Marching into a miserly march with the mumsnet frugaleers

[Fluffycloudland77]

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

[SpottyTeacakes]

I've made £75 on eBay (ish I haven't included post in the and I haven't worked out fees). I have three things I need to buy/save for and not sure what to put this money towards.

1, a decent water table to occupy dc all summer (seen one for £55 I love)
2, both dc need summer wardrobes
3, I'm going to London to see a friend and stay over night at Easter

I know it's not a big problem but dp and I are disagreeing

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

Nearly time to do my tax return again. This year I have made £14K profit from selling second hand stuff on ebay and Amazon.

[Ellisisland]

Morning all. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Pretty good here today. Despite the upcoming spend of getting DH a new work van I have cancelled the insurance on the old one and sent of the tax disc so a few hundred coming back which will go towards the new van.
Sold a few unused gift cards on eBay which I'm happy about but the bit that has made me happy is checking my credit score this morning. Haven't looked at it since clearing all debt and trying to get myself sorted. It has gone from fair to very good so am really happy with that.

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

Off to do some jobs in town, will be spendy as budgeted for:

£7.50 eyebrow/lip thread
£??? posting 4 parcels to family in Ireland + buying 1 jiffy bag
c.£100 of travel money for trip tomorrow (I am away for a week)
c. £4 on top up of hummus, ground cumin, fresh coriander

spotty maybe water table + a bit of ££ for you to spend in London?

[northender]

missA enjoy your trip to Turkey
twelve those earnings are impressive! where do you get all the things to sell?

We updated our financial position last night and are really chuffed with what we've achieved. On January 1st our total debts excluding mortgage were £21375 and today are £17853. We've done it through a mixture of earning extra money and being frugal. There's still a long way to go but I'm confident we'll get there.

This week should be low spend I think

[iamnotanugget]

Well done north is great to see your efforts paying off and high you'll get when it's all clear will be amazing.

£2 playgroup, £10 on bits for hospital bag.

[AdoraBell]

Hope you have a good tríp MissAnnersley

I'm wasting money again, coffee shop because I'm waiting for the dog food supplier -cheaper than supermarket- to open so I only drive 5km with 40 kilos in the boot and I wasn't organised enough To make a coffee To bring with me. This tastes rotten too. £3 here and I'll spend about £80 on dog good, should do between 3 and 4 weeks if I put them on a diet

DH's business tríp not going well at present.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Adora I'm sorry his business trip isn't going well. Maybe he'll turn it around.

£4 cat litter
£1.20 in aldi, bought purple sprouting broccoli seeds for 39p. I'll start them off in egg boxes.

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

Took the liberty of starting an April thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/2041213-An-Avalanche-of-Austerity-for-April-Mumsnet-frugaleers-continue

Saved £7.50 by not getting eyebrows etc done -the usual girl wasn't there and I only trust her!

Spent £12 getting boots re-heeled and £5 in Holland and Barrett on nakd bars for Turkey

[AdoraBell]

Thanks Fluffy I have everything crossed. DD1's boots are too small this year, but they fit me so I a hand-me-up. Spent £76 on the dog food.

Knee is much better Today so I can rummage through my kitchen cupboards and do a longer term meal plan now.

Thanks for the new thread MissA, will sign up immediately.

[springbright]

Thanks for new thread MissA and have a fab trip!

Signing in here to help get thread to 1000! Have name changed ready for new thread and new financial year, formerly turnoffthelights.

That's an amazing achievement north! Well done to you and your family!

Cheap day here as I left my purse at home! So relieved to have got through an expensive month with 36 left in account. Must try harder in April.

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

Tax return time again so soon twelve :) I tend to do mine in May/June as also have a paid job so need p60 to do it. Never leave til last min as like to get the tax paid as over save for it n any excess is treat money. Also got a ni Bill to come in April as used to have exception cert but went over threshold in Nov so alerted them n they cancelled it n said would send Bill in April.


Today have made huge Bolognese which is spag bol for dinner n my lunch tomorrow n 2 pasta bakes for freezer.

Mon is my day off so try to make something for dinner that also makes a freezer meal n had used all freezer meals last wk as had one of those can't be arsed wks

[annielostit]

I need to be here often confessing and supporting.I'd really like to go shopping today but living out the freezer. I'm/ we're on an economy drive as with lots fritter for the hell of it. Going to be an expensive April as we're on holiday, I did manage not to buy new clothes we should be all square and saving by the end of may.

[CoolCadbury]

MOT and service today. They tried to charge me the full price £199 , but I told them that I had agreed price over the telephone with someone from the company, who conveniently was not there . They agreed to £156 . I was worried about the tyres, but they are just above the minimum tread and there are a few more problems that need fixing, which I will have to sort out in the next few months.

Got £4.79 back for returning an item at Gap.

[CremeEggThief]

Thanks for starting the new thread and hope you have a good trip, MissA.

£5.10 on lunch and £1.90 bus fare. I also need to pop out and get some milk this evening.

Oh and glad that your knee is starting to feel better, Adora.

See you all on the April thread. X

[Jinty64]

NSD today yay . I would love not to spend anything until Thursday but don't think the milk will hold out. I am going to use the contents of the freezer next month (I think I said that this month) so need to meal plan and only buy what I really need.

I have loads of things to sell so have been trying Gumtree without much luck. Some of you are obviously very good ebayers but I struggle to see how I would make much with postage and fees. I will probably keep going with Gumtree at the moment but it would be great to make some money.

[ilovepicnmix]

I was thinking you were a bit keen missa but then realised tomorrow is April. Where has march gone??

5 on haircut for DS. I need to be very careful until payday on 15th as have 100 left in my budget and a lot of that will be spent on petrol. I have lots of food in so will only need fruit/veg/milk.

[AdoraBell]

Well I thought I was done with March after the dog food but school had different ideas £4 on ingredients for mágica spells. Really got the DDs thinking, which is good of course but I could have done without spending moré money.

Thanks Creme

[lilacclery]

Wow atthestrokeoftwelve that's impressive what do you sell? I assume you buy up stuff cheap elsewhere you've hardly that much to sell of your own stuff?
northender that is truly impressive, hope to report something similar later this year. Will take on debt credit card by credit card once I return to work at end of the month.
Tax return not due until end oct here but I'm going to try have most of the work done for it before I go back to work on April 28th as someone else mentioned then I've time to save for it.

Exploring the possibility of using ynab at the moment think I'll wait until it comes up on steam to purchase it as most reports say it comes up about 3/4 times a year there & last time was January.

Child benefit went in today of €260 but pending payments of €207 against it, I can account for €71 but not sure what other payments are for I've drawn a blank. Must survey direct debits due. Will purchase GEOX runners for dd with remainder, got her some last September & they were brilliant but she's gone up a few sizes since they were €60 but lasted 6 months so money well spent I think.

Updating at stupid o'clock as have headcold but all medicine in house as did a big order on chemistdirect.co.uk a few months ago, serious savings vs rep of Ireland prices. See you all on April thread!

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

lila- I sell mostly books, but anything from a wet suit to a vintage handbag. I buy stuff at jumble sales and sell them on.

[AuditAngel]

Spent £13 on my lunch plus birthday cakes for the office, also brought home some left over cakes for the DC.

£2.80 on parking for a meeting but I can claim that back. Need to do my grocery shop (was too busy at the weekend) but am going to try to keep it sown as we go away a week today and can eat from the freezer etc.

[Fluffycloudland77]

audit there's a new thread for April.