The Diary of a Frugal Family | Living a Fabulously Frugal Family Life

How to clean out candle jars….

365302 CommentsHow+to+clean+out+candle+jars....2025-12-11+12%3A25%3A31Cassandra December 11, 2025 By Cassandra
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Today I'm going to show you how to clean out candle jars because I always feel like it's such a shame to get rid of the empty jars when they can be so pretty.We've been lucky enough to go to the US a few times over the last couple of years and each time we go, Miss Frugal stocks up on her favourite Bath and Bodyworks candles which come in pretty jars with lids.Once she's used them, it feels like a waste to get rid of the pretty little candle jars so we're experts now in how to clean out a candle jar and we have them all over as storage jars now. I've just cleaned out the Hot Cocoa … [Read more...]

Cute Christmas Cookie Cutter Tea Towels…

35004Leave a Comment2025-12-10+10%3A00%3A57Cassandra December 10, 2025 By Cassandra
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These super cute Christmas cookie cutter tea towels are one of my favourite easy festive crafts. They’re simple enough for kids to help with, look surprisingly stylish when they’re finished, and make such thoughtful homemade gifts for teachers, grandparents, neighbours or anyone who appreciates something a bit more personal. They’re also a lovely cosy activity for a December afternoon when you want to feel productive without spending a fortune.What you need to make Christmas cookie cutter tea towels I had most of the supplies for this already in my stash but I’ve linked similar … [Read more...]

Spicy Gingerbread Lip Scrub

34966Leave a CommentSpicy+Gingerbread+Lip+Scrub2025-12-09+10%3A00%3A39Cassandra December 9, 2025 By Cassandra
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This Spicy Gingerbread Lip Scrub is exactly what you need to give your lips a bit of a treat!At this time of year, my lips always seem to get super dry and often a little bit chapped, but this spicy gingerbread lip scrub is my absolute go-to to soothe them and stop them drying out even more. We actually first made a version of this after spotting something similar in Lush one year. It smelled amazing, but the price definitely didn’t fit into my winter budget, and I also quite liked the idea of knowing exactly what was going onto my lips. So we came home, raided the kitchen cupboards, and … [Read more...]

How to Say No to Christmas Invitations (Without Feeling Guilty)….

350021 Comment2025-12-08+10%3A00%3A55Cassandra December 8, 2025 By Cassandra
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Christmas is such a lovely time of year, but it can also be one of the busiest. The closer we get to December, the faster the invites seem to roll in. Work parties, drinks with different friend groups, meals out, family gatherings, a quick catch-up that somehow turns into a full evening… it all adds up. Some of these things I genuinely look forward to, but others? Not so much.In the past, I’ve pretty much said yes to everything because I didn’t want to offend anyone or seem anti-social. I’d accept the invite and show up, even when I was exhausted or completely overwhelmed (which, … [Read more...]

Thrifted Christmas Decorations: Why Second-Hand Sparkle Is the Best Kind….

44631Leave a Comment2025-12-07+11%3A44%3A59Cassandra December 7, 2025 By Cassandra
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I’m definitely not one of those people with a picture-perfect, colour-coordinated Christmas tree that looks like it’s just stepped off the front of a magazine. I actually was that person for a couple of years — but only by accident! We’d just moved house right before Christmas and somehow lost our tree in all the boxes. So, on Christmas Eve, we ended up tree shopping at the last minute. One of the big stores was selling off their display trees, complete with all the matching silver, white and lilac decorations, for a ridiculously low price. I think we paid about £15 for a seven-foot tree that … [Read more...]

Preloved Partywear – Save on Outfits for Christmas & New Year….

44493Leave a Comment2025-11-30+11%3A29%3A20Cassandra November 30, 2025 By Cassandra
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Christmas party season is on its way, and with it comes the usual panic of “I’ve got nothing to wear!” But before you rush to buy something new, it’s worth checking out the second-hand options. From sparkly sequins to classic velvet, there are so many beautiful pre-loved party dresses waiting to be rediscovered – and often at a fraction of the price.Buying second-hand isn’t just about saving money (though that’s a huge bonus). It’s also about finding unique pieces, avoiding fast fashion, and doing something kinder for the planet. And as if all that wasn't enough, you’re far less … [Read more...]