During the COVID-19 lockdowns, 'grannycore' emerged as a counter-trend to an anxious, uncertain world: a cosy aesthetic that blew up on social media promoting homely hobbies. But what began as a mood is now a smart-money lifestyle. From buying less and embracing a 'make do and mend' philosophy to ditching expensive nights out, grannycore is a budget-friendly dream.

Read on to discover how this nostalgic trend could save you a small fortune.

As lockdowns kept us indoors, many sought comfort in more traditional activities. This yearning for domestic bliss, combined with a newfound abundance of free time, led many to embrace hobbies like baking, knitting, and needlecraft. It was all about creating a warm and cosy atmosphere, offering a snug and safe escape from the horrors of the pandemic.

It was during this challenging time that the trend, dubbed grannycore, took hold, filling social media feeds with vintage chintz, homemade baked goods, and back-to-basics craft projects.

Post-pandemic, grannycore continues to be a major force. For digitally fatigued Gen Z and Millennials, it offers a way to slow down and step away from the churn of modern life.

It's also a quiet but powerful pushback against consumerism and the environmental damage caused by the constant cycle of throwaway fast fashion and homeware. At its heart, grannycore is a lifestyle of sustainability.

Another major factor driving the trend's longevity is the post-pandemic cost-of-living crisis.

With prices sky-high, younger people are buying secondhand clothes and furniture or making their own, cooking and baking from scratch, and increasingly saying no to expensive nights out at bars and clubs. They're also drinking far less alcohol than previous generations, with many preferring a quiet evening in.

Grannycore is part of a larger family of social media trends. It shares a love for worn, comfortable items with the earlier 'shabby chic', and romanticises rural life like 'cottagecore'. More recent trends such as 'underconsumption core' and 'deinfluencing' promote buying less and making intentional choices.

The more luxurious versions of the aesthetic include 'coastal grandmother' and 'grandmillennial style', which put a fancier, higher-end spin on it.

One of the most effective ways the grannycore lifestyle saves money is by favouring quality over quantity. The trend encourages consumers to invest in high-quality, long-lasting pieces rather than cheap, disposable items.

This applies to everything from a well-made wool sweater to sturdy furniture. By making thoughtful investment purchases, you eliminate the constant need for replacement, saving you a significant amount in the long run and reducing your environmental footprint.

When you buy a high-quality piece of clothing or furniture, you can justify its price by considering its cost-per-use.

For example, a quality wool coat that sets you back $200 (£150) but is worn for 10 years is much better value than a fast-fashion coat that costs $40 (£30) and falls apart after one season. Grannycore's focus on longevity turns every purchase into a long-term investment.

Thrift-store shopping is at the heart of grannycore. While aficionados of the trend save for a few new investment pieces, they turn to charity shops, flea markets, and resale sites like Etsy, eBay, and Vinted for pretty much everything else.

Second-hand clothes, solid wood tables, wool blankets, china, lamps, and so on often cost far less than new. Thrifting is kinder to your budget and gives your wardrobe and home an eclectic, one-of-a-kind feel. You spend less, get better quality, and every piece comes with a story.

This is a core money-saving skill of the trend. Instead of throwing out a favourite sweater with a small hole, you learn to darn it. Rather than buying a new shirt when a seam splits, you learn to repair it.

Mending things yourself is a great way to save money on new purchases and expensive tailor alterations. The ethos also encourages you to preserve and care for family heirlooms like quilts or antique dinner sets, prolonging their lifespan.

Beyond simple repairs, upcycling is a creative and deeply thrifty practice. It involves transforming old, discarded items into something new and useful. For example, a torn bedsheet can be repurposed into a rag rug or cut into patches for a quilt. An old piece of furniture can be given a fresh look with a new coat of paint or some updated hardware. Grannycore upcycling turns what others see as trash into treasure.

The more skilled grannycore devotees go even further by making their own clothing from scratch.

Knitting or sewing your own clothes tends to work out more expensive than buying them from a fast-fashion outlet, but once you've invested in the tools you need, it's possible to create bespoke items much more cheaply than buying something of equivalent quality ready-to-wear. And it's often a lot more sustainable.

DIY gifting is a cornerstone of the grannycore trend. Instead of buying presents for friends and family, grannycorers make them.

Not only are homemade gifts often cheaper than store-bought presents, they’re more personal. Think jars of jam or lemon curd, a tin of buttery biscuits, knitted hats and scarves, embroidered hankies, crochet coasters, herb salts, beeswax wraps, or a hand-poured candle.

Gardening is a wholesome grannycore activity and growing your own produce can save you serious money, even if you live in a city.

A few pots on a windowsill can provide fresh herbs, a small balcony can host a tomato plant, and a bijou garden plot can provide you with fresh vegetables all season long.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money is to ditch takeaways and ready meals. The grannycore lifestyle champions cooking meals from scratch, which is often far cheaper and healthier, eschewing ultra-processed items for nourishing whole foods.

With a little effort, you can turn basic ingredients into a wholesome, delicious meal, rather than paying a premium for the convenience of pre-made options.

Baking your own bread, cakes and biscuits is a classic grannycore activity that also saves you a lot of money.

The same goes for preserving and canning. By making your own jams and pickles you can enjoy seasonal produce all year round and save money on store-bought items. It's a fantastic way to stock your pantry with delicious, handmade goods that you can also gift to friends and family.

Grannycore's thrifty philosophy even extends to cleaning. You can save money on expensive, chemical-laden products by using simple, non-toxic alternatives like white vinegar and baking soda.

These household staples are cheap and effective, and they’re better for both the environment and your health. It’s essentially a return to traditional cleaning methods that have stood the test of time.

When grannycore fans do venture out, they often do it on a budget.

Their idea of a fun outing is a trip to a flea market or antique shop, or a stroll through a beautiful garden, a free museum or a country house. They might even pack a picnic instead of eating out, turning a potentially pricey day trip into an affordable adventure.

Coffee mornings and afternoon teas are pure grannycore, and don't have to break the bank. A simple spread of sandwiches and home-baked scones with coffee or a pot of tea feels generous without costing all that much.

Grannycorers are also crazy about home quilting bees, sewing groups, crochet circles, and other crafty gatherings. These meetups provide a chance to connect with friends over a shared creative project, and are easy on the wallet.

The money-saving doesn't stop with afternoons at home. Nights in are just as much a part of the grannycore lifestyle as mornings and afternoons.

A quiet evening in with friends can be just as fun as an expensive night out at a bar or club. Game nights are a common choice, from classic board games to mahjong and cards. It's about trading noisy, boozy, and expensive outings for super-chilled and affordable teetotal soirées at home that build lasting relationships and a sense of belonging.

The grannycore trend has created new money-making opportunities too. Many aficionados have turned their hobbies into side hustles, gaining huge followings on social media as grannycore influencers.

They share tips and tutorials on baking, gardening, knitting, and upcycling, proving that the old ways are very much in demand.

Along with the rise of the individual influencer, there has been a boom in small businesses offering high-quality, long-lasting products that appeal to the grannycore aesthetic.

Whether they're crafting bespoke ceramics, handmade candles or custom-made quilts, these small enterprises are raking it in off the back of the trend. In a nutshell, grannycore can save you a small fortune and help you make one as well.

Now discover 18 things that were much more expensive 10 years ago