Let's make merrily with August austerity!

[CremeEggThief]

Hello All,
I've taken the liberty (again!) of starting our new thread for August. The merrily sort of ties in with Christmas and keeping an eye on any bargains out there, if you're super organised and like planning ahead.

Today's spends were £5.10 on travel, £1.20 on 2 bottles of water, £4.20 on 2 hot chocolates and £17.25 on a meal out (long story!).

Hi disney

Low spending day yesterday, in the context of a holiday anyway. Apart from DD riding, we had a long walk in the afternoon and then popped to the bar, kids had a diet coke and DH and I had half a lager each. We rarely do this kind of this, so it was nice. DH cooked a roast pork joint for tea, another meal in.

I've ordered my shopping for the day we get home too, in an effort to be organised. I've got some meat being delivered from the local market. You get - mince, 6 chicken thighs, a pork joint, meat balls (home made), braising steak, and some pork steaks or a whole chicken for £20, which lasts two weeks for us, so I think is good value?

I have however found the Xmas bargain thread and spent about £40. Mainly stocking fillers from Amazon for DD but she has the pony, so knows she doesn't get massive amounts for birthday and Xmas, which she 'gets'. DH and I differ a little on this, but I stand firm.

The coffee machine is so damn tempting fluffy and would be perfect for my dad, but DSB (is that right for step-brother?) beat me to it last year. I'll ask DH if he thinks DMIL might be appropriate.

Eating out tonight for the first time, but it's a bar meal, and then the quiz night

And, given we are in beautiful Scotland, a full round at the bar is costing about a fiver

Thanks everyone! We are thrilled! Still enjoying this excitement before any serious planning gets underway but we know we want low-key (and low-budget!)

In other exciting news - DH interviewed for a promotion yesterday and got it! (It's been a good week )

Welcome disney, you're doing great so far with a 90p spend!

Welcome back italian, what a lovely and supporting husband you have. Good luck with the move.

wow Italian congratulations on everything what a lovely man you have I hope you stay on the thread even after you come home and tell us all about the move etc!

Won't be an NSD as DH and I are celebrating our 6th Wedding anniversary today! It was actually last Friday but I was in theatre having surgery, so we've moved our plans to today. We're going out for dinner, using the compensation money from our battle with Scottish Power to pay for the food every bite will taste of victory

Thank you PeoniesforMissAnnersley and six yes, he is indeed a very lovely man, giving up his home country and everything for me.
I sure will stay on the tread and give updates :) I just need a currency converter, so I now the spend in pounds :D
And congrates PeoniesforMissAnnersley with the anniversary last Friday

Grrrr just lost a long post while getting a link. I'm checking in from sunny Spain, so no thoughts here about heating

I haven't spent any of my money since we got here, using DH's €. I spent £42 at the airport buying new face wash and moisturiser. I was going to ask you ladies for frugal alternatives, but thought I would treat myself this time. I also spent about €70 buying myself some perfume (I'd left mine at home but could have managed without) and a bottle of brandy for DH. He is a night bird so will often have a glass while watching TV late into the night.

Someone was asking for name tapes. I use these ones. name labels they don't come off (if you get them on properly) and are really hard to remove. The used to call them "clothing tattoos" but changed their name. I don't like their stick on ones as they don't stay on, whether you iron then on or not. Their pencil labels are also great (but not cheap) I have used on school supplies, but also water bottles etc.

Italian congratulations you have a lovely man

MissA congratulations on your anniversary, hope you have a lovely meal out

Disney what a start!

I have to do my big shop today in Tesco but have discovered that if you do a review online of your 'shopping experience' you get 25 extra clubcard points for each visit and also they enter you into a draw to win a giftcard worth 1000 points which I think is £100. I think that every time you shop in there you can do a review as you have to enter the date and time of your shop, so yesterday I 'caught up' with my two most recent visits and then when I come back today I will review today's 'experience'. Clubcard points work out well for me, as I do the Rewards. I got DD a railcard with my points recently, which effectively was half-price which gets her a third of every train journey which is great

Aw, italian, your DP sounds lovely and congratulations on forthcoming wedding. You're from a Scandi country, is that right?

Am hoping it's a NSD today.

Thanks Fanta and Cool...
I miss Tesco, sounds prob strange, but miss the wide range of everything single thing you could think off... And the 24hours opening hours, strange in the beginning living in Scotland I thought it was ridicolous to be open 24/7, but you get use to it so fast....

Yes I am from Denmark, so my poor Asian DP will now have to get used to winter with minus degrees and lots of snow,

Italian yes, you are right, you get used to the 24 hour opening really quickly!

Anybody knows is YNAB currency can be changed to DKK?

I'm afraid I don't know, Italian. Best of luck with your move .

Today I spent £1 on travel and lunch, £4.88 in Lidl, £1.30 on some novelty M&Ms for DS and £1.25 on an avocado from Tesco.

Really, really struggling with the new layout on the mobile site :(. It just seems so glitchy!

£15, not £1. If only!

£54.16 tesco delivery.

£12.76 Morrisons. Today should have been a nsd.
Have been thinking of getting the slow cooker out as the weather is changing again. So, any ideas of what to do with it would be grateful .

Is that Tesco delivery for one week Spotty?

I used my slow cooker yesterday for bolognese.

5 days off work now whoop whoop

Yes but I had £4 off voucher, whole chicken was half price (two meals), I had already bought nappies (7.49) and I didn't buy any chocolate

Do you brown the mince first? Can you cook pasta in with it?

Yes I do, and drain off all the fat. Never put pasta in with it, maybe google?

I do Tesco online but every fortnight. I do a meal plan for a week and double what I buy so it lasts 2 weeks. I try to plan around offers as much as possible. I only pay for the £1 delivery slots.

Will have to try a spag bol like that.

This was my spag bol

Mince
Onion
Celery
Carrot
Courgette
Tinned tomatoes
White wine
Beef oxo
Tomato purée
Worcestershire sauce
Oregano
Basil
Bit of sugar

Think that's it I tend to just bung anything in. Oh frozen peppers too.

£62 in Tesco but that will last us well into next week. I came back and did my 'review' and have discovered that each time you do a review you are entered into a draw to receive a £1000 giftcard to spend in Tesco, not a £100

Parents leaving tomorrow sob. They paid for aldi shop £48. Impressed with the price!! I think possibly today was a NSD! I can't think anymore. I hate the school holidays. Don't get me wrong... I love my kids etc, but I couldn't deal with them all day long for 3 whole weeks. With no break of school or any other random activity. I hate the fact that we are frugalling (or attempting to do it, whilst on holiday).

Next week I'm back at work so dd will be in nursery, and ds at summer camp. Whoopee do! The camp will cost £60 but I need a break, even though I'm 'back at work'.