Meagre May ... watching our bank balances go up instead of down

[roguepixie]

New thread for all of us .

welcome onthebottom :)

Stuck to my predicted expenditure today, except +£2 in poundland (can't seem to pass without spending in there ) for a toblerone (father's day pressy) and some scent-off granules to deter the cats from my veggies :)

Have builders in 2moro to tear the roof apart in our utility/playroom to find the source of a leak. Thankgod it's rented so we don't have to pay so I won't be leaving the house 2moro. It is supposed to be sunny here, so I am going to wash everything and get it on the line, then attack the garden with gusto! Have lots more veggies to plant out, some bulbs and some begonias, and the lawn needs cutting - should be too busy to spend money anywhere

Thanks, Leilandri. I am very positive about going down to one car. My husband needs his to commute (he could get the bus, but it would take him around 2 hours door to door as the service stops everywhere). But I use mine once, maybe twice a week. I thought I'd use it a lot more than I do. And taking the bus/train will be more of an adventure for my son. I'm planning on staying car free when number 2 (not yet conceived) arrives, too.

And welcome onthebottom! I've been making our own pizzas for a couple of years now, and they taste just as good as anything you can get in the supermarket! Yes, a little bit more effort, but so so much cheaper.

Was going so well. Thought I had just enough petrol to collect dcs (had a lift this am). After picking up ds got properly lost on the way to dds freinds.house, panicked about fuel and ended up driving 5 miles to fill up and had to buy chocolate as in a total state by then

Welcome onthebottom

Finally got the DD's gym gear, 2 each of hockey sticks, hockey balls, gum shields, shin guards and hockey-stick bags. -near on 200 of your quids

OH did a little shopping, household paraphernalia, about £50

Took DDs to a theme park- £20 plus lunch at -£15.
Roads-£2

All things considered, feel I've been royaly ripped off today.

We are back from our child free weekend away, managed to keep spending to a reasonable level.
Yesterday £20 on bike hire and £3 on ice creams.
Today will be £50 petrol and £40 food shop and I'm meeting a pal for dinner - expensive day!

Welcome onthebottom. I have a bread maker and it has dough modes as well ... one of which is pizza dough. Absolutely wonderful. In fact DS prefers pizza that I make to any that we can buy ... result .

Wow, Adora, that's a fair old whack on the school gym kit . I thought DS's school took the prize but I think you may have beaten me on that. That said, I am sure his school are gearing up for yet another set of photo's and he has a trip to Germany in July (MIL is giving him his spending money for his birthday) but that has been paid for. And, of course, we have the "buying the next size up" school uniform delight to come in August.

Another NSD for me ... that's 4 days on the trot. I am IN THE ZONE, laydeeeeeeeees, in the zone

Yep, pixie all I can think is thank ffffffffheavens we didn't have buy kit last "season"' that was volley ball.

Face a child free weekend, a whole weekend, how did you wangle that? I got rid of mine last night, but they're coming back at lunchtime.

I'm not leaving the house today, don't care what happens I am not spending money today

A fairly spendy day for me. But could have been a lot worse:

• some short/t-shirt pyjamas from M&S (£9 for two pairs, cheapest I could find while trekking round town. Could have been cheaper in Sainsbury's, but I would have had to have driven there and used petrol).

-2 pairs of shorts for the boy (£6 at M&S)

-Drinks and snacks for myself, my sister, her friend and the boy. It came to £11 something and I needed to pay on card, so they gave me some cash. I treated my sister as she always seems to end up paying for us.

So, my top tip is M&S for basic, children's clothes. I'm not always a fan of their clothes (far too much blue, navy and generally dull boys' clothes) but for sets of pyjamas etc, I was really impressed.

Am going to have to do the Aldi shop either tomorrow or Thursday. Hoping it'll be sub £25.

I find it really hard to have NSDs. I often go to the children's centre, where they (rightly) ask for a donation. They provide tea/coffee for the grown ups and snacks for the children at the stay and play sessions, so I don't expect to get it for free!

I guess if I had gone back to work, then NSDs would be more realistic. Although I would then be paying for childcare, so spending a lot more overall.

Rather than not spending, I concentrate on getting the best value for money that I can when I need to spend.

Oh, and I have just developed a new way of thinking. I always get worried when I take money from savings. But my new philosophy is:

-money into pension and ISAs are for long-term savings, when we're retired or in real financial trouble (not the pension, obviously).
-money into low interest savings account is for day-to-day running costs/one offs, such as car expenses, getting our wills done etc.

This month we have had to take money from savings to pay for my new car tyres (although I'm selling the car, I still needed to get them, just for safety's sake).

Next month we'll have to raid the savings for MOT, service etc for husband's car. Wish we could do it from our current account, but then I guess that this is why we put money aside.

roguepixie 4 NSDs in a row! That is great, well done.

As for me, £25 in Sainsburys on a few bits before my Tesco shop comes this week. Need to be more organised, I have slipped a bit this last week or so, and nipping to get a few bits always leads to unplanned spending (today £9 on a pair of shorts for ds1!). Need to get back into the frugal groove!!

Not sure if we've mentioned this website before. It's good for freebies and I've just been invited to join their 'Savvy Circle' for more projects and free stuff .

Impressed with 4 NSDs in a row. Today I spent nothing but DH spent £25 on a sand table and sand for DD in Argos. I'm hoping it will be worth it!
Tomorrow I've got to go and buy some shorts. Ive lost weight so my size 14s are far too big. Hoping New Look or H&M have some cheap and cheerful ones. Dd also needs a summer sleeping bag - TK maxx - and some summer sandals but my grandma is posting me the money for her sandals.
Hope everyone is enjoy the sunshine!

Sorry everyone, I've fallen off the wagon again :(. Expensive month, as we're going away for half term to Bath, and we have also put a deposit down on an apartment in Rome, for a week's holiday in August. DH moved into a houseshare near his work in London too, (commutes back at weekends) and had to get DS an entire summer wardrobe (Sainsburys, H&M and M&S) and new school shoes (£12.99 in Shoe Zone). Phew! I soooo need to get back on board again!

Looking forward to catching up on everyone's news and tips, when I have a proper read later.

Did the school run today, so tolls were £4 in the morning and then £1.80 after school. Other than that I only spent £30 in the supermarkets. I need to check if we need nuts and then see if the grocer has any. This chap doesn't take a card so I have plan my nut buying whereas everything else is just a case of swipe the card.

I have to be home most of tomorrow, bods servicing the solar panel/hot water/heating system. I'm gradually going through the kitchen stock and spending less. Mostly just the fresh perishables at present. Must remember to get a gift, DD has a party to go to at the weekend.

NOT doing well this month

Got ds1's uniform for next term yesterday on the M&S website...20% off and free delivery atm! So, for everything, including underwear and PE stuff (indoor and outdoor) it came to £38!!!

Also had to get ds2 some summer clothes (ds1 has loads from last year which will still fit him) so spent £100 on shorts and shortie pjs for him and ds1...sigh.

We are supposed to be going to France for 4 days next week but both dc are ill so we shall see...

Had to buy dh's 40th b day gifts and he and ds1 are having a joint party on 9th.

Will be on bread and water in June/July!!!!

spew I am really thinking of getting rid of my car but dh isnt keen...it could pay off most of our debts and I would be £100 a month better off!

Hi everyone, can I join in? Just received an overdraft charge and need a push to get my finances in order! Looking at my spending last month I spend the most money on one off lunches with friends etc. Hopefully with a bit of planning I can either budget better for them or get them round in the garden for a cheap and cheerful lunch in the sunshine.

Any top tips you want to share? We went down to one car about a year ago and it is lovely to have to worry about MOT costs etc. for two cars. We use the work garage for services on the remaining car (I work at a vocational college - see if your local college does services and repairs, they only tend to charge for parts and maybe £20 for labour). I am not brave enough to use their hair salon on the other hand! It hasn't always been easy having one car - some of our transport arrangements with LO are pretty convoluted!

Next month is going to be expensive - father's day, DH and mum's bday and half term so I really need to be disciplined. I haven't had a chance to read everything so I'll go and have a browse now.

That's a really good tip about college garages, greedygirl - wouldn't have thought of it. There is a vocational college a couple of miles up the road, so will have a look into it. I assume that they wouldn't let your car go without it being checked over by the teacher, who I presume is a qualified mechanic?

Really can't wait to sell my car! Although I still do need it once a week until the tax runs out (swimming for my son), but after that my husband will work from home once a week until the swimming term ends. So, really can't sell it until tax ends (husband's work don't mind him doing it for a few weeks, but not sure they'd be up for a couple of months!).

Do you have one or two children? We have one and are trying for another. I can cope with travelling with one child on public transport, but I am a bit scared about two on the train/bus (double buggies are big!). I envisage training/bussing to see my parents once a week once we do have two (looking at least nine months into the future here!) and this is the only bit about selling the car that I'm apprehensive of.

badvoc, why is your husband not keen on you selling your car? Is it a shared one, or does he have his own?

Spew, just to say I'd strongly advise you to go down the single buggy and sling route for public transport. A double buggy will be a complete nightmare, save it for long walks.

Thanks, CremeEggThief! We're a long way off two babies, but I do like to worry about things far far in advance...

I only have one DC (still thinking about no. 2 nearly 10 years on, so beat that for procrastinating!), but as a veteran of public transport all over the country (a few moves over the years), I can count the number of times on one hand that I've seen a double buggy on the bus or train!

spew No he has a company car (which I can also drive) but he sees the car as an asset (which it is I guess) and it will limit my job hunting opps if I sell it I suppose.

I knew this year would be a financial write off, but its still pretty depressing

Spew - yes they are done under supervision and checked by the tutor. We have never had a problem although they do get booked up quite far ahead. We just had a full service and some parts (can't remember what but expensive!) needed replacing and it was about £100. Worth a go. I only have one DC. How old is yours?

Failed to have a NSD today! Bought DS a cheap paddling pool and myself a bottle of wine. Needs must!

Eek spent rather a lot of money today. 2 thin grobags and a bath toy in tx macs £30, monsoon sale £90 (summer work clothes) £10 mother care sun hat.
Needs must indeed!

TKMax is fatal!

I am going to be honest and just post what I spent today, instead of my usual running away and ignoring thread thing I do, when it seems quite high. So, almost £90 on Sainsburys online food shop, £10 on a birthday gift for a friend, another £10 on my childminder, £5.50 on a trim for DS and about £16.50 on bus fares, lunch and a newspaper (I really recommend the 20p i, little sister of the Indy). Phew!