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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
lilacclery · 21/08/2016 11:42

Scarlet hi again I remember you from before! Love your posting style do you ynab? I think it would suit you.

Unescorted does the camping kitchen work off gas or electric?

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 11:49

Cross post allthebest hope you enjoy ynab. Washed, blow dried & styled my hair in 6 minutes this morning Grin
I'm also an non ironer who uses tumble dryer too much on my clothes. I work with a woman who dries all her clothes on a line in a ventilated shed & irons everything and her clothes look better and she looks more put together than me most days.

I finish up with my second job this week, thanks to all who advised me & helped me to make the right decision for me & my family.

BertieTodd · 21/08/2016 11:50

I'm still trying to figure out YNAB too. I really like it but I've gotten a bit mixed up with my personal budget (I've created one for my own a/c and one for the joint a/c), so I think it will start the personal one afresh on 1st September. Lots of us here using it so hopefully we will figure it out between us Smile
Should be LSD here as DS is sick, he started throwing up at 5am; he no longer has anything inside to throw up poor baby, but he is still retching at the sight of any food or drink. I suppose it's a virus, but it has crossed my mind that it could be the bath water he was drinking last night, he always drinks a bit and I usually just let him as I'm pretty relaxed about things like that, but I had lots of bubble bath in the bath last night so maybe that did it Blush

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 11:51

Allthebest I guess 0% credit cards are magic once you pay off in the 0% period?

Ynab is Magic for me

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 11:54

Bertie I hope it's a bug, because if it's not it's plain baths from now on Grinhe'd probably have gotten sick sooner if it was the bath.
I also do a joint account & personal account budget with ynab.

eastmidswarwicknightnanny · 21/08/2016 11:57

Just got 2pks sausages and some pulled pork on offer with our £5 orchard voucher so sausage sandwich for lunch. I do hate it went checkout person gives you a dirty look when using coupons hope its jealousy rather than anything else

Ememem84 · 21/08/2016 12:01

all no I haven't watched that. I'll add it to my list. am currently watching OITNB and pretty little liars.

Stranger things, the good wife and suits are also on my list.

Netflix also has some anime so I might give that a go too.

Mummyshortlegz · 21/08/2016 12:04

YNAB is brilliant, I haven't been using it long but it is really helping me stick to my budgets and assess where my money is going.

Yesterday £3.50 for swimming, today £12 for new cycling gloves for ds1 the ones he had last Christmas are still years off fitting.

Colliefeatures · 21/08/2016 12:08

I love The Good Wife! Only got to season 6 though. Must finish it!

Spent £15 on breakfast! Shock it was good. I've eaten badly all weekend so I'm hoping lots of water, peppermint tea and green tea will help. My stomach hurts too. Too much bread! Blush

I'm going to aim for a No Spend Week now. Apart from the weekly shop on Wednesday.

This will be hard. So so hard!

I am totally over August.

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 12:12

I've a bread belly today too collie after half a very fresh garlic & coriander naan bread last night, I made the non frugal but better decision for me by leaving the other half on the table when leaving restaurant. My sister brought most of her meal home as a takeaway as she had slugged down water after our run and had no room left for food Grin

BertieTodd · 21/08/2016 12:23

That's what I think too lilac.
Well done on your run Smile

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 12:26

In my race pack was a pack of slimbos, bottle of water & 3 20c coupons off bread & my tshirt, Smile

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 12:26

Thanks Bertie

allthebestplease · 21/08/2016 13:10

Thanks for the encouragement on YNAB, I'll stick at it.

We've nearly run out of head and shoulders...has anyone tried Lidls shampoo/conditioner? I'm assuming it will be cheaper?

Mummyshortlegz · 21/08/2016 13:15

I'm going to try the aldi version when mine are out. Can't hurt?

Ememem84 · 21/08/2016 13:16

have just listed a bunch of things on ebay. if they all sell next sunday evening i'll make about £90. wardrobe is a bit clearer though. I chatted to a friend on friday night and she has slowly started decluttering too. we worked out that we just don't need as much "stuff" it doesn't make me any happier, it just makes me more anxious that i have so much stuff and can't see it all properly. after having a rummage i worked out i have 5 pairs of jodhpurs. ridiculous as i only ride once a week. so have listed 2 pairs on ebay.

submitted GP invoices to medical insurance from earlier this month so would see that back within a week.

haven't yet started ironing...

CremeEggThief · 21/08/2016 13:31

Wow, Lilac, that's a massive change! Any particular reason?

That's one hell of a busy fortnight, Unescorted.Star Not surprised you're looking forward to going back to work!

I was up cheering on Mo Farah last night (shouting at the telly!), so probably didn't get to sleep until well after 3 a.m. I woke briefly at 09.30 and went back to sleep until 11.30, but it was 12.30 before I got up. It was just so comfy and cosy. I've stripped my bed and put the washing machine on and made brunch since. Not sure what to do now, as part of me wants to go for a walk and part of me wants to veg out, but whatever happens, it will be an NSD.

Tryingtosaveup · 21/08/2016 13:41

Congratulations on your run lilac, and well done on leaving the naan on the table. I love naan but it overfills me.
NSD here. This is the 6th in August and on my frugal list I am aiming for 15, so some way to go.
A little wren has just flown in my backdoor and into the kitchen. I have tried to catch it and put it out again but now it is sitting on top of the kitchen units, looking scared ( can birds look scared). I have open all the windows in the hope that it will find it's own way out but it is bloody freezing in here.
If you go to York you have to go to the castle museum. The Victorian streets are amazing and DGD loved the prison. We will go back next year when Jorvik reopens in April.

lilacclery · 21/08/2016 13:52

Which Creme hair or second job?
Get out for a walk & then veg out afterwards that way you will feel better for the fresh air & not lazy either Smile

I drove for 3 hours yesterday to my parents house & now have just driven the 3 hours home as my bil's first wife's funeral is on & she's still Part of all our lives

SnugglySnerd · 21/08/2016 14:04

Goodness the thread's been busy this weekend! Have just about caught up. Sorry you have a poorly DS, Bertie, hope he is better soon.
East the cake looks superb - send us some!!

Found out from a friend that we can go swimming at the leisure club of a local hotel without being members. £5 for adults which is 50p more than public baths but we probably save that in petrol by not driving all the way to the public one. It's free for kids so we took DD this morning. There is a jacuzzi, sauna etc too but obviously I can't use them at the moment, I will be returning though!

Macarena1990 · 21/08/2016 14:31

I have got to embrace the frugal life after an expensive few months - well as best I can with 2 weeks left of the school holidays!

Have stayed in today which is a good start. Plus..

  1. Made a cake today with ingredients I already had, including frozen buttercream.
  2. Sending OH up into the loft to get some stuff down that i want to list on ebay.
  3. Planning a trip to the Clarks outlet to get school shoes.
  4. Resisted buying a jacket yesterday in Topshop and used a voucher to get some embelishments to put on a shirt I already have instead.
  5. Have gone cold turkey with my shellac nails (after 4 years - sob!)
  6. Have researched a cheaper brand of dry food for our cat. Not sure how well this will go down.
  7. Started only using half a dishwasher tablet instead of a whole one. Small steps!
  8. Got a great deal on some aftershave for OH's birthday, which gave me £8 in avantage points too.
  9. Am using up the massive toiletry stash we have before buying any others. Easily 10 bottles of half full shampoo/conditioner.
10. Got my second pay out from panelbase (online survey people) coming in the next few days. Only £10 but feels like money for nothing.

Need to stay focused and avoid unnecessary trips to the shops at all costs!

Colliefeatures · 21/08/2016 14:31

Has anyone been blackberry picking yet?

Ememem84 · 21/08/2016 15:29

collie it's blackberry time? That's next weekend sorted then. I'm going to make jam. Smile

Ironing done. Smile

Shopping list done for Tuesday.

Mummyshortlegz · 21/08/2016 15:30

I've got some in my garden j should pick. My motivation is low as I'm poorly. Meh.

CremeEggThief · 21/08/2016 15:39

Hair, Lilac. Sorry to hear that about your family member.Flowers

I haven't been out for a walk yet, but when I was hanging out the washing, I noticed a few of our blackberries were ripe. They were juicy and refreshing rather than sweet, so up here! I'd say we have a good couple of weeks before most will be ripe.So tasty!