Growing up frugal: a guest post from Shoestring Izzy

This is a post from my number three daughter, Izzy, a fellow frugality enthusiast and writer. I thought you might like a younger perspective on how she feels growing up frugal affected her life and continues to do so.

 Hi there, Shoestring Cottage readers. You may be expecting Jane but, alas, you have mini-Jane. I’m Izzy, Jane’s youngest child. I am 24 years old and am a budding frugalista. 

Understandably, growing up frugal taught me plenty about saving money every day. Whether it be little savings here and there, frugal cooking, or getting the most bang for your buck, my Mum truly taught me the value of money growing up. I learnt that the best things in life often aren’t the ones that cost an arm and a leg. 

Frugal fashionista

As a little girl, I grew up wearing hand-me-downs from my two older sisters. For as long as I can remember I have loved wearing second-hand clothes. Scouring boot sales for the best buys has become second nature to me, and most of my wardrobe is from the charity shop. In fact, the clothing items I get most compliments on tend to be unique, second-hand items. 

Just recently, I went on a night out for a friend’s birthday. As we settled down with our cocktails (budgeted for, of course), giggling and gossiping, a few of them commented on my outfit. A leather mini skirt from high street favourite New Look, a pair of heeled, croc skin boots from Zara and a black long-sleeved faux velvet top from H&M. 

“All from the charity shop,” I stated proudly. “These boots were literally £1!”. Not only did I feel chuffed with the gasps from my friends at the bargains I was wearing, but I felt pride in myself. My whole outfit cost just £6, and if I do say so myself, I looked fab! 

Learning to budget

When I moved out of the family home and went to university in 2017, I was weirdly prepared compared to many other teens flying the nest. I knew how to cook my own food, save on food shopping and decorate my room in halls on a tight, student budget. 

I remember when my first student maintenance loan came in – a few grand suddenly in the bank felt like a dream! But whilst my friends splurged on shopping and carelessly spent their income, I sat down at my desk in my small, box room and wrote out my budget. I listed my income and outgoings and decided on a weekly budget. Then I created a chart, where I jotted down every single thing I spent. 

I was still a poor student, don’t get me wrong. Instant noodles were my best friend, and any spare money I did have went on being a typical fresher (in other words, it was spent at the student union bar). But I felt in control, and looking back, I realise how lucky I was to have unintentionally been taught how to manage my money my whole life. 

Growing my own

As I graduated and moved into a lovely terraced house in sunny Brighton, I turned the garden into a veg patch, growing potatoes, tomatoes, courgettes, herbs, radishes, chard and chillies. My flatmate, Liv, cheered me on when I produced a big bunch of radishes in the Summer of 2021. My first crop!  

This summer, a house favourite was the herb table I stationed just outside of the back door. I found a fab little table on Facebook Marketplace for just £5 a few months ago, and heaved it across the city back to my house. It became home to pots of chives, basil, thyme, parsley, and tarragon. I grew the herbs from seeds I bought in a clearance at the end of last summer. 

A career in money

I am now a financial journalist for a personal finance website which champions those wanting to make, save and manage their money. It is a role I fell into the role as an intern after being made redundant twice during the pandemic in 2020. I have always loved writing, but hadn’t thought about it seriously as a career, especially writing about money. 

Just this week, my colleague asked me, “Is it a coincidence that your Mum is a money blogger and now you work as a journalist writing about money?” I used to think it was a coincidence, that I ended up following a similar path to my Mum. But now, I don’t think it was a coincidence at all and all to do with growing up frugal. The universe works in mysterious ways, and I have Mum to thank for where I am now. 

My Favourite Frugal Tips

So, let me end on a few of my favourite frugal tips. Some of these may sound like a broken record to you. If you’re an avid reader of Shoestring Cottage you will likely know and use these tips on a regular basis. But hopefully I can give you one or two new ideas to help you live your best frugal life. 

Have one no spend week, every single month 

I try to have at least one week a month where I am on a strict no-spend budget. It’s usually the last week of the month when I am scraping by before payday. I use up food in my cupboards or in the freezer before buying more and make do and mend (unless it is an emergency of some kind!). 

Cut and colour your own hair 

I cut my own hair all throughout university, and cut it myself again as recently as last month. I am absolutely not a pro, and cutting your own hair is a risk. But, there are a number of useful Youtube videos on the subject. I followed one step by step and was really happy with how it turned out.

Now if you want to be really frugal, then you may not colour your hair at all. But I recently found boxes of branded hair dye for just 99p in my local Home Bargains, and dyed my hair a lovely shade of peach. Bargain! 

Freeze your credit cards 

If you struggle to curb impulse spending, try freezing your credit and debit cards (maybe pop them in a plastic bag in an old margarine tub of water). I am often tempted by adverts online to spend my money . Now you can shop online at the click of a button, it is easier than ever to take the bait. But if you freeze your cards, by the time they are defrosted you may not be bothered about your purchase anymore. You may well realise it is not something you neither really want or need. 

Go foraging 

There is food just on your doorstep, if you look hard enough. Nettles can be used and cooked like spinach. Berries can be picked to create delicious snacks or desserts and elderflowers create a beautiful cordial. It is best to avoid mushrooms altogether unless you have expert advice, but you can get lots of handy guides for free online to help you with foraging. If you aren’t sure about something, it is best not to eat it. Be safe! 

Repurpose old clothes 

I often find myself growing bored with my wardrobe. Sometimes, no matter how frugal you want to be, living in a world of consumerism can make you want to splurge on a whole new wardrobe.

Take a step back first, and have a look at ways you can repurpose or upcycle your current wardrobe. Could those jeans be stitched to create three-quarter lengths? Could you iron a decorative patch onto that old denim jacket you haven’t worn lately? You could even cover holes in t-shirts with sew-on pompoms, buttons, or badges. 

So, there you have it, growing up frugal and its benefits. You can learn to manage your money early, and maybe reap the rewards as you go through life, so you have some money for the things you love to do, to invest, etc. Thanks Izzy!

If you want to see more of me and Izzy, check out my YouTube channel where she is sometimes a guest.