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Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

September savers/frugaleers continue into October

999 replies

574ejones · 20/09/2015 17:43

All welcome!

OP posts:
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TheOnlyPink · 24/09/2015 13:22

The room hasn't been started yet Angry the lovely new picture has just shown me how dirty and shabby the paint work is. We've lived here for 7 years and have done nothing to the house. To be fair, it was immaculate when we moved in, it had been freshly painted to sell, so we just left it. But after 7 years and 2 kids, it badly needs redoing. We haven't had the money all along, but of course, after hanging out here, I realise we did have the money, we were just squandering it on stupid things. €30 for a tin of paint was too much, but €20 on lunch out 3 times a week was fine. So definitely stopping that kind of thinking, and spend money on things we will actually enjoy and increase our quality of life.

lilac great you got the presents sorted in Argos! I buy books for everyone too, and love when my kids get them. Children's books are really expensive, and are things I wouldn't buy often, so like when Christmas comes around and they can refresh the bookshelves!

TheOnlyPink · 24/09/2015 13:22

That angry smilie was supposed to be Blush! I'm not cross!!

Whatabout · 24/09/2015 13:38

Just ordered £130 worth of clothes from sainsbury. Most for me and then a new coat and Halloween costumes for the kids. No doubt some of it will end up being returned, but feeling a bit surprised at how much I spent! Also spent £30 on the works, includes a scooter for DS1 for Christmas, this has two wheels at the front so DH says it will be easier for him than the one he has now. I'll eventually have two scooting so it won't go to waste.

Whatabout · 24/09/2015 13:41

Pink - we have that mentality too, we can't afford to paint the hall, but happily have been throwing away money on food out and stuff we don't really need. Now I'm questioning my clothing spend. I'll have to really justify it when it arrives!!

BoogleMcGroogle · 24/09/2015 13:42

I haven't posted in the last few days, but I have been following people's progress.

I had a slip on Tuesday in Sainsburys and spent £22 on one of those lovely cast iron casseroles and a trivet. In my defence, it was half price, and I had actually been considering getting a (massively expensive) one from the Le Creuset outlet.

There's lots of half price cookware/ kitchen equipment in Sainsburys at the moment, if anyone is in need of anything. The cast iron cookware is lovely and the quality seems good for the price.

Apart from that, it's all been pretty low cost for me this week. I didn't like any clothes in Sainsburys and Boden contacted me to let me know I hadn't updated my payment details, at which point I decided to go somewhere cheaper for DDs top and not bother with a dress for myself. That is unusual for me and I think means I'm making progress with controlling my spending.

And soon I hope to be a little better off as I've managed to sell my house! This is a little cottage I lived in before moving in with DH (we lived separately for a long while, even after DD was born), but it's become a bit of a burden. It's rented out, but we've always ended up worse off as it's needed lots of repairs and maintaining between tenants. Our (lovely) tenants move back to the US in December and the owner of the house next door has offered to buy it to let out, so as a private sale there won't be any agents fees. I'll be sad to see it go, as I was really happy there, but it will help with getting our family finances on track. I'm determined to not even see the money, but to put it straight into our mortgage here.

Looks like it's going to be a lovely weekend (at least South-ish). Here's to lots of lovely (and free) Autumn walks and home in time for tea and Strictly :)

SpottyTeacakes · 24/09/2015 13:42

£67 in sainsburys. Ouch. Dh will pay some and it was budgeted for as poor dd has no clothes and mine and dh's pants all have holes in them!

BoogleMcGroogle · 24/09/2015 13:54

Spotty is it still 25% off. Bet you got lots for £67!

SpottyTeacakes · 24/09/2015 14:15

Yes it is. I got dd four long sleeved tops, a jumper, four pairs of leggings, ds socks, dh tracksuit bottoms and boxers, me knickers plus two birthday cards and some stuff for lunch

Collieputthekettleon · 24/09/2015 15:43

ipsos thanks for the link. Will give it a read after DSs bedtime. Love having interesting stuff ready to read in the evening.

Frugal fail: should have done a cupboard / freezer inventory. I think I have enough here for half of next week. I could saved quite a bit. We have loads of tea and I ordered a big box of teabags too! I should have checked. At least it'll roll into next month and help.
Just put chilli in the slow cooker and ginger & raisin flapjacks in the oven. Mmmmm autumnal Smile

annatha · 24/09/2015 15:54

£13 in tesco on lunch and a bottle of milk earlier. My hospital appt was almost an hour late and so we were rushing to get home so dh wouldn't be late for work and had nothing quick to eat at home.

CremeEggThief · 24/09/2015 16:47

NSD.

574ejones · 24/09/2015 17:47

£4 on much needed bottle of red and whilst in Lidl, picked up the voucher. Reckon I could pick up another actually as usually shop on a Saturday.

Picked up my Next order and the dress is ripped but repairable. It was in the clearance so I may see if they will knock some more off for me.

OP posts:
blueteapot · 24/09/2015 18:05

Hi all, £3.80 today which took me, DM and the 2 kids swimming :) tomorrow will be spendy, I have a course in Belfast on Sat and DH works up there so we have decided to treat ourselves to a wee hotel stay / dinner tomorrow night - £84 for the room, not sure how much the rest will be.

A chunk fell off one of our exterior windowsills today (it was cracked and DH knocked it bringing in the bin) so my go to tradesman guy was out measuring up a repair. I had put a pin in renovations for now but theres always something!

Yesterday spent £20 on a gro clock which the HV (who is apparently also a sleep consultant) recommended for DS and his ridiculous sleep... last night we were getting used to it so tonight Im saying is our first real 'try' with it... hope it wasnt just a waste of 20 quid but TBH we are at a point where Id try anything! any success stories?

Girlfriend36 · 24/09/2015 18:09

Hi all Smile

NSD - yay and pay day tomos - double yay Grin

Me and dd are completely knackered as she woke me up at 2am having had a nightmare, against my better judgement let her get into bed next to me and then couldn't sleep as she kept kicking me in the back Hmm think finally fell asleep at 5am and was up at 7.30 for work Shock

So looking forward to going to bed tonight!!

Sainsburys have sent me a £12 off £60 send voucher so will try and use that, will prob get dd a halloween costume there as well.

SpottyTeacakes · 24/09/2015 18:24

Argh the only mum who talks to me at school is moving away and it's dd's best friend! Dd and I are both sad Blush oh well suppose I've got a second chance with ds starting pre school...

Girlie I'm looking forward to pay day tomorrow too! I got an £18 off £60 online shop for sains but will probs still go to lidl this week and use it for the week after

babsmam · 24/09/2015 18:36

Picked up a load of lidl vouchers for people at work and spent £2.50 on breakfast for the team as the bakery smelled lush.
£18 for tea at the leisure centre as late back sorting swimming.

Yes creme I think we do live near.
Anyhow dd not moving up but I know why, she hasn't refined breast and butterflies enough. Have rebooked but am considering a few 1-2-1 if her instructor has spaces. Thanks for your pov everyone
They have charged me less for DS this block cos of his leg though. £20 saved.

Girlfriend36 · 24/09/2015 18:48

Am nodding along with the slow progression up the swimming groups posts, dd has just got her level 6 yesterday but this is only after I kept prompting the swim teacher. She needed to do the butterfly and swim in her pjs!

I find they are a bit slack on letting me know what it is she needs to do in order to go up to the next level, I only found that she needed to bring her pjs in from talking to another mum!

Had a really nice and fairly cheap roast dinner tonight, used chicken breasts that had been on offer, morrisons own roast pots and veg. Gravy was Bisto as could not be bothered to make my own!

TheOnlyPink · 24/09/2015 18:50

spotty that's awful!! It's really horrible standing at the school by yourself. I've built up a few at ds 1 school, he's been there for 4 years, but at ds 2 preschool, everyone seems to know each other and I'm just standing there. I've started to butt in a bit, but it's really hard. And your poor dd, so upsetting for her.

babs I really rate 1 to 1 lessons. Seriously pricey, but they come on leaps and bounds in a very short time. Ds 1 has special needs, and started with a fear of the water. A year of lessons and he is a strong swimmer.

what sounds exactly like me. Was beating myself up over buying expensive winter shoes for the boys, but would happily spend the same on rubbish.

Passthecake30 · 24/09/2015 19:10

spotty you're in good company, I'm a billy-no-mates at the gate too. People do speak to me....until someone better comes along!

£12 Turkish for lunch. Frugal as I am so stuffed still I may never eat againBlush

SpottyTeacakes · 24/09/2015 19:13

Shame you're not closer pass!

LittleMissLady · 24/09/2015 19:42

£36 in lidl today on stuffed needed and not needed.
Kids needed wet wear for the winter and they started an offer on that today so I got that.
Very proud of myself for resisting their stollen and panettone. God knows last year I was addicted to them!!
Have marked a date in my calender when I can go and buy one!! 1st December

Bought a Christmas present yesterday for £17. Just under budget yay
Am almost halfway done for Christmas now!

Aiming for NSD tomorrow. And hopefully for most of the weekend!!

SpottyTeacakes · 24/09/2015 20:01

EWFL!

babsmam · 24/09/2015 20:02

Sorry to hear that about your yard buddy spotty.

TheOnlyPink · 24/09/2015 20:05

Small frugal win, went to return one of the shirts I got for dh in tesco earlier. It had 25% off, but they refunded me the full price. It's only €2.50, but every little helps! Wink

Whatabout · 24/09/2015 20:08

So today has been quite spendy, but I have accounts to cover it.

£130 on clothes for me and kids in sainsbury
£55 on DS1 in the next sale - all his summer cloThes for next year and of course they will be used again and then sold on.
£30 on the works on scooter and colouring books

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