Monthly Archives: October 2010

Now that you have well and truly got your finances under control, it’s time to think about the bigger financial picture. Now you have to think about setting long term goals that will keep you on track to financial security; when it comes to looking after your money the best thing you can do is… Read more »

Other than your rent, household bills are probably the biggest non-negotiable outgoing in your budget. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about making them as cheap as possible. We’ve already addressed groceries, so now it’s time to look at things like utility bills, insurance costs, and for the sake of completion, I’m… Read more »

Getting the hang of menu planning is the simplest thing you can do to cut back on your household expenditure. Keep your family well fed without breaking the bank using a few simple tricks. The shopping All it takes is ten minutes before you hit the supermarket to sit down with your recipe books (or… Read more »

Once you have your basic budget laid out, you will easily be able to see the dead weight that needs to be cut away. Obviously there are some things you might not be able to change, like your car repayments or rent, but there is a lot you can do to reduce your other outgoings…. Read more »

The absolute first step towards healthier finances is to work out a budget. The word ‘budget’ has a bit of a bad rap – it tends to make people think of living on beans on toast and penny pinching. In reality, it just means knowing where your money is going every month, and is an… Read more »

Now that the brouhaha surrounding last week’s spending cut announcement has started to abate a little, it’s time to look a little more closely at what the cuts actually mean for families. The two biggest changes that will most likely affect average families are the children benefit cut for high earners, and the increase in… Read more »

I write a lot on this blog about the best ways to keep your grocery bills low. In fact, it is one of the most common themes covered, because I really believe the easiest way to cut down your household outgoings is via the shopping trolley. Whenever I see people filling their trolley with junk… Read more »

Often when trying to cut back and trim the outgoings, a scarcely used gym membership is the first thing to go. But that doesn’t mean you have an excuse to turn into a couch potato – there are loads of resources out there to get you moving for free! Whether you’re looking for a total… Read more »

In my house Sunday is a day for newspapers, afternoon dozes, and some indulgent cooking. I am writing this standing up in the kitcken while I wait for my onions and garlic to soften as I make Nigella’s pasta with meatballs recipe. I’ve never successfully made meatballs before so am a little nervous, but all… Read more »

Any frugal cook worth their salt knows that variety is the key to inexpensive, tasty cooking. If you are stuck in the old meat and two-veg rut, you need to spice things up a bit and start experimenting with new food types if you want to feed your family well without breaking the bank. I’ve… Read more »