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Frugaleers chatting and saving even further into August...

994 replies

AGenie · 19/08/2016 18:27

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
25
ItalianWiking84 · 30/08/2016 21:56

Thanks lifelong. Friend is ok, she's not really going in to her councelling which is annoying because I really do think she would benefit from the counsel

Ememem84 · 30/08/2016 22:05

Maybe I'll start Christmas shopping too. Or at least thinking about shopping.

I've just tipped over £100 in my "penny" account.

Colliefeatures · 30/08/2016 22:07

Thanks Frugaleers!

Genie was it a paper advent calendar with doors / flaps?

AGenie · 30/08/2016 22:09

Yes that's right Collie. They're weirdly expensive, I had no idea. They were really lovely ones in the garden centre though, so I thought it would be good to grab them when I had the chance. Otherwise I always get to the last day of November and realise the shops all shut five minutes ago.

OP posts:
Colliefeatures · 30/08/2016 22:12

Every year I have a DIY advent calendar with an activity everyday. I will need to remake it this year as it got toddler bashed last year. DS just isnt bothered about chocolate yet. But loves doing "stuff" and going for outings. Etc.

He also loves anything that's perforated so I'm on the look out for a paper advent calendar with perforated doors. Last year I couldn't find one anywhere - not even online! Grin kids!!!

Colliefeatures · 30/08/2016 22:14

Eeeek - how expensive? Blush I think I'll just make my own again.

I was thinking about making an advent calendar out of Lego.

Sierra259 · 30/08/2016 22:18

I got a gorgeous fabric advent calendar with a pocket for each day a couple of years ago. This year will be the first year DC1 is really old enough to use it so trying to keep an eye out for cheap bits to fill it with! Thinking a pack of hair clips/sheet of stickers cut into smaller portions, chocolate coins (one at a time!) etc?

8FencingWire · 30/08/2016 22:19

Ah! Nearly a NSD but then I spotted that Topcashback does Boden. I had 3 tops in the basket for ages, I really need some, so I get 8.8% cashback. Plus at checkout they had a code for another 10% off with free postage. So I paid £39, will get some cash back on that, both from Topcashback and from my credit card.
I very stupidly said I'll do 20 nsd in august. Done 5 at most!!!
So the aim for September is:
15NSD
£60 food budget (got a full freezer and cupboards)
Menu plan
Lunch basket (I have a plastic basket in the fridge and one in the cupboard in which I put lunch box stuff)
Need to usher child to bed, I'll be back.

Methenyouplus4 · 30/08/2016 22:34

Hi folks, had a read through and want to respond to people, how do I put names in bold?

8FencingWire · 30/08/2016 22:39

Starthennamethenstar methen

Tryingtosaveup · 30/08/2016 22:51

Right, September's frugal goals. And I will stick to them.
1 change bank to First Direct
2 save all 50p pieces
3 use gym at least twice a week
4 Sell the stuff that I have got ready and prepare some more. Make £100
5 collect blackberries and make jam
6 continue freezing veg for winter meals
7 have 15 NSD
8 get good deal on car insurance and go through TCB
9 buy no snacks, bake instead.

8FencingWire · 30/08/2016 23:04

My life planner gets a green dot next to NSD days. And I love the meal plan option space for each day, you get an overall look and see how you've done that week.
Blackberries..yum, love them. We should try and find some to pick :)
Bed is calling I think.

lilacclery · 31/08/2016 05:38

Busy & tiring week here so I've been reading & not posting much just doing the same here now!

AGenie · 31/08/2016 06:46

methenyou you put stars on either side of their names. There's a list of things you can do at the bottom of the page if you go down below the comment box.

If you open the page in two different tabs then you can read through on one tab and comment on the other, without having to constantly scroll back and forth to the comment box. It makes it much easier.

collie Advent calendars are about 6 or 8 pounds.

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Ememem84 · 31/08/2016 06:59

Oooh another sept frugal goal. Take £20 out of joint account for milk. And keep it in a separate purse/jar/whatever.

We've been to the shop about a million times this month for top ups. So having the cash will be easier for top ups.

lifelongfrugaleer · 31/08/2016 07:37

Today's plans have completely changed as fil in hospital. Ds wants to go somewhere we have never been before. Nowt like a challenge.
Pay day!

Methenyouplus4 · 31/08/2016 07:41

wreck How was the sleepover? Gin at a sleepover sounds lovely.

tryingto I remember reading somewhere that cheap supermarket honey often has poor bee welfare, it didn't really explain how though?

tayto That picture is very true. I have been really trying to make an effort to be more mindful in the past 6 months and I'm getting better, though have to remember to keep my phone away while watching TV.

Agenie Our patio (wraps around half of the house) was 80sqm! We bought real stone locally for cheaper then man made concrete (builder's merchants) then paid a man per day to fit it. Whole thing cost about £2500 which is amazing for size of the space. If you happen to live in North East of UK I'D be happy to give you details.

emem I've never worn animal print but have been strangely drawn to it lately...

tryingto Love your monthly frugal aims, totally going to pine that idea. Will post about them when I have a think.

8fencing Boden spoilt my NSD other day but always impressed with quality of their clothes. Just wish they had a store locally as find their sizing a bit funny (tops always too big, bottom half stuff always a squeeze).

agenie and 8fencing thank you for tip! Much easier to respond now!

Really pleased with spending last couple of days. Other than Boden (which is from budget), no big spends at all, just petrol. Car due MOT today so fingers crossed for no big expense.

A bit sad but I'm actually really excited for September to do a full calender month of new budget- did it for most of last month but it was school holidays so petrol/food spends etc not representative of 'average' month. Will keep you all posted.

AGenie · 31/08/2016 08:24

Wow methenyou that's a lot of patio. :-) I'm not near you, but wish I was now.

I'm on the mend now and wishing I could be fixed immediately to get out and enjoy the holidays. Just a few days to go. Schools go back on Monday. Much drinking of water afoot.

OP posts:
Sierra259 · 31/08/2016 09:51

September frugal goals

  1. Get £50 per week cash out of the joint account. That has to pay for anything not on the weekly online shop (top ups, days out etc). Any left at end of the week means less taken out the next week.
  2. Sort out a new 0% on purchases cc
  3. 2-3 NSD's a week
  4. By a couple of Christmas/birthday presents/cards - Nov/Dec/Jan is very busy birth wise!
  5. Try to buy and freeze fruit from the market rather than buy in supermarkets
  6. Do some surveys every day for cash/nectar points
  7. Continue to check account balances daily

Will post any others as I think of them.

ScarletPower · 31/08/2016 11:24

siera - the SW meals are actually really nice (although I don't like the sweet potato curry but that is just my personal taste). They're a good sized portion too. I've not tried any of the sauces or soups though.

AdoraBell · 31/08/2016 11:46

Speedy day yesterday.

£8 Pilates ball, that was half price
About £7-ish in Boots, DH has a muscle in his back that has gone into spasm
£8-ish on snacks out Hmm - all joint account

£34 pair of trousers I need - my money

Today I need to send something by Recorded mail and chase up school shoes. DDs now have bank accounts so from Spetember no more "muuuum, can I have"

Will try to catch up later.

Colliefeatures · 31/08/2016 12:10

Genie I was in town today, in a shop with no obvious Christmas stock (hooray!) And there - beneath the till - was one funky paper advent calendar for £3! Couldn't believe it. And the cashier was like "where did that come from?"... Grin I snapped it up immediately! It was brand new & sealed!

Had a shit morning!

ItalianWiking84 · 31/08/2016 12:59

Dh and me went for brunch, was nice getting out a bit and have eaten loads Grin

AGenie · 31/08/2016 13:31

Well done Collie. Sorry to hear your morning was a bust.

Our whole family is industrially crabby at the moment.

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northender · 31/08/2016 13:38

lifelong hope your fil is okay.
collie fabric advent calendars are great. Our dc have had the same ones kindly given by their aunt & uncle probably 10 years ago. It does get harder to think what to put in the little pockets though (haribo is popular!)

Couldn't face a full freezer audit yesterday so I've been in the garage and done it this morning. Consequently I have way more stuff than I realised and I did it the wrong way round in that I'd been shopping before checking so now have a rammed freezer. Shouldn't need to buy any meat this month.
Spent £40 at aldi, £8 at deli, £37 at farm shop. The farm shop was an amazing bargain as I had accumulated several of their loyalty cards over the summer. You get a stamp every time you spend £30+ Mon-Thurs which I do every week buying meat for the cricket club. Anyway they merged all the cards together for me and as a result I came away with 2 free pounds of sausages, a free chicken and a £10 discount. Frugal win!

Next jobs are to make damson jam and to meal plan for the next 2 weeks. I'm back to work on Tuesday which I feel quite anxious about and I'm trying to make sure everything here is up to date to make the transition back easier. I've put money on the dc's dinner money accounts up to half term and paid for dd's drama classes. My finance spreadsheet is updated for September so I know exactly what we've got to spend.

My mum has given us £500 each from some money she has inherited which is a lovely bonus. She has stipulated that she doesn't want it to just go in a general pot but rather that we all spend it on something that we wouldn't ordinarily buy. So, I am going to replace my 20 year old sewing machine and need to do some research as to the best one to get. dd has bought a fancy pants camera and has money left to go towards a laptop. ds is going to buy things to go in the loft room (his den) when it's finished. dh is looking to upgrade our music playing systems. It's been interesting as you get very used to not spending money on things like that so we're having great fun!

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