About *Miss Thrifty*

Miss Thrifty is a woman on a mission. She lives in Yorkshire, UK, and never pays full price for anything. Spend less, live within your means and get out of debt - without resorting to recycling teabags.

Personal Finance

Energy bills: OWWW, my eyes!

Today is a traumatic day in the Thrifty household. Our statements from our energy provider, Southern Electric, have arrived. I have been able to scrrrrrrrrrrape my jaw from the floor and regain my composure – but it has not been a pretty … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty6 October 1, 2008

Thrifty Outings

iPods are for iDiots (like me)

What do you mean, you haven’t seen one of these before. Well duh. It’s an iPod alarm clock: you pop it next to your bed, click in your iPod and get woken up to the strains of your fave playlist. … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty1 September 30, 2008

make do and mend

Thrifty Fashion

Make Do And Mend: Vogue for the credit crunch bunch

  Doesn’t this book look marvellous? Make Do And Mend was published in the UK in 1943, by the Ministry of Information, at a time when food and clothes were rationed. The Make Do And Mend slogan summed up British … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty29 September 30, 2008

Thrifty Food, Thrifty Home

FRIDAY BARGAINS: Sabatier knives

Sabatier makes the most wonderful knives. The metal is thick and the steel blades are strong and sturdy. Holding a Sabatier it is ten times more easy to fillet a fish, carve a roast or fanny around with baby salad vegetables. I cherish … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty1 September 26, 2008

Personal Finance

Telephone conversation with my mortgage provider

(After several minutes of faffing with the bank’s labyrinthine telephone triage system, plus a few minutes confirming mortgage account number, mother’s maiden name etc. ad infinitum.) CALL CENTRE EMPLOYEE: So how can we help you today?  MISS THRIFTY: Well, our two-year fixed rate mortgage deal runs … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty6 September 25, 2008

Thrifty Planet

Discount composter – savings all round!

Our new composter arrived today. It looks like this: We have put it out in the garden, behind the shed. You dump the peelings etc. in the top, and scoop out the resulting compost through the sliding hatch at the bottom. … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty11 September 24, 2008

Thrifty Food

How to stop your food from going mouldy

  Homemaker Barbi has a terrific tip for keeping the contents of your salad drawer fresh. Stick a clean, dry sponge in there! The sponge absorbs the excess moisture; foods that are prone to mould and mush, such as strawberries and tomatoes, … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty4 September 23, 2008

Thrifty Fashion

Buying fashion on eBay: my top brand secrets

I wouldn’t do this normally, but I’m really off shopping at the moment. Today I went into town, armed with a £15 credit note, for a mini-splurge in one of those discount emporiums that sell every bargain under the sun. And … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty9 September 22, 2008

Thrifty Fashion

FRIDAY BARGAINS: 30% off at Gap (UK)

UK shoppers can get 30% off at Gap, between now and 28 September. Just visit this site, enter your details and collect your voucher. It can also be used at the various offshoot stores – babyGap, GapKids, GapMaternity, certain department … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty4 September 20, 2008

Personal Finance

Death of a Salesman? Not round here.

Is it just me, or are door-to-door salesmen multiplying like those half-Orcs in Lord of the Rings? Working from home, I’m finding that the interruptions are suddenly coming thick and fast. Already this week I’ve had a man from Scottish Electricity … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty6 September 18, 2008

Competitions

Roll up for House Hoopla!

As the world economy lurches from one crushing disaster to another, and house prices continue to slide, UK homeowners are resorting to unconventional selling methods. They have given up on securing their (admittedly ambitious) asking prices via the usual routes, … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty5 September 16, 2008

Personal Finance

Welcome MSN Smart Spending Readers

If you are visiting from MSN Smart Spending, welcome to Miss Thrifty! My passion for fashion knows no bounds, but neither does my craving for saving…  Bargains ahoy! I update my blog daily with all the latest frugal tips and … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty0 September 15, 2008

Thrifty Food

Supermarket shoppers: a word

Last week I was talking to a man who set up a luxury foods company. His wife runs it. They make high quality products with no additives, preservatives etc., which you cook from frozen. They have spent the past five … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty2 September 15, 2008

Thrifty Food, Thrifty Home

FRIDAY BARGAINS: Guzzini homewares

Oh frabjous day! It’s Final Clearance time at House of Fraser department stores – and there’s a bunch of Guzzini stuff on sale. If you aren’t familiar with Guzzini: it’s an Italian design company. They make handsome plastic kitchenware, and … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty2 September 12, 2008

Personal Finance

There’s frugal, there’s cheap and there’s cheap and rotten…

UPDATE: If you are visiting from MSN Smart Spending, welcome to Miss Thrifty! My passion for fashion knows no bounds, but neither does my craving for saving…  Bargains ahoy! I update my blog daily with all the latest frugal tips … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty8 September 12, 2008

Personal Finance

Frugality Wars: UK vs. USA, Round One!

As a tightwad who has lived in both America and the UK (currently residing in the UK), I find it interesting to compare the two countries from a personal finance perspective. Although the USA enjoys a relatively low cost of … Get the lowdown >>

Miss Thrifty6 September 11, 2008