Put those purses down and enjoy an austere August instead

[economymode]

A new thread to support those wishing to rein back their spending - come one, come all.

Please may I join?

We got paid today so feel like we are starting afresh.

We are trying out drawing cash out and using that this month rather than using the card absent mindedly.

I bought a battery charger today as our one broke and I really missed it, especially when I'm using DS's vtech computer thing as a temporary babysitter when I need to get somethings done! It'll obviously pay for itself I hope but that was £10 today.

Welcome geek

Thanks, Fluffy - I've seen that before but unless things have changed, their app isn't available for Windows phones...

Geek, I have started using the cash method and has found that it really does work - good luck!

Friday was quite spendy - in-laws picked up the Pizza Express bill (but appreciated the 25% off) but we then spent £52 on a spa session each (£26 each for 2 hours). It was worth every penny though - we hadn't had an afternoon with just each other for a year. It's not something we'll do more than once a year, but as a one-off treat I'm happy splash out.

£1.50 on a paper yesterday and that was it. Going to have to do the Aldi shop when we're back this afternoon, but hoping that will come in at under £30.

Spent £35 on an "admin charge" yesterday for telling Hastings car insurance that we moved. Realised half way through call that as we have mail redirection I didnt really have to tell them but I'm a scaredy cat who plays by the rules.

I'll never use them again though for car insurance.

Cat has to go to vets today as he's had the crap beaten out of him by a male cat. Dont know how much that will be. I'm assuming £££.

Fluffy, really hope your cat is ok . Do you have insurance? We don't, as our cat is an old lady and rarely leaves our garden, but it's something I think we would get if we had a younger specimen - vets' bills scare me something chronic.

No, we have savings though.

He's never had a cut eyelid before from fights, just nicked ears or a scratched nose, I've never seen him fight like that before though, it was full on.

It is swings and roundabouts between using savings and paying a monthly insurance premium, isn't it? Either way, it's money.

Hope he has learned the error of his ways and is just an innocent bystander from now on.

Fingers crossed the bill isn't too extortionate. Do you know the owner of the other cat? Even if you did, I guess the argument "cats will be cats" would be used.

I am mean. I have told my kids they are not even having a bunny, let alone a cat or a dog.

Valium, children aren't the problem for me - I love animals, grew up with dogs, cats, horses, ducks, rabbits...

My son isn't old enough to want a pet, but I am!

My husband, on the other hand, is not an animal lover, so we have a one-in, one-out pet policy. Would love a dog, but think that'll never happen, at least not for a while.

But, if I weren't fussed about animals, I can completely see why you'd want to avoid getting one. They can be very very expensive.

My DH would love a dog, and I have said no, largely due to the cost, and the fact that I would end up walking it and clearing up after it. I understand there are folk who love animals, but I would not call myself an animal lover. It amazes me how people can spend thousands on vets bills, but I guess it is all down to people's priorities. I know some folk think I am mad having three kids. They are all our babies, it is just some are fluffier than others.

I do hope your cat is soon fighting fit again.

fluffy just read your cat thread. Sounds quite nasty. I do hope he is ok.

DH has said a new cat would be cheaper.

£60 at vet but hopefully no serious damage. He's on antibiotics just in case he has a cut she didnt spot and it grows into an abcess.

So this weekend;

Hair £65 (my one indulgance)
Cat £60.
Car insurance admin rip off fee £35.

If any owners turn up I shall ask them to pay for my cats injuries as their cat is clearly trespassing. My cat will never back down, thats the problem.

And there was me buying mark down joints of beef and cooking it all in the oven with the chicken thinking my self frugal.

fluffy it could have cost so much more, and he should hopefully be ok.

In relation to the admin fee for the insurance, if you made a claim they may well say you were not covered if you had not informed them of a change in address. At least the cost did not go up as well.

And you hair looks lovely BTW

Apologies for the mean comment about your naughty fluff ball. That was very insensitive of me and I have been feeling very guilty

I didnt take it as mean. , I am a scaredy cat with insurance because I know whatever they can do to wriggle out of claims they will do.

First thing DH said when I told him the bill was that a new cat would have been cheaper.

Glad I did not upset you.

My Gran, now deceased, said that when she was little they actually killed and ate her rabbit as times were so tough (bet the rabbit was too) but they did not tell her until after she had eaten her dinner. She was far too devout to fib.

Naughty DH! Lucky cat!

Glad your cat will be ok Fluffy.

Had to give in and buy a new pair of jeans yesterday- I'd been hoping that I'd shrink into the 2 pairs the next size down I have but it hasn't happened and I needed another pair, they were only cheapy New Look ones and I had a bit of money left on a gift card so that was £11.

We also had to get DS some shin pads but managed to get them in the sale so that was good.

Haven't spent anything today, in fact gained some as MIL gave the kids spending money for the zoo tomorrow (clubcard vouchers paying for that) so good time today!

Another NSD for me. I am being such a good girl making the food stretch too. Made a lovely budget meatloaf for tea, and there is enough for another meal too. I even made a bargainous trifle for the kids, just jelly, trifle sponges and frais on top. My online shop was all value or half price, and so far the only issue I have had is with the bread rolls my DH picked up from Sainsburys. The Tesco ones were lovely and soft, but the Sainsburys were as dry as week old bread, hence the meatloaf.

If you need a new phone theres an offer on talkmobile via the carphone warehouse, they piggyback on vodafones network rather like giffgaff piggybacks on O2's network.

It's a sony xperia smartfone for £7.50 a month, 250 mins, 5000 texts and 500mb of web access BUT if you go via topcashback or quidco you get £35 cash back on a 24 month contract.

So my old iphone 3 was going to be £10 per month for text and 500 mb and no free minutes but for £7.50 I will get minutes to ring dh when I'm bored.

DH went to get his with and wasnt keen on cashback and is now that I'm getting cashback.

I can sell my old iphone, once I've got all my wedding photos and very important random photos of the cat off it.

Cat now watching the road incase the other cat has the temerity to be over the road and has taken his antibiotics.

Glad to hear your cat will be fine, fluffy :).

My old lady is 14 and basically an indoor cat, but I still pay pet insurance. I'll probably let it lapse next year though.

Havent seen you on here for ages cremeEggThief, are you still being frugal? I havent seen boffinmum either.

Fluffy, I was away for a few weeks visiting family and friends in Ireland, so switched data off completely to keep mobile costs down!

I've been 'back' for a few days now. Still trying to be frugal, but RL has been very complicated and stressful this summer, so I haven't been a useful or reliable contributor. Sorry all.

Newbie here! Delurking after weeks (nay months!) of procrastinating! Payday today, all bills paid, budgeted for remaining SO/DD and spent £39.28 of £100 (per week) house budget. Its here I need most help and KNOW I can save money on this expenditure. DS3 is in a nighttime nappy only now so thats saving a small fortune! I really admire those who can live on £30-40 odd a week. Despite all my attempts at planning, I never quite get there. To aid my new leaf Ive programmed everything into an app to help me keep track and find out where all my money is going!

I spent money! In a real shop! I went to Asda and spent my entire £50/week food budget, but that did include £5.50 worth of school uniform items. My Mum took us as I cannot drive, and she was more trouble than the kids.

I missed a couple of things off the list as I was wanting to strangle all three of them, and pester power, backed up by Grandma, won on a couple of occasions. First time 'proper' out in 6 weeks, so was a bit overwhelmed tbh.

I hereby solemnly swear to only by groceries online whilst sober from now on.

Sorry, hello mum2Fergus welcome. I delurked only recently, and am finding it very helpful. I liken it to being on a diet and getting weighed each week. Much easier than doing to on your own. Have you thought about putting your youngster in a washable nappy at night? Initial outlay to consider, but you could sell on after and it would not take long to recoup costs considering the expense of pull-ups.