Our homes are usually our biggest expense, with many struggling to pay eye-watering mortgages or rental costs. Why not mitigate those bills by looking at ways to make extra income from your home?

Before you proceed with any of these ideas, check your tenancy agreement or your mortgage terms and conditions to ensure you aren’t breaking any rules. You may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender.

Here are some ideas to help you make extra income from your home and boost your bank balance.

Take in a lodger

If you have a spare room that sits empty much of the time, taking in a lodger can be a big boost to your finances.

In the UK, the Government’s Rent a Room Scheme allows you to earn up to £7,500 tax-free by renting out a furnished room.

If having someone else in your space makes you feel awkward, you can set boundaries that make you feel comfortable. For example, as a single female living with my teenage daughter, when I rented my spare room I always chose female lodgers.  I also specified that I didn’t allow overnight guests without prior permission. 

We did have a young woman who was keen to rent our single room but wanted to put a double bed in there so that her boyfriend could stay every weekend (we said no).

My point is that you make your own rules (within the law), but make sure they are very clear to prospective tenants.

By the way, I did get reported to Spare Room for expressing that I preferred a female, but they upheld my right to do that as long as I explained that we preferred a woman because it was a female-only house.

When you are renting a room in your own home you can say in your advertisement ‘Female preferred’ or ‘Male preferred’, but you cannot say ‘No men’ or ‘No women’. Live-out landlords are not allowed to do this as it would be discriminatory. You can find full guidance here.

Host language students

An interesting way to make extra income from your home is to host a language student. This can be useful if your room is not always available, for example, if you have family members away at university.

There are numerous organisations and language schools looking for host families. We hosted for a college locally and had students aged between 16 and 28, most staying a week or two. However, one young woman from Africa was with us for six months.

You are usually expected to provide a private room and all meals, including a packed lunch. Your guests will expect to eat dinner with you so that they can chat and improve their English. 

It is a fun way to earn some extra money. I wrote an in-depth article on hosting language students here.

Rent your parking spot

Another good way to make extra income from your home is to rent out a space on your driveway or in your garage. This will often be a Monday-to-Friday arrangement for commuters.

In fact, an ex-colleague of mine let her town centre driveway out between 8.30 and 6 whilst she was at work and said she felt it made her house look occupied and therefore more secure.

If you live near a town or city centre, hospital, industrial area or station your parking space will be easy to rent out. A quick internet search will show several organisations who will coordinate the arrangement on your behalf.

Get your home on TV

TV and film production companies are always on the lookout for suitable filming locations, including family homes. If your property is a bit unusual, lavish or quirky, it is more likely to be selected. However, ordinary family homes are also used in TV dramas.

Start by registering with an agency such as Locations Direct, which will assess your property for suitability and advertise it to potential clients.

Airbnb

If you live in a tourist area or city, then Air BNB is a good way to make use of your spare space. 

If you want repeat business you will need to keep high standards of decor, cleanliness and attentiveness. However, you don’t have to offer a cooked breakfast if that doesn’t suit your lifestyle. You should have access to tea and coffee-making facilities, however.

Tax and insurance

Whichever way you choose to make extra income from your home, remember you will have tax obligations and will need to keep records and submit a tax return. You will also need to have suitable home insurance, as most home policies won’t cover business use.

Thoroughly research the pros and cons of each option to make sure you are comfortable. Ultimately, you need to feel the extra money you earn is worth the time and effort you put in.

Photo credits: Pexels

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There is a wealth of money-saving resources online for you to tap into.

With experts warning that prices could increase by as much as 20% this year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and anxious about your finances.

However, the best way to feel in control is to start making positive changes to how you earn, spend and save.

If you are looking for some financial education and frugal inspiration, here is a collection of money-saving resources to help you get rid of debt, stop wasting money and build wealth for the future.

There are many money-saving resources, and I am aware these choices are subjective. However, these are the podcasters, YouTubers, bloggers and writers that I have found inspiring, and I hope you will too.

Podcasts

Mouthy Money Podcast 

Mouthy Money editor Edmund Greaves is joined by personal finance experts to discuss topics such as pensions, mortgages, investments and current events affecting your money.

The podcast asks questions such as what happens to your money when you divorce, are people losing confidence in pensions and what if you won the lottery.

Cash Chats Personal Finance Podcast 

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Andy Webb and deputy editor Amelia Murray, this podcast aims to help you save, make and manage your money. Recent episodes include the best banks and savings accounts for 2025, along with Andy’s top money habits to make you better with your cash.

Secrets to Saving Money 

With his Secrets to Saving Money podcast, Jordon Cox, aka ‘The Coupon Kid’, shows you how to cut back on spending, find the best deals, and track down amazing discount codes and freebies.

YouTubers

Shoestring Jane

I’m going to be cheeky and mention my channel, Shoestring Jane, where I show you all the frugal tricks I use day-to-day and how I live well on a small income. Topics include frugal food, buying secondhand, shoestring DIY, holidays on a budget and more.

Frugal Queen in France

Jane, aka Frugal Queen in France, and her husband Mike had to change their money mindsets to pay off thousands of pounds worth of debt, before relocating to Brittany in France where they continue to live debt-free on a pension. Jane does loads of cooking on a budget and is great at giving frugal pep talks when you need a kick to save money.

Raising Wildflowers

Katie from Raising Wildflowers is an American mum who paid off her Florida home when she was single and living on a minimum wage, before moving to a country smallholding to live in an RUV on a tiny budget with her new husband and baby. She does loads of videos on managing your money whilst living intentionally and is about to embark on some international travel with hardly any cash.

Ali Lives Well On Less

Retired Scottish ex-teacher Ali lives on a small pension of around £9,000 a year without debt or deprivation. She is fantastic at sourcing foodie bargains and shows how she batch cooks and preserves her finds to keep her grocery bill super low.

More from Shoestring Jane

Books

The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle

This classic book by Amy Dacyczyn is quite old now(1998), but the frugal message is still strong and relevant today. It was based on her regular paper newsletter, sent to her thousands of penny-pinching subscribers throughout the 1990s. When I discovered it in the early 2000s, it completely changed my mindset and was instrumental in my journey to becoming debt-free. Amy shows you how to save money in pretty much every area of your life. 

This book is witty, nicely illustrated (Amy was a trained graphic designer) and jam-packed with money-saving tips.

Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence

This is another classic of the late ’90s that was updated in 2018 to make it relevant for today’s readers. Written by Vicki Robbins and the late Joe Dominguez, this book was and continues to be hugely influential.

It is a nine-point programme to help you recognise how much money is enough, free you from the idea that buying stuff will make you happy and value your time – ie the hours you need to work to buy something.

The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living

Mark Boyle’s first book, the Moneyless Man shows how little we need to be healthy and happy, the damage that our relentless consumption is doing to our planet and offers an alternative to the narrative we are constantly given that the pursuit of money is everything.

Boyle found ways to live completely free of money, initially for a year, then for a further two years, by bartering, harnessing the power of friendship and community and honing his skills of self-reliance and creativity. 

I would struggle to live as he did, but I found the lessons he learned relevant to anyone wanting a more frugal lifestyle.

Blogs

Mr Money Mustache

Mr Money Mustache is a legend of the US FIRE community (Financial Independence Retire Early), with good reason. He inspires his readers to achieve what might seem impossible to most people.

He retired aged 30, by avoiding debt, living on 25% of his take-home pay, investing the rest, and being super frugal. He presents this lifestyle as liberation rather than deprivation. To get an idea of the flavour of his blog, take a look at the post A Millionaire is Made Ten Bucks at a Time.

Debt Camel

If you are struggling with debt, Sara at Debt Camel is full of sensible and achievable advice to help you out of the mire. She was a debt advisor for CAB for ten years and understands how frightening debt can feel.

Debt Camel aims to talk about the issues around debt, credit ratings, etc, discuss debt and money decisions in a straightforward and accessible way and signpost readers towards good information, debt advice and practical help.

There are many great money-saving resources to help you get organised with your finances. If you are struggling with money, or just want to make better decisions, I hope these suggestions will help.

Photo credits: Pexels

The post Where to find the best money-saving resources in 2025 appeared first on Mouthy Money.

Frugal Valentine gifts are a great way to show your love without breaking the bank. Occasions like Valentine’s Day are a retailer’s dream, designed to encourage consumers to spend lots of money on cards, flowers, meals out, and hotel stays.

However, for those of us without much money to spare these occasions can feel like another financial pressure.

For most of us, the thought behind a gift is more important than the gift itself. Spending lots of money with little consideration is unlikely to beat a present that creates beautiful memories, or hits the recipient in the chest because of the love and effort behind it.

Here are some ideas for frugal Valentine’s gifts and activities to help with the cost of loving.

Frugal Valentine gifts

Create a scrapbook of memories. Print out some photos from your social media accounts or phone.

Write witty captions or memorable moments next to each of them, like how your loved one looked, the food you shared, the friends or family with you, or funny things that happened.

Think about some of the much-loved books or toys your partner talks about from their childhood. Scour some online sites to see if you can find a similar vintage item to surprise them with.

Fill a decorated jar with little slips of paper suggesting fun frugal dates for the year ahead, like a picnic in the park, a trip to a historic building, a camping trip, etc (depending on both of your tastes). Try to do one each week.

Anything you have made yourself, from a crocheted scarf to a painting or a wooden bird feeder, will be appreciated for the love, time and effort that went into its creation.

Make some heart-shaped edible goodies. A silicon mould in the shape of a heart can be used for cakes, jellies and mousses, or invest in a Valentine’s cookie cutter and make some delicious biscuits.

Put together a small box containing your partner’s favourite chocolate, sweets and snacks and decorate it with love hearts.

Buy a bottle of prosecco and replace the label with a personalised Valentine’s message.

If you want to go down a more traditional route, flowers are always a good option. Aldi and Lidl sell bunches very reasonably, but rewrap them in coloured paper and a ribbon to make them look more fancy (or pick up a nice vase in the charity shop).

Have a balloon fest. I read about a man who filled the shower with balloons before he left for work. There was a note taped to the wall telling his partner to pop each one throughout the day to find a love note inside. He had clearly planned and prepared this well in advance and I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful!

More from Shoestring Jane

Frugal Valentine’s activities

Have a movie night at home. Good films to watch on Valentine’s Day include La La Land, Gone With the Wind, Valentine’s Day, Love Story, Pride and Prejudice or Notting Hill. Alternatively, not a movie, but if you missed the truly touching Gavin & Stacey Christmas special watch it on catch-up. Don’t forget drinks and popcorn.

Have a nice, three-course homemade meal by candlelight. If you aren’t into cooking, check out the various supermarket meal deals. You can easily buy a three-course meal with wine for less than £20.

Have a games night with supermarket wine and snacks.

Go for a picnic in the park or, if the weather is inclement, on your sitting room floor. Splash out on a few luxury ingredients like smoked salmon and fizz.

Make a pact to celebrate Valentine’s a day or two after, then see what bargains you can find at a discount!

Treat yourself and your partner to a fancy breakfast in bed. Think warm bagels, smoked salmon and soft cheese with buck’s fizz,  a full English breakfast, or French pastries with good coffee.

Spend the day together perusing some free museums in your town or city, or go for a hike.

Final thoughts

It’s worth a chat in advance to make sure you are on the same page regarding your frugal Valentine plans, particularly if you haven’t been together long. This saves any embarrassment if one of you goes to town on the romantic gestures and the other forgets it’s a thing! 

In the end, your presence is the best present. Giving time and attention to the person you love, and making them feel special and appreciated, is the most valuable gift you can give.

Photo credits: Pexels

The post Love on a Budget: Will you be my (Frugal) Valentine? appeared first on Mouthy Money.

Is your bank account feeling deflated? There are many small and painless ways to rein in your spending, so here’s how to be more frugal and save money in 2025.

1# Take time to write a budget

Writing down your monthly budget is a dull but essential step in taking control of your finances. Note your income and fixed outgoings, then set a budget for your variable spending. If you have never made a budget, start here.

2# Save for annual expenses

As part of your budget, create sinking funds for annual expenses such as your car breakdown cover, MOT costs, birthdays and Christmas. Everyone should have an emergency fund of at least £1000, so don’t forget to include this in your monthly budget. (Here is why you need one.)

3# Have a no-spend January

Aim to buy only essentials during January. A no-spend month means you can pay your bills and buy groceries, but you don’t allow yourself any extraneous spending. That means no new clothing, no nights out, no coffee on the way to work, no book buying, etc. It sounds grim, but it’s only for a month and your bank balance will look much healthier in February.

4# Use cash

If you struggle to stop impulse purchases, decide what you can afford to spend for the week and take out cash. Hide your debit cards and temporarily disable Apple Pay. 

It is much harder to part with cash than to flash your card or phone.

5# Keep track of your spending

Another way to curb impulse purchasing is to record all of your spending, either in a small notebook or on an app. Set a reminder to do this at a set time of day or as you go along. This exercise can reveal where your money goes and where you can save.

6# Unsubscribe from retailers’ newsletters & apps

At this time of year, your inbox will be full of offers and sales. But a bargain is only a bargain if you can afford it and need it, so unsubscribe from as many newsletters as possible to avoid temptation.

Food takeout apps are also worth deleting to save money.

7# Cancel subscriptions you don’t use

Look hard at your subscriptions, from streaming services to meal kits, from wine boxes to beauty collections. Do you use them frequently enough to make them worthwhile? Or do you end up with excess food or makeup you don’t use, or channels you rarely watch? Most importantly, can you afford them? Be honest and cancel any you can do without. This also applies to magazines, newspapers and other media.

8# Give up smoking or vaping

New year, new you? January is a great month to quit smoking or vaping to improve your health and your bank balance. 

9# Start meal planning

You can save a lot on your grocery bill, and avoid food waste, by carefully planning your meals, and then creating a shopping list so you buy only what you will eat.

Don’t forget to include a few snacks and treats as part of your regular grocery shop. This saves multiple trips to convenience shops in between when you fancy a bar of chocolate or a bottle of wine.

10# Eat seasonally

 Seasonal food is plentiful and therefore usually cheaper. Take advantage by planning your meals around supermarket specials and what’s cheapest now.

There is a guide to seasonal produce in the UK on the National Trust website.

11# Make the most of your freezer

Freezers are great money-savers, enabling you to store leftovers, do some batch cooking, buy larger packs of food more cheaply, and take advantage of yellow sticker items you won’t eat before the use-by date.

12# Do your grocery shop later

Go to the supermarket in the evening. Get to know when food is reduced and when to find the best reductions in each store.

13# Join Olio

Olio is a food-sharing app that allows you to access free food that would otherwise go to waste. It mainly comes from retailers, but individuals give things away too that they can’t use quickly enough.

It is excellent for bread, cakes and snacks, so useful if you have a hoard of hungry teenagers.

14# Learn to repair your clothing

Learn some basic sewing skills so that you can keep your clothing looking good for longer. This useful website will get you started.

15# Home hairdos

YouTube has tons of videos on home haircutting if you are feeling brave! Certainly, colouring your hair isn’t difficult and can save you a lot of money.

If this is too much of a challenge, find a hairdressing college for a super cheap (or potentially free) hairdo.

16# Get inspired

If you are feeling stuck looking for ways to be more frugal and save money in 2025, here are some brilliant books to inspire you. Get them from your library for free! 

The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle, Amy Dacyczyn

The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living, Mark Boyle

Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez

And, a cheeky one from me to finish …

Extreme Frugality: Save Money Like Your Grandma, Jane Berry

Photo credits: Pexels

The post 16 ways to be more frugal and save money in 2025 appeared first on Mouthy Money.

If you read my column regularly or watch my YouTube channel, you will be aware that I am a frugal sort. I pride myself on being free of debt, I live well on a tight budget and try to be as sustainable as possible.

However, I’m not immune to external influences, clever marketing and fashion fads, even if I like to believe that I am! Let me give you the cautionary tale of when I got sucked into an Instagram trend, and how I finally conquered my Instahome addiction.

When we moved into our house two years ago, I wanted to make the most of our new space. I envisioned creating a beautiful and welcoming place to live and work. But, if I am honest, I also had a little fantasy of making a home that people would walk into and say “Wow, this is lovely!”

However, since our house is a 1980s semi in Essex and not a penthouse flat overlooking the Thames or a fairytale cottage in the Cotswolds, I knew I had to make the best of what I had if I was to achieve my dream home and find that elusive wow factor.

I also had a tiny budget. Moving home is expensive, and I didn’t have a big wad of cash to splurge.

Searching for Instagram inspiration

I decided to head over to Instagram for inspiration. I searched a few obvious hashtags such as #DIYdecor and #DIYhacks, and finally ended up on some beautiful accounts using the #dopaminedecor and #colourfulinteriors tags. 

I realised that I could do a lot with a lick of paint to create our special space. Pinks, soft greens and baby blues began to make an appearance and the house began coming together on a shoestring budget.

I scoured auctions and charity shops for bargains and upcycled some of our old furniture. Admittedly, during this period I would also pick up my phone for one reason, and two hours later realise I had wasted a lot of time scrolling through the fabulous homes on Instagram.

The problem…

This probably all seems harmless, BUT …. having fallen down the Instagram rabbithole, I started to feel that a coat of bright paint and a bright throw over an old chair wasn’t enough. The women running the dopamine decor accounts didn’t stop at painting a wall.

They had expensive looking pink velvet sofas, walls crammed with pop art (gallery wall anyone?), plush curtains and cushions in every hue and shelves heaving with brightly coloured bric-a-brac.

They thought nothing of spending £400 on a new rug, or £1000 on a pink fridge (some items were clearly gifted), and seemed to repaint, repaper or change their entire colour scheme every few months. Well, you got to do something to get the views, right?

These homes were impossibly picture perfect. Their creators were an image of prettiness too, dressing in pastels and coordinating their clothing with their kitchen gadgets. Everything was beautiful and pristine at all times. 

I couldn’t keep up, and I felt increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied. My home was never going to look like this. When I found myself seriously considering replacing our fully working but dull white microwave with a baby pink one I decided to pull myself back from the brink. I didn’t have the time, the money or, increasingly, the inclination to try to achieve the unachievable.

This is the problem with following glossy home accounts on social media or even, if you are old school, perusing stacks of home and garden magazines. They are likely to make your average homeowner feel inadequate and discontent, to spend money they don’t have, to create unnecessary waste and to prioritise ‘stuff’ over more important life considerations.

More from Shoestring Jane on Mouthy Money

In recovery

Now that I am in recovery from my Instahome addiction, I am back to budgeting. Sure, there will still be pinks and pastels popping up, and I enjoy quirkiness in my home decor. I am never going to embrace beige or become a minimalist.

But I have accepted my financial limitations and I am keeping it real.  I have deleted most of the Instagram accounts that left me feeling ‘not good enough’ and have embraced those that create their own style using mostly second-hand bargains (check out Kath’s account @knitchings as a fabulous example of thrifty gorgeousness).

The problem with following trends is that the trendsetters inevitably move onto the next big idea. If you have chosen your decor based on a trend rather than your actual tastes and preferences, your home will soon feel old-fashioned. 

I still want to make Shoestring Cottage a warm and comfortable retreat that I enjoy living and working in. However, I have come to the realisation that I don’t need someone else to influence that. Instead of trying to achieve an Instagram influencer’s idea of perfection, I will find my own. 

Photo credits: Pexels

The post The Instagram home illusion: why you shouldn’t follow trends to create a home you love appeared first on Mouthy Money.

Finally there appears to be a backlash against the hyperconsumerism we have seen in recent years.

People are being urged to use what they already have, to buy only what they need, to make do and mend and to live more sustainably.

This is a trend I have noticed gaining popularity across social media platforms. The hashtag #underconsumptioncore is everywhere, but what does this mean in practice?

Is it a movement that will grow or just a new bandwagon for influencers to jump on for views?

On Instagram and TikTok, people are proudly showing off their mugs and plates that don’t match, their thrifted decor, their small but functional homes, how they grow and preserve some of their own food and how they are using up their cosmetics and toiletries before they buy more. 

Young content creators are displaying their battered reusable water bottles, telling followers how long they have had their clothing and showing the items they have upcycled to extend their use.

They are talking about how embracing the underconsumption movement frees up money, alleviates the stress of keeping up with the Joneses and gives them a greater appreciation of life’s simple pleasures.

More from Shoestring Jane

How to be an anti-consumer

Rethinking your habits and embracing the underconsumption trend means trying to avoid single use plastics and other single use items, wasting less, buying quality over quantity, thrifting and shopping second-hand, and repairing items rather than throwing them out.

Becoming an anti-consumer will lead you to search for ways to curb your current spending habits, to simplify your lifestyle and to find ways to live more sustainably. You will become savvy to the tricks that companies use to constantly make you feel you need to spend money and get wise to their green-washing tactics.

It means being deliberate about what you buy and where you buy it from and making far fewer purchases.

For example, with Christmas approaching, you might choose to purchase hand-crafted gifts from a small Etsy seller rather than cheaply-made plastic items from a multinational conglomerate, to make some of your own presents, or to reduce the number of gifts you give altogether. 

Maybe you will pare down the contents of your makeup bag to the bare minimum. When you feel you need to make a purchase, you might decide to buy cosmetics from a small company with minimal glass packaging instead of one of the numerous products encased in plastic from big corporations such as L’oreal.

Or you might realise that items like face sheet masks, false eyelashes, cleansing wipes or lip exfoliators are entirely unnecessary and a waste of your hard-earned money.

You might choose to develop low-impact hobbies and pastimes such as hiking, crafting and upcycling, gardening or cycling, proving that you can have a good time without spending a load of money or creating lots of waste.

You will find yourself perusing the racks of used clothing in your local charity shop when you need something, instead of buying a new, mass-produced fast fashion item from Shien or Temu.

Normalising what should already be normal

Personally, I love this trend! It is, of course, what us frugal types have been doing for years to save money, but if the younger generation is being encouraged to embrace a more thrifty and sustainable way of life this must be a good thing, both for the planet and for their bank balances.

In reality, this lifestyle is what used to be normal. When I grew up in the 1970s, people bought what they needed and made things last because they had to. Not many people had the means or opportunity to buy to excess.

I think the underconsumption core trend could be a huge catalyst for change. By mindfully consuming you may be able to pay off debt, save for a home, invest or quit a high-paying but stressful job for an occupation that pays less but gives you more enjoyment.

Once you stop overspending and comfort buying, you probably won’t want to go back to constantly purchasing new stuff. You may completely shift your perspective on how you spend your money and how you spend your time.

I don’t know for sure if the rise of the anti-consumer stems from the state of the economy or from the realisation that we live on a small planet with finite resources. Maybe it is a reaction to social media influencers with their constant hauls and conspicuous overconsumption. Whatever the drivers are, let’s hop on the trend and hope it continues.

Photo credits: Pexels

The post The rise of the anti-consumer #underconsumptioncore appeared first on Mouthy Money.

The festive season is fast approaching and it might appear that the whole world has gone into a spending frenzy.

But at a time when many of us don’t have endless resources, the idea of spending our hard-earned cash on presents recipients don’t appreciate feels like anathema. So, how can we buy Christmas gifts people actually want?

According to a poll by the Post Office in 2023, almost a third of consumers planned to return some of their Christmas gifts. This was partly down to financial pressures caused by the cost-of-living crisis, but many of those polled said the items were not wanted or wouldn’t be used.

The most common items being returned, sold, regifted or donated were clothes and shoes, beauty items, books and stationery.

I like to think I take a more mindful and well-considered approach to gift buying than I used to. No more rushing around at the last minute chucking gift sets into my basket. I would rather buy nothing than give a present likely to be donated to a raffle in a few months.

On the flip side, wouldn’t we all like to receive gifts with thought and love behind them? A small, well-thought-out present will be more welcome than something expensive but unsuitable. But how can we get our gift-giving right?

What NOT to buy

I asked members of my Facebook Group, My Second Hand & Frugal Life, what their least welcome gifts have been.

They disliked being given items for the home or last-minute petrol station panic buys (and – take note – most of these seemed to come from EX-partners!).

Someone received a vacuum cleaner from her husband for their first Christmas together who was bewildered when she cried. Another received knickers and Tampax, and Paula had replacement foot mats for her car …

Seren dislikes ‘tat’: “Any ornaments, uplifting quotes on plaques, cheap boxed sets of toiletries … scented candles that smell of food (coffee, cranberries, cinnamon, etc).”  Candles came up several times as an unwelcome gift, as did “pointless, sentimental ornaments.”

Buying toiletries is a minefield, as many people have sensitivities and allergies, or only use particular brands. As well as the afore-mentioned gift sets, bubble bath, shower gel and hand cream got the thumbs down. However, these can work if you know what people like. Diane, for example, loves to receive body butter and bath bombs.

Catherine doesn’t appreciate being given clothes that don’t fit her or aren’t her style, and Kerry dislikes festive clothing that she only has a few days to wear. Jilly especially does not like gimmicky socks. “They are always poor quality and can cut your feet.” Joke slippers were another gift seen as a waste of money.

Be careful with edible gifts, too. Christine doesn’t want to receive “Edible gifts, because I’m a coeliac and also intensely dislike coffee and nuts.”

Rachel is not a fan of “anything that is sold ready-packaged as a gift (as there has been) no thought put into it at all.”

The group was split on receiving alcoholic drinks like bottles of wine. Some said they would love them, but others didn’t drink or didn’t enjoy the taste of certain products.

If you are considering alcohol, make sure you know what your recipient likes drinking. Michelle says the only drink she enjoys is a dry white wine, so she doesn’t appreciate receiving “mulled wine or liqueurs such as that famous Irish cream…”

Sami says that because she has a cat she receives things like “cat playing cards, a make your own cat food recipe book and a ‘how to speak cat’ book. Please just get me a bottle of wine!”

So…which Christmas gifts do people actually want?

The thread on my group was revealing. Some presents I thought would be fail-safe, like gift vouchers, were disliked by as many members who said they would appreciate them. 

Many people said they would welcome experience gifts. However, my partner once received a zorbing experience (where you get bounced down a hill in a huge bubble) when he had a herniated disc, so approach with caution!

Rachel prefers people asking what she would like: “I hate spending money on myself, and the thought of spending £50 on a Dermalogica cleanser and moisturiser pains me, but it’s so lovely to get it from someone else.”

Susan has written a list for her family which consists only of gardening or sewing gifts.

Research is key to buying successful Christmas gifts. Take some time to find out what people really want. If you prefer to surprise your recipient, ask their nearest and dearest for some ideas. Otherwise, ask them directly for a list of suggestions. 

You could also use an app such as the Giftster app, which allows you and your group to create wish lists, or Elfster, which is great for a Secret Santa draw.

Do you need to buy gifts at all?

Carolyn says, “I cannot see the sense of buying gifts … just because it is Christmas. As one gets older we have mostly what we need so our present at Christmas is your presence.”

Natalie agrees: “ I would prefer to go out for the day and make memories. They are more precious than any gift.”

Yvonne says she detests “the whole thing of ‘I have to buy/make a gift for xyz. So many are not required or appreciated and the whole gift-giving process is completely out of hand.”

Susan has a different approach: “I started a trend years back with my two boys that we could only spend £5 and it had to be from a charity shop. Always fun to see what we get.”

If you dislike the massive commercialisation of the season, or if you simply cannot afford to join in the gift-giving, then perhaps it is time to take a step back and either reduce your gift purchases to the bare minimum or stop participating altogether.

I would love to know your thoughts on this, and on how to buy Christmas gifts people actually want. What’s your approach to festive present giving?

Photo credits: Pexels

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Selling your stuff online for free became even easier last month, as eBay announced they were scrapping all fees (apart from vehicles) for private sellers.

This was music to my ears, as I have been selling some bits and bobs on eBay to help my mum move house. We thought we were doing well, having made around £330, but then we realised eBay had taken £118 in fees! That’s quite a chunk! 

I decided to see what I could list on Vinted, as they have no selling fees. It seems I wasn’t alone in moving to Vinted. It has become hugely popular, and although the focus is still on clothing, the platform is gradually increasing the categories of items you can sell to include homeware, electronics, entertainment and pet care. 

As well as the threat from Vinted, eBay faces growing competition from Depop, which recently scrapped most of its selling fees (apart from a small payment processing charge).

Now eBay has responded to the competition, and private sellers have no final value fees to pay. 

Private sellers can list 300 items a month, which is way more than most of us will need if we are just having a sort-out This means that if you want to make a bit of money selling your old stuff to help fund Christmas, you can make even more than you would have in the past.

Business sellers

eBay’s decision to scrap final selling fees for private sellers caused consternation amongst business sellers reselling used items for a profit.

After all, businesses still have to pay final selling fees, alongside shop fees if they have one. Many felt that with no fees private sellers would be able to undercut their prices by some margin.

However, eBay seems to have a long-term plan, as they recently announced they were scrapping fees on used clothing for business sellers, too. It is possible that they will decide to extend this to other used items. 

This move may also be a reaction to the launch of Vinted Pro, Vinted’s new platform for business sellers, which continues with the current Vinted model of charging purchasers a ‘buyer protection fee’ instead of selling fees.

Buyers pay between 3% and 8% of the item price, which Vinted say protects their money and covers refunds, customer service, etc. My hunch is that eBay will introduce a similar fee for buyers shortly.

Which is best? Vinted vs eBay

I asked members of my Facebook group, My Secondhand and Frugal Life, which platform they preferred to use for buying and selling. Opinions were divided.

Many felt you couldn’t command very high prices on Vinted. As a result, they tend to list lower-value items there and more expensive things on eBay. Angela said, “I love Vinted for selling clothes. I tend to use eBay for more specialised items as you can usually get a bit more.” From a buyer’s perspective, there were “great bargains on Vinted”.

Marina agrees, but likes how easy Vinted is to use. “ If you have something you want more than a couple of quid for, then eBay gets you a lot more chance. But Vinted is so much easier.” Caroline says, “eBay has a bigger reach, but the Vinted interface is better.”

Customer service quibbles

There were a couple of comments about poor customer service on Vinted when things went awry. Miki feels there is little support when you are dealing with a scammer. “If a buyer says (the item is) a fake, Vinted side with the buyer and you lose your items. It’s happened to Dr Marten sellers I know who don’t sell fakes… I’d rather be protected on eBay.”

Mandy bought a T-shirt listed as new without tags, but when it arrived it had blood stains on it. The seller insisted on a return, which Mandy had to pay for, even though the item was not as described. On eBay, the cost of returning a faulty item would have been the seller’s responsibility.

Donna’s Vinted account was hacked, and she said, …”the customer service was appalling trying to get it sorted … after a week and a half, I just asked for the account to be closed. Never had any of that in all my years using eBay.”

However, Fiona has only had positive experiences with Vinted: “I find the people friendly and customer service is always great if there is a problem.”

The tax issue

One development to consider when selling items on any online platform is that HMRC now requires anyone with a turnover of more than £1000 from the sale of personal items to complete a tax return. 

This has caused worry and confusion among private sellers, but Vinted explains it like this: “In the UK, if the money you make on Vinted over a year is less than what you paid for the items, you pay no tax.

“The only time that an individual item might be taxable is when you sell it for more than £6,000 and there is a profit from the sale (ie it sells for a higher price than you paid for it.” You can read the full guidance here.

Ebay’s information on the tax obligations of private sellers is a little less clear, stating only that “sellers may be required to declare and pay taxes on income earned from eBay sales.” Their policy can be found here.

One thing that is clear is that online selling platforms like eBay and Vinted are now obliged to report sellers with a turnover of £1000 or more to HMRC. Although you may be asked to complete a tax return, this doesn’t necessarily mean there will be tax to pay.

Conclusion

Despite all the changes, selling your stuff online for free is a great way to declutter and you can use the money you make to spend on items that you will appreciate more. Do you sell online?

Photo credits: Pexels

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We have gone from summer to autumn in the blink of an eye. Shorter nights and cooler temperatures herald the dark months of winter and the extra costs involved in the season. If you are a money-saver, it’s time to prepare for a frugal winter.

Here are some ideas to help you stay warm, healthy and stick to your budget over the winter months.

Keep warm

There are many small actions you can take to insulate your home without a large outlay.

A good starting point is to block draughts around doors with inexpensive draught excluder tape. You can even roll up an old towel or blanket to stop cold air from coming under the door.

If you have single-glazed windows, add a layer of insulation with bubble wrap. Just cut to fit, spray the glass with water and press into place. Thick curtains will also help. Invest in thermal linings and ensure you close curtains as soon as it gets dark.

Keep a pile of throws and blankets around to cosy up with. A heated throw is a super effective way to keep you warm without needing to turn the heating on.

Maintain your boiler to keep it working efficiently. Now is the perfect time to book a boiler service.

The Government announced recently that the Winter Fuel Payment previously received by all pensioners will only be paid to those on certain benefits. Make sure you are getting all the financial help you are due. You can find advice on the AgeUK website, here. 

Build a healthy food store

It’s a good idea to have a good store of non-perishable food at any time of the year, but even more so in the winter.

Having meals that can be put together quickly is a life-saver when you are ill or when weather conditions keep you at home. 

Get into the habit of adding two or three extra items every time you go grocery shopping. There are some ideas on useful foods to keep in your stores in this post. 

Only buy what you like and know you will use, and make sure you keep an eye on use-by dates on items like oats and flour.

More from Shoestring Jane

Batch cook

Batch cooking is another useful habit to help prepare for a frugal winter. Not only does it save time, but money too. Batch cook things like soups, casseroles and sauces, then freeze them into portions to defrost as you need them.

You will save energy preparing meals, you will be less tempted to buy convenience food and takeaways and you can purchase the ingredients in bulk for even more savings.

Get ready for winter illness

The approach of winter means it’s a good time to stock up on cold and flu supplies.

However, they can be expensive! If you go for supermarket or chemist generic items rather than branded products you will save a lot of money. For example, in Asda 16 Lemsip cold and flu capsules will set you back around £6, whilst the generic version costs just £1.45. 

Washable handkerchiefs are more sustainable and cheaper in the long term than multiple boxes of tissues.

If you are vulnerable, consider getting a free flu vaccination.

Other preparations for bad weather

Make sure your outdoor pipes are well-insulated to prevent them from freezing and cracking, causing expensive plumbing bills.

Keep a stash of torches and batteries at hand in case of power cuts. 

If you have a wood burner or open fire, bulk buy logs to get the best deal. In addition, keep an eye on other people’s skips, which are frequently full of wood offcuts. Be sure to ask permission before removing anything, however.

Have Christmas on a budget

Of course, the main winter festival in the UK is Christmas, which can strain household finances.

Ideally, you will have put money aside for celebrations throughout the year, and maybe even have purchased the bulk of your Christmas cards, gifts and wrap in the January sales! However, if you didn’t plan that far ahead, all is not lost.

Make a budget

Write a budget with your likely expenses: gifts, food, travel, parties, etc. Be realistic.

Look at what you can afford and whether you need to cut back. Don’t get into unnecessary debt. If you need to, let friends and family know that you are on a budget and won’t be exchanging gifts this year, or have decided only to do presents for children. 

Alternatively, suggest a family secret Santa, so you only need to buy one present. This has worked brilliantly with my large family, although we still buy individual gifts for the children. 

Have a wardrobe declutter to see what you already own, rather than buying new Christmas outfits. If you need a Christmas jumper, charity shops are always full of them at this time of year. You can also find secondhand Christmas decorations. 

Share the cost

If you plan to host the Christmas meal or buffet, your guests will usually be happy to contribute. Ask someone to bring a starter or some cheese, someone to provide some drinks, or everyone to bring a dish for the buffet.

In my experience, people enjoy being involved and understand the need to share the financial burden.

When you are buying food for Christmas, remember that it is only a couple of days! Only get what you know you will use to avoid wasting food and your cash.

The four-gift rule

Try the four-gift rule with your children: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. 

I didn’t stick strictly to this when my daughters were small, but I didn’t over-indulge them. I needed to stay within my small budget and I am not a fan of buying endless stuff! 

Instead of buying several expensive gifts, I gave them a main present, usually something they had requested, along with several small, inexpensive treats for their stockings, some clothing and, yes, a book or two. 

Just remember, Christmas is supposed to be enjoyable, which it won’t be if you worry about the expense the whole time.

Do you prepare for a frugal winter? What are your top tips?

Photo credits: Pexels

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The cost of living crisis doesn’t only impact on households. Charities are struggling too, just at the point when many of them are needed most.

For many of us, tightening our belts is no longer a choice and we have little spare money, so donating to charities is harder than ever.

This has been dubbed the ‘cost of giving crisis’.

So, how can we help? Are there ways to help charities when you don’t have much money?

Here are some ideas for offering practical support to charitable organisations.

Organise work/school/college events

Make your fundraising efforts more effective by roping in colleagues to organise work events, or enlist your fellow students to help raise money.

Such events can encourage team building, raise morale in the workplace, and encourage donations.

You could have a monthly bake sale, create a bookstall with an honesty box, have dress-down days or a bring-and-buy sale. A group of you could take part in a sponsored walk, Race for Life, or an Easter egg hunt.

You could even do a sponsored abseil or get your head shaved if you are feeling brave!

Some employers will consider matching the amount you raise, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Individual efforts

If you don’t have a workplace you could host a coffee morning at home, ask your friends and neighbours to donate their unwanted stuff and run a car boot sale, or knit, crochet and craft items to sell.

If you are fit and well, you can sign up for a sponsored walk or run.

Reverse advent calendar

When I worked in an office, a popular way to help our local food bank was to do a reverse advent calendar. This can be done with your kids at home, too. 

The idea of a reverse advent calendar is that, instead of opening a window of your calendar each day and taking out a sweet or other treat, you get yourself a box and put an item of food or toiletries in.

For example, one day you could add a can of baked beans, the following day some pasta, a pack of soap or toothbrushes, pet food, or a box of Christmas treats, all the way to Christmas Eve.

In fact, we used to start in mid-November, so we could take our donations to the food bank in time for them to be distributed for Christmas. You can find out where your nearest food bank is and the items they currently require on the Trussell Trust website.

Volunteer

The heart and soul of many charities is their volunteer workforce. If you are time but not cash-rich, you can support charities in various ways.

All kinds of skills and life experiences can be put to good use, from book-keeping for a small charity, helping with their social media, working in a shop, working at a food bank, assisting with conservation or wildlife projects, walking dogs and cleaning cages at a rescue shelter, or training as a guide for a heritage organisation such as the National Trust.

You are likely to benefit from volunteering, too, by making friends, gaining work experience, getting out and about and learning new skills.

More from Shoestring Jane on Mouthy Money

Donating and buying in charity shops

As we approach Christmas, it is the perfect time to make some space by clearing out your unwanted books, clothing, toys and household items to take to a charity shop. 

While you are in the shop, see if there is anything you need. At this time of year, you may find Christmas jumpers, decorations, stocking fillers and gift sets on sale, giving you the chance to save money whilst supporting the charity.

Gift aid

If you are a taxpayer, be sure to tick the gift aid box on any charitable donations you make. This will increase the value of your donation by 25% at no cost to you. Many charity shops will also ask you to sign up for gift aid when you donate unwanted items.

There is more information on how gift aid works here. 

Campaign for charities

Some charities request help supporting their campaigning efforts.

For example, Age UK are requesting signatures for their petition to save the winter fuel allowance, and for people to write to their MP on the subject.

The Trussell Trust is campaigning for an Essentials Guarantee from the Government to help prevent people on Universal Credit needing foodbanks.

It will cost you no money to support campaigns close to your heart and usually just requires the time it takes to shoot off an email or letter.

Payroll giving

If you are in work, talk to your employer about offering a payroll giving scheme, where an amount is donated at source.

Many people would like to make a regular charitable donation but don’t get around to organising it. Payroll giving means employees can make regular donations without paying tax on them.

The perfect storm

Like the rest of us, charities are facing increases in their costs and their services are more in demand than ever.

However, they are simultaneously experiencing reductions in donations, leading to the perfect storm. Many charities are struggling to survive.

By offering practical support, you can help charities when you don’t have much money to give them.

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