Frugal Feb gives way to Money-Saving March. Now featuring austerity health and beauty tips!

[Lexilicious]

Third thread after first and second

Let's get saving and enjoying our frugal wins!

summary of links so far
www.organizedhome.com
www.supersavvyme.co.uk/
womenfreebies.co.uk/
www.lovemoney.com/
www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/discount-voucher-codes/
www.poundland.co.uk/top-tips/gardening-2012/
www.purlbee.com/
www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/halfterm
www.makeupstop.co.uk/
www.approvedfood.co.uk/
www.goodtoknow.co.uk/money/cheap-food-deals
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/perfect_portions

My OH seems to expect me feed, clothe and keep 2 children and 2dogs, plus the 2 of us occupied without spending a bean, do you want to swap?

So, today's disaster zone report.
Starbucks, with 2 kids in tow, £10
New kettle, OH wanted "that red one" £60
Lunch in McD's -£15, again with kids
Supermarket -£40
Road tolls £2.40 round trip
Parking FREE as this mall's ticket system isn't set up yet
Dinner out 'cos it's Friday and I'm pooped, - £35, that was 3 courses plus wine

Tomorrow isn't looking good as we are entertaining a newbie, so that will be bowling followed by lunch followed, probably, by drinks later. We also need to buy food for a DIY project. Will report back with the grim details.

Duchesse

Just saw your suggestion re books, wish I could. There's 1 supplier who seems to have half the system sewed up tight. On top of that getting stuff here via Amazon or similar means huge postal costs, and import costs to collect it from the postal system, and when they open it to check what you've bought - this is SOUTH America- they confiscate any educational material.

On the plus side tho, some books are available in regular book stores

It might almost be worth a bunch of parents getting together and paying for one of you to fly to N America to buy the text books more cheaply and then fly back!! Your prices all seem at least as high as here. I'm shocked!

Rogue - it was enough tupperware to fill out huge kitchen drawers - so probably around 20 tupperware items... lets see the furry little buggers get at the food now...

Chile - life in South America sounds VERY expensive - and that's coming from a londoner!

Spends today are £20 on paint and £120 on builder fixing damp problems/redecorating areas in our house...

Chile I certainly don't envy you the cost of textbooks where you are! Just a thought, though - although it is expensive for you this year, maybe next year (or when you are finished with the books) it could turn somewhat to your advantage as you could sell on your 'old' textbooks to others within the school for a good price?

Yesterday, I spent a total of £2.30 - £2.10 in Sainsbury's for 5 bags of their yummy Basics cornflakes (which were 31p a few months ago but are now 39p ) & 15p in the Sport relief bucket, which also got DS1 a balloon. Then 20p in the shop where the Post Office is, on 2 reduced Muellerlights - good for my dieting, I hope!

DH spent about £50 at Tesco (not sure of total) on new house phones (our old ones were about dead), a dress & a top for me in size 14 as an incentive to carry on with the diet (6lbs gone in 3 weeks, yay!), some Mr Muscle drain stuff x 2 & an MP3 player for his car (reduced from £10 to £2 as no speakers, but he doesn't need speakers anyway). Oh, and a little pack of Love Hearts for me

He has taken DS1 to B&Q now for a drain rod (about £20) as the Mr Muscle didn't work, but this should save the cost of calling out a plumber & will be there for future use, too.

Continued the loft clearance the other day & found some old stamps my dad collected as a boy (so late 50s, early 60s). Does anybody know how I would go about getting these valued? Chances are they are worth pennies, but I am going to sell them & don't want to carboot the lot for £2 an album if some are worth a bit more, iyswim.

Had my letter from tax credits today. We have apparently been overpaid by £700 , so they will take that off of the next 2 payments I receive, but then from April the amount I receive will go back up to about 90% of what it was before. I also see that I have not informed them that DS1 has been at nursery 2 days a week, not just 1, for a good few months , so am hoping that may result in a bit more coming our way [hopeful emoticon].

Grey & dreary here today, so apart from DH's drain rod purchase & possibly a prescription for his man-flu if he goes to the OOH docs , it will be an NSD. Off to my parents' later for the evening (& will probably stay over so don't have to worry about getting the DC home for bedtime & can have a wee drinkie ) & my sisters & their DC will also be there so should be a laugh - 8 adults, 4 children & a baby - I love being part of a biggish family

Oh yes, forgot to mention, got notice of a couple of freebies yesterday. DH & I will both get a free 4-pack of the new San Miguel beers (Facebook freebie) & I (or DS2, rather) have been 'selected' to trial new Huggies Super-Dry nappies. Not amazing things, but that means I probably won't need to buy any more nappies this month & we never normally buy beer, so is a nice treat

Well, didn't match last week's sub £20 shop. This week's came in at £36, but included a restock of the baking supplies cupboard, washing powder and other bits and bobs that had run low.

On the plus side, I've been shortlisted for a job (exam invigilating - just a casual post, but this is exactly the kind of job I need as my parents can help out with the odd bit of babysitting just can't take on a role as full-time childminders). So, fingers crossed something comes of that.

I'm a bit in the dark about Costco, not sure there's one round here (Oxford area).

Been spending again this morning!

Popped to Lidl for a few bits we were running low on (ham/milk/bread/coffee/hot choc etc) and decided to add a few extras too. Pork loin steaks, 3 in a pack for £1.42! Got 2 packs! Total spend £29 (was 28.?? so rounded up!)

Then went to post office to post something down to my dad, wanted to send it rec del as if it goes missing it will cost about £35 to replace! So that was £2.60-something.

As I was in the post-office, which is a part of the co-op, thought i would hunt out any bargains! Big box of biscuits (2 trays in one box) for £1.69, 3 hartleys jellies (that you make yourself) 54p each or 3 for £1, some muffin cases as I only have 4 left, and 2 packs of biscuits I really like but never buy! £6.??

That is it for today though. No more spending!

DH back from B&Q, spent £40 instead of the £20 he told me he needed to spend - although in his defence it was drain rod, industrial cleaner & drain cover to hopefully stop this happening again...

And have just noticed that DH gets paid 3 days after our mortgage is supposed to go out this month . Just feel like giving up, am forever chasing my tail...

Jenduck, yes I hope to be able sell them at the end of the year. Until this year tho they've been rented at those kind of prices. Someone appears to have seen the light on that front but still needs to look again at prices.

It's certainly become very expensive here in recent years, booming due to high copper prices. And Yes, speaking as a Londoner myself, originally, it's shocking at times. Some things are still cheaper, especially in rural areas.

Off out now, will report back later

Morning all , or should I say 'afternoon?

chile, are we married to the same man? Only one DS here and no dogs but I think your DH and mine could have been separated at birth. Constantly saying "how much?", why did you/he/me need that?", etc etc etc. Never bloody stops . I am allowed to spend a bean and half . Agree with dinky though, life where you are sounds hugely expensive ... and I am another Londoner .

dinky, have a fool-proof method of getting rid of said "furry buggers". It's a little different but works. PM me if you want the details as don't want to upset anyone with details of mouse-killing.

jenduck, I don't know where you are in the world but there used to be a Stanley Gibbons stamp shop somewhere near Liverpool St (in London)

• if you are able you could probably get a valuation there. Alternatively, go on-line to see if they have a website and check out possible values there??? DH's Dad used to collect stamps and we have his collection upstairs - might be doing the same as you as none of us really have the time or interest to continue it.

spew, good luck. I will keep everything crossed for you for the job. Btw, Costco is an American warehouse type shop. It sells things in bulk: so you buy a tray of tinned tomatoes, 4x9 packs of toilet rolls, 6x deodorants etc etc. The problem with shopping there is you can (1) get carried away and end up with loads of stuff and (2) you think of it as being cheaper ... it isn't really in many cases, you just get bulk!!

I have a delightful afternoon planned clearing out the top floor (loft conversion thing) AGAIN. It's like a bloody cess-pit up there and always seems to remain so, however may times I clear it out. Wish me luck...I may never be seen again ...

I fell off the wagon slightly today
Went into town to pay a bill and bought 6 cheese straws to share with the dd's and a smartie bun each, £2.19. Then popped into ELC and they had loads of Happyland on sale, DD2 and DD3 love Happyland so I have now bought them a fairground set, reduced from £60 to £30 and a huge saving over just the ferris wheel at £22. Then a dino set half price again, only £19. Then to save on delivery I bought something for £1.50, saved me £3.
I did as well check if I could go through quidco or nectar to save more but I couldn't. Still that is their big present each for their birthday, just have to save them till August.

Then I bought cinema tickets for DD1 and her friend, £4.60 each but her frined will pay me back. I get points with the cinema as well so now have enough for a large popcorn which will save me about £4 when I next go.

Now I have to go get petrol and maybe take DS to get some new shoes and trainers and then Mc D's for tea so I haven't stopped spending yet.

All this talk of tax credits is getting a bit scary. Our CTC shot down £100 last April and I can't afford to take another hit like that. We save £100 a month for christmas, birthdays and holidays so we will have to find that elsewhere if they cut it down again

at rogues knitted dinosaurs

There is also a knit your own cat book out atm am thinking of knitting little replicas of mine !
Not doing to badly here - had a small windfall and treated myself to a new foodprocessor and as a result have done lots of baking .My old one died a couple of years ago (after 20 years) so very pleased to have replaced it.
The saving continues -have a christmas tin (£120 in) a £500 tin (put in all £1 and £2 coins) and have been able to save in savings account this month as well.
Its becoming just as addictive to save as it used to be to spend
will buy some seeds on next payday as I want to grow some tomatoes and cucumbers etc.
Biggest spend was road tax £200 this month

Jenduck just saw your post
Could you contact your lender and explain - maybe it would be better to move the date mortgage goes out in case it happens again ??

Anyone else think Debs can claim pound wise? :)

I spent almost £76 on the weekly shop at Sainsburys today :(. If my online order had gone through on Thursday, it would have been about £61, including delivery. I also had to get 2 birthday cards, 2 pairs of rubber gloves,a new water bottle for DS, some cheap bio washing powder (I hardly ever use it, but it ran out after our sickness bout. I keep it for that sort of thing and bath mats) and a bottle of wine for over £6, but that was the only treat. Still, it all adds up. Hope I can get my new card working on Sainsburys online in time for next week's shop!

Definitely think debs has been pound-wise. Well done.

jen, like Sarah, just seen your post. Definitely contact your lender and see if they will hold off on collection of the payment until the money is there. They are usually happy to help - they want the money!!! Then move the payment date to one which suits you better.

Sarah, he's busy picking out which one of the 15-odd dino's I can knit first .

at spending £180 in one day I don't feel pound wise, but yes a £49 saving isn't to be sniffed at. You woul of been proud of me scouiring the sale section to get a £1 buy to get free delivery.
DS's trainers were in the sale as well so only £25 instead of £40

Rogue the knitted dino's sound good, DD1 and 2 would love them, do they look hard to knit?

Not really debs, they look fairly easy ... haven't started them yet though as finishing squares for MrsKwazii and Mrs Wubblybubbly's bereavement blankets.

The book is called Knitted Dinosaurs by Tina Barrett, £8.84 on Amazon (usually costs aout £15.00). The dino's look fab though and would make wonderful presents for young children. DS has narrowed it down to 5 that he wants immediately now .

Hmm. Am thinking about knitting again. Knitted dinos sound fun, although I've got an interesting book of scarves that I haven't tried doing anything from yet.

I have just found, in my garden show leaflets clear out, a planting plan for enough veg/fruit for five a day from even a very small garden for all year round. Anyone want a copy? Will need some up front costs and you might not break even until after the summer but otherwise looks realistic to me.

Lexi, yes please, I'll have a copy. What do you need from me: address/email?? Can PM you details of whatever you need. Thanks. Really want to get some planting underway so that I can start to reap the benefits (can you see what I did there, huh? Reap ... geddit???) . Am fed up having bare earth and getting nothing from it.

debs and pink, I also have a book called The Knitted Home (Sian Brown) which has lovely throws, cushion covers etc in it. I just need 10 pairs of hands, massive amounts of wool and infinite time to get it all done.

Have started a major clearout, started in the loft today. I have a clear idea of what I want my home to look like ... not achieved anything close to it yet but still hoping that one day I might get there.

It's sort of poster sized so I will see how it comes out on the photocopier at work, then post to you. Pm me an address or an email if you prefer but my scanner is pretty flaky. Next in the office Thursday though.

Pixie, ha ha re the OHs, mine kept telling me things like -oh we've got 20 over for a barbie Sunday-, then complaining about the shopping bill. I sent him out one time and he came back in shock, but methinks it may be time for a little refresher

Today's damage to my efforts

Bowling-£27, 3 adults and 2 children
Lunch -£50, as above
Ice-creams mid afternoon 'cos it was about 34 degrees C -£5
Gym bag for DD2, last year's felt apart from being over stuffed-£20
wood for DIY project- don't know yet, need to interigate OH
Road tolls-£5 due to OH taking the shiny new road

Newbie bought drinks during bowling. Tomorrow no-one is allowed to leave the house!

Dinner's on, spag Bol using mince from the freezer, so I'm off to stir things up