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.

Ooh! I'm already feeling underway for Christmas and as I found Reastie's thread too late last year I'm really going to enjoy having a browse!

I've been away for a few days, some work, some visiting but way too much petrol usage. Also I think our tracking is out and we'll now need at least two more tyres. I got back late last night so we went out for dinner - feeling financial emotional confusion! It does happen to us all jan

I'm also feeling a bit 'meh' because there is a small chance my hours may be cut from September. I do an extra 6hrs pw temporary on top of my permanent contract and I've really started to get used to the extra money! It's not loads each month after childcare but does certainly allow a little wiggle room. The thing is, I don't want the hours to be made permanent as I may want to reduce in the future when dd goes to school or when we have another dc. I suppose I just want to decide when!

On a plus note, our new cleaner came yesterday and it was heaven to arrive home late to a sparkling house. 10/10 for value for money this fortnight.

east what lovely news! Congratulations!

East great news!!

FantaSea - thanks v much! V excited. Haven't been away since Christmas and that was to in laws. Doesn't count.

Have a good one everyone.

spring of your cleaner - mine didn't show up this week am not overwhelmed so far

Thanks guys frugal part has been horrendous nausea which means we have 2 v full freezers as couldn't be arsed to cook n ate small amounts so meals have lasted longer/been more left overs.

Congratulations East

Did 2 Sainsbury's shops today. DH came home with a voucher for £15 off your first online shop. I pointed out I did that a few weeks ago, so he asked if it would work using his email address? So I did. £55 is after savings.

Plus I had a £10 off plus free delivery after my first internet shop with them, so I used that after splitting the shopping and that came to about £60 after the vouchers.

Mum and dad are still here, but mum gave me £100 so that covers their shopping last week and this. I haven't taken out any cash this month! But I do have to transfer our medical insurance payment.

£16.98 in Lidl, £4.14 in Tesco and £10 for a school trip for DS.

Congratulations East :).

Congratulations East, lovely news.

£16 yesterday, spent a further £6 on stuff I should get paid for on the checkout smart app. I will be very cross if they don't pay out.

audit you can get cashback on tcb for using mysupermarket for the first time. It's only £5 but its better than nothing. Tesco do cb too on there.

congratulations, east!

have totally given up on budgeting at the moment. I had some large bills at the beginning of the month and have had holiday bits to buy. So I'm now in the ah fuck-it frame of mind. Am too scared to check my bank balance, but am going to make a nice, fortifying cup of tea and take the plunge...

Silkknickers check it! it may not be as bad as you think, even if it is, at least you'll know

congratulations east

Silk cup of tea before looking at bank balance sounds like a good idea.

Spendy day yesterday. £20 on beauty appt, £2.45 on a coffee in between appts and £35 for dental hygienist.

Oh and £9.35 in Waitrose

ok.

Well, the month ends (on payday) on Tuesday, yet so far I'm £362.41 over budget. £208.41 is over on my household budget, which I don't really understand. I knew that I had to tweak that budget, but I still can't see how I've gone SO far over.

The rest of the overspend is on holiday bits and pieces (actually only £16 on me - the rest was bag, DC's bits etc) and essential replacements - and typing that has reminded me that I can 'claim' £40 back from the 'replacement' budget in another account!

so, overall, I'm as overspent as I imagined I'd be, but it's annoying that I can't pinpoint exactly where, in terms of the household budget.

with the household budget, I count any cash I withdraw as coming out of here, as it's invariably spent on household stuff. how does everyone else account for cash withdrawals?

Spent £14.50 yesterday on eyebrow/lip/chin threading and £9.50 in the pub buying a mate and myself a half-term drink. Ended up back at his house and drank waaaay too much, DH joined us. I now have a headache.

I don't account for cash, I figure that as long as I'm no spending on fripperies like doilies for the cats bowl it isn't wasted money.

Homebase is 15% off this weekend plus 6% tcb for click and collect orders. I know one of you wanted homebase to do a sale.

£52 in lidl.

Fluffy when I take the photo of my petrol receipt it's in focus then at the next stage it goes all blurry I've submitted it anyway but I'm worried they won't accept it

What are you using to take the photo? I used to use the phone then I realised I could do it online using a camera.

I was using the app so just used my iPhone camera. My laptop is broken

They refused one of mine once but I re-submitted it with a new photo and it went through that time.

Hmm I might email them

Thanks all

Vile weather here got bus into town n went to john Lewis for free tea n cake

Does anyone know if they send u more vouchers as that was my last one husband had a June one??

You'll get another set of 3 soon.

I've just been quoted £60 for our holiday insurance a week in Europe!

www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance

Try this.