Sensibly Frugal Living

30 Handmade Gift Ideas on a Budget

One expense that I encounter every month is gift buying. I have a large family, and there is one or more birthdays each month, not forgetting Christmas. A great way to reduce the expense is to get creative with handmade gifts.

Painted stones
Painted/ decorated photo frame
Chocolate Truffles
Herb and salt bath soak
Scrap book of photos
Wild flowers bouquet
Handmade voucher for one favour
Herb infused oil
Cookies
Printed bookmarks
Cookie mix in a jar
Salt dough ornament
Hot chocolate spoons
Melted crayon shapes
Scented sugar scrub
Sweetie filled bauble
Toffee apples
Tea bag wreath
Decorated plant pot
Framed poem
Framed song lyrics
Handwritten recipes
52 reasons why I love you cards
Photo calendar
Alphabet painted stones
Mixed bean soup mix
365 reasons why I love you jar
Chocolate bar and candy cane sleigh
Scented foot scrub
Painted shells

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Spring Family Bucket List

Sunny spells, sudden showers, Easter holidays, and a sense of new life. That is what spring means to me. Get out and enjoy the warmer weather, even the wetter days, by creating a Spring bucket list! All of your activities can be free or inexpensive and you can still make the most of springtime as a family.

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels.com

Here’s my family’s Spring bucket list for 2019. It may be a little optimistic as my husband works full time outside of the home, but we’ll try to tick off as many activities as we can. Feel free to copy our list, or adapt your own list for your family.

Let me know if you plan out your family time for the weekends/ holidays. Will you be creating a bucket list this Springtime?

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Amazon Gifts for Her

Giving gifts can be costly, but sometimes, we just don’t have the time or skill to make homemade presents. What if I told you that you could buy gifts for under £1 with free postage and packaging? Well, you can! I scoured Amazon.com for some cheap presents for her.

Ladies Drop Earrings £0.49 and free p & p.

Good Luck Elephant Necklace £0.84 and free p & p.

Heart Bangle £0.49 and free p & p

Winnie the Pooh Quote Key Ring £0.92 and free p & p

Leaf Stud Earrings £0.89 and free p & p

Have these gifts inspired you to search online for some bargains? You save money, and the recipient need not know a thing. Mum’s the word.

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Please be aware that these items do not come in presentation boxes just plastic baggies. You can buy cheap jewellery boxes on Amazon depending on the size you require.

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15 Simple Ways to Lower Your Energy Bill

The winter months can be particularly expensive in regards to household energy usage. The tumble dryers are on more, the heating is turned up, and we spend a lot more time within the house on technology. With this in mind, I have compiled a list of 15 simple ways to lower the cost of your energy bill.

Time limit on showers. Put an egg timer in the bathroom and allow each family member 5 minutes to wash.
Line/ air dry clothes where possible. Minimising dryer usage will save you money.
Have the heaters on the lowest, comfortable setting. You don’t need heaters blasting out all day and night. Set them to take the edge off the cold.
Use your washing machine and dryer at night. Depending on your tariff, using the washer and dryer at night can save you money. However, only do this while you are awake for safety reasons.
Limit technology usage. Minimise TV and laptop time. Set timers/ parental controls on games consoles and tablet devices.
Put a dry towel in the dryer with your wet clothes. A dry towel will absorb some of the moisture and reduce drying time.
Only heat areas you use a lot. Hallways, corridors, and bathrooms do not need heating. Some may argue that bedrooms do not need heating if you sleep under duvets.
Wash clothes at a lower temperature. A cool wash will save you money and still wash your clothes effectively.
Use fully lined curtains. Thick, lined curtains will hold the heat in your house.
Change light bulbs. Change the light bulbs in your house to energy efficient ones.
Turn off appliances at the wall. Do not leave appliances on standby as this does use electricity. Pennies lead to pounds.
Take advantage of phone charging facilities. Are you allowed to charge your phone at work? Does your local cafe have free, phone charging stations? Use these services to save money at home.
Eat ‘No-Cook’ meals a few times a week. Salads, subs, and raw vegetable and dip platters are great ‘no-cook’ meal ideas to save energy on cooking appliances.
Close the doors of heated rooms. Keeping the door closed will keep the heat in. If you have gaps under your doors, place a draught-excluder there, or even a rolled up towel.
Opt out of baths. If you enjoy a bath, keep it to once a week. If you need to bath your children, why not use the same bath water?

These are simple, money-saving measures, that will save you money in the long run. Getting into good, energy saving habits will be great life skills for your children.

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10 Frugal Reasons to Grow Lavender

Not only is lavender a beautiful addition to your garden, there are other frugal reasons to grow lavender. Here’s my top ten:

Lavender can be used in cooking. Using lavender as a baking spice can create tasty cookies and cakes.
Lavender can be brewed as a tea to help you sleep.
Pouches filled with lavender can be stored in closets and drawers to keep the contents smelling fresh.
Mixing lavender with Epsom salt makes a fantastic bath soak.
Infusing lavender with vodka can make a tasty treat. This is a great gift idea.
Vodka infused lavender can also be diluted to be use as a room and linen spritz.
Lavender wax melts are cheap to make and can be melted over a wax burner to keep your house smelling fresh.
Dry out lavender and use it as pot pourri.
Ground dried lavender and add it to bicarbonate of soda to create a carpet freshener.
Lavender planted around an outside eating or play area will act as a natural bug repellent due to it’s strong scent.

I, personally, don’t need any other reason than the beautiful, purple flowers and gorgeous scent to plant lavender, but the added benefits make it a frugal plant to grow and harvest.

If you are still unconvinced, I have one more reason to grow lavender. This is not a frugal reason unless you keep bees, but lavender is loved by bumble bees. There is a crisis with bumble bee numbers at the moment. Plant some lavender and help them out.

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How to Have a No spend Year

What is a no spend year?

A no spend year is exactly what it sounds like. Other than essential living costs such as groceries and necessary bills, you do not spend a single penny. It is not easy, and you’ll have to step up your frugal game, but it is possible.

Why have a no spend year?

Most people opt to have a no spend year to save money. Whether you need to clear debt, save for a holiday, or start an emergency fund, a no spend year will give you a massive boost.

However, no spend years are about more than just saving money. Many people choose this option to help them on their way to minimalism. Others want to minimise waste and change their lifestyle habits. The great thing about a no spend year is that no matter the reason for taking part, you reap all the positive benefits.

Tips on how to have a no spend year?

Keep a visual savings tracker. Being able to see the results as you succeed is a great motivator. The money you save can be tracked on a chart and stuck on the fridge. Look at it when you’re having a particularly hard day.
Source items for free. If you are on the look out for certain items, keep an eye on the Facebook free selling pages. Online sites such as Gumtree and Freecycle are also tailored to your local area.
Make do and mend. Sew damaged clothing, adapt items for different uses, and regularly maintain your items to keep them working efficiently.
Get creative. This is especially important at times of gift giving such as Christmas and birthdays. Upcycle, re-gift, or create presents from stuff you already have around the house. You can also get crafty for projects around the house. For example, if you need storage boxes, why not cover an ordinary, cardboard box with left over fabric or wallpaper?
Make use of free services. Libraries, children’s play groups, book groups etc offer things such as free entertainment, resources, and socialising. A free service can also mean taking up an offer from family and friends. For example, if your lawn mower breaks, borrow your friend’s for the year if they offer.
Let people know you are on a no spend year. If you are being invited to the cinema or out for meals etc, the temptation is there to spend. If your close friends and family know you are on a no spend year, they are less likely to be a temptation, and perhaps will adapt their time with you to a no spend activity. They will also appreciate the handmade gifts at birthdays and Christmas.
Decide what are necessary payments in your life before you start. We all have good intentions when cutting costs we think we can do without, but being realistic will save money in the long run. If being a member of a sporting club is your hobby and way to have fun, then the membership fee can be classed as a necessity. The same goes for gym memberships etc.
Leave money at home. If you don’t have it, you can’t spend it.

If you feel like you would benefit from a no spend year to meet your financial goals, I wish you the best of luck on your journey? If you have done/ in the process of a no spend year, let me know your experience.

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20 Simple Ways to Lower Your Grocery Bill

Grocery shopping can be a huge weekly expense for families. When I heard that some of my friends spend over £100 a week for a family of four, I felt motivated to write this post. Did you know there are some simple ways to lower the amount you spend on your groceries? I have compiled together a list of 20.

Meal Plan. Planning out every meal and what ingredients you need will stop you buying groceries that will sit in the pantry or go out of date. Take a list and stick to it.
Don’t shop when you’re hungry. When you’re hungry, everything looks good. Eat first, shop after.
Check the cupboards. Check what ingredients you have at home before you go shopping. This will prevent you doubling up on items. You can also plan your meals around the ingredients you have left.
Do one big shop. Shop weekly or fortnightly. If you pop into the shops for a few items here and there, you will end up picking up more than you actually need.
Always check the reduced sections. Most of the reduced section items have a short best before date (usually that day). Vegetables can be blanched and frozen as long as they are eaten within three months. Damaged packaging is another reason a product may be reduced. This doesn’t affect the food, and you can transfer the items to containers at home.
Bulk buy. It is cheaper to buy in larger quantities. For example, large bags of rice or pasta work out cheaper than buying the same equivalent in smaller packs.
Buy store brands. The store brands are cheaper than the branded items.
Stock up in the sales. Keep an eye out for sales on your regular purchases. Stock up on those items when they are on offer. (Make sure the best before dates are long.)
Sign up for a store card. Store cards or loyalty cards are great for getting added value on your grocery bill. You will earn points toward in-store vouchers/cash.
Go meat free. Meat can be costly. Designate three days a week to meat free meals.
Limit snack/ junk food. Crisps, biscuits, and sweets are luxury items in my opinion. Set yourself a limit on how much you will spend on these items each week and stick to it.
Limit your waste. If you buy a bag of carrots and only use 3/4’s of the bag, blanch and freeze the remainder for future use. The less food you waste, the less money you waste.
Cook from scratch. Cooking from scratch always works out cheaper. Package mixes and sauces have a big mark up compared to the cost of the individual components. Ready meals are a huge waste of money, and in truth, don’t taste as nice as a meal made from scratch.
Batch cook. Batch cooking means making a meal, but cooking extra to freeze for another day. It is cheaper to buy a 1kg pack of mince, than 2x 500g packs of mince. It simply makes sense to cook up a large batch and freeze the extra.
Double check the quantity and prices. Something may look like a good deal, but really isn’t. For example, the liquid washing detergent I use was on offer for £4 instead of £6. When I double checked, the powder version was on offer for £3 for the same amount of washes.
Check coupon websites. Keeping an eye on coupon websites for products you use will save you money. This only works if you purchase items you actually use. Something is only an good deal if you make use of it.
Take your own bags. In the UK, plastic bags from the supermarket now cost 0.10p each. If you use 5 bags a week, that’s 0.50p a week… £26 a year! Invest in some reusable shopping bags and remember to take them with you each time. I always keep mine in the car.
Avoid the juice and fizzy drinks aisle. There is no need to drink anything other than tap water. If you don’t like water straight out of the tap, boil it and store it in jugs in the fridge.
Buy one multi-purpose cleaner. Save money on cleaning products by buying just one multi purpose cleaner. A store brand, cream cleaner can be used on tiles, counters, bathroom suites etc.
Set yourself a weekly budget. And I do mean set a budget and stick to it militantly. Add up your shopping on your phone or calculator as you go. If you are over your budget, put back items that are not necessities or make amendments.

I hope this list has given you some inspiration to be grocery shopping savvy. Let me know if any of these tips work for you, or if you have any to add.

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Mother’s Day Pamper Night for Just £5

If you are on a budget this mother’s day, don’t let that put you off treating your Mum like a Queen. You can treat her to a mini pamper night in for just £5!

Face Masks

Homemade face masks are cheap and natural for your skin. An oats and honey mask is perfect for moisturising skin.

Mix about 3 tablespoons of oats with a little warm water until you achieve a good consistency that will stick to your face (about 1 tablespoon). Mix in 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply evenly, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 10-15 minutes.

The following prices are based on Tesco.com (UK)

Honey £1

Oats £0.75

You can buy your face masks, but that will push the cost of your pamper night up.

Total: £1.75

Movie

A relaxing night in isn’t the same without a movie. You can watch a movie you already have or borrow one from friends or family.

Total: £0

Snack

What goes best with a movie?… Popcorn, of course.

Popcorn £0.75

Total: £0.75

Drink

A cold bottle of wine is perfect for a mother’s day pamper night. A celebratory bottle of Bucks Fizz comes in under budget.

Bucks Fizz 75cl £2.50

Total: £2.50

Grand Total for a Mother’s Day pamper night in is…… £5.00!!!

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Go on, give you Mum a cosy, pamper night in. No one has to know that you only spent £5!

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5 D.I.Y Gifts to Make From Your Herb Garden

Do you have a herb garden, or thinking about starting one? One frugal reason to start growing herbs is to save money on gifts for loved ones. Yes, herbs aren’t just for eating. I have 5 D.I.Y ‘herby’ gift ideas to show you how you can make your herb garden stretch further.

Fresh Herb Wax Melts

Wax melts are popular at the moment. I have a wax burner in my own house. However, wax melts can be pricey. Making a number of wax melts using paraffin wax beads and fragranced herbs works out much cheaper. You can gift some and keep some. Bonus!

Cut your chosen herb up into small, fine pieces. Rosemary works well for this .
Melt the paraffin wax beads in a double boiler if you have one. If not, use a heat resistant bowl on top of a pan of hot water.
Once melted, remove from the heat and stir in the herbs.
Pour the wax into cupcake cases and leave to cool.
Once cool, turn out of the cases and gift wrap in pretty bags. You can leave in the cases if preferred.

Herb Infused Cooking Oil

Herb infused oils make wonderful gifts because not only are they tasty, they are visually pleasing. I love to have herb oil jars on display in my kitchen before I make use of them.

Choose the herbs you want to work with. Rosemary, thyme, and oregano are some good choices.
Either buy glass bottles in bulk online, or make use of cleaned jars and bottles. The lids must be air tight.
Buy enough olive oil to fill your bottles/ jars.
Place the sprigs of your chosen herbs in the bottles and fill the jar with olive oil.
Leave to infuse in a warm, dark place for about 4-6 weeks.

Herb Infused Vodka

Chose your herbs, wash them well, and then put a few springs into old jars or bottles. (Lavender vodka makes a great gift. Rosemary works well too.)
Chose a vodka to fill the jars.
Store in a cool, dark place and shake a couple times a week.
Taste the vodka every other day until it reaches your preferred taste, then remove the herbs with a strainer.
Gift your vodka or store it for later use.

Herb Bath Salts

Select herbs that you like the scent of. Lavender is great for this type of gift.
Use 3/4’s of a cup of Epsom salt and 1/4 of a cup of sea salt.
Pour your salt into your chosen containers and mix in about 2 tablespoons of your herbs.
And you’re done. It really is that simple.
Write a label for your jar to explain how to use the salts and gift to a loved one.

Herb Closet and Drawer Fresheners

Select some fragrant dry herbs, or alternately dry your own.
Add your herbs to a package of some kind. An envelope will work, but I prefer to use little, voile bags available from Amazon (£1 for 50 bags).These bags must have a drawstring top to avoid spills.
Add a little label explaining where to put the fresheners and gift them to friends and family.

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5 Ways to Curb Impulse Buying

Do you really need another pair of shoes? What’s wrong with the appliance you already have at home? These may seem like logical questions to ask yourself before purchasing an item, but impulse buying isn’t about logic. Impulse can be costly. Here are my 5 tips and tricks on how to curb your impulse buying.

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

Ask yourself three questions. 1. Do I need it? 2. Can I buy it cheaper/ second hand? 3. Can this money be better spent elsewhere i.e savings, a holiday, clearing debt? Having this mindset is a great way to avoid buying unnecessarily, and to remind you of your financial goals.
Give yourself a 2 week period to think about the item before you buy it. Taking yourself away from the shops, spending a little time weighing up the pros and cons, and then making a rational decision about whether you need it, will stop you making unnecessary purchases.
Steer clear of online shopping sites. If you don’t want to spend, stay away from temptation.
Do not carry credit cards in your purse/wallet. The buy now pay later mindset is a bad habit to get into and a harder one to end. If you don’t carry your credit cards on you, then you can’t splash the cash on unnecessary items.
Have a strict budget. Set yourself a weekly/ monthly budget for anything other than essential bills and living costs. Adhering to this budget will help you prioritise money and spending.

If you are an impulse buyer, then changing your habits may feel like a battle. As long as you go into stores with your logical head on, and follow the 5 tips above, then you should be much kinder on your finances.

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