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!

I'm having trouble keeping up with the thread this week but I'm doing reasonably well at spending less I think.
I used my Boots points to buy a badly needed new hair brush and resisted buying anything cute for DD in there! I did however buy creme eggs for DH (3 for £1) and a mini Lindt chocolate bunny for me (55p).
I have some points left and a No 7 voucher so I'm going to get a new mascara too, hopefully at no cost.
Went to buy a pint of milk yesterday and accidentally bought a packet of teacakes out of greed but apart from that I haven't spent any money since Sunday

Dh's boss is away so he got paid by cheque this week, I won't get to the bank to lodge it until Sat so it'll be nearly time for next week's wages before his will be cleared but no big bills due to come out of joint account so we'll be grand.

Eugh I used to get paid by cheque it sucks. No one uses cheques these days?!

Nsd day so far, been to see my friends scrummy new baby had meant to pick her up some cakes on the way but got lost and couldn't find a shop!!

Will need to get some bits later as got a friend coming over for tea, will prob just be jacket potatoes though.

£39 big shop
£2 tesco frozen veg
£3 bra washing thing fom aldi
£2 for 12.5kg of spuds from morrisons.

£2 sweeteners and cake.

Tescos optitians are doing quite a good contact lens plan, you don't pay for lens check ups & you get free cheap specs & a free eye test (there free at tescos anyway).

Lol collie that's brilliant! Don't spend it all at once!

spotty they had moved on cheques but his boss is away so his dad paying the wages. I suppose it's an improvement on forgetting to pay him for 2.5 weeks at christmas because he was busy with his other company!

Ordered my cup from boots for small man, and they never added on delivery charge - Score!!

Have a shopping list started so will give dh the aldi one to do tomorrow or Sat and I will do the dunnes one myself on Saturday morning. Meal planning is working out great in our house at the moment. The lists are small. And I'm sticking with my diet better too

I've made a massive chilli for dinner. The mince is bulked out with red and green lentils plus veg. Can't wait

I had to at the 14p cheque, Collie. No wonder so many financial institutions are in trouble, if they waste money on small things like that.

£28.50 on DS's school bus pass and another £2.22 in the post office, so £30.72 in total.

Any ideas what I can do with cold jacket potato? I cooked one extra last night as they looked a bit small but it never got eaten. I don't want to waste it. Having cauliflower cheese tonight so something to go with it would be good!

I would use the potato flesh for fish cakes with tinned tuna, and the skins would have melted cheese in for crispy skins under the grill.

NSD today so far. met friends for coffee, lovely friend paid because i drove us there.

weather is crap here today so have stayed indoors. have sorted more things for ebay/facebook selling

Thanks, fuzzpig, great idea but I forgot to mention I'm veggie! I could probably conjure up some sort of potato wedges though, or would they be too soft for that?

Do you eat eggs pointless? Frittata? Fried Potato Slices

I'd eat frittata. I might make it for DD and me for lunch tomorrow. Good idea!

Can't believe this thread is nearly full already

So popped into Lidl on way back from school pick up spent £36.43 which was more than the £25 I budgeted for but I ended up getting loo rolls, dishwasher tabs and sanpro. Just checked my receipt and realised the Always Ultra was much more expensive than I thought, must have been looking at the wrong price when I put it in the trolley, grr!

Infact analysing the receipt these things I reckon I could have cheaper in Morrisons;

Baking potatoes x 3 (large) £1.28
fun size clementines £1.19
Shower gel £1.29
Always ultra (26 towels) £2.49

However most of the rest of it is cheaper

Bananas x3 - 37p
extra mature cheese £1.75
Spaghetti - 45p
green tea - 89p
crisps x 24 packets £2.15
bleach - 49p
handwash - 55p
loo roll x 10 £3.49
mushrooms - 89p

Most of the rest of it about the same.

Sorry for boring post but helps me clarify in my head where the money goes

Probably some kind of Rosti with the potato flesh then. Although no clue how to do it!

Left over baked pot...., i'd mix the inside bit with a little of the cauli cheese and mash it up , add a diced fried onion (or a spring onionand some bacon if not veggie) maybe a bit of flour if sloppy.. make into a patty and fry . Yum .

Skins put inder grill or in hot oven with a bit butter and salt and pepper inside.. grill or oven bake until bubbling (watch like a hawk) Voila! crispy potato skins ..

Re aduki beans , they are just small red skinned beans, you can get then cheaply fron H&B supermarkets tc ( even come in tins) butthe difference id thatthey are firmer than others so dont break up so easily as other beans and so give your Red Dragon pie a bit of texture .. ( dont forget to add a bit of freh grated ginger and garlic to the recipe if you like a bit of an exotic flavour .. makes all the diference ..

One day ill have a NSD...
£5 to DS this morning
£9.19 (after using my £1.50 voucher) in Co op. Veggies salad and fruit for weekend , pitta bread, dairy stuff. got home and weve run out of milk (Thanks adult DS for just opening the fridge and downing a litre and a half like no one else wants any .. ) so ill have to go again tomorrow

I really want to try frittata but I think you need an oven proof pan to transfer it under the grill. Boo.

Oh my word the cauli cheese patty sounds amazing!

Not an NSD - £60 on hair and £7 on avocados, olives and chicken to jazz up salads for next 2-3 days.

Hoping for NSD tomorrow though as busy day at work.

Seriously thinking about not dyeing my hair anymore, it costs £50-60 every 8 weeks or so, it's such a drain. But I look terrible with greys

What kind of grey are you?.

39p on a snack for ds.