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Original poster

Join the Fantastic Frugaleers for a February full of frugality

999 replies

northender · 29/01/2015 20:17

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

OP posts:
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5
CremeEggThief · 15/02/2015 15:02

£29.55 in Tesco, using a £2 off voucher, bringing my total for the weekly shop to £36.22 Smile.

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/02/2015 15:04

£100 mirror for lounge.

Pointlessfan · 15/02/2015 15:30

Bloody hell, what is wrong with me this week?? I've just done yet another top up shop plus got birthday and new baby gifts for some friends so I've spent over £50 today. I forgot a card too so I suppose I'll be going back tomorrow. Think it'll be a freezer week.

Passthecake30 · 15/02/2015 16:02

spotty does your bank do a credit card? If you are with Barclays/Santander etc?

Spent about £28 over the weekend, slot machines, parking, big hero 6, snacks. Saved a little by staying and eating at dps parents and they even bought a big fat Chinese Grin

NK5BM3 · 15/02/2015 18:02

£100 on remainder of ds birthday party so a total of £170! £14 on mcdonalds. £70 on a pair of firetrap boots for me and a pair of canvas vans for dh!! I thought that was v good price. I hope so. Place was closing down. (Something like £36 for me and £34 for dh). So that's our valentines present to each other.

£3 at church.

Happy half term everyone. We are ar work so ds will be at football camp. He doesn't like it but... Needs must.

bantamgirl · 15/02/2015 18:08

FGS Br@dford City - what part of "I cannot afford another cup run" are you finding so hard to understand! Good job that I have just been outbid on a pair of Nike high-tops on e-bay. Beans on toast for the next month it is then. Bring on the Quarter Finals.

babsmam · 15/02/2015 18:09

The evil shopping strikes at £114. Poor checkout girl jumped a mile at my exclamation of how much. Some birthday presents and the kids owe me out of their pocket money but still. I still have to do aldi and lidl for some bits. That's what comes of not being organised

fuzzpig · 15/02/2015 19:14

Spotty I'm just catching up on the thread and noticed your meal plan - with the minty pasta, do you mean you just stir some mint leaves into the creme fraiche? Or is there another way? I had some lovely mint pasta in a restaurant once and have never got round to replicating it.

I also love lemon pasta but not sure if the lemon juice (or zest?!) would curdle the cream or something?

Does anyone else find it hard to experiment with food? It feels too risky when you're on a low budget. This is why I haven't used the slow cooker again yet.

Girlie - awesome cake!

clippityclop · 15/02/2015 19:17

£21 on stuff for sandwiches, Nutella peanut butter and fruit. £12 busy day fail on pasties and coffees for a quick lunch in a cafe earlier. Last time I checked housekeeping £225 overdrawn, £135 due to go in from refund though and £450 due to go in on 25th. Just want to get back in the black and save! Should be nsd tomorrow. Booty, putting off hair cuts here, usually £60 for me and dds.

SpottyTeacakes · 15/02/2015 19:22

Fuzzpig I've been doing it for years but started from this recipe I just use whatever pasta I have in and don't add any extra salt. I also use less bacon and more parmesan Grin don't know about lemon pasta? I do like looking at recipes and making them but through that I move on to just chucking everything in Smile I love cooking and eating. Oink

lilacclery · 15/02/2015 19:24

blueteapot I've been using mineral foundation from eyeslipface.co.UK for a few years. I love the fact that more is less and that you can blend it in for more coverage if required. It doesn't feel heavy on your skin, this is the first time I've purchased a different brand.

Tesco delivery is coming in at €108.90 less €10 voucher. We're low on loads of stuff and last weeks shop was cheaper than usual.

girliefriend · 15/02/2015 19:33

Thanks guys, that cake was actually really easy to make so a good one to make for minimal effort Grin

Nsd yay, am so tired though so going to bed after Call the Midwife, Dd in bed now as not been coping for the last hour or so!!

Tomos need to pop into town and my cats mouth still looking sore so will have to make vet appointment as well.

girliefriend · 15/02/2015 19:34

Ooo bookmarks are back Grin

fuzzpig · 15/02/2015 19:56

That looks fab thanks spotty! I might get some mint and do that. Could use the rest of the mint to make lamb burgers (shove the lamb mince and mint leaves in the food processor, then grill. Awesome) :)

SpottyTeacakes · 15/02/2015 20:02

Oh that would be nice. I froze the test of my mint so might do that next week.

SpottyTeacakes · 16/02/2015 06:05

Should be nsd today. Only if I can control myself. I need to pay the cheque in from my aunt and few dh has from christmas Hmm which means going into town where there's cake and chocolate and falafel wraps mmmm. Dd has a fever and has all night typical for the first day of half term.

babsmam · 16/02/2015 07:00

W do you book mark a thread. Being thick and can't work it out on the ipad.

Skate park today about a tenner. Going to a park after that where there is a gruffalo day so about another twenty for lunch and activities. It's our only day off as a family so don't mind.

Sixforgold · 16/02/2015 07:35

Morning all! Been at my mum's for the weekend so not posting. Not too spendy - just a day out on Saturday with cousins to softplay - think about £20 all in.

Plan for today is walking, shopping, park and then something crafty to make DH something for valentines as we missed it on Saturday.

spotty I could make DH a falafel wrap for valentines and he would be delighted! I think he could live on falafel wraps alone for the rest of his life! We've often tried to re-create at home but our falafels always disintegrate - what are we doing wrong?!

SpottyTeacakes · 16/02/2015 07:46

I don't know I always buy them Grin I don't have a food processor that's my excuse anyway. I bloody love them though!

brittanyfairies · 16/02/2015 08:52

I'm doing well hopefully a NSD today but I'm very tempted by an Andrew James Juicer on Amazon for £30 - I really want to try the juicing because I shove so much junk into my mouth, and really it's because I hate cooking so it's the convenience of a packet of biscuits. I did promise myself a frugal February and no money on Amazon, so I hope it's still reduced in two weeks.

SpottyTeacakes · 16/02/2015 08:58

Won't be a nsd as need bread and falafel

needastrongone · 16/02/2015 09:05

Morning.

Missed the weekend so will have to post a few times to include you all (no memory)

Bantam I listened to the match and was grinning and thinking of you Grin Must have been a brilliant day. You might get my team next (AV), Sherwood will kick your asses ha ha.

booty - Having a specific 'pot' for food has really helped keep track of the spending. Unlike other 'pots', I am pleasantly surprised with food, I have managed to really reduce this spending. We currently come in at around £100 for essentially 4 adults per week. This includes ALL meals out, take outs, cleaning items and cosmetics. I was WAY more than this previously. I basically have written down every single thing I spend on food etc and have a limit for the month, which helps me budget.

Mystic Not sure the 'cereal bar' recipe has gone down well at all with my teenagers Sad I think they taste great, I just added a touch of honey to sweeten to their tastes.

I don't know how to bookmark on my Chromebook, I have book marked on the phone, so would also like to know.

We are going to be way over budget this month, February has been a 5 week month. I won't be overdrawn but my planned savings for various things won't happen.

Mainly due to clothes shopping, then I will have to look and see what else has been expensive this month.

Spendy weekend too, £60 in Primark on clothes for DD/DS. Mainly underwear, PJ's, couple of tops. DD needed bra's (changed shape again), DS has no clothes hardly at all.

£35 on a Pandora charm for an 18th for close friends DD. £60 on a meal out for the 18th for the 4 of us.

£20 Sainsbury's, but a bit of a haul of stuff.

needastrongone · 16/02/2015 09:07

brittany Amazon is so tempting isn't it?

Also spent a fortune on dog food as they had an offer on huge bags. I will have to steal from other parts of my budget, but it works out at £10 per bag less than I usually pay, so I won't need to budget for a few months.

Still need my hair cut, dogs need clipping, need wedding outfits for us all ho hum...

Pointlessfan · 16/02/2015 09:13

Easiest felafel recipe I've found is the one in Jamie Oliver's 15 mins book. He suggests using wet hands to mould them which stops them sticking and they are the only ones I've made that haven't disintegrated.
DD has her nursery settling in day today so I'm using the time to return my shoes and buy DH birthday present. Shops haven't opened yet so I've treated myself to a coffee and a bit of people watching. Luckily I'd put a bit of money aside for DH birthday so I'm not too worried about it.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 16/02/2015 09:26

Bookmarking: in the bottom right corner of each post in the thread there are 3 dots. Click on this and options appear below. Press bookmark. The dots should change to a ribbon end shape. Next time you click on the thread title from I'm on/active etc MN will take you straight to the last post you bookmarked.

I need to go to the supermarket today, will have to do Tesco or waitrose instead of aldi which is a bit annoying.
Also update my spreadsheet after the weekend.