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Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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:
SpottyTeacakes · 28/05/2014 17:50

Poor ds CremeEgg

I had to put my heating on too Angry stupid British weather

Original poster
MissAnnersleyismyhero · 28/05/2014 18:40

Our heating is on too! NSD today Smile thankfully!

Making home-made custard for the first time tonight, wish me luck Shock

OP posts:
FantaSea · 28/05/2014 18:46

spring thank you Smile you're right there are not many NSDs - I hardly seem to have any lately.

MissAnn homemade custard from scratch? How lovely.

AuditAngel · 28/05/2014 19:11

£3.20 postage to send some crocs on the "swap" thread. £8.97 in Argos for three Hello Kitty bags. £2.99 each when reserved, price up to £4.49 today but they honoured the lower price. Well done Argos.

Going out for dinner, will need to pay for taxi home.

CoolCadbury · 28/05/2014 19:30

NSDs during school holidays are a pipe dream.

Remember, summer holidays are looming, hope everyone is managing to squirrel money for them. I've not managed to put any money into my "saving goals" (which includes summer) category this month. Sad

Ooh @ homemade custard - I make it very occasionally. I'm sure it will be delish.

Tesco's were doing free cream with strawberries so I bought some. I put the double cream we did not use in the freezer but it came out all grainy - does anyone know any tricks of how to get defrosted cream to an edible state? I did whip it lightly before I put it in the freezer. I took it out today to eat with homemade scones.

springbright · 28/05/2014 19:34

The charger is going back!

I have 21 in my summer holiday savings pot Smile

CoolCadbury · 28/05/2014 19:39

Just remembered. Scottish Power have put £29.?? in my bank account. I have no idea why though. I used Scottish Power for 3 months in my last house about three years ago before I found a better deal. I'm sure they would have sent a letter but obviously went to the previous address.

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 19:47

£2.90 on a wrap for my lunch - was going to my nanas and needed something on the move. Also, £10 on electric (we are on a meter).

Tomorrow will be a big spend day as my car should be ready to collect. £200 on a tiny little dent and scratch! Will also treat myself to a browse and coffee in my local independent bookshop. It's my idea of heaven - peace and quiet, with a good book!

SpottyTeacakes · 28/05/2014 19:48

I've got a random direct debit been set up on my account at the end of April with bt. No money has been taken so I don't know the amount but I can't think what on earth it could be for unless it's an old one from before I switched the account Confused

Original poster
MissAnnersleyismyhero · 28/05/2014 20:00

custard went well! Grin will definitely try it again. DH had made some meringues and there were 4 egg yolks left over so thought I'd make custard, it was quite nerve wracking with all the whisking etc!

Been putting off my work for tomorrow all day, our school goes back tomorrow Sad so we get the world's shortest half term.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 28/05/2014 20:38

£8 on cat litter, contact lens fluid, San pro & crisps in sainsbos

80p on spuds.

northender · 28/05/2014 22:01

NSD here [puts the flags out!!]

PIL left today so we just had a quiet day at home. MIL paid for tea out last night which was lovely, such a treat.

Tomorrow we are going to go to the Imperial War Museum in Salford, using a park and ride station and the Metrolink family day pass we were given when I complained about the poor customer service. Free admission to the museum and we'll take drinks and a picnic. Won't be NSD but will be as low spend as I can get it.

AdoraBell · 29/05/2014 03:05

Creme hope DS recovers quickly.

Turns out DD2 has whatever lurgies are doing the rounds at school. Slept most of the day and I managed to get some ibuprofen and liquids into her morning and evening. So I've had an NSD, yay!

AuditAngel · 29/05/2014 06:29

Cab home from last night's dinner was £18, less than I expected. Suffering this morning!

Must remember to take lunch today, mainly as I hope to get away early to see DS show rehearsal, which my nephew (who goes to boarding school) will attend.

SpottyTeacakes · 29/05/2014 06:53

Hoping for nsd today. Been such a spendy day

SpottyTeacakes · 29/05/2014 06:53

Spendy month I mean Hmm

MadScientistsRuleTheAsylum · 29/05/2014 07:13

Well, farm trip cancelled due to friend having to do something else, which saves the petrol there (30min each way) and about £35 entrance fee. We are going to potter around the village with friends. Pub lunch, but the kids meals are £4 each, and the baby won't finish hers so I can have that for mine instead of ordering a full meal for myself. Thereby saving money and hopefully less calories! Then friends coming to ours for tea and that will be everything.

Homemade custard sounds amazing, is it hard? We have a good supply of eggs from various chicken owning families we know, so I might have to try that sometime.

I should do something lovely and mummy ish with the kids, we have all the ingredients for biscuits so might try a big batch of those and then they can be snacks for the next week or so instead of buying stuff when we are out. We have Star Wars cookie cutters, very cool!

Tomorrow is payday, got payslip and it is £100 down as I took too much holiday last holiday year. I knew it would go, don't disagree with the amount (they let me off half a day as well), just annoying!

Going to get my spreadsheet on tonight and plan the next few months outgoings. Rock n roll baby...

Iamnotanugget · 29/05/2014 07:32

northender the war museum is quite small. When you're done get back on the tram to Deansgate/Castlefield and go to the MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry). Avoid the over priced cafe and gift shop but the rest should keep you entertained for a while. Then it's a walk/tram/free bus back to Piccadilly. Have a good day.

I've had a child benefit payment of £55 go in my account for dc3 which is very helpful. I'm going to take back some of the clothes I've been given for him and exchange them for milk and fruit. I know that's terrible but I don't like them, we don't need that many vests, we do need groceries. Next month I'll put the equivalent money in savings for him, we're just stretched this month.

northender · 29/05/2014 08:21

Thanks Nugget, we went briefly to MOSI on our last trip to Manchester so will go to IWM first and then rest of the day at MOSI. I had no idea how long we'd spend at the war museum so that's really helpful Smile

springbright · 29/05/2014 08:37

Ooh just realised pay day is tmrw not the 31st!

nugget I took back quite a few outfits in the early days, in particular those from Asda as I could exchange for nappies. I felt really guilty at the time but with hindsight it saved us precious money on maternity leave. Outfits were mainly from distant relatives who were never likely to see dd in the clothes and everyone received a genuine thank you card for their 'gift', its just that the gift was essential nappies rather than a non-essential vest.

MadScientistsRuleTheAsylum · 29/05/2014 11:36

Have taken advantage of nap time and called Lloyds and cancelled my credit card that I cleared. So, for the first time on my adult life I have no access to credit. The card I transferred the balance onto I destroyed the card when it turned up. I could order a new one, but that ain't happening!

I've started a savings pot online, £10 to go in every Monday. This should help with summer holidays, although I only have 2 weeks off of the six, so it shouldn't be too bad!

It's kind of nervy not having a credit card to hand - if I don't have the money, I can't have it. I've always gone for the "buy it now, worry about it later" style of things - which is obviously why I'm here...

That seems like a big philosophy change to make, but I'm kind of out of options right now.

So last day of the month for me - my credit card is £950 and my O/D is at £151. So if I spend £30 in pub, my total debt at the end of May is £1131

Going to aim to get it below £1000 next month, so I should finish the month a maximum of £20 overdrawn.

SpottyTeacakes · 29/05/2014 11:40

Looks like our tax credits are going to be cut by £80 a month Sad luckily dp should be getting a pay rise, however then they'll probably be cut even more.

Original poster
MissAnnersleyismyhero · 29/05/2014 12:50

mad scientist no it's easy enough, I used this recipe www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/sauces-and-dressings/how-to-make-custard.html and actually it still worked even though I used soya milk and cream instead of the real stuff! genius.

It was really delicious, much nicer than the shop bought stuff. I also used a teaspoon of liquid vanilla essence instead of the pod/seeds.

I've done as much of the new budget as I can before DH gets home from work tonight and we can add in his things and make the debt payments. Computer people have finally collected his broken computer so they should refund him £500 onto the current card we're paying off within 7 working days from now which will be such a boost, although they have been beyond rubbish so I'm not exactly holding my breath Hmm

Still waiting (from 9th May!) for the £75 compensation from Scottish Power too. If they don't do it within 28 days I have to call the ombudsman again. sigh.

Also have to nag DH as he got a letter relating to his old student account today despite him having "closed" it almost 2 weeks ago.

OP posts:
Charlieboo30 · 29/05/2014 14:19

Well, today I have proven that I have no willpower whatsoever.

Collected car which I knew was going to cost me £200 and then I treat myself to a panini and coffee at my local independent bookshop - £8. Fine as I'd budgeted for them.

Then I picked up a book for £9 which I've looked at a few times and a copy of Mary Poppins for £13! I have wanted to read it for ages but I don't need it! Aargh!

DP is off tomorrow and I know we will end up going out somewhere. Will try not to spend too much! I am also going to switch my bank account to first direct so Barclays can stop ripping me off with their overdraft charges!

MadScientistsRuleTheAsylum · 29/05/2014 15:23

Lunch cost me £19.80 :-) v happy to be under budget, tomorrow we are doing free / essential stuff. Morrisons shop, swimming lessons, cleaning the house.

DH is playing cricket on Saturday, so as long as the weather holds we will offski to the local park. And then Sunday we are going to the circus, already paid for, and a picnic with friends after. Should be a low spend weekend and then back to school on Monday (and work, mores the pity...)