Would you like to take control of your finances, pay off your debts and save for the future? At Shoestring Cottage I aim to show you that you can live a good and happy life on less than you think, you can get off the consumer treadmill and you can live more simply and healthily and not feel deprived.
We are also moving toward a less wasteful, more sustainable lifestyle and believe frugality and sustainability go hand in hand!
Getting a grip on our finances
I spent many years in a state of some anxiety about my finances, just about scraping by. Then I decided to get a grip, to embrace and enjoy a more frugal lifestyle, wasting nothing, making do and mending, growing my own food, cooking healthy and nutritious meals for less, buying second-hand and making the most of every penny I have. There are so many ways to save money once you start: we save in the garden (here and here), when buying clothing (I am a veritable second hand Rose and proud of it!), when motoring, when travelling, eating out and for family entertainment.
This blog began life as a kind of public diary and a way to keep me on track. Now I hope it will be a resource for others looking to save money and live a more frugal, sustainable life. It’s not about living an austere and joyless existence. More about making the most of what we have day to day so that we can afford to do the things we really enjoy, like days out and travel. I regularly publish reviews on our travelling experiences.
I also explore ideas to make extra money. Read about how I have done this generally here and on eBay here. I have even looked at more extreme money saving recently, cutting my own hair and my brave daughter’s!
Waste Less, Live More
We are always trying to waste less, to reduce out waste (particularly plastic waste) and to tread more lightly on the earth. You will find some of my posts on how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle here.
I don’t need a millionaire’s bank balance and I don’t want a high stress city slicker lifestyle. But I do want my own house, to eat well, to have days out and to provide for my family. Living a frugal lifestyle helps me to achieve this because it is like giving yourself a pay rise. There are more money saving ideas here and throughout my blog.
So, where to start if you need to make some changes and improve your bank balance? Find out first if you are a Frugal Fran or a Spendthrift Sue, then read Fifty Ways to Save Money Now to get the basics.
More about my life as a frugal blogger
I am a full-time self-employed mum of three daughters. My frugal partner in crime is handyman extraordinaire, Mr Shoestring. We are constantly on the look out for ways to save and make extra money. Whether you are trying to clear debts, struggling to get by or saving for a particular reason, I hope this blog provides some inspiration to you on your money saving journey.
For more ideas on saving money, you can buy my book! It is called Extreme Frugality: Save Money Like Your Grandma, and is available from Amazon here*.
Fancy a chat about all things frugal and buying second hand? Come over to my Facebook group to find like-minded folk. You can also find me on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or contact me at shoestringjane@outlook.com.
If you are a company, you can find out how to work with me here.
If you like what I do, and would like to support me, you can buy me a coffee here: https://ko-fi.com/shoestringjane29922. Always appreciated, but never expected!
Disclaimer: some of the links on shoestringcottage.com are affiliates, marked with *. If you click through and make a purchase from them it won’t cost you anything but I will earn a small commission to help support my blog. Thanks!