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Frugaleers chatting and saving into August...

990 replies

ipsogenix · 03/08/2016 21:40

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
lilacclery · 17/08/2016 07:30

Will catch up today I promise!! Have my mother visiting and I've a wicked headcold so not on here much.

Quick question. I did a balance transfer on a credit card but before it went through there was a payment due which I made so now there's a credit balance on the card. Do I just write to credit card company to close account and refund me the balance or do I spend it to zero?

8FencingWire · 17/08/2016 07:41

Hello all and thank you for the advices. Isn't it funny how we all got newbuilds? Still, with all the teething problems, personally I am happier than if I needed to learn about double glazing and re pointing walls and all the hard work you need to do when you renovate. :)
We're seeing the kitten next week, I will post a pic :) and will come back and ask millions of questions about looking after him (who has no name. Yet)
I have spent a stupid amount of money yesterday, it was extremely frugal fail!!!
I took my DD out for lunch then hit the shops. And my did we hit them!!!
£25 in H&M on a lot of clothes for DD. Harem trousers were £2!!! She did need some, she's grown so much.
Then £20 on a pair of vans for her and another £50 on stuff like toilet roll holder, two fluffy throws for the sofa, one of those folding chopping boards.
Then in Rymans I needed some bluetac, but ended up spending £15 on some felt tip pens for my colouring book (been using DD's half dead years old ones), bluetac to last the next 5 fencing generations, an eraser (we always lose them).
Then another £15 on herbs and spices in a specialist shop to make dips with.
Came home and realised I have no bed sheet, I only had a double one, which was wet and the huge flat one I had was nowhere to be found (still in boxes). So we 'nipped' into John Lewis and £90 later I came home with 2 very high quality double fitted sheets and two lots of towel sets ( I have the same towels since I got married, 19 years ago. And they weren't new). Towels I went for their cheap range because I needed 2 bath sheets, 2 medium size (we both have long hair) and 2 hand ones.
I daren't look at the balance!!!
Back on the frugal track!!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2016 07:56

lila Do it over the phone and ask for a refund. Ask for a letter confirming the account is shut.

lilacclery · 17/08/2016 08:21

Thanks fluffy, I need that confirmation letter and proof that I've paid the government duty for this year also.

Unescorted · 17/08/2016 08:24

Welcome dizzy you got lost in all the excitement of twins & kittens. I can't believe I just typed that .... TWINS & KITTENS - same thread. Who said frugaleers are dull. Grin

Today is going to be spendy - trousers for dd, make up for dd, lunch out for dd .... there is a theme here isn't there. She does such lovely puppydog eyes that seem to seperate me from my money. She did a tactical help in the garden yesterday.

ItalianWiking84 · 17/08/2016 08:29

Just a quick check in, we are still admitted, dd is doing a bit better but the doc want to wait until afternoon to see how much her improvement is and if we can go home today. They rather wanna keep her a day exstra to be cautious than just let us home.

SnugglySnerd · 17/08/2016 08:35

Yes welcome dizzy, sorry I was a bit preoccupied yesterday!
Lilac you can do either with the cc. I've been in credit on mine a couple of times, once I spent it on Amazon, more recently I phoned them and they transferred it to my current account.
Just been totting up August's unexpected spends: 2 lots of hospital parking, wasp nest which only cost £30 in the end, renewing driving licence, charity donation at funeral, 3 family birthdays plus we spent a bit more than we'd planned on our holiday. No wonder we had to borrow from savings. DH gets paid next week, thank goodness!

lilacclery · 17/08/2016 08:57

Spends for next monday on collection of Halfords order €100.50 - this includes a 4 person Orla Kiely tent, a tent peg extractor, rubber mallet and a led lantern. Unfortunately no discount codes or cashback Sad

WreckTangled · 17/08/2016 09:10

Fingers crossed Italian.

Snuggly I have to renew my driving license every three years but don't have to pay so I suppose that's a bonus.

Went out with school mums last night. Was good, still trying to find my place in the group but I'm sure that's just me over thinking it.

Going round again today to see some of them so will be nsd.

Welcome to new people. We're so poor right now must be because it's the holidays.

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2016 09:23

Welcome Dizzy. At least you didn't go into more debt so that's good.

lilacclery · 17/08/2016 10:09

I'm not a phone call person at all fluffy but made the call and I owe €30 government stamp duty which I was half aware of but balance was 23.73 and the kind lady on the phone refunded 6.23 which I was charged in interest yesterday meaning I owe €0! Account closed and letters I need are on the way to me.

Ememem84 · 17/08/2016 10:52

First world problem here. Serious short lines on my legs.

Today's spends will be €16 on train to Pisa. Then some souvineers and dinner. Flight home tomorrow Sad. Once back im going to have a serious frugalling day. And sort out my finances once and for all.

We have a trip to NZ next year for bils wedding to save for a bathroom to pay for and general life...

Will take stock and will update.

Colliefeatures · 17/08/2016 11:08

Just had to spend £70 on medical crap. Sad it'll help me be more mobile though. Didn't budget for it all!

Lots of lovely Autumnal clothes in town. Could have spent hundreds!

Katinkka · 17/08/2016 11:20

Congrats Snuggly!

Day 3 of me trying to control myself spending wise and it's going well I think. Going to make lentil tacos for tea later which was a bit spendy as I had to buy all the spices but I am hoping they will be nice. I am going right off meat lately so trying to make more meatless meals.

I bought a lovely budget book www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ZCQIO6O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
but I can't bear to start it as months prior to August will be wasted! I know I could carry on with the other months next year but that will just mess with my head to do it like that. So I suppose I'll have to wait to use it in January.

allthebestplease · 17/08/2016 11:54

Another good idea from you guys...i used one of those discount sites and saved £18 because dh got £250 for ten years' service, but it has to be spent a specific shops, so he's trading in his old (first version) iPad to Currys for £41 and the discount that I got, means he only pays £25 SmileSmile
That's his birthday present sorted!

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 17/08/2016 14:17

Hi all

Cag can your dh not just say to his friend that he meant a tenner not £100? I think i would say something as £100 is so much money and i am sure his friend probably realises its a mistake.

Dd had a lovely time with her friend last night but is struggling with sleep deprivation today and seems to have come out in a cold, might explain why she has been slightly under the weather for a day or two.

Have found a small dresser on a fb page that someone I know through work was selling, she said as its me I can have it for £65 Shock am pleased as its lovely and will look fab in my living room. Going to try and sell my bookcase and tv unit now so might even make that back if I am lucky...

Spent some time up cycling an outside table this morning, it was one my dad had donated to us and was looking really tatty but with a lick of paint it looks as good as new now Smile

Popped into town to get a few bits.
Spends'
£2.40 parking
£17 Superdrug on some make up, small gift for dds friend, shampoo and conditioner (i am such a sucker for the promise of luscious flowing locks Hmm )
£17 in Wilko on some paint for my table, paint brushes and other painting related bits plus some new nail vanish.
£9 in m&s on nice food bits as a thank you to the lady who sorted my cats out while we were away last week.
£24 in Deichmann shoe shop on riding boots for dd and new flip flops for me (the current ones are years old and need to be binned!) I had a minor tantrum in the shop as I returned some sandals that dd had worn for 1 day and then broke but as I didn't have the receipt they would only refund the last sale price of them which was half of what I paid Angry Grr! My fault for not holding onto the receipt more carefully.

Oh and also got dds new uniform £24 for 2 jumpers and a PE t.shirt, she is starting at a new school come Sept.

Spendy day really but that should be it for a while.......

CremeEggThief · 17/08/2016 15:07

NSD. Spent an hour and a half dusting the whole house (yawn, yawn, yawn).

Cag, I agree with Girlie. Can you (well, your DH) really afford to lose £100, especially after forking out on everything for the new H.E. club?

SnugglySnerd · 17/08/2016 16:21

Had a lovely afternoon walking in the woods. I think I've done well with money today too. Bought a gift for a friend, paracetamol and 2 ice creams and only spent £10.25.

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2016 16:46

,Well done All, money saved is money earnt.

£10 petrol.

Frugal fails, forgot nectar card.

Frugal wins. Free green and black chocolate off shopmium app & gfk internet monitoring sent me a £5 John Lewis voucher.

Dizzylizzie29 · 17/08/2016 16:47

Hope everyone had a lovely frugal day!
Need to get dh on board with YNAB he doesn't spend much just food fuel etc but forgets to put it in his app prompting me to ask him and the amounts
Feel like his mother

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2016 16:53

Yeah the dhs are always like that.

SnugglySnerd · 17/08/2016 16:57

Just remembered we need petrol, that's another £50!

Colliefeatures · 17/08/2016 17:15

Frugal fails;

  1. Tesco order was £51!! Considering I have a freezer full of food £51 is shocking but I needed nappies, foil, cat food and a fridge full of fruit, veg & dairy. And maltesers. Etc etc etc.
  2. my M&S order arrived and the jeggings are huge on me. So will have to catch the bus £3 tomorrow to return / swap for a size lower.
  3. £70 on medical crap! I'm so grumpy about this!

girlie I've been upcycling today too! I had so much fun and it looks brilliant.

I have a bad case of the frugaleering blues now though. Sad

Dizzylizzie29 · 17/08/2016 17:26

Prior to having a LBM I was the chaotic one so should give him some slack....

lilacclery · 17/08/2016 18:11

Collie you reminded me I've only two nappies left must get dh to pick some up tomo. Ds only needs one by night now but to run out would be a disaster Grin