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Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Marvellous Money Saving March.

999 replies

CremeEggThief · 28/02/2015 19:53

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

OP posts:
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6
AuditAngel · 21/03/2015 09:07

Last night we had the racks if ribs we bought in Aldi, DH was not overly impressed, until I told him they were £3 a pack, compared to £6 a pack for the last ones I bought in Sainsbpurys. He also really liked the crisps from there. Looks like I'll be there again next week!

Need thanks for the pep talk. I'm glad your husband is enjoying working for himself. I am very risk averse, which probably explains why I'm still in the same job after 19.5 years.

I was offered the chance of changing jobs a few years ago, but accountancy is a very varied profession. I have been mainly an auditor for years, working on larger companies, that is what I am good at. The job I was offered was for small companies and included a lot of tax work which I neither like nor am any good at. I got a lot of grief from DH at the time, he simply doesn't understand the nuances in my job, to him, an accountant is an accountant, but that isn't the reality.

My new job is Compliance Director. As our firm grows we have now 3 people employed in the compliance department. I am the second in seniority, but the only one who is full time. I get on well with my new boss, and as a single parent, she understands the need for flexibility for working parents.

AuditAngel · 21/03/2015 09:10

Today we are having lunch with a friend, we need to buy DD1 new ballet shoes as hers fell apart 2 weeks ago, plus some wide elastic to make braces for one of her costumes (a horse body!) and a reel if cotton. I lent mpy white cotton to another mum at dancing, she gave it to DH's cousin, but it hasn't got to me yet.

squigglehead · 21/03/2015 09:19

Hello, may I join you all? Trying to get my life in order and money is a big part of that. We need to sort it before DS stops being a baby and starts being far more expensive!

We're just about keeping our heads above water but but spends are a problem for us at the moment as we struggle. The car needs new tyres and DS will need a next stage car seat soon. We have about £1500 on CCs, £700 on a catalogue (hazard of having to furnish an entire house from scratch when we moved from shared flat to family home) and are paying back a previous Debt Consolidation loan... Really want to get things sorted this year. I know we can do it but we both really struggle - if we have a good month where we stay within budget we then feel entitled to celebrate by spending! Last month we did fantastically, so this month we frittered away £250 in "little celebratory purchases" Blush we really need to knuckle down and focus but struggle to so hoping reading this thread will help with that :)

SpottyTeacakes · 21/03/2015 10:14

Welcome squiggle

Tesco delivery £69 sent back one sub but will need to go and buy them anyway so not going to change the total.

We need a new rotary washing line as ours is broken and homebase has one half price atm so might pop out later to get one.

girliefriend · 21/03/2015 11:12

Morning all, I had a nice night out last night with the girls Smile I drove and my friend bought me a lemonade so actually spent nothing!! With added bonus of no sore head this morning Grin

Was hoping for a NSD wend but the t.v remote has died so will need to get a new one later, not sure how much they are hopefully not too much!! If the sun stays out will cycle into town to save on parking.

squigglehead · 21/03/2015 11:45

Should have a no spend weekend here as we're home the entire time doing DIY and getting the house in order! Skint til payday now this month so there'll be a lot getting done around here Grin

NK5BM3 · 21/03/2015 11:52

My kids wake up at 7.30 or later. But that's because they sleep late. Eg 9pm. Not for want of trying though. We have tried everything and they have gone down about 8 once or twice in their short lives. I don't live in hope.

So far spends today are for the weekly shop. I went to morrisons as I needed to drop off a pile of dry cleaning. £32 for dry cleaning. £48 for food shop which mostly got expensive due to batteries.

Dh went to aldi to get the rest of stuff so I hope it was around the £40-50 mark.

I have however put together a meal plan for the next 8-10 days and that's only based around what I've got so maybe with dh's shopping we can get to 2 weeks. I'm away in about 10 days for 5 nights. I will need to get some frozen meals sorted otherwise they will be feasting on takeaways!!

bantamgirl · 21/03/2015 12:16

Bank: £557.37 (was £610.84)
Purse: £13.36 (was £7.36)
Jar: £89.05 (was £89.75)

Grand Total: £659.78
Reduced by: £48.17
Days to payday: 24
Buffer money: £103.98
Proper Savings: £574.29

Spends:
£3.47 – Amazon kindle books
£30.00 – new security light
£3.00 – groceries
£1.00 – pepsi max
£10.00 – new top & trousers from charity shop
£0.70 – DS1 took from jar for summat

Passthecake30 · 21/03/2015 13:17

Audit I have to agree with you there, I'm qualified ACCA and dp doesn't understand why I just can't get a job anywhere as I'm qualified, that should mean I know everything? Yeah right. ...

Dp has finally decided on La Tasca for dinner, gutted, if he'd decided a week ago Tescos vouchers could've paid. ..

LaChatte · 21/03/2015 15:38

Did a much needed shop this morning (food for the week, plus washing powder, toiletries and cat stuff), €84. I paid €19 in cash (all I had left) and the rest by card. I had €42 in the account, so have had to transfere €20 from the savings account. Hopefully won't need to buy anything else until payday (in 6 days).

Looking forward to a nice meal out this evening courtesy of DM Smile

SpottyTeacakes · 21/03/2015 15:39

£19.99 new washing line. Was £59.99 but half price and dh had a love 2 shop voucher for £10.

Pointlessfan · 21/03/2015 16:04

Welcome squiggle we can definitely help you to stay on track. Everyone on this thread is lovely and supportive and I've picked up some great tips.
Spent £48.90 in Lidl including washing liquid and dishwasher tablets so I was quite pleased with that. MIL just commented on how nice our tea and Belgian buns were and was amazed to hear they were from Lidl!
We need to replace 3 fence panels that blew down a few weeks ago and are badly damaged. We are thinking of replacing all 5 as they all look tatty. Think we can get them for about £100 in Homebase. It would maybe be cheaper elsewhere but they will deliver and there's no way we could fit them in our car.
I'm planning to trick DD into getting up at 6.30 when the clocks go forward next week!

babsmam · 21/03/2015 16:11

Nsd after all

girliefriend · 21/03/2015 16:33

Hmm bit spendier than intended today, £5.50 on coffee and cakes for me and dd in town, then £26 on a wetsuit for dd and £8 on a new remote for the telly.

Am really hoping will get lots of use out of the wetsuit this year, need to try it on dd so poss may go back if she doesn't like it. Hopefully will work out more cost effective than hiring one on holiday.

The tv remote will go back, it is meant to be one that works on all tellys but I can't get it to flipping work on ours Hmm

CremeEggThief · 21/03/2015 16:43

NSD.

Welcome, Squiggle Smile.

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 21/03/2015 17:30

Welcome Squiggle.

About £7 on various elastics, pins and reel of cotton. Tried to get DD1's ballet shoes bug they didn't have her size. The shop will order them so we can have them next Saturday , for tomorrow I'll glue the sole back on.

£2.10 on sweets for the kids after DD2's swimming lesson. We left our friend's house a bit too late to drop the older kids home, so I sent them to the park together.

Will give to church collection later.

SpottyTeacakes · 21/03/2015 17:33

Made a delicious bacon and avocado salad for dinner (homemade dressing). Dh didn't eat his avocado Hmm so I ate it

AdoraBell · 21/03/2015 17:56

Thanks Fluffy

Spotty Defo his loss and your gain with the avocado.

Welcome Squiggle

Spent £2.30 ish on a dozena eggs and a kilo of strawberries because DD2 was with meHmm We have food for the weekend and no plans To Go out so should have an NSD Tomorrow.

babsmam · 21/03/2015 17:59

Hi squiggle

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/03/2015 17:59

I think that's fair Spotty, he had his chance. They go off 30 seconds after becoming ripe.

Welcome Squiggle

NSD.

SpottyTeacakes · 21/03/2015 18:01

That's true fluffy. Also I ate it when he went to help dd in the loo so he hadn't technically finished but I know he doesn't really like it.

Adora jealous of your price of strawbs!

TeWiSavesTheDay · 21/03/2015 22:24

spent about £12 this morning at a school fair, was very good value though kids did loads of crafts (and I always go wanting to spend a minimum amount as a donation anyway!)

Rest of day NS.

Passthecake30 · 21/03/2015 23:26

Lol spotty I love advacado and I must admit to being a bit stingy with other people's portions!

£60 dinner beforeWicked. Fab show. Was frugal by buying some cans of Bicardi and coke/g&t to drink in our roomSmile. After this weekend splurge I'm going on a money saving mission now holiday is booked.

SpottyTeacakes · 22/03/2015 06:14

I've just taken £12.43 out of ds' savings account Blush I had 1p in my account and I needed to buy him a dolly with hair. When he sucks his thumb he pulls his hair out and has a massive bald patch which is getting bigger Sad hoping this might help otherwise I don't know what to do it sounds stupid but it's really upsetting!

Dinner today will be nice sausages with roast potatoes, yorkshires, stuffing, cauliflower cheese, carrots and red cabbage. Will probably do it for about 4pm. Both dc have woken up with horrible colds.

Anyway other than the doll should be a nsd.

babsmam · 22/03/2015 06:28

Ah spotty that's not stupid. Anything to help you DS is worth it.

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