whether you are growing food in ...
- Make it for Christmas: Tomato & Apple ChutneyTomato & Apple Chutney is a great recipe to have a go at in October/early November as the fruits are in season and once the chutney is sealed in the jars, it will have time to mature to be extra-delicious just in time for Christmas. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a good idea to ...