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..

NSD again.

What do you do when you save lots of money by not spending and your OH goes out and buys treats etc that you wouldn't have done? And yes, I've tried many times talking to him. He has always been more generous than me, but right now I'm back at work full time..etc

Been working today which is rubbish given how lovely the weather has been so lovely!! Think we picked the wrong week for our holiday

So should have been a nsd but I forgot to take a drink to work with me so bought a bottle of water 79p, did pop home later to top it up though. Also in between visits put the car through the car wash £4, it was looking disgusting and covered in bird crap!!

Any suggestions for eggs yolks/whites, I have 3 in a bowl. Am thinking a cake but can't be bothered!! Any really easy and cheap cake suggestions??

Can you do pancakes or batter for yorkshires/toad in the hole instead?

Mum gave me £50 towards the food shopping as she is still staying with us. I'll miss her when she gives home, it has been 2.5 months so far.

Would have been NSD but DH broke his key in the front door lock, so had to buy a new key. He also wanted a key for the garage door, £12!

Meringues or freeze them.

Wow what a lovely day here in the far south, hope it was where you are.. out in the garden again and planted carrots, beetroot, lettuce and spring onions..

unescorted.. yes weeds are a pain, .. we started out in our old house wih a garden that had never been touched it seems, but after a year we had borders shrubs and flowers and were growing tons of veg.. the garden in this house wasnt such a blank canvas but yes it does take lots of time and work , ..

but for this season why not have a go at growing tomatoes , lettuce etc in grow bags to start off with? ..

well... spends today

£16.15 top up shop in co op , but that should do for food this week as we have left overs fromthe weekend

However have ordered £128 worth of stuff from Monsoon/accessorize web site with our June Greek holiday in mind .2 tops, beach trousers and 2 pairs of flip flops, also some harem trousers from Hush £44.. All in the budget, but most likely some will go back though..

Timefor I've allocated a certain amount of the budget for DH, DS, DD and I do each do what we like with (we did the budget together so everyone agreed to it), any treats come out of our respective budgets. Anything that comes out of the rest of the budget has to be approved by DH and I first.

Weekly online shop came in at €46, but will have to buy two items (chicken and muscles) later on in the week, so will probably be a euro or two over budget.

Just checked my online account and am totally depressed now once my rent comes out on the 9th I am going to be left with a grand total of £296 to last till the end of the month, well actually less than that once the Amazon stuff comes out it will be £282.

thought was doing alright this month.

Was also thinking of going to the cinema tomorrow with dd as she is desperate to see Home but just checked online and they aren't doing the £5 tickets on a Tues anymore (grr) they are doing a 'bargain' monday instead but the tickets are still £6.30 each which doesn't seem much of a bargain to me! Not sure what to do now

Am going to sell dds old bike, hoping to get £35-£40 for it as it is a nice one so that will help, will prob use it to buy dd some new school shoes as current ones are wrecked.

Timefor LaChatte has the right idea - everybody has to buy into the idea of budgeting or otherwise it doesn't work. You just end up not spending and somebody else upping their spending. Very frustrating.

Laksa - I should. I don't even have to buy the seed / plant them up because my brother is doing more than he needs. He has even offered to plant them out for me - I just have to water them once in a while. In the Peaks that will only be once.

I love muscles - with frittes or crusty bread.... heaven.

Time if you have seperate finances leave him to it or steer him to useful treats like expensive hand creams. If it's a joint account then you have to have the chat again.

£25 on a wheelbarrow, not impressed, I don't think it's needed.
£72 turf delivery for Thursday.

laska - you are a bugger for the online retail therapy are'n't you

Been so busy but such a lovely weekend. The weather here is amazing, as I am sure it is everywhere. Been gardening most of today, planted out my mange tout, dug over the raised beds, planted up the herb garden and cleaned the ceramic pots. DH has spent 2 days sorting out my horse box, cleaning it, polishing it, fixing a few bits, putting on decal, looks amazing.

DD had her first outdoor competition of the year, with the A team 3rd and B team 6th, amongst very strong competition and she rode brilliantly, with the pony being absolutely full of beans and a handful so I am very chuffed with her. She went off after the competition to her friends and I have't seen her for 2 days. They own a racing yard, so she will be immersed in the joys of horses.

However, the competition season has started in earnest now, we are away competing every single weekend until July, costly, but not, as no chance to spend much as no time!!

I have also taken charge of the teams numnahs and bibs for competitions, so the fab weather has helped me get those washed and dried speedily.

Spends - DH took out £100 in cash and has used about £40 on bits for the horse box. I have spent £15 on Amazon on a massive tub of dried meal worm for my chickens. Had a delivery from Morrisons for £50 and have ordered a market delivery for £25.

Hard not to feel completely content with weather like this eh?!

6/4
£3.75 bus
£20ish DH took DCs out (don't know exact amount as he forgot to keep track )
£1.99 DVD (DH's pocket money)

Unescorted we never have muscles at home, they're one of the few things that DH won't eat, and really doesn't like the smell of. However he has gone away for the week so I get to cook muscles! Chances are the DC's won't touch them more for me but they'll enjoy the chips. I'm also treating myself to some scallops (same pblm as with muscles) this week.

need Sadly its my worst vice... a bad habit I got into after moving here where there are no decent shops at all.. All of last weeks stuff went back though, was all hideous..

..However I do pay off anything I buy that month though, dont do credit card debt. (this is not a good enough excuse however, I know )

Did Sainsburys shop and it came in at £48. Not sure how. Did spend quite a lot on toiletries like shampoo, mouthwash etc. will have to go to shop again on Wednesday for pizzas for friends coming down from up north. That's it for the week.

Laska. You spend as you like, enjoy wearing all your stuff. I reckon 90% of my spending is on the internet these days!!

nk I think Sainsburys is really expensive in general to be honest.

Not sure if I confessed to ordering €100 worth of clothes from littlewoods or not, laska I'm your sister in the online shopping! In feb I cleared my account balance & anything I've ordered since I've paid for immediately, I just ordered €100 to get 10% disc 3 pairs of black jeans 2 will be returned a halterneck top for my weekend away & night out with friends & 2 vest tops to make up balance, if these are nice I'll keep them otherwise will return as its free to do.

unescorted there were steam threshing machines there!

captain it is a fitting tribute to the man. 8 years running & bigger every year.

Today was a NSD as my df paid for lunch.
I did pay him €40 for dog nuts but this was budgeted for in joint account.

Tomorrow I take over running an extra slimming class. I really am not keen as its a good distance away & I work fulltime in addition to my normal weekly class but it's extra €s too I guess.

Really pleased with how the garden looks - we're all very tired now! We didn't have any pipe or anything so sent DH off out and he managed to get . Rotary base on sale with hooks so you can get it out again... Masses more space for the kids now the airer has moved from daft position. He also got a rake (we get a lot of leaf fall). Total £21.23

That's it for spending. Been a fairly frugal weekend in the end.

Laska - I always think you are grand to send so much back! I am terrible and my only defence to buying too many clothes is to not buy any...

What would you guys do? I got a pair of trousers that I really love on sale for €16, €42 full price but they won't fit me for months. I'm too big they're too small. my heart says keep them, they'll be motivation to keep fighting the bulge, head says return

Reading all today's news on the thread is making me think we need to get on with some gardening and also making me miss my own horse riding days! DH mowed the lawn today which was a start on the garden but we need to do a lot more including creosoting the shed and fences, that's a lot of creosote to buy!
NSD today, had lunch at mum's and she sent us home with some leftovers. Also took DD to the park and it was lovely to see so many people out enjoying the sunshine.

Te Wi - I am digging a rotary line base out of my garden soon - you could ahve had it.... but knowing how long it takes in The Unescorted & Bodgit household you could have been waiting years.

Lilac - you are appealing to my country bumpkin side too....

LaChatte - Scallops.... As we are all doing our gardens atm can we have a frugleers garden tour???? please?????

Laska I am so glad I don't "get" online shopping. Being on a forum is a tech savy as I get. Thankfully!

Yes, but you have made me think.. 'frugal' it is not, is it? , (but then it is about keeping spending in your actual budget and no more..)..

What i actually need to do is a wardrobe edit...and only buy to fill gaps from now on .

I'm planning on retiring in 2 years and 7 months ! (when I'm 60 ..not that I'm counting the days or anything!! ..) but I havent bought for some time (and I'm definately not buying any more) any work clothes now...

There's one buried elsewhere in our garden too unescorted! It wasn't the right size for our airer as well as being in the wrong place...

Sorting out our garden mostly means digging out weeds and dead plants and replacing them with wild and woodland flower seeds. Hopefully they will come up nicely.

We've also got a lot of veg on the go. Greenhouse has tomatoes, cucumber, chillis. Built 2 raised veg beds at the front a few years ago out of free wood from pallets and a neighbors old shed, in there permanently are a load of strawberrys, herbs and rhubarb which expand every year. From seed this year will be parsnips, carrots, spinach, radishes. Mostly gone for reliable guaranteed results!