Judiciously June frugal thread now including Christmas bargains.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Everyone is welcome.

Not excessive but trimmable. It depends on how brand loyal you are.

That £100 a week, does it include the school dinner money & lunches out etc?.

I need to join this thread as I'm awful for little spends and spends on cakes. In the past wek we bought a NT membership and a Zoo pass, so we can have a lot of LSDs whenever we want. Both places allow picnic lunches so that saves us a lot.

DH and I need to save as our tax credits have dropped by 1/3 and as that's 'my' money I am struggling to afford the activities the DC and I do. Travel is especially costly for me as I don't drive.

Today should be a LS

Gah, my phone decided to post early. Today should be a LSD as we're nipping to the zoo for an hour or two. Will take a flask and snacks for the DC so we shouldn't spend much at all.

Not brand loyal at all! We have morrisons and Aldi local to us. It includes packed lunches, doesn't include dinner money (that comes out of the child benefit - but will be zero for a year from September and I've got about £20 to pay for the rest of this term on top of £20 credit from last term and £20 paid today). If we go out for a meal or get a takeaway that comes from our "fun money" budgets as it's a non essential. I need to meal plan more I think. Morrisons do quite a lot of loyalty and money off vouchers, the payday bonus one give us £10 another back and I usually get a £5 of £40 each week.

Should definitely be possible to trim. Another massive expense we have is petrol - around £400 a month, but I always forget to claim my mileage from work which should be about £80 back so I need to get more hot on that. Trouble is I nip here there and everywhere, so often don't bother recording 10 miles here and there - but it adds up at 45p a mile...

With petrol being such a huge expense it'll make a big difference to claim for it.

Since aldi have started super 6 on meat my butchers earnings have suffered! Makes everything cost effective buying all in one place

I've spent wayyyy to much money in the last couple of days. Determined to get back on track as changed my bank so should all change over on 12th! Shouldn't need to spend anything this week apart from a few bits (bread, milk etc) on Weds or Thurs. The car is full of fuel.

I spend £400 a month on food just for two of us and DP buys lunch! It includes my packed lunch though. Do a combination of Morrisons and Lidl but DP is diabetic so have to watch what I buy. I'm also really funny (DP says snobby) about meat, plus I find the fruit and veg in Lidl really bad quality.

Passthecake Sun suit with hat £10 from muddy puddles google for code - only place could find decent priced 2 piece for my 3yr old as everywhere all in one I actually ordered one in next sz up for next yr too as signed up to newsletter to get £5 off £20 spend so that covered postage n tiny bit more. They are in clearance section highly recommend excellent customer service n high quality stuff have had loads over past few yrs for my little one n nieces n nephews only ever buy clearance though

BSD today. Season ticket and music lessons. £400. NSD tomorrow and Thursday, maybe Saturday too if I can manage it. Might plan ahead for a freezer dinner and film night in for DC on Sat. I've been spending way too much last month. It has to stop.

Meal planning question. In the past I've been good about using the 3 for £10 deals on meat. Looked online at Sainsbury (who were offering £10 off a £100 shop, so good place to stock up for a couple of weeks' basics) and found the range has dropped massively. Where's good for meat or fish (especially fish) for a family of four, for around £3.50 per day?

NSD today (and yesterday too).

Managed to get some maternity jeans in primary for £5 had 3 differ colours but only 32" leg n I have a 33" but the boot cut ones were fine think it's because they are doing a new line of mat jeans in varying leg lengths Inc 34" n all £11 which is bargain anyway. I actually hate primary but as hadn't found anything I liked elsewhere I thought would try them.

MacDonald lunch putt but less than£5 as me n toddler had happy meals. Also had free tea n scone in John Lewis first thing.

We use marks Spencer for 3 for £10 they have good range husband fav is on 20 sausages n yep sometimes he gets 60!! Bagged up for freezer in 6/8pks actually work out good deal.

Satirize also do good 3 for £10 n if anything in that range is reduced it still takes off original saving Eg- chicken at £4 x3 = £2 saved. Find 3 reduced to £3 each 3x £3 =£9 but will still tAke £2 off so =£7 - hope that makes sense works with all offers n reduced stuff once done it while u get better at working it out quick.

I would like to join, please! A few debts to pay off and a wedding to save for! NSD yesterday and today (so far)!

Very welcome okydoke
I borrowed money in 2010 to pay for wedding, added to it to pay for car in 2012 now have €8k to clear & determined to start 2016 without this loan however it's at a good rate so going to clear €3600 on credit cards first

Welcome all newbies. It's lovely to see so many new faces joining our frugal ranks :).

Right, £3.60 on travel, £3.95 on two plants, £3.69 at the post office, £3.16 in Lidl and £3 pocket money for DS, so £14.40 altogether.

Em, £17.40 actually!

Welcome newbies

£6 on fuel
89p in aldi but I took the cats food back because he doesn't like it & got £1.95 back.

Resisted tesco for the rest of the day, so 68p on a can of coke and £20 dinner money is my total for the day. Off home now to cwtch the kids and make tea :-) and sit in the garden I think, lovely evening here :-)

Welcome newbies! pink I had to laugh at 'cake spends'!

NSD here. Feeling quite organised with lunches and dinner this week. In terms of meat we usually only have a couple of times a week and try to stretch where possible so a chicken last night has also done lunches and a biryani for tonight.

Welcome newbies

I went to the lovely big Tesco while DD did her exam (which she is happy about, what a relief) and spent £32 on some essential bits - stamps, cards, toiletries and household stuff. I could spend hours browsing in there, how sad am I

chocolateandzucchini.com/recipes/desserts/butterless-apple-crumble-recipe/

I just used smart price oats & flour with white sugar.

Very nice.

LSD. 96p on birthday cards for kids' friends. I had a £1 voucher because sainsburys price matched and said I was 'owed' £1. Got 5 cards. £4.50 for ds school dinner but that's weekly.

£21 in the post office.

Dd just spilt her hot chocolate all over herself, the sofa and the carpet after I told her not to be silly and hold it between her legs

Had a NSD today, went to the zoo (free with annual pass), then came home and relaxed before the school mayhem starts tomorrow.

Will hopefully be a LSD tomorrow. DS1 has his lunch money (£2.10) and his climbing lesson (£6) DS2 has his toddler group (£1) so hopefully everything will cost under £10- famous last words!