Holidays cost a small fortune.  I have just been looking ready for this summer and yet again I am staggered at the cost.  My requirements are quite simple really - I want a clean hotel room with facilities for five of us.  I want a decent pool and loungers and restaurants  that serve a variety of good honest food and has ice-cream on tap for the children.  Oh ok and a bar that serves me gin with a straw in! It isn't too demanding is … [Read more...]

Fabulously Frugal is here again already.  The weeks seem to be whizzing by and before long it will be summer which means that we can have lots of outdoor fun for free!  At the moment you can't plan outdoor things as the weather seems to change daily and therefore outdoor fun needs to be spontaneous and not planned. This week for my blog hop I thought I'd share some of my favourite posts from last week. I loved this post on having a family … [Read more...]

Buying your own home has got harder and more expensive as the years have gone on.  Whilst buying your own home was a rite of passage for many newly weds it seems that is not the case for today's generation.  Huge deposits are often needed and that coupled with escalating University costs means that owning your own home is a pipe dream for many until they are older. Therefore I was really interested in this piece of research that landed in my … [Read more...]

I have received less Christmas Cards this than previous years and this seems to be a continuing trend.  I think it is wonderful that many will donate now to their favourite charity rather than send Christmas cards.  However there are some people I still send cards too, mainly old friends where I write a nice catch up letter at the same time. It seems to be the children that get the most cards, especially if they are still at primary school. … [Read more...]

I love a good sale but they need to be organised, I am not one for jumble sales or searching through a shop that looks  like one. I like order to much.  However a good rummage can certainly find some great bargains and this is how I stock up my bottom drawer. The children know that the bottom drawer in my room is out of bounds, they know it contains a mystery of presents for others.  If I see a bargain it is bought and tucked away.  This week … [Read more...]

Kids go free - now that is a phrase I like to see!  Now that the school term has ended I have packed away my teaching resources and the new life begins.  The new life that promises more quality time with the family but a lot less pennies in my pocket.  Therefore I need to start as I mean to go on. Cbeebies is Erin's favourite channel and I often pick up the magazine as a treat for her if she has had a hospital appointment or achieved something … [Read more...]

We are lucky to live surrounded by green spaces and parks.  My children are spoilt for which park to play in.   In addition to parks we also have a tennis court that is open to all.  My older two spend many an hour playing tennis together  especially now the evenings are light and warm.  Last week they came home excited as both have pestered me for tennis lessons but in reality we can not fit them into our already hectic diaries.  They were … [Read more...]

I am back with another way to secure high end beauty products are bargain prices. Last week I suggested contacting companies for beauty samples but I also buy magazines just to get their freebies. I like trying new brands and women's monthly magazines are normally awash the samples.  I use these samples when I go away for the weekend or I keep them and add them to a little hamper that I will give the teenager at Christmas or on her birthday. … [Read more...]