We’ve had our Merry Thriftmas, now bring on the Happy Fru Year! All welcome as we Frugaleer our way into January 2018.

[Cagliostro]

A new thread in case we are too tipsy (or in my case, asleep on the sofa) to remember later.

This is a friendly group where we chat all things money related and all things everything else related. Everyone welcome so settle in and let’s make 2018 the year we save money!

[Pinkpeppermintteaforme]

I think its habit em plus that "I deserve it "
thaang that Alvin Hall will soundly tell you off for
My friend is lovely and works 10 hours less than me but is in the habit of "treating" herself but everyday -so its the norm not a treat.
Blimey its hot water and tea/coffee -genius marketing idea to charge £££ for that when a teabag is about 1p -4p depending on how posh your tea is !

[SnugglySnerd]

That's one advantage of teaching. School isn't near any shops or food places and our lunch break is short and usually interrupted by detentions and things so buying lunch/coffee isn't an option. Occasionally a school dinner if I haven't taken my own for some reason!

[LonelyOversharer]

Luch has been awful here too. For us, having a shop meant I was there 9-5 for the first 4 years, and 9-3 for the last two (we've been tailing off for a while...) so, mad morning rush, 3 lunch bags done for dc, come lunchtime, nothing to eat! Despite fridge/freezer, microwave, kettle and table top oven/hob ffs I'd then pop out. And do a top up, get some lunch, about £20 to £30 every day. Plus I'd always do a big shop in the week. It really is no wonder I've been spending more than I bring in (for years). Just a £50 imbalance a week over a few years is huge. Sigh. The times have changed now!

I wish I'd found the thread years ago. I would be in so much less debt.

Mfp is great. I used it last year to shed off the extra 2 stone I had accumulated. I haven't even stepped on the scales this year, I've put back on some, but feel less scrawny now. I'm too old for thin-thin!

Pottering at home today, working and laundry, washing up, fun fun fun!

[ShoopShoop]

NSD yesterday (apart from season ticket and parking, but they were planned).

Need a couple of bits from the supermarket today but should come in at less than £10.

Paid £300 towards a credit card.

Also had a couple of frugal wins - got my compensation back for shocking train service just before Christmas, and refunds for mouldy sprouts in my Ocado order 😷, so nearly £45 up 👍🏻

[Pinkpeppermintteaforme]

Lonelydont beat yourself up.
I was the same and in just a few years its amazing how quickly you will get back on track.
Top up shops are a no no here or I take cash -enough to buy milk .
Its easy to get through £20/30 and its frightening how it adds up.
I also use the bits on my Co op card for milk etc #frugal win

[Cagliostro]

Yes, no point beating ourselves up over what has been - we are all moving forward and making changes!

NSD for me today as I’m staying home, just doing housework and home ed stuff. DH is taking DD to gym later. Confession though, I did ask him to bring a can of Dr Pepper home after physio this morning, I could barely stay awake. That’s one thing I won’t buy cheaper to have at home as I will just end up drinking it every day. So the occasional one when I can no longer fight the caffeine craving is all I have.

Need to buy DD some tap shoes soon which involves a train ride to the dance shop, but far too tired for that today and she has occupational therapy tomorrow. Although come to think of it, the location of the shop might work out well to go after OT, then go to Badgers from there. It would also mean DH and I could have a meal together while the Caglets are at Badgers, which I don’t think we’ve actually done since baby arrived, TBH we have absolutely sod all time together lately as he works a very late shift.

It’s 11am, I should probably get up :o

[SnugglySnerd]

Lonely dh and I often think about the money we frittered away on take aways, boozey nights out and taxis when we were first together and how much more of our mortgage we could have paid off with that money. It's painful to think about but we can't turn the clock back and in some ways I'm glad we indulged ourselves while we had no kids commitments. We don't have the energy now!

[Annwithnoe]

Nipped our to buy a mop head as mine has disintegrated to threads. Then decided to buy two. Got DD a rug I had promised to buy and kept forgetting which was down to half price. Then popped into lidl to stock up on fish which I left off the list at the weekend and came out with melons and yogurt. Nothing I won’t use but still €37 all in for just leaving the house. In my defense I put back a spray mop I was going to buy for the laminate floor and decided to think about it for a week first. And I stayed out of the aisle of randomness in lidl.

On the subject of coffee treats I got DH a box of little coffee syrups as a stocking filler so that may cut down on the fancy coffee splurges. Actually I think I’ll go make myself a hot hazelnut hot chocolate

[Annwithnoe]

Hope it’s ok to post a link? Pink’s comments upthread about a daily treat becoming the norm reminded me of this article. I’m going to wait til the book comes to our library before reading it

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

I had a migraine this morning so only just surfacing now! Going to meet the crazy fb buyer in a min so wish me luck!!

unescorted that's great news.

[ememem84]

Missed unescorted’s news. Glad that’s all nothing to worry about!

£24.95 at coop. I stuck to my list. Hooray.

I’m using mfp too. However I keep forgetting to log food. Have two days to update.

I also feel guilty for logging everything - for example today after supermarket I popped into see parents. Dm had donuts. Ffs. I didn’t need one. Didn’t even want one. But had one with a naice coffee (proper French press coffee). Although I suspect the point of mfp is to guilt you into snacking on lettuce.....

[Pinkpeppermintteaforme]

Thats a great link Ann and I love your name
Found some great apps
Monefy -will start next payday -looks intuitive glares at YNAB
Thriv love this for setting up savings goals .
Need to dust off Alvin Halls book -I wish he would do another show.
Martin thingy doesnt do it for me like Alvins soothing tones

[Pinkpeppermintteaforme]

I used mfp em but got so bored with adding everything.
My fav was drop a dress size but I notice she isnt that size anymore (Anna Richardson)
Will have a big bowl of soup and lots of fruit for lubch.
Biryani for dinner

[SnugglySnerd]

Ann this probably isn't what you want to hear but I love my spray mop! It's perfect for giving the floor and quick once over after giving the dcs their dinner and that sort of thing.

[Cagliostro]

That’s a great article thanks ann

We are on the penultimate thread page already

[ememem84]

Friend just came round and she was absolutely besotted with ds. Just as well really. She’s agreed to be his godmother. Two down one to go! She also cried. And promised to let him do whatever he wants. And buy him sweets and fizzy drinks and beers....

[SunnyLikeThursday]

Things are going well here still. Ds has a new teacher and is now also having swimming lessons. Yay!

So busy just now. I seem to have missed half of this thread. I hope things are going well there.

[mammymammyIRL]

Will we fill the thread today ladies? I hope I'm not assuming wrongly that this is a female only thread
Hadn't been doing many surveys of late as was so busy at work towards end of last year. Yesterday I cleared out my emails to 0 unread on both accounts and I started back to surveys, and have earned €3.50 so far. I need new foundation soon and this company has boots vouchers as an option. That's how I bought my last one also only €2.50 to go to earning €10.

Aww em that's fabulous, how many godparents will ds have?
sunny that's great news about your ds starting swimming, does he like new teacher?

[PollyShelbyLifeCoachServices]

NSD hurrah for work! 😃 prevents spending!

[ememem84]

Ds will hopefully have 3 mammy one left to ask. They’re all old friends so it’s nice.

Made flapjacks today. Woop.

[SunnyLikeThursday]

Mammy yes he does. I managed to get hold of the lady who will be teaching his school swimming and she is teaching him a week ahead so he knows what he's doing. Hopefully that will help and especially with the idiot boys who are trying to intimidate him by starting rumours about mandatory diving.

[Cagliostro]

...has Girlie been kidnapped in Morrisons?

[mammymammyIRL]

Today's a NSD and my cheque from my father cleared, this was meant to go to cc debt but I'll see what mechanic's bill is first.

Spent the morning doing car insurance quotes, renewal hasn't come yet but my work bonus on prepaid credit card that I held for it will cover it under €500

sunny if he's especially anxious that's a great idea.

[PollyShelbyLifeCoachServices]

Fluffycloud 1977 (I'm 1977😀)
I ran a tight ship before but i found out yesterday that my temp contract at work s going from 4 days to one soon😞 so its a good job i have been tracking every penny and can stay a float until i can find more hours! But i love it, i think i find this and Fitbit dangerously addictive😀 i love the support on these threads, keeps you keeping on. ...

[PollyShelbyLifeCoachServices]

Glad for your news unescorted....