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

Eight ways to use up Leftover Gammon….

44791Leave a Comment2026-01-26+11%3A12%3A15Cassandra January 26, 2026 By Cassandra
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Gammon is one of those brilliant leftovers that always seems to go further than you expect. It’s so forgiving and so versatile that even the smallest handful can magically become another meal (or two!) without much effort at all. Whether you’ve cooked a full joint in the slow cooker, roasted one for Sunday lunch or you just have a few slices hiding in the fridge, leftover gammon is one of the easiest things to reinvent the next day.It works in quick lunches, fakeaway-style dinners, comforting pastas and even breakfast-y meals, which is why I always try to make sure there’s a little extra … [Read more...]

How growing vegetables can cut your weekly food bill…

45137Leave a Comment2026-01-25+22%3A12%3A45Cassandra January 25, 2026 By Cassandra
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With food prices still creeping up, lots of families are trying to stretch the weekly shop without cutting corners on healthy meals. That can feel tricky when staples like fresh vegetables are already seen as essentials, yet they often take up a surprisingly big chunk of the food budget. One option that’s easy to overlook is growing some of your own vegetables at home. It’s often dismissed as expensive, time-consuming or only worthwhile if you go all-in and grow everything yourself. In reality, even a small amount of home-grown produce can make a noticeable difference over time — without … [Read more...]

This month’s pre-loved bargains {January 2026}….

44692Leave a Comment2026-01-25+14%3A08%3A29Cassandra January 25, 2026 By Cassandra
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Welcome to my monthly pre-loved bargain post - one of my favourite things to write because it gives me an excuse to share the second-hand treasures I’ve brought home lately. 😀 In 2026, I really want to take my love of pre-loved shopping to the next level. I’ll still be picking up the usual charity shop gems, but I’m also planning to expand what I buy — not just things for our home, but pieces I can resell for a profit and items that could do with a bit of love so I can try my hand at thrift flips. I love the idea of taking something that’s seen better days and transforming it into … [Read more...]

Small Win: Swap One Branded Item This Week….

44836Leave a Comment2026-01-22+11%3A31%3A10Cassandra January 22, 2026 By Cassandra
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I’m really enjoying this Small Wins series because it’s all about the tiny little habits that make life feel a bit easier without adding anything overwhelming to your week. Each small win only takes a few minutes but can save money, reduce waste or help things run more smoothly — which is exactly what most of us need at this time of year. 😀This week’s small win is really simple. Next time you do your food shop, swap just one branded item for something cheaper. Most supermarkets now have three levels of the same product: the well-known branded version the … [Read more...]

How to Make a DIY Draught Excluder (Cheap & Cosy)….

44251Leave a Comment2026-01-20+10%3A52%3A00Cassandra January 20, 2026 By Cassandra
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Did you catch my post a couple of weeks ago about ways to beat the draughts in your house this Winter? One of the the ideas I shared was to make a DIY draught excluder and I mentioned that I'd just bought some gorgeous Liberty fabric from Vinted which was super cheap as it was a small piece of fabric leftover from someone's project. It was the perfect size for a draught excluder as it was long and thin so I was really pleased with my bargain. When the colder months set in, there’s nothing more frustrating than feeling chilly draughts sneaking in under the doors. A simple … [Read more...]

Eight ways to use up Leftover Chicken….

447861 Comment2026-01-19+11%3A03%3A07Cassandra January 19, 2026 By Cassandra
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Leftover chicken is one of those brilliant ingredients that can stretch into so many extra meals without much effort at all. Whether it’s from a Sunday roast, a midweek slow-cooker recipe or just a couple of pieces left on a tray, chicken is one of the easiest things to turn into something completely different the next day. I'll be honest, I've found so many different things to do with leftover chicken that I actually used to make big batches of Shredded Chicken in my Instant pot to pop in the freezer so I had chicken in to use in these recipes for when I didn't have leftovers! … [Read more...]