The Diary of a Frugal Family https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk Living a Fabulously Frugal Family Life Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:47:45 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 54642740 My Packed Lunch Cake used to Cost 11p a Slice – What Does It Cost in 2026? https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/my-packed-lunch-cake-used-to-cost-11p-a-slice-what-does-it-cost-in-2026/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/my-packed-lunch-cake-used-to-cost-11p-a-slice-what-does-it-cost-in-2026/#respond Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:44:53 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46310 Years ago, when my two were still in junior school, I used to make a packed lunch cake that worked out at just 7p a slice and then later, I made a chocolate packed lunch cake which cost about 11p a slice.  I shared the recipes on here at the time, complete with a full […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/my-packed-lunch-cake-used-to-cost-11p-a-slice-what-does-it-cost-in-2026/feed/ 0 46310 How to train your curtains…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-train-your-curtains/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-train-your-curtains/#respond Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:44:27 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46246 I genuinely thought everyone did this when they hung a new pair of curtains. 😁 But when my friend popped round the other day, I was in the middle of training my curtains to look pretty and she thought I was going mad so I figured, if she didn’t know about my little curtain hack […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-train-your-curtains/feed/ 0 46246 How to make homemade fruit vodka… https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-make-homemade-fruit-vodka/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-make-homemade-fruit-vodka/#respond Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:34:15 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46366 I walked past a blackberry bush absolutely covered in ripe blackberries last week and, rather than thinking about blackberry crumble or homemade jam, my first thought was blackberry vodka. 😂 I rarely drink these days, so when I do have a drink I want it to be something a bit more stand out than something […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-make-homemade-fruit-vodka/feed/ 0 46366 How to Work Out Your Macros Before You Change How You Shop…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-work-out-your-macros-before-you-change-how-you-shop/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-work-out-your-macros-before-you-change-how-you-shop/#respond Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:28:31 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46430 If you’re thinking about changing the way you eat, it can be really tempting to start by changing the way you shop. You decide you’re going to eat fewer carbs and suddenly your trolley is full of almond flour, expensive low-carb bread, sugar-free everything and products you’ve never bought before simply because they have ‘keto’ […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-work-out-your-macros-before-you-change-how-you-shop/feed/ 0 46430 How I Spread the Cost of Christmas All Year Round…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-i-spread-the-cost-of-christmas-all-year-round/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-i-spread-the-cost-of-christmas-all-year-round/#respond Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:05:41 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46251 We absolutely cannot wait for Christmas this year. 🎄 It’s our first Christmas in our new house, I was poorly last Christmas and, if I’m not careful, all that excitement could very easily turn into me spending far more than I intended. Which is exactly why I’ve been preparing for it all year. 😁 For […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-i-spread-the-cost-of-christmas-all-year-round/feed/ 0 46251 Have you started your Christmas Cupboard? If not, now is the time…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/have-you-started-your-christmas-cupboard-if-not-now-is-the-time/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/have-you-started-your-christmas-cupboard-if-not-now-is-the-time/#comments Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:00:13 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=44462 It’s that time of year again when I start thinking about my Christmas Cupboard. If you don’t know what I mean by my ‘Christmas Cupboard’ then let me tell you before we go any further. 🎄 My Christmas Cupboard is literally a cupboard that I use in the run-up to Christmas to start stashing away […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/have-you-started-your-christmas-cupboard-if-not-now-is-the-time/feed/ 1 44462 Why I Take Collagen Every Day Even Though It Hasn’t Changed My Life… https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/why-i-take-collagen-every-day-even-though-it-hasnt-changed-my-life/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/why-i-take-collagen-every-day-even-though-it-hasnt-changed-my-life/#respond Sun, 30 Aug 2026 08:29:27 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46220 Collagen seems to be absolutely everywhere at the minute. Every time I scroll through Instagram or TikTok, someone seems to be adding it to their coffee, stirring it into a drink or talking about what it’s done for their hair, skin, nails or joints. They must have to sell some serious amounts of it to […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/why-i-take-collagen-every-day-even-though-it-hasnt-changed-my-life/feed/ 0 46220 I Recreated My Kids’ £1.07 Packed Lunch From 2012 – Here’s What It Costs in 2026…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/i-recreated-my-kids-1-07-packed-lunch-from-2012-heres-what-it-costs-in-2026/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/i-recreated-my-kids-1-07-packed-lunch-from-2012-heres-what-it-costs-in-2026/#respond Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:48:20 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46349 I first wrote this post back in 2012 when my two were still at school and packed lunches were a big part of our everyday routine. At the time, school dinners where we lived cost £1.95 a day, which felt like a lot when I was paying for two children – especially when one was […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/i-recreated-my-kids-1-07-packed-lunch-from-2012-heres-what-it-costs-in-2026/feed/ 0 46349 6 Things I’m Happy to Pay More For (and Why)… https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/6-things-im-happy-to-pay-more-for-and-why/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/6-things-im-happy-to-pay-more-for-and-why/#respond Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:58:01 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46208 Being good with money doesn’t mean that I automatically choose the cheapest option every single time. In fact, there are quite a few things that I’m more than happy to pay a little bit extra for because they’re worth more to me for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s about quality, sometimes it’s about convenience […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/6-things-im-happy-to-pay-more-for-and-why/feed/ 0 46208 This month’s pre-loved finds {August 2026}…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/this-months-pre-loved-finds-august-2026/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/this-months-pre-loved-finds-august-2026/#respond Sun, 23 Aug 2026 11:13:05 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46129 Welcome to my monthly pre-loved bargain post, which is always one of my favourite posts to write. 😀 There’s something so satisfying about finding something you genuinely need or love second-hand, especially when it costs a fraction of what it would have done new or even what it’s worth now.   This month’s post has somehow […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/this-months-pre-loved-finds-august-2026/feed/ 0 46129 The Best Easy Lemon Shortbread Recipe…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/the-best-easy-lemon-shortbread-recipe/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/the-best-easy-lemon-shortbread-recipe/#respond Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:55:57 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46079 If you love classic homemade shortbread but fancy giving it a fresh, citrusy twist, this easy lemon shortbread recipe is the perfect place to start. It has the same buttery, melt-in-the-mouth texture as traditional shortbread, with the addition of fresh lemon zest and juice to give it a light, refreshing flavour. I originally shared my […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/the-best-easy-lemon-shortbread-recipe/feed/ 0 46079 Setting Up at a Car Boot Sale – Before the Gates Open…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/setting-up-at-a-car-boot-sale-before-the-gates-open/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/setting-up-at-a-car-boot-sale-before-the-gates-open/#respond Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:50:15 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46071 Last week I shared how we’d been getting ready for our latest car boot sale, from ruthlessly de-cluttering the house to deciding what to sell elsewhere and spending far too much time sorting costume jewellery into little display trays. This week, I’m sharing what happens once you actually arrive. I’m stopping this post before the […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/setting-up-at-a-car-boot-sale-before-the-gates-open/feed/ 0 46071 A Beginner’s Guide to Lace Front Wigs: A Smart Choice for a Style Refresh Without the Commitment… https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-lace-front-wigs-a-smart-choice-for-a-style-refresh-without-the-commitment/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-lace-front-wigs-a-smart-choice-for-a-style-refresh-without-the-commitment/#respond Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:29:17 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46147 Changing your hair can be expensive, especially if you’re thinking about a completely different colour or a dramatic new cut. There’s also that horrible moment when you leave the hairdresser wondering whether you’ve made a huge mistake and knowing there’s not much you can do about it until it grows out again. 😁 That’s one […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-lace-front-wigs-a-smart-choice-for-a-style-refresh-without-the-commitment/feed/ 0 46147 How to Prepare for a Car Boot Sale (Without the Last-Minute Stress)…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-prepare-for-a-car-boot-sale-without-the-last-minute-stress/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-prepare-for-a-car-boot-sale-without-the-last-minute-stress/#respond Sun, 09 Aug 2026 10:38:19 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46068 We’re hoping to do another car boot sale next weekend and, for once, I feel like we’re actually organised. The last time we did one, we’d packed the car, set everything up and were ready for a good morning’s selling when the heavens suddenly opened. Within what felt like minutes, everyone was scrambling to cover […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-prepare-for-a-car-boot-sale-without-the-last-minute-stress/feed/ 0 46068 Why I still blog after all these years…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/why-i-still-blog-after-all-these-years/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/why-i-still-blog-after-all-these-years/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:52:56 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46035 I started this blog back in 2010 and, if I’m honest, I never imagined I’d still be writing it all these years later. At the time, I was a mum of two young children who had lost both my Mam and my brother within the space of about twelve months. Losing them both in such […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/why-i-still-blog-after-all-these-years/feed/ 3 46035 How to make towels fluffy again…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-make-towels-fluffy-again/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-make-towels-fluffy-again/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:50:31 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=31087 Wondering how to make towels fluffy again? If your once-soft towels now feel rough, stiff or aren’t as absorbent as they used to be, don’t throw them away just yet. In most cases, the problem isn’t the towels themselves – it’s a build-up of detergent and fabric conditioner trapped in the fibres.   Thankfully, there’s […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/how-to-make-towels-fluffy-again/feed/ 2 31087 Small Home and Garden Changes That Make a Big Difference… https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/small-home-and-garden-changes-that-make-a-big-difference/ https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/small-home-and-garden-changes-that-make-a-big-difference/#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:59:23 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46104 You don’t need a big budget, a full renovation or weeks of upheaval to make your home and garden feel better. More often than not, it’s the tiny tweaks that count for the most. Shifting a bit of furniture, sprucing up a forgotten corner, or simply using something you already have tucked away can transform […]

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]]> https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/small-home-and-garden-changes-that-make-a-big-difference/feed/ 1 46104 Does Washing Clothes At 30 Degrees Really Work? My Accidental Experiment…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/does-washing-clothes-at-30-degrees-really-work-my-accidental-experiment/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:22:38 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=45997 I’ve washed most of our clothes at 30°C for years now. I still wash things like bedding, towels, bath mats and particularly dirty whites at a higher temperature, but for everyday clothes I’ve always been happy with a 30 degree wash. It’s cheaper to run, it’s gentler on our clothes and I’ve never felt like […]

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]]> 45997 This month’s pre-loved finds {July 2026}…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/this-months-pre-loved-finds-july-26/ Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:27:51 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=45902 Welcome to my monthly pre-loved bargain post, which is always one of my favourite posts to write. 😀 There’s something so satisfying about finding something you genuinely need or love second-hand, especially when it costs a fraction of what it would have done new. This month I thought I’d share just two of my favourite […]

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]]> 45902 New Driver Survival Guide: Common Road Mistakes Explained…. https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/new-driver-survival-guide-common-road-mistakes-explained/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:40:17 +0000 https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/?p=46101 Passing your driving test is an exciting milestone, whether you’re a teenager getting behind the wheel for the first time or an adult learning later in life. However, becoming a safe and confident driver takes time, and new drivers often make mistakes as they build experience on the road. I’ve watched both of my two […]

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