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

Made an assertive phone call to British Gas this morning and had my direct debits adjusted to our actual spending now that my Ex's debt has been paid off and we consistently use 50% of what it was before.

I can't spend half of my income on legal fees and the other half on utilities, council tax, fuel and food. Nothing else can be afforded at the moment.

Remembered to cancel Tastecard and got that confirmed and water bill has been reduced too. Ex is rather large and I could only fit four of his shirts into one wash, let alone his trousers!

Thank you, Fluffy and Ohhelp - splendid idea to advertise the wood from the tree, it's all sorted and getting collected.

Just had some great news. We have been having trouble with our washer/dryer for last 9 months. Its is insured, every 4-6 weeks it breaks, insurance company ate going to send a new one! I don't know wether to go for just a washer... I would have to go out to garage to dry?

LSD today. Had weekly petrol top up but it was lower than normal as haven't driven as much.

Nice one furcoat! Dunno whether you should get a washer only mind. Is it a big hassle to go into the garage?

Bit of a spendy one for me today - all planned and needed.

PERSONAL:
30 petrol top up
39 on contact lenses plan with Specsavers

JOINT
4.34 in Asda on mainly dog food
13.20 at pet shop

Cash: 3.29 on bacon from the butcher. Massive, thick cut pieces, mmm. They are doing 10 breast fillets for 11.98 - what do you think, should I invest?

That's great news furcoat. We got rid of our washer dryer and replaced it with jsut a was washer and I have to say I'm not missing the dryer. OUrs was expensive to run, took ages and everything still needed hanging up to air
anyway - just as easy to hang it up

£16.69 in Home Bargains various tins and packets of food, a torch and some pants for DS who is having his first day at nursery in pants. Not sure what I'm going to find when I pick him up later but I suspect 6 more pairs of pants would be a good plan either way (he's got 7 at nursery with him but they throw them out if they do sloppy poos in them!!) Think teh washing machine will be going this evening.

Thanks confused and lists. Thats what im thinking, I want to stop using the drying bit anyway but is handy especially the ready to wear function, wash and dry 1 or 2 items in 30mins. Might be the push we need.

I love my tumble drier

confused - depends on how bi the fillets are iyswim? I get our chicken breasts farm the local farm shop and they are the same price as the supermarket, but absolutely huge, so I need half the amount.

I do use our dryer, but all the appliances are new (well 3 year old new build). The dryer was in the garage in the old house and a bit of a hassle sometimes. But great news about the replacement fur

Bit miffed with Aldi actually, and wondering if it's as bargainous as I think it is! That's the second gammon joint (cooked in slow cooker and used for sandwiches) that has been awful, full of fat. Think I'll stick to the farm shop for meat. Or M&S if very flush!!!

Glad it's not just me that wonders about the logic of driving 20 miles to collect something bought for a £1

NSD, if I can resist using a Boden £10 voucher, plus 15% off and free P&P.

needastrongone would this help you decide?
blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2010/10/12/money-mantras-never-leave-home-without-them/

Yes they seemed quite big. I think I've left it too late now, they've probably closed and I won't be back this way til next Monday. I also saw something on the FB Feed your Family for 20 page yesterday - 10kg of chicken breasts from Muscle Foods (whoever they are). I will have a look and see if they're any good /not full of water / reasonably ethically farmed.

Nsd (well apart from £1.10 on car parking but that was for work so can claim it back!)

Will need to pick a few bits up tomos (milk, bread etc) but actually still for a good amount of food from my lidl shop last week!

I don't really like tumble driers, think they are noisy and use lots if electric, if you have somewhere to hang clothes out I would just go for a washer furcoat I hang clothes out on the drier in my bedroom and it rarely takes longer than 24 hrs for everything to dry.

Nsd!!

Well done Fur, newer machines cost less to run too so you check which cycle costs the least.

No tumble drier here, I have a spin dryer which dh never gets tired of taking the piss out of. I like dryers I just can't afford to run one.

NSD.

Spent the first part of our pc world gift card today which was fun! Got a new monitor to replace ours which was probably 15 years old and handed down from a friends sister. Replaced our keyboard which was really rubbish and American so different layout and no pound signs, with a lovely sparkly wireless keyboard and mouse. Also bought an ext hard drive and a laptop backpack for dh to use at work instead of carrier bags(!) and we still have £75 to spend. I'm going to try to spend it quite quickly I think as the stock was low in the shop and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they go under, don't want to lose out.
fluffy I'm still tempted by a spin dryer :-). Led bulbs are going to be our next project.

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/laundry-dishwashers/tumble-dryers/white-knight-28009w-spin-dryer-white-17639190-pdt.html

I have this one. It's worth the piss taking from dh.

Spent 50£ on groceries including nappies and wipes.

After a reallyl good week last week this one is not turning out well.

DD came out of school obviously upset and miserable so ended up taking her for cake and hot chocolate to cheer her up. Turned out her violin lesson went badly and a girl has been bullying her Parents evening tomorrow so can take it up then. £6.80

I'm going to try for NSD tomorrow as I've not had one yet this week.

£8 in the pound shop on xmas wrapping paper, xmas painting sets for dcs and chocolate for my team meeting (keeping them sweet ha ha).

I wouldn't get a combi washer dryer as when I lived with dps parents my darks would come out fluffy after she'd tumbled towels. ..

Nsd. Had to post my ebay parcels but technically I have already been paid for that. Had enough petrol so may not need to fill up until next week now.

Tomorrow I have a flu jab booked £10. Not had one before so not sure whether will feel crap afterwards or not.

lists sorry to hear about your daughter, hope you get it sorted out at school.

Sorry to hesr about your dd lists hope you get the bullying sorted, dd2 had a terrible time in her last school

Oh lists that's horrible news. I'm glad she spoke to you about it and hope the school are supportive in trying to stop it.

My tumble dryer is only a couple of years old and costs approximately 10p an hour to run so to dry a load costs around 20p. I off set this by using a flask for hot water in the day so I don't have to keep boiling the kettle. Doing this actually bought my bill down by £5 a month even with the dryer. I love my dryer.

£6 on fruit and veg. Have put some bits on Facebook. I think they sell for less than on ebay but it's less faff listing, no fees and no posting. I'm trying to make my H&M purchases 'free'

lists sorry to hear about your dd in really dreading this, especially as dd doesn't walk normally. Your dd is lucky to have a lovely mum who buys her cake to cheer her up

I've just claimed £20.02 from Inbox Pounds. I should have the cheque next week sometime. It all helps :)

As for DD I've put her to bed with a big cuddle. Seems the girl keeps saying nasty things like "you're ugly" "you don't comb your hair" "you smell" "nobody likes you they just pretend". its really getting her down even though NOT ONE of those things are true. I've told DD to say "if you've got nothing nice to say please don't say anything I'm going to talk to my friends" and then to walk off.

Its easier for me to say it than for her to do it though :(

Sunday we went to Chessington for DD2's birthday. Entry was free as we have annual passes. Drinks, £3 (it was cold) lunch £20 as we had burgers after 3 and the girls are for free (DH paid), toy for DD2 plus alien egg for DD1 £11.40. Chinese takeaway for dinner £23, DH gave me £20.

Monday trip to a client, took lunch as in the middle of nowhere. Diesel, £64 but reclaim that. £3 for hat and choker for DD1 dancing costume, £35 for DD2's dancing costume.

Tuesday trip to London, reclaim parking and train fare. Lunch £7.

Wednesday £17 in Tesco, including lunch, dinner, some ham and loads of treats to fill my goodie drawer at work.

I need to order DS a white suit for dancing, unfortunately DH has lost my credit card. I gave it to him to use my 18p a litre discount on petrol and he doesn't know where it is (well, it is supposedly on my bedside table, but it isn't!). I don't like using my debit card on the internet, so tomorrow I'll measure him then place an order.