Marvellous Money Saving March.

[CremeEggThief]

Hi All,
Thought I'd start a new thread for all regulars and anyone else who is interested in saving money in March .

Afternoon.

Sorry, going to be a very selfish post as I have been AWOL all weekend and not kept up. I HATE doing that, so forgive me in advance

Spendy weekend, but offset somewhat too.

£30 M&S on flowers in the main for Mothering Sunday, plus cards.

£5 DD training for DD Pony Club.

£25 DH spends, will need to check exactly how much on the internet banking tomorrow, and also check I haven't missed anything.

£5 on helium balloons for a 'big zero' birthday.

Big outlay - £499 on a chicken coup, a plastic one. Includes everything apart from the chickens. However, I have received a cheque for £180 back from British Telecom after switching suppliers which was a surprise as we were in debit pre Christmas (think advance charges refunded). £30 from Scottish Power overpaid. I have about £65 in Ebay sales ongoing and the coop in question re-sales for at least half its value, usually more. £200 sat in topcashback.

I think I have forgotten something, so will post tomorrow.

And keep up.

DD has announced she's vegetarian again so that will keep me busy planning, and meat costs down too.

E£7.20 on two meal deals (got chivvied out of the house before breakfast) in sainsbos.

£4 on a jessica nail varnish in TK maxx.

Applying for a yorkshire bank account next week, £150 Cashback if you pay £1000 in per month.

Happy mothers day everyone!
I returned 2 pairs of shoes to Schuh today so got £110 refunded. I've been meaning to return them for ages, good job they have a 365 day returns policy!
Spent £28 in H&M on a skirt that's a bit tight so I'll be returning that too. Also bought socks for DD. DH got his work trousers for £2.50 plus the gift card and we both used our John Lewis cake vouchers for the free Easter eggs they are offering this month. They look lovely, if I can resist eating them I might give them to my mum at Easter.
DH paid for parking too but overall a much cheaper day than I'd expected. Still haven't got DD's birthday present though, think I'll have to order online. She was getting very tired and grumpy so we had to cut the shopping trip a bit short.

€50 yesterday on 4 big steaks 4 salmon steaks 2kg ham for cooking 6 pork & Leek sausages six homemade burgers pkt slimbos 3 pots of steak seasoning newspaper 6 kiwis a melon bag carrots brocolli got €30 cash back €3 to lovely teenager on back packing duty, x amount of chips & onion rings at chippy to go with said burgers remainder went to cookies milk mothers day card & sweets for playdate tomo.

Our boiler had a major breakdown it's going to be €€€ to fix my savings that were meant to go off credit card will pay this instead. Dh's car wasn't too expensive so he paid that himself.

Will do a shopping list & meal plan in the morning.

Oh I got cheese too because dds lunch wouldn't be the same without it. 13 days since our usual €140 shop & we definitely need it now

Sold 2 more bits on the fb buy and sell page - another £9 in the pot!!

Trying to meal plan this week and not getting very far!!

I have taken some Bolognese sauce out of the freezer so spag bol tomos.
Tues poss omelette, this is slightly but i have never made an omelette and it is a slight risk as no idea of dd will like it! Will have with salad and chips
Wed - not sure maybe something on toast.... dd will have school dinner so something light for tea.
Thursday may attempt to make pizza, will have with salad.
No idea re Friday!!

I have a load of carrots that need eating up so poss may attempt a carrot soup for lunches.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Kate the counselling is essential. As is giving up cigerettes. So don't worry about the cost of that.

If you save your £3500 you may not want to spend it on the bag by then! Put the binge behind you. Don't let it derail the present moment. Good luck!

Hope everyone has had a good Mother's Day

NSD Today. Yesterday £32 on art supplies, still need a few moré paints.

that's fab unescorted

I have started meal planning and writing a grocery list
using a phone spending app
Being strict on non essentials
using up old toiletries
Sold lots of clothes on ebay (made £200)

Hello everyone, I have been busy with dancing costumes this week, and not been keeping fully up with the thread, although I have been following behind you all.

Tuesday £9.99 for posh colouring book for DD1 to take yo birthday party on Saturday, will add pens or pencils from my present box. Train fare to London on Oyster plus £10.20 parking, will reclaim. Lunch in London £6.29, scandalously expensive, but divine.

Wednesday, £10 haircut for DS (he really needed it) and went to buy DD1's first communion dress and accessories. £119, better than I expected. Still need to get shoes, but her dress is floor length and tempted to just get her white sandals which she can wear all summer.

Thursday was £1 for bangle for DD1 dancing costume plus £10 for DD2 costume to be fancied up.

Friday £3 parking at hospital for DD1's eye appointment. £3.98 on 2 birthday cards. £41.80 in M&S, included £12 Mother's Day present, lunch (at 3.45 so desperately needed) some chocolates (for mum) and hot cross buns and packed lunch stuff for Sunday dancing rehearsal. World book day £13.98

Saturday £118 in Aldi. This included loads of snacky things, plus 3 racks of ribs, a chicken, chicken thighs and drumsticks, a mini gammon roast, 2 bags of scampi and a pack of mince. I also got a plug in rechargeable torch/night light that automatically turns on in a power cut and has a movement sensor £10 and a mattress protector as I seem to be one short £4.79. Also bought baking ingredients for DS to make scones. 70p for DD2 for sweets. She didn't want to go with me to take DD1 to a party, but had to. This was the bribe.

Sunday, owe £2 for a belt for DD2 dancing costume, didn't have change, plus £3.50 t-shirt for DS costume.

girlie I don't like plain omelettes but I do enjoy a frittata with onions, potatoes, peppers, peas etc in and cheese on top. We usually have that about once a week and use up any left over bits of veg. Maybe your DD would like that, mine loves it!

This is my meal plan for the week

Chicken and chorizo casserole x2
Sausages in crusty rolls
Roast chicken
Spag bol x2
Couscous with halloumi
Fish cakes mash/stir fry veg

Had roast yesterday so today is chicken and chorizo casserole yum. Might add a chicken with couscous and feta if there's enough.

Hopefully a NSD today, apart from paying cleaner but that doesn't count

Meal plan - (days will be mixed up)

Monday - MN tomato sauce (with meatballs for DH and DS), added mascapone.
Tuesday - Chicken and chickpea curry.
Wednesday - home roasted vegetable and goats cheese pizza.
Thursday - veggie slices, home made potato slices, roasted. (DH and DS may have chorizo in theirs)
Friday - mac 'n' cheese pasta with bacon
Saturday - devilled eggs
Sunday - Fish tagine
Monday - Spring veg risotto
Tuesday - Dragon pie/veggie chilli poss
Wednesday - Roast pork
Thursday - Jamie's drunk chicken and salad
Friday - vegetable curry
Saturday - butternut squash and sweet potato casserole
Sunday - Bacon, bean and Kale per Jack Monroe.
Monday - homemade veggie soup.

Also may have to work in more spuds as I bought the 15kg bag for £2 at Morrisons and there is A LOT to use up!!

Decorator starts today so I am going to go to work and escape.

Well woo hoo, credit expert have sent us cheques refunding the fraud insurance that I complained about last November.

Moneysaving expert did a piece in their email telling people to complain about it & I copied the letter etc & I've got £60 back, dh had his longer so he gets £88. I'm trying to ring dh, two phones and he's not answering either!.

Their not upholding the complaint it's a go away and never darken our door again payment.

Co-op sent me a £5 voucher for own brand fair trade stuff but it can't be used on wine. Dh should get his tomorrow.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/experian-creditexpert-reclaiming?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=oneliner-two&utm_term=07-Oct-14-lt&utm_campaign=reclaim&utm_content=11#success

This is what you need to do if you want to re-claim it as well.

unescorted well done to your ds. lilac it's so demoralising when you have unexpected expense . spotty glad you had good time in London. Well done on keeping the cost down. Welcome kate I guess you just have to take one day at a time, this thread is full of support and encouragement .

Things here have settled down a bit. Dh and I are both ill though, I've started on antibiotics today (long term chest condition which is worse at the moment) and dh probably has shingles which is affecting his face/mouth. However ds has decided to hold fire on the treatment and to wait and see what happens for a few months, dd seemed more confident going to school today.

The weekend wasn't too spendy as we didn't really go anywhere and I managed to have a restful day yesterday with the dc doing the meals and chores . Will think about a meal plan and post it later

Am I the only one who read

£499 on a chicken soup

Shopping later, will update afterwards.

at Adora. That would be very expensive soup indeed...

In fairness, the coop (not coup, oops) was expensive in itself. But the refunds and cashback and resale value cover it. Plus, DH has just given me £150 as the scrap man has been at work. So, we are quids in.

Bids on my ebay boots that my work mate had chucked in the bin are already up to £46, with hours to go too

northender Don't underestimate how down simply being ill makes you feel too, it can really turn me negative. Glad your DS is being mature re his medical condition and your DD feels more positive.

In fact, all my items have bids, so at least £60 in my pocket.

£2.50 for dds school disco ticket.

480 tea bags 39p
£10 petrol.

Afternoon all! I don't think I came on here yesterday

Bank: £797.48 (was £1145.20)
Purse: £28.00 (was £22.32)
Jar: £14.05 (was £14.35)

Grand Total: £839.53
Reduced by: £342.34
Days to payday: 30
Buffer money: £103.98
Proper Savings: £794.29

Spends:
£9.99 – DH's mum's mother's day present
£21.50 – Iceland
£180.00 – DH's money
£14.50 – my bus pass
£7.25 – McDonalds (DH gave me £5 towards it)
£53.00 – Petrol
£51.83 – Online grocery shop
£4.15 – more baking stuff
£0.12 – copper banished to the tin

Budget looks like this: £839.53
Petrol: £156.50 // £60.00 spent // £93.50 remaining
Groceries: £300 // 73.33 spent // 226.67 remaining
Interest: Not sure yet. Was £12.60 should be a bit less this month
Prescription: £10.40
Bus fares & Kids activities: £44.00
My bus fare: £29
Shortfall to bills: £34.97 (might be a bit less)
Tesco Credit Card: £15.00 (might be a bit less)
HSBC credit card: £12.70
Leaves for everything else....£360.69

I NEED chocolate right now and I don't have anything. I can't even make a mug cake as I don't have the ingredients!

Hi all, so not too bad today had to get petrol which was £33 but otherwise 2 bottles of water £2, will make much more of an effort to fill water bottles before leaving home in the morning.

Work was ridiculously busy today worked 8.5 hours straight with no break so quick tuna pasta and pesto tea tonight, added veg to make it a bit healthier.

Think will need to do a big Morrisons shop this week as low on everything!! Plus need to get washing powder, loo rolls and dishwasher tablets have got a £5 off voucher for an over £60 shop so can use that.