Awesome August Frugaleers..

[Laska42]

Blimey.. It's August Already (nearly)

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.

Welcome Newbies

Love that people have goals/objectives for the month. I use YNAB so my money is budgeted but would be interesting to see if we could spend less on food, or less on petrol for instance.

Reasonably frugal day. DC and I are spending a few days with my best friend. Today we caught park and ride to Southsea and had a lovely long stroll along the front. Kids on their scooters, loads of parks, free museums and castle. Spent £5 on coffee and £6 on chips (massively overpriced but delish). Friend kindly took us out for dinner this evening.

Lots of great memories.

£212 on four pairs of school hopefully one pair will fit.

Thanks Laska for the new thread.
It's been a low spend week here. £46 Aldi and £15 Booths for groceries (reduced to £10 in Booths by using a reward voucher. That will now be it for food (except fruit/veg/fridge top ups) until we go away a week tomorrow.
I'm going to look at the new (to me) car today . Will take the dc with me as it's by the coast so we'll take a picnic and they can have a run around.
My lucky frugal win has been dd's week. She's had a rough year at school but has one very good friend whose family help run a church. This week the church do a "summer club" which dd has been going to. It's 2-3 hours a day doing fun/practical things. Today is bikes at the park, Monday sewing buttons on & making sandwiches (for boys & girls)yesterday was a trip to Chester Zoo, tomorrow a talent show. She has loved it and there is no charge for any of it. We're going to give a donation as they have been so kind and welcoming to her. She has discovered the joys of Jollof rice (all the other children are from Nigerian/African families) and felt free, lovely to see, priceless.

I am sat 'MN'ing', I need to move.

I am going to buy my Euro's today. I am going to buy them through M&S as we bank with them and get preferential rates. However, MSE has them in their top deals anyway. Not taking masses of spending money as we are half board, so savings are minimal.

Listed some more stuff on Ebay, but it's only clothes and not going to make me rich, especially after fees etc. I need to stick DD's flute on there though, which was £360 new, but I don't know what minimum price to set at??

Welcome new folk. No rules here, apart from the unwritten one (sort of!), that everyone is friendly and supportive

ipsos I refuse to buy M&S undies for DH these days as they seem so very expensive. I bought a pack of Aldi ones recently, you honestly couldn't tell the difference.

Getting another Abel and Cole delivery today, budgeted for, and a small Morrisons delivery too. No Aldi this week.

The new pony will need a few bits too... I am a sucker for new stuff for ponies.

northender That sounds like a lovely week for your DD.

Morning all, welcome newcomers and thanks for the new thread Laska!
Spotty I read that as £212 on 4 pairs of socks, I was hoping they were spun from pure gold for that much!
I like the idea of goal setting, I'm going to have a think about what mine will be and report back later.
Who asked about growing veg? People are always giving pots away on Freecycle - might be worth posting a "wanted" for pots and maybe tools? Get a compost heap on the go too.

Collie don't do that. Put it on a fb selling site for £20! No fees and then if someone offers £15 you can take it if they pay £20 even better

Hello everyone! I pretty much lurked for July. Need to get back to posting! Such a spendy month but onwards and upwards now to august :D

My occupational mat pay has officially ended so I am down to just MA. Scary as its a major drop! More glad now than ever that I cut out the unpaid months at the end.

Have been eyeing up ikea kitchens in July but OH thinks we should makeover the one we have (sensible!)

August goals:

1. Finish the house inside (!). We are here two years in september and although we've done loads (complete facelift job) it just feels like its going to drag on forever and ever at the current rate. I have spent this week painting the internal doors and got some gorgeous bargain handles from the homebase clearance. I have been working at finishing touches in the hall too.

• front step, DF is in the middle of paving this for me
• price for the blown double glazing in the living room window + replace if affordable
• woodwork in the front bedroom and stain inner windowsill
• finishing strip on the landing
• sand and stain saddle board in the office
• fix sliding door and paint woodwork in dining room, repaint radiator wall
• cut the plastic strip in the bathroom
• kitchen makeover (!)
• strip wallpaper and paint our bedroom

Doable in a couple of weeks with a toddler, a 5 month old and an exam to revise for do we think lol?

2. stick to £300 food budget

3. potty train DS

So just a few little bits and pieces then Id better grab my paintbrush!

blue I started potty training yesterday. Six wees, one poo and no accidents!

pointless that was me, thanks so much, never thought of doing that!

spotty really hope one of them fit you! Was dd delighted with her tooth fairy winnings?

whatabout best of luck with the birth and everything!

Bit busy today, and not nsd! Lidl have rechargeable batteries for 3.99, and they have a clothes airer stand thing with holes for putting hangers on, so good for drying shirts etc for 12.99. Hoping it will save money from the electricity bill by reducing how much I use the drier.
I need to bring my mum to an appointment and wait for her to bring her back again. It will be about an hour and I will have my 8yr old and 3yr old with me. No idea what we can do while we wait. There isn't much close by. Need to go to the library too, but that is near a brilliant playground, so that can fill a few hours! Weather looks good, thankfully!

ipsos cross posted with you, thank you so much, that is such a useful site! Exactly what I needed, you star!

Yes and she was up at 5:30 to show us

Hi all just checking in, a NSD on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday I slipped and spent 50p on a sandwich.

I'm looking into changeing my career, I'm at the top of where I am. The only way to move up, is to move on.

ipos I was just dipping in here and wondering whether my allotment saves us money, I'm sure it does. A fivers bag of seed potatoes gives me at least 8 spuds per plant. the plot costs us £20 a year and we're given lots of surplus seedlings from the established plot holders. I'll read Sallys page and see what she says.

I want to be able to learn to use YNAB for all my finances.

Bloomin' heck! I've already spent £9 today. DH's fault, he forgot his nan's birthday so I called into Sainsburys for emergency card and gift.
Forgot to mention, I've ordered a toddler foot gauge from Clarks the idea bring I can measure DD's feet at home and order cheaper shoes online/through Quidco. Does anyone know if children's shoes are the same size in different shops?

Ooh let us know what you think about the foot measure Pointless.