Keeping up with the cost of living
I heard on the news today that the cost of living in the uk has risen by 2.3% in the past year. Food itself has gone up by 1%. This is ok if your salary keeps up with it, but … Continue reading → The...
View ArticleSmall victories 😀
I had a great eBay day on Thursday. I made three sales but one of them was for £120! If only I could do one of those a week I would be sorted. I hope to sell some more as … Continue reading → The post...
View ArticleSHOMO Awards: who will you nominate?
SHOMO Awards 2017 I mentioned recently that I had joined the UK Money Bloggers group and was featured on their site, here. The group runs annual awards for bloggers, the SHOMO Awards, each September. I...
View ArticleToday’s Boot Sale Haul
It was a beautiful morning for a boot sale. I got up early to beat the crowds and headed off to the nearest one in Colchester. Look for labels I always set myself a limit of £25 when I go … Continue...
View ArticleWatching the wheels of democracy in action as a polling clerk
Tomorrow I am looking forward to being a polling clerk at my local polling station for the General Election. I have never done this before. I think it will be interesting and and I am quite excited! As...
View ArticleNeed to make extra cash? Great blogs to help you earn more money.
Money making boot camp: Emma Drew Info I am on the lookout for more ideas to earn more money at the moment. I already sell on eBay, have a lodger and do any little bits of over time that might be...
View ArticleGood news and bad: SHOMO Awards and bye bye lodger
We are back in Essex after our wonderful week in Wales. I was really pleased to hear that our hosts, Tom and Liza, had received some emails from readers of this blog expressing an interest in staying...
View ArticleHow to make money on eBay
I have mentioned before that I make extra money selling on eBay – mainly clothing, but anything that comes my way that might make a few pounds as well. In addition to selling our old unwanted stuff, I...
View ArticleTen ways I have made extra money
I always have at least one scheme on the go to make a little extra money. I like my job but it just doesn’t pay me enough! I would rather put some effort into this than waste my energy worrying …...
View ArticleGive yourself a pay rise!
My daughter is struggling a bit with money at the moment. She spent too much at Christmas, like many of us. She has been talking about getting a second job to give herself a bit of extra cash. I have …...
View ArticleBusy Busy! I need more hours in my days
Firstly, I just want to say thanks to Declutterbug for nominating me for the Very Inspiring blog award. I will take a proper look at what I need to do for that over the next few days. It’s all getting...
View ArticleAll the Fun of the Fair and a Very Late Night
Well my busy weekend turned out to be just that. I managed to do everything I had planned apart from painting the doors though. That was a bit over ambitious! We had a really nice afternoon at the...
View ArticleBounce-back-ability! Getting back up when you fall
I finally got round to sorting Mr S’s grapevine out yesterday. It hasn’t done anything for the past two years since he planted it but this year it has suddenly gone wild and had fallen off its...
View ArticleJust another manic Sunday
I spent the day doing a bit of overtime yesterday, earning extra money for Christmas. I was working on a stand at the Essex Country Show in Barleylands. I love doing these events. I get paid double...
View ArticleMaking extra cash selling on-line
From time to time I sell various items on Ebay. I have found it more successful with items such as curtains and furniture rather than clothing. DD2 has recently found an app called Depop which she says...
View ArticleTreading the hard path to a financial education
Many thanks for all the comments yesterday. It appears I am not alone in believing all children should be taught basic life skills such as cooking and sewing, with other sensible suggestions given such...
View ArticleMaking a bit of extra money
I have been listing and buying on eBay over the past week. I need to try to earn extra money to make up for losing DD1’s housekeeping ( although it is always possible it actually cost more than she...
View ArticleKeeping up with the times
I am so social media savvy these days :-). I have a Twitter account (@shoestringjane), an Instagram account (ShoestringCottage) and I am on Facebook too. Who would have thought that someone who was...
View ArticleMaking extra money
This is the time of year when many people realise how much they spent over Christmas and in the sales and start to rein in their spending. If you have maxed out your credit cards or have an overdraft...
View ArticleEn vacances in West Mersea
Our new language student arrived yesterday, another one from the new French organisation I discovered this year. I am glad I found them as the rumour is that the long established college that has sent...
View ArticleMoney saving and money making tips
A friend and work colleague recently discovered my blog and has given me a good tip for putting money into savings. She has a banking app on her phone and can access both her current and savings...
View ArticleHoliday preparations: brollies or sun cream?
What is going on with this great British weather? One day we have a heat wave and the next it is torrential rain and floods! As I sit here the sky is grey and threatening and it is blowing a … Continue...
View ArticleSmall victories!
Another small victory for my bank balance – the cats love the cheap Lidl biscuits I bought! They are only £1.99 and I pay around £4 for the usual brand. Still being cautious and I won’t stock up too...
View ArticleThis and that
DD3 is fond of Heinz tomato soup. She prefers this to my home made (cheek!). However it is expensive I think. I tried the Lidl version this week and it is pretty good, I am having it for lunch. 39p! …...
View ArticleHow much debt??!!
I heard on the news that the average UK household has around £13,000 of debts, not including their mortgages. The idea of being that much in debt frankly terrifies me. I occasionally put the odd small...
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