July Frugal thread, Just chatting and saving.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Everyone welcome.

I use washing powder straight in to the drum and add soda crystals for larger loads. From what I've read you can scrimp on the powder but cheap fabric conditioner is a false economy. So, I've just bought some Asda own label conditioner and today I hope to venture in to Lidl for some of the washing powder that gets such good reviews.

advocado £10 for food shopping is impressive to aim for even just for top ups! My food bill keeps going up and up

I put a tbsp of washing powder in but I have a water softener unit. Any more, and there are copious amounts of bubbles.... I also like to put in a tea spoon of the Dettol laundry stuff at times, helps with my gym kit!

23p on carrots today. Oh and £84 for adding in hold luggage to our flight. What doesn't go in 2 cases won't be coming..

Welcome back peppa, any frugal holiday tips?

Myturn....why is cheap fabric conditioner A false economy? Smell, softness? I always use a dead cheap one but am now wondering if it's the right choice? ????

Pass... We flew Ryan air and were adamant about not paying for hold cases, so it was hand luggage only!

It's amazing what you can fit into into a cabin case and now the rules have been relaxed about taking a 2nd handbag bloody great beach sized bag we were more or less fine. Also soooo much quicker not having to queue for check in or luggage carousel.

I'd say if you've booked for hold luggage just look at clothes you're taking and halve them! Where are you going? I packed way toomany shoes for DCs and needn't have bothered with their pjs as it was so hot.

Collie, sounds great trash TV for an evening. Will record it.

Have about 2000 episodes of celeb Masterchef to also catch up on ????

I don't use fabric softener I use lidl two in one powder. £5 when on offer for '64' loads. It lasts me months.

That's a great amount Collie well done to your DH! :o

I have stopped using so much laundry stuff too. I use tesco own brand fabric conditioner and am happy with that - I use the less fragranced one that's white. I do put a dryer sheet in with the tumbled loads.

Girlie thank you, free consultation is a fab idea - DH reckons a lot of people pay even just to meet with someone and discuss their aims/needs, so that would be a great incentive.

Quite tempted by super shoppers, thank you :o

I use the Lidl fabric conditioner and clothes come out smelling lovely and very soft! I personally like fabric conditioners and notice it when I haven't used it.

I use about 1/4 of a scoop in powder unless a large very muddy load!!

avocadotoast I'm also a cloth nappy user

I've just checked balance on my coin sweeping a/s it's up €9.57 since last time I checked it in May, I know it's not much but it's money I wouldn't have otherwise. Have €20 more than the time I posted here to know was it a waste of time because I still have debt.

Congrats collie

I use fairy non bio for everyones clothes but use the small scoop than came with stain removal powder, also only buy on offer. We bought a bucket of it once when it was good value and it all gets tipped in there, don't buy softener at all

Passthecake if you'd seen my kitchen inventory you probably wouldn't say that! I really have got into just going food shopping out of habit, it's shocking.

We have a lot of tinned beans of different types, tinned tomatoes, lentils etc in the cupboard, plus a ridiculous amount of grains (pasta, rice, cous cous, quinoa, noodles) so even just with that it'll make a few meals.

We don't buy meat either (DH is veggie, I rarely eat it and never at home really) so that helps keep costs down I suppose.

I'm a big fan of a one-pot meal, it's usually cheaper and saves on washing up!

Collie that's fantastic
Just been looking at that Approved Food website and it's amazing! I'm definitely going to get some of their unidentified fruit tea bags and shower gel etc as we go through so much of both of those.
I am also a fan of Lidl or Aldi washing liquid. I use about two thirds of what it says and it's fine but we have very soft water here in Birmingham so that helps.
I got an amazing bargain today! Went to look round new charity shop that only does kids' stuff and got a brand new pair of Joules jeans for DD for 99p. Just looked online and they are about £25 new! They are much too big for her but she'll grow into them. Also got her some Baby Boden shorts and top also 99p each plus a few bits from the 99p shop. Spent under £7 in total - very happy with that!

Brilliant news Collie!

Picked up DS from his French school trip, so nice to have him home. I put a lasagne in the slow cooker and the minute he walked in the door he said that it smelled amazing, bless him! Was a bit concerned he would lose something like his passport, but so far the only missing thing is a phone charger and adaptor, which is annoying but replaceable.

Small top up shop of £4.50.

I only ever use half the recommended laundry detergent and use either Lidl or Aldi own brand. I think it depends how soiled clothing is.

Peppa I've noticed that on the Lidl and Aldi threads a lot of people really don't like the smell of cheaper fabric conditioners. If you've found a good one with a nice smell I think you're fine!

My evening is already scheduled around supershoppers

This is what my life has become.

peppa I know we could have cabin luggage and a big old handbag/beachbag each but this is the first time the kids are going abroad and I would prefer dp to have a suitcase in each hand and a rucksack on his back and me to have a child's hand in both of mine (5&7) , the logistics of 4 little cases and bags would hurt my head on arrival at midnight. ....will consider it for future though!

advocado I also have quite alot in my cupboards. Doesn't stop me buying more. ...

We always pay for hold luggage.

I had planned casserole for dinner but the dc are being grumpy so oven food it is!

I've got a bolognaise in the sc. Spent all day cleaning/weeding/touching paint in/taking crap to the garage that had migrated to the utility room , really nice just to chuck some garlic bread in the halogen oven or toaster later.

pointless I was from Birmingham. Sutton Coldfield.

I put laundry powder in the drum too, then the drawer doesn't get as mucky.

Approved food went in dragons den, I think they got turned down!.

A man knocked the door earlier wanting to pick a hire car up. I haven't hired a car. I'm going to email Hertz before I get a bill for car hire.

NSD.

Great news about the bonus collie

Sorry collie, I skim read.

Its a nice surprise to get on a Monday.

Just realised the cinema is doing junior showings throughout the holidays so it would be £5.25 for the three of us with free parking

We love the junior movie thing :o I'm sure we will be going in the holidays too.

Especially since I just found out (DSD asked me to see a film with her just the two of us :)) that a single adult ticket is now ELEVEN SODDING QUID

Whump!!! That's me falling off the frugal lorry.....

We went swimming in the end after my fitness class. Not sure I dare admit today but here goes
Fitness 3.80
Sainsburys about 20ish can't remember
Mountain warehouse 45
Swimming 12.20
Mountain warehouse (again) 10
Millets 6
Lunch 20.50
Parking 2.50
Halfords 239.00 ( 2 bikes for DC but I have told they they will get less for their birthdays in October. Dd went from a 16 to a 24 bad parent making her ride a too small bike)

Off to buy nowt but beans for the rest of the month......