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

This month’s Batch Cooking wins….

45070Leave a CommentThis+month%27s+Batch+Cooking+wins....2026-03-02+20%3A51%3A30Cassandra March 2, 2026 By Cassandra
This post may contain affiliate links.

This month I feel like I’ve properly found my rhythm in the kitchen with some really intentional cooking. Nothing fancy, nothing Instagram-perfect, just food that actually works for us.I’ve been batch cooking a few simple things, popping them in the freezer, and quietly feeling that little glow of achievement (AKA feeling smug) every time dinner comes together with no stress. It’s made such a difference to how the weeks have felt, so I wanted to share a few of the batch cooking wins that have genuinely made life easier.I thought I'd share a few of my batch cooking wins from this … [Read more...]

The best cashback apps for busy parents….

44239Leave a Comment2026-02-26+17%3A15%3A34Cassandra February 26, 2026 By Cassandra
This post may contain affiliate links.

I'm a huge advocate of cash back apps - why would you not not want to earn money for doing nothing other than your usual shopping. I've used them for years and admittedly, you won't make a fortune, but you will earn a cheeky bit of easy money! Basically, cashback apps work quietly in the background, giving you money back on purchases you were already going to make which makes them perfect for busy parents who don’t have the time to cut out coupons or hunt for deals every day or people like me who like the reward without the effort. Here are some of the best cashback apps that … [Read more...]

Eight ways to use up Leftover Rice {Safely}…

44809Leave a Comment2026-02-23+11%3A14%3A59Cassandra February 23, 2026 By Cassandra
This post may contain affiliate links.

I’ve got another post to share today from my Love Your Leftovers series and this time it’s all about using up leftover rice. It’s such a flexible ingredient and there are so many easy ways to turn it into a whole new meal. 😊Rice is one of those brilliant ingredients that can stretch into so many quick meals with hardly any effort at all. It bulks things out beautifully, works with almost anything you’ve already got in the fridge and can be turned into a whole new dish in minutes. Whether you’ve accidentally cooked too much (this is me every time 😂) or you’ve got a bowl left … [Read more...]

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

45018Leave a Comment2026-02-22+18%3A41%3A18Cassandra February 22, 2026 By Cassandra
This post may contain affiliate links.

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...]

The best meals to take to work in a flask….

44442Leave a Comment2026-02-19+09%3A25%3A15Cassandra February 19, 2026 By Cassandra
This post may contain affiliate links.

Taking your own lunch to work in a flask isn’t just a great way to save money, it also means you can eat something hot and comforting instead of spending a fortune in the canteen, grabbing another meal deal or ordering a take-away. I've had a small pink chilly's flask for a few years now and have used it sporadically over the colder months for my lunches at work but I don't use it as well as I could and get bored easily as I tend to just put soup in it and you can only eat so much soup, right?It also only keeps food hot for 4-6 hours so I can pop food in it at 8am before I leave … [Read more...]

Simple, Realistic Ways to Reduce Your Food Budget….

44940Leave a Comment2026-02-17+11%3A12%3A18Cassandra February 17, 2026 By Cassandra
This post may contain affiliate links.

Did you catch last week's post about what a realistic food budget looks like in 2026? If not, I recommend going and having a quick look before reading this one? I shared some information about what 'average' families spend in the UK in 2026 and it might really help you to understand where your own food shopping budget fits with that. What I wanted to talk about today is how you can reduce your spend, or at least share what's worked for me.After figuring out our own realistic food budget, the biggest thing that helped me to then bring it down to a level that feels … [Read more...]