In a time where many people are scrambling just to keep up with rising bills, one woman in Yorkshire has taken a dramatically different approach.
Known as @diaryofacheapskate on TikTok, she’s captured the internet’s attention with a lifestyle that’s helped her become mortgage-free by age 32—but not without a few sacrifices that left viewers raising their eyebrows.
She lives in a three-bedroom semi-detached house with her husband and two kids, and she proudly wears the title of “cheapskate.”
From watered-down milk to eating sprouting potatoes, her frugal meal routine has people both impressed and shocked.
Breakfast on a Budget—With Watered-Down Milk
In her viral “What I Eat in a Day” video, which has over a million views, she walks through a typical day of meals.
It kicks off with breakfast—store-brand Weetabix from Sainsbury’s, splashed with milk that she admits to watering down bit by bit.
“I like it mushy anyway,” she says, brushing off the criticism.
“Honestly, I don’t even notice the difference anymore.”
Viewers, however, were stunned when she actually ran her cereal bowl under the tap to add more liquid.
Sprouting Potatoes and Out-of-Date Salad for Lunch
Next up: lunch.
She pulls out jacket potatoes from Asda that had already started sprouting, chops off the questionable bits, and loads them with tuna mayo and cheese.
“I know some people would just bin these,” she says, “but the rest of the potato is perfectly fine!”
She admits she prefers microwaving them over baking—“they taste gross in the oven,” she adds—and tops it with a mix of sweetcorn, tuna, and a bit of old salad from the fridge.
“The salad’s a couple days past its date, but I’m eating it,” she laughs.
Homemade Snacks and Kid-Cooked Dinners
In the afternoon, she snacks on some homemade animal biscuits and blueberries.
For dinner, her nine-year-old daughter takes charge.
On the menu?
Homemade pizzas—made completely from scratch.
“She’s amazing,” the TikToker says.
“She does it all on her own, no help needed.”
She adds that most of the cooking is handled by her husband, though she’s the one driving their frugal habits.
“We probably have this pizza every couple of weeks—it’s a family favourite.”
The Internet Reacts: Praise, Judgment, and a Bit of Sarcasm
While some people applauded her dedication and resourcefulness, others didn’t hold back their judgment.
“Life is too short to water down milk,” one person wrote.
Another said, “You only live once—what’s the point if you can’t enjoy it a little?”
One cheeky commenter suggested she “sit on her jacket potatoes to warm them up” and save microwave energy.
But not everyone was critical.
Some admired her simple living, asking why people were being so harsh.
“Everything seemed pretty normal to me,” one viewer chimed in.
The Real Reason Behind Her Frugal Lifestyle
In a follow-up video, the TikToker shared more about her motivations.
Contrary to what some might assume, she doesn’t have huge savings.
Both she and her husband are on modest incomes and choose to live frugally so they can work part-time and spend more time with their kids.
They don’t pay rent or a mortgage anymore, and their fixed expenses are impressively low: about £120 on council tax, £100 for electricity, £40 for water, and just £15 for three mobile phones.
As for the end goal?
It was never about hoarding money—it was about freedom.
She’s proud to be mortgage-free and able to plan family holidays abroad.
“We managed three trips last year,” she shared.
Future plans include redoing the family bathroom—but only when the savings allow.
Finding Balance in a Frugal Life
She admits that if she lived alone, she’d probably take the frugality even further.
“But my husband’s on board—for the most part,” she laughs.
“He’s not quite as extreme as I am, but he sees the benefit.”
In a world where living costs are climbing fast, her story offers a glimpse into a different kind of lifestyle—one that’s not about luxury, but about intentional choices.
Whether you agree with her methods or not, it’s hard to ignore the power of living within your means.