Practical Frugality

A New Year Means a New Chance to Plan for the Future— And Teach Your Kids About Money!

Magdalena Marsden — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:20:11 +0000

The start of a new year is a great time for financial planning, and as you get your financial affairs in order, it’s also the perfect time to teach your kids about money. If you’re wondering about how to teach kids about money, books like Tuttle Twins for kids are a great place to start! PHOTO:...

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Living on a Fixed Income in 2026: Frugality Can Make it Easier

Magdalena Marsden — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 17:34:08 +0000

What does living on a fixed income mean? By living on a fixed income, people usually refer to people who are retired or perhaps on benefits with very limited opportunities in increasing their income. For example, your pension is set when you retire and apart from the inflation, there is not much chance of that...

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Foraging and the Law in the UK: The Ultimate Guide (2026)

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 23:54:45 +0000

Foraging in the UK is a beautiful way to connect with nature, but it is often shrouded in legal myths. Many believe it is entirely illegal to “trespass” or pick plants on private land, while others think they have a “right to roam” and harvest everything in sight. The truth lies in a balance of...

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Foraging for Douglas Fir Needles: A Complete Guide + Tea Recipe

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:53:02 +0000

Douglas Fir needle tea tastes like fresh grapefruit and lime, and you can make it from needles you pick yourself. This evergreen tree now grows across Britain, and harvesting the soft needles is easy and gentle. The tea is packed with vitamin C, especially useful during winter months. Whether you are new to foraging or...

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Foraging for Juniper Berries in the UK: A Complete Guide

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:05:24 +0000

I’ll never forget the first time I properly identified a juniper bush on a November walk through the Scottish Highlands—those dusty blue-black berries nestled amongst the prickly grey-green needles looked almost magical. That first handful I harvested transformed a simple pork stew into something extraordinary, with their piney, citrusy flavour cutting through the rich meat...

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Monthly Foraging Guide (2026) – What’s in season now in the UK

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 16:30:33 +0000

Whether you are new to foraging or not, foraging for wild food turns any walk in the countryside into a mini adventure. It’s also a great way to supplement your food shopping, help you to plan your meals and exciting new ingredients into your diet. To help you to identify your plants, it’s best to...

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Wild Cabbage: Foraging Guide & Recipes

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 16:13:15 +0000

There are many types of wild cabbage (the picture is wild sea cabbage) and you can find it usually anywhere on the outskirts of villages, towns and seaside. Wild cabbage is nutritious and can be used in any recipe that calls for cabbage. Where to find wild cabbage Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is the ancestor...

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Marsh Samphire: Foraging Guide & Recipes

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:04:03 +0000

Samphire is another sea treat you can sometimes find in specialist food shops, but it’s usually very pricey and worth the effort to pick your own. Samphire is not easily spotted, because it’s found in sandy beaches and only during low tide. Bring a sharp scissors (or you can pinch the tips with your fingers)...

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Foraging for Elderflowers: The complete guide & recipes

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:40:08 +0000

Every year in late May, I head to the nearby hedgerows to find the first white elderflowers. For me, summer hasn’t truly started until I’ve picked my first basket of these “lacy umbrellas.” I love foraging for elderflowers because you can do so much with them. I use them to make sweet cordials, healing tinctures...

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Homemade Elderflower Gin: Easy 3-ingredient recipe

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 04:19:06 +0000

Every spring, when the hedges turn white and smell like honey, I grab my basket and head outside. Making a batch of Elderflower Gin is a yearly tradition for me. To me, that first bottle means summer has officially started. If you have never made your own flavored gin, this is the best recipe to...

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Foraging for acorns – Preparing Acorns & Recipe Ideas

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 02:32:10 +0000

I love foraging for wild food and whilst most of the plants and herbs are for immediate use or cooking, there is not much you can use to bake with. That was until I discovered that you can make flour from acorns, sweet chestnuts and other nuts you find in the wild. MORE IDEAS FOR...

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Foraging in January – Guide to wild food & Recipes (UK)

Magdalena Marsden — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 01:36:57 +0000

January is usually very cold and opportunities for foraging are not as good as in the summer or autumn. There are usually still few sloes or rosehips around, but fresh plants are fairly scarce. It’s still beautiful to go out on a sunny day and if you are lucky you will find some chickweed, sorrel...

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