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.

I meant DH north, sorry!

Oh buggering bollocks, they voted the changes to the tax credits through. I'd nearly managed to convince myself that common sense might win and it would be defeated.

Have massively fallen off the frugal wagon over the last couple of days. need a few no spend days for the rest of the month though. And less buying breakfast and lunch at work while I'm doing extra hours.

Trying to make a decision about whether to take the extra hours as TOIL or pay. It would have been a no brainer without the changes to the tax credits.

I don't understand the tax credits thing. I'm assuming ours will probably just stop altogether...

Frugal win when the site was hacked I had the same email and password on my Sainsbo's account, so I changed. They've sent me a £15 evoucher to lure me back.

Have just given DDs money for school dinners.

£30 at Tesco today which included £2.50 for a dolphin kite in a sale after my dd managed to tie strings on the old one into so many knots nobody can untie them
Got the free magazine too and there is a recipe for Black velvet cupcakes using blackberries in the cake mix and also apple and blackberry jelly - I guess I shall be picking some at the weekend My Nan used to say "it will be a cold winter, when you get lot of blackberries"
Burritos or chilli and rice for dinner tonight, dc don't like chillies but they like Mexican food

We did well today - 3 adults at the Sea Life Centre for £32, it's normally close to £20 each. DD loved it, I am knackered! Will catch up properly tomorrow.

spotty my dds hair is similar. ...better not wake her up to prove it

90p on a soup at work. It's easy being frugal mon-fri, meanwhile my fridge is getting bare and the list of things I need to find and buy at the weekend is increasing. ...

As far as I can work out, I'm losing about 1.5k next year with the combination of lower threshold and increased tapering rate. That will still leave me with some.

Normally with the overtime, if I keep it to one side then I can use it the following year when it comes off my award and I still end up better off.

The decrease in threshold is making me panic a bit because I can't afford to push myself over the limit where I get none next year, because I'm likely to lose my eligibility permanently if I do that.

Thanks collie

need - the over spends are because I looked at my budget over the last two months and realised that I spend loads of money on ds and nothing on myself. I realised that I looked and felt like a washed out wreck as a consequence. So I spent a bunch of cash on new but not very extravagant clothes for my 40th birthday (instead of spending the day hunched in frugality-induced guilt, while dressed like a martyr, as I had previously been planning to do). Now I have several changes of nice new fitted t-shirts and a warm coat and a few other plain but good things, and I look much much better. But it's definitely having to come out of savings. There's no hiding the fact that I blew several hundred quid over budget. So I was just thinking that I'd better not make a habit of that.

It really sucks though, as I enjoyed spoiling myself very much.

Ipsos I don't think all childcare is that expensive esp once they start school, mine is only about £18 a week now!

I have had a very busy day, worked till 5pm, then dd had swimming at 6pm and then home tea, tv and bed! Think wed are going to be manic

I am hoping with my increase in hours I can massively reduce my dependence on tax credits before the Tories axe them completely!

Oh forgot NSD

For those folks with tax credit issues, may I ask if you are pleased about Corbyn getting in? I'm really thrilled that we have someone with a different view in the opposition now but I'd be interested to know what others think. It really worries me to hear how many people here are so extremely short of money. Thankfully we are not currently in that place. I'd be so glad if Corbyn could make the situation better for people in really sticky financial positions.

I like Corbyn but I can't see him being popular enough to become prime Minister unfortunately. So far from what I have seen I agree with pretty much everything he has said though.

I personally would have liked to see someone a bit younger and more charismatic to get the job as think they would be more likely to get in, we need a British Barak Obama!!

I am just so relieved that when I needed the TC the most labour were still in Government.

Good to know. I'm really interested to see how many of the SNP voters he gets coming back to labour at the Scottish elections next May. I think that will give us a really good idea of what he can do.

Creme I need some curtains, I'll try to find Tony's!

Today NSD so far, but about to go to 21st party at a bar, and having a babysitter. I made DHZ put money in the dark because it's HIS nephew and I'll have to pay the babysitter.

I paid £125 for dancing lessons on Monday and £50 for DD1 for fencing, she didn't get a place so I'll get that cheque back. Need to pay £60 for her Spanish lessons (DH is half Spanish, but has never been very good at speaking to DC in Spanish)

Babysitter was £50, bus fares were 2x£1.50, taxi was £10

But a very good night out.

Ipsos that sounds like a good use of funds to me.

I'm going through paperwork right now to confirm we will be paid what we are owed.

I've done the budgeting and feel much better than before. It's tight but manageable. There is an element of uncertainty because there is up to a 1/4 of salary each month that is not set in stone to receive.

Ynabers - do you work on buffer and pay down debt?

Aiming for another nsd today. As pp said it's easier when at work to not spend.

Aiming for bad today (will be my first in a while).

Am meeting a friend for lunch today, her treat as it was my turn last time! And dinner with parents at their place later.

Need to go to the post office for eBay sale £2.80 I think. That should be it for today

I seem to have got the first lurgy of term, so it should be a NSD for me.

Morning all. I fell off the thread earlier in the month. Sadly I had an early miscarriage :(. All thoughts of frugality went out of the window although tbh I don't think I've spent much as I hardly left the house for a week! I'm feeling much better now. I need to refocus on saving as some government announcements yesterday put DH's job in a precarious position. He's confident his job will be safe but I want some savings in case we need to relocate or tide ourselves over a period of unemployment.

Ursula so sorry to read that

ursula sorry to hear that. Hope you're doing ok

Morning ladies. Sorry to hear your news Ursula

Hopefully should have good day today. Am at work and DD at nursery so shouldn't need to buy anything. Just £2 for the rugby sweepstake at work - fingers crossed for a decent team!

Sorry Ursula

NSD.

Last winter I had some Next Denim Jeggings in a dark red. They were so comfy but I cannot find them anywhere. so sad because I could have either worn them or sold them if they no longer fitted.