People have been gardening for free for thousands of years – you don’t have to rely on expensive nursery plants and products. Here’s everything you need to know to start a garden for free or very cheaply. When I was a kid, my parents had extensive gardens. All the tips below – collecting seeds, taking cuttings, making fertiliser and compost, using free mulch – they did as a matter of course. Because free gardening isn’t novel; it’s how people have been growing food for thousands of years. Thirty years on, I have a tiny courtyard that intermittently blooms like a tropical paradise or languishe ..read more

Growing your own vegetables can save you money and be a satisfying hobby. Here are nine of the easiest garden vegetables to grow. Herbs, silverbeet, lettuce and chives are all easy to grow. Looking for a fulfilling hobby that can save you money on food? Why not start growing some vegetables at home to supplement the grocery budget? You don’t need to become farmer Jo overnight – even a few alfalfa sprouts on the kitchen counter or herbs at the back door can add some cheap and tasty greens to your diet. Here are the top nine vegetables that are the easiest to grow at home. NOTE: I’ve written ‘be ..read more

These budget hobbies are not only inexpensive; some can even save you money. Also, tips for saving money on supplies. Hobbies are a source of joy and entertainment, and they give you a feeling of achievement and satisfaction. And as much of our work becomes increasingly hyper-specialised and disjointed in the name of increased productivity, having the satisfaction of doing a project in its entirety, from start to finish, is important for our sense of self and well-being. In fact, there are a lot of good reasons to have hobbies. Hobbies are fun, they improve our mental health, they can help re ..read more

With the cost of living going up, it’s even more important to shop savvy. Here are some grocery comparison shopping tips to help you save. Rising food costs, housing costs, energy costs, fuel costs.  Everything is on the rise, except for wages. So we’re all looking for ways to reduce the cost of living.  I wish I could give you a Tik-Tok worth hack on how to save money, but the truth is, old-fashioned methods for keeping costs down are still relevant today because they work. The only difference is, there’s an app (or two) that makes it easier. One underrated method for saving money ..read more

Spoil dad with a special breakfast just for him. These cafe-quality Father’s Day breakfast ideas are sure to please on any budget. A cafe breakfast can be a wonderful treat. But if the budget doesn’t stretch that far, you can make cafe-quality breakfasts and brunches at home for a tiny fraction of the cost of eating out. These aren’t the most frugal breakfasts around, but if you’re wanting a special for Father’s Day, there’s something here to hit the spot. Some of these recipes probably cost less than you might think. An eggs benny, for example, comes in at under $2.50 per serve. This is far ..read more

Hampers full of your special person’s favourite things are a great gift. Here are six father’s day gift hamper ideas for dad’s special day. I love giving and receiving gift hampers because you get a whole bunch of little goodies. And done right, the recipient is going to love every single one. For the dad who has everything, a gift hamper of his favourite things can be the perfect present. Below are six ideas for gift hampers for dad on Father’s Day. Tips for Packing a Gift Hamper for Dad When making up a gift hamper, you need to think about three things: What items you’re going to put into ..read more

Looking for a special breakfast? You can’t beat good ol’ eggs benny, and it’s easier and cheaper than you might think. Top it with a fool-proof Hollandaise sauce. While eggs benny might not be the most frugal breakfast you’ll ever eat, it’s not too expensive for special occasions when you make it at home. And it’s easier than you might think. In fact, if you follow the one golden rule for poaching eggs and use the stick blender method of making Hollandaise, you can have Eggs Benedict on the table in around 15-20 minutes. Not an everyday breakfast, sure. But for a special brunch, this is a ver ..read more

Some would argue a smashed avo and feta is the ultimate in decadence, but you can make this popular café meal very cheaply at home. This avocado season, avocados are not only cheap, but Australian farmers are begging us to eat more because of a glut. At a time when EVERYTHING is more expensive, and given avocado’s reputation as being the symbol of financial extravagance, what an ironic twist that this little testicular fruit is the season’s food of choice for the budget conscious. Admittedly, this dish won’t always come in under $2 a serve. Depending on the season, the price of avocados, and ..read more

Bacon and egg English muffins are an easy, filling, hand-sized breakfast. Here’s how to make it in ten minutes for much less money than buying takeaway. A bacon and egg muffin with oozy melted cheese is a great one-handed breakfast for when you need food on the go. As convenient as Macca’s drive-through is, you can make one of these tasty morsels at home in about the same time it takes to navigate the drive-through queue, and you can make it for a fraction of the cost of takeaway (and without any eggshell in it too). Bacon Egg and Cheese Muffins – Cost and Savings Tips If you’re heading to Ma ..read more

Save money, buy sustainable, support local businesses, or get stuff for free in these seven alternate economies. Despite popular opinion, frugality doesn’t mean going without. It’s about filling your needs and wants creatively, without spending a fortune. While walking into your local big-box store is an easy way to shop, there is an alternate economy where you can buy better quality, sustainable goods and save money. Is there any type of shopping better than feel-good bargain shopping? I’m not against big business, some of these alternatives are out of the way and require transportation, so ..read more