The Diary of a Frugal Family | Page 3 of 537 | Living a Fabulously Frugal Family Life

Six ways to use up simple Slow Cooker Mince…

44679Leave a Comment2026-01-05+12%3A25%3A40Cassandra January 5, 2026 By Cassandra
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I don't think I can remember a weekly meal in this house that doesn't feature my slow cooker mince and onions in some form or another and today, I'm going to share exactly why that is.😁Slow cooker mince and onions is budget-friendly, easy to make, and it's so so versatile that I wouldn't be without a batch (or six) in our freezer. It takes about 3 minutes to prep and then the slow cooker does the hard work for you so I often buy a pack of mince specifically to make a batch of this for the freezer and if ever I see reduced mince in the clearance section then I will buy it and make a … [Read more...]

Back to Basics – Meal Planning….

44646Leave a CommentBack+to+Basics+-+Meal+Planning....2026-01-04+15%3A06%3A44Cassandra January 4, 2026 By Cassandra
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If there’s ever a time of year to start meal planning, it’s January. December is always a mad month and I feel like my usual meal planning goes out of the window so by the time January rolls around, I find myself craving a bit of routine again and getting back into meal planning is one of the simplest ways to feel more organised, save money, and cut down on waste — and once you get into the habit, it honestly becomes second nature. This post is part of my Back to Basics series this week, where I’m sharing small changes that make a big difference when it comes to saving money and simplifying … [Read more...]

Back to Basics: Batch Cooking – Save Time, Money & Stress with Easy Homemade Freezer Meals….

44641Leave a Comment2026-01-02+12%3A33%3A11Cassandra January 2, 2026 By Cassandra
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I always think January is the perfect time to strip things back and get back to basics. After all the chaos (and spending!) of December, I always find myself wanting to start the new year feeling a bit more organised, a bit more mindful and definitely focused on money saving! So this week on the blog I’ll be sharing a few Back to Basics posts — simple ideas that can save you money, make life easier, and help you get organised for the year ahead. And I thought I’d start with one of my favourites: batch cooking.Batch cooking saves me time, money, and stress all year round, and once you get … [Read more...]

Why you should LOVE your freezer….

44737Leave a CommentWhy+you+should+LOVE+your+freezer....2025-12-29+11%3A37%3A12Cassandra December 29, 2025 By Cassandra
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If there’s one kitchen appliance that deserves a little more appreciation, it’s your freezer. It quietly works away in the background, saving us money, reducing waste, and making weeknight dinners so much easier. I honestly think learning to make the most of your freezer can completely change how you shop, cook, and plan meals. And please forgive me for repeating myself again but... Meal planning is one of the quickest ways to bring your food costs down — and your freezer makes it even easier. Food shopping is something we all have to spend money on and I promise you that … [Read more...]

What I’ve learned by slowing down this Christmas….

December 22, 2025 By Cassandra
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This Christmas has felt a little different for me and I shared a little bit about why that was a few weeks ago so I'll not bore you with that again. (You can read my post here if you want to though) I wanted to be really intentional this year and to enjoy the build up to Christmas without putting any pressure on myself to make everything perfect - in the past I've stressed out over everything from advent calendars to days out and from finding the perfect presents for everyone to presenting the perfect Christmas dinner. There was no way I was putting myself through all of that again … [Read more...]

Christmas Movie Night {Free Printables}….

December 16, 2025 By Cassandra
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I don't care how old the kids get, a Christmas movie night is always a must-do in December. It started when they were younger and every Christmas Eve we would make a big deal of going to the cinema to watch a film. It was a tradition that the kids loved and looked forward to every year as did I but for different reasons - for me, it was a few hours of peace amidst the chaos of Christmas eve. I could relax while the kids were happy and quiet. 🎄These days, it's a tradition that we have continued even though they're all grown up. It's a little bit different now as … [Read more...]