Living on a Budget!

I've been talking to a friend about frugal living. It's something I've been thinking about for a good few years now. In some ways I've achieved it- in others not.We are by no means self sufficient and we don't skimp on things but we do like bargains and like good quality.

We don't have a big house - in fact some would say it is too small for a family of five but for us it was the right decision. We bought two small ones instead, one to live in and one to rent. We DO have a large garden (an acre and a half) although we don't really put it to the most productive use at the moment. I hope to change that in the future. I've thought about sharing some of our land with people who want to grow their own food but don't have the space, or to use it as a form of therapy for people with mental health problems but I haven't reached a decision on that one yet.

Most of the furniture we buy is old and rustic (mainly because we prefer it as it's generally better made than the modern stuff you can buy nowadays)

Today I've bought five woden garden chairs for £20.They need a good sand and a varnish but they're hard wood and should last when they're protected from the weather.I will post pictures of the finished objects and you can judge for yourself.

I love flowers round the house too. The kitchen is filled with the smell of lilac at the moment which I brought in from the garden for free.

and the other day I found a bargain for a pound! The flowers were beginning to wilt but the scent of hyacinths was amazing and I got a free bucket too!

Whilst the children choose to go to the gym to keep healthy, living in the country can provide loads of free exercise and fresh air. I enjoy  walking boat whilst my daughter prefers to cycle. We are lucky we can escape straight out the garden into open countryside. So whilst I'm not yet The Prudent Homemaker I'm working on it!