Super Scrimpers sashay, save & --squander-- their way through September

[lilacclery]

Thought I'd start us off!

Nsd unless the chemist charges me for hedrin bastard nits. First week back too.

spendy this morning on prescriptions. Thankfully the GP has now settled on giving 2 months' worth of each so only 6x2 lots per year.

Spent some lovely time with a friend I haven't seen for ages. Just popped down to her house and chatted and cuddled her gorgeous little boy. DH took the Caglets to the park to try out some of his sports equipment. One of the hurdles is broken though, so I need to email the Amazon seller.

Need to find the diary, there's heaps of stuff I've arranged to do over the next couple of months and I'm sure I'll miss things. I've overcommitted us I think. It's hard not to though when so many amazing trips and workshops and clubs are organised! Can't resist.

Realised the family railcard expired the other day. We have to get a train (very short journey) tomorrow. So I need to check what other trips we have coming up, and work out whether it's cheaper to 1) get the railcard at the station at full price tomorrow (presumably I can do that?) and use the discount straight away, OR 2) order online using voucher codes/cashback, but wait for it to arrive before saving on actual train fares. I suspect, given that we have some London trips coming up, that 1 will win.

Nsd. It's been a busy one.

fluffy you know I said mil had got us the NZ NT membership? Well it's just come in the post but is the UK one so she must have paid full whack unless that's how it comes if you live in the UK? No car window sticker though will they give me one if I go to my local NT place?

Me - NSD
DH bought lunch then dog food, I know the dog food was £70

I keep forgetting to log DDs, having set them up I forget about them. So, £15 spread across 3 charities.

Popped home at lunchtime. She didn't call out at all (checked my app). She found another hidey place - under our tv cabinet.

I lay on the floor and tried to coax her to eat a teeny bit of tuna (from my sandwich). She was very wary but obviously hungry as she took it from my hand. And while she was eating I stroked her!!! She hissed but no aggression. All her body language said I'm unsure but not frightened. Yay!

(We'll ignore he fact over night she peed on the couch cushions...and I had to sort it before work )

Nsd today.

The vets called me too (registered her yesterday) today to get more info. The guy I spoke to said to approach her with confidence. As she'll be afraid if I am. He said a little at a time. Go home and try to pet her again. He also suggested radio (can't believe I didn't think of that!! Thanks guys!!) and just carry on with the softly softly approach.

So good day.

It might take a fortnight, keep going em

wreck Oh lord she's paid full whack. Did you get a guide book? Parking stickers in there.

£20 petrol.

Thanks fluffy it is. Can't believe she paid full amount I feel awful now

She must like you a LOT

I only know about dogs, but with rescue dogs, it's about letting them do things at THEIR pace, and not rushing them. So, if they don't want to be touched for day and prefer to stay in a safe place, that's ok. Just be around them.

NSD.

I'm behind with the thread as we were away at the weekend competing, but it was LSW (low spend weekend!).

Dd came out with the school dinner list have booked her 2-3 school dinners a week up until the end of November which comes in at nearly £50!! Oh well, still worth it if it means I have to cook less

Am debating about dd doing football again this term, its quite expensive at £5 a lesson but dd enjoys it and its excellent exercise for her she is already doing drama, swimming and riding!! If she did football as well I reckon I would be spending nearly £30 a week just on her clubs

Em thats annoying about the pee on the sofa cushions, is she using the litter tray? Felliway is quite expensive but might help her settle in a bit, my mum swears by it for her cats i'm too tight to buy it but am sure my cats would like it as well My cats seem to come out of their shells in the evening time more, they both like to come and sit on the sofa/bed with me then.

We've had a breakthrough. I gave her a bit more tuna. Not too much. Just a little. And she let me pat her again.

I am so happy. I might have had a little cry. Dh thinks I'm crazy.

Ugh, just enquired about a local nursery and they said we had to pay a non refundable fee just to put DS on a waiting list they can shove their fees up their arse. I only enquired because they don't advertise and I didn't know they existed. It's a slightly better location (commuting wise). I'm not going to unsettle him again anyway.

Anyway - today was a LSD at £12. It should have been a no spend day but our fruit has gone off already so it all had to be replaced. And we had to buy milk and nappies too.

Tomorrow - another LSD. Probs max of £5!

Found a house we love today. And viewed it. But it's too far out of town :( no amenities, no buses, no park, nothing!

DH and I have joint finances, but we seem to do it differently from other people. We have separate current accounts, savings accounts, and ISAs etc. I pay some things and he pays others, then once a month we work out what we have, and transfer some £ so that we both have the same amount in total. It works well for us.

Also, NSD .

We did something like before space but one or other of us was losing out at some point so we joined up & I worked out all our bills & we each pay half in weekly

Having done the whole joint finances for many many years, I can honestly say I regret it. I'd never do it again. And I am drumming into DD the same thing. I think it's a really bad idea, personally.

I'm now a SAHM but we've gone through periods where I've earned more. We've had joint finances since I moved in 8 years ago. Money we earn through cash back sites is our own to do as we want as is present money, everything else is family and administered by me. When Dh gets good service awards he is allowed to fritter an amount and I get an amount and then we save it.

Oh Em, that's a wonderful breakthrough. I love cats and she is so lucky to have you. Before long she'll have DH round her little paw.
NSD 5th this month I think...aiming for 15. It is so hard wanting things and not buying them, but I want my bathrooms more!

Should be a nsd off to work in a minute. Not sure why I have so much time this morning, I've even managed to fold a load of washing!

Need to go to the range today and sort part invites. I have loads to do and I'm shattered and no time do it. Hey ho

Hoping for nsd today. I do need to go to boots to get some foundation. But I should be able to use my boots points so it's not technically spending.

Yesterday was a nsd today I must buy more diesel as going to test drive car 3 hour round trip & probably put a deposit on it

We only did a top up type shop on Sunday so must go to aldi too

How was Millie last night em

8fence: would you advice against joint finances to a ds? I honestly think it saves us loads of hassel and in the event of a break up it wouldn't mean a damn thing because we would still have to split 50/50, joint or no joint. I of course respect other ppl doing it differently, I just think for me that if I'm in a relationship with someone then I trust that person and we should be able to have finances joint. But I think it prop also have to do with both upbringing and society, in my family everybody have always had joints finances and been in equal relationships. Mil is a sahm and have never worked but pil defn have joint finances and what he earns she can spend... Also here in Denmark you can't really get a mortgage or other long term loans if your finances are not jointed. And if your married tax sees you as a joint finance.

Glad the cat is settling in em... dd woke up from a nightmare early evening so our cat comforted her and has been sleeping with her the whole night. Squashed in around her little arms and yet our cat just lay there patiently... I love the fact that dd can grow up with animals, truly believe it gives them so much

lilac Millie was ok. She meowed super loudly at 3am and I Was awake at 530 so got up to have a chat with her. She's moved towards the front of our tv cabinet now. So getting braver I suppose.

Definitely em she's settling in.

We have our kittens since June and in the last week or so I can see them growing into cats. They are such good company and fun to have around and they have so much patience with the way ds carries them and the way dd constantly has them up in her arms cuddling them.

I'm not an indoor pets person at all so our lives outdoors but have a lovely warm house which is suspended above the ground so that it's not cold.