September is here and our money-saving steps up a gear

[economymode]

Starting us off for September. Newbies and old hands welcome!

adora, it's approvedfoods.co.uk I think - can't link as wriggling toddler on my lap

also, if anyone fancies £20 (cash or amazon vouchers) go here www.free20quid.com/r/1571216

it's an annoying survey involving a lot of opt outs, but you do get £20 credit at the end.

So, is a move back to the uk a serious option, do you think, adora?

£9.19 in Lidl and £5 in Tesco, which should keep us going until the end of the week, apart from milk. So maybe that £56 in Sainsburys last week was for the best!

Adora, how do you feel about possiby moving back?

Economy, thanks for the survey link, and sorry to hear that about your laptop.

Oh no lost my message but CET your planned spend is amazing. I am going to try hard to use stuff up this week but DP wants big apples and kitchen towel, will need goats milk and maybe cheese etc

Nearly missed the reduced bread at tesco, they had it in a white sack but let me root around in the bag and buy the loaves even thought they had scanned them as wastage.

Survey sounds interesting economy thanks.

Doing 5:2 diet. If I skip meals rather than spread out calories and buying fancy stuff it will prob be the cheapest way to diet (as opposed to low carbing).

economy what a nightmare about your laptop! A glass of water went over mine earlier in the year and it cost £300 to repair.

I don't seem to get on with Approved Foods, there is never anything on there that I want to buy!

Adora well done on the NSD!

Yesterday ended up being a spending day after all. I joined the gym and had to pay a fee plus a month upfront, which was £59. From now on it will be £33 a month which is the cheapest in our area by some margin.
Went into town to get DS1's glasses fixed (free) and took advantage of being there to pop into Holland and Barrett for flaxseed and dried apricots which were both 'buy one get one half price' - £11.77. Also spent £6 in Poundland, which I only ever go in when I happen to be in town - not very often! I got some toothpaste for DS2, a big pack of cookies, enough gift tags to do all my Christmas presents, some Tupperware, and a big bar of chocolate and a big pack of dental flossing stick things.

So £76.77 in total!

But, I returned a couple of things and got £57 credit to my account, plus I changed 120 euros back into ££s and got £90.
Also I was so quick in town that I only paid £1 for parking :)

Today is a NSD.

hope the survey gets you all a few £££

Just discovered that if I buy a new windows 7 laptop now, then I can upgrade to windows 8 for just £14.99. I imagine that new windows 8 laptops will be pretty pricey so may well go for it now. I also have a 10% off ebay code, so will see if there is anything on there.

ali, been there with the water too! Thankfully, it was in warranty then, so I got a free replacement as I had taken out a free month's trial of the accidental damage cover!

Approved Foods does sometimes have some really good stuff - tinned fruit in juice, couscous, lentils etc. I don't buy the muffins/chocs/sweets but if you do, then I imagine they are good for lunchboxes. I normally check it every few days as stuff sells out quickly. Nothing we need/want this time though.

Thanks for the approved foods code economy - clubbed together with a few neighbours, and our basket reached £48. I do order the muffins etc as they are an easy bride for my Dad when he's doing DIY!!
Also with the survey, account has been credited with £20 - but can't find a way of getting it actually 'paid' to ne - any ideas?

Wow adora would you want to come back to UK? The weather is sucky...

£40 spent today - £24 on petrol, £1 on 6 bottles of water, and £15 on aforementioned tops that are all lovely.

Leilandri - go to your account profile and you have a choice to either get paid in amazon vouchers or bacs - you need to add an account by clicking 'update'. They pay once a month. The above is from memory as on my phone, but should get you in the right direction. I'll look properly tomorrow if you have no luck!

No internet connection at home since Sunday pm...thank god for internet on my mobile, but reception v patchy in the house. Hope broadband line is fixed soon.

Anyway, just a quick post to report NSD's yesterday and today. Thanks for the voucher link ecinomy, will check it out as soon as internet comes back.

economy just did the survey but it seems the site won't actually pay out unless you have a balance of at least £100 - have I missed something? How do I get the £20 in the form of cash or amazon vouchers?

Lielandri

I know, but here we get so much radiation it's dangerous. The south has towns with no ozone cover, as much as I love the sunshine that hole in the sky makes me a tad nervy. Also, a degree from the UK is worth much more than a Chilean one. Today at the BBQ, lots of fun all round, a chap was telling us about his Uni days. Had a project & had to hand in a report. After pulling an all-nighter with other students they felt they needed another 8 hrs. Called Prof. and asked for more time.Prof said "why are you doing this? Just get a copy from last year's students, we only need your report". Plus there's the England cerca 1950 angle. OH was speaking to a chap here, from Argentina, who is fed up with the bank calling him to authorise every cheque his wife writes.

On the other hand, today's event in Mancherster puts me off, even though we wouldn't be near there. Is it any wonder I want to live in a little hut in the middle of nowhere?

Anyway, NSD here

It's surprisingly easy to not spend any money when you don't have any.

Need tips on how to spoil myself on my birthday tomorrow, for free. There's a challenge for ya! It's my thirtieth too.

Oh, Holla, didn't realise that - should really read all the small-print. Sorry, everyone

Oh dear, I'm not doing well. Just bought new winter boots, which I do kind of need. They're from the Boden junior section, so not as much as adult boots. Plus I used a 15% off and free p&p code I found on here. So all in all, £45. I'm not one of these people who can make shoes last a decade - I literally wear mine all day every day and do a lot of walking. Oh, and double nectar points. Look at me trying to justify my spending.

Still irked that I'm going to have to spend all the money I'm earning with this work on a new laptop.

Really should do the ironing and get away from the computer (MrEconomy's, not mine. Did I mentioned my toddler threw it on the floor. RAGE).

NSD yesterday - whoop. Quietly pleased with myself.

My dresses arrived yesterday and one is really, really itchy (I have issues with wool), so it's going back....£50 saved.

economy nightmare about your laptop....I've got all these type of things to come with DD I think I also feel your pain with wearing out shoes and boots. I walk a round trip of 4 miles a day (not a marathon I know) but I really struggled finding shoes and boots that would last longer than a few months. I ended up relenting a buying really ugly Croc slingbacks for about £20. They seem to be indestructable and can go in the washing machine. I change at work into work clothes and heels. The Crocs are great even in the rain as they dry so fast! Can't wear them in the snow though.... .

pookey - what's 5:2 diet? I could do with losing a few more pounds!

Lunch out with a friend today but only spent £5 so not too bad. Rest of the day will be a NSD.

Today hasn't gone all that well, have ordered some new clothes online. I have lost weight since last autumn, and things don't fit so I do need a few bits.

Spent £35 on a top up shop in Sainsbury's earlier - mainly fruit and carby things to try and fill my children up!
Also spent £2.70 on an hour of creche at the gym for DS2 - that is going to be a regular spend but I really do need to get fit and shift some more weight.

Tomorrow will be a NSD I think.

On the plus side I went through the bank accounts yesterday evening, and we are on target to be about £300 under budget for September which is brilliant! That is going in the pot towards our night away for our 5th anniversary at the end of next month.

Investments, Economy and Ali, investments :).

£13.80 today, on bus fares, our after school/ pre-swimming treat and a book from the charity shop. Oh, and £46.75 for the next lot of swimming lessons! Also had to pay £28 for Cubs last night. Guitar lessons cost £111 last week and I had my first Relate session on Monday, which cost £35.

Once you include back to school costs and DS's birthday, as well as 5 friends/children of friends, September for me is probably more expensive than Christmas!

Hmmm rabbits that IS a challenge....
: Could you visit a local museum? Ours has free entry.
: Take a picnic of yummy things to a pretty park, with a good book and enjoy some sunshine?
: Go to a Boots/Debenhams make up counter and ask for a free makeover?
: Phone your local vocational college to see if they need any people to practise massages/hair cuts/ nails etc on?
: Bake some yummy cakes at home and scoff the lot?
: Hot bath, candles, nice smelly bubble bath and all the time in the world

Spent £42 in Morrisons today on lots of bits and pieces, mostly freezer stuff.

Got to go up town tomorrow to hand in some job application forms, will pop into £land and get some spring bulbs for the allotment, so maybe £5 expected spend.

Happy 30th Birthday Rabbits Have some and x

Happy Birthday Rabbits!

I was going to suggest a museum or anywhere else locally that is free. There are a few English Heritage places around here that are free to go into the gardens, and you can take a picnic and have a nice walk.
Then some homemade cake and a film this evening?

:)

Happy Birthday, Rabbits :).

and .

Big happy birthday wishes to you from me, too, Rabbits!

Happy Birthday Rabbits! Hope you found some lovely things to do

Shoop check out the thread ( no 4 is latest) on weight loss topic. v interesting if your into diets!

Happy belated birthday rabbit! Hope you found a cheap way to have a nice day.

Still no internet at home, but quick report from phone so I don't lose track: NSDs Tues and Weds, £3 on green beans and cotton wool pads yesterday.

£2 in Poundland yesterday on some deodorant for Dh, and some mealworms for the chickens. What a glam life I lead!

NSD today. Waiting in for Approved Food order this morning, and catching up on housework while I wait. Then off to the allotment for a bit of path laying this afternoon

I am having a sleepover with my closest friends. Sort of a pyjama party. They are bringing pampering bits, films and some food. I shall provide beds and cake. It's possibly the best free thing I could have done.

My mother also took me shopping after a birthday takeaway. I have bulging cupboards for not a penny of my own. Bless her.