Join the Fantastic Frugaleers for a February full of frugality

[northender]

Shiny new thread ready for Sunday. Newbies very welcome. This is a wonderful thread full of encouragement and support

Work here too so at most a lsd as still need wire for costume. Should be a few pence though

Hopefully today should be a LSD. I've put dh in charge of lunches this week. As a test. He's realising now (at 6.40) that he has to do something...so is panicking. We have enough food left (although most of it is in the freezer). And £37 in joint account to last until 20 feb. My payday. We need petrol, veggies and to pay for parking for 3 days in the next 2 weeks.

Yesterday was NSD. It was my Dad's funeral, caught a cab home from the wake, but brothers girlfriend paid (after a bit of £10 waving over who would) we had a takeaway for dinner which DH bought (mainly because I only had 3 pizzas in the freezer)

(((Audit)))

It's being an expensive few days, dds birthday, having the garden done, dentist yesterday, dentist again next week etc. I'm trying not to focus on it too much because it's just an expensive 2 weeks I need to get through

Spent €14.93 on groceries and €6.20 on a National Geographic kids magazine for DD. I told DD she has to pay me back for the magazine though. The only other spend today will be €3 for cubs.

Had a day out on Saturday and opted for a take away eaten in the car rather than the more expensive dine in restaurant. We used the loos in the restaurant though . I also turned down DH's offer of a latte because I figured it would probably be about €3 and I could have a coffee at home for free. You ladies are a very positive influence.

We met a bank official yesterday and made our car loan application so we should hear back today or tomorrow. As I said already, I'm not thrilled at the prospect of a car loan but we don't have the savings to buy a new one and I think we'd be wasting our money getting expensive maintenance done. We should be free of childcare in 3/4 years time so hopefully we can save up the money and buy our next car outright.

Boo have already spent 60 euros on tile adhesive for the tiles to be laid on the garage floor - it was in the budget but still I don't like to spend these days.

Took the DCs to Maccy Ds for a coffee and cake for me and a McFlurry for them - 9.70. Back home now and not planning on spending anymore money.

Audit hope you had some good moments yesterday remembering your dad x

audit. It can't have been an easy day. Thoughts with you.

I'll post fully later.

£10 on bananas, bin bags, magazine for dds (treat deserved) today. £215 overdrawn but have had credits on two service accounts refunded total £135 so not so bad. Just need to.more minimise spending between now and pay days on 25th and 9th.
Audit, thoughts are with you x

audit, thoughts with you ((hugs))

nsd, the first month since Dec where all the bank balances look healthier. Not going to work (and not paying on travel, snacks, bits and bobs for kids to ease the working mum guilt in my lunchbreak etc) and still being paid notice is really helping!

Audit

Nsd second in a row

audit I'm so sorry for your loss.

Dr was pretty useless... She said its either infection, arthritis or inflammation (ie not an infection but just inflamed and gave me strong anti inflammatories to "see if that helps" given I can't close my hand in a fist I was hoping for something a bit more definite!

Hmm, not the best result then missA! Really hope the new meds help.

Aaaaargh had to collect DD as she was sick. She's better now it seems but obviously isn't allowed back til Friday. So will be a bit tricky to sort out childminders (have had contact with a few already! So looks like I don't need to panic about needing to give up work :))

Homemade chicken goujons
Potato wedges
Veg
For dinner

Not good at all, MissA.

for Audit and family.

£3.60 bus travel, £4.10 cafe treat and £2.95 in Wilkos, totalling £7.65.

That doesn't sound good MissA. Hope the meds work.

NSD except for cleaner.

Ok have emailed my cv across. Fingers crossed!

Spends:

£49.35 – groceries
£16.08 – Interest
£13.00 – 2 x energy saving bulbs and some curtain hooks.
£10.00 – to buy my brother a ticket to footy to entertain our cousin who was visiting (!)
£4.00 – my work snack stash
£4.04 – groceries
£4.49 – bus fares etc...

Well I haven't been on MN since Saturday! I bet this thread has moved loads since I was here.

Boohoo – I was secretly hoping to finish the month with £200 but nope, that won't happen. It has been a very expensive month though

Found out what the egg smell was from last week – it was the neighbours drains not mine, but apparently the drains go under my garden which is why I could smell it, he's sorted it now though as I can't smell it anymore.

Mum and dad treated me for lunch today which was really nice. My cousin came over from Ireland for a visit. As I was going to the Theatre with my mum last night, I gave him my season ticket to go with my oldest son, but my brother wouldn't have been able to see cousin so he said he'd like to come along too, but as DH only as a ½ and ½ season ticket, yours truly had to stump up the cash so brother could go.

Annoyingly I will also need a bit of petrol before payday as DH did a bit of work mileage this week which has guzzled it up - GRRR

audit.

NSD today

NSD Sunday and Monday, Saturday DH bought me some new trainers and a fleece, they were markdown bargains at £10 each, bought some beer and burger buns etc so around £12. Today £5 lunch and some grocery bits and £3.50 on bus ticket to business seminar. But really busy now with freelance business and looks like some permanent opportunities so running around like headless chicken at the moment. Still it's all good!

NSD again today first day back at work went okay although am knackered now!! Had pizza with salad for tea tonight which was really nice.

Should be a NSD again tomos in the theory....

MissA that sounds like a but of a cop out for your GP tbh!! If it gets worse I think I would be tempted to take it to a&e as an X-ray might be useful.

Audit

Fuzz hope your dd is okay, seems to be a lot if sickness about again at the moment.

audit hope you and family are doing well. Have you still got your mum staying?

girlie put your feet up and relax this-evening - ease yourself back in!

sporting great news on the work front!

Aargh! Fb selling cash burning a whole in my pocket £3 lunch at -you've guessed it - Gregg's (darn that place!) but I have cycled/walked 8 miles today so I don't feel like such a gannet! Popped into tescos as its the most convenient for my walk home - £16. Only picked up rice, broccoli and bread but also needed a present for a colleague leaving on maternity and popped in a couple of small things for my niece (I'm collecting arts and crafts stuff across the year for her Christmas present). I hardly go to tescos now I'm an Aldi convert. I do pretty well at avoiding Aldi centre aisle but always fall for Tesco frivolties!

LSD with £3 on sandwich and Jerk seasoning in Sainsbos and 65p on desperately needed chic bar after a hideous day at work!

Audit
£48.18 on weekly shop including nappies, loo roll etc so not too bad. Just trying to salvage some soup DH made with far too much water, there is gallons of it. Freezer is full so looks like we'll be eating it for the rest of the week at least!

£20 in M&S today. Bread, juice, some dog treats, mayo and a sandwich. Frugal fail. Lack of time, energy, organisation today. I do get the bread and wasabi mayo from M&S as my 'luxury' necessities. Other one is coffee.

Cleaner came today (ok, another luxury necessity) so had a bit of time to menu plan properly tonight, using all the vegetables from the latest delivery.