Today I saved a bit of money by...

[Dilidali]

Arranging coffee with a friend at my house, as opposed to our usual coffee shop.

Bringing my own packed lunch.

Remembering to renew my library books on line.

Shopping with a list, the challenge was not to stray from it.

Not being allowed into soft play because it was too full, then deciding not have a drink in the pub downstairs instead because the floor was littered with the previous occupants' dinners - fish, chips & peas, by the looks of things About to fire off an email of complaint now to the pub concerned, this was truly disgusting!

Re child sponsorship. We do a monthly direct debit to S0S childrens villages. They are a really great non religious organisation who work worldwide to help out children who are orphaned or just abandoned. They set up homes in the community and the kids live there with 'house mothers' who make sure they are clothed, fed, educated and receive healthcare. When they get to leaving age, they receive a sum of money to get married, buy a home or business etc and will have received training along the way.

No matter how bad things are here, the photo of the toddler we sponsor after being just left by the side of the road in a war torn country never ceases to amaze me. If we give something to friends (like a toy or bag of clothes) and they say 'oh we must give you something for that' we ask that a donation goes to the charity/the child/the home he lives in.

Jinty...in these days of technology you only need the use of one finger to shop.

Had a treat day planned with the kids and when we got to the cinema decided on the one pound cinema

Bags if sweets from tesco 3 for a pound. Fab day great film

Paying remnants of last weeks household budget (a princely 29.19) as an overpayment to credit card...second time this month!

Lettucesnow don't I know it. Sadly it's one of my greatest skills and with all this spare time, well!!!

By making my own bread
Taking a coffee with me in a travel mug and a bottle of water for my walk.
Maybe by not ordering more stuff from Me&Em, but the day is young and I keep looking at the page :)

Using roast pork we had left over yesterday to make Fajitas today. I am really trying my best not to waste food anymore. I have also gone back to paper copy statements as I find I open and look at them more than I remember to go online, this has saved me so much in bank charges because I just wasn't keeping an eye on it online.

Took sandwiches and coffee to soft play instead of buying lunch at the over priced cafe.

Remembered snacks for dd2's ballet class instead of running to the co-op.

Made pizza for rather than buying stuff in a panic on the way home.

Feeling very frugal!

By walking two of the six journeys back and forth to school.

I think it saves money, even after factoring in wear and tear on my wellies

And I get to walk at a decent speed without whingeing kids.

By putting all but one thing back from the 99p shop near work. The kids have enough tatt......!

By going for a run instead of exercise class.

Cancelling my pet insurance. At £70 a month I reckon it's worth taking my chances. Apart from anything else, it's for a very elderly Labrador - if anything went seriously wrong with her, it wouldn't be fair to put her through lengthy treatment.

*disclaimer - I love my doggie, I just think that the insurance company are taking the piss. And I'm skint.

I've been struggling, so far successfully, to not shop the sales since xmas. This week I was tempted so I moved all"spare" cash into my ISA. I'm feeling a little anxious at not having access to it as a full month until next payday but I've left myself a reasonable weekly allowance and will be very proud of myself at the end of next month!

Making a very tasty concoction out of all the items in the fridge that were just about to go out of days instead of stuffing myself with anchovies like I wanted to (weird craving of the week!) and buying a super cheap massive bundle of cloth nappies on eBay

Had a free lunch at work today. Big whole department meeting. People in from overseas. Lunch was laid on even for those of us normally at HQ.

Didn't wander to the shop for sweets, even though I could hear the mini eggs calling!!

By walking to work and back (only 2.5 miles each way), usually when it's raining I bus or drive but not today.

By charging my phone from 2% to 100% in work.

By not popping into the shop to buy a frozen pizza because I was tired. I cooked tuna pasta instead.

By saying no to my sisters about a night away, they usually guilt me into it but I really can't afford it.

By waxing my own lip!

Oh yes to charging phone at work. ..my personal mobuke, work mobile and kindle all got charged yesterday

Shame I can't take my toothbrush too ha ha

By waiting in for the boiler repair man to come and fix my boiler rather than going to toddler group, 2.50 saved errmmmm apart from the 160 quid bill from said boiler man but at least I now have heating and got water.

Bought a scarf from Monsoon today for a present. It was £3 cheaper as it had changed from 50% to 70% reduction.

Failed Today but normaly I save money by not taking DDs or DH shopping with me.

Buying things from the reduced shelf - big joint of pork for £1.35 (last night though)

Downloading the kindle application onto my phone and choosing some free books

Having left overs from last night for lunch (lamb pie which was made entirely from left over roast lamb, gravy and mash I'd previously frozen)

Turning the boiler down a few degrees

Saved £70 on one pair of boots and £40 on a pair of wedges. I know, but my boots will just about see this winter and I have no excuse for the wedged apart from the fact they were gorgeous and I have nothing in between boots-sandals and converses.
I'm doing the 5:2, today is fasting day, I could have had a small box of sushi, but I actually put it back on the shelf and saved my pennies, see I was almost good :)