Sensibly Frugal Living

Simple Bath Salt Tutorial

If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that my eight year old and I made my husband some simple bath salts for father’s day. He enjoys a bath with his lotions and potions, and this was a nifty, awesome gift idea.

I had a couple people ask me how we made them, and it really is so simple, I decided to share it via blog post, so you all can have a go.

What you will need:

Sea salt (Any variety of your choosing)
Baby oil
Mixing bowl and spoon
Jars (For storing the salts. We used cleaned baby food jars)

Method:

Measure out 2 cups of sea salt into a mixing bowl
Add in 2 tbsp of baby oil
Mix thoroughly (You can add essential oils at this stage, but we didn’t.)
Spoon into your jars

See? It really is that easy. We added labels to our jars and covered the lids using craft paper and an elastic band ( see picture). You can wrap the jars, leave as they are, or decorate. It is totally up to you.

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Build a Junk Modelling Kit

One of the cheapest activities to entertain your children is junk modelling. The frugality is in the name… junk. I have spent the last few weeks building a junk modelling kit for my daughter to pull out on those rainy days or just days when creativity strikes her, and I thought I’d compile a helpful list of 10 essential junk items for those of you wanted to build your own kit.

Cereal boxes
Bottle tops
Jam jars/ baby food jars
Foil pie cases
Toilet roll tubes
Paper straws
Paper plates
Butter tubs
Plastic tub/meat trays
Fabric off-cuts

The other items required are ones you may need to purchase unless you already have some on hand:

Craft glue/ sticky tape
Safety scissors

We store our supplies in a cardboard box in our garage. You can store yours in whatever you have on hand, even an old suitcase would do the trick. If you keep your box stocked, it’ll always be on hand during those rainy days, or moments when us parents need a little peace and quiet.

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Don’t Leave Christmas Too Late

Has anyone else had the sudden realisation that we’re already halfway to Christmas? My husband pointed this out to me, and my reply, ‘good job I start early, then.’ Yes, I pretty much start preparing for Christmas in January, and I’m here to tell you why you should too.

Reasons to Start Christmas Prep Early:

Spread the cost. Christmas can be costly and take a massive chunk out of your pay packet if you leave buying presents etc until last minute.
Cut the cost. If you prepare for Christmas throughout the year, you can make the most of the sales and buying second hand.
Go handmade. If you want to save even more money and give a thoughtful gift, you can hand make them. Starting early gives you much more time to plan and make your gifts. You can even buy your supplies when they come on sale or ask on freecycle sites.
Less stress. The idea of leaving all of my Christmas prep until December fills me with dread. The stress it would cause isn’t worth it and would ruin my holidays. I like to know that I can take my time throughout the year, get everything together and paid for without rushing and wasting money, and take the stress out of the festivities.
No debt. The amount of families who get into debt because of Christmas is astonishing. Start early, save early, buy in the sales, or hand-make your presents to save having to borrow money.
Time to make money. If you plan early, you can see if you are going to need extra funds to afford the Christmas you want. You can hold car-boot sales in the summer or sell on Ebay.com to raise money for your Christmas fund.

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5 Free Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s day is drawing near, and for some it can be a pretty pricey time. Dads, in laws, step-dads… you see what I mean? However, when it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts, and that means you can do something special for your father that won’t cost you a penny.

I.O.U Voucher

Does your dad have a chore he would rather not do, or is there something you can do for him that would help him out. A car wash, raking the yard, or even walking the dog. You can make your I.O.U vouchers by hand or print out a free template from Google.

Cook a Meal

Cooking a meal from what is in your pantry is a lovely way to show your dad that you care. You could invite your dad around for tea, or cook for him at his home.

Personal Photo

Do you have a special photo of you and your dad? Print out your favourite photo and put it in a frame. If you don’t have a printer or a frame, why not compile a slideshow of photos and email it to your Dad?

Bake

Baking a treat is a sure fire way to make anyone happy. If you use ingredients from the pantry, this can be a totally free, but special gift idea.

Movie Night

Invite your dad to a movie night for an extra special, unique gift. You can watch a film you already own, or borrow one from a friend. Make snacks and drinks from what you already have at home, and spend some quality family time together.

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5 Must Know Kitchen Hacks

Over the years, I have been told or discovered a number of must know hacks for the household. Today, I am focussing on 5 must know hacks for the kitchen.

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Fruit Net Scrubbers

Does your fruit come in those little plastic net bags? Oranges and lemons, in particular, sometimes come packaged in this stuff. Scrunch the netting in your fingers, apply a little soap and water and you have an effective, mild scrubber for your kitchen surfaces. This is perfect on metal sinks as it doesn’t scratch.

Tannin Remover Powder

When I heard a relative say she chucked out her mugs because she couldn’t get rid of the brown stains from inside, I was shocked. Tannin remover powder is such a simple and cheap remedy to these stubborn stains. I did try the washing detergent option, but the results were not nearly as quick or noticable as when I used tannin remover powder. Leave the mugs to soak over night in the tannin powder and water solution, and simply wipe the stains away the next day. Ensure you fully wash out your mugs before use. You can buy Astonish Tea/Coffee Stain Remover 350gm buy clicking the link.

Lemon Slices Fridge Freshener

Do you use lemons in cooking or drinks? Even after you have juiced a lemon, the leftovers can be placed in a bowl and put in the fridge to keep it smelling fresh. Just switch out the lemon slices/ peels when necessary.

Dishwasher Tabs to Clean Washing Machines

If you have a dishwasher, you will have the tablets you use to clean your dishes. Did you know that popping one in the drum of your washing machine and running it on a hot wash will help keep your machine clean? If you don’t have a dishwasher, why not borrow a tab from someone who does?

Cutting Disposable Scourers, Sponges, and Cloths

Do you really need a full size scourer? I cut mine in half to make them last longer, and I only need half to do what I need to do. This also applies to sponges and cloths.

I also throw them in the washing machine. Single use is such a waste when they do come up clean and new once washed.

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How to Host an ‘Everything £1’ Event

I’m not going to lie and say that there isn’t a fair amount of planning involved in hosting an ‘Everything £1’ event, but get your friends involved and share the prep of what can be a potentially fruitful event for you all. You get to make money from your old bits and bobs, and potentially, without paying out a penny.

Think of a car-boot sale or nearly new sale, but you know everything for sale is £1. It is that premise of people loving a bargain that will make this event work.

How To:

Rally Friends and Relatives

Anyone who has items to fill a table that they’re happy to take £1 for. I’d suggest a minimum of 10 tables, so that’s just 10 willing people needed to pull this event together.

Hire a Venue

“But this can be pricey,” I hear you cry. Yes, it can be, but this is where your potential customers will help out. Entry fee to your event can be 50p or £1 per adult (children free). Most people will be happy to pay this if they know that all the items inside are just £1.

Advertise well

This is where the hard work really comes into play. Set up an event page on Facebook, get your local radio station to announce it on air, and get your local newspapers to add it to their ‘What’s On?’ sections. If you have access to a printer, you can also put up posters and ask the local schools if they will distribute leaflets to parents. The more advertising and promoting you do, the more potential customers you will reach.

Social media is amazing, so use it to your advantage. Politely ask all of your friends to share your posts on their different platforms to get the word out there.

Make sure to include all necessary details such as time, date, address, and entry fee.

Set Up

Make sure you have accounted for set up and shut down time in your hire time. Someone must be the main point of contact for the venue manager: to collect keys, arrive early to meet the manager when they open up, and find out about the fire regulations etc.

Each seller should have a table to themselves, and can also use the floor area underneath to display their items.

Double check that everyone is still on board with the £1 pricing strategy. Customers like to know what they are getting, and if you said it’s £1 for the items, they want £1 items on the day.

Note: If you are selling items that usually sell for less than £1, such as books, stipulate that they are, for example, 2 for £1 with a sign to avoid lost sales.

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Let me know if you have held similar sales, and if you have any good tips to add. These events also work well if you are charity fundraising. The more people to help and organise, the easier the process is.

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10 Frugal Ways to Stay Cool

Are you experiencing a spring heatwave? In my little part of England we are set to experience warmer weather in the coming weeks, and I’m certainly not complaining. However, not being used to warmer weather can mean running air conditioning systems and/or electrical fan units. This can be costly. There are some alternatives to try first…

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The Correct Bedding

If sleeping without a comforter is not an option, be aware of the tog rating. The higher the tog, the warmer the comforter. If you can, switch out your thicker duvets for blankets or sheets.

Spritzing

Spritzing is as simple as it sounds. Fill a spray bottle with cold water, and whenever you feel hot, spritz your skin with a fresh blast of water. This is a great way to cool kids when out and about on very hot days.

Close the Drapes

If the sun pours directly into a room, close your drapes during the day to keep the room cooler.

Ready Made Ice Packs

Keep ice packs in the freezer and apply them to your forehead and neck or your pressure points. A fast relief in sweaty, stifling weather.

Run Cold Water on Your Wrists

This is similar to the above point. Running cold water on your pressure points (wrists are easiest) for about 30 seconds lowers the blood temperature in your limbs, and then the rest of your body as the blood circulates. Standing in cold water will have the same effect.

Open Windows

Opening windows at night allows the cooler night air to circulate within your house. Leave your inside doors open to let heat escape from the rooms. * Only leave windows open if safe to do so.

Freeze a Hot Water Bottle

Fill a hot water bottle about half way with water and freeze. ( Do not fill fully as frozen water expands.) When frozen, this works as a fantastic ice pack for your bed to rest your feet on. Wrap it in a towel before placing on your sheets to prevent condensation wetting your bedding.

Cooling Sports Towels

I swear by these towels. You can buy them for less than £10 on Amazon: VACNITE Cooling Towel , and they work wonders to cool you down. Wet the towel in cold water, ring out thoroughly, and place in the plastic bag it comes with. When you need cooling down, take it out and apply to your neck or head. If the towel starts to warm, shake it out in the air and it will cool down brilliantly, ready to use again.

Wear Cotton

They best clothing to wear in the heat is cotton. The material allows for air flow to the skin. It also absorbs sweat easily, keeping you more comfortable.

No Cooking

An oven will add heat to your house. Also, eating cold foods such as sandwiches, raw fruit and vegetables, and salads is much more cooling for the body than a hot meal.

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Half Term Frugal Fun

It is the first day of the May half term in the UK. Fingers crossed the weather stays kind to us and the children can enjoy the outdoors. In this post, I have 5 indoor and 5 outdoor frugal activities for family fun whatever the weather.

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Indoor Activities

Blanket Fort: This rite of passage has been passed down through the generations. Who knew something so simple could sparks such imagination and joy? You can make a fort by hanging a blanket over 2 chairs or a table.
Board Game Day: Spending a whole day playing board games is a great way to be together as a family. You can use games you already have, or even draw some such as tic tac toe, hangman etc.
Baking: The ingredients for simple fairy cakes shouldn’t cost much more than £3. You probably have some of them in your pantry. Having a baking afternoon is fun and educational for your children, and means you have snacks and treats for the week.
Junk Modelling: If you collect items such as cardboard, bottles, corks etc you can have a go at this inexpensive activity. All you need to add is PVA glue or sticky tape and imagination.
Donate Day: Is it time to have a clear out? Give each family member a box to fill with items to donate. This is a good activity to encourage compassion and generosity in your children.

Outdoor Activities

Scavenger Hunt: A fantastic way to get the children on a nature walk whilst keeping them entertained. I have a post on scavenger hunt ideas that you may find helpful.
Gardening: Keep the whole family busy and the garden tidy by getting everyone involved in weeding, leaf sweeping, and planting. Sunflowers are a great addition to the garden, easy for children to tend, and beautiful in pots or beds. You can get sunflower seeds direct to your door for less than £2. Sunflower Seeds x100
Play Park: Play parks are a sure way to impress children. The fun is ready made, and you can make a day out of it by taking a picnic lunch.
Chalk Drawings: My daughter loves drawing, and the mere mention of drawing on the patio outside is a hit with her. Chunky chalks work best for this activity. Tub of 20 Giant Chalks You can encourage your children to use their imaginations or draw games to play such as hopscotch.
Bug Hotels: Did you know that making a bug hotel is both easy and inexpensive. You can use old flower pots, boxes, and garden material such as twigs and grass cuttings. This activity can be extended by getting the children to check their bug hotel and jot down their findings. This makes a great show and tell or science project upon the return to school. I have a simple bug hotel tutorial to inspire you.

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Simple Bug Hotel Tutorial

We’ve been spending a lot of time in the garden recently, so I decided to make a bug hotel with my daughter for her to study over the coming weeks. I have put together a tutorial on how we made our bug hotel with some handy tips.

Materials:

Plant pot
Toilet roll tube
Stones/ gravel
Garden materials such as grass cuttings and twigs

Tutorial:

Find a secluded area in the garden that you don’t mind having a bug hotel.
Position the plant pot on it’s side and tuck it nicely into the chosen area, so it won’t roll about. You can place a stone either side to keep it steady if necessary.
Place a few stones in the bottom of the pot and a toilet roll tube on top of them.
Pop the garden waste in the spare spaces and tube, but not too crammed in. You still want to be able to get a good look inside without disturbing it.
Leave your hotel for a few days to allow the bugs to get accustomed to it. Then, return to see if you can see your new tenants.

This is an inexpensive, fun activity for children. They could even return every couple of days to study the bug hotel and keep notes.

This activity is also great for science projects and show and tell.

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10 Daily Habits for Frugal Living

Becoming more frugal is a lifestyle change. That means changing wasteful habits and thinking differently about money. If you are looking to be more frugal, here is a list of 10 daily habits worth noting.

Putting Change in a Savings Pot

At the end of the day, empty all loose change into a pot. Saving change is a sure way to turn pennies into pounds.

Food Stock Rotation

Keeping a daily eye on your food and when it needs to be used by will ensure you do not waste anything. Keeping an ‘eat me first’ tub in the fridge for items near their expiry date is a great way to let the rest of the family know what to choose first.

Short Showers

Ensuring your whole family only take quick showers is a great way to save money and water. I know of people who put an egg timer in their bathroom, so they and their children know when their 5 minutes is up.

Drinking Tap Water

A great frugal habit to get into is to only drink tap water. No fizzy drinks, squash, or coffee. Try drinking only tap water for a full month and see how much you save. If you don’t like tap water, you can boil and cool it first, or add a squeeze of lemon.

Air Drying Clothes

An important habit to get into to save money on energy is to air dry your clothes. Whether that be on a clothes stand or a garden line, avoiding using the tumble dryer is not only kind on your purse but the environment.

Turn Down the Thermostat

Do you really need a toasting hot house? Can you put on extra layers and have the heating on low to just take the chill off? Heating is a big expense, and daily awareness of this, especially in the winter months, is important.

Meal Plan

Having a meal plan and sticking to it prevents money and food waste. Ensuring each meal and snack is planned each morning, and each family member is aware of the meal plan is a good, daily habit to maintain.

Keep an Eye on your Bank Accounts

Popping onto online banking daily to check your accounts and transactions is essential for maintaining tight control over your finances.

Be Productive

Use time wisely. Frugal people tend to keep busy rather than vegging out in front of technology. Side hustle or hobbies to earn from are great contributors to your frugal lifestyle.

Minimise Technology Time

This links into the above post in regards to becoming more productive in your spare time. It also saves money on energy. Limiting time spent on games consoles, television, and laptops is a good, daily habit for the whole family.

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Are you a frugal person? Do you have any daily tips not mentioned in this post?

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