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Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Fluffys frugaleer thread. All welcome.

999 replies

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/05/2017 12:20

Smile
OP posts:
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42
Cagliostro · 20/05/2017 23:03

I was planning on primary teaching before I got too ill to finish my degree. I can't believe it now though, there's no way I could've handled it. I've seen so many become totally disillusioned with the whole system.

Thanks for the CC thoughts. I'm definitely happier now it's not going to build up yet more interest, as that certainly takes the pressure off, but I do like the idea of getting rid of it sooner!

Laska5772 · 20/05/2017 23:28

cag when i first came here i had £3000 cc debtBlush

Wrongwayup · 21/05/2017 06:58

Can I join please. I need to start reducing my spending so that I can go part time at work. It should work. In theory.

WreckTangled · 21/05/2017 07:36

Welcome Wrong Smile

I'm going spinning in a bit £6.50. My friends turn to buy coffee afterwards.

The weather looks lovely for the next week, we've got all the heating off now have had for about a week, it's a bit chilly in the mornings but it's fine.

We were going to take the dc to a farm open day today but they've been so badly behaved recently that I don't think they deserve it! Are we cutting our noses of to spite our faces though? Will they be even worse for not going out? Argh.

mammymammyIRL · 21/05/2017 07:45

Welcome wrong
Enjoy spinning wreck
I'm getting up & running 15k with my friend in preparation for our half marathon in 4 weeks.
Dh was an ass last night & slept in spare room, I'm sure he'll have forgotten I'm going running so it'll be amusing when he realises he's to shower & dress dc for a birthday party they're going to later Grin

mammymammyIRL · 21/05/2017 07:58

Friend has tummy bug so she's not running guess it's headphones for company instead!

lifelongfrugaleer · 21/05/2017 08:06

Enjoy your run wreck.
We are going to the open air museum today with spicy nic. Need to call into the shipping park just outside of Durham and return something to Lakeland.

Hope the party went well need.

lifelongfrugaleer · 21/05/2017 08:07

Welcome wrong

Cagliostro · 21/05/2017 08:14

Welcome wrong!

Laska I remember how well you have done getting it cleared! Ours is almost £3.5k and I dread to think how much of that is interest rather than actual things we've needed to pay for Blush. We haven't spent on it (or any CC) since Christmas or thereabouts.

Tricky one wreck is it a free event? If so (as you aren't potentially wasting money) I'd take them with a very clear word beforehand that any misbehaviour means you go home immediately? If that would work for their ages.

Cagliostro · 21/05/2017 08:15

I also just realised this month we might both stay well clear of the overdraft. All month. Mind = blown :o

needastrongone · 21/05/2017 08:22

Hello Wrong, lots of support and advice on here for you, you are in the right place.

Brill stuff Cag.

Wrecked, just checked the weather after you said that and it does look lovely for the week doesn't it?!

Thanks. Good party. Black tie is always fun. Worked brilliantly. Big hog roast outside for catering. Wasn't expecting 30 people to come back to ours for drinks at 1am, but there you go GrinGrin. I went with it, but I'm a bit knackered today!

needastrongone · 21/05/2017 08:24

Enjoy the run Mammy, sorry your DH was an arse last night.

LonelyOversharer · 21/05/2017 08:49

Can't remember who asked, our bike shop is dp's hobby/passion. It grew arms and legs and ran off a few years ago, and now we have a club and race team, and put on lots of club and British Cycling events.

But for money to live on, dp has a proper trade, with a long running contract, so he works as many hours as he can, but struggles to sit at the computer for long stretches due to the damage to his back. I work part time doing piece work from home, but the pay is very little. I'm afraid we get what I consider to be a lot in tax credits (4 dc), so would dearly love to have a job that pays rather than a handout. We'd be no better off, but I would have worked for it iyswim.

Sounds great need !!

My credit card debt is horrific Sad at least 20k, split over 4 cards. Two I have to use when I run out of money and two I balance transfer to, some at 0%, some long term 4%. I pay off about £7-800 a month, but it is always there, looming. For a good first step, I have climbed out of my overdraft. So I in theory have a bit of spare before I need to cc spend.

I buy my fat quarters on the internet mostly. Cotton patch, the tabby cat, and good old ebay are very good. If you go for 100% cotton they are of a set quality really, so all work together. We have an ace independent craft shop in town, but I tend to browse without finding exactly what I want there. £2 - £4 a quarter, but I always have left overs for my stash!

A long post for a sunday morning! Have a happy day everyone!

Cagliostro · 21/05/2017 09:05

Sounds like you've got it organised though lonely and great to have got out of the OD too. DH and I are terrible for still thinking of our OD limits as 'ours' rather than being the bank's money - I found it easier to mindlessly spend on that than the credit card.

Can't believe how much we are going to save having changed electricity providers. Also can't believe how ridiculously easy it was to do so! Same with the CC balance transfer. I wish we didn't procrastinate so much - how much money have we wasted by not doing this stuff?!

ememem84 · 21/05/2017 09:13

Morning all. No spends planned today.

Dh was also a right ass last night. I went to bed at about 10. He came in probably around midnight. Catface shut out of bedroom. Cue scratching on door and meowing. Sigh.

Anyway at 330 I woke up needed a wee so went then realised I needed more water. Off I trot to the kitchen to fill up water bottle. Catface makes a break for it and goes into our room. Oops.

I went back to bed and dh is tossing and turning and muttering about my bloody cat. I moved my legs which have started to get a bit twitchy and accidentally brushed him with my foot. Cue him kicking off because it's important that he sleeps.

I may have shouted that I've had broken sleep now for about 3 months and that I was sorry I had to get up to pee and that I needed to stay hydrated. I moved myself to the spare room because his sleep is so precious.

About half hour later there's banging about (like someone hammering at our front door. But it's dh smashing his feet on the mattress to get Catface out. Three times in an hour he did that. Apparently it wasn't sensible after time 1 to shut the bloody bedroom door so she kept coming back in. Idiot fucktard.

Anyhoo. Downside of all this is Catface spent the rest of the night cowering under the bed in the spare room. She won't come near me this morning and has reverted back to her old hissy self. I'm so annoyed at him. It's probably set us back a few months. She had just really started to trust us.

As an act of revenge this morning I've used all the milk for my tea, finished all the peanut butter and also chocolate spread for my toast. So for breakfast he's left with dry toast and black tea. Petty but rather satisfying.

ememem84 · 21/05/2017 09:15

Rant over. Bah. Feel a bit sick now if I'm honest. Milky tea and peanut butter chocolate toast (separate slice for each topping) didn't really mix well.

I might take myself off to the beach later and read my book. Dh was talking about having a good clear out of the flat. Every bloody weekend this is his idea. I'm not playing today. Other than to put my washing away. Weathers supposed to be nice so I'm going to (carefully) get some sun.

AuditAngel · 21/05/2017 09:19

Hobby craft sell fat quarters.

Ok, been trying to keep up, but been very busy (as ever)

Wednesday NSD
Thursday £1 for DS for police cadets subs
Friday £13 fir DD1 and I to see Footloose at Richmond Theatre, £3 for bus fares to get there and back, dinner was £25, but paid for another "couple" at the meal as it seemed the right thing to do. (My sister's best friend died Sunday night/Monday morning, and her husband and one of her daughter's came) £5 sweets at theatre got DD1

needastrongone · 21/05/2017 09:20

You don't have it easy lonely at all, poor you. Fab to climb out of your overdraft though and you are not burying your head in the sand about it.

Oh dear Em, what's he going to be like after weeks of broken sleep when DS is born?

needastrongone · 21/05/2017 09:22

Martin Lewis recommends spending one day a year, just one day, sitting down and going through all your d/debits, loans, c/cards and finances and switching if required to better deals. Reckons folk could save $$$$ just doing that one thing Cag.

AuditAngel · 21/05/2017 09:25

Saturday had a day out with DD2's friend and mum. Went to kcal fun day £15 each for the 2 girls to gave unlimited rides and facepainting. Even though the weather was rubbish we got outpr money's worth as there were about 10 different variations of bouncy castles, plus bungy trampolines. £9 on sweets for the three girls, £6.50 on ice creams for the 3 girls, other mum bought drinks God us.

Then we hopped on a bus to go for lunch £45 each for a lovely lunch (with a whole bottle of wine) £4.50 bus fares for me, plus paid £1.59 for other mum as her Oyster ran out and she doesn't have a contactless card (busses here are all cash free)

Had a great day, DD1 took DD2 and friend to park for about 2 hours, they stayed for dinner and left at 11.30!

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/05/2017 09:26

Oh no poor Catface, animals are so vulnerable & don't understand what they've done wrong.

She must've been so confused that her owner turned on her last night.

Her safe place isn't safe now Angry

OP posts:
ememem84 · 21/05/2017 10:08

fluffy I know. Couple that with an open viewing on our flat yesterday where 12 couples traipsed about for an hour, three other viewings this week and the eye drops it's safe to say she's a bit distressed. I'm still in the spare room. She's now at the side of the bed. Not under it. Just watching me. Twitching whenever I move. I fed her earlier and she ran away when I went to get more biscuits. 😭😩

need I asked him that last night. He said it'll be fine when baby boy arrives because he'll be able to understand sleeping. Almost wet myself laughing at that one.

In his defence (and I hate doing this but I can see it from his perspective) he has been stressed out and working enormously hard recently. He's dealing with all the moving stuff shielding me from all but the most important bits - he's dealing with agents he's scouting for places for us to visit he's dealing with banks and lawyers and also doing his job and meal planning and food shopping and doing the bulk of the house work. I'm concentrating on baby boy and my job. So I get he needs to sleep. But there's no need to be an ass about it.

Haven't posted my ac balances for a while:

My ac £2995
Joint ac £35 (but my share will go in tomorrow)
Penny ac £40.78
Cc £480 (this shot up recently due to hair nails vets doctors and buying baby boy cuteness...) must make a payment tomorrow once all my dd's have left my ac.

Just transferred £25 from my ac to my savings as am not riding next weekend. Told my instructor yesterday that I've probably only got another 4 weeks to go until I should stop 😭 But know I need to at some point.

I'll still go up occasionally and will watch the lessons. Need to make sure I'm not forgotten! Haha!

ememem84 · 21/05/2017 10:10

Oh and on my big savings account I made the grand total of £0.38 interest. Waaahhhhoooo!! Must spend it wisely. Haha!

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 21/05/2017 10:10

Yeah Em he does realise that babies wake up all night every night for a looooooooong time right? My cats drive me nuts but even I think thats harsh!!

ememem84 · 21/05/2017 10:22

girlie yeah I may have hissed that at him last night.

I'm chalking it up to stress. As I said he has basically been doing everything. And I am grateful as there's been a huge amount of crap to deal with but still...don't bully my catface baby!!!

She's lucky baby boy is a boy. I've been telling her for months now that she's my favourite girl/best girl. If we'd been having a girl someone would have had to not be favourite girl. And someone wouldn't have liked that much. 😻 😿🙀😾