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

What’s a Realistic Food Budget in 2026?

44936Leave a Comment2026-02-03+13%3A26%3A03Cassandra February 3, 2026 By Cassandra
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It’s around this time of year when lots of us start thinking about our food budgets again.I'd much rather review our food spending in February because just getting through to Payday in January is an achievement in itself for us with the combination of an early December pay and the inevitable overspend of Christmas. So for me, February is that lovely reset month where everything settles back into a routine which makes it the perfect time to get a clear picture of what we’re actually spending on food because it’s so easy for the weekly shop to creep up without us even … [Read more...]

Eight ways to use up Roast Potatoes…

44800Leave a CommentEight+ways+to+use+up+Roast+Potatoes...2026-02-02+10%3A24%3A27Cassandra February 2, 2026 By Cassandra
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I'm continuing my Love your Leftovers series with today's post all about how to use up those leftover roast potatoes!Leftover roasties are already full of flavour, already crispy on the edges and they’re just what you need to create a whole new meal with hardly any effort at all. Whether they’re left over from a big Sunday dinner or you’ve accidentally made enough to feed a small village (we’ve all done it 😂), leftover roasties are pure gold and I guarantee you can transform them into so many other meals! Here's some of my favourite ways to make the most of them… 😊 1. … [Read more...]

Small Win: Turn Your Heating Down by One Degree….

44840Leave a Comment2026-01-29+11%3A12%3A31Cassandra January 29, 2026 By Cassandra
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One of the reasons I love this Small Wins series is because every week’s task is so gentle. Nothing overwhelming, nothing drastic — just tiny little habits that take minutes but can make a real difference over time. January and February can feel like long months, so simple, realistic wins are the way forward if you ask me. 😀This week’s small win is one of the quickest of them all. If you haven’t already tried it, turn your thermostat down by just one degree. Just one. Most people don’t feel the difference, especially if you’re already cosy enough with blankets, socks and … [Read more...]

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...]