No more random spending for 3 months...........any takers?

[Collision]

Starting from 1 September DH and I have decided that the only things on the cc bill will be

food

petrol

car insurance (due 7 Sept)

We are no longer randomly spending on ANY clothes at all. The boys have their uniform and I have new NEXT-sale boots and a warm waterproof coat and we do not need ANY MORE CLOTHES.

Proper meal planning and shopping at ALDI and Sainsburys.

No more Costa lotta coffees.

No more takeaways or cheapy McDonalds/KFC for the kids.

We will use the library for books so no need to buy any.

Packed lunches

Coffee in a flask if I take the children out along with snacks and drinks bought from supermarket and not random cafes.

The boys are pretty much ECO anyway and brilliant at turning off lights and water etc and they only have showers and not baths.

We want to cut down on spending to see how much we can save over time. DH has a great job and I work at school FT so it will be interesting to see what we can do.

GULP!




Anyone want to help join me??

[shaz298]

Just marking my place :)

[JKSLtd]

Sneaked in some internet shopping last night - just a holder for DS2's blue badge which we needed or the bits will get lost.
Found one for £7 then found just the same one for £4 so saved £3 :)

[Collision]

ooh saved money by buying Clarks shoes at Brantano today.

Clarks wanted £45 for air filled soles!!!! WTH??? Money for air??????????

Got a pair at Brantano for £30 and 2 pairs trainers = £56 total - bargainous really.

Went to ALDI and spent £16 on fruit and veg for the week plus tins tomatoes and olive oil. Will do main shop in Morrisons and see if it is cheaper than Sains.

[shaz298]

I've just joined Quidco and Topcashback.co.uk :)

[CaptainMartinCrieff]

I've messed up already...
£3.60 on coffee and croissant this morning.
£4.80 on lunch (I forgot my packed lunch, it's still in the fridge at home).
And I've had such a bad day at work I'm contemplating take away for dinner tonight. Sigh!

[JKSLtd]

Oh dear Captain, never mind there's always tomorrow :)

Shaz - i've been meaning to join Quidco for ages so thanks for the reminder, will have to look at Topcashback now too.

Haven't done incredibly well but not too bad considering i went to town (on my own, no DC!!) and passed Starbucks & my fave milkshake place without going in.
Got plimsolls (1.99!) & crocs for DS1 & DH (£8 for 2 pairs), no wellies anywhere in DS1's size so that'll have to be online & got 3 poss-presents-for-DS1's-friends for £15 from TKMaxx.

1.99+8+15 = 24.99
Think DH didn't spend anything so a good day.

I am amazed though that in the space of a few 'good' days we can spend over £100 without really noticing Must stay on the case.

[JKSLtd]

Oh forgot, £1.50 on parking :(

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

Ooh please may I join? We have spent the most astronomical amount of money over the last month or so, and although we have a lot to show for it, it cannot continue. DH has just started a new job and got a decent payrise, and I am determined that the extra cash isn't going to just get swallowed up in day to day spending, and that we will actually notice the money.
We go on holiday next month, and need to get a few things before then - mainly clothes for DS1 who fits in nothing from last winter so I'm pretty much starting from scratch with him, coat, wellies, everything.
We are hoping to extend the house and do some redecorating in the new year, so we need all the cash we can get!

Today I have spent £12 on a few bits in Sainsbury's - but that did include dishwasher tablets on offer so I don't count that as random. Certainly £5 of it could have been avoided. Entertainment was the park and a playdate, so free :)
Tomorrow the weekly shop is delivered (Waitrose, I know, I know but I love it) so that will be £100+, but apart from that no spending is planned except DH's lunch at work and funding his coffee habit

[Collision]

Can I recommend breaking the dishwasher tablet in half for a full wash.

Everything has come out clean and shiny as usual but for half a tablet!

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

They are the Fairy ones with the liquid stuck on the back - it might be a bit messy

Plus we do have the hardest water known to man here, I can never get away with using only small amounts of detergent/soap/shampoo or anything.

[Abgirl]

Today v good - spent £11.90 on 2 pairs of school trousers and 10 pairs of pants in Debs. All planned purchases and much cheaper than M&S where I had looked for trousers but left empty-handed when they only had them for £8 for a single pair! Took lunch and snacks in to work, and for the first time I can remember avoided the vending machines for a whole day - even when I am being healthy I always buy a diet coke, so was very chuffed!

Tomorrow will be less good though as have a pre-arranged lunch with a friend at work, will try to avoid the vending machine for another day though :)

[CaptainMartinCrieff]

DH paid for the takeaway so that doesn't count right? ;)
Will do better tomorrow! Hopefully!

[brightermornings]

My day today has not gone to plan. Saw hygienist this morning at the dentist which was £17.00 she said I needed an appointment with my dentist but I'm booked in before the end of sept so I don't need to pay again. Spent 90p at work. Had to pick dd up from Ullswater tonight 150 mile round trip so ended up with take-away when we got home so not a good end to the day.
Someone has given me some £5 no 7 vouchers so I might go and get some christmas presents with those.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I had a terrible day yesterday. London for a big meeting so was out of the house from 6am til 8pm.
Bought DD a teddy in Cath Kidston as I felt so sad for not seeing her. Then some magazines and a couple of Krispy Kreme to bring home.
I'm going to have to be really tight this weekend.

[shaz298]

justaboutWILLfinishherthesis - DO you have a CEA card for your DSs? You send proof of DLA and £5.50 and you get a card, valid for a year which gets carer in free to the cinema! Big bargain :)

[nenevomito]

I'd like to think I can do this. I don't need more clothes. The children don't need more clothes. DH doesn't need more clothes.

Or books
Or magazines
Or any other form of random shit.

I'd like to think I can do this

[JKSLtd]

Wonder if I should apply for a CEA card for DS2 then? Not that he could face the cinema just yet I don't think. (he's 3 but developmentally more like 2).

Off to friends for the day, could be possible to only spend fuel (which I'm not thinking about unless I actually pay for it!) unless we all go out somewhere else.

[cubscout]

No spend Tues, took my own lunch to work. £5 on ice creams for ds and friends at the park yesterday. Nothing so far today, went to play tennis, took water and snacks from home.

On the down side, I really do nead to save now as I have massive dentist bills looming...

[Abgirl]

Hmmm, still avoiding vending machines but lunch out ended up being a quite expensive £13 - was yummy Jamie's Italian though...

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Can I join please.

I have recently increased my hours at work and wages have obviously gone up but I seem to have decided means I can buy anything and everything that takes my fancy

I need to stop! We plan to overpay our mortgage and I would like to save for s decent holiday. There are only so many boots and cardigans one person needs

This weekend will be a cheap one as I'm working and the DS's go back to school next week which should make things easier.

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

DH worked at home today in the end, so no fuel or food and drink costs there. A fiver in Sainsbury's this morning though.

£5 top up shop
£13 window cleaner

is my bill for today

[Popbiscuit]

Very frugal morning thus far. Went to the library and got a stack of books and DVDs for kids and played at the park. Had to pay a $2.70 library fine but used up all the dimes/nickels etc. that have been jingling around in my wallet and don't count as real money.

[boringnamechange]

Well - since pay day I have been not so good :(
On holiday so I suppose its not so much random spending but planned but have had 2 starbucks, a nandos, a subway, DH got some clothes (jeans, top, joggies for £20 down from £58) 2 little xmas presents for girls (£3 instead of £9) car seat as was in accident (£27) and an airer for clothes when the weather gets bad and to be fair been looking for one for ages and we sell it in work for £40 and got it for £13 in Tesco.

A few random spends and was down to DH was a writing book for DD1 and coloring book for DD2 but then we are on holiday and was a little treat.

My mum treated us to a takeaway last night and tonight as girls at their grans we are only getting a pakora and nann bread to go with the left overs and will make more rice so dont need to get extra.

Have stopped myself buying boots, a top and an extra cake at the shop today and would have bought them just because they were on offer so proud that I didnt get them.

Love reading everyones tips on money saving and glad Im not the only one trying :)

Oh and did get my phone bill halfed - dont know if I already mentioned that though lol