We're over halfway there - saving our way through July 2012

[Leilandri]

We've done over 6 months of penny-pinching, practical, prudent, scrimping money-saving. Well done to us

June didn't end too badly for me overall, not going to total it up tho
I hope the weather in July is better than it has been - plenty of NSD's at the allotment would be lovely.

Oops, was really thick - seen the link now

Mega spend today, took 4 DC's out, entry fees, lunch and ice-creams.
Will fess up the numbers tomorrow after I get my head around them. This is the second week of a school holiday and the first spendy day we've had that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

Yesterday I had my first NSD

Today I spent £6 at the supermarket, but I won't spend any more :)

We did Dhs car insurance and went to go compare, then to the cheapest quotes own website via quidco and it was cheaper on their own site incl legal cover.

Then we got £20 cashback so he was chuffed. Took a bit longer but we saved £45 by doing this.

Hi everyone, just wanted to pop on and say that I am rubbish at posting regularly on this thread but, thanks to you guys, I know exactly what is in my bank account this month! And loving the NSDs or my new patented LSDs (low spend days!). Quidco is the next level for me, must remember to use it!

Another NSD for me and then tomorrow my mum is coming over so if we do anything she shall pay instead I might actually get away with only spending £6 this week

Okay, finally added up the numbers for our day out

Entry fees x4 DC's £50
Lunch £18
Ice-creams and drinks bought the day £30
Road tolls £2.40

DDs were out agin yesterday with frend's, cinema, ,lunch and snacks £30

Today I need to get groceries, will report back later

Quidco is fab. Everything I need I check on there first, you can even get cashback for playing euromillions.

I'm experimenting taking aldi magnum ice creams out in thermos flasks. Wrapping them in ice packs didnt work. I cannot believe how much they charge for ice creams when your out for the day.

Cleaned the mark down section out of chicken for sandwiches and two rolls of sausage meat.

I have no idea what to do with two rolls of sausage meat. I'm thinking stuffing.

Today I started on the DD's birthday gift, 6 Harry Potter DVDS for £40. Currently have no idea what else to get, 2 DDs turning 11 in a few weeks time. I also spent £70 in the supermarket, £50 on fuel, £2 mid shopping tea and £3 on roads.

Fluffycloudland77 - please keep us informed about finding a way to take ice-cream out for the day! Have you thought about putting them in a wide tall flask, with crushed ice all around them?

AdoraBell - Amazon have Harry Potter - The Complete 8-Film Collection for £29.24 or £34.88 on Blu-ray. Would she like a digital camera? Just looked on Amazon and you can get a good one for £40-60.

As for me, I failed yesterday with my NSD :( I was so close, then at around 7 in the evening the bloody ice-cream man came by our house! So I spent £2.60 yesterday :( Today however shall be a NSD!

AdoraBell, maybe I'm just mean, but isn't 6 DVDs worth £40 enough for a birthday present? Or maybe something homemade to go with it and a nice day with the family? This could be a chance to demonstrate that birthdays don't have to be about spending loads of money on presents...Like I said, perhaps I'm just mean!

Ah, sorry missed that you have two birthdays to deal with. Not sure what shopping is like in Chile, but could you not get them a gift card for somewhere, then they could choose what they like? No experience of 11 year olds, but are they getting to the age where they like to get exactly what they want?

Hi again. Not been on in a while as still poorly , although hopefully over the worst! This has meant that I haven't spent much, though and I have lost about 5lbs in weight, so everything has a bright side!

Can't remember exact spending this week as not been tracking but definitely no more than £10 in Tesco & nothing elsewhere as not really been out.

Did pop into Tesco this morning for bread (39p), as I feel I could maybe manage a sandwich at lunchtime & fishfingers for lazy easy kids' dinner (60p). Lucky I did as I found £5.04 on the ground! This means I can put some diesel in the car to get through to Tuesday (Child Benefit) & get socks for DS1 from Sainsbury's plus more bread & milk (can use nectar points & giftcard from doing surveys). Also got some Sheba cat food to trial in post today & am awaiting a pack of Pampers & 2 men's formal shirts for DH to trial. I heart freebies! Ooh, and I have £5.88 coming from doing some others surveys & £10.80 from the clothes I sent off.

Economy, the products I trial are for lots of different sites - Tesco Home Panels, Tesco Mum's Choice, Supersavvy circle & others. I have had lots of nappies, clothes, dishwasher tabs, cat food, cleaning stuff, suncream...From MN I have had Metanium Everyday (plus got a free changing bag) & a cleaning spray. Means I get loads of parcels, which is exciting

Fluffy, depending on where you go out is there not some kind of supermarket nearby that sells multipacks of icecreams? Maybe not as cheap as the Aldi ones, but cheaper than cafes or ice cream vans.

Adora, what do you want to spend on your girls? How about something like a charm bracelet they can add to for each special occasion? Or a little hair bobbles/nail varnish/nice smellies kit each?

It's only DH who has an Ice cream when were out as I'm allergic to cows milk, we only need one.

My next plan is to put a stainless steel lined flask in the freezer overnight and then put the ice cream in before we go.

Still haven't managed a NSD here yet but today might be the day! Spent about £20 on household and grocery stuff and £15 to block book a few more weeks of a baby group I go to.

But on the plus side, I get a veg box delivered. I was going to cancel it but DP persuaded me not to as he says it makes us eat more healthily. Anyway, today they cocked up all the orders in my street and as a result they have given me a free box of fruit! Bananas, lemons, nectarines, plums, apples, peaches, pears and apricots! I have no idea how the hell I am going to get through it all even though we do eat quite a bit of fruit. Determined not to waste any though so some stewing might be in order!

(Oh sorry - the spending I did was all yesterday!)

I have had a NSD

My mum came over and took me shopping, so she paid for everything shopping and lunch My mum bought me cosmetics from Boots and Chocolate from Thorntons. My mum then bought DS shoes from Clarks, then we all went out for lunch Plus the weather has been great... what an awesome day :)

Spent £12 today

• £6 on a work shirt from Asda for DH as pens keep exploding and ruining his shirts
• £4 on 2 wooden chopping boards (my 14 year old one fell apart last night :()

and £2 on parking in town when I went to jobcentre

Tomorrow should be NSD, as both boys are away on a Grandparent sleepover, and I plan to get as many jobs done as possible around the house. Going to make a HUGE batch of pizza dough, and a bread&butter pud, and I might make some choc cakes too and scoff them all!

Milk. Ordering off Amazon, or such like, isn't so good for me here, mega import duties as well as postage charges, but thanks anyway.

Economy not mean at all, but as I have twins and t'other one doesn't like the same things it's always a bit of an ishoo. I have to get things organised to prevent OH going overboard or he'll spend vast amounts on one and then get stressed about it and try to go really cheap for the other. I try to get them to look past the price tag and appreciate the gift, but ILs others have made them very aware that this cost that much while that was much cheaper

Jenduck tuppence h'penhy if I could get something suitable!

I might look into vouchers, hadn't tought of that.

If anyone is interested, you can get issues of Good Food for £5 here. You need to remember to cancel your sub after that though, as they'll take £18 for the next six issues.

That should say issues of Good Food magazine.

jeez, why does it keep removing the 5?! That's 5 issues for £5.

Am very disappointed with myself. Aim for July was to get through the month without using any savings but I have. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

economy, did you say something about the Good Food magazine? Seriously good tip, thank you. Did you know you can get an online version for free, though which I think is virtually the same as the paper version.

nkf, frustrating, but don't beat yourself up too much. Do you keep a tally of every penny you spend? I try & write down every penny out & in on a basic Excel spreadsheet which helps me see where my money is going.

Almost an NSD yesterday but DH spent just shy of £8 on medicines for me which have (hopefully) knocked this bug on the head once & for all. Today will have to be NSD as have no money now at all! Did order £40 of Tesco vouchers to spend at Prezzo as it's our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday & my Dparents have promised to have DSes for us. Been looking at Groupon et al & you can get some amazing deals eg 2 nights including breakfast & a bottle of wine on arrival for 2 people in a hotel near Stratford-upon-Avon for £69! Very tempting...

nkf hugs! How are you planning your finance atm?

jenduck- fight the temptation!

So today is another NSD and I'm selling stuff on ebay I think my need to be a shopaholic is behind me (I pray).