Frugal pleasures

[Alanamackree]

I thought it might be helpful to share some free/cheap pleasures to see us through January.

I’ve just rediscovered the pleasure of a hot water bottle, after getting a gift of one at Christmas. We used them a lot as children but I’d forgotten how nice it is to have warm toes watching the telly.

I’m semi-retired. My day off during the week is a delight - I can do whatever I want (I know I’m lucky).

This is frugal, but very prosaic compared to some of the lovely wintery images conjured up so far...

I spent a bit of time turning some stale bread into a pot of breadcrumbs to go in the freezer (for making fish fingers/nuggets etc) and a couple of bread puddings, one of which will also get frozen.

Another couple of ticks for the 'I'm turning into my mother' list.

The thousands of quizzes in every possible variation and on every subject matter on Sporcle. I could spend all day on there.

Homemade soup.

Baked potatoes.

Candles at dinner, even on ordinary days.

Going for a walk somewhere out in nature.

Changing the bed sheets, shaved legs in a long bubble bath and then clean PJs and hopping into a clean bed is one of life’s ultimate pleasures. And even better it’s free!

Feeding the birds also makes me very happy. I put out any crumbs and scraps and then watch them coming down to feed. ☺️

Good book, scented candle & hot drink with some light classical/jazz/chillout music and crackling fire in the background (albeit I have to resort to YouTube for the latter these days!)

A decent cup of tea - none of that anaemic, watery shite!
Hot water bottle on feet.
Being in bed, all cosy & warm, listening to the wind and rain and knowing I don't have to go out in it.
Creating a nice picture that's good enough to give to someone else.

This week's cheap pleasure was pruning a load of trees & bushes in the garden - then having a bonfire!

@hipposarerad I wish we got stale bread in our house, it's always gone in a day or so!

Big tubes of orange smarties reduced to 50p in poundland!

Jus Rol pain au chocolat... £2, six portions, bliss. A friend also taught me the trick of putting a spoonful of Lotus Biscoff spread in and that's pretty luscious too.

A hot bath.

A hot water bottle.

A walk in the park, stopping to sit on a bench and sip from a flask of hot tea.

Yes to watching wildlife. Animals are amazing.

It isn't cheap considering the cost of the tv licence but there are so many good box sets available just now on BBC Iplayer and 4OD if you have a licence. I watched all of Little Dorrit over a few days recently,but there's a lot of great dramas and comedies on there.

A local charity shop sells DVDs 5 for £1 and books 3 for £1 or 5 kids' books for the same. I still buy DVDs so I buy some and take them back after watching them, though a friend sells them to Music Magpie or CEX after watching them and has made a reasonable amount of money on bulk selling them. It's worth looking around charity shops if you have a choice of a few as the prices vary considerably.

YouTube is full of great documentaries and some older films.

MSE has a Freebies forum where you can apply for samples and giveaways.

Home Bargains and Pound Stretchers are your friends when it comes to treats, and other household products. They often sell things off for crazy prices, check at the Till's in HB, they often have things there for 10 or 20p, and their sweets are so much cheaper than in Supermarkets, although I can recommend Tescos 29p midget gems. I think that they're called Ms Molly's now.

Sending DS into school with a flask of HM Irish stew and knowing he will have a warm glowing belly for next to nothing rather than a burger bun with no burger because they “ran out” in the school canteen for £2.60

I love a good podcast, usually when out walking or just cleaning the house. So much fascinating stuff to listen to for free!

I also like subscribing to newsletters from various people, and am always amazed to get interesting reads for free in my inbox. Natasha Lunn, conversations on love, is a lovely one with a good archive for anyone interested.

@Boobahs it doesn't happen often - I stocked the freezer for Christmas, thinking we'd be stuffing our faces with cold meat rolls as usual, and then me & DP got a virus that wiped out our appetites. Very weird, I've literally never felt not-very-hungry before (I'm a greedy bugger).

At least you got a treat eventually out of it I guess (I bloody love bread pudding!)

I've just finished off the last of the mince pies and brandy butter

Lovely ideas.
I’ve just rediscovered my local library. Hoping to spend lots of time there this year.

Home made gingerbread.

It's such an old fashioned thing - everything's always covered in buttercream & sparkles these days. The simplicity of it is delicious and warming.

(I sound like my born-and-bred-in-Yorkshire Grandad!

I live rurally so not much light pollution. I got home from work after 9 and when I stepped out of the car the sky was so clear and there were so many stars. I just stopped and star gazed for a bit.

Managing to get my clothes line dried today - made me so happy to see them swaying in the breeze.

Like another poster I've started to use my library after a long gap and have discovered that now I can renew my books online which is fantastic.

Sorting two boxes of books to take to the charity shop, happy days.

Sex... why has nobody mentioned sex yet?! :-D

Not exactly free (but then neither is a hot water bottle once you factor in the price of boiling the kettle) but electric blanket...

@Polkapjs beef adobe, coq au vin and teriyaki vegetables are my personal favourites!