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.

Aggh! I salary sacrifice, so does DH. It had never occurred to us that it would impact our pensions.

Girlie I often say that it's a good job my kids are cute!

NSD.

Tayto and Em the cost of those holidays 😲 I can't imagine how rich I would have to be before I would spend that kind of money on a week away!

Need that's a great parkrun time. I did about 22:30 which is not my best but I'm not on form and only had about 5 hours' sleep so was happy enough. Today I did a 10k in 45:30 which I was happy enough with again.

Girlie that's great news on the sofa. Love a good hand me down! I have a few bits of second hand furniture which have done me really well.

I was on track for a NSD then I spent £60 on two bras. But 25% off, and a couple of mine need replacing. So all good. I might do an Ocado order soon. I got a voucher for £10 off, but need to work out if I actually need £40 worth of stuff.

I've been awol and spendy - seems to coincide with sleep deprivation!

I hadn't considered that about salary sacrifice either but tbh childcare is relatively short term compared to a lifetime of working, I need to know that money has gone straight out of my salary otherwise it would be so depressing and there are savings to be made.

Started thinking properly about my half marathon which is in 8 weeks - did first long run today 14km it took 1hr 45 mins but a dog tried to sink his teeth into me on it so I wasn't fully on form for a few km. I roared and pushed him away with me knee but he still managed to graze his teeth off my hip.

Tayto great that you & your dh are on same page
My dh has made the decision to start charging his daughter & her husband rent, they've been living rent free in a house he inherited for past 8 years. The fallout will be interesting to watch. I suggested rent when they moved in. it was supposed to be for a few months.

Lost my long post fs.
Spent loads, went to the beach, good day.

Mammy A friend of mine ran a half marathon today with hardly any prep, he did it in 3 hours which was 30 minutes faster than last year. He was so exhausted afterwards. I can't imagine even attempting something like that. I'm far too lazy!

Spends today:
£38ish for our entrance to the Tower of London (which was super cool and worth it).
£20 for our lunch at the restaurant at the Tower of London which was alright but a rip-off really.
Our tube & bus travel was on our Oyster cards from what we had left from topping up yesterday.

Wow meadow that's great going, my plan is to add an extra km each week

Just catching up. Been away working. Will post properly tomorrow.
Wow Em, new house!

Morning all. Early one here today. Catface was going crazy at about 530 - we've had a bit of a storm overnight I guess because curtains were closed she can hear but can't see the rain and wind. She's been on the bed between us since I let her in the bedroom at 530.

But if a sore throat today too so taking it easy here.

Dh is doing a food shop I need to make a list.

Other than that should be nsd.

Hi, sorry to gate crash your thread but just wanted to say that salary sacrifice doesn't necessarily affect your pension - it will depend on the rules of your scheme. For example, if you are in the Local Government Pension Scheme salary sacrifice doesn't affect your pension as your pension contributions are taken out of your gross pay before the salary sacrifice. I'm not sure if the other public sector schemes are the same. Best to check your scheme rules before you start worrying!

Thanks chessie! That applies to us so good to know

Mammy what happened to the dog?! They definitely should be paying rent they're taking the piss.

I can't really afford it but I need some trousers for work. If I go to h&m then I'll also need to get fuel and pay parking. Hmm. Should stay at home. But also need trousers. Argh.

We had a lie in this morning. The dc didn't wake up until almost half seven Dh is at work so just us today.

Would a bus be cheaper just this once wreck? I suppose it would just delay the inevitable need for petrol though.

You can't be trouserless for work at any rate!

we don't have buses where I live! Otherwise I would as the dc would love that! The only way I could get a bus would be to drive 15 mins to the nearest town then get a bus which would take 35 mins and cost £14 return so cheaper to drive.

Thanks chessie will contact my pay department when I get a moment this week

How did the collection of DD go cag? Did you have to wait long?

Feel better soon em

DP used the bread maker but started to cook it just before bed so it stayed in there over night. Will get him to try it first and see if it's edible. No point us all getting poisoned

Hoping for a LSD but who knows!

Mammy They have no shame or pride. Best get the popcorn in & get ready for the emotional blackmail.

Wow wreck that's an expensive way to get a bus! :o

Thanks love it was 50mins late, got rather cold but when it started raining a kindly grandma asked us to wait in her car. Started chucking it down so was super grateful! She also dropped us home after, how lovely is that :) and turned out her granddaughter is someone DD has mentioned a lot so I've passed on my number to arrange a play sometime.

Hope the throat feels better soon em it's annoying when you can't take the usual medicines. Hot apple juice or squash with honey is my go-to. I do like crisps if it's a scratchy throat too.

Boring bank holiday for us here. DH working.

Rent free for 8 years!!! Wow! I hope they realise how lucky they've been. :)

I look forward to the inevitable AIBU thread :o

Sorry if I caused salary sacrifice stress. Thanks chessie for the clarity

I went back to sleep. Woke up again just now and a hot cup of tea, some orange & mango juice and some crumpets had been left on the bedside cabinet for me.

Nothing to do today apart from chill. Yay!

Life that's why I love these threads - makes me think about things I might not consider and be mindful that what may seem a bargain often has strings attached!

Back in the land of the living having just worked 4 day weekends both just now and last weekend.
Got home to find courgettes and runner beans, which I stupidly planed out, have been killed by low temperatures.
Cag, that Granny was very kind, but generally speaking, most people are.
Meadow, sorry you've had such a stressful time. This system of assessing people for disability payments is not sustainable. It treats people inhumanely.
Off to find this frugal thread in "Chat". Is that where it is?

copper I've just read the frugal thread. It's in classics now I think.

I'm astounded by the lengths some people go to to just save a couple of pence.

Morning all, have just had a looooooong lie in which was needed as slept badly last night, think I over did it on food ystd and felt really sick plus achey joints for some reason. Hmm don't feel too bad now but going to try and eat a bit more sensibly!!

Ystd was a NSD as it rained all day and we decided to stay in, dd was happy playing and watching T.V and I did come cleaning and baking.

Today going to pop into town for the few bits I want and then going to see my friend who had a baby last week, excited about that although new borns scare me a bit they are just so small!! I much prefer babies when they get to the sitting up and crawling about phase.

Oh and because it rained so much yesterday and last night I am going to put those worms out to eat the leather jackets, the ground has to be really wet for them to work and wanted to avoid filling up the watering can too much!! I am properly obsessed with water now we are on a meter, I recycle dishwater, shower water etc for the garden rather than fill up the watering can!! Not sure my water butt is fitted properly as it doesn't seem to fill up very much

£70 in coop on food. Lots of lovely fresh veggies and fruit. Yay!

Dh is making a lasagne. I'm on the couch pinteresting gardening ideas.

He's also just made me a tuna melt. Mmmm.