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Original poster

A miserly May on Mumsnet for the fantastic frugaleers!

865 replies

MissAnnersleyismyhero · 28/04/2014 16:29

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.

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 17/05/2014 21:23

Hello ladies. I went to Sainsbury's today and even I was Shock at the total. £209.89 Shock . Fortunately I had 2 vouchers for £7 each. In my defence, I still have my parents staying And £44.50 of the bill was ready meals etc. for my parents (they eat at lunchtime, so in the week DH nukes them a ready meal between shifts)

It also included £10 sandals for DD2, socks for DD1 £5.50 and £15 for kids headphones for DD1 using her birthday money. So, when I deduct that £75 the shopping came to £120.

I got home to find DS wanted to make cookies for a DT project for school Hmm, so back to the supermarket £7 on biscuit ingredients.

£3 church collection.

On the plus side, I found £40 in my purse I haven't used for a month.

CremeEggThief · 17/05/2014 21:45

£2.50 on cheesy chips and £6.73 at Lidl, but that's on my card, so won't come out until Monday or Tuesday.

I'll read through later.

FantaSea · 18/05/2014 09:45

Audit wow, what a find! Smile

DD's A levels start tomorrow so I am expecting more of a spendy week - I shall take her as she is worried about the train being late, so I shall have more petrol and other bits to pay for. There are not too many places to hang around near the school - there is a big Tesco so I shall probably go in there and browse the bargains and try not to spend too much. On the plus side, I only bought her a train season ticket for a month and working it out on a day by day basis, it has worked out cheaper than had she bought a ticket each day.

It's a lovely day here - hope everyone enjoys the sunshine Smile

SpottyTeacakes · 18/05/2014 11:53

£36 sandals for dd. Yes I know that's insane but she needs decent ones and I can only get them on amazon. The colour she really wanted was £55 Sad but I managed to persuade her to get the 'cheaper' ones...

Charlieboo30 · 18/05/2014 13:35

Have spent way too much today after my resolution yesterday! Went to superdrug and spent £5 on sun cream, the spent £8 on coffee in Costa while DP and I browsed papers and then another £9 in tesco on bits for lunch even though I only went shopping yesterday! Aargh!

ilovepicnmix · 18/05/2014 15:43

spring a picnic for me is pretty easy as I'm only catering for me and a wee one.

99p spent today on 2 bananas and a bottle of water. I'm pleased as I resisted the ice cream van.

Need to take DS to the docs tomorrow morning as his eczema has got quite bad in the hot weather. Thinking v frugally that will save me money as I've been trying various creams in order to avoid a trip. Im assuming he'll be prescribed something.

Good luck to your daughter fanta and welcome charlie

springbright · 18/05/2014 16:24

£48 on tesco shop. I bought a rtc quiche and have made some muffins this morning so my ready-to-go frugal picnic is on it's way. Hope you've had a lovely morning dragon boat watching picnmix Smile

charlie perhaps costa and your lunch bits were cheaper altogether than a lunch out for the both of you? Wink

My car tax reminder has arrived. I will pay it later so that the money is out of account.

We've had lots of sunshine this weekend so we're now in watching Mary Poppins! Have wanted to re-watch since seeing Saving Mr. Banks. Dd not showing the slightest interest!

CremeEggThief · 18/05/2014 18:00

NSD.

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/05/2014 18:29

£1.70 curtain hooks
£8 beer for dh because he's done loads of DIY today & is coming to the realisation that he's switching bank accounts again soon Smile

charlie you need a waitrose card or a John Lewis card so you can have free coffee.

I need a cell battery & a rolling pin so I can crack on with making pitta breads.

silkknickers · 18/05/2014 18:31

AuditAngel fabulous find! It's great to discover money in pockets and purses you have forgotten about. Sadly, the only thing I ever discover is manky old tissues!

Well, still fairly spendy so far. An impromptu trip to the beach yesterday was an unplanned expense, but sometimes when the weather's like this you have to just be spontaneous and bite the bullet!

Helenagrace · 18/05/2014 18:36

NSD here. Been busy baking for the week ahead - quiche for lunches plus a tart for pudding and a lemon cake. All from store cupboard ingredients. Just cooked a chicken I picked up in the reduced section last week which will do two meals this week.

Need to look into bank accounts. We pay for our account but get travel insurance, phone insurance and AA membership with it butbit's still worth looking into I guess.

Can't remember who mentioned making pitta breads - is it easy?

NK5BM3 · 18/05/2014 18:50

£40 at Aldi to finish up grocery shopping so this week it's cost about £100! Ridiculous. But I guess a lot of it was topping up depleted supplies.

Went to beach. H paid for ice creams. £7.50?!!!

Charlieboo30 · 18/05/2014 18:52

Fluffy - nearest Waitrose is 45 mins away and the nearest John Lewis is an hour away. I do, however, have a booths card (like a Northern Waitrose) which entitles you to a free drink every day. I just like the atmosphere in Costa and the comfy chairs. I know, I'm weak...

FantaSea · 18/05/2014 19:38

ilovepicnmix thank you, she is very worried about it all.

DD had eczema when she was younger and I got all her creams on prescription, even sun cream. I also got some stuff on prescription to use in the bath instead of soap. I had been trying various creams from the chemist, which didn't make a lot of difference, but the creams from the doctor really hoped - hope you have the same success.

AuditAngel · 18/05/2014 21:46

NSD. (Good thing too after yesterday's food shop!)

CoolCadbury · 18/05/2014 22:25

Expensive weekend here. £25 for nephew's 21st. £7 for DS's friends birthday present plus £2.20 for parking for said friend's party plus £4.75 on coffee etc, killing time whilst DS at party. It was in the middle of town so felt a bit stuck.

This week, I have the plumber coming in to service the boiler, change the room thermostat (which is not communicating with the boiler), fix the hot water bath tap (no water comes out of it) and fix the leak in the downstairs toilet. £££

CremeEggThief · 18/05/2014 23:10

Wishing Fanta's DD all the very best! X

lilacclery · 19/05/2014 06:38

Oh man is all I can say but on the plus side dh hasn't given me his share of bills for 3 weeks so that'll bring me right back on the straight & narrow again!!

My paypal was hacked twice last night to tune of £31 so have opened a dispute about that. Will send my account into unauthorised overdraft though Angry

Iamnotanugget · 19/05/2014 08:27

lilac ring your bank today and explain what's happened. Once PayPal sort things out your bank will probably not charge you and not put a mark on your file. My PayPal account was hacked. As soon as I emailed them it was dealt with, took a couple of days but hassle free.

Good luck Fanta's dd!

Spotty, I spent £32 on dds sandals, it's insane. They'll still be in good nick at the end of summer but too small next year.

Going to make a big effort this week, just milk, fruit and playgroups. Half term next week and that's bound to be £'s.

SpottyTeacakes · 19/05/2014 09:33

It's so hard to find good supportive ones.
I've just had to spend £6 on some cream as dd's eczema has flared up in this heat. (Luckily nursery are happy to apply it even though it's not prescribed!)

SpottyTeacakes · 19/05/2014 10:15

£55.59 paid to next account which is now CLEARED! I will give it a couple of days to go through then close the acct. GrinGrinGrin

Meglet · 19/05/2014 10:56

Marking my place to lurk.

My food bills have taken a hit recently because I've had to change to gluten free. If I keep an eye on this thread it should remind me to trim spending in other areas,

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/05/2014 12:25

lilacclery good god that's awful, paypal always sell themselves on security too. They should refund you the o/d fees.

Spotty, well done. My store card was the first to go as well, smallest debt but the highest interest rate.

£2 aldi
£3 homebargains
£1 Poundworld
£3 co-op

FantaSea · 19/05/2014 15:07

CremeEgg and nugget thank you both.

DD is home now and reasonably happy with how her first exam went this morning. I have been awake since 5am worrying about it! That's one down, 14 to go.

£4.52 on a celebratory mcdonalds for DD and £6 in Tesco on fruit and a few bits while I waited for her.

Spotty and nugget I remember the days of spending loads of children's sandals. I don't know how old your DDs are, but as my DD always had small feet she could fit into the children's range all the time at junior school. I had always thought of Clarks as being quite frumpy but managed to get DD some lovely sandals - our local branch reduced them to £10 which is a real bargain and they were nice and sturdy but pretty at the same time. I don't know if they are still doing these mega-sales now though, but it might be worth a look if they are Smile .

lilac I am horrified - I thought the whole point of paypal was that it was really secure, that is awful.

AdoraBell · 19/05/2014 16:08

Grin at your £40 find Audit. I found £2 in bottom of my bag yesterday, hid it a secret place before this week's round of "muuuuuum, need XY and Z for school" starts.

Fanta best of luck for DD with her A levels. I read a piece on BBC about students buying reams of bubble wrap to ease stress, might be worth investing if you can get some.

Lilac hope you can get that sorted satisfacturaly.

NSW, we have leftovers from the BBQ for meals today and tomorrow, will need veg tomorrow. Also need dog food.