Have a fabulous frugal February with the fantastic frugaleers

[northender]

As we filled the old thread, thought I'd start a new one for February.

Well, I didn't spend anything on Sunday.

Yesterday I went to Boots to buy heat pads as my shoulder muscle is really sore, spent £17.07 in total as also bought a verruca freeze treatment for DD1 (I'm sick of using the gel, we don't always remember, it takes ages to dry...) also spent £1 on two coffees at the kids dancing lesson for me and DSis, I felt rough and she was cold.

Today I spent £10.95 on lunch out as a colleague is leaving. The lunch was disappointing, didn't really enjoy it, so I won't feel so bad with a sandwich tomorrow! Just spent £98 on my weekly Tesco shop, didn't buy much (freezer is quite full) but I managed to buy DH a really good bottle of cognac for Valentine's Day within the food budget.

NSD today and only 45 quid at Aldi yesterday.

Sorry you're feeling rough, Ellis, hope the sickness passes soon. Whoever named it morning sickness was a bloody man idiot (that's a sicky face, btw, not an envious one :D

I ended up spending £3.65 on library fines today, grr. Will have to spend a fair bit tomorrow on dog food and playgroup for DD. Then there's another group on Thursday and swimming on Friday. Sob.

How do other parents of toddlers manage to keep costs down? We do loads of free stuff but stuff like swimming she loves and I feel its important to have her confident in the water. The groups are important for both of us socially. I guess some things are worth it though, you can't give up literally everything, right?

1 on milk. Am doing well in my bid to use up all my coppers. That 1 was made up of 80 x 1ps and 1 x 20p piece. They love me in Aldi

amber I have a toddler and work part time. We swim every Tuesday but at our local leisure centre so it's not too expensive but it must be about 5 a week. That's our only regular thing. We meet up with friends at softplay probably about twice a month. I think you're right that some things are worth it. When we don't have plans then I just make sure we do free things. I live in a city which has parks, urban farms, museums etc so there's a lot of free/cheap stuff going on.

Swimming round here is super expensive almost £20 for two adults and a child, ds is free.

We don't do much tbh I work three days, dd's in nursery and one of this days I'm not working then we usually see a friend on the day we're all free.

I forgot, £57 on diesel, but I claim that back on my expenses so I haven't really spent it

Spent £8 on kids yesterday as I had promised bribed ds football cards if he went up the next book band and it worked! Proud (and ripped off) in one moment lol. Obviously had to buy his sister something too as she would've destroyed his moment to shine with a jealous hissy fit, she's only 4 so needs must.

Ohhelp We get this, because CB is paid every 4 weeks and a month is usually more than 4 weeks, so depending on when you started getting your payment you'll eventually get a month where 2 payments come in, 4 weeks apart. I think it's one month a year (you get 13 payments in a year but only 12 months).

I had no idea about the CB every 4 weeks rather than per month - could this be my month?! How do I check?

NSD - 3/28.

Turnoff I only know when mine are as I list the dates I expect the different payments. Eg, let's say I got my last payment on January 6th, the next would be 3rd Feb, then 3rd Mar, 31st Mar, etc.

In that example, March ends up being the double payment month.

The government has a bit of an odd system of always sending benefit payments/tax credits etc on a 2- or 4-weekly basis. Apparently some of this will change with UC and payments that will come under UC (work-related ones, like tax credits and income support) will be made monthly instead, but CB will carry on 4-weekly for now.

Just worked it out - double payment is going to happen in April - perfect timing to help me with the dreaded huge March budget. Thank you, love this thread x

I got all excited about double CB but I get it weekly (because I'm a single parent? Can't remember the reason) so I won't get it.

Spent £12.80 on dinner out with a lovely friend. It was extra nice because we did it with no kids and not having to rush. We still made it home early enough but it was very pleasant.

Iam thank you for the tips. Haven't been on a girl called jack's website in while. She has some lovely granola recipes on there which I may try for my breakfast. ,I have loads of porridge oats in at the moment. Also noted the poobag tip.

Finally nsd here. Thank goodness. My very frugal Asda delivery arrived this evening and I am very excited to try my corn kernels to make our own popcorn this weekend. I can't believe how little I actually bought. I have no idea what I usually buy but the cupboards and freezer are lovely and full.

NSD for me, DH paid for bowling, DD2 won both games, and a pair of leggings for DD2. DD1 got some in with the shopping but still managed to be narked about not getting anything today

Glad you had such a nice time with your friend NK, and not too expensive either.

Dosey it will be interesting to see how your shop for this week lasts.

Tomorrow I need to get a few groceries.

frugal thing today, split a mango 3 ways instead of letting DDs eat half each. Paltry effort really but still a minor breakthrough for me.

Eeee I'm so excited! I just did a ridiculously detailed budget and it feels so good! Now instead of feeling guilty for buying a coffee when I'm out I can just say, well it's budgeted for, so it's OK! I'm desperately trying to have some money left at the end of the month, rather than the other way round.

2 quid today on a coffee and scone at a client meeting and DH did a top-up shop. Thought I'd be buying a snack at work this evening but my students kept me too busy at break so a cheap day today.

I made a sort of scrap book of free things (mostly) that we can do with our toddler and it really helps as a reminder when inspiration is lacking e.g. going to the library (there's even a toy library near us), going to the garden centre (probably do that once a week!) - there's a pet store and tropical fish shop there too. Loads of cheap toddler groups round here especially run at churches - DP took DS to one that is 2.50 and has free tea and coffee and fruit for the kids, plus singing and painting. DS loves the supermarket, especially going up and done travelators or escalators and just trotting round ToysRUs or B&Q!

Ellis, congrats! Morning sickness is the pits, you have my sympathies.

Amber, I know what you mean about toddler groups. We have a fab free play group once a week, but toddler music has gone up to £5 a session and the other play group is now £3.50 plus tea/coffee donation. It all adds up after transport. I'm using the library alot more now, lots of fab, free activities including rhyme time and a weekly craft session.

I should really go to our library's free story time and craft session, I'm just quite shy and tend to stick to groups I know well. There is free hot drinks and kid snacks at the groups we go to though, so I'm at the very least breaking even!

Just worked out my double CB month and its not til June..... I had forgotten about that so it's a bonus anyway! Love it when you forget about money/income/find a fiver in your jeans ?? not that it happens often enough though.....

Spotty

Well feel a bit better this morning but ordering takeaway this week and not being as good with NSD means we will have to take some money out of the savings this week to cover bills that come out on Monday
Must try harder! On the bright side found out that DH is getting a VAT rebate of £500 so swings and roundabouts!

Toddler groups are so expensive! We do a music class that is £50 a term and DS is about to start rugby tots which is £80 a term but I am trying to look on that as an investment as it's on a Saturday morning and DH wants to take him is it's an investment in me getting a lie in !