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.

The banks have just had their fingers burnt with packaged accounts though haven't they? I'd imagine what they want is your mortgage account.

I wonder if they will suggest you borrow more for home improvements?.

Have you seen the interest rates London & Country are offering?. We need to re-mortgage in November and I am flipping terrified of the process.

what huge congratulations! Delighted everyone is safe and sound. Gabriel is absolutely gorgeous!!

peppa I bought piles of things I didn't need the past 2 Christmases on those bargain threads. Bought stuff because it was so cheap, not because it was needed or wanted! Only dropping in and out this year, as I've decided what I'm buying every one and will keep an eye out for deals on those.

I'm cutting way back on Christmas this year. Token pressies for the extended family, apart from my sister, who is an absolute God send and deserves spoiling a bit. And will stick to budget for the kids. No point spending hundreds when that money can be used to pay off debt or start the new year comfortably.
I am hosting dinner for 12 though, plus brunch for dh family, but i save my tesco vouchers until Christmas, so most of it is covered!

Nsd today, I've had the same ??15 in my purse since Thursday. It's a great feeling!

i'm being very restrained this year and i have told my brothers and SIL that they just need to buy for the kids.

we always host dinnerfor 8 and take along something to boxing day dinner.

not too mad on te food front but we do get treats. I will need more this year as DH is not off any of teh christmas period so i will be doing it by myself. The upside being full control of the remote for MY christmas night TV watching.

Congratulations what! he's gorgeous. Hope you're recovering well

My Dorothy Perkins order came today and its going straight back, so the good news is that I have money coming back, but the bad news is I still don't have any maternity jeans so it best still be legging weather by November.

Evening all...

Beautiful baby What - Congratulations!

NSD here. Travelled to work on my weekly travel pass, which saves almost 50% on what the cost would be without it. Took a packed lunch of egg salad sandwich, an apple, two satsumas and a packet of Asda own brand Lentil Chips. Total cost approx ??1. Made a quorn and spinach curry with rice and green beans for dinner.

DH and DS1 have gone to watch the local football team play tonight. DH has a season ticket and DS1 gets in free as he plays for the Junior team.

We save all year for Christmas, using a standing order into a savings account straight after pay day. I have actually used some of it already to buy the "big" presents - a second hand Xbox from Game for DS2, a bike that was reduced from ??500 to ??200 in Halfords for DS1 and a Hudl for DD that was paid for mostly with Tesco Clubcard Boost. So all I have left to buy for them is stocking fillers.

Beautiful baby what!! :)

Nsd other than cleaner money this morning. Went for a coffee but other person paid.

Do any of you ever do secret santa for christmas if you have such big families? I mean where each adult just has to buy for one other adult in the extended family, and that way everybody just gets one present, but everyone can sit together and all unwrap a present at the same time. If that makes sense.

Does anybody else get the fear at the sight of baby pictures? Mine bf'd constantly for four years to avoid meltdowns and never slept. Broody isn't really my major feeling on looking at baby pics now. (Eeep!)

I spent a ton of money today but I'm returning it all tomorrow, so only parking charges in the end. ??2.10.

What congratulation such a beautiful baby hope you are o.kay.

Ipsos I used to be the same as you and wonder why people moaned about Christmas being expensive, then my brother got married and had 3 children plus as dd has gotten older her presents have got much more expensive. I reckon on spending a minimum of ??200 on her this year, think have decided on getting her a Hudl 2 as been hearing lots of good things about it.

Another NSD today (other than school dinner and swimming money to dd!)

Hmm why is ?? coming up as ??

weird!

whatabout wow he is so lovely. I love having babies (though no more here). Well done to you and mr whatabout.
Nsd for me. Need to spend as little as possible for the next 9 days. It would be so much easier if dh were working away but he isn't. The dcs are happy with whatever alternative I offer ...if dh wants bananas, he only wants bananas!

Welcome all newbies. Your names were 2 pages back on this phone, sorry.
Pointless ME! I havehad this rubbish with Eon. They claimed I used twice as much gas in May last year as ?? did in the any of the winter months. I cant remember the actual charge but it was ridiculous for May....we weren't even here for one week of May. I complained and they said the graph accounted for adjustments between estimated and actual meter readings. I still wasnt happy but got so frustrated with it.
Has anyone joi ed one of these co-op type things via the council where they negotiTe bilk buy rTes for energy?i might look into it.

That's interesting about Eon ohhelp I haven't emailed them yet I must do that tomorrow.
No way I'm borrowing any more money at the moment fluffy. I'm not agreeing to anything to do with the mortgage until I've worked out if it's worth it with fees etc either.
Am getting a cold, I can feel it in my nose and throat and I've started wanting hot orange squash which is a sure sign. I bloody hate colds!

annatha New Look does loads of fab, inexpensive maternity clothes.

last year I had an (unknown to DH) ??3k cc debt, and panicing I called a halt to christmas presents altoghther (except grandchildren) . It wasnt too difficult as DCs werent going to be here, the parents dont really bother with presents and it was just us two for the day, so I said I didnt think it was worth it .. I did think Dh was cool with it at the time , but recently hes been ( wistfully) saying that he hopes this year we will have more of a normal Christmas.. Anyway, thanks to YNAB and the support of this thread I am no longer in debt , so im planning presents but am frugally determined not to go over the top - I have already bought a couple of things for this year .

I do have some savings now , but i think that i'm going to have some expenses in the next month or so because we have had some good news - my son has been unemployed for some time and has just got a job , which is great, but he's going to have to go through the transistion from being on benefits to earning which is going to mean a few weeks without money.. so i will have help him with some cash and rent i expect.. however if he does well, this will be a great new start for him, its been so difficult for him not having work..

That's great Laska, well done to your ds and you. :-)

Has anybody tried the Loop smart gas monitor and the electricity monitor that goes with it? I was wondering if it would help me get to grips with our energy usage?

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00K0HC6LO?psc=1

My Tesco bill came out at ??130 today. Eeep! I'm going to start buying meat in bigger boxes and then splitting them into several freezer bags and putting them in the freezer to thaw and use later. Maybe that will be better.

I'm not totally sure whether to cook and then freeze or freeze and then cook.

ipsos I definitely get the fear. I'm happy for the parents, but good God, I do not want to be them. I think when you've struggled with illness and parenthood in general, it doesn't have the same draw. I can't see myself ever getting broody again. I love my two to pieces, but goodness, I could never do it again.

We've sold enough on eBay and made enough on QuidCo to be able to afford a modest Christmas present for everyone. I'm going to embrace it this year. I'm not a Scrooge

I feel exact same as theonlypink ds was a twin which we lost early in the pregnancy, I also had a pph after having him so most of my mat leave was spent just recovering. I love my two but definitely not going there again!! I think babies are lovely but I'm delighted to be done with them.
Not too religious here but if you could all keep ds in your thoughts on Friday as he's having surgery, he's only 22 months. Nothing to worry about but surgery all the same.
Started listening to ynab podcasts this evening.

Aw lilac will be thinking of you and little one of course. Hope all goes well.

Welcome to all the newbies. Exciting, a baby, yay.

Nk5 your tax under PAYE can be wrong if you have any benefits in kind, previous under payments, additional allowances.

Yesterday ??25 for a costume for DD1 secondhand from another dancing mum. ??1.20 on a water each for DS and DD1 after dancing.

Today ??7.50 parking at the hospital because I lost my ticket. Probably because I saw an old man struggling to put a mobility scooter into his car and rushed to help. I am annoyed, but don't regret it. I am so careful usually, I always put the ticket in a certain pocket of my bag. I'll get my reward in heaven.

??5.99 on a slimming world cook book, plus ??4.99 meeting fee (lost 1/2 pound even though I had my sister's wedding-very pleased)

??24 in Tesco, lots of fruit, some salad and cottage pipe of tea.

I don't know why my pound signs are so unsure of themselves? The water was 60p each,

what congratulations

ipsos we've only been here since Jan but DH is from here and we have visited lots. It doesn't feel like home but then I haven't lived full time in the UK since I was 10 and so no where really feels like home!

Yesterday I spent $60 getting milk and bread and stuff we were out of like tooth paste. I bought own brand only and checked unit prices. Wish we lived near an Aldi or lidl.

Sports day was sweet. The kindy kids ran one race and everyone got a ribbon. DD was then convinced that she won.

NSD today. Tidying up and then making a box of cake mix that I won at the last good food show cake with the dc

digger I'm also a "nowhere feels like home" lady. It's exhausting being so unsettled.

LSD. Need ??3 for the bus