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Original poster

October continuing into Novemeber frugaleers part trois

989 replies

Lovetoknit · 21/10/2015 12:46

Hope it's okay to start the new thread since the other one is already full
£1 at Cornwall Ambulance shop for 3 books for dc after I dropped off my old slow cooker and some books and £1 at Prospect hospice for some wool and fabric
Just made cauliflower cheese with some bacon and cavolo nero for dh who had it for lunch and there is enough for his dinner too, the rest of us are having homemade burgers, buns and wedges

OP posts:
Girlfriend36 · 31/10/2015 20:51

Evening all, went to the local museum which had a Halloween event on which cost £4, bought hot chocs for me and dd which was another £4.50 ish. Not sure will bother another year as felt dd rushed round as was only really interested in coming home to go trick or treating!

Got a fair stash trick or treating which dd has made a good effort in getting through most of! We have only had one set of trick or treaters here and so still have a massive bowl of sweets.

The fireworks seem to have started early this year and both cats are completely terrified Sad

ipsos · 31/10/2015 21:01

bbc Excellent! I'm glad that my printer habits are working out for you too. It's a bit of a family failing here. DH had 22 computers when we moved in together. Dh thinks I am a bit too interested in printers.

ipsos · 31/10/2015 21:26

Tomorrow is the last day of the month, and so an ideal day to do a huge grocery shopping in order to make next month's numbers look really good for the first 29 or so days. Smile Tesco order time for me...

lilacclery · 31/10/2015 22:04

ipsos pretty sure tomo is 1st Nov!!
Just completed my tesco order and know I will probably need more during the week but stocked up on washing powder, fairy liquid, cleaning supplies, etc

SpottyTeacakes · 01/11/2015 06:06

Happy November everyone. I'm going to do my end of month expenditure and edit my budget as since I last did it we've had quite a few changes (swimming lessons, dishwasher payments, Sky reduction, rent increase).

Should be nsd and I'm doing a roast dinner Smile

babsmam · 01/11/2015 06:19

£21 on a takeaway.

Will be a spends day as going Christmas shopping and plan on getting quite a few bits. Come home and order the rest on line. Won't be all my money though as grandparents have given me a budget too.

Is it worth waiting for the kindle fire kids on Black Friday or cyber Monday do you think?

SpottyTeacakes · 01/11/2015 06:23

Hmm I don't know Babs it's on at a really good price right now. Why don't you look on camelcamelcamel and see how much the equivalent went down to in November last year?

I've got a headache again Sad

babsmam · 01/11/2015 07:05

Oh no spotty that's rubbish .
I know it is a good price, will camel it

Badders123 · 01/11/2015 07:08

Spotty...sorry you are still feeling poorly.
I'm supposed to be put for lunch today - paid for by someone else - and I really don't feel.up.to it.
I love my kindle fire - the kids ones look.fab. I think amazon may do a buy 4 get one free deal - like they are with kindle e readers atm.

ipsos · 01/11/2015 07:27

Lilac you're right! I just got in under the wire with a tesco order submitted yesterday. :-)

Sorry to hear about the headache spotty.

Pointlessfan · 01/11/2015 07:46

We had no T or Ters last night either - will take all the sweets I bought to school for little prizes. We took DD trick or treating to a few select neighbours and she loved it!
Should be NSD today, going to either NT place or park this afternoon for a walk.

Collieputthekettleon · 01/11/2015 07:47

NSD today hopefully! Smile

Happy November everyone.

AuditAngel · 01/11/2015 08:28

I bought a few Christmas presents yesterday, £21 for 2 presents plus part of a third present. £169 in Tesco (Sainsbury's voucher had expired and I realised I needed the shop to make DD1 a packed lunch today)

£13.56 on a McDonalds on the way home from Trick or treating, friend had said she would feed the children, but I think she forgot as fed hers before we went out. (She does forget things but is incredibly generous, so I don't think it was deliberate) also, once we got back to hers the 5 kids together were a handful, so better to split them up!

blueteapot · 01/11/2015 08:46

Just lost a long post (lucky you lot not having to read it lol!)

So much to catch up on, the frugaleers are a busy bunch!

We have ended up with 3 huge tupperwares full of halloween trick or treat sweets. Mostly from my very generous older brother and his wife who turned up with a box the size of a crate of wine full of chocolate and sweets for the kids...! [Shock]. DH is going to take some to work I think, its far too much. Kids really enjoyed halloween party and fireworks at MILs.

Been doing a lot of cooking / baking. DH and I have decided to go more vege / fish to eat more healthily, and it also seems to be a lot cheaper which is a bonus :) (think helps that things like chickpeas are 35p in lidl!)

My best friend and her hubby are coming from london to stay next weekend yay! Its been a year so will be lovely to see them :) they have expensive taste though so Id better get planning :/ normally we do meals out but with 2 kids in tow who definitely wont do well in restaurants Im afraid it'll be my cooking instead (which should be cheaper!)

needastrongone · 01/11/2015 09:18

Gosh, have only been away a day and I have lost sight of the thread!

£169 at Tesco audit Shock

Sorry you feel bad again spotty

NK I honestly do feel like that about my DH at times, and sometimes it bubbles over and feel as pissed off as you.

We were out at a competition all day yesterday, it was a long day. However DD and her partner rode an age group higher than they normally do, made the A final and came 2nd, which is astonishing and I am so proud of them both.

Meal plan

Lemon and thyme chicken and roasted winter veg.
Chill or lasagne or bolognaise
Soup
Veggie or possibly chorizo lasagne
Fish, not sure in what way
Risotto

After the initial start to the month being expensive, this week has been much less so, so happy with this.

Ursulatodd · 01/11/2015 09:27

ah, love a 1st of the month! My only target this month is to change my spending attitude. I've really slipped from incredibly frugal to slightly reckless. A few examples...booking a cabin for a day ferry crossing rather than finding a seat; buying lunches for day trips in half term rather than organising picnics; deciding that I need a new phone and a new kindle at the same time (kindle is essential as it's actually broken, phone could wait but I want it now!!!). I feel like because I've stopped sweating the small stuff the big stuff doesn't feel so important either. We have spent the past year saving like crazy and DH has just had a bonus. A cushion of savings means that 'the fear' is reduced ergo I feel like we're safe to spend.

So, november's goal is to start looking after the pennies again! Dd has a party this afternoon and we already have a present and card in the stash. I need to do our weekly shop - will budget £30 in Aldi today, £10 for top ups through the week and £10 to buy ingredients for a Thai curry that I'm making next Saturday night for a friend who is visiting (have invited her for dinner rather than going out = frugal win!).

northender · 01/11/2015 09:44

Blimey the thread is moving fast!
need well done to your dd.
Home from holiday now so need to get fully back on track. At the end of our holiday we empty the cupboards and try to split the leftover food/drink fairly. This time, most didn't seem to want to bring much back so I ended up with lots of bits and bobs. As well as making frugal sense, I just can't bear wasting food.
Today I need to meal plan and then make a list for an Aldi shop tomorrow. My mum has invited us over for tea tonight so that saves me a job. Also, need to make sure we get up to date with washing and have everything ready for back to school tomorrow

Ememem84 · 01/11/2015 09:58

Yesterday's spends were £30 for riding not £25 as my instructor changed my group lesson for a private lunge line. Made me do rising trot no stirrups no reins. So today my legs are aching.

Staying in today. Have cleaning washing and ironing to get done as well as some study.

Dinner at parents tonight so will walk up there later.

November goals for me:
start Christmas shopping
Finish month with zero (or as close as possible) balance on credit card
Meal plan
Sell more stuff on eBay.

SpottyTeacakes · 01/11/2015 10:12

So October came out £239 under budget. Our overdraft is still maxed though Halloween Confused hopefully it'll work itself out. Must remember that our old overdraft was £500 and this one is £200.

Collieputthekettleon · 01/11/2015 10:43

spotty do you get charged overdraft fees? We do (even for an arranged overdraft) & I'm utterly terrified of it. Blush

Eco and frugal fail - just took a few bits to the local recycling centre even though we could have made about £15 by reselling it. I just couldn't be arsed with eBay, FB or Gumtree. And knowing the spare bedroom is free from clutter is good for my soul.

blueteapot · 01/11/2015 10:50

You are doing well spotty! At one point a few years ago I was 2k into my OD if that makes you feel any better. When I got paid it didnt even bring it back to zero! :/ presumably it took a while to build up so it'll take a while to get rid.

Mm I might put thai curry on the menu for next weekend, thanks for the inspiration ursula!

ipsos · 01/11/2015 10:53

The financial times have come out with a new thing called @ftthrift on twitter which is a place for everyone to contribute ideas on living frugally. I'll keep an eye on it and report back.

Ememem84 · 01/11/2015 10:55

I have reduced my overdraft to £750 although haven't used it for a while so that's good.

I'm now more cautious and since putting credit card away a few weeks ago am thinking about my spends more.

Have 2 items on eBay which will sell today so hoping the rest of them go.

SpottyTeacakes · 01/11/2015 10:59

Collie we do but it's minimal. I lied when I said its maxed out. We are actually in credit but tomorrow when the rent, electricity, council tax and car tax come out it will be maxed until dh gets paid on the 5th. Oh god I hope it's not tv licence month too Confused

Ememem84 · 01/11/2015 11:57

Spotty have you looked at paying to licence by direct debit every month? I think it works out slightly cheaper this way...but don't quote me on that.