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.

£2k. That's all in including 2 labourers for three days and materials. We priced up doing it ourselves and this is probably £700 more but we don't have the skills / inclination / time.

Tayto, that picture has been on my feed too. I get loads of dog related stuff, I like that one though.

£3.67 for T bags and wraps, so LSD.

Ouch lifelong........

That's good to know Shortlegz. I looked at prices and the best I could get was £1300 for 18 metres squared. I wasn't really that sure that we needed a patio so I just shelved that idea.

Camden, co op or Morrison's finest cakes are fine in red velvet. Serves 6 ish

My clothes arrived & they are beautiful. Quality and fit perfectly! So happy. proper investment pieces from Oasis.

Have to pop to Sainsbos soon for two things.

September goals:
No top up shops. at all (apart from milk)
Increase my Nectar balance by £5
Begin Christmas shopping
Stay within my food shop budget
Start buying a food cupboard item every week for Christmas
Find a frugal hairdresser for DH, DS & I
Increase DS's veg intake with little waste (hide them savoury muffins?)
Keep heating off if possible

Nsd today! Yay!

£3 on lunch. Once a week treat.

I was going to get fish and chips but doing basic curry sauce instead yo make into chicken tikka masala with egg fried rice.

£66 vets. Fleas apparently. Spot on doesn't necessarily stop them.

Ouch wrecked, poor cat, and your poor pocket.

You need a treat to keep on the frugal band wagon Fluffy.

I like you list Collie. I am chuffed that your clothes fit. Decent clothes, that will make you feel so much better about yourself, and the weight loss. Brilliant. Self esteem boosting etc. I will join you on the 'no heating' and Christmas shopping trail, we can keep each other company, and warm!

Ooh, Collie I love Oasis. Pleased you have bought things you love.

I like that picture, Tayto.

I can't remember who mentioned roast potatoes but the best advice I got (from a chef) was to par boil, drain then take them outside in the cold air. This makes them fluff up and then they go lovely and crispy when you roast them. I've also had success when I've booked too many potatoes and frozen them, frozen potatoes make great roasties!

£26.50 today on haircut and frugal bubble and squeak for tea. I love bubble and squeak, it was delish!

Going to do meal plan and shopping list in a bit.

TUESDAY 30TH AUGUST
Money in Jar: £0.00
Money in Purse: £27.00
Money in Bank: £473.22
Grand Total: £723.99
Grand Total: £500.22
Reduction since yesterday: £223.77
Pay Day: 17

Today's Spends:
£39.79 – Iceland / Grocery Shopping (SW friendly stuff)
£1.50 – personal spends on sweets at The Range
£2.49 – The Range – household stuff – washing line & Picture hanging set
£17.69 – Tesco, Groceries
£19.00 – personal spends (hairdye, bottle of rum, bottle of southern comfort, 2 scented votives)
£6.00 – Extension lead
£5.00 – DS2 football
£2.00 – greetings card
£1.99 – bottle of cider for DH
£5.92 – groceries
£54.00 – petrol DH
£11.81 – Groceries, Morrisons
£3.75 – bank holiday bottle of booze for DH
£1.75 bank holiday booze for me.

£34.99 – DH Gym
£10.00 – my gym
£4.00 – 50p pieces shifted over to separate post
£0.09 in coppers shifted to copper jar
£2.00 – unaccounted for.

All I spent since Thursday in cash was £10 in a card for nephew's birthday and £10 in a card for best friend's daughter.

As it's been a bank holiday all of the debit card stuff has just come out today which is why today looks very spendy.

Still to spend:
DS2 Football (cash): £3.00
DS2 Football (standing order) £15.00
DS2 bus fare: £7.20
Interest: 0.55
Petrol Budget: £17.98 remaining
Grocery Budget: £86.07 remaining
Leaves for everything else: £370.97
Birthdays / nights out budget; £160

HSBC were offering me 0% on a credit card for 18 months so I took them up on that and shifted about 95% of my Tesco Card to that.

My petrol budget has gone over this month and it shouldn't have done. I think I have miscalculated as I have worked out that there should be £17.98 left not £4.98 so I have changed my budget to reflect this.

Grocery budget also gone to pot. I went to Iceland on Saturday and bought about 10 SW meals for the freezer so £30 on SW food. Plan is to try and take home-made SW friendly meals and just keep the frozen ready meals for days when I cannot be arsed. I'm ready for summer to finish and to start cooking massive curries, and stews and slow cooker meals which are ideal for SW. I love veg but get sick of salad and fruit really quickly.

Mum and dad treated me and 2 DS's for a carvery lunch today as my dad had a win on the bingo, so that was a nice surprise.

Finally got round to buying another washing line. I have been so lazy and not replaced the one which snapped in Spring and have just been shoving everything in the drier. Hopefully there should still be a bit more drying weather left.

collie I love oasis. What did you buy???

Dh had made pasta bake for dinner. Filled with veggies and topped with my favourite smoked cheese. Le yum!

Resisted spending in clarins. I need new night cream. But can probably go until my birthday (or at least payday) using my usual day moisturiser at night too. Probably. I'm concerned my face might fall off. Or go spotty again. It's looking so nice now I'm taking care of it.

Enjoyed my leopard print skirt today. Didn't feel at all pat butcher. may wear it again!

We're going out for a walk in a bit. Sun is still shining and I need to get to 10,000 steps today.

I made chicken tikka masala tonight with home cooked rice. Dh really liked it and I have enough basic curry sauce for another 8 curries despite making it thicker than advised.

Frugal win.

I'm halving the sugar though, 3 tablespoons was too much. But it did mean I didn't have to think about pudding.

scarlet what are the SW meals like? I've been toying with the idea of getting a few into the freezer for days when I don't have the time/inclination to cook! The sauces look good too. We did a big batch of SW chilli last night so having some of the leftovers tonight with baked sweet potato.

collie glad you've found some lovely clothes. It's such a confidence booster isn't it!

Today - £17 in Hobbycraft topping up DC1's crafty stuff but did get some stocking fillers too. Will have a think about my September goals and post later/tomorrow.

Agenie: British citizens app? You mean to get uk nationality? Sorry if it's a daft question...
Spend the day at the hospital for emergency scan and check ups, but luckily baby dd is fine, she's even grown to now only be 17% under average so Doctor was pleased but did recommend full sick leave until maternity leave so going to talk to my manager on Thursday when she's back.
Spend 35£ on petrol...

I bought "the perfect crew" jumper, a long cuddly grey cardigan and a t shirt. I love it all! Actually - I want more as it fits so well and the burgundy bobble hat Must remember to get cashback next time! I don't "do" fashion so I'm enjoying using Pinterest for capsule wardrobe ideas. I feel a million $$ in well fitted clothes. It's almost time for dark reds/pinks/purple nail polish. My frugal "pick me up".

All my lipstick melted in the Summer heat this year. The sun shone onto my dressing table & it was a few weeks into July before I realised how dare it! So I could do with a tinted lip balm or some lip colour as my lips get very dry in Autumn & Winter. I find any type of lip product helps.

DH & I are going to sit down and look at where we went wrong in August. Then pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down & get ready for a fresh start in September. I think we ended the month a few pounds away from the dreaded overdraft!

Result Collie on the clothes.
Just had the plumber and builder round ( at last, they kept cancelling) to redo all 4 toilet/ cloakrooms/ bathrooms. This is a small house and doesn't 4 toilets.
Getting a quote next week. Scared now!!!
For August I had frugal aims which were:
Learn how to eBay ....done and listed some stuff
Get a nectar card.......done and linked it to eBay ( thanks Fluffy)
Learn how to use TCB and others....done and using them
Save all my 50p pieces...Got £8 worth
Take books back to library to avoid fine...done
Take picnics when out with DGDs ......mostly done, DS would not agree to picnic as his DCs are too wriggly to sit still, so he paid
Use gym at least twice a week....failed, couldn't go when I had DGCs or when I was away with DGD
Sell stuff locally....fail...but got stuff ready to sell
Freeze lots of veg for winter stews...Done, had to get new freezer
Continue collecting wood.....partially done but got enough wood got this winter, I think
Have 15 NSDs ...only got 9, so fail
Change bank....fail, going to change to first direct....need to sort it.
I am going to sort a frugal list for September

Hi all, I wondered fleas Wreck advocate is the only treatment that works on my cats.

So another work day, been a long ole day did 12 visits! Dd went to one of the local council run type holiday clubs which was o.kay but I def think you get what you pay for! Ah well its only for two days as had run out of other childcare options.

Not been a great day money wise, £2.50 on crap snacks and a drink, £5 on dinner at Asda, £68 on the weekly shop in my defence I did get stuff like cat litter, washing powder and some back to school bits but even so!!

Collie those clothes sound amazing

My goodness, you have all been very busy!

I tried to spend money yesterday but failed! I want a double or triple laundry basket but can't find anything.

Off on holiday next week so need a super frugal week. Beans on toast this evening, which was awesome!

Oh no wreck. Vets bills are so much. I don't miss those.
Collie I too love oasis and the autumn colours. Good result on the clothes.
Italian good news on the baby, take the leave. How's your friend?
I'm on the Christmas thread but my dc have no idea what they want for Christmas or birthday so no purchasing yet.
Check you all out with your September goals. I will sort September out tomorrow or Thursday as payday and dd day respectively.

School uniform shopping today. I won't tell you what was spent but the budget was blown!
Thankfully our side line business is going well so it's accounted for. At the expense of the holiday budget again.
Never mind, payday tomorrow so paying off the overdraft this month should turn into better savings for next month.

NSD day here today.
collie glad you like the clothes you've got.
Attempted to do a freezer audit today and think I may need to make some blackberry jam as well as the damson I was planning!!

Just realised one of our credit cards was about to come to the end of it's 0% period so we've managed to transfer to Halifax 0% balance transfer fee free for 25 months. We cut up the cards as soon as we get them so they don't get used and just steadily pay off our debt. I know it's not for everyone but it works for us. The only card we have for purchases is paid off in full every month.

Hey everyone, just read through the 4 pages I've missed since being off the thread on Saturday. We had a great but very busy time with our friends, who left this morning. I'm too tired to post now, but I hope all the poorly folk are better, everyone else is well and welcome to any returners and newbies.

collie great haul!

I'm getting nails done next Thursday. And am hoping it's not too early for dark purple nails.

My list for September:

• 15 nsd's
• pack up lunches every work day
• use gym membership at least 2 times a week
• no unnecessary spending. No clothes. No make up. No accessories.
• save more 50p's and £1 coins. (We have a jar which is almost full. I want to smash it open!)

Great news on the clothes Collie. I started Christmas shopping last week with an advent calendar. It was a bit surprising as I feel as if last Christmas has just gone.

Well done on the NSD Em. Fantastic!

Italian yes that's right. UK Nationality. It's called British Citizenship here, though technically aren't we Subjects? Maybe that's non-PC these days. :-)

I see the politicians are ramping up again. I've been enjoying the peace and quiet of having them all on holidays and only the Olympics on the BBC news website.