" Politicians are keen to get as many people as possible on incapacity benefit/employment and support allowance back to work, which is no mean feat in a recessio..."
"Thank you for your message, Paul. I'm so sorry to hear about the situation you and your Dad are in. You sound like a very generous person helping your family in..."
" It’s only the second week of my three week task to live on the equivalent of incapacity benefit (£89.80 a week) but already it strikes me how different this ch..."
"Some interesting points - thanks. Personally I find it hard to understand why people like this aren't getting enough money to pay for the things they need when ..."
" I did something amazing today. I showered by myself. I walked into town for 20 minutes. I got into my car by myself and I drove. A typical day for Diane, who s..."
"Thanks for all your comments. I'm trying to keep an open mind about this issue but I can't help but feel uncomfortable about the potential for politicians - man..."
" It’s challenge time again on the Frugal Life blog. Cast your mind back to October this year and you may recall that the Conservatives revealed plans to review ..."
"Too true. There are not enough recycling facilities in easy to get to places. We have plenty of rubbish bins everywhere, so surely it would make sense to have s..."
" I’ve been thinking a lot about my bin this week, which sounds a bit eccentric now that I’ve written it down…Oh dear. Perhaps I should get out more, as DJ sugge..."
"Thanks for the suggestions & messages. It's better in the room but still a bit whiffy. A couple of the stains are hard to get to because they're behind the desk..."
" It’s hard to believe, but the frugal life found its way into the Sunday Times this weekend. Eco-journalist Gordon Miller braved the wilds of Essex last week to..."
"Interesting about the £20 composting scheme. Our local council doesn't offer one as far as I can tell, although on its website it says it encourages residents t..."
" It’s Guy Fawkes’ night again and I can almost smell the bonfires. I’m not a big fan of fireworks as they frighten our chickens, but there’s something satisfyin..."
" If you go down to the woods today you’re in for…well, probably not that big a surprise for anybody who reads this blog regularly. It’s that time of year again ..."
" It’s almost Hallowe’en again and I’ve been looking longingly at the last of the three pumpkins I grew this year as I want to turn it into a lantern. Don’t worr..."
" Thanks for all the comments and emails you’ve sent me about me winning the Green Voice of the UK competition run by the Energy Saving Trust and your thoughts o..."
" I am shocked to tell you that I have won something. Sadly it’s not the lottery (I gave up entering years ago when I didn’t win for three weeks running) and it’..."
" Last week, in the pursuit of the frugal life, I entered unchartered territory. Frankly, it’s something I should have engaged in long ago but, surprisingly enou..."
" It’s Energy Saving Week once again next week (19th – 25th October) and the Energy Saving Trust is encouraging us to look again at how we can go green and cut o..."
" I had a strange conversation with a woman in the toilets in my local supermarket the other day – as you do… She came in and started drying her hands under the ..."
"Hi Neil - I'm not knocking your living as a professional photographer and I can see that many clients will want something for nothing. For some people excellen..."
" Did you see footage from an appalling wedding video the other night on the news or read about it in the papers? Mark and Sylvia Day in Wakefield forked out nea..."
" I’ve just returned from a welcome break during which I deliberately avoided doing anything that might annoy me, such as watching party political conferences on..."
" My Economy Gastronomy challenge has come to an end now and I’ve been weighing up the pros and cons of chefs Paul Merrett and Allegra McEvedy’s approach to cook..."
" The past few days have been a whirlwind of cooking as I continue my Economy Gastronomy challenge. I’m trying out meals from the BBC2 show’s recipe book and put..."
"Thanks for the comments ladies and gents. Will give my full considered opinion on the programme & book later this week when I've finished all my cooking, but I ..."
"Freezing is a good idea. We didn't manage to eat all of the pork lasagne so I froze a portion of it to enjoy later and 3 variations on a theme is more than enou..."
" I’ve been ploughing on with my challenge to save on our food bill by adopting the principles of BBC2 show Economy Gastronomy. It was quite surreal on Tuesday n..."
" I’ve been avidly watching the TV series Economy Gastronomy on BBC Two with chefs Paul Merrett and Allegra McEvedy. If you haven’t seen it, Merrett and McEvedy ..."
"Shame about the pumpkins, Vix, but sounds like you have done very well in every other department. Parsnips are fab. Cucumbers are pretty much finished now but w..."
" It’s been a while since I updated you on our fruit and vegetable plot, so I thought I’d better hurry up and fill you in before everything dies off! We are bare..."
"I’ve come to the end of my make do and mend challenge now, so I’ve been busy looking back at all my activities and thinking about what I’ve learned along the wa..."
" My entertainment task - along with hearing all your ideas for various frugal games and activities - got me feeling all nostalgic about my childhood this week. ..."
" After a fun few days of making my own toiletries, I’m on to the fourth and final week of my make do and mend challenge. This time my task is to make my own ent..."
" For years I have been asking hairdressers for tips to achieve better looking, healthier hair, but I’ve never received many useful answers, apart from being tol..."
" Last week’s make do and mend wardrobe task wasn’t entirely the fashion fix I’d hoped for. I was pleased with my beaded jeans, but DJ told me my duvet dress loo..."
"Thanks Emily. It's good to know I wasn't entirely barking up the wrong tree with the newspaper! I think I need to invest in some sharper scissors. Good idea ab..."
" I’m hot, I’m bothered and I have a newfound respect for professional dressmakers. Not that I am in any way in danger of joining their ranks any time soon…belie..."
" I thoroughly enjoyed the first task of this month’s make do and mend challenge last week. Spending a week not going food shopping and cooking up new meals with..."
"Mmm...I love sausages and mash. Sounds like you've done very well Gabrielle! I think it's good to have some items in the cupboards just in case you're ill and..."
"The last few days have been a flurry of baking and cooking as I continue my challenge to live off the contents of my kitchen cupboards – this week’s task in a m..."
