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.

[JudysPriest]

Have you tried Homebargains for vits and toiletries Charlie? I love their prices, can't always get the exact brand but there's some good stuff for decent prices.

Man came to buy DS's bike. Offered us £35 instead of £25 as he really liked it and we'd chucked in the helmet. He didn't have change, only two £20's. We're desperate so I said 'No probs, take it for £20.' He gave us £40, bless his heart.

[Charlieboo30]

Judy - love home bargains and get lots of stuff from there. Haven't got organised this week though and with the Tour de France on here it will be impossible to get to over the weekend. Did feel slightly proud as I normally have centrum women vitamins but they've gone up from £6 to £8 in a month . Ended up getting some well woman ones instead, hopefully they'll be as good.

[Sixforgold]

Oh go on then charlieboo you've convinced me (didn't need much persuading!)

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

Thanks that's kind Judy I will see how I get on over the next wk.

Six my little one is nearly 4 thought wouldn't have another so remainder of baby stuff went last summer when we moved house so buying all again as last time most will be second hand have brought a few neutral baby bits in sale and got an angelcare monitor off eBay for£20 was only used for 6mths all neatly boxed up like New.

[NK5BM3]

Spent £3.20 at play gym. That's it.

Made Bolognese for dinner, and will keep some. Will give some to friends who've just had a new baby but I made it with quite a bit of lentils as well and people haven't noticed. Hopefully friends won't either!

Sorted out insurances and saved about £180. Ridiculous. I hate this every year.... But at least we did save quite a bit!

Tomorrow will be food shop. Going to Aldi again so let's see if we can get it sub £40.

[BigBirthdayGloom]

Okay-so today wasn't a nsd-£15 on cafe lunch with a friend - my treat because she's helped me out loads lately. But it was a day where I didn't buy any of my bad habit spend items and so I end the day feeling in control of my spending.

[BigBirthdayGloom]

Just checking-is it okay for me to be here? I feel a bit less than frugal at the moment but I'm cutting down and heading in the right direction. Things we do well-hardly go out, most kids clothes hand me downs, rarely buy clothes, do mostly free days out. Don't buy coffees out any more-only have one if I'm near a waitrose. Don't do soft plays any more.
Things we don't do well at-children's birthdays still a bit pricey, still waste some food and find ourselves doing in between food shops, lose things that we have to replace, don't always organise myself in time to do packed lunches so end up in cafes.
Want to go back to Internet shopping for food and top up with stickered meat.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Of course it's ok for you to be here. This is the friendly thread.

NSD.

I use aldi for bubble bath etc, the faux dove and anti ageing ones are really nice. Plus it's not tested on animals.

[SpottyTeacakes]

I'm going to buy soap instead of shower gel this week see how much dp moans. He uses sooo much shower gel!

[Supermum222]

Hi,
Not so frugal here over the last few days. Dog has had two trips to the vets this week at a cost of £55 and £23.45. Also, we changed one of our cars the other day and had to pay for the insurance to be transferred over. So annoying. Insurance is due for renewal in September anyway but they charge £35 just to print off a new insurance doc!!
Hubby couldn't find the log book either so another £25 for a new one.
DS10 got a last minute party invite and that has cost me another £10 today plus £40 deposit for his £40 school trip next year. Arrgghh. What are these NSD days? I am hopeless at not spending money.
Tesco shopping came and I meal plan. Checked freezer for some stuff I had ordered (hubby put stuff away) and there are six items missing. I chucked the receipt .

[SpottyTeacakes]

You can look at the stuff you ordered online. If you haven't got it just ring tesco up you don't need the receipt

[Supermum222]

I joined TOPCASHBACK the other day. Forgot to user it with my Tesco order duhhhh...

[Supermum222]

I will check my account online. Thanks.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Tesco only gives cb on orders placed on a laptop/PC.

[daisydoo05]

I joined topcashback the other day. How does it work when you gather money? Do you get it in vouchers or?

[SpottyTeacakes]

You can have it in vouchers or straight to your account

[Fluffycloudland77]

Anyone else's tesco orchard £5 off homeware voucher arrive? Quidcos offering 5% off V tcb offering 1.5% so I'll get tcb to price match.

[SpottyTeacakes]

£51 lidl
£22 tesco
£50 petrol (two weeks worth hopefully)

[SpottyTeacakes]

My fixed rate on my electricity is coming to an end too! Everything happens at once

[MsVenus]

I am using this website to get deals and save money on daily living costs.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/

[Fluffycloudland77]

There's some really cheap deals on dual fuel at the moment, you can apply to switch 49 days before you are due to end the tariff with no penalties according to mse energy club.

Not that I've got 49 days before my tariff ends marked on the calendar.

Cos' that would be really sad, wouldn't it?.

[SpottyTeacakes]

We've only got electricity here there's no mains gas. Also I think I'll have to stay with southern electric as that's how I've got my cheap broadband (free for six months!).

[Fluffycloudland77]

You could get a better quote and ask for a price match to keep you, they might not be able to use the bb as leveredge, it's a bit like blackmail isn't it?.

[SpottyTeacakes]

Yeah you're right. I'll see if they can match a quote. Their customer service is second to none tbh.

[574ejones]

£54 Lidl, £22 Tesco as Lidl didn't have half the food that I needed!