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.

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Wreck, yes! That's me, I still live here, it's flipping extortionate! 😬

[ememem84]

My resolutions are:

-take better care of myself;

• appreciate the small things;
  
• save a bit more money - at present I'm saving £800 a month in various accounts. I realise I'm lucky that I can do this not a stealth boast I should be able to increase to £1k. Once my wages come in and I've paid the money into our joint account it should leave me with £300 for "essentials" being beauty (nails eyebrows and bikini wax) and horse riding. Then anything else is up for spends or for saves.
  

I need to also pay down my credit card. It's shot up to £790 again with Christmas and gym membership. So will sort that.

No spends on books, clothes or toiletries until at least April. I can do this.

And. My penny saves account has £142.45 in it. That's a whole year of sweeping the penny amounts.

[SnugglySnerd]

Welcome Tits! We ditched Sky a few years ago, saved us a fortune but they are bloody persistent and difficult to get rid of!
Inspired by Em and Need I have done full make up today. I'm not very good at make up but I look better than just my usual quick foundation/mascara/blusher.

[ememem84]

snuggly good job!

I'm also trying to get all my washing done today. You're not meant to do washing tomorrow right?

And have transferred my penny account to my credit card.

[WreckTangled]

I cancelled sky and got now tv. It's great. Plus sky called me and offered sky back free for six months so now I have sky too

£9.80 in m&s on food for tomorrow plus reduced Christmas cards.
£22 tesco on alcohol and tampons

[Ibelieve123]

2017 has got to be a frugal year.
But I'm determined to get finances back in control
We have got rid of sky & will be getting a pay as you go phone.
Any other ideas to reduce our spends would be much appreciated

[lifelongfrugaleer]

How does now TV work. We have cable would I need to get a TV Ariel run back in or does it work off broadband? I can't seem to see.

Ibelieve write everything down you spend, go through all utilities to see if you are on the best deal, meal plan, cupboard audit first though.
Mse website had a good checklist.

[ememem84]

life we have now tv. You buy the box or download the app on your smart tv if you have one. Plug it in and it's fairly easy to set up. We buy vouchers from Amazon as and when we want it.

We bought the movies voucher for Christmas for a month. £6.99

[WreckTangled]

It's off the broadband life. We live in an area where the broadband speed is horrendous, seriously bad but we've never had a problem watching now tv.

I'm really annoyed. I've got £90 pending in topcashback since April! Obviously topcashback are apologetic but there's nothing they can do until they receive the funds themselves.

[CathodeRayTube]

I went back to bed this morning for the first time in 6 years and it was good.

Missed such a lot on here though.

Good luck Em. It sounds as though you are on exactly the right track there. Fingers crossed for you. I especially like your idea of dumping everything except the plan to get pregnant and I would also tear up your plane ticket to New Zealand if it was me. We are shouting encouragement from the wings here.

I'm also making plans, mostly for going back to bed more often. Zzzzzz

[Titsalinabumsquash]

With nowtv, if it's saying for instance, you can get an entertainment pass and watch Modern Family on Sky1 does that mean the pass gives you Sky One unlimited for the duration if the pass or just certain shows?

[WreckTangled]

It gives you modern family as a box set and you can also watch sky one live

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Ah ok, I have a,so just gone into Sky's website and logged out, then got a quote for unlimited fiver broadband and the same phone package we have, plus a new 1tb Sky Q box and the original package (which has all the channels we actually use!) for £60 a month!

Now, of I call them and say this to them do you think I can just change my current set up to that listed above for the same price or will they make me cancel and rejoin in DH's name because that sounds like a lot of faff!

[WreckTangled]

It's worth asking!

[Taytocrisps]

I saw this pic on a friend's FB page and it made me laugh

[CathodeRayTube]

Creme I'm right with you on the tiredness here. Today I tried to convince ds that the feeling of tiredness is actually a feeling of relaxation and that we should just lie back and shut our eyes when we feel it. It kind of worked. :-)

It certainly means we're not spending money.

[Tryingtosaveup]

Welcome Tits ( never thought I'd say that).
I am having a lot of work done on the house so saving for that. It is hard going but very satisfying when I see what I have managed to get done.
Em, rooting for you here as well. You will definitely get there and no matter how much you prepare, it is utter shock when baby arrives. Be prepared to give up your time, your space, your money and your life.
It will be worth it though. You'll make a lovely Mum.
Just been for an hours' walk. Needed some fresh air. NSD.

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

Have searched the freezer and made a meal plan for the next week - hardly needed to buy anything which was good.
Breakfasts will be muesli with soya milk and fruit or crumpets and coffee; could also use up some frozen banana in smoothies. Back at work from 4th so will then get provided lunch each day. It's school dinners so not good for waistline, but it is free!

Meatballs, hidden veg tomato sauce, pasta
Spinach and walnut risotto
Fish cakes with sautéed leeks and steamed sprouts
Tuscan bean soup and crusty bread
Kohl Rabi curry and rice
Sausages, leftover xmas veg, stuffing etc
Mushroom soup and bread
Veg burgers with egg fried rice and peppers

[northender]

Thanks cath for the new thread
Lovely to have you back MissA
Just set up my first budget spreadsheet for the new year. Not much spare cash around but we have a lot planned with what we have.
We'll be spending new year at the cricket club which won't be too spendy as there is no admission cost and the food is Jacob's Join. I was going to make a chocolate cheesecake but then discovered half price desserts being sold off at Booths so the cheesecake can wait for another day!
Will catch up properly tomorrow. I'm working 12-8 but then have got a well deserved week off. We're off to Devon on Monday to see family and the dc aren't back at school until the 9th.

Happy New Year frugaleers!!

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

Hmm does anyone have any tips on coping with a hoarder husband? I've basically started to not buy stuff like hummus, ice cream etc because he will insist on keeping the tubs afterwards ... the diary free ice cream we get comes in hexagonal tubs and they take up so much room and look awful I have been known to throw stuff away when he is out but he is equally capable of hoking it out of the bin again...

[GandolfBold]

Marking my place as I really need the motivation. Want 2017 to be a frugal year.

I have opened a new bank account to put my 'spending' money into, so that I wont be constantly dipping into other money. I am avoiding the sales as I have absolutely no need for anything more (although DS needs new school trousers).

Wanted to have a NSD but need a new tyre so will have to go out and get one, plus we have hardly anything in the house as we were away for Christmas. A going to do a list and stick to it so that I dont go off piste and end up spending ££ more than I need to.

I use Topcashback for everything and am saving this into a savings account. I also do the sealed tin challenge on MSE so that by the en of the year I have a bit of savings. It doesn't seem like a lot but by the end it is, and it makes me happy to have some savings to my name.

[PixieMiss]

Room for one more?

I had a DS in March and became a SAHM through a combination of a poor wage, long hours and no job satisfaction. I am doing a part time college course to retrain.
My DH earns a fair wage so we get by.

End goal is a housing deposit! We currently live in a house renting from a family member so it is cheap and secure. I live in West Yorkshire so houses are reasonably priced.

Main area of concern is food shop! I can spend £80 a week on the 3 of us plus the DCat which is far too much. I don't drive so end up doing a shop online at Sainsburys. The only stores within walking distance are Lidl and Co-op. I am introducing a meat free day into the week and have a thread going in Food/Recipes.

Looking forward to getting to know you all and sharing hints and tips into 2017

[Mummyreindeerlegz]

£80 a week is quite a bit, do you want to share your meal plan?

Can I be nosey and ask what you are retraining in? I'm a sahm now (since my second was born in September 2015) and considering retraining in 2017.

[CathodeRayTube]

Trying I'm glad it's not just me who found that on becoming a Mum for the first time. It's really a big job isn't it?

Welcome Pixie.

[WreckTangled]

£139 on vinyl for the kitchen floor. Knowing Dh it will be six months before it's laid