Keeping our Fru Year Resolutions! Frugal January thread two (already) - all welcome!

[Cagliostro]

Eeek so the other thread filled up fast. January 10th must be some kind of record!

[FridgeCut]

Marking my place.

I bought a tambourine today, DS2 got one in his stocking but it meant with an accident and he was terribly sad. I think that was my only spending, so not too bad.

I have been rejigging my ocado shop, it was £40 but then I needed some bits so went up to £70. I reviewed it and it is back down to £50ish, so that isn't too bad. DH hasn't been to the office the last two days so that is £20 saved on parking and fuel. Oh I did spend £5 on two forest school sessions. £2.50 a time isn't bad and DS2 loves it.

[Cagliostro]

Feel a bit hoggish starting two consecutive threads sorry 😳😳 but the other was full.

So, another thread where we chat all things frugal and plenty besides, a nice supportive place with no judging. We are all in different situations but we all have the same goal - to use what we have in the best way, and save money for what matters to us.

Also please don't worry if we appear cliquey, it's a long running thread but we always love to welcome newbies and returnees, so please do settle in! It is a fast thread so plenty of us just dip in and out/lurk. Some post spends but again not essential, just dive in and chat with us 😊

[WreckTangled]

I'm already thinking ahead to next weeks meal plan and I think I'll only need three meals or something as we have quite a bit in already which is good.

[MeadowHay]

Is anyone watching The Truth About Looking Good on BBC1? I have found it interesting although tbh a lot of what I already knew as I am nerdy. Have still made some notes though .

Lonely Yeah that's what my nan said. I think I'd prefer to just go shopping for it with DH though...although maybe we will go and have a browse one day and then I'll consider going back again with DM another time to buy it or something. Idk. Won't be buying for ages though anyway.

Em We do live in a flat - third floor with no lift! But we are likely to be moving to a house in a few months anyway so before baby is born. I still want something as light as possible though I think because I'm soo clumsy and I don't drive so need something I can get on and off the bus without too much hassle. There's so much to think about with prams, I've had a quick glance online and I don't know where to start! There is a pram shop nearby that I think I want to go to get it, it's a local independent shop so I'd like to support them and hopefully they will provide us with a good/more personable service so we can have a good browse. Ngl I like the Cosatto ones because I like the quirky patterns but I know that's not the most important thing!

[Afreshnewyearplease]

Placemarking!

Cosatto customer service is brilliant if you have something of theirs and anything goes wrong

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

Can't believe we are starting a new thread already!! Thanks Cag

Meadow I spent a mini fortune on a pram for dd, she used it for a grand total of 3 months a combination of it being awkward to get in and out of the car and her not liking it. In hindsight I should have either (a) got a second hand one or (b) not bothered with a pram and slinged it instead or (c) just got a nice buggy that was suitable from birth.

Its so hard to know anything pre baby as all mums and babies are so different!!

I am feeling grumpy tonight for no obvious reason

[Pinkpeppermintteaforme]

Thanks Cag
Not hogging at all -would hate to get lost .
Soooooo I decided to sort all my make up today 😎
Oh my lord I cannot believe how much I have .
Binned anything old,broken or trashed one bin bag
I have made up 3 identical everyday make up bags for gym,home,travel plus a touch up mini bag for my handbag .
Yep I had 3 of everything at least
Did an evening look make up bag as well.
I then bagged up my lipsticks nude,hot pink and red lots of each no other colours at all .
Then did eyes,base and blush .
There is a lot but feel really happy that Ive tackled it .
Washed all brushes and found new sponges.
I will not be buying any new make up in 2018

[Cagliostro]

Fridge that's admirable that you cut down your ocado order so much. It's ridiculous but I find it really difficult to put stuff back once I've chosen it (yes even online!) how crazy is that? I think I panic that I'll need it and then regret it. Even though generally it'll be easily available in other shops (did I mention DH works in a Coop FFS!!!). I clearly need to work on this, it's an issue with food/weight/clutter too, all interrelated.

Meadow how fab that they've offered you things! I totally totally get you about the pram though. It's a big deal, especially for your first baby, it's natural to want to choose that yourselves. You'll be using it constantly so it's important to choose it according to your needs (also if it's a travel system you'd need a new car seat, as that and baby mattresses are best bought new for safety). I don't regret the money I spent on our pram at all, we got a good deal and it's absolutely gorgeous, makes me smile and it's just right for us. People generally end up getting a cheap folding stroller when baby is bigger, and that could be a hand me down/ebay etc, but The First Pram is definitely a Thing :o

Spends, £13 science workshop later this month.

[Pinkpeppermintteaforme]

Incidentally watching The Truth about...
Sali Hughes always looks lovely and I always love her make up .

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Nsd.

[FridgeCut]

I think that's why I like shopping online, I have a target budget and then I take things in and out to make it work. In the supermarket it can be quite a surprise at the till! DS2 is 2 and a pain in the bum in the shops so I don't go (aside from while gymnastics is on). As long as I have enough bread, flora and oat milk I can make it work between freezer and cupboards. I found some yellow dhal in the cupboard so dhal for dinner tomorrow will be good I think.

[Wolfcub]

Checking in

[Fluffycloudland77]

Thank you Cag

Unescorted Well done for your DD, you must be very happy she's got a place.

www.hotukdeals.com/deals/natwest-current-account-switch-125-incentive-2874736 £125 from natwest if you switch accounts.

[MissingMo]

@Cag thanks for the new thread!

Nsd. Stayed in. Was meant to go for tea with a friend but am going tomorrow instead as I got caught up feeding DD breakfast. Really going hard on the weaning. Will need to get more veg tomorrow so will pop to the shops after tea.

Take each day at a time @meadow you may start to feel better soon but don't over exert yourself. DP DM bought DDs pushchair. I went with something sturdy as I don't drive. Very easy to fold and unfold bit not very compact.

Well done @fridge on cutting down the order. It depends how much extra cash we have as to how strict I am with food shops which isn't really the way I should do it I thinks.

Any recommendations on survey websites/apps etc to earn some extra cash/vouchers?

[ememem84]

meadow absolutely spend time test driving prams. Test everything - dh was initially annoyed because I tested the pram. But I figured I’d be using it the most so I needed something easy to use.

Picked up a travel cot from a Facebook seller today £7. Absolute bargain and it’s in amazing condition. No bag for it but it’s just to sit at my mums so no need really.

[FridgeCut]

I've just been back into it and got it down to £45, pleased with that!

Prolific.ac is my go to for earning money for surveys, it is psychological research and really interesting and it pays well.

[AuditAngel]

Hi all. £32 in Tesco, that included £18 on halogen spotlight bulbs and £5 on some new socks for me.

£10 on karate for the 2DD's. Not sure if I have mentioned it, DD1 is on the England squad for her karate association, her coach has asked DD2 to attend squad training too.

Tomorrow should be NSD, working in Hertford, big meeting, team lunch.

[AuditAngel]

I'm still putting off the shop. Haven't done a proper shop since before Christmas. Will have to do it tomorrow, perhaps for Friday delivery

[mammymammyIRL]

Place marking & off to catch up on last few posts of last thread

[ShoopShoop]

Thanks for the new thread! Place marking....

[frazzled3ds]

Another one saying thanks for the new thread! Trying to get a grip on my money - giving YNAB a go and so far getting along ok with it, although slightly confused by the differences between the amounts it has for my bank account and what my banking app shows, but I'm sure it will level out. It's useful though to have something with me all the time that I can track what I'm spending. In theory the next few days should be no spend days (famous last words!) although I do need to get a bag of roofing felt nails so I can redo the shed roof (did it just before Christmas and then the wind ripped most of it off..... gggrrrrr!)

[LonelyOversharer]

Thanks cag yoù made me smile! I have never, ever been part of a clique. Always on the outside, me.

Done some work (about time), and have implented day 2 of ds' new bedtime routine. He basically goes to bed late then faffs about needing drinks/snacks/me/dp for hours. Enough. Reading book, pj's, dish of cereal, teeth, bed. No snacks. If I can sneak his sleep time to before 10pm that would be perfect. He sleeps 8-9 hours a night only, so an 8pm bedtime won't do, as 4am starts suck.

Does anyone keep a bullet journal? I have one arriving tomorrow. As I love a checklist and a micro manage, I thought I could use it to sort my brain into order and plan a bit by bit de clutter for 2018. High hopes! In reality I'll probably spend more time drawing in the pages than actually doing anything.

[mammymammyIRL]

Are they contactless payments perhaps? Or else lodgements that haven't cleared.

Just had awful news that one of my neighbours has died by choice.

Guys & Dolls was musical our school put on the year, I was in transition year, very outing for me but I don't think there's anyone who knows me that well reading this
Blood brothers that we saw in London's West End was my absolute favourite performance to date. I love musicals

Meadow my dB & sil are at pondering stage for travel system too - choice, cost, practicality all being important factors. I intended using pram part a lot, despite having two dc I could count on one hand the amount of times it was used

[canarypotato]

Hello, I am new to this and would like to join! It’s my first month as a sahm and we haven’t really adapted our spending habits. We can afford to keep the same lifestyle on dh’s salary but we want to continue to save money every month so need to be more careful. DH is a great saver (rightfully). I am unfortunately not as good.

January is looking tough for savings and this week has been a bit of a write off, including me spending 500£ before taking to DH...

Can’t really go on spending like this. So...I am in need of new frugal habits for the new year!

[Bornlazy]

Thanks for new thread Cag

Welcome canary. I am new to this too and find this thread very useful in making me really think before I spend, something I was very poor at before.