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

Mackrel - I know girls generally potty train earlier but DS1 wasnt trained till just before 3 and DS2 has just turned 3 and is getting it with wees but not poos so nappies may be a fixture for a while I'm sad to say. Definitely agree with freegle for potties - it always amazes me how much shops charge for abit of plastic that only gets used for a few months/a year max. Keep an eye out for sales - pumpkin patch do awesome sales every so often (items £1 or £2 in sale) so worth registering online for deals.

Debs - you'll be able to hail a black cab unless its raining - but everyone will be trying to get one when you get out the theatre and it will be costly. Generally black cabs outside charing cross train station is my top tip. Tube will definitely be fastest to get to hotel - bus slightly cheaper but take longer but you may have to put up with drunks. Doubt hotel will be able/willing to sort a cab for you (as cab wont be able to park up near theatre). I'd aim for a blackcab if I were you but use tube as a back up option.

pink pussycat and I are saying opposite things about herbs and I've realised we're both right. Fast growing annuals like basil, coriander, parsley (the leafy herbs basically) are what I mean as worth doing from seed on your windowsill. Slower perennial herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano are not worth waiting for from seed, buy a small pot or a division from friends.

Thanks dinky I am slowly getting there with travel arrangements. Only 2 days to do it in though.
Hoping for a NSD today as nothing to buy for

I use Gumtree and it is good. You have to pick your price before you sell but things go quickly

Right, I am working on beauty this weekend. I had an hour in the bath last night and then did my beautifully conditioned hair very nicely, gave myself a mini pedicure and repainted my toe nails, got rid of my secret little beard and moustache with my bikini line cream, and filed and painted my fingernails with clear polish. I also used the cellulite scrub and cream that has been sitting there for months. Next plan is to follow my own advice and improve cuticles, and I am also about to sort out my wardrobe and get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit me properly and which I don't like wearing. How about you lot?

OUROS

Thanks for the tip. Our local Iceland closed (replaced by M&S....) but I might be able to find other locally. The Quorn mince is fantastic.

Oh it is a lovely feeling of power, hailing a black cab, though dinky's advice to get it from station cab queue is solid :) And remember, taxis don't charge per person, but by time and mileage, so it may not be that much more expensive, or might be worth the extra money as it's a good London experience in itself If you get a good driver, the craic can be excellent - the friendly chatty London cabbie is not a myth

can I share my most bargainous day? (if there is such a word....). I went to a local jumble sale today & bought:

-barely used Fisher Price aquarium soothing lights & sounds & bubbles thing to hang in babys cot: 50p (rrp £25!!!)
-baby play mat from elc: £1
-4 dvds, fairly new ish titles £2

• magnetic phonics words thingy to help ds1 make up words & sentences, brand new: 50p

-tell the time Thomas book: 20p

:o

Then we went to the library & got a whole load of books including some baking ones, so this aft I made a yummy caramel cake with things we had alway, yum! A good day! :o

Today not a good day spending wise - £7.50 on coffee and cakes with the kids this morning, another £6 on kids magazines and £4 on icecreams for the kids -but did manage to pay for DS2's dance classes with an old dance pass I cant use any more due to leg injury (fortunately the same teacher) so that saved £35. I'm consoling myself by telling myself am going to be housebound for the next two weeks and therefore unable to spend money on stuff like that. Also saved money on fuel etc by walking with the kids to their various classes. DH is going to treat me to a sushi takeaway tonight - looking forward to it!

We got a two week shop for £60 yesterday and I have spent all day baking and freezing and will spend all ay tomorrow cooking and freezing! But it will be worth it. That shop plus nice surprise pay out on my shares means we can pay for the villa for holiday in Croatia and credit card bill (mainly flights and driving tests, eek) without going into overdraft.

What seems to have stretched the money is:

own brew beer has matured and we are drinking that instead of wine

brought some vodka in duty free and lots of tonic water so we drink that instead of wine (you see where our main expenditure is?!)

nice homemade bread. We make it anyway but garlic bread perks up a boring old pea soup made from a bag of frozen peas. Tomorrow's lunch of sardines and carrot salad will come with nice foaccacia and all this weeks breakfasts will be norwegian cinnamon rolls

lots and lots of veggie including lots and lots of potato meals

lots of frozen veg

Nigel Slater posting this recipe last weekend in the Guardian meaning DP has just described lentils as 'nice'!

Making any meat streeetch. ie 1kg of quite nice mince = 1x lasagne (=4 portions), 2x chili and rice portions, 2x chili nachos

Almost a NSD, just needed another load of bread. We go through so much bread milk and cheese in this house. Managed to not spend anything at the party with the little dd's and they had loads of fun.
Had cauliflower cheese for tea with old cauli and a jar of lasagna topper. Bulked it out with pasta and green beans on the turn.
My mission this next month is not to waste or throw food away. More meal planning for me.
I can't do much on the beauty front as very allergic to most lotions and potions. I just use simple, which is very cheap and prescription creams and oils

Hello all, I'm just marking my place.

I have been adding up my February spend and we did a lot better than January. Will post the final figure in a few days. The only thing we overspent on was takeaway and entertainment, so we will have a smaller budget on those in March. Eek.

My FIL has this week got an allotment, so will be getting free veg and fruit from him throughout the year (I hope).

Coming on to share.

Now - checked my bank balance this am as had received pay statement rather early this month. Heart throbbing WTF moment when I saw the balance, which didn't seem to include that. So I'm thinking, what's happened with my acct this month. BUT - it turns out from speaking to the bank...that the payment has not gone in yet.

Don't you HATE those moments???

Had to pick up stuff for DD for ballet, couldn't use tube had to MINI CAB it both ways as DH away and it was something she needed...as also too far to walk. Really too far unfortunately.

So I get to the place and the sodding skirt she needs for her show is £39 plus the shoes which were £25+ plus we've already paid £50 for the other costumes, plus the extra classes rehearsal was an additional £40 fee twice, plus I got it in the neck from the teacher for missing a few rehearsals. Eyes narrowing when I mentioned MIL's birthday. The shows are Easter weekend and she's been having extra classes every Saturday for 3 hours since January. She is dancing 4.5 hours per week and has yet to transform into Darci Bussell. She is 7.

After the show, we're on to more exam classes, which also means more cash as well. But, ladies, she gets UCAS points. Whooooo hooo a 7 year old with UCAS points. FFS.

It's all a bit much. I have to find another school probably, even though DD likes it.

TUBE shut...in case anyone needs clarification.. probably not but whatever.

Managed a NSD yesterday and am happy with today's special day out - total cost came in under £12 for the four of us. We have totally changed what we do by not eating whilst out - now do a big brunch before going, then something easy prepared to just heat up when we get home. We always used to either eat out or have to make massive packed lunch which made it quite hard work. So we take enough £ for tea and toast in the cafe but skip the big food bills. DS1 a bit grumpy about it sometimes but I just tell him he's learning the value of money .

This aft I spent £2 on peanut butter but it is a necessity in this house!

Ooh Harriet - that ballet malarky sounds bloody extortionate!!

Oh gosh, in case anyone is interested, I suspect not...

The thing is, the dancing school feels a bit like the Moonies. You kind of get sucked into it all...and it's all a bit: you wouldn't want to let DD DOWN, now WOULD YOU???? From the teacher if we decide not to do something, like the extra exam classes. But financially it's a massive commitment, the time commitment is massive etc. I have to manage this with DD somehow as it feels like there's almost no way to say no to this woman if we stay with this school. DD does like it though...

Sigh...

Dinky it feels like that.

Hi Harriet - does your daughter totally love ballet or do you think she would love something else just as much? DS1 was doing a really expensive (and slightly rubbish IMO) drama thing, I was soooo nervous about suggesting he stopped, but when we said drama or cubs he jumped at cubs - which I think is better socially and is luckily a lot less £.

I have to say it is spending on the kids I find hardest to cut, i can go without myself much more easily, but I do find it hard to say no. Not to toys and clothes, but to trips or clubs. It has got lots easier since I have been really honest with the kids (well, DS1 as DS2 is oblivious and still happy with cardboard boxes) as it has just made it all more open.

NSD here today - achieved by just not going out ... that's one way to do it, I suppose. .

Yesterday was a fairly hefty day, money wise. £175.00 paid out (part payment) for DS to go on school trip to Germany in July. £10.00 on raffle tickets, in support of Pupil Support Fund, at DS's school Quiz Night (brilliant time had by our team...a really fun evening for a good cause).

Totally agree with you guys about the hardest thing being cutting the money spent on the children. Very very hard.

Not NSD today :

£15 top up shop in Waitrose including trout for tomorrow lunch (paid with gift vouchers though)
£58 in farm supplies shop for sundry tools, chicken feed and bedding plants.

The way I see it, if its a club/activity that the kids enjoy and which teaches them something, then I'd much rather cut back on my spends/food etc to let them be able to do it - kids shoes is the real killer!

I spent closer to £25 yesterday, as I forgot about milk and DS's pocket money. Spent £86. 75 on weekly Sainsburys shop for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 cat, but we needed lots of toiletries and cleaning products. I think the food cost was slightly under £60. I will just need to get 1litre of milk twice, a loaf and some salad during the week.

Bloody hell, LadyHarriet, I did ballet pretty seriously as a kid and I was certainly not doing 4.5 hours a week at that age. It sounds a lot to me.

WRT spending, I lapsed today and spent about £28 on scrapbooking materials in WHSmiths, came home, made a scrapbook and it looked like twee crap. Bit of an own goal, that.

issuma - you are so right about the eBay hassle. It was just yesterday I was wondering why there isn't a clothes agency around here for other lazy time-poor people.

ilike I like your bargains

Harriet that is a huge time and cash commitment for a 7 year old