Amazing April Austerity.

[CremeEggThief]

Hi All,
Taking the liberty of starting a new thread, as I went to post spends on the old one and it's full.

We had a lovely day out at the seaside and visited an old lighthouse as part of it. As we rely on public transport, that's always a big part of our days out spend.
£9.60 bus fares.
£9.60 train fares (with the family railcard).
£6 lunch from Sainsburys ( £3 meal deal each).
£4.50 entrance to the lighthouse.
£7.10 coffee, hot chocolate and cookies in a café afterwards.

Oh and DS needed a haircut, which I think was £6.50.

Dont

Head up & carry on.

So, how do you pay road tax monthly? I just got a letter saying that my car road tax is due, and I'm pretty sure that it offered 6 months or a year. I usually go for a year as it's a bit cheaper, but we have lots of expenses at this time of year, so I wondered about going for 6 months to off-set it a bit.

Also, the road tax rules change next year, don't they? And all cars will be the same amount (except something slightly complicated about new cars).

Morning all

Sun is shining here so plan to cycle to local park to meet a friend and her ds for a picnic.

Had a slow cooker disaster ystd, in a fit of enthusiasm I decided to get organised and prepare a chicken casserole last night for today iyswim. It started off looking great, I basically bunged in a load of chicken and veg with some red wine and left it. However after several hours it had turned into a kind of liquid broth that looked revolting I rescued what I could of it and will see if I can make a separate gravy later so it looks less like vomit and more like casserole!!

I am not sure slow cookers are for me though

Space

www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables/rates-for-cars-registered-on-or-after-1-march-2001

Ring them.

Thanks Fluffy, I'm going to think about paying monthly then. It would make things 'smoother' IYKWIM, and would work pretty well with the way I do my budget. Which is more a statement of affairs I think.

Thanks ipsos, I'm starting to look forward to getting her toilet trained, she's not ready yet but she is starting to understand she needs changing so that's progress.
Thanks for the voucher advice fluffy, think I'll use DD's nap time today to sign up to them all. I already use voucher codes which is good for restaurants I find.

Oh no, the road tax rules only change next year for new cars.

Definitely pay road tax monthly!

Oh girlie the park sounds lovely. We had slow cooked chicken casserole yesterday and it was wonderful. I always follow recipes as I'm not brave enough to go it alone . I bet DS won't eat it though.

space I had no idea it excluded new cars!

www.hotukdeals.com/deals/freebie-john-smith-s-golden-ale-500ml-via-checkoutsmart-1-65-morrisons-1-79-tesco-2427816

More free booze. KiKai is a legend at finding these deals.

Girlie Make it into soup?. Sounds like there's too much liquid in there. I drain everything, even tinned tomatoes.

Oh I bet that would be a yummy soup!

Just set up text notifications if my bank balance drops below £20 and I'll also get a text every morning with my balance. Good idea! Don't know why I didn't set it up before

I've just done car tax for my new car, when you do it online it gives you the monthly option. I just needed the v5 ref number or the number on the reminder letter.

Thanks What.

A gov.uk link about the changes to road tax

I've got rather behind on the thread, but as I'm reading about suggestions for clubs for MiniIpsos I thought I'd mention some of the clubs my DCs do. Badgers is the St John Ambulance club and although they do the running about stuff at the end, it's not much and even the very gentle introverted children seem to really manage well. They've mostly been doing art lately as they're doing their art badge. And it's crazy cheap too - our one is only £6 per child per MONTH!

Also, they do indoor rock climbing and trampolining. They are great for my two as they aren't really into team sports. DS in particular really struggles with that (due to communication difficulties) - used to break my heart seeing him try and join in football games with other five year olds in the playground each morning, but they wouldn't let him because he wasn't good enough. FFS. :( Anyway, these clubs are perfect for kids like mine, because they are individual sports - they are competing against themselves only as they try to complete their levels/earn badges, and they cheer the other children on with their efforts too, and while they have made friends with others there it's not pressured at all. It's been brilliant for their confidence and self esteem.

We are just heading off to Wales for the weekend.

I missed don't earlier Keep going, plod on if you can chuck but look after your health.

Girlie at the SC, sorry. I have had a few disasters in my time. I don't think I am too bad as a cook, but baking, never happens for me!

Dont I'm so sorry I missed your post too my gran used to say "keep on, keeping on!" I call days like that a "nil day". Just write it off and start again. And rest that foot ;)! I had a small op on my foot a few years ago and the wound refused to heal until one day a nurse put manuka honey on it! I was a bit but it actually worked.

Your little trip to London sounds so fun! And such a frugal win! Start planning for your trip away. I miss London so much. I cannot wait to take DS there when he's a tad older!

There's lots of secret / free things to do in London too! www.secret-london.co.uk/Welcome.html

Hope your day is getting better

Have a good weekend need!

Afternoon all, I have name changed, decided it was about time. New username has the same first letter as the old one if that's a clue at all!

Please can someone remind me of the survey site where you collect Nectar points?

eshops.nectar.com/dynamic/business/collect/e-rewards

Ignore the business bit, dhs card works fine on it.

Thanks fluffy!

I read here a while back don't things will get better in the end, if it's not better then it's not the end. It's a motto I try to apply to life in general. My other one is not my circus not my monkeys

Hi purple think we'll know who you are alright!

Lila - I love the not my circus, not my monkeys philosophy! It's a direct translation from Polish I believe.

Spends today :
€7 on lunch out with colleagues

€5 contribution to work collection for a big birthday for my boss, it's quite amusing really as no one likes him but it's the done thing so everyone feels obliged to organise it/ go along with it, albeit grudgingly.

€? I have to pop out shortly and buy a birthday cake too, I don't contribute to work kitty as I don't use tea, instant coffee, milk etc , and cakes are usually bought out of that so I'm going to buy this one myself as it's for my boss.

lilac I was just going to type out that saying too! It's the best.