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.

NSD.

NSD, v glad.

Morning all frugallers!

Summary for month for the BBC household..

In general - not quite as frugal as when I started reading your threads at New Year, which I guess for a newbie is no surprise there.. BUT.. I am still meal planning/using freezer food, I am still shopping at Aldi for most things, and I am still very mindful of any top up shops.. avoiding at all costs the 'hmmm.. interesting - put it in the basket and chuck it out next week' reflex.

Also DS and DH have now been taking own lunch to school & work since January without fail, from food within the shopping budget, and I have been using cashback sites.

So in summary, not quite so zealous, but some good habits that seem to be sticking around ..

I am using up all toiletries before buying new ones, I have 4 shampoos, 2 conditioners, about 7 shower gels, 4ish hard soaps, the list goes on

I even have 3 toothpastes!!

At least it'll save money on the monthly shop as I use it all up...

And I'll be replacing as much of is as possible from cheap ranges, I recently discovered supermarket own brand toothpaste - 59p! The basics one was cheaper but this one looks identical to the branded one and is 3/4 of the price.

I'm a toiletries stockpiler too, msannersly! I won't need to buy any for so long!

I'm similar to you, bbc, I'm getting there but not perfect just yet! Next month I'm going to try to really go for it and eliminate all those "oooh I just fancy..." In the supermarket and the unnecessary cafe lunches.

My car insurance is due for renewal and I'm dreading how much it'll go up as I had an.accid last year :( mot and tax will also be coming out soon which might just clear me out. Cry.

feeling very productive today. I have finally got on to o2 to query my bill, I've been calling 08 numbers using my mobile which was making it loads more expensive and I just hadn't been questioning it :( Going to be very strict and only use the landline, it's pure laziness that makes me reach for my mobile, I'm an idiot! So next month's bill should be lower.

My car insurance is due for renewal and I've been looking for quotes online. I think I can just about afford to pay the whole thing off, rather than pay monthly, which will save me money overall but I won't have that payment coming out every month which will be a huge help. I had an accident next year so its gone up a fair bit :( I'm just desperately hoping the repairs tomorrow and the MOT which is coming up aren't too expensive, so I can afford to pay annually

Yesterday was an NSD in the end as we couldn't face the rain. Went to my parents instead and all got spoiled for the last day of half term - df makes amazing cakes so we all pigged on those. Lovely!

Went to Tesco on the way back from the school run with ds and spent £31.06 on stuff. Found my fave toiletries brand is being discontinued so stocked up and got a bargain as everything was down to £1.50 - £2. Sorted for the next 6 months. Amber, MissA, I'm joining you in the toiletries stockpiling. Ds also had an accident in the middle of the shop do bought joggers and wipes. Got bread etc too.

Back to NSD's until payday on Fri.

NSD. Yippee. Tcb paid me £1.64 in amazon vouchers

I started paying for car insurance in one go when moneysavingexpert said that the insurance company isn't using a finance company to fund the finance but is letting you pay monthly and charging the increased fee for the convenience.

Are you both using cashback sites & putting older drivers on the policy? We both had fil on ours until he stopped driving & now if I don't put dh on my quote comes up higher.

Hi everyone. I've been reading a bit and plan to join the march thread properly, just reading through bits of this one over next few days!

amber do you know about www.saynoto0870.com? It has lots of alternative geographical and 0800 numbers. Its not just 0870 numbers either.

Fluffy, I didn't know you could do it through a cashback site, I MUST get to grips with them!! Didn't know about the older drivers thing, how old must they be?! Parents are only 50, but have no claims, I think so would that be any good? I assumed the more people on the policy the more expensive it would be

Bluecarrot, never heard of that, thank you!

When you put a person as a named driver they take it as less of a risk, especially one with full no claims. You will need the dates of any points they have, accidents or medical conditions that the dvla know about like diabetes.

It's illegal to put a driver down as the main driver when their not, like a parent saying they are the main driver for their teenagers car, that's called fronting.

Try a quote from aviva with a named driver & play around with it, add just one named driver, then two if you've got them. Who's to say that your parents won't need to drive the car anyway?.

With cashback last year my insurance was £120 for a new car, business, commuting etc & a relatively high annual mileage.

Welcome bluecarrot

Took DS to get his feet measured fully expecting them to be the same size but just doing my motherly duties. Nope. A size bigger so I'm now 26 less well off.

59.99 on a pushchair. I hate mine and it's so huge it takes up my entire boot and I swear every time I use it. This is a stroller type thing that folds up neatly and easily. It wasn't a necessary purchase as such but I think worth it especially as we're getting the train to London on Saturday.

May pop to Aldi later.

Thanks fluffy! That's really helpful. I think my dad has speeding points, thinking about it, but my mum won't. Does it affect them if I have an accident for eg?

Ooh also I doubt anyone will remember but I bought some fancy chocs online a few weeks ago as there was an amazing offer that made them 3. I was charged 17 but didn't say anything here as I felt like a fool anyway, I emailed them and have just had am email back saying they will refund me 14. What a relief.

No, that wouldn't affect them at all as long as they don't want to add you to their insurance.

Been into toes today used free bus pass got when we brought new house n went to john Lewis got free tea n cake

little one brought a toy with money husband gave him john Lewis did price match argos so was 3.99

Shared a happy meal he has fish fingers i had the chips n he had some grapes out my bag.

I then stupidly went in a shoe shop with sale on n ended up buying toddler some toms for 15 he loves them but they look like bloody slippers even fleece lined like slippers - i never have got fashion !!

Ohhhh n v excited about a boden clearance sale next wk nr me just had an invite need some skirts for summer

Nsd day. Had to hang around for a bit between a drs appt and picking dd up from nursery. Would usually have gone to costa but took ds to the park instead

Anyone got any frugal Mother's Day gift ideas?

£7.80 posting three eBay parcels and £3.something in Tesco.

Ohh 2 NSD in the trot. Mainly down to having a bad cold and not wanting to go outside.

NSD today (apart from bus fare, which is budgeted).
And DP treated me to lunch

Back with more spends. 50p on a second class. I am still shocked at the price of stamps everytime I buy them. Think im stuck in the 90s when it comes to them. 1 on bargain brie in Jack Fultons. 6.49 in Aldi but that should do us till next weekend as we're away sat till tues.

NSD. Sorry v busy ATM. I'm still
At work and thought I'd take a breather... Looking at my diary I'm away in Europe for a week at the end of March, for 3 days end of April, in London twice in the next month, have to sort out fitting in a new kitchen... And some other traveling that I can't remember ATM.

I've already been told I'm in Berlin in sept. And that's not my summer
Holiday!!

95p on a coffee. 20 on a topup shop at Sainsbury's. Tried buying frugally e.g. Big tresemme conditioner (so much cheaper per 100ml than other brands) and own brand fairtrade tea bags (also majorly cheaper), 2for1 pizzas, etc and still ended up getting a 2.50 voucher to spend next time. How?!

NSD today! Will need to do a big shop on Saturday though, suddenly running out of everything...

£60 To kit DDs out in underwear for - hope fully - 6 months for 1 and -probably - a year for t'other. But who can tell with pre-teens.