Don’t worry, the blog is still here and will continue to bring you regular, useful content. But we also have an exciting new chapter…The Frugality Shop! It’s an extension of the site in that it will feature product I love and create, and only feature affordable, useful and beautiful items. So far, that involves a set of matches and my e-book(!) but I didn’t want to start by putting out more product into the world for the sake of it.

It has been a whirlwind of a week, we launched the site to the newsletter subscribers last Thursday and we’ve almost sold out of the first run! Thank you so much to everyone who ordered some, we’ve almost got through the orders from the first day (talk about a learning curve – we ran out of tissue, the site crashed from too much traffic and Chris had planned to drop off some office furniture in the middle of the day so we were a pair of hands down – had no idea the reaction would be so amazing!).

I’ve been excited to bring a physical product to life for a while, and at the beginning of the year I started thinking about what that might look like….and I couldn’t shake the idea of matchboxes, I love them and then I got really excited by the idea of making them into affordable mini pieces of art. And I believe these could be kept out on display or better yet, framed! I have sourced an amazing mount for mine and will show you ideas soon…
The first collaboration is with artist Frances Costelloe – I’ve admired her work for a long time (and still have a piece to frame for our kitchen!) and it has been wonderful doing something together. In a time when Art is being sidelined as a “non viable” career, it has been brilliantly overwhelming to be working on a project that shines a spotlight on creative female talent.


Thank you so much for all of your support, it has been an amazing journey so far and hopefully more announcements in the pipeline!

Due to shipping regulations, matches can only be couriered so it’s UK only right now, sorry! If you would like us to look into different shipping options, please email info@the-frugality.com.
Good Luck Alex with your new exciting project .
Hi Alex
I have tried a couple of times to receive your newsletter but have not been successful.
Can you please add me to your mailing list.
Big thank you
Kerry x
Added you this morning xxx
Congrats on success of matches 🤩,look forward to you next project .
Do enjoy your maternity leave ,sending best wishes .
Are these the usual small matchbox size, or the larger firelighting kind?
Hi Lauren, they’re large safety matches, measuring 11.6cm x 7.5cm x 3.2cm.