No-spend January/Frugal February - the no-spend challenge continues

[roguepixie]

OK - am attempting to start the second thread ... hope this works.

Having googled 'what are good movies for 11 year old girls' I am now thinking Enchanted or Clueless or Freaky Friday (like) to be on TV as 'wallpaper', pizza making, cupcake decor, bowls of homemade popcorn in front room with movie, nail painting and jewellery design. Cue trip to Home Bargains/local market for icing and other bits & pieces. Biddy I agree that it will hopefully be quite cost effective, tho' may need a deep clean of house afterwards!

Re. the party - how about forfeits in the pass the parcel to make it last longer/bigger giggle factor. Pictionary with whiteboard/chalk board and nail painting? Beads and elastics (cheap on Yellow Moon?) to make 'party bag' gift while they're watching a movie. Cut the elastic to length beforehand, tie on a bead to start them off and then when the string's full undo the tied on bead and tie the two ends together. We save copper, 5ps and other bits for holiday spends - £123 last year. Really like the idea of being more disciplined and doing £1.00 a day for Christmas though. NSD here!

Biddy,
Just noticed your post about Lidl's Pinot Grigio, is it any good? I am a major fan of Lidl, tho' have never risked the wine outside of holidays in Spain.

Back home now & have spent today:

50p Edward Bear Club donation (get coffee, snack & drinks for kids & grown-up company & help, so excellent value )

£5.92 Co-op on 2 blocks Cheshire cheese, 2 bottles Pepsi & 10 free-range eggs - should have been £9.00 but had various reductions & offers

10p on motorbike for DS1 at charity shop. However, he has been playing up all afternoon, so will be allowed to have it once DH is home at about 7 if he has been a good boy for the rest of the afternoon [strict mother emoticon)

Found 1p on street to go in pig!

Think I will also sign up to Weightwatchers online, 10 months is too long to use baby weight as an excuse & I am running out of jeans that fit! Cost nothing to sign up as will be getting 3-month plan & then should be £32.85 but will get £15.15 cashback (& will check this is best deal), so £17.60 for 3 months, not too bad - just got to stick to it now!

Second the ideas of video, jewellery making for 11-year old girls! Also, could get each girl to bring 1 flashy/pretty item of clothing/outfit/jewellery (but not an expensive one) & have fashion show, complete with bit of make-up, hair, photos (even better if you can print these off at home & have as part of party bag)?

We found, certainly with energetic 6 year olds, that once we used a plastic tablecloth, paper plates and plastic cups (I aimed for as easy as poss given the circs), the tidy up actually wasn't bad at all. All messy stuff was contained to around the kitchen table and a clean bin-bag sorted a lot of the mess afterwards. Only a few smaller bowls for sprinkles etc - so they would seem like enough on the table not sloshing around lost in a huge paper plate - which were easy to wash - and a couple of mucky bowls from icings (I had a few "writing icings" in tubes - which meant no big mess from those either).

As for Lidl wines, I like their PG, the yellow (South African or Australian? I mix that part up) Merlot, yellow Shiraz, yellow Cab Sauv, reddish Shiraz also, and Chianti classico. I know there's another couple of whites I like too - but I'd have to see the label to say what they are again sorry (certainly a Sauv Blanc that's a bit dearer, and I think there's a decent enough chardonnay in there too). The reds ARE better once they are a little warmer - but surprisdingly good for the price.

Why thank you rogue.

Redant - dvd and jewellery making and nail painting is an excellent idea. I reckon clueless would be a great hit - I also loved The Princess Bride aged 11 (still do!) and I think its on tv on saturday if any good for you.

Not a no soend day
Food shopping 34.05 but included a massive bag of frozen fish, beer. We have enough food for over a week so on track for monthly target now.
Trip to charity shops.
Three new books 1.50
Phonics toys for little ones 5.00
New t shirts from sue ryder 3 for 2.50
Two thermal organic tshirts new sue ryder 1.00 each.
Feel a bit guilty about moaning about charity shops now!
New m&s t shirt for daughter 1.50

Im done on charity shops for the month as everyone is clothed. Should just be food and toddle groups now.

Spend food £96.
Other 23.50
Soon adds up!

Littleredant, I am also quite unreasonably proud of the fact that all the presents bought for next Christmas are also wrapped and in the bottom of a wardrobe! (I know it's a bit sad, but I am so pleased with myself!)

Whoever was asking about pizza dough, i do hugh fernleys its easy and lovely.

Boffin mum, you have wrapped them! Omg!!!!!!!
I have a very healthy present box and add bargains as i go through the year.
There are some christmas gifts in it and wrapping and cards for xmas and birthdays.
Saves us a fortune especially childrens parties, we did a run round the charity shops a week after christmas to buy all the decent gift sets and sealed unwanted gifts. Already done two bithdays with lovely sets.

redant, I just had one of DD's friends for tea and they played Just Dance 3 on the wii. Kept them busy for about an hour. I'm stealing some of the ideas for DD's birthday later in the year.

Am off to Waitrose later to see if there are any more super bargains!!

Well, having read all your suggestions and tips I reckon that Mumsnet inc party planners to the discerning 11 year old is the way to go. A fab frugal recession-bashing business. Can't fail, can it?! Parents can even afford the Lidl wine to self-medicate afterwards. Collision your Waitrose sounds fab. Unfortunately the sharp-elbowed middle classes bargain hunters at my local one means I've given up trying to get 10p merchandise anymore.

Well and truly messed up the NSD today . Spent £5.30 in local shop for beetroot, onions, sweetcorn and green beans. Also put £20.00 on DS's oyster. In my defence all veggies are for mammoth soup that will be made tomorrow and DS only had a few quid left on his oyster so all needed.

Aiming for NSD tomorrow ... with the exception of oyster bus journeys.

All the ideas for the party sound brilliant. I have the same dilemma later on in the year ... but for boys instead. Am thinking that a Wii party, make your own pizza dn eat your own body-weight in popcorn might be the way to go??? Ideas, ladies ....?

How old is your DS Rogue? How many boys? If you're in London I'd recommend keeping an eye on Groupon etc as they can have good offers for bowling and go karting which might be just the ticket for your DS's birthday if you want to do something out of the home. If doing in the home, Wii party and pizzathon sounds ideal.

Oh yes, not great on the no spend day today - consultant has told me no heels for at least 4 months and as I cant wear uggs or trainers to the office (the only flat shoes I have) had to get some flats to wear with my suits for work so spent 60 on 3 pairs of smart flats at Accessorise. On the plus side I saved £15 on the flats as accessorise have a spend 25 pounds get 5 off deal on - so bought the flats in 3 different transactions. But no spending outside of that and my fare to and from work today.

£30 on essentials shopping at bargainous early evening Waitrose. My trolley included a lot of meat and fish to go straight in the freezer. including 4 pork medallions for 65p, piece of fresh tuna £1.49 (down from £6.99), milk, bread, etc... NO ultra cheap flowers today alas (am still gazing fondly on my little potted flowering azalea from a 3 weeks-1 month ago (£1.99) and bidding farewell to my £1.99 stargazers that have also lasted that time.)

I bought

daffodils - 50p
2 x irises - 29p
chopped melon - 10p
garlic dip - 10p
guacamole - 10p
Posh cheese - £4.95 down to 23p
eggs
flour
sugar (got cake sale on Fri)
boxes grapes - £1 down to 10p so got 4 boxes
milk

Had a 35p butternut squash stirfry for dinner and a salmon salad 30p for lunch + fresh mango and melon for 20p.

I didnt have a NSD. DH went into the city for a meeting and spent £3.50 on parking and 90p on a Greggs pasty! Bloody hell, I remember them being 65p ot long ago! He also bought bread and a bottle of Coke (for me, to cheer me up, apparently ).

I need to pay for more archery lessons for DD. But I overpaid last time so will pay a bit less this time. I was thinking of not bothering with it anymore to save money but when DD goes up to secondary school the archery will be free and the instructor is so impressed with her and thinks (and I believe he was genuine) that she can do competitions. So I will carry on paying for it.

DD had her friend over for tea and that was lovely. Isn't it frustrating when other people's children always eat every single bit of food on their plate and my two are such rubbish eaters?! All the kids we've had over have been really impressed with my food, so it's not my cooking that's the problem :)

what a good haul again!

Great waitrose hauls Collision and Duchesse!

hello all,

terrible week for me for spending on food. I just seem to be hungry all the time (my excuse is being 30wks pregnant, but it's probably more to do with being bored at work and looking for distraction), and despite bringing stuff in from home, end up spending a few quid every day on extra stuff. am now sitting down to do a meal plan for next week including snacks I can make and take with me in order to do an online shop. Will also check out approved foods again.

DP has joined in the frugal fun - took up my challenge of noting down everything he spends for the month. Think the total on lunches etc. will be a bit of a shock, but also interesting for me to realise how much of the joint household spend he shoulders - he has a card for joint account but forgets to use it. So my estimation of how much we spend monthly on food/household stuff might have to change a bit...