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Jacket Potato July: our frugal year is flying by!

692 replies

CremeEggThief · 01/07/2014 16:27

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.

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 02/07/2014 16:13

Oh and I got my car insurance renewal so need to do some comparisons

Passthecake30 · 02/07/2014 17:09

Being fleeced by the school still. ...cake sales, ice pop sales, book bags, uniform. ....

I think uniform is sorted except for shoes now. Been tight and only got 2 jumpers for each dc. ...prob need more tbh, might look in 2nd hand

BigBirthdayGloom · 02/07/2014 17:43

I do feel a bit churlish about the daily PTA Ice cream sales. The ice cream can isn't allowed.

Preciousbane · 02/07/2014 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AuditAngel · 02/07/2014 17:53

Pass how old are your DC? Last year DS only had one jumper, plus on old ropes hand me down one. DD1 only had one cardigan. At the start of the year they were just 9 and 6.5

I have previously found that more jumpers just means more jumpers in their tray at school half worn rather than clean ones at home. Also, last year DS lost a brand new jumper and DD1 list her coat. I told them that any uniform losses would come out of their money since I had kitted them out once already. Needless to say, this year we have lost no further uniform!

FantaSea · 02/07/2014 17:56

Welcome to all the newbies Smile

574 and bigbirthday I love craft supplies too, mainly wool, but I am flexible and also like fabric and trimmings. I never seem to get around to doing my crafting what with work and the house so sometimes I just look at my supplies Blush

£11 on cleaning bits.

AuditAngel · 02/07/2014 17:59

£20 to top up my Oyster card, I used about £13 which work will cover on expenses. £5.50 for lunch in London. I need to pay £5 for DD1's karate lesson. She will be missing the next 2 lessons as she has dance rehearsals for Joseph. We don't pay extra for those.

I also need to go and buy my dad's birthday present and some picnic food for sports day picnic lunch on Friday.

BigBirthdayGloom · 02/07/2014 18:01

I think the craft supply and magazine thing is perhaps because I have no time to craft at the m

BigBirthdayGloom · 02/07/2014 18:02

Sorry-moment. So it's wishful thinking, look what I could make kind of purchasing. Perhaps things will improve when dd is at preschool in September. I am sure I go shopping to escape the house and chores too. But today is day one of my new leaf.

NK5BM3 · 02/07/2014 18:50

Yesterday topped up petrol because was going on a 180 mile round trip journey - will claim. Also will get paid some money for the couple of hours work I did so that's fine. Even got lunch free!

NSD.

SpottyTeacakes · 02/07/2014 19:01

Can't seem to get cheaper than £350 for car insurance Shock it goes up every year!!

NK5BM3 · 02/07/2014 19:03

I've been wondering... Obviously we are only a handful of people who are explicitly frugalling here (with lots of lurkers... Hello!). But did you guys read the article in the news about how more than 50% of us shop at Aldi, Lidl and the like? www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10936324/More-than-half-of-British-public-shop-at-Aldi-and-Lidl.html

I think this is great news, but surely Mark Carney and George Osbourne will need to take this into consideration before they do anything drastic like raise interest rates? I see encouraging signs of recovery, but on the whole I'm still v frugal and v much concerned as to whether this recovery is for real. In the meantime, at the large malls, I see lots of people spending money like there's no tomorrow. Particularly younger people.

I get that we all need to replace trainers, vests, undies, whatever... But I'm not convinced that we will or that we should go back to the spending that people were doing 10 years ago.

Sorry if this is a bit of a heavy thing to post, but I thought since we all trying to be frugal, we would have an idea as to why we are doing this, and what we think in general about money!

Fwiw I'm what the gov would class as middle income. And we are struggling, hence why I'm on this frugalling thread. I now always think twice, or three times before I buy something... And haven't really bought anything for myself (clothes wise) for a long time. With the other thread going here, on not buying any clothes for a year, it just makes me wonder about the impact it is having or will have on the economy - if even 20% of the population adopts these frugalling habits!

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/07/2014 19:10

If everyone lived like us the economy would grind to a halt.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/07/2014 19:11

Spotty,

Have you tried adding another named driver or two? Did you look at aviva? The cashbacks usually pretty good on aviva.

SpottyTeacakes · 02/07/2014 19:17

I've done to compare and moneysupermarket will try aviva on its own. Dp is a named driver anyway. I've got nine years no claims but a three year restricted license (not sure if that makes a difference to the price?). We had a claim two years ago that went 50/50 because mr stock broker refused to admit fault that tatty fucking fuck face AngryAngryAngry I was pregnant too (can you tell I'm still angry?) so even thought I've got protected no claims that still seems to effect the premium

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/07/2014 19:21

Try adding a pil or parent with a clean licence, they don't have to live with you.

I have fully comp and legal cover. I don't go for guaranteed courtesy car because 1) I'd share a car with dh if I had to and 2) if it was non fault on my part I'd go to an accident management company, get a free courtesy car and the other side would pay for it as part of my claim.

CremeEggThief · 02/07/2014 19:21

Thanks for that link, NK. I always thought I was reasonably frugal, but since being on this thread for about three years, on and off, I have cut back a lot. I have also identified how I could cut back even further if I had to.

Anyway, £2.28 in Lidl on bread, salad and milk, and then I took DS out for dinner at a local pub, as he just came back from his school trip. We had two meals for £10 and drinks came to another £2.50, so not quite jacket potato level, but a good deal considering.

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 02/07/2014 19:25

I have the same as you for cover. I will try adding my dad!

Charlieboo30 · 02/07/2014 19:27

spotty - car insurance is a pain and so many factors affect it! DP and I just got our renewal through (we are on a multi car policy with admiral). £570 for the year. That's for my 1 litre aygo and I've been driving 11 months and DP's 1.4 renault. He's been driving 10 years. We can both drive each other's cars.

It is slightly down on last year (about £75) which I'm surprised at. DP was recently diagnosed with diabetes and we had to inform them. Legally they can't charge us more but I wouldn't have put it past them to 'hide' it in other ways.

Sadly, I think your restricted licence will affect how much you pay. Also, my DP's dad had protected no claims with LV and had an accident in the snow last year (no other driver involved). This year it went through the roof. When he questioned it was told that he was more of a risk now! Needless to say they aren't with LV anymore. Made me think how much protected no claims is actually worth though...

SpottyTeacakes · 02/07/2014 19:27

Adding my dad put it up! Thanks anyway, not sure I will get much lower.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/07/2014 19:37

Well that's not meant to happen. Any mums you can try?

I used to have dh and fil on mine.

SpottyTeacakes · 02/07/2014 19:48

Mil is travelling (!) and my mum is disabled not sure if that makes a difference? She still drives etc but her cars a motorbility one through DLA

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/07/2014 20:27

Oh lord. It's worth a try. They can't penalise you for messing around with quotes.

Supermum222 · 02/07/2014 21:14

Hi,

I am new to these threads. I have been reading for a while though Smile.
I work PT and hubby is FT. We changed one of our cars today so that has added a bill to my budget. We traded in our old car and got £4500 off the price. It isn't a new car, but almost new. Paying for it interest free over 2 years but I hope to pay it off early next July.
I love how many of you are so good with NSD's. They are a very rare thing in my family so I hope we can develop good habits.
Just had my 2 week Tesco shop delivered. Saved £25 from my budget as it came to less than I allowed and delivery was only £1 Smile.

Passthecake30 · 02/07/2014 21:28

audit ds is going into yr2 and dd is going into reception. Ds has really wound me up recently as lost each jumper (3)...I tipped lost property upside down and eventually just took a nice looking unlabeled one....then another came home, no idea where the other 2 originals are but I've threatened he goes in something else and gets in trouble (or it'll spur his teachers on to search? ?!). I don't know what dd will be like, but she is very much into crafts so will probably be filthy. ..

Forgot to mention I went to aldi today to suss it out. ...didn't have much to buy but it does appear bargains are to be had....it's a 14mile round trip- I think it could be worthwhile though still need convincing as I do love my asda deliveries!