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Original poster

We are the Marvelous Frugaleers - Mindfully Managing our Money in May.. Come join us!

999 replies

Laska42 · 30/04/2015 19:48

So here is a new thread for all the Magical May Frugaleers!

All are welcome to come and join our friendly supportive group if you'd like to take control of your finances in May and beyond..

We are working together to support each other, live within our means, pay off those debts and save for the life we want!

Good luck everyone for another month Grin

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 12/05/2015 18:52

Really sorry to hear that, NK. Thinking of you. Thanks

£6.40 bus travel and £3.45 coffee and cake.

NK5BM3 · 12/05/2015 19:15

Sorry to hear about girlie's mum's cat and dd. Thanks

Thanks for all concerned. They are in Singapore. So it's past midnight now there. I'm concerned about my dad... Sad

LaChatte · 12/05/2015 19:16

Bonsoir everyone.

Hope the news is positive about your step-mum NK , my DGF had a stroke the year before I was born, everyone (including the doctors) thought he was going to die, and he told my DM to get a move on and have kids as he wanted to meet at least one of his DCs before he died. Stubborn sod ending up living for 17 more years Grin

NSD today, although DD's school sent a note asking for €14 for a day trip to a wildlife park (they leave at 6:30 am and don't get back until 6pm...). I've readjusted the budget to fit it in.

€680 remaining, 15 days to pay day.

babsmam · 12/05/2015 19:45

Fingers crossed no for step mum and girlie for the cat.
Spent 1.99 in morrisons. Would have been more but had a fiver match and more voucher

AuditAngel · 12/05/2015 20:01

NK sorry to hear your news.

Spendy day. £4.59 lunch (was in London) £10.20 parking, plus travel card to reclaim from work. £3 parking at hospital for DD1, good news is no more glasses.

Went to the Apple Store as DD2's iPad not charging. The case seems to be slightly mis-shapen. They offered to replace it for £199, but it had charged (eventually) so I said we'd wait. Got DH's iPhone (also not charging) replaced for free. £1.80 parking there, plus £16 in Boots, mainly buying something new for my manky feet (as unlikely to get the crystals through before my trip and holiday)

Pointlessfan · 12/05/2015 20:45

Sorry to hear your news NK and also more bad cat news girlie. Washing a cat never goes down well.
Another NSD for me. Very busy with work, getting a bit stressed but it will be better after this week so just need to keep going. Will have to do a small top up shop tomorrow so I might get a little mid week treat!

colliewobbles83 · 12/05/2015 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

girliefriend · 12/05/2015 21:59

Fluffy within 2 days hopefully, I think the diarrhoea was probably stress related, he has had a rough few days bless him!!

Have booked some tickets to visit Ripleys in London when we visit over half term. They are doing a half price ticket offer online at the moment so got 2 adult tickets and one for dd for £36.

Getting quite excited about the trip now, what do you lot think is a realistic budget for spending money, will obviously try and keep food costs down. Will be in London 2 nights but 3 days iyswim. I was thinking around £200?

lilacclery · 12/05/2015 22:22

Ok time to fess up to spends I think.
€16.00 on diesel & a daim bar this evening(ate half the bar, remainder is for a post weigh in treat tomo night.
€15.74 on a hormone reset diet book - read an article yesterday that resonated with me so going to give it a go.
Yesterday McDonald's for myself & kids on journey home, ds was asleep & drive thru was best option dd was hungry, they shared a kids meal.
Sunday joint spends with my df on a case of beer for a bbq at my brothers house & flowers for his wife.
Saturday subway for me and the kids after swimming & before travelling 3 hours by car.

On plus side I earned €80 in my self employed work this evening.

lilacclery · 12/05/2015 22:25

Posted too soon nk think of you & your family.
audit I love the first dress, way too good for work!

Starting coin sweeping in earnest this week, almost €10 already in one week!

LaChatte · 13/05/2015 15:41

Argh, went shopping without carefully meal planning, spent 116€ which is way more than I expected.
On the plus side I picked up my newly made points card, so will hopefully make some savings in the future.

needastrongone · 13/05/2015 15:47

collie - I'll have a think about summer SC recipes.

nk Any news, you poor thing. Thinking of you.

pointless - My week was like that last week, I kept going, it got better!

lila - good extra income there.

girlie Sounds about right, with maybe a little left over, which is always better.

Spends - £80 on a shop from Morrisons, got loads. Cupboards were bare, I forget I have teenagers.

Having a pretty cheap week so far, actually.

DH has paid his dividend, which makes life considerably easier. We will do a few jobs with it, and save the rest. It's a massive cushion for us though.

needastrongone · 13/05/2015 16:47

Oh, veggie lasagne for tea. We've eaten a lot of veggie and egg based recipes this week.

Oh (bad), bill for school bus for the DC for next year, £1200. Deciding whether to pay via direct debit over 8 months for pay from said dividend. Choosing the school we did for the DC was excellent for them as individuals, but financially harder than the local choice. Both state btw, if that even matters!

Miele72 · 13/05/2015 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CremeEggThief · 13/05/2015 17:29

NSD.

SpottyTeacakes · 13/05/2015 17:38

Ouch. If dd doesn't go to the catchment secondary we'd have to drive her as we don't have any buses where we live Grin is the school very far away?

I've got another interview next week. Hate interviews.

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/05/2015 17:56

NSD.

£1200 oh my! Cheaper to buy them a car. Our council tax isn't much more than that!.

ItalianWiking84 · 13/05/2015 18:55

1200£ On school bus???? Shock
So happy school busses are free here...
Lsd today. My dad and dp have been to the "dumpster" with garden crap, it costs 2,5£ in renting the trailer...

AuditAngel · 13/05/2015 18:57

NSD.

Fortunately DS's bus will be free, although need to keep him in Oyster cards, hopefully he won't lose too many

girliefriend · 13/05/2015 19:26

£1200 on the school bus Shock that is ridiculous!!!

Had to get petrol today £30 ish, am very tired after 4 early starts for work in a row, day off tomos!!

Have to sort out tax credits tomos - now top of the priority list.

SpottyTeacakes · 13/05/2015 19:35

We haven't had our renewal through yet girlie. Where are you planning on eating when you go to London? Could you search online to see if there's any vouchers?

TeWiSavesTheDay · 13/05/2015 19:52

Is that for a bus parents organised need or a council one? ouch!

£2.09 today, on, er crisps and sweets. It's been a long week already.

Pointlessfan · 13/05/2015 20:17

Spent £3.91 on a top-up shop including some emergency chocolate biscuits as a treat for DH as things keep going wrong for him this week. I won't bore you with the details but we are now in urgent need of a new washbasin, we've only had this one since December but DH had a mishap!
Music Magpie have paid me just over £5 for a few DVDs we no longer wanted and I've just coin-swished 71p bringing the xmas and holiday account up to £490 - hooray!

Pointlessfan · 13/05/2015 20:17

Do I mean swished or swept? I quite like the word swished!!

needastrongone · 13/05/2015 20:59

It's £600 per child. Council run. However, the DC attend school in a school that is out of catchment, and in another Education Authority, despite being only about 8 miles away. We were lucky to get DS in, as it was a freaky low birth year, then DD got in on sibling rule. Hardly anyone gets in, I cried when DS got a place.

There never was a bus, until local MP put pressure on 3 years ago.

I don't actually mind, it's the 'price' of having the kids attend an outstanding school, with results comparable to private education.

fluffy Our council tax is much more than that Smile

Veg lasagne was yummy!