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Original poster

November Numbercrunchers *blows the budgeteering bugle*

480 replies

claretandamberforever · 31/10/2013 19:40

In here please.

Feel free to post a daily spending diary, to ask for advice or just for a general money moan.

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 08/11/2013 19:17

£4.70 today- or it will be after 9 p.m., when I've picked DS up from Scouts and we've caught the bus home!

Hope you feel better soon, Helena Wine

ilovepicnmix · 08/11/2013 19:26

Oh dear turnoff. That's a whopper! Were you expecting it? I reckon a bottle of wine will soften the blow and then back to frugality tomorrow.

£3.63 on a few random bits and bobs in b&m.

Turnoffthelights · 08/11/2013 19:41

Thank you picnmix. Think maybe I was expecting it as had almost queried a DD mistake on April's bill but as it was kind to my budget at that time sort of ignored it. I'm usually so frugal; lurk on here, a girl called jack, mortgage free in 3, turn off everything, budget for everything, sitting in dressing gown with heating off etc. I blame my cravings for deep hot baths when pregnant and having a winter baby! Trouble is, when you budget to within an inch of your income successfully, a big expenditure is hard to take.

Anyway, enough about me...after lots of lurking would just like to say 'well done all' these threads keep me inspired, amused and ever resourceful. Good to know even when TSHTF there is someone else out there paying for a pint of milk in pennies from the jar with a satisfied smile on their face!

Possiblyorange · 08/11/2013 21:07

Turnoff I would probably get a bottle of wine after a bill like that! What a nightmare. Would it be worth asking for a slight increase in DD to avoid it happening next year too?

Did well with prep for our long car journey today, so didn't end up buying anything en route, which was good. Did indulge in a 59p packet of Lidl twix-alikes earlier today though, so we polished those off in the car.

Am feeling peeved as I made a batch of bottom-of-the-fridge soup yesterday evening and left it out on top of the hob and now we are away till Sunday night, so suspect it will be off before we get back Sad

Helenagrace · 08/11/2013 23:25

Not an NSD but managed to enter Waitrose with a list and leave with only the things on the list so that's quite a breakthrough for me.

My eye is slowly improving. I've only had diclofenac today instead of a whole load of painkillers. Really pleased and hopeful I can avoid an injection into my eye.

ilovepicnmix · 09/11/2013 07:22

Grrrr possibly. That is annoying. Is there anyone with a key who could fridge or freezer it for you?

Possiblyorange · 09/11/2013 08:21

Unfortunately not ilove - we love 200 miles from nearest family and no local friends have keys. So bloody annoying, although no major drama in the grand scheme of things I suppose.

Need to get some puzzle books today for train journey with DC1 next week, but there are a couple of cheapy bargain book shops in the town we're staying in so am hoping to only spend a few quid.

northender · 09/11/2013 08:24

Welcome turnoff, stick with us, we're a friendly bunch Smile.
Last night was spendy as dh and I went to a concert with some friends but it was budgeted for (and worth it, the concert was brilliant!)
This week should be okay, I'm trying to get a Christmas present a week out of the ordinary budget to leave the Christmas budget to cover the laptop and tablet for the dc's Christmas. They are not used to such extravagance at Christmas but ds is at high school now so a laptop would make things much easier. The tab for dd will be a budget one!
Food shopping today and then shopping for clothes with dd. She has her birthday at the end of the month so the shopping is budgeted for and partly funded by Nan Wink
Have a good weekend everyone

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/11/2013 08:51

I love my spin dryer. I put washing on an airer overnight in a room with no heating and the trickle vents open and it's dry.

Usually it would still be damp.

Hopefully a NSD today.

Turnoffthelights · 09/11/2013 11:32

Thank you Northender! I'm travelling to London for a friend's party today. Trying to keep it as frugal as I can. I'm going by megabus £8 return, already have money on my Oyster card so that's travel covered. I'd usually get a lift to the coach stop from OH but he has taken dd to grandparents so instead of the tempting notion of a taxi (raining and coach stop in an awkward place) I'm getting the bus part way, £2.30, then a half hour walk (comfy shoes and umbrella at the ready). I have a lunch packed and have even decanted the rest of the bottle of wine into an old sprite bottle to drink whilst getting ready later tonight!

Good idea about getting something each week for Christmas. I'm mostly sorted for presents but we're hosting this year so need to start thinking about dinner and all the trimmings.

monikar · 09/11/2013 13:58

Fluffy that is good going for washing in a room with no heaters. I hang all my washing on airers and in hangers in doorways (so attractive) but it usually takes about 24 hours to dry. My only concern with a spin dryer would be the creases. Does it crease clothes more? I really hate ironing.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/11/2013 14:04

Too soon to tell atm, I fold before it goes in so so far it's ok.

monikar · 09/11/2013 14:09

I hadn't thought of folding it first - that is a good idea.

Possiblyorange · 09/11/2013 14:17

turnoff well done on planning a cheap party outing! I have been doing similar for a weekend in London in a couple of weeks - have managed to get a refund on hotel booking and am staying with a relative instead, and am going by national express rather than train (a whopping £50 cheaper!!).

Having an inadvertent NSD by dint of not leaving the house. DH is out with the DCs, hope he has managed it too.

I have my eyes on a sum I need to make by the 18th (basically, our rent plus a bit extra) as that's always where we slip into our overdraft (much of DH's salary goes on nanny salary at end of month, and I'm the one not being rigorous about earning enough from my self employed work to make the rent by mid-month). Might need to do some mad eBay listing on Sunday/Monday to make it happen, but am determined not to slip into the OD this time, for the first time in a year.

monikar · 09/11/2013 14:38

Possibly I need to do some eBay listing too - I keep putting it off. A friend of mine who is very successful at eBaying said that it is best to list stuff to end at about 8pm on a Sunday night as that attracts the most viewers. Most people are in on a Sunday evening, getting ready for work and school and are more likely to be on their computers than other nights of the week. I have tried this a few times and it has worked well.

Possiblyorange · 09/11/2013 15:05

I have a few bits scheduled to start tomorrow - the debate is really whether to start the remaining stuff on mon/tue or schedule it for next weekend. Suppose I could do a shorter listing, but never seem to get the same number of watchers/bids on a 3 day listing.

stiffstink · 09/11/2013 15:13

I list at around 8pm on a Thursday for 10 days so its on for two weekends. Usually aim to list at 8pm ish so that its ending at 8pm on the second Sunday.

CremeEggThief · 09/11/2013 15:19

Free Listings on eBay this weekend, all!

monikar · 09/11/2013 15:25

I don't think a 3 day listing is worth it really - I never get the same interest as with the 7 or 10 days.

SolidGold · 09/11/2013 15:57

I need to do some ebaying too. Thanks for the tip about listing to end Sunday evening. Is anyone else finding that a lot of stuff doesn't sell anymore? I used to sell books and CDs, but it is difficult to get anything for them now it seems. What sort of things does everyone here sell?

stiffstink · 09/11/2013 16:27

I haven't sold for a while but mainly branded clothing, particularly dresses. I tend to buy Monsoon etc as they have a good resale value on ebay, or at least they used to.

Depending on the colours, I list according to events eg bright colours have wedding/races in the title and anything sparkly is listed using words like Christmas/New Year/ball.

I must admit that I can't be arsed with the queues in the Post Office and everything we are decluttering is being stockpiled in the spare room for a car boot or two next spring.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/11/2013 17:03

49p on rick steins India kindle book. The reviews reckon once you've stocked up on the core spices you're set so we will see. The tesco here has an ethnic section with big packs of spices for pennies. No Asian supermarkets round here.

Probably pay for dh to have a takeaway later but kebab and chips is only £3-4 here.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/11/2013 17:14

Got a rachel Allen one too, 49p.

God bless hot uk deals, they come up with the goods.

Possiblyorange · 09/11/2013 18:53

I find only things like branded clothes, good bundles of clothes, 'big' things etc sell well now, it's not worth it for books/CDs etc.

SolidGold · 09/11/2013 20:00

Thanks Smile When dcs were younger I used to get lots for their clothes and shoes, now youngest is 12 and her clothes are no longer so immaculate as she wears them longer so I mainly send them to the charity shop. However, I'm starting to sort through the toys she doesn't play with, so might get something for them.