Jacket Potato July: our frugal year is flying by!

[CremeEggThief]

Hi All,
I couldn't see a new thread yet, so thought I'd start one for July. The jacket potato is a marker for starting summer off on a frugal note. :).

NSD so far.

£99 on underwear?

Should be nsd today. Dd's teacher is doing a home visit then I've got friends coming for lunch.

Hi Six thanks for your kind words...

I'm having a work BBQ today, so no need to bring lunch. I've yet to book holiday in France for 6 people!! So got to do that soon. Panicking about work to do list which is getting longer, and with little support and communication, I'm really not sure where I'm going.

I'm taking responsibility for a really important audit due to happen next June. I've started now with initial meetings to brief the relevant people. Most people seem to appreciate that, but the one particular person who's being difficult seems to (in my opinion) think that I'm stepping on his toes. But I'm not. If I don't get this audit passed, it's my head on the board.

He's also the one that seems to be all friendly and supportive, giving me 'advice' which I take on board, and then when things get discussed in the public, he starts saying 'oh why didn't you add this, or do that or say this?' But he could have said all that when he was given the opportunity to comment on the form in the earlier stages!!

So, it's almost like he comes across all benign and helpful... And then shoots me down, in public. Can one trust that person? More importantly, what should my response be???

NK5 ooh that's really difficult. I would definitely not trust him! Is there someone else (more senior/same level as him) who you could ask for advice re the things he keeps springing on you, just someone who can catch those things so you can stop him from pointing them out too late?

If he does point things out I'd be really professional and nice and thank him, but somehow find a way of saying (privately at first but then publically if he still does it) that he needs to use the feedback form at an earlier stage.

Thanks Peonies - that's what DH said too. Next time he does that, I'd say, oh, why didn't you say that in the earlier comments. I did send it to you for comments before sending it out to the biggies.

I mean, it could have been that it slipped his mind (of course, we are all human), but there are ways of saying things that would criticise the actual thing but wouldn't bring my confidence down... He obviously has more 'experience' in these sorts of things than I do - I know this. Plus he goes to meetings that I'm not privy to. I get that. So therefore, I would imagine that he either shares this info with me when I seek his comments, or not berate me when I have no clue what's happening!!

My line manager goes to meetings I'm not privy to, doesn't pass on any information/documents and then gets annoyed when I don't know about the new decisions that have been made I am now doing part of his job because senior management think he's incompetent, yet they won't fire him, they just parcelled up this role and gave it to me as a mini-promotion. But he still goes to all the meetings etc *

LSD yesterday - 3 on more fecking bubblewrap in home bargains! Went with Sky for the tv and TalkTalk for the phone/broadband, between they're much less than we have been paying for Virgin and going through Topcashback got 200 for them both grin

£5 petrol.

Later will be £10 present, £3 card.

Nsd

We're getting new windows and doors should save us some money in the winter as, although we do have double glazing, the windows and back door are all wooden.

£6.37 in Aldi getting the dishwasher tabs I forgot yesterday (£4.99 for 100 at the moment in centre aisle - bargain!)

But then some squash and fruit pasties smuggled themselves into my basket...

Feeling better about this month balancing today as last night DH suggested that we could wait to get the tent awning...I mean HE SUGGESTED IT!! £145 saved (well delayed until we can trawl the sales at the end of the season).

£48 to fill the car. £7.50 for parking, can be claimed back.

£11 in Boots on hydro colloid dressings as DS has badly grazed his knee, plus eye drops for me.

£99 on the underwear was 7 multipacks of socks, 5 multipacks of pants. I tend to stock up in batches. Only bought one pack of kids socks since September last year, and this is restocking for school and dancing.i normally stock up on pants at Christmas, but we didn't this year.

Fruit pasties...that's just weird! You know what I mean!

Another amazingly frugal thing just happened...had booked a hotel for a wedding in September but have just found out we can camp for free! Saving about £80!

You can get fruit pasties in the bakery near me! (quite tasty too)

Was hoping for a NSD but had to pay school dinners (got a text to remind me- was hoping to wait till next week)

Plus had to do a mini shop for sandwich fillings and fruit

£11.44 on medicine for our cat and £1.20 on 3 bars of chocolate.

six When those dw tablets run out try tesco daisy dw powder, £4.60 and lasts me 9 months (one dessert spoon per wash) I just chuck it in the machine I don't put it in the door.

Neither are tested on animals.

New doors and windows will definitely lower the bills down spotty.

Fantastic cashback result mrsw

Last night I was told I had to pay £54.80 for DD1's dancing costume plus buy a leotard to be used as a base. This includes someone making it up for me. I think I am going to have to learn to sew.

I was still reeling from this when I was told that they are also re-using some old costumes we will also have to get made. She also needs two new pairs of dance shoes. £20 each. (But I may be getting those second hand if one of the next group up can buy second hand to replace hers) here's hoping. That £16 can go towards another costume.

Plus DD2 is complaining her shoes don't got. I want to get her feet checked while they still have sale shoes in.

DD2's shoes don't fit, not got

Oh dear audit, it's horrible when costs come one after another like that! but just think how proud you'll be watching them perform their little hearts out!! Is this kind of event annual of will this be it for a while?

After spending nearly £700 on the car the central locking has gone now

Oops! Haven't been tracking my spending this week. I'll work out how much I have spent and post later on . TBFair, I have been a bit down because I did not get the job I went for and it's been recommended that DS goes through the statementing process, which I thought would happen, but still...

www.hotukdeals.com/deals/cancel-up-1500-student-loans-wales-1950266

Any of you in Wales?.

Oh no spotty!!! Hope you get it sorted soon.

We are on inset day today. I've been looking forward to today for some time. No rushing around!! Every weekend we still rush about for activities so today is a rare treat.

So having French toast now and I'm still in my pj!!

I paid the 2nd cc bill yesterday and it was not a bad one. I did have my hair done, new glasses made and my course of facials so that took up 2/3 of the bill. So I'm not too upset.

Don't think we can keep this up though only because I will need to pay for holiday soon. Doh. But I think more frugalling at Aldi would be a good thing. And more homebaking and cooking.

I'm feeling exhausted though. From work issues (as above) to financial worries. People irl would not believe that we are concerned about money - not that we are frivolous but that our kids are in many activities, we have 2 cars and we live in a very 'middle class' area.

But because we have 1 stable income and 1 self employed one, it's really quite scary times. I feel so inadequate when I see my colleagues who earn similar amounts (x2) and they (for example) donate their child benefit to charity!!

I am v impressed they do that because at least it's not to their benefit but I am so that they can afford that. Then I remember I could have done that too, if dh was still on his old income!

Ok enough self pity for now! Have a good day everyone. It's raining here. Argh.

I like the idea of this thread

I had a NSD yesterday!

Today I'll spend a fiver getting a present for my son's birthday in September but that's it.

We have an inset day today as well NK5BM3 and it is so nice not to rush- DS2 and I are just making some waffles for a late breakfast. The lazy DS1 is still asleep!

Hoping for a NSD but expect it will be a LSD because the cupboards are fairly bare!

Audit I know what you mean - dancewear and costumes are so expensive, my DD used to do a lot of dancing and was in a few shows. I was lucky as my best friend's eldest DD had feet larger than my DD so she used to pass shoes onto me and then when my DD had outgrown them, I would give them back to her for her youngest DD - to even things out and also as sometimes the shoes weren't outgrown at the 'correct' time, I would buy the odd pair for my DD and then pass them onto her youngest DD.

I have to do a large food shop today as the cupboards are bare (again), but I have made a list and am determined to stick to it.

Hi,

I am going to join the August thread if you will have me? It will be a challenge for me as it is school holidays!!
I work 3 days a week (nhs) but have almost 3 weeks off with my children aged 10 and 6. DH at work most of the hols but we do have a 4 night break booked in Edinburgh :)