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.

Right. Budget officially starts this month. The end of August was really expensive! £70 on roof repairs, £185 on furniture, £130 on vets fees... yikes. Goodbye savings. Also travelled to see family on bank holiday weekend so will need to refill petrol sooner than later. Depressing. Still, new month, new start!

Just need to find £150 for friends Hen do by the end of the month. 😱

Adora I've just let them have them. I was really cross and told them they were for Christmas but I've spent way too much of the holidays being cross. They've been playing now with them ever since and haven't been naughty once, it's a miracle!

We are considering getting laminate flooring throughout the whole of downstairs. I've never really liked it but cat/toddler have trashed the carpet and it seems daft having new carpet with 2 more on the way. Going to get an idea of costs. Lino might be cheaper but would that be weird in the living room? Will we be cold without carpet?

If you insulate properly it shouldn't be cold.

You can use silicone sealant under the skirting boards for any rogue draughts.

NSD.

Thanks, fluffy. Laminate seems a bit cheaper than vinyl except for the really cheap and nasty stuff.
We've also looked at bigger fridge freezers and new tvs since ours is on it's way out. Think we need to replace tv asap then we might get a fridge freezer instead of buying each other anything for Xmas. Our current one is barely large enough for 3 of us, never mind 5!
DH thinks his wage plus mat pay should cover mortgage and bills so we can spend the money we've been saving on things we need. We are going to sit down and work this out properly before going on a spending spree!

Italian at least you haven't got to worry about work and thats good they were understanding.

Life sorry to hear that, hope your fil is o.kay

Interesting to read about your experiences of how the relationship with your children change as they get older, I am enjoying dd a lot at the moment as she is good company! Hoping she doesn't turn into the teenager from hell in a few years

Had the day off today which has been lovely, met a friend for coffee this morning, spent £7 ish on drinks and a cake for dd.

Went to Boots and spent £50 however got a lot for that and actually saved £34 by buying offers and sale items. Have got dd some roll on deodorant and some sanpro designed for younger people, best for her to be prepared I guess. Also got some naice face washes and make up, got my max factor foundation on 3 for 2. As well as 2 pairs of half price sunglasses, think will keep one pair just for the car.

Other spends
£15 on a birthday gift for my bestie.
£10 on a gift for my friends little boy.
£3 parking.

Snuggly have you looked at flooring super store for vinyl? They are cheap and give free samples might be worth a look just to get an idea thy also are on topcashback...

Ooh I'd love to buy a new ff and underlay. Think of all the fun you can have comparing yearly cost and tog rating for the underlay.

Borsch electric supplied my old Bosch fridge. It had a dent on the side but you couldn't see it.

lifelong I hope he's peaceful.

wreck Catchy names.

NSD.

Sierra and snuggly : I'm 30 weeks pregnant due mid November. But the laws are different here so I be on paid leave until next year September approximately, so will just get my normal pay from work and then with get reimbursed from the state. I don't think they get fully reimbursed but some kind of percentile that's decided in the regulation between the unions, employers and government.
Glad to hear the doc don't think it's all to serious with the exstra appt em...
Girlie: yeah I was kinda worried but clearly had no reason at all, so considerate and my manager said she was really impressed with how long I have tried to work and that I really should pat myself on my shoulder and stay home with no guilt but knowing that they'll miss me greatly and can't wait to meet the little one... And off she send me with chocs and flowers...

Went to a Asian place for lunch with dh so spend 20£. My dresses from zealando also arrived and they are all on their way back again they just not fit my body so will get my money back. Hallelujah for free shipping and return but I'm still no way closer to have found something suitable for the baptism bugger....

Hi all, can I join please? I'm seriously skint and need to stay motivated to not spend/bargain hunt. I've got one DS who is nearly 1 and only work part time so our income is a lot less than it used to be. I'm going to try and post regularly to make myself accountable. Today I didn't buy anything as my mum paid for the few top up food bits I needed as she was getting things too (she is a star!). Tomorrow I am going to aim for another no spend day too.

That's amazing maternity pay, Italian. Do you think I could move there and get a job before next March??
Never heard of Flooring Superstore but will certainly be googling it later.
Fluffy I was impressed that Currys have the annual running cost of their appliances stuck on the front of them. I didn't even realise you could get different togs of underlay. I expect that's one of those things where it's worth spending a bit more to save on heating in the long run.

Sorry, meant to say welcome hippo!

I think it's a bit different here re smears. You have them once you hit 18. I think in the uk mainland it's 25?

I'm nervous as I'm not sure what to expect (it's at colposcopy clinic) I've read about it and apparently they go up with a microscope/telescope and can tell you if there's anything to worry about there and then. If there are abnormal cells they can apparently fire a laser up there to zap it. something about a laser fanny makes me laugh...

We'll see. It will be ok.

Nsd today. Have had to email BA back as they refutes my claim for compensation re flight delays. Apparently because I rebooked it doesn't count. Pointed out that they Rebooked me. So it does. Have read the legislation and used my best legal words to push the issue. Hopefully I get something.

Don't worry Em, one of my friends had her cervix zapped, she wasn't allowed to have sex for a couple of weeks but after that she was fine. Better to get anything suspicious treated asap.

A successful NSD! Hooray!

for Life.

Spends today.
£32 Boots, DB's birthday present, cards, facial wipes on offer, double points.
£25 Jack Wills on birthday present.
£15 to DD to go to Leeds, U am happy to cover bus fare and lunch, she can pay the rest. She got her ear pierced.... joys to teen girls.
£3 parking and £2 coffee, will claim through work.

Broken my months spends into weekly amounts, after taking off all savings and expenses. I'm in budget so far by £20.

Had a wonderful day cleaning and sorting the house am, then popped to Leeds this pm, had a run, DS cooked tea under supervision.

Thinking of you lifelong, and em I'm sure it will be fine it's always the thought of these things that are worse than the actual event. Lovely nsd here, park with friends ! took packed lunches and wine for the mums. Tomorrow I'm on a training course in the morning then need to do a weekly shop in Aldi/Iceland.

Snuggly, I think you might want to finish by 30 weeks!

I bought a speed and distance monitor last week on Ebay, second hand. It arrived today. The seller had even kept the original packaging so it was like new, perfect working order. I've configured it to my own settings. RRP is over £200. Chuffed to bits, I even emailed seller some thanks. Bargain.

4 miles run tonight, 7.5 yesterday, the comeback continues.

Went through my YNAB and there was an £80 hole that I just can't reconcile. So did an adjustment and moved on. We didn't over spend on my budget categories and I just need to somehow tighten up the present and house spending. I'm finding it really useful for tracking and accountability.

Just a random post about wrapping paper . I wrap some of DS's bigger presents in plain brown paper, then stamp them (either randomly, or in a line) with a Happy Birthday ink stamp. It looks great (honest!). And it must be quite frugal.

Spends today £10 on wrapping paper, cheese spread and fruit/veg. And £50 deposit for DC2's nursery place in January I know I still have 4 months off, but it made me a bit emotional!

Lovely homemade chicken curry for tea - yum.

I like the wrapping paper idea.
Wilkinson does salt for dishwasher.
Also I find the kids in year 6 start to develop an odor, we do growing up talks with the then too.

Spend tomorrow will be on youngest getting the meningitis jab done at Boots.

DH is finally coming round to the budget idea and he reckons we can get the food budget down...yippee.

That's good to know that you're still close to ds even as a teenager need. Very encouraging to hear. I'm glad you think I get my ds. I do try definitely. :-)

Em Good luck with the hospital appointment. The lazer zapping does sound quite interesting. I hope it's all quick and easy for you.

Italian that baby shop sounds amazing. Well done. :-) Your boss sounds lovely. Cag's old boss could learn a thing or two from yours.

north that's wonderful to hear that you are also close to your ds.

8 have you considered getting a capped account? I have that with tesco and if I overrun they cut off my account unless I go and add more minutes online just for the rest of that month. I used to get massive bills from Vodafone.

Snuggly we got wood floors this year and it is a bit cold but I think that's because was got the cheapest of cheap underlay. I think getting the good underlay is what really counts. The place looks a million times better and is much easier to clean, so I'd really recommend it. If you budget for a gadget called an Irobot Brava then you'll never have to clean the floor again. It cost me £150. Our floor came from Wickes, and it's lovely.

Welcome Hippos

I've still had a NSD as I'm still at home recovering from the effects of my own cooking. Had a nice day though, and watched loads of tv with ds. We watched trumpton on Youtube, which he really likes. Oddly, he keeps saying he wants me to buy him this character and that character, and I'm not sure there ever was any trumpton merchandising. I hadn't really thought of that before.

Welcome Hungry...
Snuggly: you have up work 12 weeks before leave begins in order to be eligible.
Em: hope ba will reimburse you...