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.

Hello! Just found this thread, and am on the Drowning in Debt one so looking for ideas etc. Worried about xmas but have bought a couple of presents today, Lego Starwars duvet covers for my DS's at £2.49 each set. So happy with them. From a shop near me selling ex chain store stuff.

Candybar, what you have said about buying things that are bargains. I have done that before when the DC were little. It is something I am trying to avoid but I always end up buying duvet covers, socks, pants and pyjamas for Christmas. Its kind of a tradition now. But they will have to have less. My DD is 13 and wants clothes from the Boden catalogue. I will probably let her spend £50 and get it delivered and wrap it. She won't have much for that but thats what she wants and she'll be happy with it. My DS's are 11 and 7 and still into Lego and of course gaming, so I will ask them what they want and get that. Like you say, it saves stressing.

I shopped on rightmove today! Great way to nose & not spend a penny!

ipsos
fruit leather is dried fruit puree - like fruit winders.
Yesterday I peeled and chopped 3 bramley apples and put in the pot with cereal bowl full of blackberries and juice of orange (you can use lemon, I just didn't have any), cooked it for about 15-20 minutes until soft. Passed it through a sift into a bowl and added 2 big tablespoon of runny honey. I lined 3 tray with baking parchment and divided the mixture between them. Bake it for 10-12 hours on lowest setting until its dry to touch. I don't like leaving the oven on overnight so I turned it off when I went to bed. It's still bit sticky so it will go back in the oven after I cook the lasagne for dinner. When its dry you peel it off, roll it up in the clean sheet of baking parchment and store it in airtight container. It will keep for a long time. I found some at the back of the cupboard from last year and it was absolutely fine. I have also used strawberries, raspberries and plums.

Welcome bear
girlfriend you just reminded me the light is on in my car, must put something in it before dropping to garage tonight.
??10 I guess
??10 for slimming class tomo night
NSD wed except probably whatever car will cost me!
??50 I think Thursday for tbar highlights

Must look up HUDLs - we were thinking of a tablet for DS for christmas, I dont want anything too grown up but still want it to be able to go on youtube etc as well as do a few little games (peppa pig!)

girlfriend I am a middle grade doctor and studying for an exam which is part of a professional membership, hence the stress! Would much rather be enjoying my maternity leave with the kids but unfortunately needs must.

Love fruit winders!

Welcome bearleft, plenty of support here :)

I am a bit of a lurker and dipper in and out of these threads. I know I neeed to be more sensible with money but I don't think I've quite accepted it yet.
I've been looking for a transitional jacket - something better than the light summer one I've got but not as warm and heavy as my full on North Face winter one. I finally found one I like and remembered to Google for a voucher code which got me 10% off and I went through Quidco so will get 3% cash back. I know it's not much but I never normally bother checking for these things or think it's not worth it when actually the money is better in my pocket!

Welcome bear
For girlfriend
Gingerbread cake/traybake
Heat together 500ml of milk, 250g butter/stork and 2 tablespoon of honey until butter is melted. Cool down to room temperature, then add 1 egg. In a bowl mixed together 500g self raising flour, 250g caster sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons of mixed spice. (at home you can buy baking powder with gingerbread cake mix because we only use plain flour)
Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ones and then you can add 50g chopped nuts or raisins. Pour into a lined baking tray (20x30 cm) and baked at 180 C (fan oven) for about 35-40 minutes. Once cooled, spread thinly with jam and then with 200g melted chocolate.

bear welcome :)

Ughhh I went out in this torrential weather just to visit my patronising arse of a Doctor. But I grabbed a lift so it was free! Just phoned another surgery and I'm signing up with them for a new doctor. The receptionist said "we'll look after you, don't worry!" so I feel happier already.

Toddler group was fab! Even though I'm feeling poorly (don't worry its not a bug - its my two auto immune diseases)

Hello, I'd love to join if I may.

This is a new username as I de registered after the whole hack thing but I actually would like to join in and save money so I've created a whole special email set up etc. to mumsnet again.

We've just consolidated our debts so I'm looking at it as a lovely fresh start, I have grand ideas to save all our money and spend practically nothing but I'm really not like that when it comes to real life so I will be working hard to be sensible. I want to move house once we are all paid up so need to get saving to a) spruce the house up to sell and b) afford to move.

Looking forward to chatting with you all!

Oh no collie what happened?

£16.09. One more parcel to post and someone collecting the pushchair on Saturday. After all fees and post I'll have a profit of £95. This will go towards our Santa visit.

Had a letter through to remind us we only have two more payments left on our loan at £175 a month. Amazing.

Chicken Caesar salad and chips for dinner. Not v healthy. Chicken is left over from yesterday's roast I might do some stuffing balls with it!

collie you poor thing, not one, but two autoimmune diseases. Delighted your new doctors have put your mind at ease, sounds like you need someone on your side with regards to your health. And thrilled you are enjoying toddler group so much! I would have been lost without mine. Huge source of support.

Welcome bear! Nice bargains!

candy I've been exactly the same as you the past few years. Buying stuff because it was cheap or a great deal, not because it was actually wanted or needed. Spent a fortune on tat. So this year, I have picked what people are getting and looking for deals on that. Just keeping an eye on sales and discount codes. And I'm paying full price for most of the kids stuff, but it's stuff they really want and there will be less of it. Only a tiny amount of their piles from last year was even looked at, so I'm not going to do that again. I'm embarrassing at how much I spent. And it was all little bargains here and there that added up over the 3 or 4 months.

Sorry about the crap doctor, collie - it makes SUCH a big difference to your wellbeing to have a decent doctor on your side, especially when you have an ongoing condition. Well done for being proactive about getting a new surgery.

Excellent news spotty only two more payments - that's fab, well done :)

Glad the other surgery are going to help collie

Welcome bear and hairsprayqueen

Spent £15 collecting boots that had been reheeled. Should have been £19 but they were supposed to be ready nearly a fortnight ago and weren't so he knocked £4 off the price. Also spent £14 on top up shop as I forgot to order a few things. And £4 in Throntons on the first of Christmas shopping. Stocking fillers for DDs, chocolate slab in the shape of the Union Jack at £2 each.

I don't know what to do about Christmas shopping this year. So much money spent already moving half way across the world and there's a trip booked in November. Normally I would look forward to it, going to New York for an academic thing connected with DD's previous school, but it's all fecking money and it's making me feel ill. And DD1 wants extra pocket money for a spending spree she's not getting it. I anticipate DH will expect me to shop for his family because I'm "here" but I'm not doing it. I mean, what do you buy for hoarders people who have not a square inch of space clear everything?

Thanks loveto

Sorry to hear you're under the weather collie. The change in the weather is easing my system into winter mode slightly too fast I must admit. I've been cracking out the vitamin D suppliments and lots of fish, to try and jolly things along. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi bearleft love your username ??

I've just had to pay £1.11 for a letter that someone (my grandma, I'm guessing) has sent but hasn't paid enough postage on, 11p short and a £1 admin charge. Hate when this kind of thing happens!

When are HQ going to sort the app? Does my head in logging on via website

Thanks everyone! You are all so kind. My previous doctor was amazing. But he retired. I've had my current GP for 6 months. I have been feeling increasingly achey and really really sick. So I thought perhaps an adjustment in medication was required. My doctor says "hmmm well. You are never going to feel 100% well so I think it'll be a waste of time to adjust your meds"

£1 admin charge! candy that sucks.

I've wasted so much food on trying to get my sleep deprived DS eating today. I should have left it but he was obviously hungry and still refusing to eat. Normal temp etc . Going to the shop to get a sweet potato to add to a cottage pie.

I keep meaning to change my GP, the practice is good and she is nice enough but she just doesn't know enough about my conditions. Hope you're new one is better collie.

Hello! Can I join please? Looking at a bit of a tight few years when DC2 joins us in November, so would be great to pick up any tips and just have somewhere to check in and keep focused on watching the pennies! I tend to be good for a week or 2 and then slip up with unnecessary spends - nothing big but obviously it all adds up!

The thought of surviving on SMP and then nothing incoming from me the last 3 months of mat leave terrifies me slightly!

Oh dear collie that doesn't sound much good. I had to change my GP twice last year but my new one is good so I think it is worth doing it.

A lot of my friends seem to have autoimmune conditions now. It seems to the thing to have these days. I suspect that if I ever pluck up the courage to see a gastroenterologist then I'll find out that I have one too.

Hi all, welcome newbies

I have been to the Drs this afternoon for an embarrassing bodies type ailment Dr was very nice. i nearly passed out at the cost of the prescription though £8.20 ridiculous!

Ended up buying some 'posh' shampoo and conditioner whilst in the chemist that was half price that came to £6.50, plus some mouth wash to see if that helps with my mouth ulcers £5.

Ugh so thats £20 gone.

Oh well should be a few NSD from now on, will do a weekly shop on Friday.

collie that's an appalling attitude the doctor has, you must feel very let down ??

Love that recipe sounds amazing - thank you will def give it a go!!

£3 today on packaging for eBay sales. And 50p for a rank packet of crisps.

Busy day. Am still coughing (on week three now) and have made another appointment with my gp for tomorrow. So another £36 for them to probably tell me it's nothing.

Defrosted and emptied freezer yesterday. So tonight's dinner is a bit of a mosh mash of things.