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.

Ipsos re the hobbies I hear you! I have now started doing hobbies that will save money - sewing, my smoked food/ sausage/ salami making empire. If I can do a DIY food or making saving I get a huge smug head on.

Dh & DS have finished their mad bike ride - they didn't do the whole course, "only" 405 miles off road. 27 of the 51 that set off have called it a day. One rider is stuck on the wrong side of the river so I am glad that they (dh&ds) decided not to do the whole thing. Apparently it has poured with rain and there was snow too - sounds really grim.

Dd & I had a fab day in Mankychester - there is a fab exhibition on 1950's fashion and another on Eastern Ceramics... it was amazing. Had a lovely lunch and a bit of random shopping.

Frugal win - dd train ticket 1 return because she was travelling off peak with me & I have a season ticket. I love our stationmaster - saves the commuters of Derbyshire a fortune. Return to Manchester is normally 9.

Great news about your cat girlie

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes for DS, he is fine just has had a little bit of his innocence eroded I suppose. He keeps saying that they told him lies and it was wrong. No word from the police as yet but I don't know if they'll inform us if they do find them. I am keeping a look out as sooner or later I bet I'll see them and will phone it in.

ipsos yes, yes I do that, it was one of my biggest frugal fails. I'd get stressed and spend because I felt low. I'm not so bad since I stopped employed work and went freelance. My money saving hobby is the garden, hopefully we'll save a lot of money in veg and salad this summer. Also I'll make jam again as that gave us a good supply all winter.

Have had 2 NSDs as haven't been out of house as been working straight through. It should be NSD tomorrow as doing exam invigilating. Hopefully we'll take DS out somewhere Saturday for a bit of a treat to make up for things.

Yeah think this cat is just one who likes to keep us on our toes she didn't eat, drink or move (unless dragged out to the vets) for 3 days and is now wandering about with a 'yeah what?' attitude

Had a quick look at the bank balance doesn't look as bad as I thought it might but lots of bits not yet gone out. My tax credits have gone in which is a relief after reading the Concentrix thread and it is sickening what this company is putting people (disproportionately single mums) through.

Straight back on the frugal wagon now, plan to sort out car insurance tomos have had a letter from current insurers who are having a laugh with the quote they have given me will be cancelling that tomos.

Going to try and make the food we have last but will need to pick up a few fresh bits, will go to lidls for those.

Should be nsd today. My credit card is now on dh's interest free one so will close that once I can.

Child tax credits due today expected £49 but yesterday had £30 and today £70 I haven't renewed yet either as not had the pack.

spotty I haven't had a renewal pack either. I keep meaning to call them and ask where it has got to.

Just looking at my spending yesterday - 5 on sweets for dd's sleepover!!! There are a lot of them and it did include 1.50 for the pick & mix bags (100 old school stripy paper ones - they are fab). DD is made up with them because it means her sweets won't look as if they have obviously come from Aldi, but still...

Our lunch was good value - went to an independent sandwich shop / deli. 2 sandwiches and drinks 8 all in. It is the one on New York St if anyone is looking for a place to eat in Manchester.

ipsos I spend money if I am bored or have had a glass of wine, mainly on line. Amazon is a killer, I remember something I need, then it's a click away!

Good news re the cat girlie and glad you enjoyed London.

Busy day, just off to walk dogs, then pop to Aldi, then pack up horse box, then collect DD. We are away at the weekend.

Having a take out for tea. I am actually looking forward to it, not planning and cooking.

Soft play today, going to try not to buy loads of food there! Also supermarket later and have to pay nursery fees too, childcare vouchers never quite cover it.

The library.... I use 2 on a regular basis (in different counties) so can get 28 books out at a time. Both let me renew several times so it doesn't matter if I don't read them quickly.

Needastrongone - I am exactly the same. Amazon is my downfall, just too easy

Needastrongone - I am exactly the same. Amazon is my downfall, just too easy

Unescorted I have a Sony e-reader and there is a company called Bookbub who regularly (daily?) gave free books. I will read most genres, so can usually find something I fancy. These can be available in assorted formats, but it does vary. I also have a store of about 3000 ebooks my sister gave me that I am working my way through.

Yesterday €3.50 buying the kids drinks, €1.65 buying DD2 a cake and €11ish getting some frozen veg for dinner and a cake, plus oil to fry the oven chips as we realised we don't have an oven here idiot

So doing well with NSDs and getting quite a bit of work in but do need to get more! Might do the Aldi shop today.

Just a thought Ipsos but I cut out a lot of magazines by reading the free ones that come in the supermarket or with loyalty cards, I get Boots, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose and any other that I can find thats free. Yes unfortunately I do have to venture to shops which are an eternal source of temptation but I tend to time it when I actually need something. Also I do freestuff website and inboxpounds and they have both had free magazine offers which I have taken advantage of.

I also do surveys which give me rewards of e-vouchers each month, not massive mostly but enough to buy me a cheap kindle book and once memorably £50 which bought me the printer/scanner I needed for my business!

Raining cats and dogs here so will be reluctant to venture out, still plants getting watered for free I suppose!

I'm another Amazon addict who can't stop buying Kindle books. In fairness, I did (many moons ago when I was profligate) used to spend at least £30 a month on Magazines as I would buy the weeklies (Woman, Chat, Take a Break, Now, Chat et al) but I definitely don't spend so much on books, and I tend to limit myself to no more than £2 on a book. If I really want to read one I will reserve it at the local library.

I rang Virgin Media this morning as my Virgin Bill is over £100 a month now. TBF we don't go out much so TV viewing is our main entertainment but £100 a month is crazy. I have broadband, XL TV package with extra Sky Sports (which on its own is £25.50), free international & mobile calls (so I only pay for 03 & 08 numbers), TiVo box in living room, V+ box in DS1's room and ordinary set top box in DS2's room.

VM were really helpful and apologetic but said that I had an excellent deal for what I was getting as I was on a very old price plan from back in the day that they no longer offer, plus a heavily discounted "mates rates" rate from when a friend used to work there. I asked how much it would save if we took out DS2's set top box and she said it would INCREASE by £10 a month (dunno how they work that out). It was nice to see I was getting such a good offer but the only way she could save me money - and not by much - is for me to start over from scratch and have the Tivo and V+ boxes replaced by ordinary ones.

Also read my meters yesterday and I finished the winter with a debit balance of £98 which I think has reduced now to less than £40 so that should be paid off next month.

I like the idea of paying extra on the standing order so I think I'll do that. I also realised I have got HSBC to transfer too much to Tesco so I'll have a bit of a credit balance on there when the next statement comes. I put our season tickets on there (so I could pay over 12 months instead of 8 - still paying interest either way) but then DS1 paid his to me in full which I paid straight onto the CC then made my first payment too so I reckon HSBC have overpaid £160 too much! so I'll have to try and get that back but bill isn't due for another few weeks).

I'm also going to coin sweep each day to my savings to make it a round figure that I post daily although it probably won't amount to a right lot on a monthly basis - only 8p today

Thanks for the new thread unescorted

Yesterday I squandered about £5 on Starbucks as 1 DD came out of school at 4 and the other at 5.45. There's not enough time to make it worth coming home and going back out again plus the petrol cost/environment. Also spent just under £5 that should be coming back. DD2 had to bake with a friend and I got the bits in for her as her parents have crazy work schedules.

Today I need to pay £66 for a month's worth of Pilates. DH is picking up much needed dog food.

Will read through later, happy frugaleering everyone

Just renewed my car insurance went through topcashback and got the same cover plus breakdown cover for £150 less than current company offered me plus £25 cash back so feeling quite pleased.

Weather is abysmal here today so don't think we will venture out far, should be a NSD (well apart from the car insurance!)

£8 on DS activity day and £49.50 shop at Aldi. Hoping that will lot will more or less the week (& it included 2 bottles of wine )

Also on another ynab web chat tonight which should walk me step by step on setting up a budget.

I've been offered at interview at tesco too what should I do?! It's not exactly something I want to do but it's nights so I wouldn't have to worry about childcare. But would I cope with nights? Hmm....

£15 on little tikes car transporter from tesco (it's £50 on some sites!) anyway I'm going to save it for ds' birthday in November.