Marvelous Frugaleers - May the Money Magic Continue into June

[Unescorted]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from January

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

Pointless indoor things that would have entertained DS at that age were playing with toys, maybe a bit of scribbling, cbeebies, play doh (can make your own!). Homemade softplay with cushions etc. He still wouldn't really bake at 2 yrs 4 months unfortunately. Better weather for walks in the woods / beach are his favs though x

Girlie that's so sad :(

Collie I'm sorry :( cars are such money pits.

Girlie that's awful

£110 on dds birthday party. All over with now. Phew.

Oh wow, Mrs De Vere 142 dresses is incredible! I don't think I own that many items of clothing in my entire wardrobe and I think I have too many clothes.

I get paid on Monday and it's been a bloody expensive month! Half of my 'everything else' money was spent on the house but I will still have some money left to put into the savings. I have been doing coin sweeps and so far have £740+ (we did have some leftover from DH's bonus) so once I have got my £1000 put away I'll start tackling the credit cards.

Hi all I was so shocked seeing it on Facebook when I realised who is was, such a lovely lovely family complete tragedy, if you see it on fb/ twitter please do keep sharing.

Today has ended up being rather spendy, hmmm

£45 petrol this should hopefully last until the end of the month now.
£1 parking
£2.50 met friend for coffee
£15 horse riding lesson (my dad kindly paid for this)
£6 approx at local fete, this included tea, cake, a hot dog and as many goes as dd could get away with on the lucky dip
£21 Snapfish on fathers day mug and printing off 100 photos.

Am going to end up completely overdrawn but seems unavoidable, dd decided she wants to do the London trip so thats a £25 deposit next week and another £20 a month for a year!

Car tax also due end of the month am wondering about doing it by monthly DD, do any of you do that? Doesn't work out any more expensive I think

Are we all in Southampton/Winchester area?? I work in Winchester

girlie that is so sad.

Frugal day yesterday, went out for dinner but lovely friend paid. Hosting a colleague's leaving drinks party tonight, just got wine and nibbles in, soft drinks, I know other colleagues will bring a bottle too.

I woke up naturally at 5.27 this morning and as it was light I just got up now I am totally zonked.

driving test in a week and a half, had a rubbish lesson today

Well done adora!
Sorry to hear that girlie. I will look on google and retweet.

You know the amazing MN chicken? It's true!! Well, we had that roast on Monday when I made it? Dd and I had that, and then I brought some to work for my lunch, we then had it again on Tuesday night (4 of us, of whom ds although is 7 eats quite a bit). Dh had some for lunch over a couple of days and I stuck the bones /carcass into a slow cooker with some carrots, celery and an onion. Today, I made some leek and potato soup with it, and I think that will feed us for at least a meal if not 2.

Dh did the Aldi shop today. Don't know how much it was but can't imagine it being more than 40/50.

MissA* I did my nurse training in Winchester, sweet hospital, was a bit of a shock when I started my first job at the General though!

Not there anymore but still in the South West

MissA - better to get the 'bad' drive out of the way now, then the test will go great

nk Same with my chicken this week!!! It was the chicken that kept on giving!

girlie Blood runs cold reading tragic events such as that.

142 dresses!

Today has been a super day. I have enjoyed myself so much. DD and me have been furniture and charity shopping. Well, more ornament shopping in local furniture shops. We have had such a lovely mooch. I need to finish off the house and we bought a few bits and bobs that look super.

My best frugal buy was a vintage bowl/wine glass (not sure how to describe it, it's huge for a wine glass!) for a fiver in a local charity shop. DD bought some Adidas sneakers for £2 with look hardly worn.

However, did splash out on a throw and cushion for DD's bed, not frugal at all but lovely colours and really finish off her room, which has just been decorated.

I'm south/South East.

Girlie I pay monthly and it doesn't cost any more. Iirc it may have been slightly cheaper than six monthly.

Haha MissA Ds wakes up at 5:30 every morning

Charity shop find!

spotty no way!! I'd be dead! I can hardly function haha. Maybe that is why drive was bad, now that I think on it.

need that is lovely, such a stunning colour.

Frugal win, I'm wearing a black and white spotty teadress from a charity shop that was originally from tesco and a woman at work asked me if it was from Hobbs!

I'm originally from Southampton

Just caught up on thread, mrsD ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO DRESSES

What size are you...

I had a huge cull about 3 years ago and at that point had 64 dresses. Now I have about 10.

Girlie, sorry to hear that very sad news.
£25 weekly bus pass, as I actually have some work this week (supply teacher). Hopefully it will pay for the new blinds for the new house, which I've arranged to be properly measured Monday week. Estimated price is £260 for the whole house, including measuring and fitting.

Anyway, £25 bus pass; £3.70 Tesco, on a few things I forgot in the online order; £4.95 lunch in town and £1.14 on a couple of cakes from the bakery. £34.79.

Meal plan:
Tonight- veggie hotdogs, as I am not that hungry after my jacket potato.
Tomorrow: goats cheese and red onion tarts, with new potatoes and veg or salad.
Monday: spinach, chickpea and new potato curry with naan.
Tuesday: same as Monday.
Wednesday : quiche, wedges and salad.
Thursday: same as Wednesday.
Friday: veggie burgers and wedges.

Girlie I also saw your friends post on FB. A tragedy, but how lovely that she wants to thank her daughter's Good Samaritan.

I'm near Twickenham (top of the M3) but I spend a day each week rotating around our other offices in Winchester, Romsey, Portsmouth and Southampton. Not too bad now, but not looking forward to it in the winter. If it gets too much then, I may do half days in 2 offices so I only travel every other week

Not a very frugal day. £2.60 parking to reclaim from work. Tesco shop, £90 as MIL is coming for lunch and I was given a big list. I think it will do Monday as well. Included 2 bottles of champagne.

Took DD1's shoes back, changed them, unfortunately no patent ones available in her size, so had to get leather ones (they don't look goof fir as long). £32 buying two Egyptian cotton bath sheets for DH for Father's Day. He wants me to replace all our towels, I don't think they need it. We have yellow ones from John Lewis from our wedding, so only 13 years old, all but one in good condition, one went a funny colour as DH put it in a dark wash . We also gave a full set of sky blue ones I use in the kids bathroom, which are about 20 years old, but still fine.

Well done MrsD, I got rid of about 10 dresses a while back. They all held great memories but not worn for years.

Does anyone shop at Farm Foods? What's the quality of food like?

Dh just said the Aldi shop was below £40!! Yay. Still haven't paid my cc. Will do it soon. Maybe on Monday. Just can't be arsed but it's not due till end of June so no worries.

Received £25 JL voucher from my cc - yay.

I'm south east... But nearer France than London methinks!