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

[economymode]

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

riverboat

I chopped and browned them last night, you can leave them whole but I still brown them even then.

My nsd failed as DSS starts footy again tomorrow but had no boots that fit him, argh. £25 later he's sorted. They were in the sale too, so slightly better :)

Hope you like the thighs riverboat nervous now!

Spent a grand total of 20p today. Spent morning at home cleaning, then went to a friends house for coffee and cake this afternoon. DS1 came home from hols in France today with my folks so on the way home I gave him 20p to get a chocolate Freddo from the shops, as his "legs were so tired he didn't think he'd make it home without chocolate for energy" FFS he's only 3!!!

Got to do a top-up shop tomorrow - milk, bread, cheese, beans, bananas. Hopefully no more than £10 unless anything awesome is in reduced chiller

Silk, I have to brave the maternity allowance form in a few weeks. Not looking forward to it. But I am looking forward to all that it entitles me to!NSD today, but need to buy bananas and apples tomorrow.

Wow these threads move along quickly! Enjoying the tips.

Three September NSD's for me. Also was given a load of free apples and some blackberries at the weekend, so spend hours peeling, chopping and baking. DH and DS's happily sampling.

But I failed today. £13 DS's haircuts. £18 on lunch out with a friend. But, I went to the card factory (thanks for the tip!) and stocked up on 20 cards for £2; and got two childrens birthday gifts in the Works for £7. Also I have gone through school clothing today and realised that the extra pack of socks I lobbed in the shopping basket last month for DS2 arent really needed so they will be returned for £5 refund.

Today I only spent £1.60 on the roads. I've gone back to baking and cooking properly after slipping into bad habits when I had puppies living in the kitchen. Don't ask. I have the kitchen back and clean again, so I'm using it

Tomorrow there'll be road tolls, parking and shopping- a top up and costumes for school, Independance celebration in two weeks. I'd forgotten about that.

Morning :)

Yesterday ended up being a spendy day.
£10 lunch in Sainsbury's
£68 spend in Sainsbury's (2 birthday cards, birthday present for a friend's DD, new landline phone for the house as existing one keeps dropping calls plus bread, bananas)
Karate was free because it was DS1's first class, so it will be £49 next week to join which includes the uniform and a month of classes.

Today I am taking the boys out with a friend and her DDs. Pizza Express, so will be about £30 for a pizza for me and 2 kids menus plus drinks.
I also need to get some coldsore patches, so they will be about £6 I think.

The boots £5 voucher is back. I got 3 bottles of my cleanser for £15 the bottles of setting lotion I bought to get the voucher kind of cancel it out but the S&B thread told me I had to try setting lotion I have another £5 voucher to spend too from buying the cleanser so I should be able to get nearly a years supply for £30.

One tube of Liz Earle is £20 and I used to think myself frugal for using that.

Bought reduced baking potatoes in morrisons for 45p for a big bag and a big bag of mushrooms marked down for 24p for the spag bol. There selected seconds, once it's chopped up in a bol no one will notice.

The card factory is brilliant isnt it? and the staff in my local one are really nice, so polite when the place is heaving with customers. I cant believe anyones paying £4 plus for greeting cards thesedays. I've seen Asda sell tatty bear cards a £1 cheaper than clintons sell them for. Good for gift bags for xmas too.

Ok, so today i spent the last of the money.

Cheese, bread, a cauliflower and hay for the Gpigs.

Tomorrow will be a NSD because I have nothing to spend!

Thankfully we are sorted till mon with things like food etc, bills to pay on friday when dh gets paid.

I use Liz Earle fluffy (well, for now!)
Did you get yours from boots??

No, I use boots no7 hot cloth cleanser now. Funnily enough the woman who served me used to use LE too and we talked about how good the no7 one is.

I miss the euclyptus oil in it but apart from that it seems to work the same.

I use a big bottle of spring water to act as toner. I miss the toner sometimes, it smelt wonderful.

£21.65 total spend for today. I will read through later.

Oh great, I'm another fan of the No 7 hot cloth cleanser, and with the voucher it's £5 a bottle. Marvellous .
Not much spent here - £2 in tesco top up, but a £5 for DH's work trousers to be repaired. I need to learn to sew! Actually, from today I'm officially a SAHM, so I need to up my wifely game (not really, am far from a stepford wife).

Nearly a NSD but had to pay HMRC my £10.60 NI contribution for the month as they buggered up my direct debit - does that count?!

Did my 'weekly' (could be 10 days, could be 3!) shop at Costco this week, so now have huuuge amounts of various foodstuffs (not many veggies, but I'm making it up with extra fruit )

Cooked 2 chickens (£7) and ate half of one between us (me + 3DCs) for tea, now have the other one + legs and bits to make at least 2 more meals.

My friend introduced me to Card Factory (7 for £1) a few weeks ago and also took me to some of the other 'bargain' shops nearby. She enters all her spending into a spreadsheet with categories for everything, she's so organised she puts me to shame! I need to get on top of it all though so am taking tips from her and from you!

Fluffy, I use HSBC too and got 18 months free banking as it was classified as a new account rather than transfer of account (which was 6 months free banking) but even after the initial period, most stuff is still free. The only charge that will affect me is for paying in more than 5 cheques a month (but the amount they charge will still be less than paypal fees for customers paying me by card). Most other charges seem to be for counter services, but if you bank online and use the cash machine its not an issue. I second that they are very helpful so far (only been a couple of months).

I use Liz Earle, it is lovely. I used to be a big No.7 fan but I've gone off most stuff recently, it doesn't seem to suit my skin in the way it did.

Doing that is the deal we have. 18 months free, and then I think ours will continue to be free after that because we will only need a very limited range of services.

Spent £20.61 in Sainsbury's - coldsore patches, toothbrush and savlon. Tea out was £28.

Tomorrow is a possible NSD. We don't need any food, and I think we have everything we need for our trip away. DH will be going into town to pick up his new glasses (already paid for) so I guess he might end up spending something!

Today was a NSD :)

Yesterday only £2.34, bircarb and condensed milk - for flapjacks!

I made Badvoc's recipe, they were amazing! I don't think I've ever baked something for the first time and it's come out perfect. Will make another batch with the left over condensed milk and try not to eat them all Can you freeze flapjacks?

I've got less than £2 in my purse, until Monday. My Oyster card is topped up and there's nothing else I'll need, bar a pint of milk perhaps, so it'll be a successful week.

I've got about £47 in my bank account. In the past, I'd check my balance and think, "Ooh, I've got £47 to spend!" That's why I've been so bad with money in the past, I spent it just because it was there.

I can feel a shift in my thinking, I get the same buzz now from saving money that I used to get from spending it, it's all very encouraging.

Finally had a proper bra fitting today - been putting it off as I knew I was going to need bigger ones (pregnancy boobs). £60 later, I come out with decent support. Wish my maternity exemption card was valid at Bravissimo! Excellent customer service though.

Car now fixed, so I just need to pluck up the courage to go and ask my neighbour for £287. Eek.

Leilandri - the recipe was great! I had to cook it for closer to an hour rather than 30m, but I think it's because the oven dish I used wasn't particularly appropriate. And with the flageolet beans soaking up all the lemon juice and garlic at the bottom of the dish, it really gave the whole dish a boost! Even my DP really liked it, and he doesn't generally like lemony/garlicky things.

I've spent ?15.07 / £11.93 today on the birthday present. Not too bad, at least it's bought now!

Not a good day here,

Roads -£2.40
Parking -£1.20
Lunch -£6
School costumes -£35 for both DDs
Top-up shopping, offers on non-perishables £30

No need to go ino the capital again for at least a week, so for the next few days I should manage NSD's

I am very proud to announce a NSD.

Hello, can I join in too please? I've enjoyed lurking on and off since you started in Jan, but am facing a few weeks on statutory sick pay as I had a hysterectomy on Mon. That means I could do with some focus, and especially not spending on amazon etc while I'm recovering. Was very lucky to have my op done with BUPA, although I'm yet to find out what my bill for any extras will be (like phone calls because no phone reception meant I couldn't use my mobile, grrr)

Hello parttimegoddess

Welcome aboard, hope you have a speedy recovery.

I'm planning another NSD tomorrow, feel the need to recover from today so 'll probably pop back on Friday.

Adora, I really feel for you with the constant amount you have to shell out for school uniforms, equipment, costumes etc. Did you say you had a viewing on the house? Any news?

Welcome from me, too, parttime.... Hope your recovery period is unproblematic. Hopefully, we'll be able to help you resist the urge to splurge online!

Hi ecomony

Nothing yet, but the agent may have someone to look at the weekend, thanks for asking. Have you spoken to your neighbour yet? You should, especially as she offered to pay for the damage.

I've just arrange coffee with a friend for tomorrow, first time in a couple of months so that should be about £3

It's never ending with the schools here, the latest is they should have football boots in addition to trainers for the few times they will be selected for the hockey team. Some teachers can go whistle