Frugal January, part two.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Everybody is welcome.

Thanks Spotty, our AA was 199.00. What is YNAB? Laska, we have good secure (as much as anyone is these days) income and don't take anything for granted, just need to keep better track, save more and be more mindful of our spending as retirement for my husband comes into the frame.

YNAB - You Need A Budget.

NSD Monday, LSD Tue (£1.12) and NSD yesterday. I am so chuffed. I gave myself £20 til Friday this week to spend on personal spends, plus what was left in my purse and have just spent the loose change. I have a work away day today so I think it'll be another NSD today as well. And tomorrow is payday.
DP did spend £10 in Lidl but that's from a different pot and budgeted for.
I sorted my car tax online yesterday but it doesn't come out of the bank til 11 Feb so that's handy.
I looked at YNAB but I kind of do all that on an Excel spreadsheet: work out outgoings each month and register all spends in expense categories: food, household, dogs, DD, bills, luxuries etc. Gives me a good idea of where our money goes.

Hoping for a nsd dh only bought four pints of milk on Tuesday. Idiot. We go through 14 pints a week.

If I'm going to London four times this year, three of which will be overnight, is there any kind of rail card I can buy that might make it cheaper? We're on the commuter belt so cheap train tickets are practically impossible.

Hoping for nsd today.

£5 Tesco yesterday, £2 Sains today - am hoping for a non-spend weekend!

Spotty a network rail card is £30 and gives £10 off a£30 fare so it starts saving you money big time if used 4+ times per year, we find them really good.
Almost NSD yesterday, £4.10 on milk and cookies for my classes in the afternoon, they've been working so hard and were v appreciative.

Today will be spendy as paying driving instructor for block of lessons, but apart from that not planning to spend at all.

Thanks MissA can I use the same card for me and dh?

MissA that would save us £20 per time so will be great. Thanks so much

Don't forget mse tickity split.

Off ill today, my necks so swollen inside I feel like I'm in a neck brace. Dh's entire family get viruses before Christmas every year & I always escape and then get it in January.

The joy of being the only non-asthmatic in the family

I have a bidding war on ebay! something that I listed for £20 is now up to £45!

In other news, not going out anywhere today (other than to take a few bits up to parents and post a ebay sale). The rain has come down and we're forecast strong winds and thunder. if ever there was a day for internet shopping, this is it.

Spotty yes you can take up to 3 adults on one card, so useful!

I need to finally get my arse into gear sell some baby bits too (DTDs are 3 now!)

YNAB You need a budget . Its a software programme that lets you really keep track and forwars plan. Yes youcan do it on excel, (but i never managed to be organised enough or manage the functionality this littl eprogramme has ) This does all the thinking for you.. and really helps me keep track of spending.

There's a free trail (it really is a free trial ) with no pre- sign up with credit card tie in to purchase after a month..

its often cheaper on Steam Steam YNAB but do the free trial first

I exciting "emenem*!!! Something I out on for £6.99 is currently at £10.50....I won't do as well as you.

So done picked up a lindam bed side for £3. Fab condition, but no one had wanted it for ages due to it being beige and it was taking up space.

Just ordered £40 summer bits from George for the kids before the cheap/nice bits disappear. Discovered that my delivery pass includes George orders over £10....eeeek how can I erase that from my brain? I was SURE it used to be minimum order £40??

£1.35 on chocolate was paid for out of the random change pot though...

Oh no, Fluffy, I hope you feel better soon .

Who was talking about online shopping? I just spent my £25 Debenham gift card I got as a Christmas present. I couldn't do click and collect on my order, so had to pay £3.39 towards delivery.

I am another who is not leaving the house today (lots of snow here. I was they cancelled my lunchtime yoga class), so my only spend will be £6.50 on a haircut for DS.

This looks amazing for a slow cooker cake here

I have been inspired by whoever said they chuck stuff on eBay to see what happens before it goes to charity. I have some big stuff on facebook and others on eBay. Have sold one thing as soon as I listed it 2 bidders fighting and I'm a fiver up. Result!

creme you may be thinking of me. I ordered £75ish stuff from House of Fraser to get free delivery. I kept the one item I wanted and sent the rest back by free returns. It helps that I have 3 post offices all within 10 minutes walk and I'm a sahm. I always do it with clothes as I often send them back as they're not what I thought they'd be. If I need to 'top up' my order for the free delivery then I order size 8's so I'm not tempted to keep them!

Nsd but mainly because I'm only leaving the house for the school run. Snow and slush today, will be horrible tomorrow.

babsmam I'm another one that always tries eBay first. Few quid here and there always helps.

Did fluffy ever explain her £500 footstool or am I imagining things??

Ha ha topping up with size 8's! Genius! Why didn't I ever think of that??!!!!

Haha! I shall take it to my grave.

Woke up from nap to realise tax bill needed paying plus accountant.

£1300 tax
£780 accountant.

Old beat up shoes sell on eBay, I don't like to imagine what happens to them though. It's probably a bit un-seemly.

Wow this thread is moving seriously fast, we have come close to filling two threads this month.

Last week I changed our tax credits to be evenly distributed between myself and dh, but it was also my first full week at work. My wages were up €155 compared to last week so I'm happy . I paid back the money I had used out of my save & borrow fund for dentist, paid my contribution to joint account, and paid 25% of my motor insurance renewal, the rest will come out in 9 installments so I won't have any payment in Nov, Dec & Jan 16, I know it's cheaper to pay it upfront but I didn't have the money. For €4 extra a month I reduced my excess to €150 from €300 and got windscreen cover, roadside assistance with home start, overnight accommodation & something else I can't remember. The windscreen cover is without paying excess so worth it for that alone. I've had money in my current account which I rarely do on payday so it will either pay for my hair next week, to buy make up online(I'm seriously low in makeup and wear it for my class once a week, dh said I looked very pale last night, using up old stuff!) or just sit there which is my plan.

I have tried ynab and use its theory to a certain extent. I purchased it because it's great and got on well with trial but I can't get the app working on my phone, won't connect so need to get that sorted to use it successfully.

I bought my lunch today, hangs head in shame, a hot chicken wrap soup for tomorrow's lunch and 2 buns for me and work colleague for 3o'c €8.20. Ds was very sick last night and while I was up tending to him the soup I was making burnt, both kids are off their food after vomiting bug so in the time I'd usually spend making my lunch in the morning I made pancakes for them instead. I suppose it was a guilt thing because I was working late last night!!

This thread really makes me think when I spend, if I do, will I be happy to post it here on this thread!

NSD here! Stayed in because of the snow and have so far resisted the lure of the internet although DD has just gone down for a nap so I have a little free time...

Today spent £7 in Boots on threadworm treatment again and paracetamol - paid with points though so technically spent nothing! Got £20 cash out which will hopefully last a week.

No snow here but sleet and rain, time to hibernate I think!

Hope you feel better soon Fluffy