Welcome to August on the blog!

It’s high summer and I don’t want to speak too soon but it looks like the sunshine is back. Kinda. So I’ve been chatting to a few of you on social media and via email, and asking about the things you’d like to see more of on here, and it’s been really inspiring.

In particular, many of you have been looking ahead as far as the festive season, and I’ve had lots of requests for thrifty Christmas ideas and gift guides to help spread the cost. You’re in luck this year, because I’ve been to tons of Xmas showcases for all the high street shops and most of the supermarkets, so I know where the bargains will be, and I’ll be putting lots of gift guides, decorating inspiration, and food and drink tips on the site. That’ll be starting this month, with some ideas for planning ahead and spreading the cost.

You’ve also asked for more:

• Smart shopping on a budget, including fashion sales
• Home makeovers and home improvement
• Recipes and meal suggestions
• Simple living, and improving your money habits

… so look out for a lot more of that, starting with some budget-conscious home makeover trends and guides (the first one is here).

There will also be a new Tenner Week Challenge at the end of this month, seeing as August is a time when many of us go abroad and end up spending far more than we were intending to. Expect a Post-Holiday / Back to School theme this time, and some extreme budgeting to help get your finances back into shape (especially handy if your credit card is feeling the strain after any travels).

Will you be joining in with the Christmas Countdown or the Tenner Week Challenge?

Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see more of on this site too, especially if there’s something that hasn’t been mentioned already.