an Ostentatiously Austere October...join here for a frugal month ahead!

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

All welcome to join the MN frugaleers for another month of recording our spends, frugal wins and frugal fails!

NSD = No Spend Day (let's have as many as possible!)

LSD = Low Spend Day

Thanks for the advise about spices. I shall venture to asda later in the week but not today as i want a NSD.

Italian just keep feeding. I know its exhausting. Are you sure its not teething. Both of mine always got cold symptoms and kept waking through the night while they were doing it. Try giving them something cold to chew on and a bit of bonjela to see if it makes any difference. Could just be comfort feeding I hope you get some proper sleep tonight.

My mum's comign to stay. Its going to be hard she always wants to do things that involve spending money. So far she's suggested a trip to ikea, meals out etc. etc. Want her to have a good time but hard to deal with

Hello everyone

Haven't spent anything yet today and shouldn't as don't need anything. Was going to buy a hair dye but I have to spend £36 getting my bones fixed so priorities!

Have made chicken and apple balls for tea so they are in the fridge and I have tomato bread proving. Home at 4.30 and have to have fed the kids and be leaving at 5.15 so it will all be a rush.

Have been very upset today - hence the cooking and baking already to keep occupied - and I am going to watch a bit of This Morning and write to a friend.

Oh iitsfab you're so good. I need to make bannana cake today. I got a huge bag of bananas for 19p from Morrisons on Sunday and I seriously need to bake them. I'm going to see my uncle with my mum tomorrow so thought I may take him one as a gift

Whats up? Its fab?

I will be getting milk and shampoo later on. I bought 8 bottles of oz shampoo in lidl tjinking iy would be as good as Aussie, its crap... Thats going back!

Blimey, I've only been away about 24 hours. Another 6 pages down!!

Spent 20.39 in Asda yesterday (was VERY tight-arsed, only bought stuff I knew was no cheaper in Aldi). Am very that I have to go back today for bread, bananas, fruit pots for DD and dog food. I've decided to split my weekly shop into 2 smaller shops (and hopefully do away with top-ups if I do it properly - clearly I have a bit of work to do here ).

Also 45.48 on DP's birthday present (he's getting nothing for Christmas!!)
AND 55 to fill up the petrol tank.

Meals this week:-

Sun - did a chicken in the slow cooker, with veg & potatoes
Mon - beef stir fry with noodles
Tue - leftover chicken, veg, pesto & pasta
Wed - slow-cooked gammon joint with griddled veg & some sort of carb
Thu - filled tortellini with veg & homemade tomato sauce
Fri - slow-cooked chicken casserole
Sat - out for DP's birthday. DD is staying at her granny's so we plan to indulge, spend and drink! lthough we're at granny's for lunch on Sunday so hopefully that will redress the frugal balance.

furcoat I have been really upset by the disappearance of Alice Gross and to wake up to the news the police are sure they have found her body had me in years. My DD is 11 and walks to the bus stop alone and it worries me. She asked what difference it would make if she walked with her brother and I pointed out he has a phone and can call for help should anything happen. Since a parent pointed out a girl on her own is more at risk I have been even more worried. Both kids did listen and texted that they had arrived at school (DD) and the bus stop (DS) so I know they are safe. I think seeing me in tears has had an effect on DD.

Tomato bread is delicious. I had it with the onion soup I made on Monday and that was lovely too.

had me in tears, not years .

I know Alice. I had a little sob myself this morning.

Bannana bread in oven. One for us one for aunt and uncle. Hopefully they'll come out ok baking is not my strong point

LSD today and very happy as my fuel budget has loads left in it from what was allocated last pay. Did make myself not buy takeaway today as was thinking of using some of the leftover petrol money for it. Instead came home and reheated the chicken curry which was yummy.

I want another NSD tomorrow and msg even aim for one on Friday. I need to shop wisely this weekend as have friends over for BBQ on Monday and don't want to be going over my budgeted amount.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't seen much over the coverage (or of any news recently). Just caught up now.

It's so awful. I can't quite get my head around how wrong it all is - especially given the circumstances of the prime suspect.

I just started watching Sherlock on netflix as I'm off sick. Totally hadn't realised that it's set in modern times was so confused!

And just seen what you're all talking about and feel terrible now

It's really sad I feel for her family and friends

£4 spend on car park as expected.

I've been a bad bad bad person today. A good friend asked forced me to go shopping today instead of being good and staying home and baking. It's ALL her fault I spent money!!

Seriously, it wasn't TOO bad, as I did get a few things on sale to put aside for Christmas. Pyjamas for the dcs £6 each, couple Christmas books 59p each, 2pr pack of "pirate" socks £1 each. These are all tucked away in the Christmas stash. All things I normally buy the dcs for Christmas, so I am pleased at that.

But shame on me for spending when I should have had a NSD. I did have a good day out though!

Oh no its fab I hadn't seen that v sad news. I have nearly 13 year old that also travels to school alone... There is always a worry!! All we can do is help them stay safe. My nearly 10 year old wakes too but her journet is 5 mintues with loads of people about.

Flu jab had today.

Got sausages reduced to 90p so have those with mash n beans n onions for dinner also chicken stock on the go from carcass from last night chicken n loads left over chicken for a pie.

Boiler man coming in a no to service boiler he does it for good price for cash.

The news is sad. As we don't really know what's happened, no idea how it could have been prevented, I suppose. The person they've listed as the suspect did his time and came here legally to the best of my knowledge. This is one of the problems I suppose with people moving freely throughout the EU. Those of us (like me, as an American) that had to go the visa route had checks done. Those that come through the EU ties, don't. So his criminal history wouldn't have been flagged anywhere. Such a loss for her family. I can't imagine what they must be going through - my dd is an adult now, but I worried about her a lot when she was a teenager, as I worked for the police and heard all the horror stories, all the bad endings.

I never expect them to be found alive these days. Evil man.

NSD.

It is horrible news and very upsetting.

NSD today. Was going to pop out for some carrots but remembered I had frozen some the day before I went on holiday.

Wow this is filling fast
3 LSD days, been working all day
5.50 new bit for toilet cistern
7.50 at morrisons 3 evening meals
10.00 school photo
10.00 top up shop
hoping for 3 days nsd now .....

Just realised we're 14 pages in and it's only the 1st October today

Re-jigged meal plan to avoid going into town - NSD today.

Awful news. I agree with a pp, it doesn't appear if anyone is found these days?

£7 on a jacket spud with prawns and OJ with colleague. Ooops. I was at a course and it seemed like a sociable thing to do.....

Will be good tomorrow.

I agree with you Alice, freedom of movement is good for the most part but the downside is no restrictions on people who would be flagged up otherwise. My DH gets frustrated at the questioning we get when travelling with our DDs because they are twins but so different that one looks about 3 years older, plus our names are not "right" in the Chilean mindset. And DH is 12 years older than me, so all told we are a highly suspect pair when we turn up at the airport.

I would rather go through it though than think anyone could take them out of the country. Doesn't stop me worrying about them though.

Tried to post yesterday but T'internet was having none of it

Spent about £38 on more groceries and toiletries yesterday, another £12 on a month's worth of vitamins for DD2 and £2.40 on the roads.

DD1 has decided she now needs shampoo from the hairdressers. I've told her she has to pay for it herself. Bloody peer pressure. And she's lost a school sweater belonging to a friend.

I really need to get DD2 some more foot things, her bunions are getting more sever and what I bought last time wasn't as good. Have go either to the swanky new new shopping centre with shocking car park rates or the busiest part of the city with very limited parking.

Italain hope she feels better soon.

I didn't spend anything but will tomorrow. I am going out for lunch with a friend but I paid the last two times so hoping she will at least go halves to be honest. I have to get a watch battery and pay parking if I do that so if I come in at £20 I will be pleased as it will mean I didn't buy any food.

Friday I will aim for no spend. Oh, I forgot, appointment so that is £36.