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?

DH and I have worked out a monthly spreadsheet which details all our income (pay days) and outgoings (bills, direct debits etc.). We list all our outgoings including childcare, diesel etc. (DH has a long commute to work so diesel expenditure is significant). What's left is our disposable income. We're careful that our outgoings are all covered but we're a bit careless with our disposable income. We tend to spend a lot the first week or two each month and then we're scraping the barrel for the rest of the month. Or I'll go out and buy some new winter boots because I really need them and (without me knowing) DH will go out and buy some new runners for his jogging because he really needs them. We need to communicate a lot better and start working in tandem. I will be working part-time from January so I'll have a bit more time to sort it all out then (I'm full time atm).

Ohhelp moan away. Sure, isn't that what we're all here for.

furcoat hope you feel better soon

Adora sorry I forget that mn is international! Can't believe how much more expensive it is where you are tho no idea what to do with sour yogurt, can it go in things like curry?

NSD so far but will need to pop out later for milk.

Did an asda food shop today and should anyone go check the fresh meat bbq range as alot was half price just shelve label was changed no reduced stickers we got big trays piri piri chicken for £2.50 ( was bbq n Chinese too), some bbq chicken drumsticks for 1.80 and some maple pork belly strips 1.80, chipolata sausages 77p and some pork cheese n chive sausages 77p. People prob didn't notice reductions as all price marked packs for bbq n prob don't check shelf labels.

NSD today and yesterday. Made use of the free food and drink at the funeral so didn't get caught in rounds At the bar.

NSD.

Adorabell when I was little my mum used to make sodabread using sour yogurt instead of buttermilk. Might be worth a try?

Bought 4 pints of milk for £1 but someone had left their change (about 40p) in the self service till so actually less than that every little bit helps and all that.

Just had a look at the online accounts, that was depressing Have nothing till tax credit day on Thus. It is going to be a very boring month!

Just applied for a job. Fingers crossed.

ohhelpitsnota as a child of a retired teacher I can only admire you, my dm used to correct copies after putting 4 of us to bed, as I got older I was roped into too. Same class as me so it helped me to learn too. The paperwork has gotten much heavier though. Could you maybe stay late once a week to get majority of it done?

I had a NSD. Mainly because I didnt go anywhere I suppose! I made chicken stock in slow cooker overnight last night which lead to fab soup today.

Nearly a NSD! Went blackberry picking and made a lovely scrumble with the recipe that someone up the thread linked to. Only problem was I need more sugar which cost just under £1, so not too bad really!

Furcoat - I hope you get an interview.

Adorabell - how about a lemon cake. I have a recipe somewhere but if you google you should find something.

Hoping for NSD today.

Spent £10 on lunch today with friend. £60 on new clothes for myself

I should have a fair amount of NSD this week as I don't have any plans.

Selling DD clothes on eBay is going well so far made about £5 going to keep it all in PayPal account until it reaches £50 then transfer straight to my savings. Still got lots of items to put up but finding it very hard to part with her things. We don't have room to store everything though and don't plan on having another baby any time soon. Made £90 last year selling my old clothes.

Lemon cake sounds good, thanks Mojito. Made some scones, DDs happy but DH pouting because he's intolerant of gluten and keeps "forgetting" hence the expensive immodiam. Also made some banana pancakes I found on love food hate waste. Still have about half a kilo so will google lemon cake.

NSD Sunday.

NSD today. Expensive day tomorrow and some of it completely unplanned. DS is to see his psych in morning then DR's appointment then off to paediatrician. All has to be paid for here. He needs urgent help and I'm at my wits end so I will have to dip into my savings. I was hoping to have NSD for most of this week. These appointments wipe that out.

Adorabell - you should be able to freeze the sour cream as well. Put it into smaller portions and then just defrost when you want to cook with it.

£53.50 on a pair of school shoes for dd. Hopefully these ones will fit

Hopeful for nsd here

NSD here today I think as I'm feeling rough. Great shoe shop lady refused to sell me shoes on Saturday as had plenty of growing room in son's current ones. He's been same size for most of the year now.

Mojioto thanks me too, fed up of being broke

I hear the marking pain from fellow teachers - I marked my last 4 exercise books in A and E last night so DH could leave them into school for my pupils to get today as I've been kept in.
Can't wait to be well and back at home eating yummy non hospital food - the thought of all the yummy stuff in my chest freezer is making me of DH

Received an ordered book for my DP birthday that was completely ruined because it was delivered at night and therefore left outside in the moist till next morning. Called in to complain and the company are sending a new one, free of charge and I can keep the old one, so I still have one to show DP tomorrow for his birthday. Nice service.
DParents bought DD a cotframe which is really really lovely (and quite expensive, so nice gift) :)

On Saturday me and my DSis took my DC to a farm, then we went out for lunch, then later on took my DM for tea and cake at the garden centre.
I paid £10 for our entrance into the farm plus a bag of food to feed the animals. Then DSis bought us all lunch. Then DM paid for the tea and cake and also bought everyone something from the shop.
NSD for me yesterday but DH spent £3.
Today should be a LSD I just need to get some meat for dinner and some bread.
Will now catch up.

£30 spent, but on meds and essential household items, so unavoidable. I bypassed the chocolate, much as I wanted it.