I'm feeling distressed today.......

......and here's why!

Some months ago Mr T won a tilt top table on Ebay (other auction sites are available) for the princely sum of 99p. It was a bit sorry when he collected it, at some stage the top had broken in 2 and had had a very dodgy repair and to add further insult it had been stained an incredible orangey tan colour (sorry no pictures of it's sad state)

Anyway, he did a fine repair job and over Christmas it lived in the house with a cloth over it!

Then I saw this beauty on the better after blog HERE and I fell in love!

Now I don't really need another wooden table and I thought a little distressing was in order. So, a little paint, a little sandpaper, a little wax and a lot of polishing and here's my version that I finished today! (Mr T outlined the compass rose for me - I'm not good at that sort of thing!)

Although it looks blue in the picture it is actually more grey so fits well with the colours in the living room.

It's a handy little size for the two of us and it's much better than balancing your dinner on your knee as our kitchen is a bit cold for eating in this time of year! So, by adding a set of Ebay (other auction sites are available) chairs - £5.50 (including another table that will probably end up in the woodburner) we have a nice little dining area in our, much warmer, living room. I think it most likely that it will be relocated to the conservatory for the summer too.

So there you are, I'm distressed but happy......... It wasn't the 'cheapest' project as I bought the paint - but who knew you could have tiny pots of paint mixed to the colour you wanted - that cost me £7 (enough left for another project) and a big tub of oak wax for another £5 (with enough left for lots of projects) but I still consider it a bargain for a 'bespoke' dining set. What do you think?

Mrs T xx

I spent £10........

.........yesterday!

Near Mr & Mrs Tightwad Snr. there is a community centre that has it's own fundraising charity shop that's  open every Friday & Saturday. As well as this, every 6 weeks they have a sale of all the donated items that won't fit, or haven't sold in their shop. Usually when we call in we have missed this sale, or we're a week early but yesterday we actually got the right day - hoorah!

I spent £10 but was delighted with my haul, I could have spent much, much more as there were some fabulous vintage items to be had - including a very Art Deco china cabinet I took a shine to! Sadly I couldn't think of a suitable space here in Tightwad Towers and the cottage isn't really ready for furnishing. Still, I hope it will be there in a few weeks time, I think if it's there next time I'm meant to have it!

2 pretty glass jugs and a crystal heart shaped trinket box £1

Beautiful large jug £1

2 wooden bowls and a marble or agate bowl £1

Monster pile of embroidered table linen, cloths, napkins & placemats

Some of the table cloths

My favourite - quite old I think or well used and washed as it's very soft

Lamp shade 30p

Vintage stool (needs a little tlc to woodwork) £1.50

Oak nest of tables £3

Mixing bowl, small pudding bowl and Midwinters Bonbon dish £1

So, the lovely lady added me up - then threw in the towel and rounded me up to £10 instead of adding the linens separately - I was delighted with my 'stuff' what do you think?

Finally, I thought I'd share this little find from a few weeks ago, these little lovelies were £2 each but I just love them :0)

Hope you all enjoy looking this weeks treasures, see you soon.


Nice to be linking to Magpie Monday again too! Pop over and check out everyone's bargains HERE :0)

Mrs T xxx

Put it in your diary......

........to pop by tomorrow! Why? because I scored some pretty amazing bargains today and will share them tomorrow when I have charged up the batteries in the camera :0)


Hope to see you


Mrs T xx

Need a fix.........

.......of booty goodness :o(

Have your local booties started again yet? Nothing around here yet this year and I fear I am getting withdrawal symptoms. The cottage needs 'stuff', I have a list, just nowhere to go yet.
Will have a little trawl around the charity shops of Ashbourne tomorrow and call in to Encore Reuse to see what's in but I'm missing the booty loot.


Mrs T xx

Money to the Masses....

Just a quickie.....

As you know I don't endorse stuff and any goods and opinions on my blog are usually just personal choices, however, 

I have been reading this guy, Damien Fahy's website for a while now and he seems to be very practical and down to earth with his financial advice.

This mornings article about renting out your garden was one of those 'bloody hell, what a good idea' moments! 

So, you can pop over and visit his website http://moneytothemasses.com/ or you can follow him on facebook if you prefer https://www.facebook.com/moneytothemasses I would imagine you could even do the tweety thing, but I know nothing about that so you're on your own with that one.

Worth 10 minutes of your time I think, Oh, and the camp in my garden website  is here http://campinmygarden.com/

May have to leave a little room near Cluckingham Palace for a couple of tents..........


Mrs T xx

Coming Soon......

To a garden near me, well actually, it is for the garden at Tightwad Towers!

Welcome to Cluckingham Palace!

I'm so excited! 


I even have 4 laying birds ready to come from a friend who's going all ducky this year.....

Cluckingham Palace should be open for business around the end of the month, do you think ribbon cutting is going a bit too far? What about names? I thought Beatrice, Camilla, Zara and Elizabeth :0)

And the really, really great news - probably have enough left for a small(ish) polytunnel to get the veggy garden started.

Happy Days at Tightwad Towers!

Mrs T xx

Helping each other.......

Two posts in one week - must be having a rush of blood here at Tightwad Towers!

The reason for this one: Yesterday, just before I was setting off for work for my last night shift of the week (my third consecutive night is always tough) I had this  most lovely, and heartwarming comment on my last post. 

Thank you for your kind comment at my place. You have no idea how much you have inspired me. In the summer, we redecorated our sitting room. I read your blog and knew we could save money. We bought top quality wallpaper at half-price, an amazing sofa at a third of the price, because it had been in the shop, curtains 75% reduction, and put mum-in-law's old chest of drawers in a corner, which gives it a vintage look. If I hadn't read your blog I would have bought everything at full price, and never thought to look for offers, so thank you, you have saved us a small fortune!

My blog is very dear to me, I mostly try to keep it positive and I would hate anyone to think I'm preachy about being thrifty, that's not my way. I love getting comments and appreciate anyone taking the time to read my ramblings let alone going to the trouble of leaving a comment, but this one warmed my cockles, and off out into a damp dark night I went with with a warm glow and big smile. So, Thank You, it seems we've done each other a good turn and isn't that what friendship, whether real, virtual, long distance or close is all about?

Mrs T xx

What I'm making.......

It's called a ten stitch blanket! Just using up my scraps of sock yarn. 

Nice job for chilly evenings! (and thrifty too)

Full details and link to the pattern site are over on my knitting blog HERE  Why not pop over - I'd love to see you there :0)

Mrs T xx


News update 11.1.12
A rummage in hidden stash produces another bag of sock yarn scraps - certainly have enough to double the size now, unfortunately I haven't been able to 'find' additional knitting time! 
Never mind - this project should see out this winter nicely xx