I'm a frugal mum – there are 5 things that you won't see me buy & the common household product that's a waste of money
And for one savvy mum, her simple approach to saving has struck a chord with thousands online.
3
Forget complicated financial spreadsheets or extreme couponing - this TikToker is revealing the surprising everyday items she never buys, and her reasons why might just change your shopping habits for good.
The mum, known as Octoberonabudget on TikTok, shared a candid video revealing five common household items and food products she simply refuses to spend her cash on.
And it turns out, saving money can be surprisingly simple once you know where to cut back.
First up her number one hate is buying kitchen rolls.
'What an epic waste of money, just use a cloth,' she says.
This seemingly small swap is a common thread among those looking to reduce both waste and spending, highlighting how daily habits can truly add up.
Next on her hit list are familiar names from the supermarket aisles.
She recommends that people opt for non branded sauces and soups, as she thinks the cheaper ones 'are just as nice'.
Her third point is to avoid ready-made cake mixes.
I'm a mum-of-2 and was a broke teaching assistant on £840 a month - now I've made 46k doing a side hustle anyone can do
"The only one I'll use is a ready-made pastry mix because pastry is a pain in the a**e to make," she admits.
"But if I can bake something myself, I'll bake it rather than buy a ready made mix."
Her fourth no-go item follows a similar logic: ready meals.
"So much cheaper to just make your own and portion it up. Plus you know what's going in it," she explains.
3
3
Finally, Octoberonabudget calls out a common snack that's often seen as convenient.
"Lastly, these single use jelly pots. What a waste of plastic for starters," she says.
'But also, buy a block of jelly, get some ramekins and make your own jelly pots for much cheaper."
Her video gained 15.1k views and 18 comments after just one day of it being shared, and many people's opinions were mixed.
One asked: 'What do you drain fried foods on?'
To which the frugal mum replied: 'A clean tea towel if I need to get grease off.'
Then someone else asked: 'How do you clean it off a tea towel? Do you have a frugal hack?'
And Octoberonabudget replied: 'Put it in the washing machine?'
Money saving challenges
Here's some of our favourite money saving challenges.
Weather saving challenge - Save the amount equal to whatever the highest temperature was that week. £1 = 1C.
1p challenge - save 1p a day for everyday of the year, but it increase the amount by 1p each day. So day one you save 1p, 2p on day two and 3p on day three. When you reach 100 days you start adding a £1 coin each day too, while this increases to a £2 coin each day plus pennies at 200 days, and £3 each day on top of pennies at day 300.
20p a day challenge - Start by putting 20p in savings, then increase the amount by 20p every day. For example, the first week will look like this: 20p, 40p, 60p, 80p, £1, £1.20, £1.40.
£5 a week challenge - Like the 20p challenge, put aside £5 a week and increase it by a fiver each week. Eg £5, £10, £15, £20
Round-up challenge - Every time you buy something, round up the purchase to the nearest £1 and put the difference in a savings account. Eg. You pay £2.60, so you put 40p in savings. You can use an app such as Monzo or Starling to do this.
Bingo challenge - Here you have a bingo card with different numbers on it and you tick them off when you've put that amount in your savings account. It can be ad hoc but you have to tick them all off by the end of the month.
Monday to Sunday challenge - With this challenge, you simply save £1 on Monday, £2 on Tuesday and so on until the weekend where you don't save on Saturday or Sunday.
365 day challenge - Every Sunday you put aside £1, followed by £2 on Monday, £3 on Wednesday and so on. On Saturday you'll put away £7, and then the process repeats and you'll put aside £1 on Sunday as the new week begins
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Five cheap activities to keep kids occupied this summer hols
AVOID school holiday boredom by planning ahead now. But before you splash out on expensive activity sets and magazines, try these brilliant DIY alternatives. And keep them stashed away, ready for those inevitable cries of 'I'm bored' . . . DOUGH THIS: Whip up a batch of playdough in minutes with ingredients you might already have in the cupboard. Mix 8 tbsp plain flour, 2 tbsp table salt, 1 tbsp vegetable oil and 60ml of warm water in a bowl until a dough forms. Split into three and add a dash of food colouring to each dough ball and knead. Store in old, clean yoghurt pots or airtight containers. Old cereal boxes can be turned into a canvas to paint, while toilet rolls can become binoculars when taped together and decorated. Head to Poundland for PVA glue, tape and paint sets for £1 if you don't have them already. Keep everything in a storage box, ready for dull days. CLEVER COLOURING: Printable activities are a lifesaver and has an amazing selection of free activity kits and animal colouring-in sheets. Watch as ex-teacher reveals why she quit and doubled her income Hey Duggee super fans can find activity pages at curations/colouring-sheets. It's also worth checking your local library website. MEMORY SAVER: Create your own custom memory game or version of Snap using plain card, £1, The Works. Use a felt tip to draw matching shapes on pairs of cards or you could use stickers you already have at home. Lay the cards face down on the floor and watch as they try to remember where the matching pairs are. GO WILD: Encourage outdoor ad- ventures with a home-made explorer kit stored in a plastic bag, tote or rucksack. Plan a scavenger hunt by writing out a list of things that can be found outdoors, such as ladybirds, soil, spiders etc on paper, which kids can tick off. Also add plain paper and wax crayons for leaf rubbing. Place the paper over a leaf and rub the crayon over the top to see the leaf come to life. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. 7 Deal of the day TREAT your hair to the Remington Style Essentials gift set with hair dryer and straighteners included. Usually £49.99, now £34.99 with free delivery at SAVE: £15 Cheap treat KEEP little ones cool with the Dreambaby Smart-Grip Flexible Caged Fan, which you can attach to prams. Was £10.99, now £7.99, Top swap TO save on buying expensive mini travel toiletries, decant your essentials into the Rawr Beauty travel bottle set, £7.50, or get the TravelShop travel bottle set for £2.99 at Home Bargains. Shop & save FOR huge savings, head to for the summer sale. This Star Wars 3D Puzzle Millennium Falcon was £49.99, now £15. Hot right now WALKABOUT bars turn 30 this year – order a Parmi dish and get a free pint on Wednesdays. Book at walkaboutbars. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I visited UK's Swingathon fest with 50-person orgy & spank shows – here's why this year was younger & SEXIER than ever
BEAUTIFUL women in barely-there bikinis strut past as a young man pulls a blonde into a tent. She gives a quick, saucy wink over her shoulder before they disappear inside. 9 9 9 For a moment, I almost feel I'm at Glastonbury — until I glance to the side and clock a full-blown threesome in a tent. Welcome to Swingathon 2025. More than a thousand horny revellers have descended on the sleepy village of Allington, Lincs, for a weekend of frolics, flings and full-on filth. As The Sun's sexpert, I've been granted exclusive access to the steamy three-day romp-fest. It's not my first rodeo — I covered this saucy shindig last year — but 2025 is bigger and definitely better. As ethical non-monogamy continues to boom among younger generations — and is now Dear Deidre 's number one query — one of the most noticeable changes is the crowd. Some look like they have just strolled off the set of Love Island and straight into the hot tub. 'It just takes you out of normal life and into a whole new world,' says Macy, a model and mum from Blackpool, who is celebrating her 25th birthday today. Clad in a neon green fishnet bodysuit that's cheekily cut away at the back, Macy gives me a tour of her tent in the glamping quarters. She is sharing with her long-term partner Karl, 34, who she has been with for six and a half years. The pair, who also have a child together, tell me they discovered the lifestyle a few years ago and haven't looked back since. 'It's our first Swingathon but we've been to a few clubs,' explains Karl. 'Everyone is dead accepting. The Sun's Georgie Culley visits UK's largest sex fest Swingathon 'I've seen lots of willies' 'We're a pretty open couple and are open to anything but we tend to stick to softplay (sex with your partner in front of others, but not swapping), but it all depends on the people and couples.' The pair say they do have rules but don't have a safe word. 'She's my queen and I won't see her disrespected,' Karl continues. 'We are in sync with each other and connect with our eyes.' The couple haven't played with anyone else just yet — but the night is still young. 'There's a couple of girls I'm eager to get my hands on,' Macy laughs, excitedly. Their advice for curious couples? 'Don't knock it 'til you've tried it,' says Karl. 'It's a place where you can live out your wildest fantasies.' Macy adds: 'It's about being you, and being free — you don't have to do anything. Just being here is enough for some people.' Nearby, I find Annie, 38, a carer from Bristol and her long-term partner, Dave, 39, a scaffolder. 'We have a really good, healthy sex life,' says Annie, 38, who's been in the lifestyle for nearly 18 years. 'And then we'll come here and treat it like a sex toy — something you use and then put away. For us it's an enhancement of our sex life, not something we need, something we enjoy.' Friday's scorching sunshine caught many out — and let's just say the combo of baby oil and blazing July heat was not ideal. 9 9 There were plenty of red bums on display by sundown, as revellers soaked up the rays — and each other. For some, Saturday's downpour was a welcome relief — finally, something cool in a weekend that's anything but. Still, a bit of bad weather hasn't dampened the mood or slowed anyone down. In fact, there are loads of new additions to the festival this year. 'We've got Naked Attraction — like the Channel 4 dating show, but live and fully interactive,' one organiser tells me. 'There's Kerry's Kinky Quiz, spanking displays, foam parties, a group massage class, naked discos . . . and of course, dozens of orgy tents. 'There's also the new glamping village which is great for socials.' Each play tent comes fully stocked with bowls of condoms (we're talking hundreds), plus lube, blue roll and disinfectant. Revellers are expected to clean up after themselves and leave the space as they found it — or risk a fine for being messy. 'Last night we were in here with 12 other couples,' continues Annie. 'It was very hot and sweaty. We like to play with other women and sometimes that does mean a couple swap. But it's got to be pleasurable for everyone.' Festival organisers tell me they've come well prepared — with a jaw-dropping 4,000 condoms and hundreds of bottles of lube and baby oil stocked up for the weekend. And judging from the saucy stories I've heard echoing from every corner of the site, none of it's going to waste. As I walk to get a drink from the shiny phallic-shaped drinks bar, a group of beautiful women rush past me, wearing nothing but painted handprints smeared across their bodies. They giggle wildly, slipping into an outdoor bath, splashing and scrubbing each other down in a blur of skin, suds and laughter. In the content creator tent I find two Only Fans models posing up a storm. They tell me how it's their first time at Swingathon. Laughing, Jazzy, 34, says: 'I've seen lots of willies out which I like — I've had a right old gander at that.' 'It's a bit crazy, innit?' adds Shania Howard, 25, from Surrey. 'There were loads of people having sex in the play tents. I know I do Only Fans but that's wild.' As the day gets into full swing — pun intended — more and more revellers emerge from their tents. At one point, I overheard a couple casually plotting a 50-strong orgy for later that evening — just your average Saturday night at Swingathon. Elsewhere, others strip off without a second thought and slip into the outdoor hot tubs, cocktails in hand, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Nearby, I meet circus performer couple Annabella Stanyer, 28, and Josh Gill, 32, from Bristol. 9 9 What is Swinging? SWINGING, also known as partner swapping, is a sexual activity where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activities with other people. All parties involved must give explicit and enthusiastic consent. Open and honest communication between partners is crucial. Many swingers engage with a community or attend events specifically for swinging. Such activity can enhance intimacy and trust within the primary relationship. It provides an opportunity to explore sexual fantasies and desires. But it is not suitable for every relationship and requires a strong foundation of trust. Jealousy and emotional challenges may arise and need to be managed. 'Sleaze on our doorstep' 'I hired him as a sex slave for a festival,' dominatrix Annabella says. 'And the rest is history.' It's the pansexual pair's first time at Swingathon after Annabella bagged a free ticket by winning Best Fetish Model at the Alternative Awards. The pair have been together a year and set clear boundaries to ensure they don't get paranoid about anything and 'just have fun'. 'You're OK with me playing with a girl,' says Annabella. 'And he can play with boys individually and we play with both genders when we are together.' Josh adds: 'It's important to take things slowly and communicate with each other, which you should be doing in a relationship anyway.' While most locals I've met seem unfazed by the festival, one grand- father said: 'Our beautiful and peaceful little village has become synonymous with swingers. 'It's outrageous, and we don't welcome it. We don't want it here. It is sleaze on our doorstep.' But the founder of the event, 37-year-old Matt Cole, disagrees. He says: 'Live and let live — we are not hurting anyone and no one can hear or see what is going on inside, unless you are attending it.' His wife Stacie, 30, chips in: 'One of the main negative comments we get from people is that we are one big STD festival.' Matt adds: 'They call us dirty swingers and say we are spreading this and spreading that. 'But if we can make it all free for attendees to get tested beforehand then that stops that. In every play tent there are condoms and lube and most people play with safe sex.' For the first time in the five years they have been running the event, Matt explains how he asked festival-goers to test this year before they arrived. He says: 'I sent free NHS kits to everyone and 50 per cent of people here today have taken them. 'Next year, I'd love to work with an online testing company so we get everyone tested and then we will be the first festival that is as safe as can be.' As I peruse the stalls selling sexy underwear and kinky sextoys, a stunning brunette casually strolls by wearing a little jacket and nothing else. It's 7pm and the sun is starting to set over Britain's biggest swinging festival. But judging by what I've seen — and heard — it won't be the only thing going down tonight . . . 9 9
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Katie Price, 47, displays her extreme weight loss in a tiny green thong bikini during Dubai holiday before returning to the UK to have filler in her bum
Katie Price showcased off her extreme weight loss in a skimpy green bikini on a Dubai holiday before revealing her plans to have filler in her bum. The former glamour model, 47, who has had at least 16 boob jobs, showed off her jaw-dropping assets in a halterneck top and matching bottoms. Katie showed off her heavily tattooed body as she relaxed by her hotel swimming pool. The TV personality kept cool by tying her long dark tresses in a neat ponytail and wore a pair of pink sliders. She looked in good spirits as she relaxed in the swimming pool before sitting on the pool steps to soak up the sunshine. Katie, who recently returned to the UK from the trip, later sat on her sun lounger in the patterned bikini. The mother-of-five has recently been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss. Katie has had three rhinoplasties and multiple facelifts - her most recent being her sixth £10,000 face lift in January. After recently returning home, Katie took to her Instagram Stories to reveal she has had her lip filler redone and filler added to her bottom. Sharing a video from the clinic, she said: 'I'm having filler done in my lips not to much though and having my bum done and after I'm getting the train back and taking Harvey to his new place. 'See if I had a BBL in Turkey they'd put me to sleep and it's more dangerous cause they use your own fat and this is just filler and I'm here for an hour and a half and go back home and carry on with my day.' Showing off her lips, she added: 'See I've not had my lips done to big today, gone a bit more classy'. In another clip, the star lay on the beautician bed showing off the results of the filler in her bottom as she wore a pink lace thong. She joked: 'BBL on your lunch hour'. The mother-of-five has recently been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss as she wore the tiny swimwear She wore a pair of pink Christian Dior sliders She looked in good spirits as she relaxed in the swimming pool before sitting on the pool steps to soak up the sunshine Katie - who has previously admitted she suffers with body dysmorphia - is believed to have spent over £130k on cosmetic surgery over the years, with the model saying she has no plans to slow down. It comes after Katie revealed that she pulled from a passport queue by airport officials in order to have her documents checked after they 'couldn't recognise her' due to her extensive plastic surgery. She was recently on holiday in Dubai but when coming back through the airport to return to the UK she noticed staff kept looking at her. Speaking to her sister, Sophie Price, in a recent episode of The Katie Price Show she explained the 'funny story'. She said: 'I've got a funny story. Coming back through the airport I'm queuing to do the passport control, and even when you go through you feel like they look at you a bit. 'And they kept looking at me and you get more awkward and become more twitchy don't you! And the man said 'come with me'. And there were so many people in the queue and I had queued for so long... 'But I was like I'll lift my chin up I know I've done nothing wrong, then they took me to this visa place and they told me to sit down. So I sat down and I was just watching horse videos... 'But my flight wasn't for an hour and a half so I didn't mind as it's better than walking around an airport getting anxiety that people are looking at me. It comes after Katie revealed that she pulled from a passport queue by airport officials in order to have her documents checked after they 'couldn't recognise her' due to her extensive plastic surgery She was recently on holiday in Dubai but when coming back through the airport to return to the UK she noticed staff kept looking at her 'And they kept looking at me and you get more awkward and become more twitchy don't you! And the man said 'come with me', she said 'And there were so many people in the queue and I had queued for so long... But I was like I'll lift my chin up I know I've done nothing wrong, then they took me to this visa place and they told me to sit down' 'So I sat down and I was just watching horse videos... But my flight wasn't for an hour and a half so I didn't mind as it's better than walking around an airport getting anxiety that people are looking at me' She added: 'I told him that I didn't look like my passport picture as I've had my face done so many times. And he said 'no no you're fine', but I did ask him should I change my passport and picture as this happens all the time' She also revealed that in Dubai, she'd told them that she viewed it as a 'compliment', as when you look at her age, she doesn't 'really look like that' Katie has had at least 16 boob jobs, three rhinoplasties and two facelifts and has been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss of late The star posed for photos in the swimming pool 'And then the man came back. I dunno what they do to check your passport, whether they Google your name or whatever - but the police guy came back with a big grin on his face... and I told him that I didn't look like my passport picture as I've had my face done so many times. 'And he said 'no no you're fine', but I did ask him should I change my passport and picture as this happens all the time. My current picture is so old I don't look like it.' Sophie quipped: 'Well, it depends if you're going to keep changing your face.' Katie added that she also encounters problems with the electronic passport checks, which she says often say 'seek assistance' as they 'obviously don't recognise' her photo. She also revealed that in Dubai, she'd told them that she viewed it as a 'compliment', as when you look at her age, she doesn't 'really look like that'. Katie has had at least 16 boob jobs, three rhinoplasties and two facelifts and has been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss of late.
