Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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.

Original poster

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
CremeEggThief · 03/02/2016 19:04

I was just wondering where Collie is too. Hope she's ok.

Original poster
Ipsos · 03/02/2016 19:08

Collie! Where are yoooooooo!!!!!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2016 19:09

I was with bg via sainsburys and the only downside was they try to up your DD. I take weekly meter readings so I knew I wasn't using more. I would ring them and say not to.

£500 a year savings are not to be sniffed at. Have you got LED light bulbs?. They save you more than you'd think.

£5 in tescos but £2.60 of that is coming back as clubcard points.

Slow cooker returned but you have to have it as cash and I wanted my clubcard points back.

Luxy is also missing.

fuzzpig · 03/02/2016 19:17

Yay Girl :o I always get great present ideas on MN so it's good to return the favour :o or possibly it could be termed as being a bad influence, especially on a frugal thread...

Pointlessfan · 03/02/2016 19:26

I was thinking about collie too - where are you?
Feel a bit better and ate a tiny bit of pasta. Very tired though. Am going to take advice from my frugal friends and pace myself until I am properly better.

Allgunsblazing · 03/02/2016 19:29

ipsos, thanks :)
fluffy, do they call to say we're upping your DD or is it a 'surprise!!!'?
Yes, I have led/energy saving bulbs everywhere. I called my provider today, I am in credit by about £40, but it's all a bit scatty from their part. I did say I'm changing providers, didn't seem bothered.

Apparently the council tax is going up. Only 7p per week, so not too bad?!

I had a GOOD look at the accounts. Spotted a poor interest on one of my DD's accounts, shifted that onto a much better paying one (from .75% to 3%).
I bit the bullet and disturbed the apple cart: I dismantled some savings and distributed them into high paying accounts. They were gaining nowt on that one. They were on 1.65% interest. I moved most of it into 5%accounts. I suppose I have to shift my mentality in line with the modern world. Savings used to be sacred, didn't they, you had them in ISAs, you didn't disturb the nest. These 5% interest accounts don't last long do they, max a year.
Anyway, we'll see if I've done the right thing.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2016 19:44

It's by letter. It's all part of the dance to me.

JeepersMcoy · 03/02/2016 19:54

Dd's kindle arrived and I am just testing it all to make sure it works. I am absolutely not playing with her birthday present while she is in bed...oh no...certainly not [innocent face]

Spent a few quid on lunch and bus home today. Really need to have a nsd!

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2016 20:03

It would be wrong not to test it.

My dad tested db's car track so much it broke shortly after giving it to him. It was the 1960's though and he and the ndn got a bit excited.

babsmam · 03/02/2016 20:05

My two both have kindles bought cheap and they are great. 6 and 8 year olds.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 03/02/2016 20:27

Whoever was talking about fitbits/activity trackers the other day. Currys/PC World have the UP2 for £39.99 at the moment.

needastrongone · 03/02/2016 20:29

That's an extremely frugal day allguns Smile

Well done for the motorway driving Girlie. It's never as bad as we build up in our minds and spend days worrying about is it?

Amazon, £20 today, plus whatever the vet charges for a visit to dpony.

Been a frugal week food wise, so I have cancelled an Abel and Cole delivery for next week.

I've also opened a M&S savers account, paying a whopping 6% interest. Going to try and save an extra £250 a month.

We had ham and cheese omelette and sweet potato wedges for tea. Tomorrow will be bolognese or salmon. I have a risotto to do too. I'm covered for meals for a while to be honest.

Ememem84 · 03/02/2016 20:30

£36 at doctors. And some wicked crazy antibiotics. I have both a sinus and a throat infection. So that's awesome. I win!!

Signed off tomorrow. Dr said I'm to take a double dose of antibs tonight so might feel a bit "floopy" tomorrow. So to stay in bed/couch keep warm drink tea watch tv.

On way home I stopped in shop and bought biscuits magazines and crumpets. £10.60.

Am now tucked up in bed. Googling antibs.

Original poster
Ipsos · 03/02/2016 20:55

I saw those accounts need. Interesting! I have just filled in the form to get a 2.3% fixed rate bond with the Leeds Building Society. I like those. They need no work at all. Smile

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2016 20:57

Lots of people get ill after stressful times Em. You'll feel better soon.

Laska5772 · 03/02/2016 21:02

The lush grey boots arrived and sadly they dont fit Sad . I ordered the 5 and 6 but neither fit , the 5 is way too narrow and the 6 is more like a 7. So Poo.. thats those back for refund.. If anyone else fancies a punton them, look on the House of Fraser website in about a week (link upthread), They really are lovely boots for the right person..

so instead I have ordered another pair of clarks grey boots from a previous season from an ebay business seller , I know they will be ok as I already have them in black ..these are a bit cheaper also £49 inc postage .

Sainsburys got my spends today (should I get a nectar card ,is it worth it?) , £38.68 petrol .. a full tank! (it used to be about £50 odd, I wonder how long the petrol prices will stay down

£8 in sainsburys on food bits

and Blush another £30 in sainsburys on two tunic tops .. I should have just gone out , not turned left into the clothes bit

Well, the work/ redundancy situation rumbles on , but our team has been taken off the 'cuts' list and put onthe 'probably not this year' list .. so we have our fingers crossed , but we wont know until after Feb 25th .. slow torture..Sad.

Ooh need i must go checkout that M&S savers account.. What is it called? is it instant access?

Allgunsblazing · 03/02/2016 21:15

need, did you have to switch banks to get the 6%?
You see, I will never give up on FD, they are just fab! But their 6% regular saver (max£300 per month) is coming to an end (I opened it last may) so I am on the lookout for another good deal :)

Atm, I have have the Nationwide flexdirect, it offers 5% on balances of up to £2500. So if you're on plus all the time, this is good. It also gives you access to their regular saver, that's 5% for a year, but you can put £500 in a month and are no penalties.
given the choice, I would only bank with FD though.

Laska5772 · 03/02/2016 21:20

Ah, need this is the one where you need a M&S premuim account also isnt it ? isnt it £20 a month? Im sure I remember reading somewhere that the interest on the £3k you need to put in , only amounts to about what you pay for your current account .. ( I may be wrong here though, ive looked it up and it a 2012 articl e, perhaps its changed ? )

Ursulatodd · 03/02/2016 21:29

£22 on stuff and treats. It's been a good day!

Allgunsblazing · 03/02/2016 21:30

laska, see here

needastrongone · 03/02/2016 21:32

Yes, you do need to have a current account with them, I've banked with them for a few years now. Easily the best banking experience I have ever had. I have just checked on the website though and you can still get the savings account with the non fee charging account. Which explains why Martin Lewis was talking about it on the radio t'other day I guess too.

Max you can save is £250 and it's a years account, so you get your money and interest in a years time. You can withdraw but I think they pay lower interest, I'm not fully sure.

Martin also recommended Santander 123 or one of the building societies, can't remember which.

Laska5772 · 03/02/2016 21:36

thats the one Ithought it was.. I still cant see if it has a monthly charge though ..

needastrongone · 03/02/2016 21:36

ps - I pay the monthly fee, but opened the account when M&S had just come into the market and were trying to attract customers, so I get some additional benefits to the account no longer available, like travel insurance, phone cover etc.

needastrongone · 03/02/2016 21:38

There's 2 current accounts, one charges, one doesn't, the 6% savings account offer is open to both.

needastrongone · 03/02/2016 21:39

The words NO MONTHLY FEE in capitals are a clue Laska, have you had wine? Grin Grin