A miserly May on Mumsnet for the fantastic frugaleers!

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

Saw April was getting very full so thought I'd start this off early!
Welcome to all who want to save cash, live frugally and pay debts, or just trying to live within our means!
Full of hints and tips on how to save money in the supermarket, meal planning and daily life.

Welcome newbies.

Spendy weekend visiting my sister and buying the dc some crocs

Will start again tomorrow

I had a pack of bottles. I exclusive expressed for ten days(ds was tube fed) and didn't use the bottles until he was 7 months. Only ever used two. I had one ready made formula carton in the cupboard and never used it but I liked knowing it was there.

I've spent a lot in the last two days! 18 on contact lenses. 15 on sunglasses but I had a voucher so effectively free. 2.50 to top up credit for DS's jumper to a wee pair of smart shorts. 78p on two cans of pop which I have lost!?! 10ish in Tesco and 9ish in aldi. Then.......78 for 6 months subs for online dating.

Today 1 for parking. 29.99 on a jacket. 4.10 for a McDonald's and then 4.30 in Starbucks.

Well done nk5bm3

Thank you all sweet ladies for the advice's. Ready made cartons do not sell in NL, so if I buy I would buy a small package, I have seen packages that only contain for 3 days supply, so would perhaps buy one of them.
In the NL, stores are not 24 hours open and normally closed Sunday, so my friends reasoning for perhaps buying a package is that its not just something we can pop down after, if its eg. s Saturday after 8 pm or a Sunday.
I think I will just to put my mind at rest buy a small package, rather wanna be safe than sorry. And I know I will be overly stressed if I didnt buy and then needed it.

Italian that sounds like the best plan

Ooo frugal win. I needed mascara and foundation and O2 moments had £10 off £20 spend at the body shop

Nsd.

NSD! And on a Sunday too! Wow.

Italian, I think that's a good plan. I ended up bf my children till they were 2 and 3 years old. I know I know.... Anyone who knew me before baby was born would never have pegged me down as 'that sort'!! But needs must. I went back to work both times at 6 months. They didn't sleep through... So that was how we coped. Co-sleeping (no 2) and bf... I was happier, less sleep deprived, and they were fine.

NSD yesterday but £5.95 for soft play today and £9.95 for a bacon roll and latte for me and hot chocolate and cake for ds3 who then felt sick so we had to come home what a waste of money. Ds is fine now thank goodness must have been too much cake!

I also had to buy a strawberry plant (£1.95) for ds to take to school to replace the one he planted and brought home to "nurture". Despite, or perhaps because, of our nurturing nothing happened and it's due back tomorrow. Actually (cynical me) I think it was a ploy. Give each child a pot of compost with a little label and the parents a date to send in the their lovely plant. Result panicking parents and 24 Dobbies strawberry plants.
Win win for the school!

I got a leaflet through the door with £8 off a £60 spend at Morrisons. I also have £5 off £25 at M&S so that's where next weeks shopping will be.

Hm. I lie. I did spend on some breakfast at mcd's. Doh. I had an instant win of sausage mcmuffin which I love... Totally forgot about it but dd wanted something from there and so I went in. Paid £2.28 for the remainder hash brown and oj.

Yes it was v frugal re bf. but I had strange looks from people looking at me bf-ing a walking and talking toddler. Oh well. My boobs are no longer perky. Might be middle age-ness though.

I did a week's meal plan before going to the supermarket and spent just over £40 but will need to top up bread, milk and fruit in the week. I would certainly have spent much more without the plan. I would have forgotten about the fish in the freezer and stockpile of toiletries.

Damn my NSD, I forgot about the Toll bridge on the way to work. Still, £1 spend today, can I think be forgiven

I took back a dress that I'd got for Dds birthday party. When I got it it was 25% off. Now it's gone up to 30% off, plus I got 30% staff discount. So by doing that, I've got another £8 back. Yay

nsd

Thanks re the advices on the formula. DP has decided that its stupid for me to get worried about so we will be buying some as back up. I know bf is both frugal and recommend and hope to bf for 6 months, but not longer. But given my heart condition which means my blood pressure ect is in general to low, my cardiologist is keeping an eye on me and I have been told by both him and the midwife that I have to accept that bf might not work, because it might make me more ill. At least they are keeping an eye on me :)
NSD today, bil bought flowers from MIL for mothers day from all of us, we sometimes help him a bit with money, because he is a student, so he paid from all of us. MY mom will get her gift, which is cake and coffee out, when I go home in the summer

£199 on a new telly, as our 7 or 8 year old one gave up the ghost on Friday night. Could really have done without this now, but not enough to go t.v. free.

cremeEgg I consider tv watching at home to be the most frugal of activities - new tv purchase entirely justified (though v annoying I'm sure)

NSD yesterday. 2 large items listed on ebay. Dinners sorted for this week so hopefully a few more NSDs (although will probably fill up with petrol today).

creme I know how you feel. I can't order my halogen oven or thermal curtain liners because I had to buy a new laptop for work & take the cat vet because he got a fight wound.

I keep looking at my bank account hoping it will magically change

Today ought to be NSD.

Today will be a NSD

Hi all haven't posted in over a week - started back to work and on payroll on 1st may...thought this was the answer to my prayers - using ynab and have budgeted out what I need for bills each week etc....two paychecks in I'm not doing good at all. Have a few unexpected expenses like dentist to replace a capping and overspent on groceries the first week as I'd been only buying small shops up to then when money was extremely tight.

Hoping this week to be back on the wagon properly, loads of NSD cos no cash - will get there.

Italian advice that was given to me with regard to bf was to get the formula but leave it in a friends house so you can get it if you need it but it's not as easy to reach out for when the going gets tough! My ds is now 6 months bf but gets formula at childminders as I'm not brilliant for expressing.

NSD Sunday, need groceries today.

£15 fuel. Some of that went in Dh's car.

£3 lunch

£1 work supplies.

NSD here

Day off work today so did Church toddler group this morning which is free & then had coffee and cake at a friends this afternoon.

Love it when I have a nice day without spending any £!

NSD today