The Penny Pincher UK

The Penny Pincher UK The Penny Pincher is a UK-based money-saving blog that helps families stretch their budget without sacrificing quality of life. Run by a savvy parent, it’s packed with down-to-earth advice on supermarket deals, cashback apps, free family activities, budgeting tips, and everyday ways to cut costs. Whether you’re trying to reduce your grocery bill, plan a cheap day out, or teach your kids about money, The Penny Pincher offers relatable, real-world ideas that actually work.

Run by a savvy parent, it’s packed with down-to-earth advice on supermarket deals, cashback apps, free family activities, budgeting tips, and everyday ways to cut costs. Whether you’re trying to reduce your grocery bill, plan a cheap day out, or teach your kids about money, The Penny Pincher offers relatable, real-world ideas that actually work.

Does Christmas not feel very Christmassy this year?Honestly… does it feel more like a chore than something to actually e...
14/12/2025

Does Christmas not feel very Christmassy this year?

Honestly… does it feel more like a chore than something to actually enjoy?

If I’m being totally honest, part of me just wants to skip it altogether. If it wasn’t for the kids, we probably would.

Money is the big one. This year hasn’t been great financially for our family. Loads of money going out. Some unavoidable. Some, spending was, probably not our finest financial decisions.

We had an unplanned holiday that added to the debt. We’ve been doing DIY the last few weeks and the costs have jumped. Then there’s just life, car costs, food shopping, bloody everything costs more....

And here’s the uncomfortable truth...

Even though I always say don’t put Christmas on a credit card… that’s exactly what we’re doing this year. And realistically, we’ll probably still be paying it off in six to nine months, maybe longer..

Yes, there’s money in the bank, but it’s ring-fenced for things like tax, and anyone who runs a blog or is involved in social media knows revenue is down across the board this year.

I’m definitely feeling that.

Both my wife and I are properly skint. Properly.

I genuinely can’t remember a Christmas where money has felt this tight. Normally we’re prepared. This year, it just hasn’t been possible.

The cost of living is hitting hard, and it’s clearly not just us. Shop footfall is down and people just aren’t spending like they used to.

I reckon a massive number of us are either cutting back, waiting for last-minute bargains; quietly hoping retailers panic and slash prices!

I know of small businesses who are currently 95% down is sales over last year and unless something miraculous happens, won't be trading in January.

So be honest with me.
Is it just us?
Are you struggling this year too?

Are you skipping Christmas, scaling it right back, or holding out for deals?

No judgement. No pretending. Just real life.

If The Penny Pincher is putting Christmas on a credit card… you know it’s tough out there!

#

07/12/2025

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Now it is heading across the Atlantic so Americans can tap into the same extra cash making opportunity!

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You’ll earn cash scanning receipts for things you were going to buy anyway, so it’s a great way to earn some extra money!

Early access is open right now for Android users only, and spots are very limited. Once they fill, everyone else waits until the full release in 2026, so be quick!

If you want in on this new side hustle opportunity, sign up now. All the details on how to join the US group are on the official Clear website: www.clear-app-us.com


EarnExtraCash

Last week my wife and I went to the wedding of a friend I’ve known since junior school; probably my best and most truste...
04/12/2025

Last week my wife and I went to the wedding of a friend I’ve known since junior school; probably my best and most trusted friend, and they are rare.

The wedding was INCREDIBLE and we had the best time; I even danced and that does not happen!!

He put us up for two nights in a gorgeous tree house on the estate where the marriage took place and it was almost as amazing as the wedding.

We stayed in one of the treehouses and it was unreal. Total luxury. Beautiful bed, two wood fires, a stunning view, and fab facilities.

There was an outside kitchen kitted out with cookware and gorgeous tableware, which is now on my Xmas list as it’s so damn nice. They also had a coffee machine that I fell in love with, & I think might have to be ordered, & my favourite, and craziest feature; an outside bath!

It was the end of November and I kept saying nah, I’m not getting in that, I’ll freeze. But on the final morning I woke up early, was doom scrolling Insta, and saw a tear jerker of a video about taking chances and living life while you still can. It hit me hard.

So at 7am I lit the outside fire pit, ran a hot bath, put on some smooth soul, and watched the sunrise from that outdoor bath. Honestly, bloody magical. One of those moments you know you’ll replay for years. A reminder of a beautiful wedding and how lucky I am to have such a generous and dear friend.

The moral here is simple. Do things that pull you out of your comfort zone. I did it with that bath and with being asked to be the wedding Master of Ceremonies. Terrifying but such an honour and I loved every minute.

And if there is one thing I took away from the whole weekend, it is this. Say yes more often. Say yes to the things that scare you. Say yes to the moments you almost talk yourself out of. Because the real magic is never hiding in the safe choices.

It is waiting in the cold morning air, in the wild ideas, in the memories you nearly missed. Say yes and let your life open up.

As a family, we’ve just made and acted on a massive life changing decision and we are now on the path to see how that goes; more on that in a few weeks…

Not a bad haul from Just Eat tonight 50% off selected groceries from ! I only ordered the Wednesday 50% off items becaus...
03/12/2025

Not a bad haul from Just Eat tonight 50% off selected groceries from !

I only ordered the Wednesday 50% off items because I’m a tight was and I wanted get as much as I can for my money!

This lot cost £23.33, including delivery and fees, which was a £20.38 multi buy discount and I think it’s a good deal!

That said it was missing an item but that’s being refunded and so it actually cost less, but I would rather have had the missing item lol.

The order has topped up the cleaning cupboard, freezer, Christmas snacks box and we now have chicken for tea, and tomorrows lunches and also have dinner items sorted for tomorrow night plus bacon for the weekend, which is always a good thing!

Paid via a gift card which was a 4.35% cashback boost, and that all adds up; free cash! Use referral code PPUK if you want to join JamDoughnut too!

These and Co-op deals have been consistently decent over the last few months, even better when combined with £X off a £X spend coupon that have been floating about recently too; sadly couldn’t find one today, but there was a £10 one off a £25 spend that I missed yesterday 🫠

Defo worth checking out folks!

bargains

02/12/2025

November was a tough month. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to hit my 10-stone loss target. I only had 2 lbs left to lose from October, but my body was like, “Nope, you’re gonna suffer this month!”

Two more weeks of basically… nothing. One week, I put on a pound. The following week, I lost that same pound. And I just thought, yeah, that’s it. I’ve blown it for November!

But I kept dragging myself to the , getting those early morning swims in, and thats still a massive part of my exercise regime, and yes, I still love going for that 6 am swim!

I wouldn’t be anywhere near this point in my weight loss journey without doing those 150 odd laps each time; I’m so pleased I re-joined the Village, a real game changer, it’s been crucial for me; even though I’m knackered by the time I get to work at 8 am, but its a good knackered!

I’m also still going out for walks and sticking to my calorie deficit (mostly); and that is what gets the weight moving for me.

And somehow, and I genuinely mean somehow, right at the end of the month… the scales finally played ball!

Which is weird considering I’d just been at an incredible wedding, eating mac ’n’ cheese bites, late-night pizza, desserts that were filthy naughty, and a few cheeky drinks. I tried to be sensible, but come on, it was such a lavish wedding! 

Now… December.. Christmas food everywhere, a big task for my willpower, and nearly 2 weeks off work with no structure. I’m concerned.

But I’m aiming to lose 4lb’s, about 2.5kg, by the end of the month.

If I do that, I’ll only have 5kg left to reach a healthy BMI. Which means I could hit my full target by the end of Feb, that would be 11 stone 7 pounds lost in 11 months.

It’s all to play for. But that last 7.5kg? Yeah… that’s gonna be a bitch, I can feel it!

Oh, and this post isn’t for looking for praise; the opposite, I’m embarrassed I lost 10 stone before, and carelessly put it back on, with interest, so it’s to remind me, that this was an arduous journey and I need to be careful not to go back to old ways once I hit my target!

Did you know One Stop now gives away FREE food every evening?They officially announced the scheme last week, which is av...
23/11/2025

Did you know One Stop now gives away FREE food every evening?

They officially announced the scheme last week, which is available in company owned stores, not franchise stores, so I popped into my local store to see if they are taking part.

In company-owned branches, unsold short-dated food is put out between 8pm and 9.30pm.

There is no spend required, you can just grab food that will otherwise go in the bin.

The team at my local store weren’t sure if they were franchise or company-owned, but they told me they’ve been doing this for years anyway, although they do it from 8:30pm until close and pop everything on a table at the front of the store and let customers know to take what they want, to avoid it being binned.

So while the official rollout covers around 270 stores, it’s very possible other branches do something similar depending on the owner.

The store I went to told me you’ll usually find: sandwiches, bakery bits, fruit, ready meals, milk, eggs and sometimes meat. You just take what you need, no awkwardness at all, it’s there to be taken!

If you’re not sure whether your store takes part, just ask at the till. The team I spoke to were really helpful.

If you don’t have a One Stop nearby, OLIO is brilliant for free surplus food, and Too Good To Go is a solid cheap option.

This runs alongside the Tesco Express trial (Tesco owns One Stop, so it all makes sense) where the are giving away excess unsold food as well in some stores.

Hopefully more retailers copy it, because throwing perfectly good food away helps no one. Less waste means less costs, fewer bin charges, less labour, and more people feeding their families instead of seeing it all go in the bin.

Win-win for everyone, so well done 👍

.app .uk

18/11/2025

Off for my swim this morning at a time no sane human should be awake.

It was freezing outside, so diving into the warm water at the felt unreal. Proper lush, and I loved every minute, it’s my second home at the moment !

I got out, wandered into the lounge, and there it was… the massive Christmas tree. Looked stunning. I felt festive and energised; yup today was going to be a good day!

Then the intrusive thought hit me like a cold, wet pool towel to the face.

I’ve only got ONE more payday till Christmas… ONE MORE FLIPPING PAYDAY!

If you get paid at the end of the month, you’re probably right here with me, wondering why we spent money all year like Christmas wasn’t coming!

My festive budget is almost as dire as a Hallmark Christmas movie budget. Pennies in the pot, but somehow expected to deliver a magical ending!

We’ve had a pricey few weeks too, plus a few more unusual expenses on the way, and somehow I still didn’t set up the Christmas fund I LITERALLY tell other people to set up every January, and I blew my 1p challenge cash a few months ago, on my Floridian holiday! 

Just shows that the social media folk you see on your phones, suggesting you l do this, and do that, are also just as susceptible to getting it wrong too; we are only human after all! 

My wife gets paid twice before Christmas, thank goodness, but even then, the pot is looking super skinny! January could be a horror film if we’re not careful.

Please tell me I’m not the only one? Someone else out there is also having a mild financial panic under a twinkly Christmas tree… right? 

Side hustles ASSEMBLE…… Gonna need to boost the income, and STAT!



Did you know £16.5 million worth of Tesco Clubcard vouchers expire at the end of November?That’s in two weeks!Yep, £16.5...
14/11/2025

Did you know £16.5 million worth of Tesco Clubcard vouchers expire at the end of November?

That’s in two weeks!

Yep, £16.5 million that could help shoppers cut their grocery bills right now!

If you’ve been saving your vouchers for another time, that time is officially here.

Go check the dates in your Tesco app or those paper vouchers stuck to your fridge, stuffed in your wallet, or hiding at the bottom of your fruit bowl, and make sure none of yours are about to run out.

If they are, go and spend them!

Tesco are expecting to make over £8 million profit EVERY DAY this year, so let’s not boost that already sky high total by letting free money slip through our fingers.

Use your vouchers, cash in those points, and grab every discount you’re entitled to.

Tesco say every little helps, well I say, every penny matters, especially in a cost of living crisis, and £16.5M of pennies REALLY matters!

Use them or lose them, people.

12/11/2025

I’ve had quite a few messages about my recent Complete Savings collab reel, so I wanted to reply to everyone in one go, good feedback and bad!

Complete Savings is a brand I use pretty much every single week, and honestly, I’ve had nothing but good experiences with them!

After a few negative comments/questions, I just wanted to share why I choose to work with them.

Yes, I do get paid for the collaboration, but they came to me because I already use their service regularly, and who better to talk about a brand than someone who actually uses it!

I know there’s some negativity about them online, but most of that isn’t current or accurate anymore, and that’s the internet for you, once something’s posted, it can stay there for years,
even when it’s no longer true or accurate and that’s a shame as just because you see it online doesn’t mean it’s the gospel!

Just to be clear, I’ll never recommend a brand I don’t use or rate myself, if I talk about something, it’s because I genuinely think it’s useful for you, and I won’t damage MY reputation working with someone, as I work hard to build MY brand and so will always verge on the side of caution as to who I work with!

I’m contacted by a number of brands monthly, and I work with very few, as I’m very picky and it has to sit right with me!

So to confirm, I am very happy to promote Complete Savings, and to respond to the negative comments, as long as you understand you’ll pay £18 a month to use them( but can claim an £18 cashback bonus every month), you’ve got nothing to lose by using them, only decent cashback to earn!

I’m sure won’t mind me talking about this with checking first, but at end of the day it’s easier to respond to everyone in one go than reply to individual messages 👀😉⏰

09/11/2025

I’ll be on BBC Radio 4 this Monday, 10th November at 12:30 p.m. talking about how I think fatherhood changes men’s relationship with money, and how I’ve found ways to help keep those rising costs as low as possible.

With the average cost of bringing up a child now sitting at around £250,000 from birth to 18, it’s something every parent feels the impact of. I’ll be sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned from my own mistakes, and the little ways I’ve found to keep both my finances and my mind in check.

Tune in live or catch up later on BBC Sounds. I’d love to know what you think afterwards.

09/11/2025

It’s okay not to be okay!

It’s fine to talk about the things that aren’t going well on social media.

Social media shouldn’t just be about rainbows, fluffy bunny rabbits, sunny days, or perfect family holidays. It can also be about when life gets messy, when things go wrong, because life is like that.

It’s not a Hallmark Christmas movie where everything ends perfectly. Real life has good days and bad days, and it’s important to talk about both, even if it’s not always what people expect to hear.

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