Stampeding through a sensible, scrimping September!

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

Thought I'd do the honours

With kids back at school and autumn weather drawing in we all need a very sensible September. I'm putting up my thermal curtains and refusing to put on the heating until October. Who's in?

Hello ladies, been busy for a few days. Lilac the private lounge was a lovely treat. There were only 5 of us in there, the cost included one drink and nibbles (I made sure I got my money's worth of those ) and I bought a second drink.

We didn't make it to church on Sunday as DD1 woke up so late. £2.50 on ready made roast potatoes as I was working at home and wanted to spend the time working rather than peeling potatoes (wonders about putting roast potatoes on my work expenses.......).

As expected, yesterday was painfully expensive. £17 for DS's new hoodie for the dancing show, plus £10 for a new uniform t-shirt to reduce the pressure on me washing it as he'll need one at least 3 times a week for 7 weeks (his, his new one and DD's!). I managed to buy DD1 two pairs of second hand dancing shoes that she needs for a show in November for £24, instead of £20 each for new ones. I also aid £8.45 for a leotard she needs for a costume, £5 for a second hand leotard.

Then, £13.50 for a take away for dinner last night. Shopping today £14 including lunch and assorted snacks.

£44-ish spent today, needed both washing powder and liquid. That was bad planning as I never need both at the same time.

Hope to have time RTT this evening. Bought DD1 some underwear but it's going back. Different brand = yucky fabric apparently. I'll swap it for whatever groceries I need at the weekend.

I want a sausage casserole now.

Finally had a NSD day today after a very spendy September. DS birthday this week and he "just" wants money! Must now get started on my Christmas shopping.

Oh, the joys of having an expensive hobby audit! DD rides, dpony costs a fortune, a serious fortune.

Didn't spend much today that wasn't budgeted for. I took £50 cash out. Bought some printer ink from Amazon, but that's work expenses.

Non budget things were 2 Bergen knitted throws reduced to £7 from £59, which will be Christmas presents, although I had spent my present budget already, there was a link on the Martin Lewis site, and they will do both DM's.

Also, as mentioned up thread, files for DS's GCSE work, and some annual payments some of the high school departments ask for, towards materials for the year for both DC.

Threw together a pasta dish tonight of chorizo, mushroom, mascapone cheese, spring onion and some spring greens wilted in, all stuff that needs using and I had in. Made enough for lunches tomorrow and it was really nice!!

DD wants to go shopping at the weekend. Usually I would be very lenient and treat her to stuff (the deal is that she has the pony, therefore designer gear is out of the question), I have already told her I have no money this month, so she needs to realise this.

Sausage casserole tomorrow, with mash and broccoli, yum

Hello everyone another NSD for myself

My mobile phone contract is now up and I'm not wishing to upgrade so switching to a sim only plan saving me £12.50 per month! Quite pleased with that.

Loving reading everyone's updates.

I'm going in to town today for an appointment and will have to pay a fiver for parking, but other than that, no plans to spend anything.

Feeling at least a bit positive as other than a few blips, I've stuck to the budget this month. About £50 spent that I didn't plan on, but since I've stayed within budget other than that, I can absorb the £50 spend without any damage to the budget overall.

I've budgeted to buy a new vacuum and a new bed for ds2 by the end of the month, so I'm going to start looking at prices for those as well. And I may be looking at secondhand for the bed frame itself, but a new mattress. He's moving from a toddler bed into a twin bed. I'd actually rather get the secondhand one now, and buy him a nicer one when he's older and can help choose it.

east how rude and ungrateful are some people! I had a similar experience a couple of years ago when I put an old sofa on freecycle. It was in good condition and had plenty of life left in it and some people behaved as though THEY were the ones doing me the favour I had emails saying things like 'yeah, I'll take it off your hands' and 'if it's still going, I'll have it' , again like you say, no please. I was lucky as I had a lot of interest in it and in the end I gave it to a really sweet couple who were so grateful I felt rather embarrassed.

Audit dancing is so expensive! DD danced when she was little and I remember the cost of the shoes. My friend and I used to 'share' shoes for our DDs and it worked really well. Her DD1 had them first as her feet were bigger than my DD's, then when she had grown out of them, my DD wore them, then when my DD had grown out of them, I passed them back for her DD2 who had smaller feet than my DD. So we had 3 goes out of one pair I would buy the odd pair and then pass them down to her DD2 to even up the cost a bit

I have to do some grocery shopping today, just a few bits, fruit milk and bread.

Hoping for NSD today.

Going swimming is definitely not cheap but all the money worth. DD absolutely loved it ??

Spent 20 pounds on swimming and snacks and drinks afterwards...

£12 something on top up groceries

I've not posted for ages but I have been keeping up with everyone's news. I had to buy a new charger for the laptop. I got it from PC World for £60 but then found one online for £6.50!! So the next job is to return the first one.

I got £125 after complaining about my mortgage. Unfortunately it's all being spent just limping on to payday this Friday. Still it's better than going overdrawn. I need to do a meal plan for next month and hopefully we'll be on an even keel by next month thinks this every month

I was on track for my NSD each day until Friday but then realised I blew it today. One of those days at work so I popped out and bought cake for the team to share. I needed something to get through the day!

It's payday tomorrow and I have realised that the next 2 weeks are going to be really expensive so I am going to sit down tonight and work out meal plans as I would love to keep within my household allowance I give myself rather than dipping into my backup funds. I get paid fortnightly which makes it feel not so hard.

Just spent £2 on bread in the co-op. 2 loaves though as it was on offer.

Frugal win - neighbour just called over fence and handed me half a dozen eggs as her chickens have been laying more than she can eat :)

I found a bit of left over roast lamb in the freezer that I'd forgotten about so tonight is lamb, mint and apple risotto.

I'm making the children use up the last of the cereals that have been hanging about for ages in teh cupboard before I'll buy any more. Nothing wrong with them just not their favourite ones.

Should be an NSD today

Only half day at work due to inductions so I'll have a chance to get ahead on planning and paperwork.

We've been having the oddest meals to use up the food in the house. Tonight is more normal - spinach pesto with pasta, french beans. maybe some fresh tomatoes chopped over it.

Picked up a couple things at the supermarket (plus the school shoes the dcs need), so a bit off budget for the food. But just had a tooth extracted surgically, and my jaw is aching and I forgot to pick up a few "soft" foods for tonight and tomorrow. So a necessity.

Frugal win- dd's school have waivered dds swimming fee as I wanted to pull her out as can't afford it especially on top of her out of school swimming lessons

Must add I wouldn't do this normally but so broke

£20-ish changing address on my driving license.

DH managed to speak with a reasonable judge and she cancelled his fine. He spent about £4.70 on a snack after waiting another hour for me to finish in the other office. T'is red tape central, no point getting frustrated though.

Well had a lovely normal request for clothes now n they are collecting later.

Got couple toy irons for 30p each in Sainsbury actually went in search of these board games people have been getting mega cheap but all full price in ours.

alice - Tooth extraction is the pits, I feel for you

NSD day!!! Hooray, it's rare.

furcoat - assume the lessons are not the free ones that you are entitled to at school?

Win, win, - DF has phoned. He's been contacted by the Halifax about a very old account with £100 in. He can remember nothing about it and, quite frankly, neither can I, but it's in my name, with him the 'executor', so clearly something from my childhood. He's bank transferring the money!!

Sadly, it will pay for the tax on the horse box, which I had forgotten about.

£3 on junk food and coke to get me through the day. Woke up with a bit of a cold and had a full day course.

Free cycle is awful at times. I arranged delivery of our sofa and new unused covers to someone and never got a thanks. Some people areso grabby I often ignore them and just take to a charity shop instead.

I need a new work tote bag as both of mine have bust zips. The ones I like aren't very frugal unfortunately. ..argh.

Sorry - that wasn't very clear! I thought primary kids got a term or half a term worth of lessons, around year 3/4 if I remember? Although, my DC are teens, so that might have changed.

east - hooray re clothes

Does anyone else have the "contribution" request at school? Ours asks for £10 in a named envelope. ...I didn't pay up last year but now wondering if I should.. that'll be twice as for 2 dcs

£6 on bits and pieces in homebargains.

£4 jet car wash (still filthy but I need to take it to be done properly).

£7 petrol.

Its year 5, they asked for £30 but can't remember that if it said voluntary, should be because its cirriculum! I always feel i should pay up