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.

I definitely need to think about clothes-buying. We've never actually budgeted for it, because neither of us are remotely fussed about clothing, IYSWIM. While I was working I had nice work clothes that I kept for work only, but obviously now I wear them any time. I have plenty of tops and cardigans, I would like a new hoodie though (I have one from RedBubble and may get another with a geeky design). I hate jeans shopping. I have put on weight since stopping work too.

this is the bra I stick to doesn't look that nice on me though

Looks photo shopped to me Cag, I bet it doesn't look like that on the model either

I wouldn't say any of us are fashionistas either, but it's nice to have something nice to put on for work, going out, shopping or whatever, without the 'WTF am I going to wear?' panic that is so familiar to us all I am sure.

I bought a huge lot of clothes for myself last August but all my T-shirts have now shrunk and show off my midrif, which is a bit frustrating. Also, weirdly, I seem to have lost my shoes. I'm going to need actual shoes to visit the school headmistress when school goes back, and I can't find my only pair of shoes. Weird.

True, Need!

I have found one in my size but £36

Ouch, I am glad I don't have big norks

Definetly not a fashionista here!! well not much of one. I tend to stick to what I know suits.

I like shopping for clothes and do sometimes feel I should make more of an effort... I ironed the other day and think about what goes with what now. But won't necessarily follow fashion iyswim. I buy because I like/need it. Not because the shops tell me I should.

I think I've either scratched my arm on something while blackberry picking or have been stung/bitten. Right arm is so bloody itchy!!!! Have iced it and rubbed savlon on it. Is it true that the more you think about itching the itchier things get????

Holy moly cag norkalicious! I spent about £80 a while ago on bras. Just plain. White nude and black. But my boobs aren't as big as yours... Just a dd here. My sis has mahosuve boobs and has to buy online. I think she uses figleaves.

Or, when she can get to the U.K, primark. The underwear there is really good.

I'm not a great clothes buyer either, but thinking I really need to refresh my wardrobe a bit - I haven't really seen the point over the last 4 years as I've been pregnant, breastfeeding or ttc the whole time! I have a uniform for work, so am lucky that I don't have to fork out for work clothes. Have been doing Slimming World for a few months now and lost 11lbs. Have about another 10lbs to go and then I think I'll have a sort through to see what still fits now my wobbly bits have all moved around post-babies!

Em you can use the pith and seeds of a lemon or 2 instead of getting Jam sugar. It has loads of pectin in so sets the jam. It also gives it a bit of a tang which I like. Just peel the lemon with a vege peeler and juice it, tie it in a muslin square & dangle it in the jam pot. Squeeze it out at the end to get as much pectin as possible out.

I know what you mean about clothhes - it is so hard to justify it to myself, yet I spent £70 on DDs school shoes -> mug!

The Burda website is really good for sewing tips & instructions. You Tube is also really useful to discipher the pattern jargon.

My Boys are back tomorrow ...I have to drive to Portsmouth and back to pick them up - what's 8 hours in a car between friends eh?. They have been gone a month so it will be lovely to see them.

Ideally I could do with two. So that's like £70 right there. SIGH

Sorry I will stop now with my boob-related whingeing :o

I'll look up that Sparks card thing. Don't go in there much but if it's free, no harm is there!

I've listed some stuff to sell on FB. My friend (primary teacher) may be buying some of the Caglets' old toys from me - she's moving to a new school being set up so they're starting with nothing. I would love to just give it all to her, and I have given her heaps of such things in the past, but she understands that I have to try and get some money for them.

For sewing machine fun, my absolute favourite is to take apart a well-fitting but worn out item of clothing, copy the parts in new fabric and then sew the new pieces together just as the old ones were sewn together. It makes the most beautifully fitted clothes. The trick is to make sure the composition of the old and new fabric is the same (e.g. 40% polyester, 50% cotton, 10% elastane or whatever).

I quite enjoy buying clothes for DS and I. DH usually buys his own eventually. I think need is right - I feel better in myself when I wear what I think are nice clothes. And it makes our lives easier when we're appropriately kitted out for the weather.

Friend who is a similar size to me has recommended that Yours shop for jeans. We have one in town so at some point, when I'm feeling a bit better, I'll go and try there.

I don't follow fashion in the slightest - it's aaaall about the comfort for me :o I am pleased to have heard that bootcuts may be back in style though, as I refuse skinnies etc and that seems to be all that's available these days! I like plain t-shirts but they have to be girly fit as unisex just feels uncomfortable (hello again, ridiculous boobage). Usually just get funky ones in Primark. I want to find another lovely hoodie as my Studio Ghibli one is fading, but I wear it constantly.

Need to go through the Caglets' clothes as well, they've outgrown some and we need a clear out. Last year I updated their wardrobes as part of their Christmas presents so I'll probably do that again. Mostly plain/simple stuff with the odd character thing. I have to say, a lot of their clothes have lasted a ridiculously long time. DD got some shorts for her 5th birthday and she still wears them age 9! Gets her skinniness from her dad. :o

I'm going to be sensible and not get them more onesies - they've been getting them on Christmas Eve (delivered by the Elves - a tradition I nicked from MN!) for a couple of years - as their old ones still fit, and they're too hot for DD most of the time, so I'll get some short/t-shirt ones instead this year.

Genie
I emailed TESCO club card boost & this is the reply phew!!!
^

I'm sorry for the confusion with Boost ending. I understand how disappointing this can be, especially when we all work hard to treat ourselfs.

I will address the news regarding the Clubcard Boost.

Boost At Tesco (double up event) - This is where you can double your points for non-food items in store and on Tesco Direct. This is the boost that is ending this year, and the last time we will be doing this is 16th May 2016 to 26th June 2016, below is the link to this event that is sadly the last time we will be running this.

Boost with Partners - This is where you can boost your Clubcard vouchers up to 4x with our partners, which includes restaurants such as Pizza Express, Zizzi, Chef and Brewer and many more, also you can get tickets for days out such as Thorpe Park, Lego Land, Bird World, and even the Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth and even Dinosaur Isle. You can even get RAC cover, magazine subscriptions, Bus Tickets, Rail Cards and much more. This is the boost we are continuing, and have put a link below for these fantastic deals.

secure.tesco.com/clubcard/boost/
We are currently trying to revitalise Clubcard scheme, and aiming for our valued customer to get most out of their Clubcard, one way we will be introducing is better ways to earn points, which means you can grow your points balance faster and get more value back from your usual shopping. We will also be brining brilliant opportunities to earn more points in store and online, such as double point’s events.

I hope this has helped today, and I hope you have a fantastic week.

Kind regards,

James Bicknell
Clubcard Customer Service

Tesco Customer Engagement Centre

Cag: sounds like big boobs lol but honestly don't know. We don't use uk size so completely different sizes... I spend a bit prop most months on clothes or shoes, lately it's just been the maternity clothes where I been lucky to find some bundles second hand on fb for cheap...
Em: an onion cut in half tends to take the itchi if it's from berries leaf. It has some enzymes in it.

I am so envy that you guys have primark. They are in nl too so whenever we go to see dhs parents we stock up on all basic clothes, canvas shoes and lots more lol

lilac thanks, that's what I figured. It's the Tesco direct double up thing that I used for lego. It was great.

cag I also dress purely for practicality. I really struggle to get clothes that fit my shape too. I'm tall and slim and the challenge with me is getting things that are long enough. A friend recently produced a photo of me in my teenage years and my trousers barely made it past my knees. They were not capri trousers, alas. :-)

I have Primark envy too! Wish we had one. I look quite frumpy in everything other than black. Every top I own is stripey and my new mission is to buy non striped stuff. It's actually really hard!

lilac do you want MNHQ to edit your post to hide your email address? X

Loving the norks chit chat. My boobs have been affected by weight loss. DS caught a glimpse and said worringly "mummy! What happened?" As he stared at them or lack of

Ooo will check out the wellies! Thanks :)

Hi all
Just back a speedy weekend camping with DS football team. It was lovely but v overpriced for 2 nights in a field
On the car thing I thought I'd tell you about my electric car.
I have the Renault Zoe. It's 100% electric with a range of about 85 miles on a full charge. There are a lot of incentives to go electric at the moment. I put down £600 deposit and the car costs me £150 for 3 years that's broken down to £80 for the battery rental and the rest for the car. The car costs approx £20k but the government give you £5k off the car and that is matched by Renault. I'm not intending to pay the car off so the 3 years is one of those pay rest off at the 3 year point or give the car back deals.

I had an electric charger installed free on the house (you need a driveway, they won't install it if the cable has to cross the pavement) and I charge it about 3-4 times a week. I've had the car since November and so far there's been a very small increase in our electric costs. (I'm with Ecotricity and they give a discount if you send them a copy of your v5c and they don't charge you if you use their chargers in service stations.)
Obviously I don't have any petrol costs and it's on the free car tax tariff.

It won't suit everyone but as a second car for me to go to work and run the kids about it suits us fine. I was putting about £40 a week in petrol on my last car so it's essentially a free car for me.

Sorry for being awol everyone have been so busy.

Good news is I managed to sell the tickets to the thing I bought that we didn't want to go to. Shepherds friendly money has been paid out so I've paid for the Barcelona flights need to close the account now.

Bad news is WeeckCat isn't well. He's pulling his hair out is lethargic and generally unhappy.

Lilac that has your full name in, I'd report it if you mind.

Oh dear, looks like your off to to the vets then.

I have electric car envy now.