Sensibly Frugal Living

10 Ways to Update Your Wardrobe on a Budget

Are you bored of your wardrobe and the repetitiveness of wearing the same clothes on a loop? Are you worried about the cost of updating your wardrobe?

Don’t be.

I have ten tips on how to update your wardrobe on a budget. There’s nothing better than wearing something that makes you feel happy… okay, maybe one thing better: wearing something that makes you feel happy and didn’t break the bank.

Secondhand

Thrift/charity shops are where you need to be searching. You can buy used clothing in excellent condition for a fraction of the retail price.

Keep an open mind when rummaging through those racks; a beautiful shawl might make a perfect sarong for the summer.

Dyeing

Tired garments can be dyed a different colour to give the item a fresh, new feel. This is much simpler than you may think. Machine dye pods can go straight in your washing machine, and you can get a range of colours for less than £5.

Make Winter Clothes Summer Ready

Do you have a pair of trousers that would make great shorts? A long skirt that would work better as a knee length piece? A t-shirt that would make a great crop top? You don’t even need to be able to sew- hemming tape is the answer.

Clothes Swap Party

A clothes swap party is a great way to exchange your old clothes for new-to-you garments. You’ll need to make sure that you have multiple guests of various sizes to ensure the party runs smoothly and everyone has swapping options.

Designer Holes

People spends lots of money buying jeans with ripped knees. I know, it astounds me too. You can do this at home to an old pair of jeans and bring them bang up to trend.

Applique

Applique patches in various designs can be purchased for a few pounds online. Some patches will require you to sew them on, but you can find iron on patches if you search various websites such as Ebay and Etsy.

Personally, I think applique patches look really effective on pockets.

Patching

Patching isn’t just for accidental wear and tear, you can use patching to add a design element to your clothes. This idea works great with denim jeans. Pick a contrasting fabric, cut a hole in the knees, sew the patch onto the inside of the jeans behind the hole. Voila.

Re-Purpose

That neck scarf you no longer wear can be turned into a head band or a new strap for a dated handbag. The t-shirt that no longer fits can be cut up and used to cover a bangle that has been sitting in your jewellery box.

Multi Purpose Items

A man’s shirt from a thrift shop can be worn in many ways. Wear it as a dress secured with a belt, or tie it at the waste over a pair of shorts for a summer, cropped top. If one piece can be used in multiple ways, you not only save money, but wardrobe space.

Ask Friends

Ask your friends if they have old items they will sell to you for a reasonable price. They may not have the time to sell their clothes online, but will be happy to have a clear out if you make it known that you are looking to buy second hand. You never know, they may throw in some freebies.

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I hope this post has helped you to see how you can update your wardrobe without splashing out on new clothes. If you give any of these tips a try, let me know.

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15 Items to Repurpose into Planters

Do you want to liven up the garden, but don’t want to splash the cash on planters and pots? I’m here to tell you it can be done. You may have a potential planter sitting in the garage, or be able to pick something up for free that someone is throwing out. Giving items a new purpose is not only frugal but environmentally friendly.

Tyres

Tyres can be easy and cheap/free to get hold of. You can paint them or leave them as is. Just place where you want it, fill with compost, and plant.

Plastic Paddling Pool

You know the ones I mean, the hard plastic ones that could been used for sand or water. Inflatable pools will not work in the long run.

Wooden Crates

Wine crates are perfect for this. They do need to be treated or they’ll rot. Also, if your crate doesn’t have holes in the bottom, be sure to drill some in for drainage.

Washing Basket

You will have to line a washing basket to stop the compost spilling out of the holes in the sides, but it’s a spacious container for planting flowers or some vegetables. Trailing flowers would spill down to cover the basket if you didn’t want it on show.

I saw 2 broken washing baskets on my last trip to the refuse centre. They may not have been fit for use as washing baskets, but they would have been fine for planters.

Washing Machine Drum

You might be able to find these at your local recycling and refuse centres. Turn the drum so the hole is facing up and plant whatever takes your fancy.

Wellington boots

Yes, I’m being serious My neighbour used to grow tomatoes in welly boots. I have also seen flowers planted in them and they look really unique and pretty.

Toilets

Are you having a new bathroom fitted, or know someone who is? Toilets are a perfect shape to plant in and add a fun twist to any garden.

Metal Colanders

Metal colanders make great hanging baskets. Draping plants work well in these. The holes are already there for drainage and the handles are perfect for attaching to chain to hang.

Bath Tub

This goes along with the toilet idea. Bath tubs are large enough to plant veggies in, or an array of flowers. Why not find a basin and have an outside, flower bathroom? You think I’m joking?

Watering Can

I have seen this done with an old, metal watering can and it looked stunning, spilling over with flowers. Any material watering can will work, so long as you add drainage holes.

Suitcase

Do you have an old, leather suitcase gathering dust in the attic? Why not make use of it and add some gorgeousness to your garden?

Tin Cans

Clean out tin cans and remove the label for a nifty herb pot. You can paint the cans for a more decorative effect. Again, you will need to make holes for drainage.

Teapots

An old, ceramic teapot with a little flowering plant poking out the top is simply the cutest thing for any country garden. You could even give these as gifts. I know I’d be happy to receive one.

Bucket

“There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza.”

“Then, use it as a plant pot, dear Henry.”

Waste Paper Basket

They are the right size and shape for plant pot, and are aesthetically pleasing as they are designed for use within the home.

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How to Host a Toy Swap Party

Believe me when I say that this might be your new favourite party to host. It’s cheap to host, you get rid of those ‘no longer played with’ toys, and your child gets some newbies for free.

When I started writing my post on hosting a book swap party, I started thinking about more ways to throw similar, frugal parties. I thought I’d take a deeper look into a toy swap party because the toys in my house seem to breed. It would be much easier to get my children to part with toys if they knew they would be getting some ‘new to them’ toys in return.

If you want to ensure you end up having a good clear out, you should make your children agree to one stipulation… they can have a toy swap party and choose new toys, but any toys that are left unclaimed must be donated to a charity or community project. Obviously, the other parents must also agree to this.

This all sounds to good to be true, right? Wrong. It’s a great way to be frugal, have a declutter, and it’s easy to host. Here’s how…

Date and Time

As this is essentially a child’s party, I would look to host on a weekend afternoon. School holidays would also be a great time, and I’m sure the other parents would enjoy an afternoon where their children are entertained.

Who to Invite?

The aim of the game is to swap toys, so you need to invite families who have children of a similar age to yours. Of course, younger children will benefit from your child’s old toys, but you need to ensure there are other younger children/babies present for an effective toy swap.

Plan Out the Party

Have a designated area for the toys. When your guests arrive, direct them to put their toys with the others. This will keep your house tidier and ensure all the toys for swapping are in one, accessible place. Let the children know they are not to touch those toys until the swap begins.

It may be worthwhile to let the children play and eat before the swap. Burning off some energy should result in a calmer experience all round.

Ensure your guests have a bag or box for the toys they are taking home. This will minimise confusion at the end of the party.

Note: To minimise the toys coming home, you could set a 3 or 5 toy limit. Of course, this must be first agreed upon by the other parents.

Cutting Party Costs

If you are holding the party at your house, perhaps you can provide all the beverages, but ask your guests to provide a plate of party food.

A Fun idea

If you are donating the leftover toys, why not sit all the children down and have them choose where they’d like the toys to be donated? You could give them some local options and hold a vote. It’d be nice for them to know exactly where their toys are going and how they will benefit others.

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I hope this post has inspired you to hold a toy swap party of your own. Pop back in to Sensibly Frugal Living on Monday 18th February for a post all about alternative garden planters.

Thanks for stopping by!

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How to Save Money When You Are Skint

You want to save money, but can’t see a way when you’re living paycheck to paycheck, right? Once the bills are paid and you get the dreaded final sum of how much money you have left for the month, it can be hard to see how you’ll ever accumulate any savings.

I’m not here to tell you it’s easy. I’m afraid I don’t have a magic money wand, but I do have some tips to slowly grow your savings week by week.

Review your spending over one month. Log down every little thing. Seriously, if you buy a 0.50p bag of crisps from the fuel station, log it down. At the end of the month, you can see the necessary bills and payments you have made, and everything else. For example, that £2.00 sandwich you buy for lunch on a Friday could be replaced with a packed lunch of last night’s leftovers.

If you just put that £2 away each week that will be £104 by the end of the year. Not bad for missing out on one sandwich, huh?

Sell all your unwanted items. You could be sitting on potential cash. Yes, there’s some effort involved in photographing and uploading all of your items to selling sites such as Ebay or Facebook’s Marketplace, but you want to save money, right?

Put all of that money into your savings before you have chance to spend it.

Set up a savings account. This is worth doing because your money will also work hard for you. You will get interest on any savings you put into the account. This does depend on the type of account you have and amount you put in, but every penny counts.

There are accounts that can be set up with just a £1 deposit. Make sure you do your research into what account will work for you.

Cash surveys that pay you in money not vouchers. There are survey websites online that pay you for completing various surveys that are relevant to you. This can be time consuming, but many people use this system to increase their income and savings.

Swagbucks and MySurvey are just two of the more popular survey websites that I have used personally.

Use your skills. Are you a keen gardener or good with numbers? Maybe you know someone looking for help to weed their flower beds twice a month, or a friend with a new business that needs someone to help them with their tax return?

Making money from your skills just makes so much sense.

Think about what you can realistically do without. If you are serious about saving or have a specific goal to achieve, sacrificing a little will help grow your funds. Do you really need satellite TV? Do you need a landline phone if you have a mobile phone?

How about cancelling some subscriptions for just 6 months? If you meet your savings target, you could reinstate them again, or you may just find that life was fine without them.

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I hope these tips can help you kick start your savings. Remember, the harder you work at being frugal and cutting out the unnecessary items, the more money you can potentially save.

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15 Rainy Day Family Activities on a Budget

When the weather is bad and the kids are bored, it is easy to jump in the car and head to the cinema, soft play etc. All these activities can be pricey, and can also get repetitive.

As a family, we have experience in entertaining kids on a budget, and I have put together a list of 15 rainy day activities for families on a budget.

Pasta Cafe

This is as simple and fun as it sounds. Give your child some pots and pans, stirring spoons, and a small bowl of dry pasta. I only use 2 handfuls of pasta from a 50p pack, so it is a cheap activity.

My daughter has fun taking our orders, creating our dishes, and serving us pasta shells. It is a great activity to get the imagination flowing.

Blanket Fort

All kids have to make a blanket fort at some point in their childhood, it’s a rite of passage. Why not make an impressive fort that the whole family can fit in?

Puddle Jumping

If it is raining, why not use it to your advantage? Get the welly boots and rain clothes on, and get out of the house for some splashing and sploshing.

Car Wash/ Doll Spa

A bowl of soapy water, a sponge, and a tea towel is all you need to create a toy car wash. A large, plastic bowl of soapy water, a face cloth, and towel creates a doll spa. Using their imagination is great for a rainy day, and water is always fun for children.

My 8 year old daughter has both cars and dolls, so both these activities were a hit with her. My 10 month old son has a dolly, and I’m sure that when he is old enough, he’ll enjoy washing his cars and bathing dollies with his big sister.

Colouring Print Outs

Did you know that if you type ‘children’s colouring pages’ into Google, pages and pages of free templates pop up? Go on, try it. I love how easy it is to print the sheets and set up the kids for arty fun.

Indoor Picnic

An indoor picnic adds fun to lunchtime. Invite family and friends for an extra special meal. Perhaps everyone who comes can bring a plate of food to lower the cost, or you could make a one pot meal such as chili or quiche for everyone to share.

Eating on a blanket on the floor is simply amazing to kids.

Living Room Cinema

A movie and popcorn will always go down a treat. Why not borrow a DVD you haven’t seen from a friend or relative? We saved the funky cups and popcorn tubs from a trip to the circus and re-use them during our movie nights. Cleaned takeaway cups also work a treat as popcorn tubs.

Tip: The popcorn kernel packs that go in the microwave are more cost effective than ready-made popcorn.

Donation Day

What better way to put a smile on your face on a rainy day than by giving to charity? Spend a day as a family sorting your old clothes, toys, and books. Set yourselves a challenge to fill one box per family member. Donate your items that day if possible.

Indoor Camping

If, like me, you are not a fan of camping outside, you may fare better in the warm with easy access to a toilet and the fridge. Kids love the whole process of putting up the tent indoors, getting out their sleeping bags, and spending the night in the lounge.

If you don’t have a suitable tent, improvise with sheets much like a blanket fort.

Puzzles

A one thousand piece puzzle is a great way to keep the whole family entertained for hours, and it’s an activity that can be continued at a later date. Even younger children can get involved with finding edges or pieces of a certain colour.

A roll up puzzle mat would be handy, but any large surface will work as long as it can be stored away.

No Bake Treats

Get the children in the kitchen. Crispy cakes, chocolate dipped strawberries or marshmallows, and yoghurt popsicles are a few no bake ideas that are simple and cheap to create.

Store the treats in air tight containers, so you can have them for puddings for a few nights.

Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of things the child has to find. These can be objects around the house, or you can also specify that they should find something fuzzy, or something green for example.

You can create as many hunts as you can think of with just a pen and paper.

Balloon Keepie Uppies

This activity requires one balloon and one willing participant. The aim of the game is to not let the balloon touch the floor for as long as possible.

Sketching Competition

Choose an object to draw, such as a fruit bowl, and set a thirty minute time limit. Each member of the family should have only a piece of paper and a pencil.

At the end of the thirty minutes, everyone can vote on whose sketch they like the most. Skip this part if you have sore losers in your family. It doesn’t have to be a competition if that will keep the peace.

Indoor Ball Toss

Scrunch up some paper into three tennis ball shapes. We use the local free newspaper as we can recycle it after.

Set three containers at different distances and give them a point system i.e. the closest container is worth 50 points, the second closest container is worth 100 points, and so on.

Throw the balls into the containers, trying to gain the highest number of points. This activity is fun, competitive, and free.

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10 Things I Didn’t Bother Buying for Baby Number 2

Let’s be honest, being first time, expectant parents is daunting. The best way to make it less so is to be prepared, and with that in mind, we buy everything we could possibly need for our bundle of joy’s arrival. I did the same. I spent money where I now know I didn’t need to spend it.

There are 7 years between my children, so a lot of the bulkier items were sold for practicality reasons. The one thing I did keep was my pram. It was a present from all the Nanas combined and was excellent quality.

So, what did I not buy the second time around?

Baby Changing Table

It ended up being a dumping area because I changed my daughter wherever was easiest- on the floor, even on my lap if needed. I used a wipe-clean, travel changing mat and this leads me on to the next item.

A Padded Changing Mat

You know the ones I mean, the big ,bulky ones that get in the way. I used my wipe-clean, roll up changing mat so often with my daughter that we sold our padded one.

We didn’t bother with the padded mat when my son was born and went straight for a travel, roll up changing mat from Amazon that cost less than £5 and free p&p. My son is 10 months old and I still use it. It goes in the washing machine and comes out as good as new.

A Baby Bath or Bath Seat

I had a baby bath for my daughter and used it once or twice. I found the process of filling, moving, and draining it tedious. It sat up against the wall in my bathroom simply getting in the way.

I found it much easier to line the sink with a hand towel and bathe my daughter in there. If my husband or I had a bath, we’d take her in with us.

My son was also bathed in the sink when he was tiny. Now, we pop him in the bath once my daughter gets out.

Outfits

By outfits, I mean anything other than sleep suits and vests. We went a little crazy when expecting my daughter. I had a vast number of dresses, trousers, tops etc. But guess what? Our family and friends gifted us just as much. She hardly wore some of it.

We only bought sleep suits and vests for my son, and we bought all second hand. Don’t worry, he didn’t go without. Once again, our generous loved ones gifted us plenty of clothes.

Bottle Warmer

My daughter was bottle fed, so we invested in a bottle warmer. I did use it when my daughter was a baby, but we sold it once she was done with bottles. I was on a tighter budget when pregnant with my son and simply didn’t see the need to buy another bottle warmer. I was right. We left a jug beside the kettle and would stand the bottles in a jug of hot water to warm them.

Nappy/Diaper Bin

I basically forgot I had one. It sat in the corner of the nursery feeling unloved. I always bagged the nappies and put them in the outside bin. The nappy bin was passed onto a relative who required one (and later told me she hardly used it). We didn’t see the point in buying one when my son was born.

A Brand New Cot

Of course you need a cot, but it doesn’t have to be brand new.

We sold my daughter’s cot and mattress when she moved into a toddler bed. We didn’t have the funds to buy a new cot for my son, so we searched on the Facebook Marketplace. I collected a cot from a local lady for just £10. It was in good condition and worth the twenty minute trip to get it.

We did, however, buy a new mattress as is advised.

A Toddler Bed

This is preference, but we found the toddler bed an unnecessary stage. Thankfully, we were given a toddler bed from a relative for free as my daughter was only in it for a little while before another relative offered us a single bed. We couldn’t turn the single bed down, but didn’t have the space to store it. We passed on the toddler bed and put my daughter in the single bed with a bed guard on the side. She much preferred it.

We won’t waste our money on another toddler bed just to use it for a year or so. We plan on buying our son a single bed and using a bed guard on the side when he moves out of his cot. It makes more sense for us.

Toys

We made the mistake of buying toys before my daughter was even born. It was months and months before she started playing with them. Then, when she did, she only needed a few rattles and teethers.

My daughter was born late in the year, so she was gifted even more toys at Christmas. Ahhh, it was toy overload.

We have been careful with the amount of toys my son has. We certainly didn’t buy any before he was born. We do not want our house to look like a toy shop again. He has a toy box of toys he received at Christmas and they will last him until his birthday.

A Changing Bag

I had a purpose made changing bag for my daughter’s nappies and wipes etc. It was fandangled and bedazzled, and in truth, pretty pointless. It cost more than an ordinary bag of the same size just because it had compartments and gadgets I never used.

I have a pretty floral satchel to carry my son’s supplies. I already owned it and it is large and spacious. It looks more like a handbag, so I can use it for myself when he’s older. Lots of my mum friends have switched from changing bags to rucksacks for comfort and space.

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I hope this post has given you some food for thought on what you could perhaps do without for your little one. I’m all for saving money and helping others do the same.

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How to Host a Book Swap Party

Yes, book swap parties are a real thing! I got invited to one, and I want to share the brilliance with you. I think the concept behind these parties fits excellently with Sensibly Frugal Living’s message: you don’t have to spend a fortune to have fun, and second hand should not be scoffed at.

What better way to gain some new reads in exchange for some old ones than with a book swap? With e-readers growing in popularity, it is getting harder to sell second hand books, and the charity shops are inundated. A book swap party is the perfect way for book lovers to have a clear out.

“So, how do I host a book swap party?” I hear you ask. Get comfy, and I’ll tell you.

Choose a Day and Time

If it is an evening party, you could ask guests to bring a bottle to save you the cost. I prefer a Sunday afternoon party with tea and cakes. You can provide the tea and ask your guests to bring the baked goods.

Invite Fellow Book Lovers

Send invites to all your friends and family who enjoy reading paper back and hardbacks. Explain that they should bring only books they are wanting to part with. You could set an amount i.e. five books per person to make it fair.

A nice touch would be to donate any leftover books to a charity or community project. Check with your guests before doing this.

Display All Books on a Table

Ask your guests to add their books to the table as they arrive. This ensures the book swap will run smoothly.

Give Guests a Bag

If you have set a limit on the amount of books to bring, it might be a good idea to set a limit on how many your guests can take. Offer each guest a bag to fill with the books they want. This keeps your house tidy and helps your guests keep their books together.

Enjoy the Company

The party is not over just because the books have been exchanged. Encourage guests to mingle, and introduce those that might not know each other.

If you are donating the leftover books, why not sit all your guests down and make a group choice about where they should be donated.

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50 Simple Ways to Save Money | Life on a Budget

Living within your means and cutting costs doesn’t have to be hard work. If you look at where the money goes within your household, you can find ways to cut back or be more energy efficient.

The little things do make a difference, and pennies really do lead to pounds.

I have compiled a list of 50 simple ways you can save money. Get the family involved and make it a lifestyle change for the better.

Pre-tear toilet paper off for young children and put it in a pile where they can reach it. Encourage them to use only a few sheets. This will prevent the inevitable emptying of the toilet paper roll in one go.
Put a dry, fluffy towel in the dryer with your wet clothes. It will absorb some moisture and speed up drying time. ( A representative from my energy provider told me this.)
Opt for a shower over a bath. Showering saves water. If you have children who like baths, limit baths to once a week.
Have your children share baths. Young children can go in at the same time. Older children can hop in after each other.
Keep doors closed on all rooms that are heated.
Wash and dry clothes in the evening. It is cheaper to run your machines at night.
Don’t heat hallways or corridors. Only heat the rooms you spend time in.
Cut the bottom off of your empty tube of toothpaste. You can stick your toothbrush in the end to get at the remaining toothpaste for a few more days, making a tube go further.
Once your light bulbs have burned out, replace them with energy efficient ones.
When your laundry detergent and softener has run out, fill the bottle with a little bit of water and place it in the drum with your washing. This ensures you use up the dregs. It also cleans the bottles ready for recycling.
Meal plan. Knowing what meals you will have each night will keep your grocery bill down.
Use lined curtains as they are thicker and help keep heat in. If you haven’t got lined curtains, peg an extra sheet or blanket up to add an extra layer.
Use soap over shower gel. It does the same job and lasts longer.
Portion out snacks for children in advance. This prevents waste and helps lower the grocery bill.
If it is safe to do so, leave the oven door open once you have switched it off. Don’t waste that heat.
Keep old, mail envelopes to use as note paper.
Freeze leftovers, cooked or uncooked. Check guidelines for this.
Invest in herbs and spices. It works out cheaper to make your own sauces and mixes than to buy the packaged ones.
Rotate the stock in your pantry and food cupboards to avoid waste. Use up anything that is close to it’s use by date.
Have meat free days/ weekends. Meat can be the most expensive part of a meal.
Take advantage of you grocery store’s club cards and loyalty cards. You can receive points for spending, and those points get turned into in-store vouchers.
Ensure all family members turn off the lights when they leave a room.
Save all loose, small change in a pot. Count it up at the end of the year and change it up in a bank.
Walk whenever you can to save on fuel. Saving money and improving you health, who can complain?
Always take reusable bags when you go grocery shopping. In the UK, customers are charged 10p per bag.
Hang your clothes to air dry where possible. An outdoor washing line on a dry day is perfect.
Have your heating on low. You only need to warm your house to take the chill off. If it is a particularly cold day, wear a few more layers.
Store food correctly to prevent waste. Air tight containers for dry items, bread, and cereals etc will help the food stay fresh for longer. Use the correct freezing containers/ bags to prevent freezer burn. Always label with the date of freezing.
Turn old or damaged towels, clothes, and sheets into cleaning rags.
Keep the mindset that ‘used is perfectly good too’. Always look to buy second hand before buying new.
Wash laundry on the cooler cycles to save energy.
Five minute showers are adequate and cost effective. Put an egg timer in the bathroom to help kids time themselves.
Keep a water butt or large container in the garden to collect rain water to water your flowers.
If your children use wax crayons, keep the stubs, put them all into a cupcake liner, and then melt them in the oven. Once cooled, you are left with a large rainbow crayon.
Bulk buying food is cheaper in the long run. For example, in my local supermarket, one 500g pack of pasta is 0.50p, but the 3kg bag is £2.80.
Fakeaways are a great way to curb ordering in. Pick what you fancy eating and make it from scratch. Include all the fancy extras that you wouldn’t normally order to prove how much you can get for your money and make it a real treat.
If you are going to eat out, try swapping dinner time for lunch time. Lunch menus are usually cheaper, and you will be less inclined to drink alcohol.
Ask your local store what time is best to get their reduced items. A lot of UK stores reduce the price of fresh stock between 7pm and 8pm. If suitable, buy cheap and freeze that day.
Remove clothes from the dryer as soon as the cycle has ended. This minimises creasing and the need to get out the iron.
Invest in a slow flow shower head to save on water bills.
Slow cookers are great for cooking from scratch and are energy efficient.
Drink water (not shop bought). Fizzy drinks and juices can be pricey. Get your family involved in a ‘water only month’. See how much money you save and treat yourselves with the savings.
Only buy supermarket generic brands. They’re cheaper, and I’ll bet you’ll be hard pushed to notice the difference.
Choose one TV service and stick with it. If you watch more Sky TV than Netflix, cancel your Netflix account.
Make your own gifts for birthdays and Christmas etc. Food gifts such as cookies are always appreciated.
Pay your bills via direct debit. There is usually a small discount for customers who do this. You also know those bills are being paid and you get to relax.
Wash and re-use freezer bags (as long as they didn’t contain raw meat).
Have set meal and snack times. This is especially important for families with children. It will stop the frequent trips to the pantry and refrigerator.
Keep plastic tubs with fitted lids i.e. takeaway containers. These make great storage tubs for lunches and leftovers.
Buy gifts throughout the year when you come across a bargain. Store them away until you need them for a birthday or Christmas present etc.

Yay, you stuck with me to the very end. I hope you have found this list useful for your journey into all things frugal living.

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10 Tips for a Buffet on a Budget

Some occasions in life need celebrating: birthdays, christenings, anniversaries to name a few. Get-togethers are about the company and… the food. It is much cheaper to prepare your own buffet than to have a venue or outside caterers provide the food. Even then, a buffet can become costly.

Fear not, I have put on many buffets in my time. We even had a homemade buffet at our wedding reception. I have compiled a list of 10 tips to help you curb the cost of your buffet and still feed the masses.

1. Know Your Numbers

Make sure to requests RSVPs from your guests. Give them a deadline to get back to you. There is nothing worse than putting on a large spread of food and see it go to waste.

2. What Type of Buffet is Required?

Ask yourself if you need to do a large spread or if you could get creative and save money with an afternoon tea party for example.

A day time gathering such as a bridal shower may suit the tea party vibe. Provide the tea and coffee (most venues have hot water urns available) and get baking fairy cakes and muffins.

3. Pasta is Your Friend

Pasta salads go a long way to feeding large numbers of people. Pasta is not only filling, it is inexpensive to make in bulk.

A bulk bag of pasta from Tesco will cost in the region of just £3. You can go as fancy or simple as you like for the ingredients. A favourite of mine is pesto, spinach, and tomato pasta salad.

4. Bulk on the Sandwiches

Sandwiches are on this list for the same reason as pasta salad… they’re filling for hungry bellies and cheap to make. In particular, grated cheese and egg mayo stretches a long way. If you cut them into four triangles they are perfect finger food size.

5. Bring a Plate Requests

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. If you are holding a family get together, why not ask everyone to bring a plate of food? Most will be willing to oblige if it means they get to enjoy a great day/ night with good company and yummy food. If you feel uncomfortable asking for food, encourage guests to bring a bottle of bubbly if required.

6. Make Your Own Desserts

It is easier to buy desserts, but you get more for your money by making your own. Two of my tried and tested cheap, buffet desserts are jam pin-wheels and iced fairy cakes. You can usually get about 24 fairy cakes out of an average sized batch and one pack of puff pastry will make at least 10 pin-wheels.

7. Do Not Hire a Cake Maker

Of course, this is preference, and cake makers do a brilliant job, but you have to pay for that masterpiece… pay a lot. If you plan ahead, you can order a rice paper cake topper online for any occasion that cost less than £5. It can be personalised with names, pictures, colours etc. Either bake and ice your own cake, or buy a plain, iced caked from your local supermarket, and simply add your topper.

I have personalised many shop-bought cakes using rice paper toppers, and the recipients have always been thrilled with the results.

8. A Plate is a Plate

Use inexpensive, disposable plates. Paper plates work fine for a buffet and can be recycled if you wish. Plastic plates are double the price for a smaller quantity. The same goes for napkins. The cheaper, white napkins do their job just fine. Choosing coloured or patterned napkins is not cost effective.

9. Polite Reminder

If you are happy to do so, when you announce the buffet open, also politely remind everyone to refrain from going up for seconds until all guests have been up to the buffet. This will ensure everyone gets at least one full plate of food before those guests with a bigger appetite return to the buffet.

10. Save the Leftovers

Do not throw out anything that you can make use of for the next few days. Think about lunch boxes, snacks, or evening meals. If using leftovers can lower your grocery bill for the week, then that’s an added bonus. Just be aware of use by dates etc.

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Content belongs to Sensibly Frugal Living

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