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Cost of living

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Friendly Frugaleers chat their way into February...

999 replies

Ipsos · 26/01/2016 12:51

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from last year Grin

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

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Thread gallery
8
Ipsos · 02/02/2016 13:55

pointless the NSAIDs sound very likely. Slightly TMI I know, but one of my friends has the same trouble and she managed to get something similar to ibuprofen prescribed as a suppository and it solve the problem.

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sportinguista · 02/02/2016 14:21

Well done for passing Em your treat sounds brill. I've had to ditch the diet coke as was doing waaay too much!

Fuzz teaching piano sounds as if it might be the right fit for you. There's a lot to be said for being self employed, I love it as I can choose when to work. I only take client calls in the day but I work when I choose and to fit around whatever I need to do. As a result I've been able to support DS with school far better than when I was employed.

A bit spendy, replaced some boxers for DS and bought olives in Waitrose (yes I know expensive, but they last all month) and DH prefers them as he's picky about his olives being one of them continental types Grin.

Ceiling disaster is only looking to cost us around £130 or less now which is a great relief. Especially as I've picked up some more work and will be able to cover the costs instead of having to use savings.

Will have to spend some cash on getting cat spayed and microchipped as she is getting really teenagerish and will need to go out and work off some energy.

SpottyTeacakes · 02/02/2016 14:21

Well done em!!

Oh pointless how horrible for you! I hope you feel better soon. I take NSAID's which are supposed to be gentler on the stomach called arcoxia?

Work was awful this morning due to a dr being off sick. Someone was rude to me and told me I wasn't being very understanding or helpful because 1) I wouldn't give her a same day appt (we were running emergencies only and I checked with the dr first he said Thursday or Friday so I booked her in Thursday) and 2) I wouldn't give her a copy of her blood results without asking the gp first (they were abnormal and it's more than my job is worth to give them out willy nilly!) I said she could collect them this afternoon but she wanted them NOW. Argh. Glad to be home.

Ipsos · 02/02/2016 14:27

Sorry to hear that spotty. People get really weird sometimes.

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SpottyTeacakes · 02/02/2016 14:31

I think I just ate some egg shell in my cake SadBlush

Ipsos · 02/02/2016 14:31

Extra calcium Smile

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Pointlessfan · 02/02/2016 14:36

Those are exactly what I have to take fluffy.
Your treat sounds amazing em!

lilacclery · 02/02/2016 16:34

Hi all WinkSmileWink

I've to read from page 8 to here before I'm caught up with you guys.

I haven't checked in properly since last Thursday

Obviously I'd spends because I was away but everything was saved for and we went €40 over what I had saved for our weekend away and I've €42 left in cash so I consider that breaking even Smile

We were conservative with our spending without being miserable about it

SlightlyTired · 02/02/2016 17:01

lilac well done on the breaking even! DH and I are going away for the weekend soon and I need to work out how we will stay in budget without, as you say, being miserable about it.
pointless hope the meds start working soon. Glad you prioritised the doc over the weekly shop. Smile
Spent about £5 this morning at school mums' coffee morning, but I can't usually make them because I'm working, and it is one of my resolutions to prioritise building new friendships, so fine with that. Also, was awesome coffee. Other than that, no money left my hands. Smile

wheelycote · 02/02/2016 17:12

Diet coke spend...some lovely people insisted I take some of their cooking for my dinner...was delicious. Frugal win.

Car hunting and narrowed down my budget and car type. Now its sifting through web pages and hitting the dealers after work tomorrow and Thursday. The knots in my shoulders will be happy once I've found a car and insuranced it. Will see if I can insurance it outright rather than monthly payments

winelady · 02/02/2016 17:20

I'm back Smile just done a massive catch up, congratulations to exam passers and get well soon to poorlies x Have been really busy with overtime and general life but have had time to work out all the planned big spends over the year and organise monthly savings to cover them. I've never done it before it's thanks to this thread which has really made me think about managing money. Thank you all

Ipsos · 02/02/2016 17:23

Welcome back Lilac. Did you make it to Cambridge? What did you think of it, if you did?

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Fluffycloudland77 · 02/02/2016 17:28

Wheely Don't forget the cashback sites.

babsmam · 02/02/2016 17:35

Welcome back lilac and nk.
Well done em

9.50 on foot unders for bare foot dancing

Just used the timer on my oven for the first time and so pleased I got it. It's a whole new world of cooking possibilities

fuzzpig · 02/02/2016 17:53

Ipsos I think you're right. I like the phrase 'going through a pipe' :o seriously though I really do think that in the end, this will be a massive positive for me. I've always pondered teaching but for various reasons never had the guts to do it until last year. I miss my job but I agree with my colleague who said this is a great opportunity to really begin to do what I want to do. :) :) I am especially excited about the idea of teaching a little class (and I had a LOT of interest - I put a post up on the local group, making it clear it was totally hypothetical for now) - dream come true :)

Wheely thank you for the book idea! I read the odd Huff Post thing on FB, and I know who Ariana is as she was on an episode of Family Guy :o I also must get round to reading Ruby Wax's book about mental health.

Oh noooo Pointless! :( Agree about avoiding particular foods - I had gastritis once (not to be confused with gastroenteritis) and IIRC I was told to avoid anything on either end of the pH scale, so nothing really acidic but also nothing really alkaline either. Apparently gastritis can lead to stomach ulcers if you don't do what others have said here, and treat the acid problem. So it may be that you've had that for a while, if these problems have been recurring.

DD really enjoyed her class today - creative writing. A bargain at £2.50 for an hour, and only 8 children in the group. :) Actually it was seeing this group that made me think of my own course idea. People have a passion and share it - it seems to work really well in our local home ed community :)

First oven pizza for a couple of years tonight! Excited! Just cheapie ones from the freezer section. Next time we'll make our own. Actually does anyone have a good recipe for pizza sauce please? I often just use ketchup :o but would like something healthier. I make a really good tomato pasta sauce but it's too runny for pizza really. I find neat tomato puree far too strong.

Ipsos · 02/02/2016 17:57

That sounds like great stuff fuzz. Well done!

I didn't know all that about gastritis either. I wish people would tell me these useful things. Doctors always just say "stress" to me.

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fuzzpig · 02/02/2016 18:07

Yeah I think doctors can be very dismissive!

SpottyTeacakes · 02/02/2016 18:16

£1.60 parking for half an hour (thieves)
£55.50 ferry to IOW for May.

Pointlessfan · 02/02/2016 18:21

Thanks for all the kind words. Am feeling pretty sorry for myself!
Didn't manage any shopping, DH got a Waitrose pizza on the way home. Will try again tomorrow!

Ipsos · 02/02/2016 18:23

Hang in there pointless. Tricky business this. The proton pump inhibitors work very well at least.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 02/02/2016 19:26

NSD. Curry was ok.

New internet starts tomorrow so I will have plenty of time to try something out of the takeaway recipe book.

Ursulatodd · 02/02/2016 19:41

Well done Em! Both for the exam and the frugal celebration! Pointless sorry to hear about your stomach troubles; my mum suffers terribly and it seems to be worse when stressed. I love spicy food and find it really hard to cut back!!

I spent £70 on Bluestone weekend deposit for next February! It will be my Christmas gift to my mum and although costing more than I'd usually spend, I think it is great value for money and my mum will feel really valued by being taken away. I think it's a great deal too - £200 for 3 nights in a 2 bed cottage.

£3.60 in ikea on some pickled herring for a school project and 60p on a hot dog for DD.

Frugal things: have packed for our holiday for next week and not a single thing is new! Made double for dinner last night so tonight was a quick re-heat in the microwave. Am just about to sit down with a cuppa and a hot cross bun that I sliced and froze last week when it was going stale - toasted to perfection!

JeepersMcoy · 02/02/2016 19:44

Gosh, we are all a poorly bunch aren't we with our various illnesses and whatnot. Fuzz it does sound like you have a lot of changes to think about, but you sound very positive and practical about it.

I had the sudden realisation today, while looking at amazingly expensive coconut milk yoghurt, that I could just get some yoghurt culture and make my own lactose free yoghurt for really cheap. I then realised that I could buy lactofree cream and make ice-cream! I have no idea why this has not crossed my mind before. I am soooo excited about eating yoghurt and ice-cream it is ridiculous. Just need to pop into holland and barratt for some culture :o

Spent £30 on groceries today but that should cover most things for the rest of the week. I also ordered DD's birthday present. Her birthday isn't until March but as i have dd's, dh's and my ddads birthdays all in march i am trying to spread the cost by getting presents in advance.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/02/2016 19:49

Would a tub of Swedish Glacé ice cream be cheaper though?. It's £2.30.

fuzzpig · 02/02/2016 20:07

Ooh what's DD getting Jeepers? I love hearing what DCs are getting for their birthdays and Christmas :) my DD will be 9 and her main present is a mini sewing machine. Also getting her a coin album (she has a few foreign coins and said she'd like to start collecting properly), she'd also really like one of those Project MC2 dolls but not sure if they're easy to get now. I love finding presents for the DCs though, I could easily spend a fortune if I had it :o

Need to figure out a birthday party too.