Frugal January, everyone welcome.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Useful links.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2/1
£11.19 DH in coop - fruit etc. Really should be able to get through til 11th now. Hopefully.
£40.32 tesco delivery - ordered specifically because someone was coming round - who didn't show up! So now we have alcohol and random nibbles to use up.

Forgot to coin sweep yesterday, must do so today and suggest it to DH too (although his account is most likely in the red so it'd just be pocket change)

Eurostar are doing a sale atm, it was on mse weekly newsletter.

Eurostar is £200 more even though two of the dc are free

So ended up spending more yesterday! I'd been in denial somehow that my youngest DS will turn five on the 12th. And I realised he doesn't yet have a birthday present. I had previously budgeted and put the money aside for it, so ended up buying it, and the things to go with it, from Amazon last night. Doesn't count if it's already budgeted for, does it? Plus, it didn't cost as much as expected, so I can put the money I'd put away back in my purse.

Good grief, and that's in the sale.

So, not had time to post over the rush of Christmas and New Year. Been Nsds a lot over Christmas as didn't bother to go out. Spendy New Years Eve in daytime as took DS ice skating so cost £18 for us both. Was his first time and he loved it so will have to go again.

The new year will bring second part of interview next week and I might find out if I have one with another company too. I am now officially freelance after detaching myself from previous job and a horrible situation, so feeling quite optimistic for the first time in years. Bit nervous about the money situation but since I'm not fussed as to what I do I should be able to get something.

Not bothered with the sales just need an iPad case and a new purse at some point. Today will be LSD just some milk and eggs. Will be taking down the Christmas decorations and tidying house then will take DS to the park to run off some energy.

Definitely going to start the coin sweep once we've started a new savings account and we're going to swap Virgin for Sky for broadband and phone as they can offer a better deal.

Dsis got me a load of tomato, chilli and cucumbers plus pots and trellis for Christmas so hoping we can save loads if those go as well as this year!

I'm not sure the one to disney is in the sale. They only go to and from there once a day.

MSE thread on DLP

Sporting, are you using a cashback site for that Sky switch? Someone else has just got nearly £200 for switching.

Good luck with your house purchase banana

I have got the Sky deal. It's approx £130 cash back through cashback site, then £50 off the first bill when I read more thoroughly. I don't mind this actually, it's as broad as it's long. The cashback site has already 'paid', so to speak.

To be fair, looking at the discount sites emails this morning, there's tons of good broadband related deals, to suit whatever your need is, we got the full package for Sky, but I aim to review and we were paying a stupid amount to BT anyway.

DH needs to get his £200 cash back for the work laptops this week, so that's a good saving this month by using deals.

Should be NSD today, I have my Morrisons delivery and fruit and veg delivery to arrive, but I have these budgeted for anyway.

Someone asked upthread, I count spends as items not budgeted for, ad hoc spends. So, if today, I get bored and order something from Amazon, that's a 'spend'.

Frittata - that's the name, thank you

Apologies in advance if I forget names for a few weeks, the thread is moving quickly and I try to store it all in my head, but forget

Also toying with rejoining the National Trust, but not sure. I cancelled a year ago but want to make sure our summer is cheap. Mmmmm.

Scottish NT is cheaper AND you can pay by DD.

We get Scottish NT and use it more when up there than down here. I generally get membership to museums/zoos and get moneys worth!

If anyone is looking for Christmas lights there's loads coming up on amazon lightning deals today. Not sure if they're good brands etc but thought I'd mention it!

Thanks, I think I will join. Clearly 'cookies' are working because my adverts at the top of this screen are now for 25% off NT

Yes, I recall the only DD option was an annual payment.

I have just checked with BT that I will get no cancellation charges for changing, given the appalling and long running service issues we have had and we won't.

This afternoon will be cooking and sorting and nothing else as I feel a bit grotty.

I've just made a big shepherds pie. Half for tonight half for the freezer. Dh did top up shop £14. He bought beer but he used £10 less diesel this week so I'll let him off.

I've got leftover turkey in the slowcooker today, and am baking cakes in two of my others too.

When the kids are back in school I intend to do a freezer and cupboard stocktake. I simply can't do it when I have four other pairs of hands that want to 'help'.

Yesterday outside of vouchers I spent £10 in argos on a camera to top up voucher. £20 Iceland/ aldi. £3 sainsburys. £7.50 m&s, £10 boyes and £38 on school shoes.
Frugal win £4.20 mag subs refund as the one I subscribe too has stopped publishing and I got sent an alternative. When I rang to query they refunded the last 2 copies and didn't want the issue sent to me back. Free copy of essentials. Although I'm pleased as it's not my bag and I would have been peeved paying for it.

NSD today both DC have friends coming to play in a bit.

Food stocktake done. Enough for 2 weeks of meals. Will just need fruit and veg, smoothies and yoghurt.

Will be spending today: top-up groceries (fresh fruit, milk etc) but shouldn't come to much as our Eat The Freezer meal plan takes us to the 12th Jan. Pleased as DH found yellow-sticker sandwich meat and rolls last night which takes care of his lunches for the next week.

Also need to buy some plastic boxes with lids to pack the Christmas decorations away as the ottoman we usually put them in has randomly collapsed :| How exciting that will be.

On the other hand am paying in a Christmas cheque for £50 and taking back a body lotion for £10 so shouldn't work out too badly all told. DH wants to go to CEX which is fine as we've over £30 credit there.

Is anyone still receiving things through the post they ordered before NYE? I've had a make-up primer, some fabric, all sorts. A bit that I ordered so much - but on the other hand it's easing me into frugalism nicely

Hello.

Last night I found a tin of chickpeas in a random cupboard so I made chickpea and carrot curry in my slow cooker. This morning I've made spinach and potato curry so this evening we'll be having a curry feast. A few months ago I bought some stainless steel balti dishes and an oval plate from Poundland so ill use them and it'll be our 'fakeaway' night. Curry from the takeaway always costs us £25 to £30. So a theoretical saving of a good few quid there.

yesterday I emptied my drawers at work of most of the tampons in there. Brought 11 (!) home with me so this will save me buying a pack this month.

NSD on Thursday and £4.54 in Tesco yesterday. Should be another NSD today.

I might be inspired by pease and make curry tonight.

I'm hoping for a NSD today. We are trying to bring some order back to the house after Christmas.

Just done a freezer stocktake and we have enough meat and fish to last for a month. I will meal plan around this and try and keep grocery shopping to fresh fruit, veg and dairy.

Ooh thanks Fluffy and Needsa for the tip! Does it still count if you already have TV with them ? And which cash back site did you use?

£3 in Tesco on essentials. Still using up Christmas food so I think January will not be too Spendy. But will need to contact agencies to pick up some contracts mid Jan latest.

DS is being quite happy with a non Spendy holiday and is giggling away at Despicable Me 2 which he's watched lots before but never seems to tire of.

I've realised that I've picked up all wrapping for next year and napkins and crackers so won't have to worry about those next year. Also got one of those refillable advent calendars which I've been after for ages and will save money in the long run as only have to buy small sweets to go in it. So if I can pick up a few presses through the year it will make it all much easier.

Need to do a freezer stock take and meal plan for the month though!

just re done my topcash back profile. been using quidco loads ut TCB usuall has 0.2 % more