We aint no April Frugalling Fools.. There may be Showers ahead, but we'll sail through together ...

[Laska42]

Heres a new thread for the April Frugaleers!

Spring has arrived and summer is a-coming..

Good luck everyone trying to save money, There's lots of good support here..

Got a pot of basil with a coupon I had to redeem (worth €6), bought a hose head €14 seeing as the dog ate the last one because I left it out all winter . Spent a lot of time planning the garden, decided to make some raised beds for tomatoes and stuff, will get the lumber for that this weekend (should be around €50 for everything including soil). Planted some peas and parsley (old seeds, not sure if anything will come up, but it's worth a try) and made some marker sticks for free.

Finished renegotiating the mortgage, will sign new contract tomorrow, meaning we will save just over €40,000

Hi...hope its ok to join? I have been following this thread for more ideas as I live on a tight budget (single mum and work p/t) I have found it really helpful :)

I just feel like giving up this month! all of my money seems to be going on DS! (he'd better get that job!)

£ 8.40 in Boots for razors and foam etc so he can spruce up for his interview tomorrow
£10 to top up his mobile..
I also spent 7.70 in morrisons , ,mainly on veg and ham
and £13.40 in the co op but that included a reduced duck we'll eat this weekend ..and 2 lots of reduced pork mince for the freezer.. as well as milk and eggs..

Tonight I had veggie leftovers so not very exciting but tomorrowwhen DH is back im planning on roasted fennel and tomatoes with a couple of tuna steaks I found in the freezer and probably rice.... Yum!

Welcome makeawish, of course you can join us!
Taxi home from work was £6.40 and I let him keep the 60p change.

I hope he gets the job, Laska.

oh. so do I pointless [fingers crossed emoticon] [sigh]

Thank you pointless ;) this is my first month using ynab and the first time I will have some money left at end of month..phew..

Laksa fingers crossed for DS's interview

Audit your DCs look amazing.

Veg casserole looks good Spotty

This week I have about £2.50 left out of the food budget. It's doing my head in so I have decided to focus on what I can have left after feeding us and keeping us clean. DDs both seem to think it reasonable to ask me for £5 lip balms because "other places sell them for £12" at least DD1 knows better than to ask me for the Micheal Kors bag she covets.

makeawish I use YNAB also cant rate it highly enough .. It has totally transformed my awareness of spending and since ive started using it (last November) ive paid off credit card and overdraft and now even have some (small) savings!
Beforehand even though i checked my bank account i never seemed to know where I was . Also it really makes you focus onwhat you are spending your money on .. . I got mine half price , but its definately worth it even at full price I think ($60)..

LaChatte that's an amazing saving.

Welcome Makeawish.

Adora Michael Kors?

spotty thanks for the link .. im going to do that veg casserole next week! it looks really good

Got the bill for the next block of Judo fees - i wondered what i had forgotten from my budget.

Can i join you in the giving up laska? i do hope DS gets the job.

hi makeawish2 and welcome.

£28 in Aldi don't know what on as DH went with a substandard list.

Lovely pics audit.

Having a good frugal week here. Mum came for lunch today and was tempted to take her out but then got a grip and made spicy sweet potato soup and a cheese scone to go with it. Delicious, a fraction of the cost of lunch out and our lunches sorted for tomorrow......result

Phew. Hello. Strangers.

This is the first time I have actually sat down with a laptop in a week (other than work). I can't even begin to catch up.

Pony competing season is truly upon us. We spent ALL weekend in a field in the middle of nowhere doing mounted games in driving rain, freezing. DD's team were 4th, good result as 2 of the ponies were gits. Monday night was show jumping, DD has been asked to be in the team but, realistically, I can't commit to two disciplines and stay alive

Had my car broken into on Tuesday. Bastards. Took my (hidden) bag, with all my cards, £200 cash (to pay equine dentist and farrier), my work security keys, work financial banking information, and smashed the window to bits. The police were fantastic and were at my doorstep with 10 minutes of me logging the crime. Household insurance won't pay up as I was away from the house. Motor insurance has a large excess on windscreens and minimal payout for personal effects, no cash (fleet insurance). I've cancelled everything but have no cash or cards at present.

I am chasing my tail a bit at the minute and a bit fed up.

Still, tomorrow is a day off and we get to compete at a big horse trials on Sunday, which is a huge honour.

oh need what an asolute bggr , A bit fed up?I bet you are gutted ( I would be to lose £200 , and i bet you had other personal irreplacable stuff in your bag ) Let alone the inconveniance (sp?) of not havng any cards..
Have some and

Oh no Needa that is awful and utter bastards.

So had a nice evening with my friend, went for fish and chips and ate them by the river £6.40, not too bad and a lovely evening.

I am going to struggle to stay in debit this month, just realised I have to pay for dds swimming lessons on Sunday which will be £56. Plus am thinking about starting her on some horse riding lessons, I can't really afford it but she has been asking to do them for ages. Have found some local lessons for £15 a lesson which seems reasonable? Dd has been struggling a bit recently and am hoping they will help her confidence.

Right off to bed I go, night night frugaliers

Yes Fluffy Micheal bloody Kors. The kid is 13 FFS, that t'internet has a lot to answer for The system we have is that I buy what she needs and she has to buy what she wants.

girlie glad you had a nice evening with your friend.

Need that's really annoying and such a hassle getting stuff sorted out afterwards too. on your behalf.

Welcome MakeaWish

need that's awful

Spent about £30 on random stuff from the pound shop and b&m, included 3 presents at £5 each and some summer/pool toys I'm hoping to squash in the suitcase. I don't have these shops near me so always have a list going for when I'm somewhere there is.

Bloody hell need how awful :( so sorry that happened to you

Oh no need how shit

Now my throat is better I'm in agony again. Think it's my wisdom tooth can hardly swallow and wouldn't mind a little cry right now...

Laska for that recipe I did it in the slow cooker only used one tin of tomatoes and just a stock cube no water

Happy Friday everyone

Sorry about that need. What an annoying chew on.
Lsd today just beavers subs

Thank you everyone for the welcome..need that must have been a terrible experience :( laska I waited for months and months to get ynab in the sale..am boring my friends to bits about it!

This month my aim was to go food shopping less. I'm a veggie..my 2 D's aren't and we have a cat (big appetite..only eats whiskas ;() my budget is £200 per month for food and this month I did a large month shop (£90 after vouchers off) and bought all basics/cat food/cleaning stuff/3,5 kg of pasta/lots of loaves and milk and 4kg of chicken..still got lots of basics and chicken left. My ds's love chicken mulligatwny and Mexican chicken ..I do veg Curry's with leftover bits and value rice and like home bargains 49p sag curry sauce..usual cost is £1.50 for about 5 individual meals.. Not popping out for bread and milk has saved loads as its the little things (mainly chocolate and sensation chilli crisps) that lead me to overspend! The remains of the budget I use to buy reduced items at the co op. Hope everyone has a good day ;)

Right aiming for a NSD today, at a course this morning and have a meeting at dds school this afternoon, will take lunch out with me. Unless anything unexpected crops up......

Spotty

make Impressed that you have done a full months shopping on £200. Food is absolutely where I seem to waste money, we spend £400-500, two adults and two teens, so essentially 4 adults.

Thanks all. Pissed off that some one seems to think it fine to steal another persons hard earned stuff but I am here and alive

spotty Poor you. This has been going on a while hasn't it, you not being good. Hope you feel better soon.

I have a bit of extra time today, so I will menu plan, garden and clean and have a very long shower. Which sounds mad, but it will be nice not to dive in and out in 45 seconds due to time!!