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Original poster

During May I will only spend money on food and petrol.

266 replies

Collision · 30/04/2011 20:54

I have decided that I spend far too much on silly bits and pieces and that after a while this really adds up.

The children do not need ANY clothes or shoes at all.

Neither do I. Or bags.

DH needs nothing.

So I have declared that May will be an eco month and i will only buy food and petrol. We are in school for the whole of the month so no trips out are necessary and if the weather is nice we can take our bikes out.

Anyone care to join me or make comments to support me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Collision · 07/05/2011 15:40

Have been swimming with boys while DH cooks Phew!Thatit'snotWaitroseReadyMadeMeal

Spent £11 on swimming and parking.

No drinks or snacks in the cafe.

Am off for spray tan in a bit - courtesy of DH's WA presents.

A good day.

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 07/05/2011 16:36

I bought a staple gun today. It was preplanned but was still a lot of pennies (£26). Otherwise I have been good Grin

HauntedLittleLunatic · 07/05/2011 18:19

Done a full shop today and spent £20+ less than usual so that was good.

No McDonald's so that was good.

Now stood in domino pizza so not so good. But have ordered conservatively.

nannynick · 07/05/2011 18:52

The brown rice does not taste nice. Hmm, may not eat through all packets in the cupboard... may bin the brown rice and remember not to ever buy it again.

BlackandGold · 07/05/2011 20:03

No money spent today other than posting a parcel but have booked a hair cut and will need to pay for that next week.

Meglet · 07/05/2011 22:05

Only spent £20 today on a plumber to fix a leaky tap.

Went for a walk in the afternoon. Had rare junk-food lunch of last of potato wedges in freezer with dips just past their use by date, but they smelt fine so I decided to risk it.

angel1976 · 07/05/2011 22:18

Can I join? My story here. Kindle or no Kindle, I need to get my bank balance NOT to dip in the red by the end of the month, that is so not me!

Today, I took my boys to the museum (intended to spend only £10 on lunch), which is usually free but got there and realised have to pay for aquarium bit so that was £2. And DS1 for a sticky octopus the last time we were there and it broke and he remembered so I bought a replacement for him and that was £1. Resisted buying anything for DS2 though, fortunately too young to compare! Lunch was close to a tenner so spent £13.

Went food shopping in the afternoon. On the way there, told DH I really fancied Thai as we passed a Thai takeaway. We got the ingredients for a Pad Thai stir-fried noodles and he cooked a really delicious dinner for us (would have usually got a takeaway that cost £20 easily... Blush).

Our biggest spending on the weekends is family day outs. It's so easy to spend £30 or more just going out to soft play and then having lunch. Tomorrow, the mini steam railway near us opens for the first time since last year and it's £0.50 a ride (usually spend about £4 on rides) and we will take our own snacks and drinks. And fridge full of food so can't anticipate spending much tomorrow. Yippee!

LawrieMarlow · 07/05/2011 22:27

I had a not good day spending wise. Ending up getting things for lunch and then a meal for tomorrow in bits and pieces and spending too much. Do not feel good about it.

Will do better tomorrow :)

HauntedLittleLunatic · 07/05/2011 23:29

My justification for a takeaway...well teh thread title says we are allowed food and fuel....takeaway is food is it not

nannynick · 08/05/2011 09:54

Angel - Think I know that museum, lots of stuffed animals? Last time we went it was winter and it rained, so had picnic in the greenhouse at back of cafe. Got hot drinks in cafe though and that cost quite a bit I recall.

Carrotsandcelery · 08/05/2011 10:08

Morning all - hoping for a no spend day here. Planning to go no further than the garden. Ds hoping not to have to get dressed at all. He might get away with it as it is bucketing here.

Trying to earmark a day where I can go into the "big city" and return all my loot so I "make" some money rather than spend some! Grin

halfcaff · 08/05/2011 10:12

I have decided to buy NO new clothes or shoes for the rest of the year! (I bought some boots in the Jan sale and a ski jacket in the end of season sale, but that is IT.) Charity shops/car boot sales don't count!

angel1976 · 08/05/2011 10:21

nannynick That's the one. Always loved it but just found out yesterday they started charging for the aquarium. It's a great museum and I guess they need to get back some money to re-invest but the cafe is so expensive that honestly, if they put entrance on top of that, it will end up just another expensive day out instead of a cheap-ish day out. I don't know how they can justify charging almost a fiver for a kids' meal of 2 bangers, chips, beans, a yoghurt and a drink. The kids shared the meal and I had a piece of quiche and that came out to almost a tenner! Shock Rant over!

bacon · 08/05/2011 13:15

I'm also being careful this month with childcare fees are gobbling up a huge chuck of my money. I have to pay for food, car hp but no fuel.

We tend to take all drinks with us when we go out. Paying for rubbish sweet fruitpops is a complete waste. I always carry a diluted bottle of hi-juice in the car. Same with food you can eat much better is a packed lunch than some of the rubbish we get served in the country.

We dont have takeaways either (sorry its un-necessary luxury)- another thumbs down for expensive crud containing some of the cheapest god knows where that chicken came from. I can make fab curries. We used to have a curry and always came in around £20!!! Eating out the the evenings is another expense that we have had to cut out and luckily most of our friends have too.

I did a good menu this week using what fish/meat I have in the freezer. So only spent £60! I make a bottle of wine last all weekend and have stopped drinking in the week and feel better for it too.

Hubby is currently sorting out the workshop and bringing all the surplus tools in ready for e-bay. With the credit I tend to buy childrens used clothes - my boys are desperate for short sleeved t-shirts etc.

I am getting very worried by the amount of money we plough through but the biggest proportion is the nursery, car and food!

Meglet · 08/05/2011 14:07

I fluffed it today as I bought a tomato plant and a pea plant (£2) from a stall at the local fair. Although as they are technically food I should get my investment back Grin.

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but the money saving expert demotivator is a good tool for scaring you out of random spending.

Carrotsandcelery · 08/05/2011 14:21

Meglet I absolve you or your plant buying sins. I think that once they mature they should pay for themselves and maybe save you some as well. Grin

I still haven't spent anything. It may be because I am still in pjs! I have had a bath and put on clean ones though Wink

Using up the random toiletries is great. I have a box of unfinished bottles in our bathroom cupboard that should last at least the month.

Meglet · 08/05/2011 16:57

Here's something for everyone struggling with brown rice, I find it uses up a lot of stuff that tends to hang around in the fridge. It's very thrifty Grin.

Cranks Brown Rice 'risotto' (it really isn't a proper risotto!)

Serves 4

225g cooked brown rice (or whatever rice you have to use up)

After rice is cooked then heat up some butter and olive oil in a pan, fry up;
1 chopped medium onion
1 sliced / chopped / green (or other colour) pepper
50 g broken / choppped cashews (pistachios also ok IME)

Saute until tender, 10 mins or so IME.

Then add;
4 chopped tomatoes
1 crushed garlic clove
and add the cooked rice.

Stir over heat for 5 mins or so until the tomatoes are softer and all heated up.

I add cheese (either grated cheddar or parmesan) and some parsley, salt & pepper on top. You can stir in left over spinach too, and add a sprinkling of lemon juice to pep it up a bit if you like.

bustersmummy · 08/05/2011 17:45

Ohhh I like the risotto idea Meg Grin

I have only bought milk all weekend.

How virtuous do I feel? Wink

BlackandGold · 08/05/2011 19:29

Gave in and bought myself 2 M&S t-shirts for £10 this aft.

But when I got home DD had called round and given DH the £40 she owed him for her dry cleaning and zip repairs so I reckon we're in profit!

angel1976 · 08/05/2011 20:29

DH bought two pairs of Clarks Doodles for DCs today. They already have sandals for summer sorted but the little sod that is DS1 had a wee accident yesterday in the park all over his sandals so we reckon we need one other pair of 'spare' summer shoes. Went into Clarks outlet near us and got both DSs Doodles for a grand total of £8! It was one pair for £8 but today's special was buy one, get one free. Shock So at least that's their summer shoes sorted. And DH paid for them so that doesn't count. Ha ha!

Bought lunch for us all though and that was £15... :( But was very virtuous for dinner and cooked a lovely soup and macaroni for us all. And also sold a pair of shoes that DS1 never wore on here so that's more money for the Kindle kitty.

Meglet That risotto sounds lovely!

LawrieMarlow · 08/05/2011 22:40

I didn't soend any money today :)

Tomorrow I am earning money invigating and then mystery shopping. Need to buy some bread and some peppers. Do need to pay for DD's school trip but will do that on Tuesday.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 09/05/2011 10:08

Hmm

I went into town yesterday. Boughs some boots curling creme which gets rave review on here and significantly cheaper than my john frieda one. Resisted the 3 for 2 offer in case it is rubbish.

But sun cream but that was bogof and needed.

Resisted Dds constant request for rubbish although I did cave in and let them have stuff on the promise they would pay me for it all out of their birthday money. Must sort that put tonight or I won't get it back and will have ended up buying anyway.

Paid car parking...

So acceptable day I think :)

bustersmummy · 09/05/2011 11:03

Right ladies.

Am off to do a grocery shop shortly.

Freezers are full but I am in need of tinned stuff, fridge essentials and bread.

Wish me luck!

Original poster
Collision · 09/05/2011 18:29

Hope you didnt spend too much Buster!

No spend day here. We were all at school and I am a TA there so no opp for spending.

Am going to SALSA lessons tonight which are already paid for through Groupon!

Grin
OP posts:
bustersmummy · 09/05/2011 18:31

Ohh hark at you and salasa Grin

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