Tuesday 23 December 2014

The year of thrift is nearly up...but not over!

So, our year of thrift is nearly up. But 
What started out as an experiment and has become a lifestyle. 
It's been so much more than the middle class image of thrift, it's a considering each purchase for its need and priorities.

No longer do we buy for the sake of it. We no longer do we treat ourselves with the excuse that we "work hard". 
Quite simply, if it's not needed, we DONT get it. 
As a family, we have instilled good spending habits in ourselves,
So, no longer do we go sales buying, no longer buying on a whim anddefinitely no impulse buying. 
We shop in budget supermarkets, getting good quality food but oh so much cheaper, we shop locally, engaging with the people we buy from at the local markets. 
Our spending habits have become more economic and we repurposed money more effectively. We spend with in the household income, living lightly.

Making savings are good but it's about stretching what we have to the best effect. We've been inventive, using freecycle, or posing the questions friends, for an old unwanted computer for example, When we needed a wardrobe, we swapped an unwanted desk for one.

This year has changed everything about us, how we live, how we spend.
Its a lifestyle now and one we'll continue. 
More importantly it's the impact it has had on us as a family and beyond, learing how to be thrift, living it in an effective way abd realizing the impact we had on those around us. 
Thrift isn't about being cheep or getting  things cheaply, it's about being effective with money and requirements, it's about being mindful. 

Life will never be the same again.

Friday 5 December 2014

Christmas Thrift gift bags

I'm a thrifty girl, I love making something from of previously discarded things. 

When I unpacked the Christmas box last weekend, I can across small pieces of wrapping paper. 
These make super Christmas bags for teeny weeny but ever so important gifts..

Take a piece of paper of any size or dimensions and fold in half.

Cut along one side of the paper to create enough of a turn over.

Glue with pva or glue stick.

And fold pressing firmly.

Et voila! 

One gift bag made from scraps of wrapping paper, mad in next to no time and costs next to nothing. 
Happy Thrifty Christmas to you all