BOO! The Freaky Frugaleers prepare for Halloween and beyond. All welcome!

[Cagliostro]

:)

[CremeEggThief]

Thanks Cag.

[CremeEggThief]

Great thread title too!

[NeversellahouseCollie]

Love it! Thanks Cag! BOO

[ememem84]

Thanks cag

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

Signing in thanks cag

Right am off to bed for an earlish night, dd seems o.kay so looks London is on for tomos

[SnugglySnerd]

Boo! Thanks, Cag.

[Tryingtosaveup]

Thanks Cag, and BOO!

[AuditAngel]

This is going well, have managed 2 days in a row

Today I filled the car £29 (can reclaim from work as it is a fully serviced company car) and contributed £5 towards a takeaway (DH paid the rest)

We were going to visit the cash and carry, for DH to look around, but it took me over 2 hours to get home, so I couldn't be bothered.

Tomorrow the girls are at holiday club, already paid for. Will need to take DS to badminton club in the evening, may get a drink while I wait.

[Cagliostro]

Hi all :)

Girlie so glad you are still making your trip tomorrow! Hope you enjoy it! (Be warned. It is not easy to be frugal in the gift shop!) You do have a valid excuse to take lots of rest breaks, which obviously require cake. Caffe Concerto is just off Trafalgar Square by the Waterstones I think, their cake is Le Yum.

I can't sleep.

In vaguely frugal-related news, my dad has to stop driving :( I know it's for the best as he's getting scatty and forgetful and has had a few scrapes... so basically nobody will insure him :( I know it is the right thing though and recently I have been quietly considering actually suggesting that he stop. Still gutted for him though.

Little sad about Christmas as we will generally just get the train there in future (which the Caglets prefer to the motorway anyway especially as on one route we'd take a tram as well!) - but depending on DH's shifts we may not be able to get there and back on 24th/26th. Hoping his boss will do the Christmas rota soon so we can plan.

[ItalianWiking84]

Thanks for the new tread cag

[ememem84]

Oh no cag not good. But the right thing re your dad having to give up driving.

I never think about others having to travel for Christmas. We either go to my parents my sisters fils or they all come here. We're all about a 15 minute drive from each other max.

This year I have between Christmas and New Years off. I am so happy. Dh did but cancelled it so he can use the time to prep for January and year end (fund accountant) so he can get ahead before we go to NZ in march. Looking forward to sitting watching Christmas telly and eating leftovers!

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Boo, thanks cag. Have a lovely day today.
Work today, getting my boiler fixed which will cost £260.
No other spends planned.
Christmas leave is the bain of my life at the moment.

Happy Friday. Payday on Monday.

[ememem84]

dh is treating me to breakfast. As we didn't go last week. Yippee! And I took money from my work money box to buy hot chocolates for my team.

We're all feeling exhausted tired overworked at present. So hopefully the gesture will be appreciated.

I'm wearing my comfies today. Black skinnies a slouchy soft pink jumper and uggs tan smart knee high boots seriously. Wearing the uggs

Dh is out tonight so I'm going to dms for dinner. Yay! And then because I need a proper good sleep am sleeping in the spare room (dh has been a bit kicky of late...) the duvet in there is super warm there's loads of cushions and blankets so I can make a nest and snuggle down for a proper sleep.

[allthebestplease]

Morning, I have the fly boots in black and are super comfy, hard wearing and great for all out fits.
Ive spent £14 in ludls on a winter duvet I hope it works as I was looking at a £60 goose down duvet I TK Maxx.

Please be honest with us do you think we are still spending too much...
We've kept to our budget (but I think it needs to be reduced) £80 food for week at lidls (included DH £20 on wine) and £100 a week on general spending, this included top food spends, £30 prescription, the duvet, £30 haircut.

Wont always have haircut and prescription to pay, but sometimg always crops up, such as next week it will be Meningitis jab (£120), then it will be the boiler to be serviced.

I'm writing it down now, and dh is on board, and ive not bought any gifts/clothes/toys.

I just want to pay off our debt. So total budget for month after essentials is £320 for food, £400 a month spending. Can this be cut?

[Notreallyhappy]

Allthebest, I think if you can afford that budget it's fine. If there's any left from the £400 spends put it towards something you need or the debt next month.
We use online delivery for wine, not sure how many bottles you got for £20 but we get 12 for £68 last month including postage we've used these.
www.ndjohn.co.uk/wines.html

[Needastrongone]

How much per month are you looking to pay off in debt all? Do you menu plan at all?

I actually agree, there's always something that crops up in spends like jabs, service work, haircuts etc. Could you allocate a specific amount per month to this?

Boxercise was cancelled last night so £5 saved.

I'm just off to get my nails done now.

The Joules scarves are lovely Mammy, I think both DM and DMIL would like for a Christmas present actually.

Thanks for the new thread and snazzy new title Cag, I love a *Cag title!

[Cagliostro]

Aw thanks :o

Boobs Em my parents live about 50mins drive away (on a good day). Which could be a lot worse really, and the train journey is fine, just probably won't be running around Christmas Day Need to break the news to DD this morning that we may be here for Christmas. Good incentive to carry on with the tidying though!

[NeversellahouseCollie]

NSD today! We've had quite a few lately. :)

cag hope Christmas works out for the whole family. My mum gave up driving a few years ago but she's had quite a few adventures on the bus & trains. And she keeps going to big shows on the coach. I think the lack of car has enriched her life actually. And it's nice for her not worry about traffic or reversing. She's pretty relaxed now.

girlie hope your DD is better and that you've gone to London! Enjoy

This weekend will mainly consist of cleaning ovens, under washing machine, under fridge / freezer, in cupboards and the bathrooms. We will also be packing!

[allthebestplease]

I like the idea of ordering wine that could work out better. We meal plan now and don't buy take aways. Last month was the first month we kept in budget and so could use savings to pay off debt. I think I just need a few more month on this budget to the assess.
Dh is getting a 2.4% pay rise which is good.

Hope Christmas travel can get sorted for everyone.

Weather is very warm today off to the park.

[ItalianWiking84]

Nsd

[allthebestplease]

I think it was agenie asking about funds, well this is not a boast in the slightest as I have no idea about investments and we are in loads of debt and aren't wealthy in the slightest, but we were given £6000 a year ago and we didn't know what to do with it so we put it in a stocks ISA that was recommended....and one year later have just received the statement as we got a £1500 return (can you believe it!) plus a £30 dividend. Yep our savings are now £7500. 😊

Whoop whoop (am working on the debt too)

[Wildernesstips]

FFS just lost a big post.

allthebest I think if you are managing to pay debt off then your budget is working for you. Well done on the investment.

Have been trying to refresh my lounge without spending too much, so bought a rug in Dunelm £115. I hated the colour scheme, so have switched around some pictures and placed more teal/blue items in it. Tomorrow, I hope to run up a couple of cushions in some fabric I bought a while back.

[Fluffycloudland77]

All Well done on the isa. I would look at the top up shops. Is there any particular food you run out of? Could it be bought in bulk to save money or stored better so it doesn't go off?. Micro managing waste/spending is boring but pays off in the long run.

Agenie At least the Drs ruled stuff out now. Diets so important.

£3.50 work stuff
£3.50 stamps
Got 4 chicken breasts free on Tesco orchard.

[NeversellahouseCollie]

Ugh such a stressful day.

Was going to have takeaway but chose something in the fridge instead as we need to save money and use up the food we have.

Wilderness a new rug & cushions can change a rooms entire look & feel. We have a few & they're great. I would love to find a rug for DS's room and possibly the hallway.

Found a house I like but it has carpet in the bathroom. That's weird isn't it? First impressions are "yuk" but hoping someone can convince me its not so bad.

[CremeEggThief]

Carpet in the bathroom is one of my pet hates, Collie, but it's easy to sort out. I hope you can relax for the night now, after your stressful day.

Spends: £9.70 bus, £35 on a spa afternoon (massage and use of the pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room), £3 towel and robe hire, £5 coffee and cake there and £1.50 on chips from our Chinese takeaway, which I've just gobbled up with cheese and an apple, to make it more of a balanced meal. Total: £54.20.