Frugal February continued....

[SpottyTeacakes]

New thread

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

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

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

Hi sbag.

I think people do it in different ways.

We're trying to cut down on frittering away by posting every single thing I buy in the 'flexible' part of my budget (eg food, clothes, hobbies, day's out) on this thread. Sometimes I stop and think 'hmm, would I feel a bit embarrassed if I have to own up to buying this and how much it cost later?' plus there is solidarity in knowing there are other people trying to be really careful and saying no to temptation.

Before I started I worked out a budget that would make sure we were spending less than was coming in each month and I keep track of how much is left in each pot using a spreadsheet.

Have you worked out how much you will get in benefits? Try entitledto

Sorry if you've already discussed this elsewhere but are you sure you need to give up your job? It seems a real shame.

DH has gone out without the Argos voucher so I don't think we're getting the gro clock today :(
To be fair he suggested we try a frugal version tonight and stick our alarm clock in the hallway which would at least hopefully be enough for the eldest to check the time. Not convinced it will work for our 3yo!!

Hi sbag yes we post our spends and offer advice on how to save whilst also having a general chat. Fluffy is the best at being frugal

Meal plan for TWO weeks:

Spag bol
Bean burgers
Bacon risotto
Fakeaway
Jackets beans x 2
Sausage casserole x 2
Pilaf with quorn
Moussaka (one pot)
Feta mint pea risotto
Bacon spaghetti
Friday pizza (I'm going out and it's about all dh can cook)

Just got back from the vets, girl cat had a check up with the nurse her mouth appears to be healing well post biopsy so thats good. Hopefully get results by Wednesday. Another £11 on meds for her, not sure how it works with insurance - do I have to keep receipts and then send it all in? Also £3.99 on 'posh' soft food for her to eat while her mouth is still sore.

Dd not feeling well, hot to touch and says has a bad headache, she looks flushed. So won't be doing much for the rest of the day, may do some baking and get out the craft kits dd got for Christmas.

Welcome Sbag, am guessing we will move over to a March thread tomorrow?!

I use the thread to post all spends, it has opened my eyes to where the money goes mostly dd and my cats also useful for sharing money saving ideas and meal plans.

£48.80 - groceries (including a load of cat food etc)
£4 on 3 toothbrush plug adaptors. DH reckons they break all the time so it was a good deal.

Sbag

Before I found this thread I never kept a track on my money so always ended up with more month left than money so ended up spending on credit cards.

So as I now post on this thread - for a bit of accountability really as nothing gets past Fluffy - I know to the exact penny what I have got left, what I need to keep to one side for direct debits, bus fares, kids activities etc. I have a budget for petrol and groceries instead of just buying willy nilly and thus I know what is left for frittering and don't have to feel bad about it. It also makes me think twice i.e. do I need it? Can I get it cheaper anywhere else?

I have money in three places; my purse, a coin jar in the cupboard and the bank, so every day I check how much is in each one, deduct it from yesterdays and then work out what I spent so I can see where my money is going. This makes me feel a lot more in control and less anxious.

I have a spreadsheet for the bills accounts and one for the spends account just to keep track.

And a 'frittering' diary in paper form with categories so I know what is going where.

It only takes maybe 10 minutes a day to keep track and write up the diary on here.

But you use this thread however you want to use it.

Thanks everyone, I like the idea of posting spends and tips along the way and sounds exactly what I need. Also a useful distraction for everything that's going on :)

Unfortunately I do have to give up my job as I work relief shifts but on a regular basis at the weekend around DH's job and he's moved 200 miles away so won't have childcare and as its not a set contract it it would mess up my housing benefits etc :(

I'm seeing my boss about a 25 hour contract that's being advertised this week though so fingers crossed something might come if that by next month.

€19.49! We don't get fruit & veg box delivieries around here

Spag sorry to hear about you and your h.

£5.25 on a tap adapta to make a kitchen tap into a mini shower. It should save water.

How old are your children Sbag?

I am a single mum as well, just got the one 9yo dd and she has no contact with her dad. I work 22.5 hours a week (nurse) and manage because we are in a council flat and get some tax credits!

Saying that its tight though, we def live month to month but I have been able to save some money each month which I find reassuring. Otherwise wouldn't be able to afford any breaks, Christmas, birthdays etc.

Ah that's a shame sbag - hope you get the new job and things settle down for you soon.

forgotten to put on the list groceries - £3.86

That's it for the day so February round up:

Food/cats food and litter/toiletries/cleaning stuff: UNDER budget by £121.07 (woo!)
Days out/meals out: UNDER budget by £23
Clothes/gifts/parties: OVER budget by £7.44
Hobbies/Activities: OVER budget by £110.89 (Not good!)
Vet: not needed so UNDER this month (but rolls over)
Petrol/Transport: UNDER by £23.20
House/Garden: UNDER by £12.31
School related: not needed so UNDER
haircuts: not needed so UNDER
My Business Set Up: OVER by 59p

Overall we've saved/put towards debt just under £400 really proud of that!

March is going to be more expensive for us with some of the things we didn't have to spend on this month coming up again, a birthday and house guests staying for most of it, but I'm aiming to put away another £200.

Bank: £416.48 (was £416.48)
Purse: £2.33 (was £7.33)
Jar: £13.80 (was £13.80)
Grand Total: £437.61
Reduced by £75.67 (is £83.42 really but I got my mystery shopping payment today)
Days to payday: 13

Spends:

£5.00 – Bulb for my outside light

Bought a bulb for the outside light which hasn't worked for a few years. I didn't know whether the bulb was just blown or the unit was kaput so I thought I would try a new bulb. It worked for a few hours however DH went out to have a cig and the bulb flickered and then went out so it looks like it's the unit that is broken. What a waste of money – GRRRR.

Bought two more bulbs for the kitchen spot lights at £5.50 each (not a fiver like I thought) but it's helping local businesses as it's an independent little shop and I don't need to pay postage.

Picked up a parcel from the post office which is a lovely cord skirt I bought from E-bay but although I only paid for 2nd class, the lady posted it 1st class on 20th Feb and it only reached me yesterday! What a crap service the Royal Mail provided to her.

Aside from the lightbulbs just bought some Schwartz spices which I had ran out of and some cous cous for the moroccan tagine I'm doing for tea. It smells gorgeous – hope it tastes as good as it smells

DH finally got round to phoning Three to see when his contract is up – it is up next week (woo) so he had toyed with the idea of upgrading to an Iphone but instead he has changed his mind and gone onto a 12-month SIM only for £10 a month (woo). SO from April instead of paying an average of £77 for our two contracts, we'll be paying £25!

Mergh - my tot up is wrong. Ignore :-)

Brilliant progress on the phones bantam. Yy to supporting local traders.

Did some overtime today before it stops next financial year.
£15 in.matalan on wbd costume having already got stuff to do a dragon both kids change their minds. Bah.
£2 at scooter park
Do we have a March Fred yet?

Welcome sbag

Had interview yesterday. .a mixed bag really so will wait and see! The waiting is doing my head in thou. The place was in a nice location with nice people, I could see me fitting right in.

NK when will you get the verdict on yours? I just ran off without asking. ..oops!

Managed to save £10 by borrowing something out of lost property (tshirt ds needs once for a dance show)

£14 fish n chips as I was shattered after the interviews, £50 asda weekly shop (incl £9 beer stock up and I've meal planned for the week) and £18.50 swimming lesson.

Need to get some tights for dd as they are too short and won't pull up and generally only m&s fit her. Also need clothes for me as I look a proper scruffbag! Wearing and washing the same bits over and over takes it toll fast. ...

So last day of February, £13.41 today for a few bits, Dh paid for some more around £20. But I have earned around £100 for 3 hours work freelance and around £150 for some paid work doing temp jobs. So a good day all told, also spotted a job to apply for so not bad.

Looking forward to a still more frugal March. Going shopping on Monday with the Aldi tokens. Hoping to get some further freelance contracts going forward.

£5.25 tap adapta for the kitchen, lakeland wanted £13 with postage so I found one on eBay.

£10 cupboard dampening adhesive pads (with nipples, true story). I am heavy handed so they should help.

£0 on water saving crystals for summer container planting. The water board do them for free in our area.

Pass good luck. Fridays a bad day to have an interview on.

Fluffy will you use it for washing hands and rinsing things?

Moussaka for dinner

I'll use the shower function to swill the sink round & rinse veg.

Just spent £10 in Asda, had to take some clothes back that a friend had bought dd for her bday. They were too small and she didn't like the trousers, swapped them for some slightly different ones that cost £3 more. Also needed more calpol and ibruphen and got dd a magazine as she is still feeling a bit ropey

Been to Messy Church this arvo which is a nice and free kids activity based thing to do plus includes free and

Hi shitebag!

Only started on the February thread so not sure how much advise I can give. Just wanted to say welcome.