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?

First day of school for dd so I'm looking forward to the saving on childcare woo hoo! As I took her I went to work after peak travel so saved £4. Spent £28 on jumpers in peacocks just building up my empty wardrobe really. I find peacocks clothes fit better than primark (I'm 6ft).

Also £3 on tescos lunch meal deal as I am still without a kitchen. ...I am quite addicted to BLTs now!

Oh wait £234 on mot and locking still not fixed

Hello everyone! Spent £6 on coffees yesterday for myself and DH silly things like that I should be stopping!

NSD today.

Meal planning is going well. Nothing gone to waste so far! Normally I end up throwing away so much food.

I'm in Scotland and don't pay for prescriptions. From what I'm reading here it seems it can be very expensive!!

Evening all

Just updated my budget / spreadsheet and it looks like this...

Petrol budget: £18.95 remaining
Grocery Budget: £183.74 remaining
Everything Else: £166.20 overspent

So basically I have £36.49 to last me til payday which is 11 days away - That aint going to happen but it has been a bloody expensive month so far and a very long one

So far my everything else has been
£51.35 on gifts / cards
£87.50 on back to school
£51.00 on tickets to football
£53.50 on kids which has been McDonalds / Bus Fare / Football cards / underwear / hair cuts / athletics comp entry

My spends have been
£9 on pepsi max
£8 at SW
£17 on socialising (2 meals out)
£12 on an Avon order
£3 on gambling (bet / lotto)
£6 in library fines / new card
£1.30 on a magazine as my friend was in it
£3.00 on a new brolly

Give or take the odd squid here and there, so at least I know where it's all going.....

I received my first invitation to Tesco Orchard today. They want me to 'design' a new sandwich and then there will be a vote via FB and the top four might make it into the stores. I have to upload a photo of my design and then list the ingredients. I am doing it as I hope I will then be invited to try some free stuff, but I am not very adventurous when it comes to sandwiches. Anyone else doing this one?

I haven't been invited to that one, but it's good to show willing.

You never see chicken tikka and raita (sp) on sale do you though? .

Been working in London today. £10.20 for parking and £11.80 in train fares, but all to claim on expenses. A colleague bought our lunch.

Got to collect the kids from theatre, but I think I will get free parking.

fanta what about a mexican sandwich - wrap, kidney beans, chicken in spicy tomato sauce, avocado, salad?

NSD and made £10 on facebay

fanta I've been invited to the sandwich orchard thing but haven't had a proper look yet. I'm currently watching GBBO so am thinking a pork pie theme?!

Well done for meal planning chocolate. You'll soon find it impossible to shop without a list - I get completely overwhelmed with choice if I don't go prepared with my menu for the week!

bantam great news that your son passed his driving test!

Frugal things: I'm on a diet so eating less!

NSD for me today
DH spent £1.79 at work

This month I have DS1 fifth birthday. Then I have to sort out his party, he is having a small party at home family have been invited and a few of his friends. Was thinking maybe a barbeque if weather's ok, not too sure what to do entertain them though any suggestions welcome?
Also have to get a gift for my dad's birthday.

Disney I have a friend who did a pirate theme party, treasure map to find treasure- which was a pinuata, dressing up, swords from the pound shop. U could also make maps with them using paper and tbags to make them look old. Maybe an obstacle course?

Thank you Bantamgirl you just reminded me that we had some books due back today so I've renewed them online avoiding the 30p fine. Not a massive frugal win but still better in my pocket. Congratulations on ds's success too..

£6 on present in M&S, reduced from £12.

£26.01 on a dress from Monsoon via ebay! It looks lovely on and perfect for a wedding I'm attending. If I'm careful with it I should be able to resell it. I've seen it a few times going for about what I paid.

Spent on some clothes for DS and DD today.

DH found out that his contract probably won't be extended beyond early November. Not entirely surprising as it was Always going to be an interim.

Thanks for the response re NSD. Well done to all as you all seem to be doing well and finding some great bargains.

NSD yesterday. £34 today. Need to get a present for DD2's BFF's birthday, will keep that under £5.

DD2's fav sandwich here is very thinly sliced steak, churasco, with tomatoe and avocado (struggle to write that in English now) dressing the steak with chimichuri would make it really good IMO.

First day of school so hopefully less spending beyond school requirements.

Question: have any of you installed solar panels? We have been wanting them for a while now and we had the guy round last night to tell us more and we are v taken by it all. In terms of saving money as well as environment. It turns out that whatever we pay for our electric bill will just go towards the panels and on our own calculations it means that we are quids in by year 3. And even if we aren't I think the overall outlay for us would be £200 over 3 years.

Any thoughts?

Getting hair dyed today, back at work this afternoon. Should be NSD tomorrow as have a full day at work.

We don't own our house so I've never looked at solar panels, DH is very into eco and green issues though and I know he'll want them when/if we ever manage to buy.

I'd love solar panels but says no. We only spend £26 a month on leccy & I'm sure I could halve that, we have a south facing roof too.

You HAVE to get them & tell me how you get on.

Fluffy - yes the guy was very straight with us and said that people who spent say £200/year on electricity would not benefit from it, and by the time they would, the warranty on the panels would have expired (25 years!!). So he said that he has told people not to buy them.

Ok... So it looks like the consensus is a positive one. I'll probably get them and of course I will share the process!!!!

fluffy chicken tikka and raita sounds nice for a sandwich

MissA your Mexican sandwich sounds great

Six I might do a layered sandwich inspired by the GBBO with one sandwich with one filling and the other with another

I am not very adventurous with sandwiches - it is either ham or cheese or marmite here, and somehow I don't think that is what Tesco are looking for!

Ohhelp Tesco Orchard is a site where you get to try out some new products that Tesco are producing - they send you coupons for the products I think, then you write them a review or put one up on FB, thereby spreading the message. I have only been invited to invent a new sandwich so far, I haven't done any of the other 'challenges'. Here is the link:

orchard.tesco.com/

Oh my, a layered sandwich sounds amazing!
Am considering getting my hair cut off - have had very long dark hair for 20 years. Thinking a choppy messy bob with side fringe. Scared.

MissA - glad to think you would get them if you do own your house. Do you think if say you were in the market to buy and if you had to choose between 2 houses and one had solar panels but also cost maybe 20k more, you'd go for it?

it just seems to me that according to man, the money projection is pretty decent and of course, you 'make' the money as long as there's a sun in the sky. The projections seem to run into thousands! so if I sold my house with solar panels, it'll be making money for the new owners. If they didn't want the panels, apparently I can take and bring them to my new house!!

Sorry to hear about DH's contract Helena :( - what's the plan moving forward for him?

A friend of mine has solar panels, I don't know the ins and outs but I know they do make money from it - excess electricity is sold back or something? However they are pretty comfortable/wealthy financially anyway so they didn't need to worry about initial outlay etc.