Hi there, I’m Nicola and the owner of The Frugal Cottage, an award winning personal finance blog. Thanks for stopping by! 
Are you fed up with having no money left at the end of the month? Perhaps you’d like a better standard of living but are on a budget? Then you’re in the right place! I want to help you live the good life on a budget, to make the most out of your money and to have a good time along the way.
I’m a 30-something girl living in the North of England, UK. My day job is within the education sector and I live with my two boys and two cats in a house we’re lucky to call home. I am a single mum trying to show that living by yourself, on a budget, does not mean deprivation. Far from it! From living mindfully and intentional spending, I am focused on creating a safe, secure home for my boys with lots of wonderful memories mixed in.
I’m also a massive food fan, and am constantly looking to add tasty, frugal recipes to my collection. I also bake quite often as I enjoy it! Check out one of my favourite recipes, Lemon Drizzle Cake, for an easy, tasty weekend bake. I try to keep our food budget low, but we eat well for less. My grocery spends are only part of our budget, which I keep an eye on careful over the month. I spend a lot of my free time reading various finance and lifestyle blogs. I also like reading books and spending time outside, whether that’s walking or sitting in the sun or at the beach.
I’m hoping that this blog will educate and inspire others in the world of finance, and hopefully will be a tool for me to see our progress as time passes. I want to show people that living a more simple life, being content with less and enjoying life more is possible on a budget. I want to show that you don’t have to conform to society’s view of “normal” and that creating experiences and memories is a better way of life. I write a lot about saving money, as we all work hard for our money and want it to go as far as possible!
One of the most popular series of posts here at The Frugal Cottage are the ones about my dividend income. I am showing that it is possible to build up a passive income stream over time, with sometimes small amounts invested. Dividend income will help us to retire early!
I also have a popular YouTube channel where I post videos three times a week about budgeting, saving money, investing and frugal living. Don’t forget to subscribe over there so you don’t miss out on any content 🙂
I have written an online course all about reducing your food spend. One of the areas where we used to massively overspend was on food, but not any more! This short course will teach you everything about saving money on your groceries and reducing food waste too. Have a look!
Please join me on my journey, to financial freedom and living the good life on a budget. I’m here to show you that it can be done, whatever the budget, and that you’ll be much happier with a more simple life – we can inspire each other!
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