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.

Sounds lovely Laska

I have strawberries coming on nicely too, and my first mange tout of the season, I am excited. Hoping to garden tomorrow, at least in the afternoon.

Today I spent £70 at Aldi, but that included 2 sets of pillows, a mop, washing tablets and wine as we have some friends over at the weekend. Plus nibbles that I wouldn't usually buy. Oh, and Nutella and peanut butter as DD is baking tomorrow. Spending a fortune on soft fruit too at the minute!!

I made banana muffins today as I have a 'glut' of bananas to use.

Hello,
I need to join, I've had my tax credit renewal, and I'm £250 per month worse off. So help me find savings!!!!

So out goings
575 rent
20 water
20 electric in summer, 40 in winter.
50 for phone, tv, and Internet.
15 for Moblie
260 for food
330 nursery
I pay for my TV licence, car insurance, breakdown cover, once a year.
I have a tenner per week for spending on stuff, lunches out ect.

Income,
Work 900
Worring tax 119
Child tax 413
Maintance 250

Please help me.

Sorry that should be £40 for ele in summer, and £140 in winter

All figures are per month.

Welcome evil, I would look at the big bills first.

Plan of action.

Ring phone provider and ask for a cheaper package. If they cant lower it ask how much to cancel it. They wont want you to cancel so hopefully that will push them.

Ditto for mobile.

Meal plan, do one big shop in aldi/lidl and aim for no top ups. No lunches out.

Is that electric bill weekly or monthly? can you find a cheaper deal on moneysavingexpert energy club? renting still means you can switch providers.

Look on the waterboards website, they often do free water saving devices. It might knock a few quid a quarter off but it all adds up.

Check if you are in credit with any utility suppliers.

Do you have a topcashback account or quidco? paying car insurance upfront is the way to do it cheaply. Especially if you've shopped around.

Welcome Evil.
Laska I thought of you when they were talking about Greece's financial situation on the news - maybe you could show them this thread to help them out

Collie if you had said, I would have sent you a ready bed for the postage. DS is 11 this summer, D2 will be 5, it has barely been used.

£47 on Diesel and 89p on a bottle of water.

£149 in Ikea. That was £95 for a new garden table, plus loads of other stuff, a stool for DS's bedroom, new bedside light for DS, 3 coat hooks for DC, 5 storage jars, 18 glasses, new scissors, pack of paint brushes, silicon moulds to make fake Calippo's, freezer bags, candles for school fair,

Where we are staying for the first weekend, very small garden, but fully enclosed, smallish private pool. After that, lots of garden, nice pool, all private, plus a walk to the beach, never been to it in 2 previous stay's as too cold.

I'd get rid of it now to someone who needed it, but we'll keep it a bit longer, just in case we ever not flipping likely go camping again.

It's more likely we'll stick the tent up in the garden during the summer holidays.

Hi Evil, stick with this thread you'll pick up loads of useful tips

Evil Jack Monroe's blog is brilliant for cheap recipes using really simple ingredients, nothing fancy.

Small Morrisons delivery today, mainly to cover having the friends over at the weekend.

I also have £80 in M&S vouchers from our banking. I am going to use some today to stock up on their cooking ingredients such as umami paste, miso paste and the like, that I like to use while cooking but cost quite a bit to buy.

collie I think that when we go and holiday in Scotland, that I could quite easily live there, it's so beautiful, but the remoter areas have much less choice.

Welcome Evil how old are your children?

You have more coming in than me and about the same going out so it can be done!!

I think careful meal planning and shopping helps, I keep an eye on fb buy and see pages for clothes for dd otherwise wait till the sales!! I rarely buy new clothes. Have you got discount shops near to you? My favs are Pound stretchers, Poundland, Wilkos, Care WareHouse, The Works and of course Primark!! I reckon I save a fair bit by knowing what to get cheaper where.

Also have you got any stuff you can sell? I have made a few quid selling dds clothes, shoes and toys that she no longer needs.

Oh and pack lunches all the way, I don't leave the house these days without taking food/ drink with me!!

First spend in a couple days now. £3.70 on Pilates. I'm here now waiting for it to start!

Will be spendy later as the school is having its summer fete. I will be restricting the kids to £5/each I think. (We are in the southeast- nothing is cheap here. The bouncy castle last year was £1.50!!!).

£5 voucher for lidl in the sun.

Evil Check with your water and electric people to see if you qualify for warm front or a water discount. If you rent has your ll insulated properly? British Gas do loft lagging for free in rented houses too if the ll consents. 27cm is the advised depth for lagging now.

£37 in Lidls, got loads for this so although spent more than i wanted am pleased with what I have got!! That includes 12 tins of Butchers cat food which should last ages (£4.50) plus toiletries (shower gel, bubble bath, san pro, toilet bleach) plus lots of fresh stuff.

Dd will want some sweets later but no other spends today.

Planning on doing some baking this wend, also have some bananas that have gone a bit soft so thinking banana bread or cake or if I get really motivated both! Also picked up some desiccated coconut so can make a batch of oat cakes that will hopefully taste a bit better than the last lot I made!

Need to get some cat biscuits as well, will pop into Pets at Home to see whats on offer this wend.