Sensibly Frugal Living

Amazon Gifts for Harry Potter Fans on a Budget

Merchandise for children’s films can be extortionate in price. I have an 8 year old daughter who is obsessed with the Harry Potter series, so I have done my fair share of Amazon scouring for inexpensive gift ideas that make great little gifts or stocking fillers. I hope my finds help you, especially with the Christmas season fast approaching.

*affiliate links used in this post.

Time Turner

Shoze Hourglass Necklace Time Turner Rotating Pendant Free Flowing Sand Purple

Fabric Wrist Bands

Pyramid International Boys’ Harry Potter Wristband, Multi-Coloured, 10 mm

Deathly Hallows Bracelet

TrifyCore Angle Wings and Owls Bracelet PU Leather Weave Bracelet Both for Man and Women Deathly Hallow Bracelet Gift for Lovers

Plastic Tote Bag

Unique Party 59083 – Large Plastic Harry Potter Party Bag, 33cm x 28cm

Plastic Wrist Bands 4 pack

Unique Party 59068 – Harry Potter Silicone Wristband Party Bag Fillers, Pack of 4

Hogwarts Crest Bracelet

Extensible Bracelet Harry Potter time Gems Bracelet Charm Friendship Accessories Bracelet Fashion Jewelry

Bertie Botts Beans

Jelly Belly Candy Company Harry Potter Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Jelly Belly Beans 1.2 OZ (35g)

Sorting Hat Keyring

Gespout Magic Hat Keychain Vintage Alloy Keyring Cap Pendant Key Buckle Ornaments Accessories for Key, Car Key

Golden Snitch Bracelet

MINGFENG Bracelet 3 PCS Golden Snitch Pocket Bracelet Wings Vintage Retro Tone For Men And Women Bracelet

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*Disclaimer: I am a member of the Amazon Associates program. This post contains affiliate links to products. At no extra cost to you, I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links

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Natural Cleaner for Smelly Drains

Is a drain in your house giving off a smelly odour? Do you want to try a natural remedy before turning to harsher chemicals? Then, this is the blog post for you. I have a natural way to freshen drains with pantry staples.

Please note, that if the water is draining slowly or you believe there to be a blockage, you may require a professional to look at the problem. This remedy is only for odorous drains.

What you will need:

White vinegar
Bicarbonate of Soda
Water

Method:

Ensure the plughole is clear of debris such as hair and soap scum.
Pour bicarbonate of soda into the drain and leave it to sit for 30 minutes.
Pour vinegar on top of the bicarbonate of soda.
Finally, rinse the drain clear with boiling water.

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D.I.Y Make-Up Brush Cleaner

I know cleaning make-up brushes is a chore and a half, one that gets put off for as long as possible in my case, but it needs to be done to protect yourself from germs and infections.

I have a quick D.I.Y cleaner that will make light work of this chore and you most probably have the ingredients in your home.

What you will need:

A bowl
Olive oil
Dish soap
Water

Method:

Mix 2 parts dish soap with 1 part olive oil together in a bowl.
Wet the brushes with water, then mix them in the soap and oil mix one at a time.
Once coated in the mix, rub the bristles between your fingers and against your palm to work the mix throughout. (If you have a makeup brush cleaning mat, use that to work the mixture through.)
Rinse in water until the water runs clean, then squeeze out the excess water.
Leave to dry on a towel.

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How to Harvest Nettles

What is a Nettle

A nettle (proper name: Urtica Dioica) is a herbaceous plant with stinging hairs that inject histamines and other various irritants that cause pain when they come in contact with skin.

Nettles can be harvested and cooked. Cooking a nettle effectively removes the sting.

Why to Harvest Nettles

That pesky, painful weed that takes over your garden if left unattended can be harvested and used in cooking. You know the saying, use what you have? Well, when it comes to nettles you can make tea and soups to name a few. Not forgetting, that nettles have many nutritional values.

When to Harvest Nettles

The best time to harvest nettles is when they first start to pop up in abundance in the spring, and when harvesting to eat, it is best to do so before they flower.

How to Harvest Nettles

Wear gloves
Only pick the top couple of leaves
Place into a paper bag
Before use, rinse well

How to Store Harvested Nettles

You can store fresh, washed nettles in the fridge for approx 3 days. If freezing nettles, it is best to blanch them in boiling water for a couple of minutes, and then plunge them into ice water for another couple of minutes. Once cool, squeeze any excess liquid from the nettles, chop them, and place them into a freezer bags.

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Natural Way to Kill Mildew

Before you start wielding the bleach to attack mildew, have you tried using a natural ingredient? White vinegar is a mild acid that is known to kill a vast amount of mold species. It is much kinder to your family, and although vinegar does have a smell, it is not as headache inducing as bleach.

What you will need:

A clean spray bottle
White vinegar
Water
Cloth

Method:

Pour the vinegar into the spray bottle undiluted
Spray onto the mildew and leave for an hour at least
Wipe clean with warm water and a cloth
Spray another light coating of vinegar over the area and leave to dry and act as a preventative force

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D.I.Y Autumnal Decor Ideas

Are you looking for ideas for some simple, DIY autumn decor? I was, and I did a little bit of Pinterest research that I thought only fair to share with you to save you some time.

The crafts I chose are inexpensive, frugal decor ideas that won’t break the budget and you don’t need to be particularly crafty to pull them off.

*Each craft has a link to the original tutorial post

Autumnal Pinecones

This kid friendly craft can work out incredibly inexpensive if you scavenge for your own pinecones. Paint the pinecones to fit your in with your autumn colour theme. Find out more over at Wee Folk Art.

Leaf Wreath

I think this decor idea is versatile and you can use leaves local to your area and garden. Four Generations One Roof has a tutorial on how to make this impressive beauty. You can keep it as simple as you like to keep in with your budget.

Salt Dough Decorations

I think salt dough decorations are the perfect craft when on a budget. You can change the designs and colours to suit your needs. These leaf/ autumnal ones are perfect to hang as a banner or as ornaments from a tree branch. Meaningful Mama has a tutorial on these rustic, autumnal decorations that the kids can help with.

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Simple D.I.Y Hair De-tangling Spray

Many parents will know the struggle of brushing a child’s hair, especially if that child has longer hair. My daughter despised having her hair brushed. Seriously, I could show her a hairbrush and she’d run away screaming. That was before I learned a little trick to make a D.I.Y de-tangling spray. I’ve even used it on my own hair when it needs a little extra conditioning. It really is so simple and cheap to make.

What you will need:

A clean, spray bottle (approx 300 ml)
Your favourite conditioner
Water

Method:

Pour 2 tbsps of conditioner into the spray bottle
Fill the rest of the bottle with water
Shake well and spray to dampen hair before brushing

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6 Frugal Laundry Hacks

Laundry, laundry, laundry. ARGH! When I see the bottom of one laundry basket, another gets filled.

By far not my favourite chore, and one of the more expensive chores of a household. Whether you do your laundry at home or at a launderette, I have a few hacks that should save you time and money.

DIY Dryer Sheets

You can make your own dryer sheets out of old face cloths and fabric softener. These DIY dryer sheets can be used a dozen times each, and then you simply redo the process. Here is my tutorial on dryer sheets.

Fluffy Towel Trick

A representative from my electricity company told me that putting a dry, fluffy towel in the dryer with your wet laundry will reduce drying time.

I tried it and it worked.

Dryer Balls

Dryer balls are known to keep duvets and pillows plump in the dryer, and they also reduce drying time. You can purchase dryer balls like the ones I have on Amazon: 2x Reusable Dryer Balls Fabric Softener Ball

Clean tennis balls will work the same.

No Line No Problem

I like to line dry my laundry when the weather is good. I understand that some people don’t have gardens or washing lines, but you can still air dry your clothes on an clothes horse. SI 3 Tier Airer Cloth Dryer Metal Clothes Laundry Folding Horse Rack Indoor Outdoor STEEL PIPE AIRER

This is will save on the cost of tumble drying clothes and actually keep your clothes in better condition. However, if using a clothes horse inside, the room must be well ventilated or you might get mould and mildew.

Sock Dryer

I used to shove all my socks and undergarments in the dryer as I would fill my washing line with larger articles. That was until I discovered sock dryers. You can hang multiple small garments (not just socks) on this contraption and hang it from the one hook to save line space. JVL Peg Oval Sock Dryer, 20 Pieces

Radiator Hangers

You should never drape clothing over a working radiator due to over heating, but these radiator hangers allow you to hang your clothing safely and get the most out of the radiator heat. Radiator Airer With 5 Adjustable Arms For Drying Clothes Max Temp 70c

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*Disclaimer: I am a member of the Amazon Associates program. This post contains affiliate links to products. At no extra cost to you, I may receive commission for purchases made through these links.

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Amazon Autumn Bargains

With the start of a new season dawning, I wanted to throw some bargain buys your way. I haven’t done a post like this in a little while, so I hope you find some bargains for the season, or even to put some away as gifts for Christmas.

*all the items are at bargain prices at the time of posting.

Tartan/Check Scarf: Discountfan Winter Long Soft Warm Tartan Check Scarves Wraps for women Wool Spinning Tassel Shawl Long Stole

Decorative Cushion Cover: SMILEQ Decorative Pillowcases Fall Autumn Room Sofa Car Decorative Throw Pillow Case Cushion Cover 18 X18Inch Halloween Home Decor (A)

Touch Screen Gloves: Anglewolf Winter Gloves With Windproof Suede Leather Insulated Polar Fleece Layer Ultra Soft Breathable Ski Snowboard Hiking Camping Warm Glove Thermal Men Women Driving Running(Green Child,L)

Autumnal Welcome Sign: Sharplace Wooden Plaque Halloween Holiday Fall Seasonal Hanging Board Sign Home Art Decor – Welcome 1, 15 x 15 cm

Thermal Socks 3pck: All Things Accessory 3 Pairs Thermal Socks – Brushed Thick Warm Winter Socks (Triple Pack)

Orange Candle: Shearer Candles Orange Pomander Small Scented Gold Tin Candle – Orange

Bobble Beanie: Mens Ladies Unisex Wooly Knitted Bobble Beanie Ski Hat 1 Size Generally Fits All (1size, Charcoal-Chunky-6464)

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I hope you have found some bargains amongst my list. Keep your eyes peeled for similar posts in the future. If I find them, I want to share them.

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Frugal Flan for Any Occasion

I am all for a no bake treat that can work as a dessert for the family or a gift to take to a party or gathering. My tried and tested flan is so simple, and it is frugal because you can get approximately 8 slices out of one (depending how greedy you are).

Ingredients

*prices correct on Tesco.com at the time of posting

Flan base £1.05
Whipping cream £1.50
Strawberries £0.97

Method:

Whisk your whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks
Spread evenly over the flan base
Slice the strawberries
Arrange the strawberry slices on top of the cream until it is all covered (see picture)
Keep refrigerated

Note: You can add vanilla essence to the cream if you prefer it a bit sweeter.

It really is that simple and cost effective to make a strawberry and cream flan. There really is no baking, and the end result looks pretty scrummy, right?

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