Austere August come join us!!

[takeaway2]

New thread.

Oh yes, just ordered DS1 a few school uniform bits, so that's £25.50. They are allowed to have plain stuff, so I have literally just ordered one each of sweatshirt & polo shirt with badge, PE trousers as they are quite a unique colour & book bag. Will try to go into town on Thursday & get lunch bag, have seen a good Spiderman deal in Home Bargains.

Right just caught up again. Most of this month's spending is done now. Today should be an NSD. Can't believe the TC letter confused - not what you need right now

Applying for another job today as I'm still hoping to tell the college where they can stuff their zero hours "keep three days entirely free for us so we can decide 5 days before the start of term whether we want them or not" contract.

We're going away for 10 days and I want to use that time to rethink how we do things to see if I can save more money and time. I'm going to draft a monthly meal plan and shopping list to use - currently I meal plan weekly and I have a freezer list but I buy meat ad hoc. I think I can do better!

Sainsburys have sent me 6 weeks of £12 off a £60 shop so I'll be using them for a few weeks . I've also go some £6 off a £40 tesco vouchers. Every little helps...

Hello Ladies, welcome to all newbies - masses of room in here.

I'm back from a few days spent with SIL (took DS) and had a great time. Spent a bit (groceries etc to help her out) but spends were minimal really.

Came back to find DH (bless his little cottons) had ordered the new dishwasher (mine went phutt 10 days ago and we couldn't fix it without spending almost it's worth in parts and labor) and had installed it. It is lovely. I am a little bit in love with it (not DH, he's been around for years so he's not new ). It's shiny and beautiful.

Off to give blood later and think I may have parking fees associated with that, , as it's at a different site to where I usually go.

confused, you've just reminded me ... need to sort out new blazer for DS (plus trousers, short, vest, socks ................)

Arrrrgggghhhh!! Just got gas prepaid meter installed. Put in a tenner to start it off, and it immediately takes money out of my tenner and I've only got £3.97 left!!!! WHY?!?!? It'll cost more time and hassle to get that £6 back from British Gas (as inept as they are, they'll screw that up and it'll end up costing me even more!!). grrrrrrr

Back from giving blood - parking fees £2.50, stop off at Sainsbury's has cost me £36.00 ... on nothing I actually needed (with the possible exception of bleach).

Sorry to hear your gas theft Trigglesx. Could it be that there was that much 'owing' from the last user? If so, BGas defo need to refund you.

NSD here...need a few more of those though this week!

Very spendy day today but most of it necessary. Started off with £4 at M&S cafe, meeting my grandparents & sister. Then £3 in The Entertainer, lunch bag & tub for DS1 (lunch bags alone £6.50 in Sainsbury, so pleased with that). Then £3.50 in Tesco on plimsolls for DS1, meant I got free parking, so not bad. Then £30.65 in Sainsbury on not a lot really! - 4 x meat, 2x 4-packs of fizzy drink, 3x 5 pouches of smoothies for DC, mascara, baby bath, cheese, Clover, cornflakes x 2, weetabix, tea x2, cakes for Weds playdate. My money doesn't seem to go far there! Used £2.50 of Nectar points I got through Adpoints, though . Then spent £57 on diesel as had 6p/litre off so filled up. Then finally £3.50 in Farm Foods on ham & bacon. Half the food I bought was for camping, so v useful. Total spend today inc. school uniform earlier £134.15

rogue well done for giving blood, but it's a bit rubbish that it costs you

Triggles I've never had one, but prepaid gas/elec meters sound like a pain

Helena hope you get the other job, zero hours does not sound great

Can you change the tariff on that pre-payment meter? Considering that they get the money upfront you'd think that they would want us on pre-payment not dd or quarterly.

Truggles speak to them about it, could be as suggested a previous occupant's debt.

Rogue well done, here have a and

Having bought enough food for the week I spent another £30 today. DD1 is laid low with a vomiting bug so I had to stock up on the nasty sugar laden drinks I don't normally allow as all I had was fresh juice. Also remembered chicken wings for the dogs and got some extra chicken and rice in anticipation of at least 3 of us being on bland food before the week is out, I'm already feeling rough 2 down, 2 to go

Helena FX for that job.

Haven't posted here in a while but have been reading & working away at my budget - had a major victory today - 2nd last electricity bill ?290 last one ?206 this one ?120 - I've been vigilant turning off switches everywhere especially stepson's room, and of course dryer hasn't been on much. Delighted with this - so next bill is due week I start mat leave and will have it paid before it even comes by putting a bit towards it each week, as will phone bill, car tax for year, local property tax, tv license for next April, wood pellets for winter.

Also purchased 7 preloved birth to potty reusable nappies in advance of our new arrival & am going to cut out buying a pack of pullups and nappies twice a month for 3 yo dd as she can use these for naps and nighttime now.

Signed up for a one month newborn nappy loan as well which will cover me until baby is big enough for the ones I purchased for just ?30, this also affords me the opportunity to trial different brands to see which other preloved ones I will purchase.

Each week also am adding to my freezer with leftover meals ahead of busy times with either late pregnancy or newborn stage. This is not by buying extra food just snapping the leftovers up before dh thinks of having round 2/3!

Have also brought down the food bill a fraction.

Thank you confused and Adora ... Adora, hope it's ok but I had an ice cream instead of ... now I want .

Spendy day for me:M took DS to dentist so £25 for the check up. Thankfully he has good teeth and no fillings at all so far. Got to take him back on Friday for a visit to the hygienist so that will probably be about £40.00. Another £53.00 spent on coffee and £35.00 on sushi - it is a standing treat that if DS gets another all clear on the teeth front then sushi follows - I got it to bring home this time as very definitely cheaper than letting him pick off the conveyor belt. £12.00 spent on huuuuuuggggggeeeeeee bag of jelly beans. Have online delivery tonight too.

It's going to be a NSD tomorrow.

Oh, got a significant reduction in our home/contents insurance. Rang them and they said they could reduce it by about £50.00, so I said, no thanks, can get it much much cheaper. They then decided to tell me about a cheaper insurance they offer (most cover is the same or similar with a few differences) - half saved - that's £250.00!!!

Just re-read your post Adora. Really hope you don't get struck down and, if you do, you bounce back quickly. Hugs to your DD, hope she feels better soon.

Right, I am going to sort out insurance for the house, set up a new phone line and broadband for the house and drop a jean size.

I will also order new led lightbulbs as I royally messed up and ordered the wrong ones.

I'm so used to not spending money it feels odd to do so.

Had to go to Tesco -can't live on Ryvita until payday on Friday! £26.20 but that included a huge box of Persil, which I needed and was £8 instead £12,it should last a couple of months. Also got a £7 off next shop voucher so feel a bit better about it not being a NSD. All paid for with cash found by scrabbling round my purse and DH's wallet. Cards aren't coming out for as long as possible!

I am inspired by your house insurance roguepixie have car insurance to do later this month and want to try to reduce it down again - did save by switching last year.

Can't remember when I last popped in.... seem to have been so busy....

Last week was expensive with a huge food shop (incl store cupboard items) but not had to buy food so far this week & hoping it stays that way till next tues!

Spent £20 today on entrance fees, ice creams and teas (friends bought teas for me yesterday so my turn to pay back) but rest of week should be cheap if not NSD's.

Still have house ins to sort by a week on Friday so must get hunting for best deal!

£1.50 yesterday as I needed change out of a note, NSD today. There are a couple of bills to come out of the bank and thanks to holiday deposit refund we should have a little bit in the bank til payday Friday. Clamping down on the spending again though as I have been very uninterested in my budget book or bank balance charts this month, not sensible I know. Going to have to get back on to it I think, we are having the bathroom done after Christmas so that gives me a focus to save for.

Just £1 today on chocolate But baby wanted it

Tomorrow will probably be just a similar amount on cakes, as have playdate in the morning that I've already bought cakes for & going to grandparents in afternoon.

Thursday will have to pay £230 nursery fees, then parking for hospital for scan plus small amount for copies of scan.

my babies only ever wanted broccoli.

I'm having an NSD other than school run roads tolls. DD is improving but V sleepy, eating very small amounts of simple food. I'm not too bad so far, think I got off lightly because if being fractionally bigger than her.

Well, my NSD has gone to hell in a handcart . £9.60 on bagels (which I shared with my Mum). They are sooooooooooo delicious and freeze well.

My lovely Mum and Dad are taking DS and I on the London Duck Tour next week - so that's something to look forward to. Then DS is off to Thorpe Park with his friend for his birthday and the Pompei exhibition at the British Museum the day after.

Adora, glad DD is starting to feel better and that you haven't been hit too hard.

confused, at "baby wanted it".

Been some spending ups and down since I last posted, but nothing too major. Ordered DS's school jumpers yesterday and got school shoes for £18 in M&S. Can't believe my little PFB is starting school in just a few weeks.

NSD today, out of pure laziness. Have various things to do tomorrow that involve spending. Then it is our posh meal out on Friday :) and next week we're on holiday!

Adora I hope your DD is better now and that no one else was visited by vomit.

confused good luck with your scan :)

DD is much better this evening, going back to school tomorrow.

I spent £6 on materials for DD2's school activity and £8 in the supermarket. DDs were horrified by the offal on display today, t'was very enducing. I don't eat offal but have started buying it for the dogs, among other things.

Husband Dog training didn't happen yesterday so I need to try and reschedule for tomorrow.

Glad DD is feeling better Adora

Exasperated my PFB also starts school in a couple of weeks, don't know whether to be sad that I won't have lovely long days with my boys any more, or excited that he's excited!

rogue enjoy London, those Duck Tours sound great for small boys

Spent about £9.50 yesterday in Sainsbury's, for school jumpers x 2 (£4.50 down from £6) & polo x 2 (75p down from £2) and some chinese food bits & body spray. They have 25% off clothes including school uniform if anybody needs any.

Also £4.49

Midwife has just been to do my booking in appointment & give me my blood test forms. Am 12 weeks & apart from booking in at GP's, this the first time I've seen anybody this pg They really do leave you to your own devices when it comes to DC3, it seems! Have scan this afternoon, still desperately hoping DH can make it, he won't know till lunchtime. Also, have to take 4-year old (well-behaved) DS1 with me regardless, as have asked 6 different sets of people & nobody can babysit him. Just hope hospital is OK with his presence! Apart from that, nothing planned, but may treat DS1 to McDonald's where there is soft play, as all these appointments are rather boring for him.

£4.49 was on cake at a farm shop! Hugely expensive, but homemade & yummy

I'm just trying to keep to a lousy NSD today. Just one NSD for heaven's sake. LOL Every day I try to do this, and something comes up. Swimming lesson to pay for yesterday, electric key the day before, gas card the day before that. It just never ends.

I have petrol, enough groceries for a few more days (before I need to stock up on milk, bread, and fruit again), and utilities paid for a bit. With any luck, I can get through today without spending anything.

rogue I did the duck tour last year - kids loved it although its slightly nerve wracking as you descend into the Thames, the water rises much higher than I'd imagined!

I've had a pretty good no spend week, it's much easier without the children around! Although went to pot last night as DH and I met friends at a bar, food, drink and a 2am finish later I dare not even look at the receipt (over consumption of vodka cocktails means I cannot actually remember )

DH has a job interview later - I'm so nervous for him