Just for fun

Face coverings are now mandatory on public transport in the UK, as well as in shops in England and Scotland, so sewing your own could save you money. I'm going to show you two ways to make masks, or alternatively where to buy the cheapest ready-made versions.

While many gyms and pools have now reopened (in England and Northern Ireland), there are loads of free apps, online tools and resources that can help you keep fit at home. Handy if you're not ready to return to fitness centres yet – or if you just want to save £100s on a membership you won't use.

While salons and barbers have reopened now, not everyone feels comfortable going out, or appointments may be hard to get. If you need a haircut you might be tempted to take matters, and the scissors or clippers, into your own less-than-qualified hands…

Did you know there are three important things in life? The first is to be kind. The second, to be kind and the third? You guessed it – be kind. I may have butchered that quote from Henry James, but I think we can all agree – we should always strive to be kind, and not just on Random Acts of Kindness Day (17 February).

Working at MoneySavingExpert.com, obviously the purpose of my job is to help people save money. Unfortunately, I've always been bobbins at saving money for myself. But in an effort to change that, I've been trying out some of MSE's tips and tricks. Previously, I've covered the likes of train delays, overseas travel, credit scores, finding lost cash and depositing coins. Today: doing a direct debit audit (sort of).

Right, some of you know the drill by now, but if you don't, here it is. While working at MoneySavingExpert means I help others save money, when it comes to my own cash, I'm usually in a muddle. But now I'm looking to unmuddle myself and, in the process, motivate fellow MoneySavingIdiots. Previously, I've covered train delays, overseas travel and credit scores. This week: reclaiming cash (kind of).

While I help people save money as part of my job at MoneySavingExpert.com, I've never been much cop at doing the same for myself. So I'm writing about my efforts to improve in an attempt to motivate others who are far from experts when it comes to MoneySaving. Previously, I've covered train delays, overseas travel, credit scores, finding lost cash and switching bank. Today: depositing coins.

This week, from Monday 2 to Friday 6 September it's Zero Waste Week. Previously, we've brought you 13 ways to use less plastic and save cash, so at MSE we're always thinking about whether we could in fact save money as well as the planet. First thing on Monday, I tried a completely zero-waste morning, and this is what I came up with.

It's been a while, but I'm back with more tales of mending my MoneyWasting ways. If you're new to MoneySavingIdiot, here's how it works – as a writer at MoneySavingExpert I help people save money, yet I suck at practising what we preach. So I'm sharing my attempts to change that in the hope of encouraging other non-natural MoneySavers. Previously, I've tackled train delays, overseas travel, credit scores and reclaiming cash from old emails. This week: switching bank.

If you missed my debut MoneySavingIdiot blog from last month (on claiming for a train delay), first of all – how dare you. Secondly, the basic premise is that while I help people save money every day by writing for MSE, I'm not always so clever when it comes to my own cash, so I'm sharing my quest to be better with it in the hope of inspiring other non-natural MoneySavers. This week: travel tips.