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Original poster

Let's make merrily with August austerity!

810 replies

CremeEggThief · 01/08/2014 20:02

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!).

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 27/08/2014 09:43

Fuzzpig which books do you need? One of us may have them.

Questionsquestionsquestions · 27/08/2014 09:46

Anyone needing to send a parcel somewhere in the next few days, I've just seen this on Martin's MSE...free parcel postage up to £10 with first order! www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/parcel2go?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=oneliner-three&utm_term=26-Aug-14-v1&utm_campaign=deals&utm_content=5

misstiredbuthappy · 27/08/2014 10:22

32 in iceland yesterday on fresh meat, cleaning products and some other bits that were on offer. Im a bit of a stockpiler.

Also 24 on amazon thanks to thr christmas bargain thread, fully in christmas planning/shopping mode now and I love it :)

Going to have a look on ebay to to see if theirs any nice bundles of winter clothes. Never bought clothes of there before but friends have and say they get some good bargains

bantamgirl · 27/08/2014 10:27

God, this is proving to be a very expensive month. I'm trying hard to stay within budget but I don't think it's going to happen. I'm keeping my spreadsheet up to date, and tracking my spending. So far in the past week I've had to buy 2 x school shoes and 2 x school bags (£51) and £36 on stationary for them both - and it was from Asda! I could have wept. Then in this period there has been 4 birthdays (£40) and also we bought tickets to go and see the big cup game (£41). No wonder I've got no bleeding money left. 18 days to payday, so I'll just have to try and stretch my grocery budget to see if I can cover the everyday spends deficit.

It would also really, really help if DS1 would pass his driving test on 2nd September meaning I don't have to fork out £84 a month but will that happen? Probably not.

Ohhelpohnoitsa · 27/08/2014 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

disneymum3 · 27/08/2014 15:13

NSD today yay
Yesterday spent £10 on meat and veg

northender · 27/08/2014 15:38

Haven't managed to go back through all that I missed on the thread while I was away, a lot of postsShock
bantamgirl I presume you have name changed from C & A? I thought of you a few times, wondering what you were up to, good to see you back.
Well, the post holiday count up has been done and I think we did pretty well. On schedule to be overdraft free by the end of Sept and will have reduced our total debt (excluding mortgage) by £8000 this year, 13000 to go.
I've done store cupboard check and am going to buy a few extras tomorrow so I can do some batch cooking and stock up the freezer. We're continuing with our big house de clutter. I'm trying to filter out the stuff worth selling, charity shop stuff and dh will take the rest to the tip. I've had my fingers burned with car boot sales recently as people just aren't prepared to pay for anything it seems so I'm going to try eBay, fb etc.

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 27/08/2014 16:33

Be very careful with eBay, north. Postage is SO high. I paid £2.80 to send a comic I sold for £1.99 (plus another 90p for the padded envelope). Ridiculous!

Just about £30 today, on a nice day out and a few treats, such as deli cheese, scones and fudge for DS.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 27/08/2014 16:59

Tescos do free eye tests. You don't need to have benefits etc.

£12 memory foam pillow

£5 squash and contact lens fluid from sainsbos.

£10 petrol.

bantamgirl · 27/08/2014 17:16

Hi Northender - yes, it is I, C&AForever. When they changed all of the passwords, I was not able to get back in. I can only log in now as I have done it through Facebook! I can't get in on my phone because the password is incorrect, it was very frustrating xxx

Badvoc123 · 27/08/2014 17:28

I am so down :(
Dh just will not accept we have taken on too much with this house (well, not the house, but everything we have had to do to it :()
We have NO excess cash at the end of the month (or very little)
We have NO savings (all gone on house)
He also refuses to stop things like cable TV etc...he argues it won't make much difference?
I am applying for pt jobs but getting nowhere.
Sigh...

fuzzpig · 27/08/2014 17:49

Ooh good idea auditangel the books I still need are:

Jim's lion by Russell Hoban (the new version illustrated by Alexis Deacon)
That is not a good idea! by Mo Willems
Shh! We have a plan by Chris Harris
The queen's hat by Steve Antony

They are all pretty new books hence hard to find cheap! But I'm very happy with the price I've paid for the other ones so not too fussed if I have to spend a little more on the last four. I've decided that as the DCs have books coming out of their ears already (and obviously with me working in a library they are never short of choice!) I'm going to give some of these new books to the school once I've finished with them :) I think they'll really appreciate them so it will make me happy!

fuzzpig · 27/08/2014 17:54

Going to catch up with the thread now.

But my aaaargh at paying £70 for today's childcare has been quelled by the fact I get my deposit back as it was their last session :) so that helps hugely!

And I've decided to look up next year's summer holiday dates to work out how the exact days I need childcare. Organisation WILL reign supreme dammit!

needastrongone · 27/08/2014 17:55

Badvoc - Sad Would it help if you sat down with DH, with the bank statements or finances (whichever you do), and say 'LOOK, really LOOK at how little we have'? Is he really aware? Can you get him to do a financial planner? Do you do all the finances?

It's hard, DH is rather scornful of us being frugal, he argues that why should we? He's right, he's spent 10 years of insanely hard work for the business to be in the position it is, what's it all about if he can't spend as he likes? I do agree, I just think, we've almost complacent/frivolous in our spending habits and it feels a bit wrong. We also have taken on a much bigger house, a pony, etc etc. It's true, as you income grows, so do your outgoings. I wasn't really brought up to be extravagent .

I know it's a vastly different reason for DH not being on board, but I do understand, it what I am trying to say Smile Probably badly...

fuzzpig · 27/08/2014 18:25

Badvoc that sounds really frustrating that he's digging his heels in. Have you worked out how much each thing would save over a year if you gave them up! Might be more appealing if they are large figures?

SpottyTeacakes · 27/08/2014 18:28

Badvoc could you try having 'pots' for things you don't pay by dd? So for food petrol etc then he can see how much you physically have?

Badvoc123 · 27/08/2014 18:32

Need...yes I do know what you mean and I agree with Dh to a point.
The cable TV is our only luxury, we and the dc use it a lot, and he works hard.
Sigh.
Not easy is it?
If we had been really extravagant I could sort of deal with it, you know? But it's been replacing boilers and roofs....:(
Stuff we really had to do, no choice. Maybe that's why I am so down?

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 27/08/2014 18:49

Opticians was very very spendy. I needed new lenses as have gone blind in past 2 years. Am listing Chalet School books on eBay as I speak.

Sixforgold · 27/08/2014 19:00

badvoc i really feel for you Flowers my DH is now on board to some extent but our spending philosophy differs on so many levels. I agree with need that you must have 'the talk' but at the same time I don't let DH have too much info about our bank statement as now I've managed to save up a little buffer for us he would say 'brilliant! Let's go and buy xyandz'! Whereas I want that buffer to grow bigger to give our family financial breathing space. Also our house is a money-pit!

I have a new challenge for myself for September - to only spend cash made from selling bits and bobs on food shopping. Our cupboards and freezer are quite well stocked (well, lots of lentils and chicken nuggets at least Confused) and il spend the extra on fresh fruit and veg. I think I've made about £30 on FB selling today so that's next week sorted.

Badvoc123 · 27/08/2014 19:22

I've just put some of my DVDs on e bay :)
Have had to open a case on e bay too, which I hate. But seller not responding.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/08/2014 20:23

£5 off a £45 spend in aldi in the mirror tomorrow.

According to hotukdeals anyway.

Supermum222 · 27/08/2014 20:45

DH and I were both off work today...very unusual. We took the kids to Stockeld Park. Paid £40 online for entry. Took a picnic but still managed to spend around £50 in the shop, 2 trips to the cafe (had ice cream 2nd time) and a trip to the fish and chip shop on the way home. Ah well.

Original poster
CremeEggThief · 27/08/2014 21:46

Hope you enjoyed it, Super. You need a day off frugality every now and then.

Eek, MissA! Selling your Chalet Books?Shock Shock

OP posts:
PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 28/08/2014 08:55

yes, creme after the spendiest month in the universe I just can't justify keeping them. Although if they all sell for £1 or £2 I'll be Sad Sad

AuditAngel · 28/08/2014 09:51

Yesterday my DD's managed to drop their iPad on the tiled floor at Nona's flat and smash to screen Sad I've looked at the Apple website and it will be £205 to get fixed Sad . However, last time we had a problem with a different iPad Apple swapped it for free when I was expecting a bill for at least £80 so I will wait and see.

We can't do anything until we come home next week, but I will try to book an appointment for the Apple store near us. You can only book for one week ahead, so yesterday they had appointments up to Tuesday, so I'll try tomorrow.

Dinner yes day was €120 but MIL had paid for all the food shopping so DH paid for dinner.