Judicious June... the frugaleers continue!

[ArtemisatBrauron]

For those who like to plan ahead... god why is it not pay day already...

[ArtemisatBrauron]

I think someone may have mentioned this before, but this blog frugalincornwall.blogspot.co.uk/ is really inspiring, particularly the back story where the author talks about her journey out of debt.

It really made me see that so many things I take for granted are actually unnecessary.

[ExasperatedSigh]

I've been a rubbish frugaleer this week, dripping money away left, right and centre. DD has been sleeping badly and we're all knackered. Had an early start yesterday for fasting blood test at the hospital, had to take both kids too - so £2 on parking, followed by a tenner in a caff afterwards (emergency breakfast for me after fasting, plus treats for them for being good), followed by another £8 or so on more parking and another cafe lunch at the library. Usually I take lunch for us but was too destroyed to do anything other than throw money at the problem.

Going camping for a night which should be fun :) Spending on fuel, drinks and doughnuts, but no more.

[SpangleMaker]

exasperatedsigh have fun camping!

ArtemisatBrauron thanks for the blog link. I will have a look later when I plonk DC in front of CBeebies

NSD yesterday. Need to get some paint tester pots and probably some kind of bribe for dc but other than that no spending planned.

[TheConstantLurker]

Hi and happy June frugalling to you all.
DP's pay goes in on the 24th of the month. We are £500 away from the overdraft limit at the moment with several bills to come out still and I just paid £200 online for school dinners for the DCs.
it is very difficult to make so many decisions about how to send money. For instance I prefer to spend on school meals as the younger two DCs were returning packed lunches virtually uneaten, practically every day which seemed like false economy plus was very dispiriting personally.
Then Old Cat has been diagnosed with over active thyroid and the vet sells me special food for him. He eats tiny amounts, throws most of it up and it costs a fortune. But I would never not buy him it.
No Aldi or Lidl nearby here.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Why don't you ask about thyroid problems in cats on the litter tray section? Lots of good advice on there plus vets are on there too.

I'd pay for school dinners if a packed lunch wasn't being eaten, I loved our school dinners though.

[TheConstantLurker]

Yes I was thinking about asking for advice on the litter tray thread.
I loved my school dinners too. And although youngest moans she says she does eat them plus it has re introduced her to 'little yellow things'- sweetcorn, 'meat in gravy with stuff on top'- chicken pie and erm baked potatoes- 'mummy I had a jacket today' result!

[monikar]

TheConstantLurker We had to get special tinned food from the vet when our dog was ill and it was so expensive and he only ate a small amount and the tin had to be used up in 3 days... I wasn't as freezer-obsessed as I am now, but I am thinking could you freeze it in portions and so it would be less wasteful?

DD always had school dinners - packed lunches returned uneaten and then she was starving. For me too it was a false economy. I agree it does encourage them not to get too fussy - she readily ate loads of things at school which I had been trying to get her to eat for ages.

Not doing so well on the spending front, had to get groceries on Thursday £80, then had to get DD some bits yesterday - underwear and pyjamas, then today I will need more petrol. So still the 1 NSD for me this month.

[TheConstantLurker]

After posting on the litter tray bit I have decided to feed him tasty stuff he likes alongside offering the expensive special stuff- maybe or perhaps I could sell it? Thank you.
Anyone know a cheaper alternative to Lurpak? I cannot abide the taste of other butters or spreads but it's damned expensive. Do the Danes have a monopoly?
Also would love tips on how to tell my great hairdresser that I can't come back for anymore £50 cuts Been a regular for two years and really like him and his girlfriend. Oh and I pass the salon every day on the school run. Awkward!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Does your hairdresser do a training night? Just be honest, there's a recession on and people have to prioritise.

You can make butter out of double cream, put it in a jar and shake it side to side. It depends how "good life" you want to go really. Aldis quite cheap for double cream. Lurpaks not as salty as normal butter iirc, been years since I had butter due to allergies.

If anyone you knows goes to Costco they do big packs for £3 for 500g I think. Butter freezes really well. Or ask in the food section for Lurpak alternatives.

[Helenagrace]

Second NSD of the week planned for tomorrow.

Did a shop in Sainsburys because I had a £9 off a £90 shop voucher. I have some more that start tomorrow but these are £12 off a £60 shop!!! Food budget on track.

Going to chase a £35 cashback cheque and a £200 VAT cheque on Monday.

Aldi butter always tastes suspiciously Lurpack like to me.

[Helenagrace]

Forgot to add that Sainsburys are doing their big ham joints half price so I got a huge one for £12 last week. I slow cooked it and it did four meals plus two days packed lunches for three. Still on offer today.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Aldis version is called Norpak, I've seen the moneysavingexpert threads where they look at who makes the supermarket versions and someone reckoned Lurpak made Norpak. I don't know what evidence they had for that though.

I got a till-spit voucher for £15 off a £60 online shop if its your first online shop if anyone wants it I can post the codes (sainsburys)

[takeaway2]

Very bad spend today. I went to London to see an old friend. Tickets cost £21 after using a rail voucher (where they refunded money after a cock up). Friend paid for lunch thankfully!! But then we walked into hamleys. The last time I was there was 4.5 years ago. When I had one child and he was barely one.

Fast forward today I was with my second child and well. Lets just say we spent enough. So I'm going to ration things out. To be fair, £33 went to daddy's Father's Day present, and another thing was a present for a friend. Other things abound but I may be able to give them away as presents in which case I don't feel so bad as its forward buying...! Argh.

Hoping for NSD tomorrow.

[Raaraathenoisybaby]

Under 10 for me that's bloody progress! Picnic food shared with another family 3 quid and some ice creams and a tiny top up about a fiver.
Dd1 has blisters from her trainees and is a bit off colour so I might attempt a full on NSD tomorrow and just potter at home. I should have no major so ends until 3 night holiday end of the month.
Food budget is going brilliantly and I haven't spent up to my 40 limit for about a month we are cupboard and freezer eating so some v random dinners but the variety is doing us good. Dd2 will eat anything and it helps dd1 to be less fussy seeing her eat it so both kids are piles of haddock yesterday :-)

[AdoraBell]

Our open house thing isn't this weekend, I must have not checked my previous post, it's the end of June, but Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

I was on track for NSD today but was thwarted by DDs again. Went out, OH paid, before taking them To their friend's for a sleep over and half way there they realised they hadn't packed toothbrushes. That was £2.30 for 2.

OH bought himself a radio controled toy and is now regailing me with the instructions and his concerns about switching the thing on.

[Munchkin08]

Ohhelp, I am in the same boat as you - was supposed to be cc free by now - now aiming to be by summer hols. Still my lounge looks lovely and really homely for the first time in 12 years and totally done myself now the useless ex has left - but he's not happy said I should move now, but I'm not going too - bloody cheek !!!

[shortscotty]

spendy day Friday with supermarket and FIL day gifts. Technically a NSD yesterday but Boy 1 stayed out at friends then asked for tenner in case they go swimming or something sigh

[SpangleMaker]

£18 at B&Q yesterday on paint tester pots, brushes etc etc and 50p on a sad looking parsley plant. I am not known for my gardening skills so probably a waste!

Then £48 on petrol and treats for me DC.

Spending today at the new house so hoping for a NSD.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Re-pot it, a lot of those sad plants are pot bound, they have a huge root system cramped in a tiny pot.

Fresh herbs are lovely on the kitchen windowsill.

[roguepixie]

Hello everyone, I'm back again!! I fell off the wagon, well and truly, and need to make serious and significant changes that will be long term (rather than the short term 'oh-my-god-I-need-to-save-money variety).

So, I've found the thread, put my purse away and hidden my credit cards...ready for serious, permanent frugaleering.

I have a credit card debt to pay - can't hope to pay it quickly (as in two payments) but will chip away with as much as possible.

I am going back to ebay too. Need to get rid of stuff and would like to earn some money doing it.

[Raaraathenoisybaby]

59 shop in aldi which will last up to 3 weeks and I finally managed to list a load of stuff on eBay before the free listing weekend ended

[AdoraBell]

Hiya Rogue was thinking about recently as hadn't seen you for a while. Hope all is well.

NSD here, at last.