The Friendly Frugaleers, figuring out our finances with furry feline photos!

[Cagliostro]

Hello all :)

Welcome Meadow. I don't note every single spend, I tried but didn't always remember and I found that stressful. However, I know what goes out on bills every month and pay them all by DD so I don't forget. I also spend roughly the same on groceries every week and I know roughly what we can spend on treats and keep within budget. What messes it up is things like unexpected vet bills like we've had this month.
Em, I know it's expensive to live where you do but the pictures of your lovely beaches always make me wish I lived there!
We had a lovely day out at NT place. Had nice picnic in the autumn sun. They were pressing apples from the orchard so we spent a couple of quid on fresh apple juice - worth every penny it was so delicious! Also a tenner in the cafe on tea and cakes and I bought some very expensive honey produced on the estate land. Having read the discussion on here about honey a few weeks back I've decided I'd rather spend a bit more on good quality, local honey than cheap supermarket stuff. I love honey too, it'll be a nice treat.
DD seems a bit out of sorts, I think she's worn herself out climbing and running about, hope she's not coming down with something.

That's wonderful news North. It must be such a relief to hear that.

meadow

Yes we track no spend days. Batch cooking a few meals when your Dh is better & freezing them would help, I make takeaway style curries from a book called the takeaway secret. It's really saved me money.

Are you getting all the financial help your entitled to & on top of utility bills and broadband contracts?.

Registering with cashback sites like quidco, Kidstart & topcashback is a good start.

There's a site called save the student, that's excellent too.

I'm doing well out of valued opinion surveys at the moment, they pay out in sainsburys vouchers too.

Great news about your results, North!

North that's fab news!

Meadow welcome to our humble thread! Sounds like things are tough at the moment but remember its only temporary. Money makes me incredibly anxious - that's why it's best (for me) to face it head on. You don't need to track every spend but at least write your income and your regular monthly outgoings down. My budget spreadsheet has been going for 10 years now! It's fab. It's very simple.

fluffy I'll definitely put that on the list! Thanks!

DS's tummy was better this morning. Now he's got a hellish cold. What the hell? Grrrrrr!

Welcome meadow
Good news north

Overtime today, full day at double time. Tax man will love it. £60 aldi and £26 Iceland but some of that is for ds party next week so will get some back from the party fund

Another no spend here just stayed in so lovely calm Sunday .

meadow welcome! Hope we can help!

I try to track every spend. But sometimes forget. I currently have £200 in my account £40 in my purse.

The £40 should last at least until Saturday. When £35 will be spent riding. (Missed this weeks lesson so will have to pay a £10 penalty).

I try to take pack up lunches at least 3 times a week. I was aiming for every day but I found I failed miserably. If I aim for 3 days I find I'm more successful with 5...!

No take away coffees either - these are my weakness. I worked out that I used to spent £500 a year on take away coffees. Sigh. That's a lot!

Cat update - I sat about 2ft away from her while she ate half her wet food. Then put the rest in her bowl and sat at the bottom of the stairs to watch her have the rest. She's getting braver.

Haven't attempted to it her for a few days. Will let her get comfortable with us being so close first I think.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/a2741035-Meet-Edgar?msgid=63834941#63834941

Lila I hope you have neutering planned for your boys. This boys just popped up on here in a sorry state. The woman who's taken him in works in cat rescue so she's going to sort him out.

Hi all placemarking.
I don't have pil as dh is 20 years my senior, did meet his mother alright before she died. I have in laws substitutes I suppose his older dc.

Well done on extra pupil cag
Trying I think you should change your name, you've succeeded in your mission to save up

I took out loan for my new to me car Friday evening. It's repayable in 5 years. I aim to pay it back in 3 & less if I can.

Fluffy Yes I really need to start some batch cooking, this is first time we've actually had a freezer other than a tiny ice box so we can take advantage of that! It's only small but big enough for the two of us like. I have quite a lot of stuff in there at the moment.

Well really DH should have been claiming JSA but we didn't think he would be unemployed for as long as he has been and we have also moved in that time (getting on for three months now), so he hasn't, which obviously we're now regretting but I don't think it's worth it now because he does have a job offer it's just nobody seems to know when he will be able to start! He has an interview soon for a better job (full-time hours and in an area that he's more interested in) so we are hoping he will get that one and be able to move quicker into that job the way things are going with this one! We have also just recently made the initial phonecall to claim PIP for me as I'm disabled. I used to get it before but then we moved abroad for nearly a year so obviously we had to stop it then so now I have to start a new claim again which I'm dreading! I also get the full amount of student loans and grants from student finance, and have a disabled person's bus pass, and I've just ordered this year's NUS card for student discounts.

What is a cashback site? I will take a look. Also can you recommend sites for the surveys? I don't think I will have that much free time/drive for them what with term starting tomorrow but DH has a lot of free time whilst he's waiting to start work so I could set him up on them.

Emem Do you have a new cat? Also it's really cool that you go riding! I went on holiday to Northumberland a few weeks ago and did an hour's horse ride there and absolutely loved it! I used to go when I was about 6 for about a year but then my stables closed and the next nearest was quite far away so I never went again. I'm a huge animal lover and found being on the horse was so lovely!

I just found this great thing on pensions for Mums on the BBC website:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37450982

Delighted to hear your good news, North.

Sounds like a real, Autumnal afternoon, Snuggly.

Welcome MeadowHay.

Just read that link, AGenie. Sounds like that Lifetime ISA may be a good option for me, as I have next to no pension at 38!

Is £1000 per condition per year going to be enough?

Thanks north I'm with direct line for home insurance but I think I'm going to go with the post office. Great news on your angio

Fluffy only one boy at the moment, missing cat hasn't shown up but yes him or they will be neutered.

Hectic weekend here will catch up tomo

Hello all. I need to come back to you all to get me back on the straight and narrow.

Today:
£119 on 2 shirts and 2 pits of trousers for DH for his birthday plus pair of short sleeve shirts for DD1. £12 in the pound shop being £9 for boys party bag gifts for DD2 party next month (will get half back as it is a joint party) plus £1 for cotton buds and 2 Frozen drawing sets, one for DD2 and one for her friend. £2 parking in that town. £29 in Asda including £10 on a birthday gift for friend of the DC, £4 school shirts for DD2 plus £7.50 on cotton shoe liners for me (I have plantar fasciitis and have had some orthotics made and have to wear tootsies with them). Rest was on bits for lunch as no time to cook lunch before DH got home. £5 colouring book also for birthday. £1 parking there.

need that's interesting that your FIL is also tricky. I hadn't thought of just not seeing mine. That's what the councillor said too. It genuinely hadn't crossed my mind that it was an option.

Welcome MeadowHay

Collie, is it possible that your ds has the same thing as Em and I have? It started with a dodgy stomach and then turned into a cold with sore sinuses. I have a just slightly raised temperature that makes me feel grotty. (37.1, which is definitely raised for me.)

I'm managing to keep spending low on groceries this month but educational stuff for ds is high. It's all good stuff though and is helping us to have lots to talk about with him, which I like.

Tomorrow I have to pay £75 for the balance of the DC dancing lessons.

Also need to start paying for costumes. We have a big show in November. DD1 is having alterations to 2 existing costumes, shouldn't cost too much. DD2 has had one dress altered (DD1's first communion dress) and needs one new costume. No idea about what DS needs!

But I know DS needs dancing shoes

So much to catch up on!

Wreck that hoover sounds good, I recently bought a Henry and it is good but I find it quite heavy to use.

8 that sounds good going on the food although £4 on popcorn?! That must be quite a lot of popcorn

Em your mil sounds awful you should move to Devon though then we could meet for a frugal coffee!!

Welcome Meadow

Wow Need what an amazing thing to do to donate your eggs!

North thats fab news

Nice to see you Audit

I have been working today again, spent £5 in the Co-op but got 2 trays of chicken breasts that they were selling off cheap plus bread and a sandwich for that so was quite pleased. Used the chicken to do a roast tonight, made the gravy and yorkshires so quite a frugal dinner.

Got dd home who had a fabulous wend but is completely knackered and now in a foul mood

girlie, 3 boxes of that awful microwave one, it's the preferred 'midnight snack' for sleepovers. I always have somebody's kids at weekends, they used one box already.
My DD is tired too! Hope they all sleep well tonight.

Welcome back Audit.

Gosh that's very good of you, always hosting sleepovers, 8. DS will be having one for his birthday on Saturday, but our last one before this was in the Easter holidays! Looking back though, my best friend and I used to have them practically every weekend, between 7 and 11. I think they're more popular with girls than boys, aren't they?

meadow yes a new rescue cat. She's lovely. But not too friendly yet.

I love to ride. I used to ride when I was a kid then fell off and hurt myself. Dm said no more until I could pay for it myself. Then 2 years ago I decided it was time to get back in the saddle. My instructor is great. She took me right back to basics broke me down and boosted my confidence no end. I love my Saturday lessons. I feel fitter healthier and more confident. Win win. except I am £100 a month poorer for it but money well spent

Just had the first bath in new bath. Absolute bliss. Locked myself away for an hour. Read some book face mask and had so many bubbles (and Epsom salts). I actually feel worse for it (more tired and more sinusey) but hoping another good sleep will see me right.

Noodle soup pot made for lunch tomorrow. And chicken stock is on. We had our roast chicken with pearl barley roasted butternut squash peas broad beans spinach and spring onions. Le yum!

Ha 8 you are good to host sleepovers, I only let dd have one friend that I know is well behaved for a sleepover! Its not dds friends tbf but my dd that seems to get a tad over excited!! She is having a new buddy back for tea after school tomos though am hoping that goes well. She was packed off to bed early tonight

Need not sure if dd is unusual for playing well by herself but it is certainly something i have always insisted she did encouraged. I am all for providing dd with the toys and environment to play but actually getting involved in imaginary play is my idea of hell quite happy to play a game or read a book with her though.

I've always encouraged my DS to play on his own too,possibly from too young an age. Even when he was 18 months, he was happy enough in his room for half an hour, banging away on toy instruments or doing simple puzzles or looking at his books, if I was doing upstairs jobs. I'm a bit of a loner and love spending a lot of time alone and always have done, so I wanted my DS to get used to and comfortable with being alone from when he was tiny.