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.

£1.20 on some lovely butternut squash soup and £70 on Tescos delivery - mostly toiletries/cleaning products and freezer food.

Went out for eats with dp last night, £50 . Was gorgeous and doesn't happen very often, kids have been at their grandparents for a few days so we've saved money there

Another day out with ILs.

Me - £2.50
DH - no idea as he also bought lunch, we have no portable food ATM.

Container arrived, house is filled To the gunells and we're slowly sorting through while still spending time with ILs.

Next week we have To buy school uniform.

Spotty - I did see the recipe and it sounds pretty authentic! I'll trust you on that!! :)

Laska - you can get Chinese cooking wine at sainsburys. I got mine from there... You don't really need it I don't think. I never really used it until recently (when I remembered that granny used to cook a lot with it)...

Should be my first nsd in a while. I'm getting pissed off with Amazon and yodel. I ordered something ages ago Amazon showing dispatched two days ago and yodel showing they haven't even collected it yet

All that chinese food sounds delicious!

Thanks for the totes link Collie, will get a few bits in for xmas :)

Its been DIY spendy here but otherwise we've been quite good. So close to getting the inside finished. Have half the doors off the kitchen cupboard for painting, and the other half should come off at some point today. Have a joiner coming to quote replacing the worktops today. Have eyed up some lovely lino flooring at 180 fitted so I have a little shopping around to do on that front as its quite a small room.

Playdate with a friend today so will probably end up buying coffees. Its been so long since we've been out though and poor DS is beyond bored! Really miss toddler groups being off for the summer :(

collie thanks for the totes link, will have a look at that.

Waiting on responses to 2 complaints I've made, will see what happens. One was after our meal out last night which was disappointing in that part of dd's order didn't arrive (even after we reminded them) and the service was poor and the time we had to wait at all stages was way too much. The other complaint is about my old car insurance which I cancelled when the car was scrapped last week. They applied £60 of charges to the £120 refund I should have been entitled to. Not sure I'll get anywhere, but worth a frugal try!

Totally unprepared for the holiday yet so today will be busy but hopefully not too spendy. Will report back later.

Thanks for the totes link, bought some bits for Christmas.

Trying to decide whether to go to hobby craft to buy the paint markers to make my trial Christmas plate.

I have a dilemma - DCs have been on waiting list for swimming lessons for 6 months. They are both competent swimmers (10 & 8 yo) but at the time I thought they could develop further.

A slot has now become available but new, improved frugal Peppa is wondering if this is just an unnecessary extravagance.
Between them they also do brownies, football and gymnastics.

But they do love swimming

What to do? I need to let pool know this morning

I would give them the choice peppa. Football/gymnastics or swimming. My sister lets her four year old do a million clubs yet can't afford anything else ever and I think it's ridiculous (that's a rant at my sister for moaning she has no money not you!). I mean, if you can easily afford it then go for it, but if the money could be put to better use then don't, especially as, like you say, they are competent swimmers already.

Hi Peppa,
I think spotty is right and you need to give them the choice and help them make their minds up with a list of pros and cons.

My children are 7 and 4 and they do a lot of stuff. Tennis, chess, swimmingx2, ballet, Chinese. Everything currently happens on a Saturday bar Chinese. Come September, swimming is moving to Tuesday 4.30 and I think that will help us all!!

WRT swimming, I see it as a life skill so I'd go for it over a more social sport. But then we live by a canal so I'm a bit paranoid about it.

Yes DH in agreement with you lovely lot; says they can swim like fish and "what the bloody hell do they need swimming lessons for?!"

Fair enough ????

spotty Re deliveries. As a business, we are being pretty disrupted by the trouble with the striking and migrant activity at Dover. Many of our orders are late, and some of my personal stuff from Amazon is also taking longer. So, there may be something in that?

Will catch up 'proper' later!

On Looe beach again. Really spend holiday. Will go abroad next year if we can as probably the same price hi all will catch up again soon

It was delivered today it's just yodel not updating their tracking info!

Took my cagoule back no probs in fact I exchanged it for one of those toddler rucksacks with reins. Met my mum at the shops, she bought us lunch bought DD some clothes from Next. I bought DD some much-needed socks - £5. I know H&M ones are cheaper but these are really cute, they have chickens on!!

Managed a NSD yesterday, but today I will be paying for parking because I was too late to catch the bus to work and had to drive instead. Frugal fail - it's about £14.50 to park all day. I also scraped the car on a pillar and cracked the wing mirror hitting the wheelie bin. Don't think anything actually needs fixing - the scrape is very minor and so is the crack.

I'm loving GoodBudget. I want more bills to come off so I can enter them! I also spent quite a while this morning doing financial planning for Christmas, the potential holiday with the ILs next year and the saving-for-a-house-deposit plan.

Laska - dry sherry works as a substitute for rice wine. I also came across a recipe for rice wine not so long back - I will see if I can find it again.

Spotty Hope you are feeling a bit better. I hate it when I know I have to get things done but am really tired. Somehow even small things are impossible.

I have just had the talk with DH - when he gets paid and we finally finish paying off the debt (3 more payments!) he cannot just go out and squander all the additional money we have. It is going into a savings account. I have underestimated him - he is all for that plan of action. Unescorted will have her emergency fund.....

Yes thanks. I got all the hoovering a basic cleaning done this morning and we've been in bed watching DVDs all afternoon!