Money-managing Masterfully into May - Frugaleers unite!

[needastrongone]

Thread continued for old faithfuls, new posters and anyone else that would like to contribute.

Financial talk, tips and discussion, with quite a lot of other stuff too.

We are a friendly bunch and there's lots of support for new and old.

That sounds great life. I'm looking forward to following in your footsteps.

Thanks for he recommendation em!

What handsome children you have Wrecked

Thing is Lonely, you are giving back, you are giving back in the way that is comfortable for you and that's great. We are all so different. And you are very much valued here too.

Great savings Em Good for you.

Creme Progresssssssss!!!! Hooray!!! We have a hobbling pony. He's clearly moved around his paddock in the night as he's grazed in different places. The antibiotics must be kicking in. Early days, but progress.

North Busy season starting then!

It surprise you to know that I am that annoying person that talks to everyone, I talk to the cashier, the supermarket delivery guys, anyone at a race at the start line, fellow dog walkers. I chit chat to anyone who will listen, I chit chat via email to my customer contacts even. DH says I witter.... It's all out there with me I am no better or less good that an introverted person, we are all different.

Spends today will be £30 for the cleaner and we are going prom dress shopping, only it won't be a dress as DD refuses to wear one!

*may

I'm so relieved he's moving around Need.

Great saving Em. I like a chit chat too, need 😊 well done sunny.

Spent £33 lidl....their chips have gone up from 67p to 75p (outrageous).

DH cc is down to £500 and mine is down to £2000. We will stop over paying for a bit just while we move house.

We have £4000 for the moved saved up, but if we can put fees and stamp duty on the mortgage we can use that money to pay cc and buy some paint and carpet. Barclays have a 5 yr fixed for 2.29% which I think is good LTV 80%.
Exciting to move but expensive. Once moved we will carry on paying off debt. Then think about house improvements.
We still pay a little into stocks and shares Isa and my Sipp. We increased DH pension contributions to 6% as he has hardly anything (£15,000) in it 😞

We had more income when I was working, but we just spent it (and more so) on stuff. Not working has actually made us focus. And we are literally richer for it!

Sorry for long post.

Mummy You can take a picnic

To The NHM. They have a special place to eat your own food. Not only is the food expensive but the queues are long. You must go to the discovery room in the basement, it's awesome.
Sorry about the split post. I am in a little chef.

That's brilliant, Need. Delighted to hear it!

Good pony news, Need!

Good frugal news chez Snuggly too. Just completed child benefit form (should buy us a few nappies!), DH got paid today AND he got a (modest) pay rise. Hooray!

Should be NSD too.

Asparagus and strawberry season has begun, 2 things I find hard to resist so that'll make the shopping more ££ for a few weeks.

Yesterday- £16 on two DDs haircuts
Today- £53 Tesco

Was inspired by DP and I both saying how busy we expected to be going to back to work next week until half term. I have a big project which happens all next month so expecting some long days.

So, my shopping involved buying ingredients to do some batch cooking. 3 shepherds pies made whilst little DD and I danced to some kids music. Plan is to make pasta bakes with leftover chicken on Sunday too. We need some good nutritious food to eat rather than ready meals and frozen chips on my work days.

Also mowed the grass . Enjoying a while little DD naps before collecting older DD from my parents house.

I'm intrugued all by how you say you have more by not working anymore. I reckon we could eat better and not miss out on much if I stopped working due to associated costs/spending. House might be cleaner/sorted too!

Great pic wreck glad the rays were as smiley for you as they were for me!! Did you see the Penguins???? Bloody loves the Penguins!!!

Yay pony need glad he seems to be on the mend!!

May have spent £27 in the white co - baby booties mittens small hat and socks. Eeeeeeek! And 15% off. Wooooop

Fab pic!
Super exciting em 😍 We found out the sex with both DD and DS. Think we are going to try and resist this time but I'm glad we did for the first two.

Sofa is here and bigger than I thought! Super comfy though

love we are better off me not working at the moment because I now do a budget, track our spending. We've cut right down, not going on holiday etc. But most of all we are not adding to our debt. What a stupid revelation!!! By spending less than we earn we can now channel the spare cash onto our debt and build up an emergency fund. The second greatest impact has been an eye opener...i was working full time and getting paid X amount and from that amount came lots of work related costs (child care/car etc). Now, not working, those costs have gone - but likewise I've been able to claim benefits so money has come in each month. After all costs taken out, plus making an adjustment for benefits now coming in, the result was, I was working full time for an end result of £500 a month. (despite obviously getting paid alot more than that iyswim). Also whilst being off DH has been doing overtime and whereas before we'd have spent the extra on going out, we now aren't.
Hope that makes sense.
Plus me not working has meant I'm happy again, I sleep again and the house is sort of clean 😏

I am definitely spending less since giving up work but not as much 'less' as I'd hoped. Big savings on travel, work clothes and childcare but my income was very high. Oh well.

Good news on the pony Need.

That's not a bad mortgage deal All

NSD here today - I've taken DS to Preschool this afternoon as he should be attending 2 afternoons per week from now. Left him for 15 mins which was about his limit - he was okay when I was in the room but cried when I left. We're getting there though. I am glad he has this chance to attend pre school as it will really help him with transition to Reception. And feels even more satisfying now we have certainty that this will be his school! I will buy the uniform jumper (which is recommended by not mandatory in preschool) over the weekend, now I know he will get more than 30 wears out of it (I was too tight before )

Some unexpected good news though - the project that I was asked to do about 2 months ago has unexpectedly been approved for funding so they have asked whether I am still interested. I don't think I am going to get more than 6 weeks of work in before I pop (max about 2.5 days per week) but that will be a bit of extra income and importantly will qualify me for maternity allowance after all! Fingers crossed we can get the paperwork in place in time to make it worthwhile... I reckon if it takes more than 2 weeks it isn't worth me starting anything from their point of view so I'd have to decline on professional grounds. It would make big £££ difference so I hope it comes off but I'm not counting any chickens!

I have very mixed feelings as it will make the end of my pregnancy rather a pressured time (I will soon have to do the formal response to DS's EHCP which has a 15 day turnaround and probably will take several days of work...). But the money will buy me more time off with baby DD so I will plough on if I get the chance.

For someone who is not at work I feel rather bloody busy! The downstairs loo has started leaking from the U-bend so I've messaged the plumber again (only just paid him £200 for fixing shower and leaking tap). Always stuff to fix at home.

It's never-ending, isn't it Seacow? Sounds like a much better day for you than yesterday was. I hope the contract can work out for you.

Spends: £7 bus and £8.20 lunch in Pret. I have to say their toasted cheese, chipotle and avocado tortilla wrap is delicious. I had one last week and one this. Sainsburys delivery is coming soon, so that will be £44.85 out on Monday.

Creme I would literally lay in the road for the Pret mac n cheese (there is a meaty one and one with veg in, both amazing). Mmmm.

Ooh, must try the veggie mac cheese next time, Seacow, if I can bring myself to not have my current fave!

Do it Creme, you won't regret it

I haven't been in a Pret for years!

Mac n Cheese done right is a beautiful thing though.

Fingers crossed for the contract sea.
Spendy day. Will get the receipts in a bit and tot it up.
Good pony news need

NSD

It's definitely giving me food for thought all. I earn about £400 once all the childcare, travel costs etc are made but sadly at the moment DP thinks and I guess I do agree, that is worthwhile.

However, at the end of the year it'll end up being only £230 after costs. And I think that may be the decider so with that in sight I'm trying to keep going until at least September. We won't be eligible for any extra benefits if I don't work.

I don't think I said well done to sunny yesterday

Glad today is going better seacow and although sounds like it might be a busy end to your pregnancy it'll work out financially for you

Glad DPony is doing better need

I don't think iVe ever been to Pret. I guess I better not, as I expect I'll like it too much!!

I see this thread moves on as fast as ever.. Just popping in , before weekend ..and saw toasted cheese, chipotle and avocado tortilla wrap !! I need one of these !! Now. (stamps feet).. Luckily we do have chilli with cheese and flatbread this evening though .. Ithink we have a tin of chipotles , but no avocado sadly

ill read back later , but quick update on spends
Food spend has been good, today only bought cabbage to make coleslaw and flatbreads.. the stuff to make the chilli came out of freezer and fridge..

I also garnered two more £2 coins for the piggy..
Bur personal spend I did buy a new phone yesterday!! but not mega ££ just the very basic cheapet Samsung Galaxy ..for £119 .. ( which is quite a lot for a lunch time impulse buy though isnt it? ) at least I restrained myself from the new whizzy one with more power than an old IBM supercomputer .

In my defence I also changed down to sim only ,from my contract , which is asaving and my old phone was a brick (old Nokia Windows phone) ..

Ok enough justifuication . i have been having fun with my new toy..