Have a Thrifty New Year!
I was given two great presents this Christmas (and one not so great, but more on that later!). Both of them were books and together they have revolutionised my life!
The first book, which I had asked for from my husband, is a book called ‘The Thrift Book’ by India Knight. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who is having to face up to the harsh reality of the so-called “credit crunch” but who does not wish to compromise on being stylish, healthy and on trend.
It is full of fantastic ideas on shopping for less, cooking healthy meals, making presents for friends and family, selling homemade crafts (already doing that!), 
no-nonsense financial advice and loads more. It has become my daily reference guide and I even caught my husband reading it over breakfast.
The other book, which is recommended by India Knight in hers, is the fantastically titled ‘How to feed your whole family a healthy, balanced diet with very little money… and hardly any time, even if you have a tiny kitchen, only three saucepans (one with an ill-fitting lid) and no fancy gadgets - unless you count the garlic crusher...’ - pause for breath - by Gill Holcombe. I am a complete kitchen-phobe and have often found myself staring blankly into the cupboards wondering what on earth I can serve up for dinner. But, I now enjoy being in my kitchen, planning meals, shopping for meals using the menu-planner/shopping list feature of the book and for once going into a supermarket without my mind going completely blank.
As a family, we have probably put on a few pounds because all of a sudden I am serving up proper puddings, rather than just cracking open another pot of yoghurt, but hey, you’ve got to keep warm somehow in this wintry weather. 
Go out and get these two books NOW - you won’t regret it. Oh, and by the way, the not so good pressie I got for Christmas, from my husband no less, was a DYSON. Don’t get me started!
