Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Thread gallery
5
Ememem84 · 29/09/2015 17:43

Spent £16 in fabric shop today on off cuts for my sewing class. Am going to attempt a Christmas stocking today. Got loads of fabric so pretty.

574ejones · 29/09/2015 17:43

£30 ish on entry and some fabric at the stitching show on Sunday. NSD yesterday and £4 in Greggs on lunch and cakes today.

How exciting for you NK!

OP posts:
fuzzpig · 29/09/2015 17:46

:o kind of glad it's not just me! I also feel slightly embarrassed about the lack of coffee, thinking maybe I should just get a jar of instant? DH and I don't drink it. My parents buy those fancy one-serve filter thingies to have when they are here, but they are quite pricey. Can anyone recommend a decent popular brand that I can just keep in the kitchen for guests please?

AAAARGH stressing as I realised another expense is due (and annoyingly it should be half the cost, but because DSD hasn't got this year's ID yet it has to be adult price ), that plus the last month's childcare is going to clean us out bigtime. Going to have to bite the bullet and dig into savings a bit. Bother. But makes more sense than sticking everything on the credit card, tempting as that is.

I just really want stuff to get sorted. I feel like we are in limbo (with work stuff mainly, although housing remains a black cloud over us! I started the 'medical needs' form yesterday which was unbelievably depressing) so I'm really stressing out. In mega pain this afternoon which isn't helping (and vice versa I suppose - body and brain are very linked aren't they!).

OTOH it's been a really lovely spending-free day - friend brought her DS to play in the morning, and this afternoon we've had loads of lovely snuggly home ed on the sofa.

Ursulatodd · 29/09/2015 18:14

fuzz that's what your savings are for! Please don't worry :) jones I pass a Gregg's every day at work - it has been my nemesis in the past! em I am a sewing disaster (baking too ipsos!) but love to fondle a gorgeous fat quarter ;)

NSD today! 'using up the stores' is going well, if labour intensive! Tonight is ham, pea and pasta frittata. We only have mixed frozen veg not peas on their own so I had to individually pick out the required amount of peas! The rest of the veg will be served as a side.

Q: I have some ham sandwiches made and frozen. I've never done this before and need them for tomorrow's lunches. Do I take out tonight and defrost in the fridge or in the morning to be defrosted by lunch time? Also, they are already wrapped in foil - do I leave them wrapped or will they go soggy? Thanks!!

Frugal win - I've been worrying about fruit top ups for our very low spend grocery week but today a neighbour has brought round four pears and there were a bowlful of spare apples at work so I've snaffled a couple of those too!

574ejones · 29/09/2015 18:45

Ursula my mum used to do this with our sandwiches. We used to take them frozen in the morning and by lunch they would be defrosted, I don't remember them being soggy.

OP posts:
babsmam · 29/09/2015 18:50

Ah fuzz hope you feel better soon.

It's a pain being large of nork. Cheapest bras are £32 and that takes some hunting for
Nsd

babsmam · 29/09/2015 18:52

I love baking and cooking just wish I had more time soon. I need someone to give me sewing and knitting lessons as haven't done them since school ahem twenty odd years ago

SpottyTeacakes · 29/09/2015 19:37

Spent £2 something in tesco.

Nk that sounds amazing!

NK5BM3 · 29/09/2015 19:41

Hi pink jones and others,
Yes it's a very real possibility. Dh and I were at swimming classes with the kids so we had 30 min to chat and he seems v keen to go for it. Smile Dh is from the UK, I'm not but this has really been my home for half my life. If this job becomes a reality, it will mean it takes me nearer to my family which is great. Given that my dad is getting old and his partner isn't v well (still v bad stroke etc) this would be a fab opportunity to be nearer.

Also my job although is great in most parts (5min from home, 5min from school) and I actually enjoy the work, I really don't like the support or rather lack thereof and the general culture of the place. I get on v well with most people including my boss but some of the support staff really just ought to be sacked. Some woman has just emailed me and the tone was shocking. I don't need this hassle and given that she's part of the reason why my life is so damn difficult at the moment, if I go to a bigger outfit, with greater support, it will be a good move. I just need to get shortlisted! I don't really know how this headhunting thing works. Well, the last time it happened, I interviewed and was apparently one of 4 candidates and I got the job offer. I don't know how many they approach, and how many actually make the cut. Or do they shortlist everyone they approach. That can't be right....? I mean if they approach 50 people globally and say 25 people respond... They can't interview all 25 can they? We usually only shortlist and interview 4!

Oh well. Spent £5 on car wash. There was a giant bird poo on it!

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/09/2015 20:09

You could always rent out your home if the mortgage company agrees. Our old landlord did that. He didnt get permission but who's quibbling?.

If you're in a touristy spot you could make it a holiday let. You'd be mortgage free in a few years doing that.

NSD.

This month I have a lot to pay out and not much income. I might have to park the broadband up and switch next month instead.

CremeEggThief · 29/09/2015 20:18

Gosh, that's big news, NK. Wow!

Fuzz, could you try either classifying them as acquaintances or putting them on your restricted list? Any children I'm Facebook friends with (DS, some younger cousins, some friends' teenagers) are on my restricted list, for example.

Today's spends:
£5 gas for the week, as the heating's still off.
£1.70 bus fare.
20p large envelope.

Collieputthekettleon · 29/09/2015 20:45

Had to buy 2 pints of whole milk because ours had gone off before the use by date. Confused
Also DH has popped to the shop for two sherbert fountains. We're feeling old skool. Will find out how much he spent shortly.

NK go for it! Sounds exciting.

That email you received reminds me of the time I received a really obnoxious message from a colleague so I replied with... "Looks like you need some email etiquette training. I have taken the time to collate some useful links which may help you" Grin went down so well. I even cc-ed her line manager for my own amusement. Apparently she spent weeks ranting about me.

NiceandaSlice · 29/09/2015 20:53

Ooh Nk sounds v exciting!
NSD here .

NK5BM3 · 29/09/2015 20:57

Oh goodness collie I would love to write that. She was rather passive aggressive and frankly, although I don't wish to pull rank, she works in a support function which is meant to support my work!!! I get on with everyone, from the caretaker, receptionist to colleagues and my boss. I never pull rank (I'm senior to you, do this)... This time however, I'm so tempted. She is only allowed this because she has the protection of her line manager. She's already managed to drive a vvv good colleague away....

Collieputthekettleon · 29/09/2015 21:01

Bit of a frugal win here. Found a Tassimo Costa Coffee cake recipe which I'm going to make with the pods I don't like. I bet the cake will taste amazing.

TheOnlyPink · 29/09/2015 21:16

nk sounds like the move would be fantastic for you all!

collie I hate those pods too. I bring my own coffee to my mums cos that's what she drinks! Hope the cake turns out well.

rivierliedje · 29/09/2015 21:39

NSD yesterday. Today spent 13.02 in supermarket and paid for holiday weekend with friends in coming May, about 55.
I have about 500 euros to survive until I get my first paycheck. Hopefully should be next week. And I don't need to spend any more money, I don't think, unless a bill comes in?
And my nan slipped 100 in my birthday card, which was lovely.

lilacclery · 29/09/2015 21:56

Going to throw it out there , have any of ye thought of mama fluff or mooncup? I've only recently got my first period in almost two years recently so going to wait for a few more before I do

lilacclery · 29/09/2015 22:09

pink fat cheese pay 50c per tesco online shop it's been months since mine were credited to me though

lilacclery · 29/09/2015 22:49

Frugal win this week Mr T gave me a free pouch of soup, unfortunately it contains wheat like most things so I won't be eating it, still it's a lunch sorted for dc someday

AuditAngel · 29/09/2015 23:41

Yesterday £54 on diesel plus £2.85 for a coffee. Can reclaim the diesel.

Today £69 in Tesco, but that included £10.50 on birthday cards for DH (plus one for sil) £25 voucher for sil and £20 voucher for niece's birthday.

lilacclery · 30/09/2015 05:43

Very little on groceries Grin

HairsprayQueen · 30/09/2015 06:31

Haven't spent much this week so far luckily but need milk and eggs today so will have a wander along to Lidl.

So cross that we spent so much right after we got paid this month, it's still not even October and then we still have 17 days to go.

Had a brainwave to get a refund on my Oyster card this morning. Haven't been to London for ages now and have a contactless card anyway. Was £9.60 on it and £5 for the card so better in my bank than theirs I guess!

rivierliedje · 30/09/2015 06:46

Got paid! Pheww. Now just to keep up the frugality to save for Christmas.

Ememem84 · 30/09/2015 07:07

ursula I had no idea what a sewing machine did until 3 weeks ago. So far I've made a cushion. A phone pouch and last nights creation - a drawstring bag. Very smug although I will admit my fave part is rummaging in the huge box of scrap fabric!!! I could just climb in and nap on it all.... wierdo

Today...hopefully nsd. Lunch is made. Walking to and from work. And hoping that my dr insurance refund comes through.

Chest X-ray results yesterday too - all clear. So first Dr was obviously right. It was just a cough. Phew.