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Thrift Your Life: Cost-of-Living Hustles to Waste Less, Save More and Live Well
The Queen of Thrift.' The Sun
'Super Saver Mum shares simple tips.' Daily Mail
Full of hacks and hustles to navigate those sudden changes in fortune that none of us could have predicted. This is a no-nonsense guide on how to change your habits to weather the storm, written by TikTok's queen of budgeting, Heidi Ondrak, aka The Duchess of Thrift.
Life rarely follows a linear path, sh*t happens that you could have controlled better, and then stuff happens that you have absolutely no control over whatsoever, like the current cost-of-living crisis. Full of practical hacks to adapt to life's financial ups and downs and guaranteed to help you save every month, Heidi will show you how to nurture resilience alongside some of those cheeky life hacks that no one teaches in schools. Think of it as a modern-day take on Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, with extra sass.
Hacks range from the well-versed and practical to the downright outrageous – pick and choose, do what suits you. Heidi will help you build a toolkit to get you through the crisis and feel prepared and in control for more energy increases, interest rate rises and eye-watering inflation, while doing it with a fighting spirit and sunny demeanor. You'll learn how to change your mindset, get the family on board, carry out budget health checks, shop smarter, look a million dollars for pennies, have great days out, enjoy Xmas and be able to get around... All on a shoestring!
'Super Saver Mum shares simple tips.' Daily Mail
Full of hacks and hustles to navigate those sudden changes in fortune that none of us could have predicted. This is a no-nonsense guide on how to change your habits to weather the storm, written by TikTok's queen of budgeting, Heidi Ondrak, aka The Duchess of Thrift.
Life rarely follows a linear path, sh*t happens that you could have controlled better, and then stuff happens that you have absolutely no control over whatsoever, like the current cost-of-living crisis. Full of practical hacks to adapt to life's financial ups and downs and guaranteed to help you save every month, Heidi will show you how to nurture resilience alongside some of those cheeky life hacks that no one teaches in schools. Think of it as a modern-day take on Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, with extra sass.
Hacks range from the well-versed and practical to the downright outrageous – pick and choose, do what suits you. Heidi will help you build a toolkit to get you through the crisis and feel prepared and in control for more energy increases, interest rate rises and eye-watering inflation, while doing it with a fighting spirit and sunny demeanor. You'll learn how to change your mindset, get the family on board, carry out budget health checks, shop smarter, look a million dollars for pennies, have great days out, enjoy Xmas and be able to get around... All on a shoestring!
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2023
6 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 22, 2023
I have followed Heidi for some time on Instagram - being inspired by her fun and creative outfits and fabulous car boot finds. This book brings together all her thrifting know-how, separated into handy sections such as food, energy costs and clothing. A lot of the advice feels like good old-fashioned common sense, but there are plenty of helpful nuggets and suggestions I haven’t previously considered. Most importantly, this book feels like a warm, encouraging hug and a burst of good cheer amidst all the cost of living gloom. Heidi reminds us that we are more in control of our destiny than we feel, and that courageous daily choices are the way forward if we are to survive challenging financial circumstances.
February 17, 2026
A very clear, well laid out and written guide to cutting household and personal expenses. This would be a good read for someone who isn't me!
I enjoyed the book because it confirms that I'm doing things right, but since I'm going from not having enough money to continuing to not have enough money, this is all pretty irrelevant as I'm doing most of it already and have been since before the cost of living crisis.
Also:
Using fabric spray to freshen up clothes so you don't have to chuck them straight in the laundry isn't going to save much money as you'll be spending a fortune on fabric spray (airing them by hanging overnight works well unless you've sweated loads - and then you should probs chuck them in the wash anyway)
Please bear in mind regarding food saving apps - Olio, TooGoodToGo etc are only helpful if a) they operate in your area and b) you don't have dietary restrictions - the bags of groceries can't be guaranteed not to be full of dairy products if you have milk allergies for example.
Like I said previously, this book is very much not aimed at me, this was made abundantly clear at the mention of "themed cocktail parties". You don't have to be posh to be privileged...much?
The last minor gripe, confirming my suspicions that this book is Not For Me was when the author said "we barely had any spare cash once the essential bills were paid" but in the next breath says that the combined total of three discounted yearly passes was £50. Per month!
There is, however, heaps of really good advice in this book and if you are needing/wanting to cut down on spending, this is a treasure trove of hacks and tips to do so.
I enjoyed the book because it confirms that I'm doing things right, but since I'm going from not having enough money to continuing to not have enough money, this is all pretty irrelevant as I'm doing most of it already and have been since before the cost of living crisis.
Also:
Using fabric spray to freshen up clothes so you don't have to chuck them straight in the laundry isn't going to save much money as you'll be spending a fortune on fabric spray (airing them by hanging overnight works well unless you've sweated loads - and then you should probs chuck them in the wash anyway)
Please bear in mind regarding food saving apps - Olio, TooGoodToGo etc are only helpful if a) they operate in your area and b) you don't have dietary restrictions - the bags of groceries can't be guaranteed not to be full of dairy products if you have milk allergies for example.
Like I said previously, this book is very much not aimed at me, this was made abundantly clear at the mention of "themed cocktail parties". You don't have to be posh to be privileged...much?
The last minor gripe, confirming my suspicions that this book is Not For Me was when the author said "we barely had any spare cash once the essential bills were paid" but in the next breath says that the combined total of three discounted yearly passes was £50. Per month!
There is, however, heaps of really good advice in this book and if you are needing/wanting to cut down on spending, this is a treasure trove of hacks and tips to do so.
September 26, 2023
"Thrift Your Life" is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to embrace a more frugal and financially responsible lifestyle. This book is packed with practical advice and easy-to-follow tips that can help you save money, reduce waste, and live a more sustainable life. The author's approach is both informative and inspiring, making it an enjoyable read. While it's not a groundbreaking revelation, it serves as a valuable reminder of the power of thriftiness. I give it 4 stars for its practicality and accessibility.
October 12, 2023
Read it in an afternoon and really enjoyed it. Loads of handy tips and hacks for saving money.
February 20, 2024
Absolutely brilliant. Didn’t want the book to end
March 10, 2024
Some good tips and tricks but got very bored by the end.. I guess for people with family's it would be a good read throughout?!
September 1, 2024
Pretty obvious stuff but I am already thrifty minded. Could be very useful for those who aren't.
October 10, 2024
excellent advice on how to live on less and more sustainably.
February 25, 2025
Really helpful advice, got loads of brilliant tips and tricks to make my money go further and live a thrifty life!
November 21, 2025
I learnt some great tips in this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews