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?

I umm'd and ahh'd about getting a Tassimo and didn't in the end. I'm regretting it now. Next time it comes up I'm definitely going to buy one.

missA hope you don't feel too bad today and that your appointment goes ahead tomorrow.

adora I wouldn't worry too much. It sounds like he's just trying to be a grown up and behave in a slightly out dated grown way. I suspect he's trying to 'treat her right' he's a bit young for control issues. Just let her pay next time to keep things equal.

I spent about £12 in Tesco yesterday. We have family coming today and dh said it would be cheaper but not easier if I made lunch instead of buying stuff in. He's right.

Thanks to whoever mentioned the daisy dishwasher powder, just took out first load & they're sparkling, that doesn't happen with any tablets! €6.39 for 3kg so wrote date on box cos I think it's going to last a while!

Karen that is a lot of treats! You are far more generous than me

MissA I do hope they can sort you out soon and you are not in too much pain

ohhelp I bought my mum a digital photo frame and it is great. You just load the photos onto a memory stick and then plug it into the USB port on the frame and that is that. There is a tiny bit of set-up with how long you want the pictures to display for whether you want them in order or randomly displayed and that is about it. When I have more pictures, I borrow mum's memory stick back from her and load on the new pictures and then give it back to her. It works really well

You've got to have a few treats though. Try vegan brownies.

Thank you Badvoc and Needastrongone I am not sure why I am awesome but is a lovely compliment.

missa good luck with your procedure tomorrow. This must be a nightmare.

FantaSea I think so, but the total spend was not too bad £5.85 since all of it was on offer, so it was £1 for the doughnuts, £1.50 cookies. £1 Mars bars, £0.9 mints and £1.45 flapjacks. and the mints have to last longer, even though they share them with their friends. But then their friends also share out sweets ... the DCs don't buy anything in school and take everything from home. In the school canteen, a small brownie costs £0.60 and I am not spending that.

Thank you Fluffy for reassuring me that the children should appreciate that there is a tight budget. To be fair, they have not complained once, quite the opposite.

Fluffy I'll get DS to make those brownies. . He is a star chef.

Karen I think it's good for children to understand that money needs to be budgeted. I have told my dcs (5yo and 8yo) that we only have xx amount of money and that XX amount of that has to go to healthy food, and we'll have a certain amount left over for treats and that's it. (cue the mental voice from the third Raiders movie of "Choose wisely...." ) Sometimes I've told them "sorry, but we don't have enough money for that" or "we would need to save up money for awhile to pay for that, what can we give up for a few weeks to save up the money?"

It's basic and less complicated than actual household budgeting, but I think it gives them a more realistic view and introduces spending habits that they will need to use when they're older.

My parents NEVER did this and I really struggled when I was first living on my own.

Same as that Alice

I'm glad you liked the powder lila. Makes tablets look a bit of a rip off.

£10 on a new dress & £1.50 on new shoes.

allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6036/vegan-brownies.aspx I used this recipe and reduced the amount of oil like everyone said to in The feedback, I only use white sugar. The vanilla makes up for the lack of Demerara sugar.

Microwave returned, £15 extra for a non-setting on fire one but dh paid.

Well spent about £40 not bad at all! Best bit was our £300/night apartment was upgraded FREE to the £2000+/night penthouse. WIN!

MissA I'm glad you finally have a diagnosis hope you feel better soon

Yesterday £5.38 on kitchen cleaner, hula hoops and flapjacks for a playdate (yes I should have made my own) and some small cartons of drink.

Today so far £1 in church collection.

Blimey, this thread moves quickly! Well done on the upgrade to penthouse spotty that is a big frugal win
My assignment deadline is looming close now and I'm starting to panic ever so slightly. However, in between chunks of study I'm trying to finish sorting through stuff in the house. At the moment it's all in the conservatory but I think we'll have quite a lot for an upcoming table top sale at church, some stuff will be ebayed and the rest charity shopped. Am hoping we might be able to get £100 all told.
Not long to pay day now (Friday) and then dh will be paid on the 30th, at which point we should be OD free, hopefully never to return!!

Today will be less than £5, sent DH to the shop for milk, butter and some chocolate. Yesterday was 80p on a drink for myself at a birthday party then went out for a meal in the evening and spent £15 which was budgeted for, it was also unlicensed so took a bottle of wine which saved me £10 or so. Oh, also spent £20 on rugby supplies for my DD, she needed boots to join the school team and also got some bargain base layers (top and tights) for £2. Also got a £6 refund from an eBay seller.

Tomorrow I'll be drawing £190 out - £100 for petrol, X2 £20 to put aside for both dancing and guitar lessons (paid up the Xmas for instrument but trying to get ahead!), £20 to put aside for school uniforms/shoes for next year and £20 to put aside for hairdressers. I also need to pay school £10 for a trip this week.

No birthdays for the next 2 months to pay for so I'm putting away extra for hair, uniforms and dance/instrument lessons while I can! I would normally put away £10 for each per month. I have an envelope system at home for these things and it's nice to see it building up, I feel more in control if I know things like this are planned for.

Almost forgot - paying CC bill today too - £350 - which is planned and budgeted for.

Argh! Forgot I bought a Groupon today too which was £14 but was a good deal for a nice family afternoon out.

Well done spotty!!!

Fluffy, the daisy dishwashing powder, where exactly do you put the powder? My machine has a little box where the tablet fits in... Is that where you throw the powder? And how much powder do you put in??

NSD today as was Dd's birthday. It's over now. It was a success, as was the swing set!!

I throw a dessert spoon of powder onto the bottom of the machine. I don't bother with the little compartment.

Spotty what a bargain! I bet the penthouse was really luxurious. Soon be the wedding day.

Ugh seemed to have spent quite a lot today.

£7.82 in Wilko on tissues, toileteries in total 8 items so not too bad.
£15.37 in Superdrug on make up, face wash and face cream (was all on offer though)
£1.98 on some bulbs for my pots.
£43 on petrol have only had my car a year and am seriously considering trading it in for something more economical.
£4.50 on sandwiches in m&s for lunch (me and dd).

So total spend today £72.67 - jeez louise

Can't believe how it mounts up so quickly.

Should have a few NSD now though, dd starts a new school club tomos that is free so will be saving £5 on childcare for a start

I have heard about this daisy dishwasher stuff before, where can you buy it?

Have been MIA for the last week been a busy bee
Here is a break down of spends:
Monday: £7.47
Tuesday: £11.45
Wednesday: £3.12
Thursday: NSD
Friday: £76.69
Saturday: £3.92
Today: NSD
DH has spent £16 this week
Right off to catch up

Yep we were going to go out but couldn't bare to waste the apartment so stayed in with pizza

Hotdogs and teabags £1.90

My friend just gave me £20 for babysitting which I didnt expect and tried to decline but very nice and helpful!!

£11 on tin of formula for DD.

£4 for school play. Only post office and milk tomorrow. Yesterday we had 4 pints and now I am guarding with my life my milk for my coffee tomorrow morning.

Tbh I'd rather stay in and chat than go out to bars.

Daisy dishwasher powder is in Tescos. Usually on the bottom shelves below the pricey tablets .

Car insurance is due in October, and it's a five week month.

Dh's vaping kit is a great success though so he'll give me half towards it next month

So you just chuck it onto the floor of the machine? How does this work? Ok off to google how dishwashers work!!