Frugaleers chatting and saving into August...

[ipsogenix]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

Useful links 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.

all bad luck about the freezer. Hope they sort it asap for you!

Interesting about the wasps!

I've just made a frittata with peppers, tomatoes, onion, peas, courgette, cheese & Paprika. Lovely & easy.

I know you weren't lilac

trying my chef dh says you have to blanch fresh veg before going to the freezer because otherwise they are bitter when cooking. Remember that coriander can't be frozen only dried. Frozen coriander develops some kind of poisoning thing which gives stomach ache.
Cag: gel well soon
And em hope they flight went well, enjoy Italy. It's wonderful...

Went to my great grandparents today to help with polishing windows (or in fact dh did it and dd and me entertained them ) and then took them to the grave with flowers from our garden. Then went past my grandparents on the way back with berries from the garden somy grandmother and dd made berry muffins and old fashioned berry oat, so nsd here
Snugly: dosent the council pay for the removal? They do here if it's located inside the house.
All: most insurances covers the food lost if a freezer is broken down. So perhaps check them a swell

Hi all, we are back from our few days away.

We have had a good time but am slightly scared to check my account as think have probably spent a fair amount. We managed a trip to Ikea and I came out £140 poorer did get a fair amount for that though including a storage cabinet, 3 blinds, lamp for dds room, 2 lampshades as well as lots of bits and pieces.

Other spends included dd doing Go Ape which £18 (pricey but she did enjoy it) petrol £40, day out at a lido £20 and food probably £30 ish. We stayed with friends so no accommodation costs and my friend kindly paid for us to eat out twice which was very generous of her. We saw the show Cats ystd in Southampton which was amazing, dd loved it had paid for the tickets ages ago so no cost there other than ice creams for 3 of us £7.50!!

Oh well, we had a good time but back to reality now, will catch up on thread over next few days - hope everyone is o.kay?

Em just reading about your flight anxiety - I can totally relate, I hate flying and was extremely anxious when we flew to menorca recently. Not sure what the solution is though - sorry I think its probably just a case of feel the fear and do it anyway.

The best book on tackling anxiety I have read is called Panicking about panic by Josh Fletcher, its really practical and down to earth advice.

Very spendy day here, but all necessary.
£14.37 Aldi but I stocked up on toothpaste and cous cous because they were both reduced
£59.66 on diesel but car was running on fumes
£24.35 in Tesco for things Aldi don't sell. ( and a birthday pressie for DGS which was reduced. I persuaded them to knock another 10% off because the box was damaged) £6.25 of it was for stuff for friend and she gave me the money. £98.38. 😧

Bad luck about the freezer, all. That's a really good point about house insurance, will see if they will cover it. Just pulled changing mat from under DD's bed and she was just about to lie on it when I spotted a huge wasp.
Was meant to make frittata for tea but nausea is hideous and I just couldn't face it so DH made DD fish fingers, mash and veg and I have no idea what we're going to have. I just want cream crackers really! On a frugal positive the midwife gave me some free vitamins.

All bad luck about the freezer, snuggly I hate wasps so I feel your pain!
Sorry so many are feeling weary, the school holidays can be hard work.
Thanks collie I am resting up but trying to make progress at the same time, a difficult balance at times. I've had a couple more visitors today, more flowers and a£50 voucher from the committee & some of the members from the cricket club. People are so generous & kind.
Had my hair done today which was lovely and the builders were rained off so it was quiet here. No other spends today.
Spoke to the holiday insurance people & apparently the claim is just awaiting final approval & then there will be a cheque in the post... Yay!

Boots have stopped their NHS discount

That nausea sounds tough Snuggly, how many weeks are you now?

I'm busy redoing my YNAB budget; our hot water tank is leaking and we are having a new one fitted next week, so major rejigging of budget required .

Glad you had a quiet day and that your refund is going through as it should, North.

Spends: £25 gardener, £4.20 window cleaners, £2.90 bus fare and £15 on a meal with a friend. I had a spritzer, veggie enchiladas with chips and salad and mango cheesecake with ice cream and a cappuccino. Absolutely delicious and completely stuffed now.

Ginger biscuits are supposed to help with nausea, or wearing wrist bands used for travel sickness?

I bought ds a toy cash register today and he is having a great time selling us things from the kitchen cupboards. It's good to see him getting a better grip on numbers from using it. When we started, he couldn't give me change from a tenner if I paid £6 for something but now he's confidently handing out change from a tenner from £5.99. Feeling quite good about that.

Place marking as have read up to here. AGenie what had you up posting at 3.21?

€18.50 on takeaway for myself & my bestie. Got snuggles with her 8 week old

Morning all. This thread moves quickly! Visiting it regularly is inspiring and reminds me of my budgeting ambitions so it really does help.

Yesterday I worked overtime so lsd. £6 in mini tesco and £10 for my yoga classes for the rest of the month. DP had a little bonus from work of £350 for doing a specific piece of work so that's gone straight into the holiday fund.
Should be a lsd today too.

Work again today. Will buy lunch.

Fluffy my shepherds friendly is confirmed can I close the account now?

Possibly, I'm a scaredy cat so I'm keeping it until the cash is in my account.

Logically you can close it. Mine confirmed overnight.

It shouldn't take too long now.

Buongiorno!

Flights yesterday were OK. Ish. First one I cried (40 minutes to gatwick ffs). Second one an hour later was fine. No outward displays of panic. Then a bus. Then s train and we are here in la spezia. Air bnb'ing this one. Our apartment is great.

Spends yesterday £5.99 on magazines for the plane (psychologies had a piece about stress and anxiety....) €15 train tickets.

And €40 on dinner yesterday for the 4 of us. Nothing fancy just pizzas and beer.

Not something I'd recommend, but this is day 12 of 12 of 10h shifts. I have worked my socks off. It was a combination of factors that led to this mad schedule, but I have one more week and then I'm on holiday for two weeks and I can relax.

Buying a house emptied all my savings and made things really tight for september. I don't want to get into debt if I can, so all this effort is to ensure I don't struggle badly later on. life has a way of kicking you when you least expect it, so I can try and at least have a bit of money aside.
NSD today, hopefully.

NSD. Off to view houses then possibly a walk in the afternoon.

Houses do that to you 8. It will work out in the end.

Yesterday was £1.03 on lunch.

I bought 4 packs of Debbie and Andrews sausages from morrisons, total cashback from shopmium took the spend down to 3p per pack. You have to put the receipt through the app twice, when you've done the first one you can press re-use receipt. For some reason you don't get the whole £1.50 just £1.47 but it's still a bargain. I need the other two flavours now before the offer ends.

Boots are not a nice company, I'm surprised no ones done an expose of their treatment of staff.

snuggly sea sick wristbands. They do more than just sea sick. I use them for anxiety and they helped when I went a bit wobbly dizzy a while back.

Morning. Doing my Aldi shop later so really curious to see how that goes though it won't be an 'average' week as all 6 of us at home so need a lot extra in terms of snack/lunch etc. Also want to buy extra treats such as ice lollies/nice biscuits for picnics so kids/we don't feel like we're missing out when out and about and cave to buying things on the go. Will let you know how it goes. £100 or less and I'll be a happy lady.

LSD anticipated today, just city centre parking for a couple of hours (£4?) Have a Groupon voucher from ages ago that needs using by today so hubby snd I are off for afternoon tea minus the kids-what a treat! Normally would pop into shops and buy new book/top or whatever but giving them a wide berth.

Feeling really positive at the minute and have inspired my mum to join in too!

Well done, Em - you did it! Have a super holiday.
I'm about 7 and a half weeks now Bertie, I'm sure I didn't feel this bad with #1. Travel sick bands are a great idea. Vet and funeral today but will get some tomorrow.