Alright my little Munchkins, ready to meet the second of my wonderful guest bloggers? A Thrifty Mrswill be well known to many of you so I am delighted to have the honour of her committent to bringing her scrumptiously thrifty ideas over to us on a regular basis. While I could wax lyrical about all that is great about her blog, I thought you might prefer to get to know her in her own words, so without further ado… “Hello! I’m Thrifty, I’m a radio journalist, voice over artist(e ?!) and blogger based in the northwest of England. I’m cheap, really cheap. I’m out for a bargain wherever I may go, be it in charity shops, flea markets, supermarkets or vintage fairs, I’ll find the cheapest item and fall in love with it.”
How long have you been blogging?
Oh a long time. I’ve been blogging on Live Journal and similar platforms since I was at uni but I started A Thrifty Mrs  in 2008, moving to the current site in May of 2009.
What difference has blogging made to your days?
Blogging takes up a fair amount of my time but that’s no bad thing! I think if you’re really into blogging you make subtle little changes without really even realising. For instance, I take my camera everywhere, not just for blog fodder but to document my life; and I hope that’s improved my photography skills (or editing the bad attempts at photography) somewhat. As a journalist I always carry a notebook with me to jot down quotes or ideas, the back section of which now has blog ideas jotted down in shorthand. Thanks to my snazzy little phone I can blog on the go and tweet or chat to my blog readers where ever I might be. I’ve been inspired by and met a lot of lovely people through blogging so the hard work is worth it.
Tell us about your blog…
It’s a bit of a mixed bag really. It focuses on the fact that I don’t have much money and how I overcome that in various different ways. I’m twenty-seven so really, I’m setting up home with my husband (Mr Thrifty). I’m learning how decorate on a budget, how to keep my house clean and tidy (to a fashion) cheapily but also in a way that won’t cause me to cough up a lung or hurt our environment. Plus putting clothes on our backs almost exclusively from thrift shops and vintage fairs. In brief my blog follows me through the adventures of a enjoying a young marriage and all that comes with it when you have million dollar dreams and a fresh air reality. That all sounds a bit dour but I like to think it’s fun.
What kind of housekeeper do you consider yourself to be?
The kind of housekeeper I consider myself to be and the actual reality are possibly very different creatures! I make great attempts at being organised, some of my attempts work, some fail miserably. My kitchen and bathroom are always clean and tidy the rest of the house is errrm, rustic shall we say? Although that said, people do pop round for a cuppa without calling first and I’m never as shamed face as I used to be when I lived with five other students. I think that’s called the middle ground. I’m very much about the pretty things. The dusting can go overlooked if I have a vase of flowers on the dining room table and the fairy lights twinkling in the background.
Do you have a favourite housekeeping “bible”?
I found a book at a bootsale last year called ‘The Creda Housecraft Manual’. It’s from 1957 and is filled full of long forgotten useful tips, it’s surprising how often I turn to it. Otherwise my housekeeping bible is the Internet, I read a great many blogs and websites which are full of ideas for keeping your house ticking over.
Tell us about your house…
Mr Thrifty live in rented a two up, two down, bay windowed, terrace house in Manchester. Our street turned 100 this year and we had a street party. It’s great to have that kind of knowledge and connection of where you live. Sadly our house hasn’t retained much of it’s period features (it was remodelled in the seventies) but it is much larger than the house we moved from at the start of 2010. It’s jam packed full with books, candles and records.
Favourite Puttery Treat?
I adore the idea of washing delicate lace by placing it in a jar of soapy water and shaking. It’s a treat for your lace and a cheeky workout for the bingo wings too. Great idea Alison! You are going to love her. This I know for sure. Only gin has the power to get me through the day??She’s my kind of girl!  So take a hop, skip and a jump over to A Thrifty Mrs, say hello  and get ready to tighten those purse strings in scrumptious style…
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Support Marie Curie by treating yourself to one of these scrumptious little mugs from Cath Kidston… Just £7.00, with 8.5% of the royalties going to support the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore…
Have Yourself An Autumnal Feast! When Alison said that autumn is ‘crisp and scrumptious…the shabbiest, chicest season of all’ she was so right! I love autumn. I love the scrunching through leaves; the thought of pumpkin carving to come; lighting the candles…
My grandmother sat On Christmas morning Mending overalls. A tall tree glittered, A hen was roasting, And the room was merry With dolls and balls, So why was she mending Overalls? The air is magic On Christmas morning And it isn’t a…
People I went too far. In a fit of housekeeping madness, I wafted about with my fragrance basket, spraying a delicious mix of citrus scented oils into the air, and then, momentarily losing my mind, wandered into the back garden and drowned…
Now tell me, has anyone read this? Will I be highly offended on Sarah’s behalf ? Will it offend my delicate senses or make me laugh till I choke on my satsuma? Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover…
"The children’s eye is forever being educated and ugly things should not be brought superfluously before them…" Clarence Cook. Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome way…
5 Comments
Welcome Thrifty Mrs! May I mention I love your oxfords? And look forward to hearing more from you…
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":300,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"http:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tipjar-2.png","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"BrocanteHome","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"BrocanteHome","form_subtitle":"Help Me to Keep BrocanteHome Online","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much: helping me keep Brocantehome online really means the world to me.","payment_confirmation_title":"BrocanteHome","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
Welcome Thrifty Mrs! May I mention I love your oxfords? And look forward to hearing more from you…
What in the world are bingo wings? 🙂
Bingo wings are the flabby bits that dangle under your arms, that kind of soft skin that won't respond to either exercise or diet?
Hi Thrifty–glad to see you here! I already read your blog, so I'll be saying hello over there as well!
Hello! I'm so excited to be here and so excited that I'm part of the Brocante Home team now.
Thanks for the lovely comments.