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Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Marching into a miserly march with the mumsnet frugaleers

997 replies

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/02/2014 19:45

Newbies, helpful tips & lurkers always welcome.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 29/03/2014 15:57

Grin No, luckily! Dp's mum is popping over in the morning instead. Ds is babygrow bound for a few days yet so definitely need to stay in Wink

CoolCadbury · 29/03/2014 16:01

Another NSD. Although I am very tempted to go get some doughnuts as
DS has kept me busy since the crack of dawn. Am worn out now and still another four hours to go.

ananikifo · 29/03/2014 17:33

Hi, I'd like to join this thread if I can. DH and I have agreed to face our finances and track our spending daily again.

CoolCadbury · 29/03/2014 18:05

Welcome ananikifo. Yes, posting on here will definitely help you be mindful of your spending. Smile

CoolCadbury · 29/03/2014 18:06

Aw, spotty how old is your DS?

Lucky escape on the Hungry Horse Grin.

ilovepicnmix · 29/03/2014 18:27

Welcome ananakifo

Spendy day for me. 3.90 on bus into town. 13.74 on replacement picnmix, cards, a few cheapo mags and a dozen 2nd class stamps. 1 something in Aldi and a small fortune on my hair.

iamnotanugget · 29/03/2014 20:07

I haven't posted for ages but I have been keeping up with everyone. Nsd as we had a family get together that mil paid for. Gave her bottle of wine and chocolates that I bought reduced last month. My dm let me know that card had arrived. I sent some flowers using Tesco points and will give her a 'proper' gift when I see her next.

Hoover finally stopped working on Thursday so have ordered a new one, £44. It was on offer and has good reviews just could have done without it this month.

SpottyTeacakes · 29/03/2014 20:54

Welcome anan (can't remember the rest Blush)

CoolCadbury he's 16 months Smile

lilacclery · 29/03/2014 21:27

Welcome ananakifo
Today spending was as planned - toilet roll & running socks in Lidl, fire grate in hardware shop, clothes line in woodies & local property tax payment for feb & march

€10 tomo for race & then dh buying lunch/dinner for Mother's Day so that €10 should be it for me.

NK5BM3 · 30/03/2014 08:04

Yesterday spent £44 on petrol and £9 on dinner as we were out and had to feed kids before we got home (sleep time etc). We were in East London and well..it's the first time I'd been in that area and being vv unfamiliar with that place I walked into a takeaway shop and got some chicken and chips. Couldn't believe the bill for 4 of us was so little. The last time we were at mcdonalds for 4 it was £16.

Still... Received the cc bill and was 'surprised' it was so much (especially since the month before it was like £500 less than usual!). After looking at it all, realised it was all accounted for- bike for ds, mot, clothes, petrol going up north for funeral.... Sigh, which brought home the message that these expenditures if you don't watch it, can tip you over!! Confused

ilovepicnmix · 30/03/2014 16:23

Totally unnecessary spending today I'm afraid. I was feeling a bit low about spending mother's day just me and DS so I jumped at the chance of company when my friend invited us to join her family for lunch out. 15 on lunch, 1.50 on an ice cream and 2 for DS to go on a ride. It was worth though as it's been a nice day.

Jinty64 · 30/03/2014 16:47

Well, a bit of a spendy day. Went to Morrisons for fruit and veg, I really like Aldi but I don't think their fruit or veg lasts well so needed a few bits. £48 Shock

Ds3 and I went swimming at the gym. We were just getting out of the water when the fire alarm went off. I do not look my best in my swimsuit and being asked to leave the building in this state of undress was so stressful we had to have lunch out, £11.98, (well that's my excuse). Fortunately they had only burned the toast so I was unable to retrieve my clothes.

Ds3 is taking part in a fashion show tonight. Ds2 suggested he might be "spotted" and we could make some money. Sadly, although he has the looks, he does not have the temperament.

That's my job finished. I am officially a SAHM (for the first time ever) so will have no option but to budget +++ however I will have no childcare to pay and I find cooking from scratch easier when I am not working so there are savings to be made.

insideleg · 30/03/2014 16:59

jinty that is mortifying but hilarious too! You say you were unable to retrieve your clothes, did you have to eat in your swim gear?!

Another NSD here. Could have spent plenty in the supermarket but baked own bread and cakes to remove temptation. Home made carrot and corriander soup tonight. My new middle name is thrifty!

AuditAngel · 30/03/2014 17:55

Ben a busy weekend here.

Went out Friday night with DH and his cousins. DH paid the bill, I paid only for bus fares on my Oyster card. about £3 return I think? I know it is a lot cheaper than paying cash. DH and I both fell asleep on the bus on the way home Blush amazingly I managed to wake up as we passed our stop so we only had to walk back one stop. I'm getting too old for late nights!

Yesterday I went to get (what I thought were ) the last things for holiday. I needed a new strapless bra (£19) and a plain everyday one (twin pack for £16), huge hold in Bridget Jones knickers £29.50?????? Plus a vest for a cousin I saw for £3 in the sale (less a pair of suit trousers bought for DS but too small). I also spent £7 in M&S buying DD1 and I a drink each, a sandwich to share and some hot cross buns. A new pair of slippers for DD for £7.99.

I also collected the replacement ballet pumps. I was asked for £24.99 and I said I thought they were £40 less the £20 credit for the old pair? The shoes had gone up but I got them at the lower price they were when I ordered them?

Today £10.30 for a taxi to go out for Mothers Day lunch with MIL and cousins. I gad a great result on coming home, they said minimum wit for a taxi was 1 hour 15 minutes so the cousin who was driving did two trips and stopped us off. Very lucky!

MissAnnersleyismyhero · 30/03/2014 18:09

Spendy again today!

£40 on new baby pressies for my SIL and her DP and new arrival

£6 on food

£18.99 on Mothers day stuff for DM

£12 in superdrug on face scrub and bio oil for my laparascopic scars

£6 in Primark on straw hat and trainer socks for school trip on Tuesday (going to Turkey, yay!)

Tomorrow will be posting 4 parcels to family faints at postage prices and getting some Turkish money, but shouldn't be spending too much otherwise. When we are over there all my meals etc are pre-paid so hopefully it'll be a frugal week.

northender · 30/03/2014 18:28

I've not posted for a few days but have been keeping up. Have had the most hectic, stressful week in a long time so have not been as frugal as other weeks but dh was in work on overtime today so that should make up for it.

I'm just totting up our end of the month situation so will post our quarterly update later, think it's gone well despite setbacks.

Mother's Day has been a bit of a washout as dh worked, dd was at cub camp and ds and I have been under the weather so we're going to reschedule it for next weekendSmile

AuditAngel · 30/03/2014 18:36

I was a bit disappointed to get supermarket flowers for Mother's Day whilst MIL got £50 spent in the lovely florist, but the £100 in my birthday card made up for it a bit.

CoolCadbury · 30/03/2014 18:37

My mum is overseas on holiday at the moment, but managed to FaceTime with her.

Went to Tesco for a top up shop today. Oops! I don't normally go there (go to Morrisons) but DS needed some PVA glue for his decorate an egg for school. The finished project looks pretty cool, most of it is his work, but I got a bit cross when he tipped the glue bottle upside down and half of the glue came out but not into the saucer or the newspaper. Hmm I was not impressed. Grin

CoolCadbury · 30/03/2014 18:45

jinty I would have been mortified too. How awful. I assume that you meant you WERE able to go back in to get your clothes? And congratulations on being SAHM. Smile

miss enjoy your trip.

insideleg. You sound sorted and organised and ahead of yourself. Well done. I am Envy.

CremeEggThief · 30/03/2014 19:44

£28.20 on lunch out for me and DS and £5.10 on travel.

Jinty, hope you've got your clothes back now :).

insideleg · 30/03/2014 19:52

The thing is coolcadbury is we haven't really seen much of a difference and yet my supermarket bill has halved! I worked out that spending an extra 20 quid a week on top up bits means over a grand a year! Really shocking. So now instead of 600 a month we down to 300. I am determined to sort out my finances. Managed to pay off car loan and have 400 left on credit card. After that we can start saving, currently have nothing at all.

Original poster
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/03/2014 20:16

Have a good trip miss

£6 in McDonald's, bought dh a tea then won one on the fries.

I was spoiling myself, I hardly ever have maccies.

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 30/03/2014 21:09

Currently out shopping will catch up later.

Hockey boots returned but no refund so DD2 has a volley ball and DD2 has casual shoes. FFS, needed the money moré than optional extras.

Hope all the Frugaleering Mamas have had a good Mother's day Thanks all round.

Shoopshoop2 · 30/03/2014 21:33

Fluffy is talking reality.

Jinty64 · 30/03/2014 22:08

Yes, I meant to say I had retrieved my clothes. The mere thought of eating in my swimsuit makes me feel quite unwell, never mind the other diners.

Dh has given me some money to treat myself "for Mother's Day" so I was feeling quite cheery until ds3 dropped the toilet roll in the toilet after he had done a no. 2! It's been one of those days.