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

Why I still blog after all these years….

460351 Comment2026-08-02+10%3A52%3A56Cassandra August 2, 2026 By Cassandra
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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 a short time hit me hard and made me realise just how quickly life can change. It also really made me think about the things I wanted from life and what I wanted to leave behind. I actually had two big reasons for starting the blog. The first was financial. We weren't in the position I wanted us to be and my goal was … [Read more...]

Five little things that have saved us money this week {31st July 2026}….

46065Leave a Comment2026-07-31+09%3A50%3A15Cassandra July 31, 2026 By Cassandra
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Every week I share five small things we’ve done to save a bit of money, make life easier or help us spend more intentionally. None of them are usually huge on their own, but that’s kind of the point. Those small choices add up over time and give us more room for the things that really matter — whether that’s days out, holidays, home projects, treats we’ll actually enjoy or just a bit more breathing space in the budget. 1) Remember our brilliant bargain of a free electric fire a couple of weeks ago? It was looking a bit worse for wear when we bought it so we'd planned to give it a bit of … [Read more...]

How to make towels fluffy again….

310872 CommentsHow+to+make+towels+fluffy+again....2026-07-29+20%3A50%3A31Cassandra July 29, 2026 By Cassandra
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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 an easy way to restore them using a couple of inexpensive ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. First up, let me tell you the reason your towels are no longer as absorbent as they used to be and why they feel more like cardboard … [Read more...]

Small Home and Garden Changes That Make a Big Difference…

46104Leave a Comment2026-07-28+20%3A59%3A23Cassandra July 28, 2026 By Cassandra
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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 how a space feels, all without spending much at all. Lighting is a sensible starting point, since it has a way of softening a room and making the outdoors feel that bit cosier. A string of festoon outdoor lights draped around a mirror, tucked along a shelf, or strung across a covered … [Read more...]

Does Washing Clothes At 30 Degrees Really Work? My Accidental Experiment….

45997Leave a Comment2026-07-27+10%3A22%3A38Cassandra July 27, 2026 By Cassandra
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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 they come out anything other than clean. Last weekend though, I accidentally did my own little experiment. I started the day by washing our bedding, towels and bath mats, so I turned the washing machine up to 60°C as I normally would. The problem was that I completely forgot to … [Read more...]

This month’s pre-loved finds {July 2026}….

45902Leave a Comment2026-07-26+09%3A27%3A51Cassandra July 26, 2026 By Cassandra
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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 pre-loved finds with you as there's quite a lot to tell you about them both... You might have seen me mention this in last week's five little things post but this month we bought one of my favourite things for the house so far. We found a vintage fireplace at our … [Read more...]