Marvelous Frugaleers - Just Jiving through June

[Unescorted]

Ooppps filled up the old thread..... carry on

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.

Lunch was carrot and lentil soup. I think of this as a 'free' lunch as its all store cupboard staples plus the dc love it

Ipsos I google ceo email address (I'm quite likely on a list of nutters by now) and complain everytime I feel aggrieved. Eg the home insurance sent me a letter saying my bank details had changed and if I didn't pay asap we had no home insurance. I complained and got £75 back. My business account closure wasn't done properly and I complained to Lloyds who sent me £100 cheque and refunded the account fees.

Myturn I bought this set of plates from wilkos when I realised the dw was going on half full and some cheap soda glasses from Tesco's. The bowls look small but are the perfect size for cereal etc.

I flipping love wilko's.

I love Wilkos as well Fluffy in fact been in there today, got a mug for dds teacher end of year present £1.50, an insert for a hanging basket £1.25 and a bar of chocolate 50p.

Also got a few bits in The Works spent £3.50 got blu tack, colouring pencils and a jewellery box that dd can decorate and give as a gift (hopefully if it turns out o.kay, if not she can keep it )

No other spends, tomos should be a nsd in theory....

Argh I just sold something on eBay for way less than I wanted! Someone's got an amazing bargain

I didn't realise it was ending so early. I'm so cross with myself!

I'm cross with myself too, just spent a small fortune (over 100 quid) at the shops. In my defence I got a lot for that - month supply of cat food & litter, all DD's summer clothes for next year in the sale, 2 winter and one summer Gro bags in the next size (should last couple of years) also in sale and some garden toys so I think we did quite well and saved money in the long run. The garden toys are already getting some use!

Hello!! Am back from my hols to a rainy summer day here - I do hope thats not 'it' for summer (believe its been hot here?)

Wot?! No July thread? Are you all being frugal with MN also??

Had a fantastic time, was very hot (and i've even got a slight tan to show for it this year have to careful as am very prone to burning) Greece is not so much in a panic as the British newpapers say (although we were way off beaten track , but did see cashpoint queues when we went to the small town at the foot of Mt Olympus onthe way back..) , but yes it was pretty empty of Northern European tourists .. notably far fewer Brits , Germans, French this year .. felt very sad for the poor Greeks we know trying to make their summer money .. but Pelion was as beautiful as ever (and we'll be going back next year)..

So (as well as the washing) have caught up with my bank account and YNAB today , I got paid whilst I was away so havent spent anyof July's money until today ay (£30 co op )and also I finally also got my election job money paid ... thats all gone into my savings account .

If you remember I announced my great 'paid off the mortgage news' just before we went , and so now although i'm back to work tomorrow (and not looking forward to it) , it doesnt seem so bad because now we are only working for 'ourselves' and not the bank ..

So.. My new Frugal Goal is to try and live (mostly) at about what i think ill get as my pension income as im hoping to retire (early age 60 ) in two and a half years ( assuming i dont get made redundant before from my local government job) and save as much as I can now towards the campervan fund (and the rest of my life ..) However i do have a couple of 'treat' purchases in mind in the sales

So how are you all?

Tomorrow's frugal jobs are,

1. Go to bank and open second current account for bills to go out of, a new ISA with better deal than my current one, and a regular saver (it's the £120 deal one at HSBC mentioned on this thread earlier).

2. Go to Lidl and write down the costs of some staples but don't buy anything.

3. Only eat stuff that's in.

I am aiming for my first NSD since I started reading this thread on Friday.

I also have keep-putting-one-step-in-front-of-another type jobs

Sorry Laska that was a cross-post with you. Hi, I'm new to the thread.

Hi laska! Not much new. Some nice newbies though glad you had a nice time

Welcome back Laska we missed you! Glad you got on o.kay and that Greece isn't as bad as the papers are making out!

It hadn't even registered with me that we are still in the June thread

Hi Myturn.. good to 'meet' you.. theres lots of good support on this thread being here (and YNAB) has totally changed my spending habits (and attitude to using credit card) I now even have savings!!

spotty Is it you coming to IOW soon? I do hope the weather gets better ! Its a bit of a shock coming back (and putting a jumper on)!

Have poached a big chicken in the slow cooker with carrots, onions, celery, garden herbs. Had some for dinner as 'soupy casserole' (lots of 'soup' left) and have portioned the rest of the bird up to eat cold with salad etc .... so hopefully it will turn out to be a MN magic chicken )

HI girlie and Collie, you posted while i was (slow) typing!

No laska not me. I can see the IOW from the beach nearest to us though so I will wave next time we go I've just booked a sun holiday to IOW next May though so I'll be sure to get the local secrets

Welcome back, Laska. Pleased to hear you have had a good holiday.
I would so love a campervan - I'm slightly obsessed with them. I think it would require a lottery win though!
myturn you have made an awesome start. Your attitude to affording your mortgage is amazing, I'm certain you will do it. Check out "mortgagefreeinthree" website for more great tips and good luck with the NSD tomorrow. I'm hoping for one tomorrow too!

Hi Laska, de lurking to say it's me! Coming over on the 1st August.

I haven't posted for ages, because as some of you might remember, we moved house a few weeks ago, so with that and watching Wimbledon, I haven't been keeping track of spends. I reckon I've spent nearly £2500 on moving and associated costs, but as it's to a housing association house, it will be worth it... I hope! I have also had to pay for DS'S school trip to France in October and next up are trips to Ireland for my sister's hen (16th- 21st July); Isle of Wight, with stopovers at my brother in London (31st July- 9th August); and then Ireland again for my sister's wedding (1st- 6th September). Phew! No idea when I can start being properly frugal again, but I will try to check in more regularly when I can.

Glad you had a great holiday, Laska, and welcome and hello to all newbies.

Oh and before I forget, I did manage an NSD today .

£137! In sainsbury but did get a lot. Sending dh to aldi later in the week.

Tomorrow will be £11 for the week fitness fees and £5 on dd hair cut.

Hi peeps. Welcome to all the delurkers & new posters.

It has been a crap week - my mum started chemo and it has knocked her sideways and the stress is causing ructions. Competitive caring has kicked in between the males of the family - I know I am being short tempered with them but it really wants to make me throw up.

On the bright side - spending has been low. We have got through the month on ?300 food including top ups.

Sorry unescorted

Aiming for a nsd today and tomorrow.

Sorry to hear that unescorted.

There is a really interesting attitude to money test on the BBC I wonder site, sorry unable to link, but it would definitely make a good starting point for anyone new to being frugal.

That's rubbish unescorted. Sorry to hear that.