An Avalanche of Austerity for April - Mumsnet frugaleers continue!

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

Thought I'd start a new thread for April

MissA we've got a two year plan to be debt free (we're low earners though!). It's nice to have an end in sight though.

omg I just cut DH's hair with the clippers, we have a laminate floor and there is hair everywhere, he said he'd clear it up after his shower, as soon as he gets in the shower the doorbell rings and it is the gas meter man to read the metre!!!! he must think we are psychos

You should have offered him a hair cut

Fluffy did you say you switched bank accounts? I've been thinking about this but I'm too scared as we have so many direct debits coming out ie I'm worried we would end up not having enough money in one of the accounts iyswim? I know they switch with 5(?) days now but there's never a period where we don't have something coming out.

Spent 18,97 euros on "groceries" today. Not exactly groceries but given that I am pregnant I live on rennies :( and need a special body shampoo to wash in to not get all dry on my body. I have seen on other treads around that other families count that as personal treat, but for both DP and me, we count it in grocery budget, because its things we kinda need.... Pocket money is for fun/selfish buys...

Italian I put all shampoo, shower gel etc into grocery shopping. And cleaning stuff. It all comes from the same shop...

We put all "medicine" personal stuff like shampoo, creme, panty liners, shaving stuff, cleaning stuff in groceries.

Great news missannersley

40p on a sun.

Got to work and got a phonecall saying DS had been sick. Typically he's been absolutely fine from the moment we got home.

spotty it's the third account I've switched this year. They transfer dd etc over for ages & reimburse you if it goes wrong and you get charged fees.

Halifax is good, we both got £100 for that one. I need to switch business accounts too, £15 went out this month in fees that you don't pay on personal accounts

I'm with Halifax now. What if we pay all of our money into the new acct but the dd comes out of the old account. It's our bill acct so we don't have any spare money in it

They only give you the money when you close the old account. Honestly it will be fine.

My dh is like you but it went through ok.

I think the co-op offer is still on afaik.

Ok thanks I will definitely do it

It was almost a NSD. I made the chilli con carne, reached for the tin of kidney beans and realised they were rice pudding. This is the disadvantage of buying the basics range, all the tins look the same. Popped to the co-op, got kidney beans, the Sun and £6 of other bits including chocolate mini eggs.

Ds3 had his first piano lesson this evening @£14 and £120 for ds2's orchestra membership. I can't bear to think what I have spent on their music over the years. Soft play and Aldi tomorrow I think.

Italian you might find the Rennie Deflatine more effective than the ordinary Rennie if you can buy them where you are, and one tablet is often enough. They are more expensive than the ordinary ones but so much better - the relief is almost instant. I would check to make sure they are safe to take in pregnancy.

Hi, I've been lurking for the last couple of months, can I join? We moved house in Dec, had a baby in Jan and my salary is about to go down to SMP so money is very tight.

There's been lots of good ideas I've been trying to follow. I mostly need to get organised!

I've just cancelled my over priced mobile contract with O2. Going onto a SIM only deal with TPO. Is anyone a member? You get 1 month free for referring so if that would help anyone here please PM me. I did post this in chat but thought I'd add it here too.

I found ranitadine best when I was pregnant. Cheap as chips too.

Everyone's welcome buffy

Buffy welcome . Congratulations on your baby. Sorry, I can't help you with TPO as I have an over-priced mobile contract with O2 still running!

missannersly I hear you about debt being so hard to clear. I was determined not to get into as much on this maternity leave as I did on the last one, and I didn't but still maxed my two credit cards. However going to switch one to interest free for 9 months with bank I have my current account with & clear that in the 9 months & also pay off the other one as well. Back on payroll end of month & first pay in my account may 1st can't wait.
Dh also got full time work recently like your dh so it gives us both a chance to get back on our feet financially.

Tesco doing €1 delivery next week, I've 2 vouchers for this week for €10 off a €50 shop in aldi & one for €10 off a weekly shop in Lidl next week also. Going to put my thinking cap on to get best value from all vouchers and offers. Usual food shop is €100 anyhow so using 2 vouchers in aldi won't be any trouble.

Welcome to buffy everyone welcome here.
possibly you need some new clothes to reflect that you no longer have a bump, primark cheapies if nothing else!

£2.55 and then another £1 on roads, nothing else today.

Hello buffy congratulations and welcome. I can't help you either, sorry but have you looked at giffgaff? We pay £12.50 per month between us, I was paying £26 for just my phone!

liliac have you looked at a Tesco credit card? They have various 0% interest periods and then if you're good you can reap the rewards. When we got ours about 3 years ago we used it for everything that would usually go on a debit card but I paid it off weekly now we know we can be disciplined so I just do it monthly. We never pay interest but the points build up and are really useful for cheap, free treats for dc.

Have money in my purse for playgroup and that's it. Looking forward to payday tomorrow!

iamnotanugget ya I have a tesco credit card. Used it as a debit card to begin with but have fallen off the wago, will transfer balance on my other card & get rid once done & pay off tesco one & start to use it properly.

Welcome buffy

Off to a butterfly farm today it's not too expensive plus I printed off a voucher for £1 off per head.

FantaSea Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately only the normal ones are sold here. But my parents are taking something called Samarin with them, when they come from DK. Perhaps its because its stuff from home, but find them better :)

SpottyTeacakes dont know them, but live in NL, so I dont think I would be able to find them here, but will write it down and have a look, thanks :)

BuffyFairy welcome :)

Hello all,
So I know I complained about the rain the other day and how it makes me spend money...sunny weather is worse. Took my mum shopping and ended up spending 60 pounds in Sainsbury. Had to get DS some pyjamas and got sucked in again. Am a real sucker. This is why i mostly shop online! All those bright signs with too many offers I am a sucker. My new middle name.