The super savvy savers continue steering their way through September

[northender]

Thought I'd start a shiny new thread as we've filled the other one so quickly.

north love the sound of your organisation! I've been doing something similar the past 2 weeks since the kids went back to school. Feel much more organised and the house is much cleaner!

collie hate those months where bills and income aren't in line! Hope the bank are accommodating tho.

need hope you're ok

Not sure what we are doing today, but I've hardly been outside the door all week, bar school runs, and I'm feeling the cabin fever. The sun is shining for now, so we'll see!

Hows the hot water going spotty? is two hours enough to heat the tank?.

Just found this on another thread www.matalan.co.uk/events/christmas/shop-all-christmas just posting it in case anyone wants to budget for anything Christmas related. Considering we have just 3 or 4 pay days to go (its 3 for us). I'm using it as a guide for prices.

My Nectar card balance has crept up to £14. Sainsbury's still haven't messaged me back about the duplicate evoucher.

Yes it's fine I reckon we could even do it every other day (which happens sometimes as I forget to turn it on!). I might add a metre reading actually even if we're £20 in credit doubtful they'll give it to me.

Aarrrgh, ever had a house full of food but completely stuck for meal ideas? Am so sick of same old same old but my meals need to be simple, quick to prepare and DC friendly.
In the freezer I currently have
Chicken breasts
Mince
Marinaded chicken drumsticks
Sausages
Homemade pizza dough
Chicken goujons

Fridge full of veg, eggs, cheese, bacon

Store cupboard rice, pasta etc

Am just at a loss what to cook that is remotely interesting - am so rubbish

Peppa what about a tray bake? You can do it with the drumsticks or sausages. Chuck it all in a tray with veg and potatoes add some olive oil/honey/balsamic and cook for 30-40 minutes.

That sounds lush Spotty!

Mmmmm sausage tray bake is so yum! and easy... And less dishes to wash!

Is there a 'go to' simple family meals cook book anyone can recommend?

I tend to use BBC good food website for most things it's definitely my go to. I don't use cook books much, only for cakes.

Definitely the BBC Good food website. Have pesto to use up today, put pesto into the search bar and got loads of ideas! I often do it if I git some woopsie meat or something and have no idea what to make.

I use BBC good food too :)

£4 on a fitness class.
Need to meal and bake plan before aldi.
Definitely BBC good food

Just place marking. No spend day again for me. Yesterday $15 on parking BUT won $300!

Just me and DD today as DS wont be home with my folks until later.

Trying to do a bit of exam prep but DD is having none of it lol. On the laptop and DD is hitting random keys, apologies for any lve missed!

As scary as it is that christmas is not far from rolling round again, I'm loving that matalan link! Love autumn into winter, by far my favourite time of year.

Had a chat with OH this morning before he went to work about frittering and financial goals - he would like to have 6 months spends in savings, and I would like to get prepared for when he retrains / I become self employed so we are working to the same goals. I feel bad bringing it up with him but we have one joint account which he never looks at, just buys away and its too much so I never know where we stand with it / how much is left. I always feel like Im being controlling bringing it up and that he thinks I think he needs watching etc, when in actual fact I have lucked out with such a lovely DH and am quite happy for him to fritter his spending money on whatever he likes, as long as it doesnt eat into the family budget. I always fritter far too much on coffees etc too. We are now going to withdraw money for individual spends on a Sunday and try to stick to that, heres hoping!

using up some mince today to make mince meat pies, will need to go get a butter and a few other bits at some point

Thanks for the matalan link! Spent £70 in aldi, but £50 was on the weekly shop and £20 on monthly cleaning bits and even a couple of Xmas presents so its not as bad as I thought. I'm still amazed how cheap it is compared to tesco.

+£10 on a selling site

£25 on my riding lesson.

£4at farm shop for broccoli, hoisin sauce and ginger for tonight's dinner. (Marinated slow Coker sesame chicken).

Payday on 21st. In London next weekend so it might get spendy (though am hoping dh will buy dinners, my Christmas decoration and maybe a new coat.....!! as I've paid for flights hotel and rugby as his birthday treat....) wishful thinking

Am tempted next month to draw my monthly spends from the bank. And hide all but my joint ac card. Just to see if I can cash only.

That's what I need to do emem but I do my food shopping online and pay at pump petrol so it's just hassle!

collie that matalan link has some gorgeous things, saw it on the Christmas thread today too. Loved looking through it, even tho they don't deliver to roi! We have 3 pay checks before Christmas too. We get paid a few days before Christmas, but that has to last until the 23rd of Jan, so 5 weeks, and I am determined not to spend any of it on Christmas this year. We've had some really grim January's because I've gone overboard.

Spent ??10 in subway, and ??4 on take away coffees for me and dh while the kids played in the playground. Really cool today, love this time of year!

£41.50. Paint, primer and sanding paper.

Hi all -

What - just how cute. Congratulations.

need that sounds awful. Be kind to yourself.

Hi Digger & Anna & anyone else I missed.

Sit down everybody.... we have made it through to the end of the month without the money running out. I am in shock. The last week is normally random dinners and black tea.

unescorted well done!! It's a great feeling!! Last month was our first month that had happened. It's such a huge relief!

Love the matalan link. Need to save up for loads.
£10 on takeout
57 in aldi
10 in lidl
8 in Iceland
9 in the coop