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?

Thanks fuzz pig

Oh Helena - I missed that so had to scroll back. What's going to happen with dh's job? If I recall correctly, you had a massive promotion. That would help hopefully?

Sorry, fuzz pig - was going to continue writing before I got distracted!! There doesn't seem to be any initial outlay. Apparently this new scheme (since March 2014) diverts the money you would pay the electric company to the solar panel guys. So based on the calculations they did for us, it was going to cost us £71/ year more in the first year! Which isn't a lot considering I now have solar panels on my roof. And in 2/3 years I'd be making money.

I don't know about your solar panel deals in the UK but my house here in Oz has them. They are a challenge when there is no sun as I have to use an electric booster to get hot water which is very expensive and if I forget to turn it off it can accidentally be left on all day or night. This does happen. I have a lot of sun throughout the year and even in winter but having lived in the UK I wouldn't have thought they would truly save you money for longer than the years stipulated as you have way more rain and cloudy days. Check out how you get hot water without them and what these costs could be. Mind you maybe you aren't using them to get hot water

Almost an NSD today. Had to spend $4 on parking for job interview and was cross with myself. I was a bit flustered and only needed to spend 2 but put 4 in and the machine didn't give change. Otherwise saved myself from buying takeaway because I am feeling low and instead have cooked omelettes for the kids. It's lifted my spirits by refraining from takeaway.

Yesterday got to school and remembered I owed a friend £22 as she'd taken dd out during the holidays and said we'd settle at the start of term.

Then popped into co-op for milk and also got dishwasher tablets £3.95. Co-op have got Persil burst dishwasher tablets on clearance at £1.25 for 15 so got 2 packets. If you see same offer do not get the bigger packet which is £6 for 45. Get 4 of the smaller packets which would work out to £5 for 60. the co op often have odd pricing structures

Was planning a NSD today but had to pay a prescription charge. £8.05 down but hopefully my ear ache will go as a result. Hoping not to spend anything else today.

£164.40 so far this month. keep comforting myself that £89 was the bus pass so unavoidable but its not making me feel much better

Tomorrow will be spendy. Leaving do at lunch for a friend. Will order cheap things and hope to get away with it. I've budgeted £15 MAXIMUM but dont know if I'll keep to it they've not exactly chose a cheap place :( Also will need to pay DD's brownie subs probably another tenner

65p for a diet coke, that's my spend for the day. But I needed it desperately.

Oh no Helena hope your dh gets something else lined up.

Should be nsd today for me. Dd's first day at school!

Helena sorry to hear about your DH and hope he can get something sorted out.

lists good news on the dishwasher tablets. I like having a good stock and always buy them when they are on offer.

Spotty good luck to your DD on her first day, hope she has a lovely day

Hi Mojito
thanks for your input - I think the way it works is, we generate electricity through the panels but we are still connected to the mains, we just 'pay in' the power. So everytime the generator completes one round, it 'makes' 15p. of course, we are still using it to power our fridges, tv etc so we still draw down on it. The gov also will pay us money to put the panels on, so it sounds like we will make about 700 over a year - which basically pays for my electricity bill.

I'm not explaining it very well but that's how I have it in my head!!

NSD here.

DH has sent his CV to various contacts. Hopefully something will come up.

Re: solar panels just check it doesn't affect your mortgage or when you come to sell. Some lenders won't lend on a house with solar panels because the panels are a sort of long term lease. This can make your house difficult to sell as buyers may not be able to get a mortgage. I know of someone who had to pay to get them removed

Nk5. Good luck with it all. Yours sounds very different to the reasons we have solar panels. I hope it goes pay got itself. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

NSD for me.

I hope your dh gets a new contract Helena

Oh dear! A fairly spendy day. £46.43 in Aldi using the vouchers from last weeks Daily Record. £37.25 in Tesco including a £25 gift card for the birthday party at the weekend and £4.80 in the local shop after dh sent me for wine which he paid for. At least my freezer is full to bursting so I mustn't shop again until it's much emptier.

Helenagrace I hope your dh gets something soon.

Hello everyone another NSD today.

Contacted my electricity supplier and updated my meter reading. I pay a set price direct debit per month and according to there estimated reading on my last bill I owed them around £200. Should get an updated bill out soon and fingers crossed I don't owe them much, if anything. Would love to be in credit but don't think I am.

I have to be registered to be able to work and my registration is due again this month. £100. I forget about it every single year!!

What's everyone got planned for the weekend? I am hoping very much for a no spend weekend

Eldest DC back to school today and while I thought it would mean spending less DS2 has already come back with a request for money for a rugby trip at the weekend (which also means I need to go and buy him a new school rugby top tomorrow)

Hopefully NSD tomorrow.

Im back after a rocky start to our new life in Denmark. Got laid off my job as from 1. of September, so meaning no money coming in anymore :( Very very bad....
So last week was a very sad week, with loads of worrying and sadness. But luckily we stay with my parents and for free, so its not like we are going to be on the streets with no money but our dream of own home is going to take a bit longer.
Luckily this week my DP got offered a full time job in his workfield :) So so proud of him, being only in the country for a week and already getting a job :) So we are hoping its the start of something good for us. As my mom said, we hit bottom rock so it can only go forward and get better.
I will also get benefit from the state, so we will have enough to live on, but the benefit I get means I am not allowed to own anything, so we will start here until I get a job and then save and save from benefit and my DP pay.
This week we have used money on an electric bike for DP so he can go to and from work (1400 pounds) but think it is money well spent and we have just paid the union for him (45 pounds)

fanta you could make a Danish sandwich? I can upload some suggestions and you could call it the Viking sandwich lol

Italianviking - sorry to hear about you losing your job. That hits hard. Congrats on your hubby getting a job. I hope all goes well.

£3 for meal deal lunch

Really sorry about your job Italian but fab news DH landing one.

Helena fingers crossed for your DH.

NSD today.

Thanks ladies ?? at least I'm home and happy being with family and friends. And funnily enough my benefits is going to be the same as my income... ??

ladies! check this out - someone's blogging about 'no spend days'!! :) www.livingwellspendingless.com/31-days/livingwellspendingzero/

sorry to hear about your job Italian, but great news on your DH landing one. and how interesting that your benefits will be the same as your income! all the better!! good luck with it all.

Spent $70 on fathers day present for Sunday but am to get most back as others a contributing. NSD otherwise and I could have so easily bought takeaway because it's Friday.

Has anyone used the save with Jamie Cook book. I have only made one recipe from it but wondered what your favourites were. I'm making a heap of pizza dough this weekend so we can have home made takeaway. Now that is an oxymoron.

Sounds good italian.

£60 on work supplies.

Sent off a thing to get a £3 refund for some cat food.

£53 in credit with the electric & gas but as I'm leaving them soon I'm leaving it there for another few weeks.