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Original poster

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

999 replies

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 26/09/2014 10:20

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

OP posts:
lilacclery · 05/10/2014 07:14

Its great when the sensible part of your brain takes over northender isnt it?
I spoke to dh yesterday about Christmas. We have less Money put away than last year due to my mat leave. We have a painting his first mother in law did to get framed(she's deceased) got a photo session done earlier this year of kids & haven't got prints yet because of cost so we're going to do those & maybe print our wedding album photos(4.5 years later) as our gift to each other.
I'm delighted cos saves time stress & money we don't have.

SpottyTeacakes · 05/10/2014 07:24

Good choice northender.

I don't think dp and I are doing Christmas presents this year. We're going to New York beginning of December so will no doubt buy stuff there. Dp's birthday is the week before Christmas and I've got him a watch, a man tin and will get him some chocolate and prob a cd from the dc. The watch was a bargain so will be less than £40 total.

Sixforgold · 05/10/2014 07:45

Blush Blush Blush

No common sense here...it went AWOL yesterday. So much for my grocery challenge as I spent £60 in Aldi (including a bottle of limoncello to go with the frugal lemon pudding which we didn't even open)!! This is why I need this thread - I'm sensible 90% of the time but that little 10% needs a tight leash and a good talking to!

The pudding was fab btw, thanks again lilac! It turned into a team effort too with our guests zesting lemons and whisking egg whites!

Karenthetoadslayer · 05/10/2014 07:54

Thinking of you, Italian any news yet?

Karenthetoadslayer · 05/10/2014 08:13

Not much luck, or rather discipline with my grocery challenge either. It turned out that we were out of everything including basics as well as most toiletries at the end of last month, so at the moment I have pretty much spent 3/4 of what I had hoped would be my budget for the month.

At least we have all the uniforms now, but it looks like DD is growing out of her winter coat, but with the weather being still quite warm I hope this can wait until the January sales. The sleeves are long enough and they can also be extended. I wish these 'grow along' coats could be made longer too!

Made approx. £50 from selling on eBay so far, costs deducted so that covers DD's school fund as planned.

No hair cut for me this month, so I made a complete mess of put in some colour wash on yesterday first thing in the morning and I must have splashed some into my face which I didn't realise until later. Confused i still have not been able to completely scrub it off, any ideas, anyone? Please? Have to face the world again tomorrow. Smile

SpottyTeacakes · 05/10/2014 08:24

Have you tried nail varnish remover?

It's cold here today, but sunny. Going to be a wet week by the looks of things. Should be a nsd today as we are staying in. I haven't got any money anyway Sad

Karenthetoadslayer · 05/10/2014 08:59

No Spotty I will carefully try now.

Cool here, but not too bad. I am going to make porridge now for everyone to warm up. DD has acquired my Joules fleece jumper in lieu of a dressing gown, so that's a saving and I was getting too warm in it anyway.

Chicken in the slow cooker today. Meal plan done for the rest of the week. Not planning to spend more than £5 all week now.

I think Morrison's cater specifically for Mumsnetters: There was a display yesterday featuring slow cookers as well as halogen heaters at low prices; I had to smile.

SpottyTeacakes · 05/10/2014 09:02

I think I'm going to do shepherds pie today. Will save half the mince for spag bol. Night cook it today and freeze

FantaSea · 05/10/2014 09:13

Karen if the nail varnish remover doesn't work, you could try lemon juice? That sometimes bleaches things. Or some toothpaste? Be careful though, or you will have a red sore patch rather than what there is there now.

I am hoping for a NSD today, first one in ages Smile

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 05/10/2014 09:33

I will be buying a new carbon monoxide detector this week. Ours is working fine at the moment, but it is over 5 years old now, and they generally only last 5-7 years. I'd rather just be ahead of the game and get a new one now before we kick the heater in for the winter.

I wanted to buy paint this weekend, as it's half price at B&Q, but I still am undecided on paint colours, so that's THAT out the window.

Karenthetoadslayer · 05/10/2014 09:37

FantaSea thank you. I will try the lemon juice now to start with. I was so focussed on covering some grey hair -why is it all in one place? - cropping up suddenly right on top of my forehead and contrasting with my dark hair that I didn't pay attention to the splashes.

Original poster
PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 05/10/2014 09:39

Had a very spendy day yesterday. DHs laptop died last week so we got him a replacement, it was a refurbished one so cheaper but still an expense. We also got 2 new pillows as we washed 2 of hours and it ruined them.

Should be NSD today - going to tip with a carload of stuff for recycling and the charity shop next to the tip.

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 05/10/2014 10:58

I'm going to aim for another NSD.

We were having beef for lunch but just realised I forgot to defrost it so looks like toad in the hole instead.

DS now has DD's vomiting bug. I'd just collapsed into bed last night after a lovely bath when DS started coughing then crying. Went in to find he'd been sick over his pyjamas, sheet, duvet, pillows, books he had in his cot and teddy. Mammouth cleaning up job took about 20 minutes, then got him to sleep again before finally stripping off my clean pyjamas, having a shower and collapsing ito bed again. He seems fine this morning thankfully. Sheets and teddy on line.

574ejones · 05/10/2014 11:52

lists Snap - I forgot to get the beef out of the freezer too, so I am using up leftovers in a Basque Chicken instead.

alice Aldi had carbon monoxide alarms in their special aisle this week, but I didn't notice how much they were.

SpottyTeacakes · 05/10/2014 11:55

I've just reheated soup from the freezer for lunch. It's that kind of weather!

trainersandaches · 05/10/2014 12:03

We're off to Aldi this am then getting fruit from Saino's as last week's haul wasn't v nice (I would cope but DH has higher standards!)

Original poster
PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 05/10/2014 12:23

Not too successful at tip - their recycling areas are full Confused Hmmso they wanted us to chuck everything in landfill, DH not happy at all so we only put a few things there. Then the attached charity shop said they weren't accepting any donations so we had to come home with almost everything except plastic bags (we drove to sainsbos for those) scrap wood, light bulbs and a few other bits.
Hoping to find a charity shop to take all our stuff after lunch but DH and I both have a lot of prep for work to get done today so we can't spend all day trawling the town Sad

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 05/10/2014 14:14

Sorry a long and rather boring post.

I've set myself a £25 food budget to last until next Monday. Its going to be tough but I think we can do it. £3 a day and a pound left over for emergencies Grin

Toad in the hole a great success. I had menu planned until tomorrow but have decided to tweak it in order to use up left overs. I normally do a big shop on a Tuesday but hoping to miss it this week and just do one top up shop in the week.

We've got plenty of cereal and its getting cold enough for porridge in the mornings now. I've got loads of stuff I can have for lunch and the children eat at school / nursery / dp sees to himself as he works away so much.

Tonight - left over pasta bake from Friday
Monday - curried veg and potato soup with swirl of yogurt
Tuesday - celery, pea and herb risotto
Wednesday - minced beef and onion pies, new potatos and beans
Thursday - sausage lentil and tomato casserole
Friday - pasta, tomato and cheese bake, salad
Saturday- chilli con carne, rice
Sunday - roast beef (must remember to defrost it this time) with roast potatoes, veg and gravy
Monday fish fingers, chips and peas

Mojito100 · 05/10/2014 14:47

I managed my food spend reasonably well yesterday and spent today in the kitchen stewing fruit that was about to turn. Had an LSD today as took kids and their friends to an activity but otherwise at home being domestic so feel it was balanced.

girliefriend · 05/10/2014 15:30

Have done o.kay I think this wend bearing in mind have been away and gone to a party!

Petrol spend prob about £20 (approx 150 mile round trip) drinks at the party was only lemonades about £6 and sandwiches on the way back £3.20.

Not bad for a good wend Smile

Oh may have to buy some choccies for kind neighbour who popped into feed the cats and by the looks of it had to deal with poo situation Blush

SpottyTeacakes · 05/10/2014 15:36

Well I've had a nsweekend. Can't be bothered to do shepherds pie Blush will do that tomorrow instead. Going to have jacket potatoes and beans. FIL took us to the pub for a drink.

NK5BM3 · 05/10/2014 15:58

£72 at Aldi, and £31 at waitrose (using up £10 off £40 shop there). Bought enough meat for the next 3 weeks! I've written out a rough meal plan and we got to 23rd October! Smile and that's not all the food used I don't think.

I've made shepherds pie (that will do 2-3 meals) and marinaded some chicken thighs. Will eat either or both tonight. Still have yesterday's pork meat ball soup and rice. So methinks that will be kinda the rest of the week really!

I'm knackered. I made brownies and banana muffins yesterday. Thats enough pudding too.

Ready for bed.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/10/2014 16:24

£4.79 on McD.

AdoraBell · 05/10/2014 16:31

NSDs Friday and Saturday here, not sure about today yet.

Have defrosted some beef and will use for dinner and packed lunches for school. Need shopping tomorrow and DD2 wants to get things today.

DH had to buy a new pump yesterday after the bods who fixed a leak left it cellotaped in the on position with no water flowingAngry. Of course they have no idea who put the tape on the switchHmm

eastmidswarwicknightnanny · 05/10/2014 19:26

Had friends to stay for weekend so did a big roast chicken dinner last night for 4 adults n 3 children. They brought wine n beer with them I had,a teeny glass champers with them they brought for husband 40th. Children in bed asleep for 7/7.15 and theirs were awake at 6!! Woke my ds at 6.45 so husband got up. Breakfast was cereal toast n bacon n beans for the little people, so lovely weekend n not too expensive really.