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.

Thanks fluffy, then I'm less worries because have geniouly never heard of it before. Thanks
Did something naughty, a Danish clothing line called smafolk, who makes quality organic clothes to kids made some lucky bags available for 40£, where the value is at least 120£, so I have ordered one normally I'm too cheap to buy it but they make the cutiest outfits. And then hold their value for when selling on, www.smafolk.dk, very existed to see what I get. Last time I got bed lined, a fleece jacket, 2 dresses and a hottie plus mittens...

Home made chicken "schnitzel" (if schnitzel is chicken in breadcrumbs) sweet potato wedges sweet corn , edemames and peas. And lemon Mayo.

Glad you got your nectar card sorted collie - the whole thing sounds a bit daft by them!

Spends today £12 in Sainsbury's for fruit, eggs and other bits. £40 on gig tickets for DH and a friend that I could get on O2 priority for them - the band are going their separate ways after this tour, so DH was desperate to see them one last time! I will get the money back though.

Spent the afternoon at the park and doing some crafty stuff with DC1 who was channelling her inner Mister Maker

Poor you Girlie about the threadworms. Been there and done that. I am perfectly sure you are fastidiously clean, it's just one of those things.

Had a busy day today as I've been at work. Egg and chips for tea. NSD.

There are 7 teenage boys here playing Monopoly

Yesterday was brilliant. We had to set off at 5.30am to get to a training session with THE top trainer in our discipline. It cost £40 for 2 hours. DD learned more in 2 hours than she has in months. Was absolutely knackered last night, read but didn't post.

Hope work has gone ok North Sounds like it's all go in your house!

Back to school tomorrow for DS, who starts 6th form, and Wednesday for DD.

Took a bag of clothes and books to a charity shop and managed only to come away with a sewing book (£2) which looks like a really good reference book to have as I play with my new machine.
Mini toad in the holes & veg for tea, done with chippolatas (discovered in my freezer audit) using a muffin tin.
Going to make some cakes tonight to take to work tomorrow as it's my first day back and my colleagues have been so incredibly supportive while I've been off.
Glad you got your nectar card sorted collie, what a ridiculous question.
Girlie your poor dd, hope she gets sorted.
Italian hope your dd gets better quickly.

Mmm I must try mini toad in the hole. Need a muffin tray though as I only have a cupcake one...

One of my August goals, that I am carrying over was to save all 50p pieces. Now have £10. Will put it in savings.
Have started to overpay my mortgage this month. Just by extra £100 per month but it's better than nothing.
Fluffy I have just grown tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in my conservatory and friends gave me the courgette plants for outside.
I use my slow cooker a lot in the winter for veggie stews etc, (I am veggie) so I am hoping not to have to shop much.
I am buying an extra tin of tomatoes or or stock cubes or similar every time I shop so should be ok for some of the time.
And I hope my wood burner means my heating bill is low.
I am retired but do a lot of voluntary work for a charity and am away a lot because of it. I use a lot of petrol but can claim it back.
Still not got round to changing bank.

wood burner

It's like fate was thinking of me. Every year Revenue allow you to submit your returns before end of August & they'll work out what's due. I didn't make it this year & today I arrived home to a letter saying they'd extended deadline to 30 Sept for this year!!! I will definitely have it done for then

True lifelong but I thought I'd be done by September life happened though & I hadn't updated balance of one loan for years & didn't have all interest included.

Wiking smafolk sell really well on a preloved group in Ireland on Facebook! That's a brilliant deal.

Think I need to make banana bread or muffins to use up bananas

Lots of leftovers today leftover beef stew at lunch, always better next day & leftover chicken & chorizo soup for dinner yummy too

Need sounds like that lesson was worth it for your dd

Er, so house prices have gone bananas here. And when we move house our new mortgage will shoot up by over £250 a month and our "leftover" money pot will be fairly reduced. Again. Luckily we save roughly £110 a month on fuel.

But we will live somewhere beautiful with lots of free stuff to do. I am getting really nervous though. I feel like we're being irresponsible but location is everything here. We chose the wrong location last time and it really makes you feel miserable. I know for a fact this move is worth it!

Mummy I love your plan to use the car less. One of our reasons for moving is to cut the commute out completely. I don't drive and often feel guilty about having to walk everywhere or catch the bus. I'm so silly. We are specifically looking at houses nearer schools and nurseries (well, within a 30 min walk!) We will keep the car for weekends but I doubt we will use it much.

North good luck tomorrow. Your mini toad in the holes sound great. I love that idea. Take it easy tomorrow

NSD here, one of 10.
Ended up making cheese on toast because DD asked for it.
Hope for an NSD tomorrow too, then do a shop on wednesday.

Another one jealous of the wood burner. It's on the list for the new house.

Made dinner and vegged. No chores. Just flaked on the couch. Drank tea and watched tv.

Outfit chosen for tomorrow. Bag(s) packed.
Lunch made.

trying we save all 50ps £1 and £2 coins in a jar. It's getting pretty full now. this I'm hoping may be our Christmas money. If the jar is full by then!

Anticipated spends this week:

£39 nails on Thursday.
They no longer look neat. They are scrappy and too long to function.

BFG was AMAZING!

collie I used to have a company car and drive thousands of miles a month. Jumping in the car has become second nature. They are opening an asda on the corner of our estate so we will have that to walk to. I'm hoping they'll do some good soya producers as I have to go to tesco for those. I shop in aldi once a week and I have to drive to there. That's fine, I'm happy enough to do that trip. If I can cut out additional driving to the supermarket that will be good.

We are getting to know our local area better and it's so much healthier for us to walk. And we have a chat!

Wow, I can't keep up!
Spends: £8.34 local shop and £4.84 Co-op, on essentials that we need before the online shop gets here on Thursday evening. Also £14 on 2 Pilates classes and £1.90 bus fare home. Total: £29.10. I've ordered DS a new phone for his birthday at the end of the month, so that will be £68.74, whenever it comes out.
Meal plan:
Today: pasta and pesto.
Tuesday : macaroni cheese with spinach.
Wednesday: macaroni cheese with spinach.
Thursday: omelette and salad.
Friday: veggie burgers and chips with salad.
Saturday : meal out, probably at Wetherspoons or similar.
Sunday: Cauldron veggie sausages with mash, broccoli, peas and gravy.
Monday : pasta with chili beans and cheese.
Tuesday: lentil and mushroom cottage pie.
Wednesday: same.
Thursday: omelette and salad.
Friday: veggie burgers and chips with salad.
Saturday : pizza
Sunday : Quorn pies with mash and veg.

Spendy weekend in London for DD's birthday treat.

Today £20 in Sainsbury on supplies of tights for school. So much cheaper than when we lived in Chile. We were paying just under £5 for 1 pair of children's rights. Tomorrow groceries arrive, £80, also need eye drops for one of the dogs.

NSD no 2 in September. I think I did 10 or 11 in August and am aiming for 15 in September, especially as I won't have DSCs to stay or take on days out.
After what others have said on here I checked my electricity bill and I am also in credit, but only by £2.35, but still...

We're running out of space so I started a new thread

NSD.

See you on the other side.