Friendly Frugaleers chat their way into February...

[Ipsos]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from last year

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.

Right, I have now investigated prices, and checked that my bus card is still 'active' (though not topped up obviously)

I've worked out that if I stump up for a quarterly pass for myself, I'd only need to be out for 2 or 3 days a week for it to be worth it. And usually I use the bus more like 5 days a week. For me:
1 week pass is £18
4 week pass is £58
13 week pass is £148
Whereas even a short-hop fare is £1.60, regular is £2.30! A pass for the day is now £4.70.

By getting DS the ID card, I'll make £39 of the £50 back on one quarterly pass, as it's half the cost of the regular child one which I'd have to get if he didn't have it.

It's a no brainer really isn't it.

I don't have the money to spare to get it at the moment though, because the DCs' climbing and trampolining club fees are due (only twice a year but unfortunately it falls in January!). So I might ask mum if she would mind a loan, would give us a bit of breathing space and just take bus money out of the equation for a bit which would really help (my parents have always been fine with that - we virtually never ask, and always pay back, just in case anyone thinks I'm taking advantage!). If not I will get it on CC as I think even with interest, it's still money saved overall.

Either way, the plan I think should be to get my quarterly pass, as that's obviously the most expensive one and the most money saved IYSWIM. I'll send off for DS' ID card and then take it from there - although it would be convenient to have all the passes renewed at the same time, it might be better to stagger them so it's not as much money at once. So I might get DD's quarterly quite soon (need to get her an electronic card) as at only £39 it's manageable(ish).

Bit freaked out by the amount of money it's taking up front but it's got to be worth it hasn't it? Also, with the electronic card, it's safe if you lose it (they block it and send a replacement) so there isn't the worry as there is with the paper passes.

Definitely, Fuzz.

OMG, spotty. My old hairdresser was £49.50, for wash, cut, blow dry, straighten and full colour. The one in my new area, which I am very tempted to try, is £30 for all of the above. I don't think I could live down south again!

NSD.

OH MY GOSH

Sorry for harping on about this. But I've just looked through my spreadsheet, and if I include tomorrow's travel for me and DD (she has gym) it'll be a massive £125 spent on bus travel in 4 weeks! :( A tiny amount of that was DH but still, not much different if I excluded that. So it'd be say £375 or more a quarter - compared to £148 plus two lots of £39 if we did the electronic passes. Even with the £50 for DS' ID card, which is a one off (til 2019) it's £100 cheaper!

Why has it taken me so long to actually sit down and look at the figures for this?! I'm really glad I've been recording spends this month. I genuinely had no idea it was THAT much

I guess that is the biggest area where our money goes then - bus travel, and food. I'm attacking the food spends with meal planning, taking snacks etc, so it makes sense to attack the travel spends too. That plus getting our broadband/phone package sorted should save a lot of money.

Right, end waffle now sorry I really need to get off my bed and do some form of housework...

Bloody Surrey prices, if only I earned Surrey wages

Quite, Spotty!

Afternoon. I have already missed loads.

Welcome, Merciful and Mojito. This is a lovely, friendly place.

Thanks all for the birthday messages. We did go out for a meal, and it was lovely, but pricey at £140.00 for the four of us.

Fluffy I haven't looked at the coffee machine yet, as I've been working. I will report back tomorrow. Is your husband ok now then?

I'll check back in fully now

Lila Fluffy is correct, I have 8 chickens. Therefore, I obviously need every chicken related household item known to man, according to friends and family

That's definitely worth it fuzz.
A cut and blow dry at my hairdresser is £26.50 but I do go somewhere very cheap/no frills eg. Coffee.
Had great fun this afternoon with DD using her toy broom to knock balls through the play tunnel, toddler golf! Simple things!!

Well done for getting on top of that fuzz. It's alarming when the penny drops isn't it, and you realise where all the money was going.

I went to the dentist today. Job done.

Thanks folks it is indeed alarming! But also I'm happy, because suddenly I can see a way of saving a large amount of money in one simple way, rather than not having a clue how to reduce outgoings, IYSWIM. I guess I won't 'see' the savings in an obvious way but now I've added it up, I'll be able to reassure myself I suppose. Will talk to DH about it tonight.

The only possible drawback of having a bus pass will be that I'm tempted to just nip into town or the shops or wherever any old time, which may result in spending more money! But hopefully, if I'm strict with the meal/snack planning and using the whiteboard to schedule 'quiet days' then we should be ok. And it will be very very useful for the days when I'm struggling physically, not having to scrabble around for change to get somewhere.

Sounds like a really sweet afternoon Pointless :)

Got a pupil tonight, really don't feel well but only in an achy sense (as opposed to having something like a virus on top of the usual) so should be ok... think of the money fuzz, think of the money...

Defo no brainer fuzz. Ikwym about the penny dropping (pardon the pun)

Legoland booked and April good food show. Must have no more days off work it's too expensive.

Sounds as if it might also be good to give in to temptation and have wee trips our if it would give you pleasure Fuzz. Good luck with tonight's pupil.

You might be right there Ipsos I especially need more fresh air I reckon! :)

£37 in M&S top up shop, couple of dinners, lunches for rest of week, packed lunch/tea stuff for kids for tomorrow/Saturday, plus lots of fruit. Did huge shop 10 days ago and little since, will need a shop this weekend.

£3.70 on a DVD of the show the kids are about to take part in, so they can see what it is about.

Oops, forgot £45 on diesel but reclaim from work.

Got a call from the head of my department, I have been given a 3% pay rise which means £90 a month extra in my pocket. Very welcome.

NSD today. But I do need a top up shop tomorrow :)

Fuzz Sounds sensible to me.

Need. I don't like to optimistic, he's still here and that's good.

Welcome merciful and mojito.

£11 petrol.
£6 cooked turkey but I'll get £5 back off the cashback sites quidco and topcashback.
There was a coupon on caring everyday for £2 of aveeeno, aveeeno is £2 in morrisons so I got a free body lotion which is good because I was getting low.

My £5 a month phone arrived, have to say I'm impressed.

Oh here you all are!

Im just checking in ....

I need to go and look to see if my YNAB and bank are in order , then ill be back

Happy Birthday Need for yesterday ,

I need to keep all of this up , however I also have a new 'obssession!'which of course involves lots of internet noodling.. a new diet! (the blood sugar diet) , I have gotta get back into all the lovely summer clothes i have from the last one.. I am not buying any new ones..

However must not take my eyes off the frugal ball.. !

pointless toddler golf!! So sweet. I remember those days.
fuzz I would call that a win. Also, think of the angst you will save on should I/shouldn't I take the bus. My husband is self employed and takes the train a lot. I was so pleased when he got a season ticket because I no longer had to listen to endless train time and ticket type strategising to save money.
mojito I know what you mean about using something that automatically tracks your spend. I am at what my app is telling me, but I've never had this level of visibility before and it is going to change my life, I can tell. I'm crap at spreadsheets and pretty much in denial about spending and so this is all a bit of a revelation to me.
Was nsd for me as hoped. About to pack my lunch for the office tomorrow.

Anyone else bank with Halifax? Their site seems to be down (or on, but wont let you log in ) ! GRRR I need to get in to do my YNAB budget..

Slightlytired what app is it your using please? This sounds like the kind of thing that I would really enjoy!

I was planning to spend £8 today and ended up spending £59.....whoops!

In my defence I went out with MIL to B&M (haven't been before) and I found soooo many tins and jars at brilliant prices I bought those and then took them off my Sainsburys online order that's due to come later in the week (example 6 tins of Heinz tom soup for £2.50 instead of the offer price of 3 tins for £2 at Sainsburys - which before I thought was really good)
I also got 120 pampers for £10 in Asda and a new lunchbox for DH as the seal on his went this morning.
I did eat leftovers for dinner an DH is packing his work lunch for tomorrow right now :)

Another win today was the £50 Currys voucher I got when renewing my phone contract with Carphone Warehouse so I got a new iron in the sale for £35 (worth £70) and £15 leftover to go towards the next household item that decides to break!

NSD today.

I've decided I need something to do that isnt just working or home stuff. Preferably with some other people as I really am lacking any sort of social life or friends at the moment. The problem is it needs to be cheap, also I get super anxious in social situations so need something that isn't just walking into a room and saying 'hello! Be my friend!'.

All of which probably accounts for me having no friends. Oh dear..I have depressed myself now.

Hi all, welcome newbies

Fuzz that is a good saving re bus fares.

Spotty a decent hair cut is well worth the money!

Laska that diet sounds interesting, what does it involve?

Spends today £43 on petrol and some screen wash but no other spends.

Very annoyed with work as half of is didn't get any enhancements this month, would have been worth about £300!! Apparently we should get them soon but there were lots of very angry nurses this morning when we got our payslips!!

I have Halifax Laska....didn't have any problems this morning, but I have noticed a couple features get a bit stuck in 'loading' like when you click to get an earlier statement, theres just the circly loady symbol.

Maybe try on another screen? mobile if you're using a computer?

Scratch that Laska I can't get on now either ....

Jeepers is there any exercise type classes around you could do? There is a website called meetup.com which organises all sorts of meet ups like reading groups, walking clubs or pub quizzes.

Other wise is there something you would like to learn? Maybe see if there are any evening classes about?

I think with anxiety it is always a case of feeling the fear but doing it anyway and I say that as someone who has suffered with anxiety off and on for 20 years!! There is a book called Panicking about Panic by Josh Fletcher which is excellent and really helped me.