Frugaleers chatting and saving even further into August...

[AGenie]

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.

Your food looked great, All.

Right, spends, some of which were necessary: £46.85 on new blazer and 2 pairs of P.E. socks; £4 Poundland (padded envelopes, shaving gel for DS, jumbo pack of oatcakes), £5.30 coffee shop, £9.80 return bus fare for both, £1.60 on a 99 and £22 Fatface sale on 2 perfect summer dresses. Total: £88.65, although £68.85 of it went on my credit card.

Thanks folks. You guys always cheer me up

I feel a bit better since the lesson went well. I suggested a potential lesson swap (she tutors a different subject) and so we may organise that, as then no money needs to change hands but all the children benefit (hers do really enjoy my lessons, and vice versa).

Also one of my other friends, to my massive surprise, wants her teen to do maths with me and reckons one of their friends will too, so YAY!

BTW for those who don't know me, my DCs are home educated, so all of these pupils so far are home ed kids (unlike piano where I have some school children in the evenings too). I haven't offered maths to school parents, because I'm not really sure if it would be well received (I'm not a qualified teacher). I was wondering if I should offer something on the local selling site (that's how I got my first piano pupils) - obviously being totally upfront about the fact I'm not qualified. My prices are waaaay lower too of course, to reflect that. I don't know if I should though. I'd say my approach is somewhat unconventional which is why it works in HE (for example using different methods/not sticking to curriculum etc) so it would need to be a different approach altogether really - more led by the child's specific difficulties. I don't know.

Cag I think the lesson swapping is a great idea.
DH just used an online mortgage calculator to work out that we definitely cannot afford that house plus all the work that needs doing so that's solved that dilemma!

Hi all
Will catch up in a minute. I'm on holidays until Monday but thanks to someone else's mess up I'm on my way back in for an hour or so
I got approved as a mystery shopper for visit to a car dealership it's worth €45 gotta convince dh to have the Dc while I do it

Well I had 3 or 4 qualified maths teachers teach me and I've only got 3 maths GCSEs grade E to show for it. I think one of them is an F.

snuggly sorry to hear that. I hate those mortgage calculators. but at least you solved the dilemma.

cag ooo the lesson swap sounds brilliant!!

We're all tired and grumpy here. Quite funny really. tomorrow is another hard day - but emotionally rather than physically.

Welcome zampa.

I need to think of frugal meals and do a meal plan tomorrow. I'm struggling as some of the foods I listed this week are too heavy for hot weather! I don't eat much when it's hot.

I'm thinking;

Jacket potato, Tuna & mixed bean salad. £2.67
Brocolli, spring onion & mushroom rice stir fry, £2.50
Tuna pesto pasta, £3
Sausage, sweet potato mash & peas, £2
Veggie spag bol, £2
Mushroom risotto, 50p
Bean burgers with salad & a bun £3

I worked the price out to include the ingredients I already have. E.g - I have loads of veggie stock cubes and risotto in the cupboard

Thanks for all the welcome wishes!

Collie You have an excellent list of meals! I need to start thinking totally differently about meal times and you've provided some excellent inspiration!

Welcome Zampa
Cag, why not try offering maths to kids with specific leRning difficulties. Normally, in my experience, they are used for entrance exams or just exams but these kids ofte n get ignored.
Fluffy, thanks for the info re TCB and the bank details
NSD here, 7th this month, I think, got to get another 8 in to reach my target. Are there 8 days left in August?
I bought a house I could only just afford in a great place it needs a lot doing to it. I have put in a new kitchen with lovely granite work tops and a multi fuel burning stove. Windows all need replacing as do bathrooms. Etc...

Zampa I've only started budgeting since the beginning of the month but meal planning and buying as much as possible in Aldi in one shop has made this a much better month for me. I haven't tried planning meal from the stuff I already have yet but that will be next.

NSD today, except for M&S order for school trousers which we have a budget for and doesn't come from "my" money.

Trying if we could find the money to install a wood burning stove we would save so much money. I have an unlimited supply of wood to burn but the initial outlay will be about £2k. It's quite frustrating.

Hi all, been a lovely but spendy day bit scared to tot it up but here goes...

£5 parking
£25 school shoes for dd (these were bought at a Clarkes outlet store so cheaper than what you would pay normally)
£6 drinks, ice creams
£11 getting into an outdoor pool
£25 pub dinner, drinks and pudding
£40 petrol

Ahh well hopefully starting a 5 day Lsd/Nsd stint now my holiday is over and i am back at work. Have def felt like I have had a proper break and made the most of the summer hols but am penniless now this happens every August and in fact was reason I came to this thread in the first place!

Its my 2yr anniversary on this thread passes round

Dwin, that's why I saved up and had one put in. I don't have an unlimited supply of wood but I have been collecting it all summer so I think I have enough for the winter. It's my first winter here though so it's guess work. I think it will save a lot of money because I have oil central heating. Mine is only small and doesn't heat the hot water. I'd def save for one if you can. It's warming and comforting as well as warm.

Trying you are right, I'm going to get a quote and work towards it. I think I've been held back because I don't think we will live here forever but it's been 14 years so we are quite settled .

I'm always giving wood away which is bonkers while I turn the gas up
I'm inspired again!

I have a late start... as we are having a team away day - we go and look at sites & have a nice dinner. Gives us a chance to talk work while not being at work. Saves out families from being bored to death.

zampa welcome. There is loads of advice on here about quick & easy wins for reducing budgets.

Suggly we have lived in this house for 8 years - stretched ourselves to buy a doer-uper. I am only getting around to doing it now. It is not a route I would reccommend unless you have a high tolerance of living in a mess.

All how can you say you are rubbish at cooking when you have managed to make sushi that looks like sushi?

Cag don't undersell yourself. Home ed-ing is really difficullt. Most of us side step teaching our own kids because we don't have the skills or patience.

Day 1 of 5 days of no work!
Going to test drive a car today, hoping to love it as its about €60 a month cheaper to repay than the other one I'm coveting
Also taking dm to a lovely tea shop for cake to say thanks for minding the dc for past 1.5 weeks, they've all enjoyed their time together.

Yesterday was a NSD

We've had another death in the family during the night, dh's uncle who's been like another grandad to my dc calls to visit every day almost, dreading telling dd. Spent last couple of hours relieving happy memories with dh.

Scarlet that was me who mentioned ynab whatever works!
Em that was me with bounts app delighted for you

I don't think I'll be able to do my mystery shop car dealership visit as we've funerals a lot quicker over here. I did get offered another online mystery shop so will do that instead, think it's worth €18 for €15

Collie tell me about your laptop splurge ideas!
I'll be handing back my work laptop in a couple of weeks. Our home PC is a disaster. I can use pc at work for any word processing. I will get €200 back from that job, my deposit. Debating a kindle fire hd with keyboard case.

Hello all. I've been awol. A weekend competition for DD many miles away and busy work/life.

I haven't read back. Will follow from here, apart from for Lila. I am sorry to hear the sad news about your DH's uncle. I hope the DC will be able to smile about his happy memories after they have mourned their loss.

Been a fairly cheap few days as we have been away. I think DH went to Tesco, as there are flowers for me and things in the fridge too, it hasn't shown up yet on the banking.

This morning, £40 at Amazon on dog toys, and some new, better quality scales. The ones from Aldi were shocking.

My car has a flat and is the local garage. That will be £20 at the most for the repair, village prices.

Planning a day in the house today, which I badly need.

Yes lila thanks! I'm doing really well with it!

Dh has ruined my frugalling. Last night I had to go to the shop to buy matches cups and crisps for our BBQ. Because he didn't bring enough matches. He also threw BBQ away because "it's shit" so we are buying a new one. would have taken some new air holes in ours and it would have been perfect

It's his birthday today. He's taken the day off work. I haven't. And he's annoyed because he'll be on his own. if he'd mentioned weeks ago he was taking today off I'd have been able to get the day too big not when I got back after 2 weeks off on Monday!

Dinner out tonight to celebrate birthday. Going to my face Thai place. Pad Thai noodles. Yummy

Zampa that's the first time I've ever worked out the cost per meal it definitely helps. I think I may try to get each meal below £2.50. There's no need for the jar of pesto - I just fancied it.

lilac I want something small ish, with a keyboard. Probably with the option to take the keyboard off. So I can use it at work - I'm looking at going freelance properly so would need something flexible for meetings / presentations. The ASUS Transformer Book looks ideal for me! I also saw some cheaper Lenovo ones. They also look pretty good!

It needs to be small. I only use it for Word and Excel documents & social media. My last laptop was so big and heavy. I had to drag it around everywhere I went & it was so noisy! Ughh.

I had to renew pet insurance a few days ago and got it down to £9 a month 0% APR and £35 cashback. Quite pleased with that! Colliecat is getting old now

Right then - a NSD here! unless I buy the tablet which is sort of budgeted for

Girlie I think I have been on this thread for a similar length too!:)

need happy to see you!

Hoping wreck is OK wherever she may be.

Collie same as that really for me too. Seems like a similar idea & price to kindle fire hd 10 too.
The one I have for work is a Lenovo, it only once connected to the wifi in 2 years, had to always plug it in to use internet. Our other devices connect fine. Everything else about it was fine.
Good deal on cat insurance

Lila. I'm sorry for your loss.

DH recently bought 2 reconditioned Toshiba Satellite Click Minis for the DSCs from eBay. They were £40 each from a dealer and are tiny and do the whole laptop/tablet thing. They seem excellent.

lilac I just read your post about your DHs Uncle. No idea how I missed that! Really sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your loss lilac

Today is my last payment of SMP I will not get any income now until end of December, when I'll be using annual leave at the end of my mat leave. Going into work today to discuss my return dates with my boss. Seems really early but I need to start thinking about booking a nursery place for DC2. Can't believe she's nearly 9 months. Getting a bit emotional about having to start finding the 9-12 month clothes already

Have a good day all!

Grrr just lost my post, will try again.
Collie, I love the idea of working out cost per meal. I might try that, especially as our weekly shop just came to nearly £92 not including meat for DH's Sunday roast. I did have to get quite a lot of cleaning stuff though and I stocked up on vitamins as they were on offer and bought a skirt for DD. That all accounts for the extra expenditure.

Sorry for your loss, Lilac.