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

sorry you're struggling, helena, agree with whoeve suggested living in your other house, or selling, if those are options? hopefully dh will hear something soon from one of his job applications

Sorry to hear that Helena I hope you manage to sort something out

Helena so sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. Hoping your DH gets something soon. Could/would he be willing to get just any job to pay the bills?

Thinking of you helenagrace So sorry to hear things are so not good.

42.05 in Aldi. Got loads though including quite a few toiletries and cleaning products.

Helena you've got a very hard choice there, I wouldn't want to move in with my in laws either and I like my pil.

You can give notice on your tenants but if it all comes right you'll need new ones & it will lose you income.

What does your dh want to do?.

So sorry to hear about that Helena. Would you be able to tell us where you are and what jobs dh is looking for? Maybe we could look at his cv for you? I've been on several interview panels and was recently interviewing myself so would be happy to help. I'm an academic.

Didn't have an NSD because I was in town with dh for a meeting with the bank, asking for a loan to finally do up the kitchen. We got it! And managed to renegotiate the mortgage down, so essentially we will be paying the same amount of money, on the same mortgage but get the extra £10k too. So happy.

Helena - seriously do pm me if you need help. I'm v willing to help. My dh was made redundant 2 years back - professional job. He's self employed now.

That's so annoying, Helena, especially as I think your family relocated a long way for your DH's job. Apologies if I'm mixing you up with somebody else.

£14.85 today on my day out, so 15p under budget!

Just wanted to let you know about noddle. It's a free credit check service to help you keep track.

Ohhelp it's the royal oak swayfield nr Grantham under new management since mid feb

Went to boden clearance sale today had money set aside n was rubbish so only spent £12 got tights for niece n 2 tops for me as were seconds one label said sz bigger than was n other had tiny part where wrong colour thread used can barely see n £40 tops for £5 each is great. Think if had gone at 10 when opened rather than 3 would have got more.

Thank you everyone for you all.

DH's CV is really good. All the recruitment consultants have said it's fantastic and is a really good fit for everything he's applied for. He's in a very niche profession.

The tenants have a contract until September. I don't know if we can get them out before. I'm not sure how we'd pay the mortgage without the rent anyway.

He will look for any job - unfortunately he'll be overqualified for everything so I'm expecting him to get turned down flat.

No help is forthcoming from my mother. I expected nothing else. She'll be the one to lose out when I can't afford to take the grandchildren to see her.

He's applying for another contract tonight and one of the recruiters has just rung and thinks he's down to the last two or three for another contract.

You'd think that at least one from 18 contracts and jobs would come good wouldn't you?

Helena, sorry to hear that. We are in a similar position. Dh has been out of work for over 8 months now. Applies for lots of jobs, agencies tell him hes perfect for the role, only 4 interviews in that time. I work 3.5 days do we don't get any help, but I don't earn enough to pay the bills, not to mention the mortgage and food We are now trying to sell the house to release some equity to live off as we can't pay the mortgage. I can't sleep because of the worry. Family can't help, no money to spare.

Worst of all, no one cares and people keep telling us not to sell! What do they expect us to live off, thin air?!

Can't move in with family, they are not nearby.

I read an article saying baby boomers actually had it fairly easy compared to our generation, so they are genuinely non plussed about financial difficulty.

You can evict tennants early, it happened to us.

If you apply for a gold American Express card via quidco you get £60 cashback. It's fee free & no minimum spend etc. I did mine via topcashback & applied for a price match & Dh's via quidco.

Helena and kazza so frustrated on your behalf. I know it can be so hard to keep on being 'chipper' (for want of a better word) when someone you love is going through a relentless job search - its a full time job in itself with no rewards. Just keep going and have faith xx

I've saved 3 today! Walked 2 of my 3 bus journeys - about 6 miles in total! Am shattered and achey now! 1.50 total spends today.

Oh Helena I'm sorry things are so stressful for you and yours at the moment! and you too kazza. Will try to send some positive vibes your way.

Low spend here today, I felt so weary tonight, really wanted to get takeaway but held firm and made a scrummy curry instead. Always in the past we would have ended up eating out or having take out so I feel pretty chuffed.

I've a study day tomorrow towards my latest MSc module. Last time I ended up buying lunch but I've made soup tonight and will take it in a flask. Work will pay the mileage to get there and back.

Helena and kazza everything crossed for you here. We've been there, moved in with PIL at one point, ended up over seas. And yes, they also Failed To understand the scale of our "little" problem.

Splurged £7 that I'd set aside on ice-creams out for DDs, always do on the first school day. 34 degrees C and they're wearing typical school uniform nylon kilts, shirt, tye and blazer.

DH has invited friends for Pre dinner nibbles on Friday. It will be lovely To see them and catch up but we could do without buying cheese and wine at present. At léast they going for dinner with other friends.

sorry you're struggling, too kazza. no advice here but sending you and

NSd here yesterday. And worked late. So will get overtime money in next paycheck.

Oh I'm knackered.... Somehow didn't sleep very well (awake from 12-3am!!!).. And to top it off, dh is away from this afternoon to tomorrow evening for a funeral up north.

Will spend some money today for a lunch with colleagues. My first this year...so I guess one needs to be collegial!!

Dp was meant to be paid yesterday but still hasn't. His boss is such a nob he never pays him on time

Oh spotty - dh's ex-boss used to do that. One of his colleagues used to not be able to pay for groceries, rent etc because the boss would 'forget'... And say oh I'll pay you in the next few days... It doesn't matter does it??!!! On your behalf!!

It really annoys me, just because he doesn't have to worry!

I've saved money by sending a letter of complaint by email instead of posting it. Going to make cookies later with stuff already in the house.

Helenagrace another one sending you best wishes. We've gone through a long period of unemployment and it's very worrying.

NSDs on Tuesday and Wednesday but won't be today as had to give DS1 lunch money and then have to pay for parking at orthodontist with DS2.

Can I jump in please? I post over on the debt thread, but figure this may be a better place to note daily expenditure and challenges. The debt, sadly, is much more of an ongoing project!