Springing into the New Year with the 2017 Frugaleers

[CathodeRayTube]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread grin

//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.

[Mummyreindeerlegz]

I need to start being much more careful. Dh is going to be in London full time from next week. We've bought a years ticket and a years parking. He's going to take his lunch and breakfast with him and use the gym there. We've used savings to pay for the tickets so we should technically have £250 more each month. I need to use that to top back all my pots. They are looking very sad!

We do Aldi shopping every week, I meal plan and do a joint on Sunday and then we have the leftovers for two more meals at least. It works well for us. I spent £54 yesterday but that included lots of fruit and vegetables and restocking the freezer.

I look at the 59p fruit and vegetables and meal plan around that a bit. Over Christmas it's been great with all the root vegetables for 19p.

[ememem84]

Home made pizza and a movie for dinner. Catface has played with all of her toys and I broke my fave wine glass.

May have had a cry too much wine clearly to dh about how I'm not pregnant. And how that's my priority over everything else next year.

[Mummyreindeerlegz]

Big hugs em, so hard when you want something. Take pregnancare (or a generic equivalent) and some vitamin d, do it every two days from period to period and book some unbaby friendly things for next Christmas.

[ememem84]

mammy on it. Well not today as on my period. But as soon as that's done...back on it.

Tempting to book a trip to San fransisco for my birthday. In October. Thatd do it right?

[ChristmasSeacow]

Been there Em. Get peeing on a stick. And mummy is right - if you book something that would be scuppered by pregnancy /baby it will probably help fate along. Two days before I found out I was I pregnant with DS 5 years ago (been trying for 2 years and stopped hoping), DH and I had booked flights to Jordan for a holiday. For just before my due date. We never did get our money back but we got DS...

Unescorted I am amused that you had the same experience of chemistry /cooking! My FIL might be the exception. He will mix up a prawn cocktail though.

need my norks definitely need support! I can barely stand up without a bra. and they are very sore these days too so DH is going nowhere near

Lifelong that's what I am going to have to do... it's the where to store them that I get stuck on. We have loads of space in the loft but it is quite damp up there. And I recently found moth holes in a cardi. I think I need to get vacuum storage bags and something moth-repellent but not stinky. And then pack, pack, pack. By size /season/ work vs casual. I am all tired just thinking about it! I have a tendency to start well and then run out of steam at the peak of chaos. Must do better.

Cag I have a similar list for the next year. Lots of one-offs. Mostly to do with sorting finances and decluttering / doing house stuff. Decluttering is going to be a major deal this year to fit new child and its accoutrements in! And I need to get the spend run rate down so that I know I can last another 12 months minimum, ideally 18 months, before needing to be back in a job.

wreck doors sound good. Even small changes can massively change how we feel about our homes, in my experience. I am still quite enjoying having a new door mat that isn't filthy.

[ChristmasSeacow]

Ooh, two frugal wins though. At the very last moment yesterday before heading to in laws I remembered to freeze the leftover ham and turkey. I'd have cried if I'd had to throw all that away. I see pies in my future.

Also, a lovely friend who had her first child at the same time as me, and has since had Number 2, had offered to give me her pram and Moses basket for nowt (though I will get her a gift). I have a pram from before but it is quite heavy and I don't think I could steer with one hand - probably essential if also trying to manage DS (who has no sense of danger). And I wouldn't be able to spend on a new one. So very chuffed about that.

[Cagliostro]

Seacow I am the same, suddenly run out of oomph partway and them all the decluttering etc I have done gets undone! Lots of what I want to do this year involves decluttering - we've done quite well this year, but a long way to go.

[Cagliostro]

And big hugs Em

[Taytocrisps]

I finally got time for a catch up and I've read back over the last ten pages of the old thread and the first two pages of this one.

em sorry to hear about all your period related issues. I'm keeping everything crossed for you that you get pregnant very soon. Failing that, I hope the doctor has some helpful suggestions. A little cry is allowed too. I was 9 months trying to get pregnant with DD and I thought it would never happen. I remember getting very upset on Mother's Day when I was ttc and telling DH that I was afraid I'd never be a mother. It all seems a bit melodramatic now but I still remember feeling utterly miserable. A few weeks later I found out I was pregnant and had been pregnant on Mother's Day without realizing it . Sending you huge hugs.

CremeEgg how's your cousin been since?

Needa I can't believe you have 60 people coming for NYE . I'd be having a nervous breakdown at the prospect.

Adora how's Teddy now?

mammy I was a little concerned when I read about DD's reaction to knocking over the toys at Christmas. Poor little thing. I hope the play therapy and occupational therapy help. Glad you got your water sorted even though it was a bill you could have done without.

Cathode I have a friend who has a huge interest in science. My big interest is history. We both like reading so we manage to find lots to talk about. I don't think your FIL should be so quick to dismiss you just because you don't share his big passion. Although I don't know much about science, I enjoy reading your science related posts. They bring something different to the thread. I enjoy talking to people who are passionate about something, whatever that something might be. Anyway, a very interesting discussion about finding yourself and trying out different identities.

Girlie I'm so glad the charm bracelet turned up.

Welcome back MissA Very happy to hear that the big op was a success. Wishing you continued good health.

Wreck I must have missed your name change. I didn't realize that you're the poster formerly known as Spotty Teacakes

Welcome to Frecn and stillwant and Adventures

I had a lovely Christmas. We had two busy days with family and then a few quiet days. DD had two friends over for a sleepover last night and then we invited some friends for dinner today. We made a frugal beef curry using leftover beef from Christmas Day (we froze it). DH got a bit carried away with the rice though. We've a huge bowl full of cooked rice and that's after feeding 9 people!

We've been invited to spend NYE with some friends. They bought a huge house in the countryside. By all accounts, it's massive and has lots of hidey holes and secret passages etc. which sounds intriguing. I have a terrible sense of direction so I have visions of getting lost in the middle of the night on my way to/from the loo.

I haven't spent any money in the sales. By the time Christmas is over, the very last thing I want to do is set foot inside another shop. I like to hibernate over the Christmas holidays and make Lego with DD and watch lots of movies and read and eat all kinds of fattening foods. Also, we're thinking ahead to a family holiday so I'm more interested in putting money away for that than buying more stuff.

I've made various resolutions over the years but I'm rubbish at keeping them so I won't bother this year. I would like to post here more often and keep up with you all so I'll try to make more of an effort. I'm not calling it a resolution though

Happy New Year to all the lovely Frugaleers! May all your dreams come true in 2017.

[mammymammyIRL]

Just getting up now to take db to the airport & have caught up on thread to this point

[mammymammyIRL]

Spends yesterday €41.64 on diesel

[mammymammyIRL]

Home & back in bed temp 37.6, swollen glands & headache. Meant to drive 3 hours home will see how I am after waking up again.
€9 on tolls NS on breakfast as nowhere open

[SnugglySnerd]

Oh no, mammy, get well soon.

I've been there too, Em, I hope it happens for you soon. I found buying some expensive trousers helped, I soon got pregnant and couldn't wear them!

Hairdressers today will be £26.

[Needastrongone]

Tayto, that house sounds like paradise for children! Enjoy.

Mammy. Is DH around? Could he drive maybe?

Those are definitely frugal wins Scarecrow. DS was 18 months when DD came along and there's loads of times where your'e split into 2 really, trying to deal with both. Number 2 usually gets put down while you deal with the toddler. They are always fine. Then you realise you really ought to have done the very same with Number 1 more often, but have no parenting barometer to gauge it by.

Think that's where your some of your anxiety/emotion is coming from Em? Wanting to be pregnant?

Just going out in a bit to get a few extra bits for the party and fruit, but nothing else today.

We have a fairly cheap January coming up, so hope to claw back some to the expense of Christmas.

January resolution (will do monthly)

• change 2 d'debits more to Santander.
  
• Increase pension contributions.
  
• sort holiday destination at the least, in order to work out the cost etc.

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Can I join you?

A brief run down of the situation.

We're a family of 6, Me (receiving CA) DH (full time employment) DS 12 (receiving HR DLA) DS2 10, DS3 4 (currently in nursery/childminders) DD 20 months.

We live in a HA property that is way too small for us, we've researched every way we could marvel to a more suitable property but it seems the only way is to buy a 4 bed which on the south coast is going to be expensive, DH is in a well paid job so we have decided to tighten every belt and buckle for a few years to raise enough savings for a deposit and buy what we can.

I'm used to living on nothing, I was raised in a family that was in constant poverty so it will be east for me, DH is however used to spending whenever he wants on what he wants so it will be tougher for him.

We both want to lose a lot of weight this year and previously we've had success with both slimming world and low carbing, I'm more comfortable with low carbing as it seems to be more organic and less processed food but it's very expensive, we need to decided which we're going to do and how to do it as cheap as possible because we're not the sort of people that can just make sensible choices into regards to food, especially DH who has a lot of work stress at the moment which looks to continue well into the year.
So we need to manage our food budget which can easily gets out of control if it's not planned to each meal. DH will start taking packed lunch.

I need to ditch Sky, we're currently paying £130 minimum a moth for to/phone and fibre which goes up when we use the phone, and yet we often find ourselves with nothing to watch,we have Netflix that we use a lot though, the kids will miss Sky One so we need to try and keep that at least and we can't negotiate on broadband speeds and DH needs it for work.

Energy prices are nuts ATM but we have to use our tumble dryer a lot as DS has a chronic lung condition so we can't have wet washing in the house. We have an thingy to show us how much we're using and it is the combo of dishwasher and washing machine and tumble dryer that's putting us right into the red.

[ememem84]

In a way it's nice to know a lot of you have been in this position. Sucks but nice to know.

need my anxiety I think is to do with a whole lot of "crap" wound up in a big knot - mil, travelling, babies, work, etc. Just need to deal with each of them individually.

spoje to dh yesterday about babies. Told him it's my no 1 priority. More so than moving house. He looked a bit annoyed And I got the "but we were going to move next year" speech. Have pointed out that there's no reason why we can't do both but I will not be driving the house move forwards. I'll be involved. I'll look for new places. But as I'll be pregnant I'll be doing none of the packing or unpacking or actual moving or dealing with lawyers and banks and agents. As I did last time.

I think putting our flat up for sale in April is a sure fire way to get pregnant right? (Aside from the obvious).

Nsd yesterday. £25 riding today.

[WreckTangled]

Hey tits did you used to be on here? I think you live near me...cathedral city with a nice theatre?

I need to buy alcohol to take to friends tonight (already have two v expensive bottles of champagne which I've been saving) plus food for tomorrow as we have friends coming round.

[Needastrongone]

Hiya Tits. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Sky is extortionate isn't it? Big savings to be made if you can manage without it, or reduce the package. I spoke to them recently and negotiated £20 pcm off for 3 months, just because! Have you reviewed your d'debits for best deals? Cancelled any subscriptions no longer needed?

EM. In a way, I can see your DH's POV, for two reasons. First, moving will give a purpose and a focus that isn't on getting pregnant. You need and want to move from your previous posts, so there's no point in putting stuff on hold for 'if'. Life is what happens when we are busy making plans. Second, and I hope I don't sound like a patronising twat, but the STUFF that comes with a baby isn't something you really appreciate until you have said baby. You will relish extra space moving will give you. So keep an open mind.

[Needastrongone]

Sorry, I misread your post in a rush, I can see that you are happy to move, just be less involved.

[ememem84]

need we're in a lucky position where we could have a baby here and still have space. Both our bedrooms are large and we have a fairly large living room kitchen area.

That said I never knew how much stuff babies need until friends started having them. And we are on the first floor with no lift...

I'm only hesitating moving because last time I did everything. Dh did none of it. We were living with his parents which spurred me on to find a place so I dealt with the bank the agents and the lawyers. I packed up. I moved us in. Not something I'm prepared to do while pregnant. Hence why I've said he will have to take the lead. Not that we can't move iyswim.

I keep thinking about it and about how I'm so totally aware of everything that will have to change for me. But probably am not....none of my friends were prepared.

[ememem84]

And now my post sounds a bit twattish. Sorry. Wasn't meant that way at all. It's good to have outside perspective! Xx

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Welcome tits.

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Doesn't sound twatish em, sounds like you are thinking aloud through your options. That's the beauty of us we all have a differing perspective and can discuss without judgement.
I can't afford judgey pants they are not in my budget

[ememem84]

life my judgeypants went to the charity shop this week.

I reallllly need to get out of bed.

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

Morning all, welcome tits

Em it must be tough and you are def allowed a little cry, am sure 2017 will be your baby year.

My NYRs are;
Save more, I would ideally like to save £200 a month, this should be feasible from Feb... I want to increase my savings account up to £5000 which I reckon will take two years if there are no big, unplanned expenses to fork out for.
The usual do more exercise and eat less crap, we need to plan exercise into our wends (swimming, running, cycling etc) every week.
Get a catflap, I can't cope without one any longer!!
See Dr and get these headaches sorted.

Am hoping for 2017 to be a more settled year, 2016 was a year of highs and lows (moving house and dd being so ill being the biggies) and i am looking forward to being in our new home and enjoying it.

Oh and I may consider venturing into the world of dating again...............