Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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.

Keeping our Fru Year Resolutions! Frugal January thread two (already) - all welcome!

999 replies

Cagliostro · 10/01/2018 20:41

Eeek so the other thread filled up fast. January 10th must be some kind of record!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
49
QuiteCleanBandit · 14/01/2018 10:50

Will need to get fruit -clementines and bananas .
Felt a wee bit guilty as I asked DH to get some and not get easy peelers -Hmm
He went to 3 shops -in vainBlush
Hoping I have enough co op card "money" so NSD in theory

ememem84 · 14/01/2018 11:15

Laundry is a massive issue here. I posted ages ago about dirty laundry mountain. The longest I’ve lasted without washing dh’s clothes is a month. He just bought new pants. And shirts for work.

The rule is that I will deal with laundry (yesterday I sorted a basket and asked him to put it on) as he has ruined so many of our things it’s just easier. But anything he wants washed has to go in the laundry hamper. If it’s on top or on the floor next to it or on the floor I don’t wash it.

Cagliostro · 14/01/2018 11:29

I remember Hampergate em :o is he better at it now?

I need to start thinking of a meal plan and shopping list. We order on Monday night for Tuesday (we only have midweek delivery saver) but I always mess it up if I don’t plan in advance.

I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth doing the main shop on Tuesdays and then trying Aldi for a small top up on say Friday. It involves lots of buses.

OP posts:
QuiteCleanBandit · 14/01/2018 11:41

I have a small laundry bag for my stuff em
No sorting needed.
That way you can ignore the mountain.
Does he do your laundry or care about it ? -nope so why is it your job to do his ?
Honestly stop caring !
Its great and I now look on in amusement as they huff and puff about doing 2 loads of washing 😂😂😂

ememem84 · 14/01/2018 11:42

Marginally cag he’s at least not complaining when he has no clean shirts for work or when his gym clothes are minging as they’ve sat in a bag for a week next to the hamper all sweaty 😤🤮🤢

QuiteCleanBandit · 14/01/2018 11:43

If its that much effort Cag wouldnt it be easier to do online ?
Adding in the buses / time plus caglets it would be so much easier .
Or local veg box delivery ?

ememem84 · 14/01/2018 11:43

Just listed a few of ds’ things on eBay. I’ve got a bundle auction finishing tonight and if it doesn’t sell I’ll list separately (well in smaller bundles).

QuiteCleanBandit · 14/01/2018 11:45

Stay strong em
You are nearly there.
The next stage is the show offy doing of laundry with Sad face .
Then you know you have won Grin

ememem84 · 14/01/2018 12:46

quite that next stage involves a lot of “humph” ing and sighing when the washin g goes in the machine doesn’t it?!

Cagliostro · 14/01/2018 13:07

Yes we do the main shop with Tesco delivered on Tuesdays, but sometimes need a top up as our kitchen is so tiny we can’t store anything. This will be solved when we move, we’ve already chosen a big American fridge freezer 😍😍 so we can batch cook etc. We can’t even keep much out/in cupboards as the whole kitchen gets really warm so everything goes off quickly.

DH does pick up stuff from work (Coop) but even with discount it’s expensive really so not sure whether to try Aldi as it’s so cheap. I’m not finding it a faff with the 3 DCs at the mo - advantage of big age gap is that the big ones help :o - but not sure if it’s worth the trek across town. Mind you it may not be that different to going to Tesco or Asda anyway when you add in the walking. But if it’s that cheap maybe?! We have a Lidl much nearer but it’s shit, totally not worth buying fresh stuff there.

OP posts:
mammymammyIRL · 14/01/2018 13:08

Spends yesterday €9.74 on topup of OJ butter & bottles of soda Water & lime as I was going to a friend's to celebrate her birthday. I brought Mary berry's lemon cheesecake, it's amazing! Today we were meant to have visitors so I made odlums strawberry cheesecake & now they're not coming so more for us Grin

Lunch today is soup made from odds & ends using turkey stock le yum

Starting bootcamp again next week 3 times a week for €100 not sure if there's any cash back incentive on this price but happy because I'll have days for running too.

This week I'm going to make lunches the night before.

Guys I've the opposite problem with laundry dh is constantly doing it but mixes whites & darks & puts stuff in dryer that shouldn't go there so it's costly in replacing clothes.
Dd got an outfit for Christmas, he put top in dryer & when she put it on today it now has 3/4 length sleeves Angry

SuperValu coming tomorrow evening
Garage didn't fix my car, part wasn't it. My dm visiting tomo night & going away wed so hopefully part will be in tomo & I can get it done tues while she's there to bring ds & his friend to preschool.
Dh repaid me some money he owed me so that'll go against cc

Cag sounds to me like Sunday is a day off for you guys Smile

Had no eggs today & yesterday so made pancakes using chia seed egg and dc loved them Grin dh collected eggs then so we've now got 4 Grin

Keeping our Fru Year Resolutions! Frugal January thread two (already) - all welcome!
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/01/2018 14:12

Cag Have you Done the bus pass form yet?. It will save you so much money.

Has anyone been to Costco recently & noticed the price of sunflower or rapeseed oil?. I'm buying 5lt for £5 in Tesco but Costco might be cheaper.

ememem84 · 14/01/2018 14:24

£6.99 now tv sky sports 24 hour pass. Dh has cooked a leg of lamb (which has smoked out the kitchen and living room but smells utterly divine) and his mates are here. Just the boys. It’s nice to have a full house.

One brought a crate of beer. One some wine. One a cheesecake and one nothing but has promised to wash up. #win.

I’m going to sneak off for a nap later and leave ds in their capable hands.

needastrongone · 14/01/2018 14:24

Starting to think I have an issue on the tidy kitchen from ha! All my neighbours look as tidy as mine, I thought I was normal Smile

DH isn't allowed to do washing, just so much simpler to do it myself.

I ran 1.35 at a half marathon this morning, I'm chuffed to bits as I'm edging towards the times I ran pre injury. Left it out there today and was nearly sick at the end, had to sit down for 5 minutes. All good fun.

NSD

FadingSomewhereInHollywood · 14/01/2018 14:25

Hello, my first post on this thread Smile DP and I bought our first house together last year after a move to London (which took lots of scrimping and saving and living with his parents for a while!) and now we have a rather large mortgage plus a loan to pay off, and about £2k on my CC.

I'd like to stop using my overdraft which I inevitably end up in by the end of every month, and pay off the CC by the time the interest-free period expires - around 2.5yrs.

Longer term I'd like to start overpaying on the mortgage - we had to take out a 35yr mortgage so I'd really like to reduce that as much as possible and get some equity built up.

Some things I currently do to save money/track spending: I can get reuseable gift cards through work which give cash back, so I use that for food shopping. I get around £100 back per year doing that. Take reusable coffee cups with me when I'm likely to buy coffee - makes a filter coffee in Pret 49p! I also use a Monzo card which is a reloadable card with an app - you get a notification every tome you spend something. I give myself a spending budget each month (though trying to be stricter with this as in the past when I've run out I've just put more money on it!).

This weekend: £55 for food shopping for the week - includes all lunches & dinners for me & DP for the week plus a few yellow sticker bits and bobs for the freezer. Also included deodorant as face wipes for me which were not the cheapest! Apart from that I've not spent anything. Have spent today batch cooking. I currently beef chilli in the slow cooker for tonight and tomorrow, and soup simmering for lunches all week. Have also made bolognese for the freezer and am about to slow roast/cook some tomatoes to keep in oil as they wouldn't otherwise be used!

Sorry for the long post Blush looking forward to sharing tips and hearing about your (non) spending!

needastrongone · 14/01/2018 14:25

I like a full house too em, have fun.

mammymammyIRL · 14/01/2018 14:31

Dhs friend coming so he'll assist us eating the huge cheesecake and my mother will have some tomo. I might get out for a run when he comes. Dc are playing really well together today.

Need wow amazing time well done 👍🏼

Started with my decluttering by doing dds schoolbag. Discovered bus money, which after texting driver discovered it's from about a month ago Blush

SnugglySnerd · 14/01/2018 14:35

Welcome Fading.

Thank you frugaleers with your lovely kitchens! You inspired me to start a big clear out. I did 2 cupboards this morning including the big pantry cupboard. Not much to throw away which is good buy I've found lots of odd bits to use up and I've put things close to their use by date at the front so we'll remember to use them.

Best of all is that dh also got inspired and not only joined in but has washed out the bin and done loads of cleaning. It still doesn't look like Need's but it's a good start!

Wolfcub · 14/01/2018 14:45

Managed to clear off the corner o’crap in the kitchen 🍾, last night I froze a small portion of neep and carrot mash that might previously have ended up in the bin and I resisted spending a pound on coffee at rugby this morning despite being frozen. You lot are a good influence

FadingSomewhereInHollywood · 14/01/2018 14:48

Wow need what a fantastic time!

I'm so impressed with all of your kitchen clearing efforts. We did declutter when we moved (it was quite big move from oop north) but I've definitely still got too much mismatched Tupperware that I can't quite face dealing with yet 🙈

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 14/01/2018 14:58

need I’m in awe! I ran a half marathon in June and was pleased with 2hrs 10 mins Blush
Have attached pics of our kitchen, there’s more out than I would like but DH wants it all out so we compromise. I dream of empty surfaces. Some cupboards aren’t that organised still (we moved here in May) so want to get those done maybe next weekend.
Just had a massive charity shop haul, including a brand new looking black wool coat from Coast for £10!

Keeping our Fru Year Resolutions! Frugal January thread two (already) - all welcome!
Keeping our Fru Year Resolutions! Frugal January thread two (already) - all welcome!
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/01/2018 15:02

Well done Need! If you consider your older now then you're basically at pre injury time really.

Faded Excellent start to frugalling. I can suggest;

Grapeseed oil for cleansing. Cheap off massage supply companies & very effective, high in anti oxidants to keep you youthful.

French press off Wilkos for coffee. £5 & Aldi ground coffee. 200g of that should give you 24 cups. Which is 8p a cup. The shopmium app has Taylor's coffee single origin for £1.50 a bag for the next few days, that's 6p a cup. Need Will vouch for the Aldi coffee too.

Shopping apps, checkout smart, shopmium, green jinn, topcashback instore & quidco clicksnap. Free or reduced priced food. You can both have an account & double up.

E-Rewards off the nectar website, surveys that pay out in nectar points. You can spend them on eBay & Argos too.

QuiteCleanBandit · 14/01/2018 15:05

Oh gosh mammy yes I had that.
Ramming washing into the machine without checking in a temper and ruining things .
Hence I do my own and he does his.
Teens do theirs when they run out or the floordrobe gets too much.

Unescorted · 14/01/2018 15:52

faded welcome. I can't imagine how expensive moving to London is.

Need that is a fantastic time.

I have been trying to avoid doing a presentation for work. I have written it I just need to do the slides. All the washing is now done and the bathroom is clean. I might get our Comms apprentice to do it for me.....

NSD today. I have realised a benefit of NSDs. I can stay in my jimjams all day.

Laska5772 · 14/01/2018 16:05

Spends £44 on Amazon this weekend ,all on me me me Me !! grin ... included 2 bottles of the wonderful Seedlip garden as I am not drinking and its £7.95 off at the moment ( I suppose for dry Jan,) .. these will last me several months though i expect as I usually only drink this at weekends instead of my one G&T when DH has one ) .

The other things were books and a CD
Add message | Report | Message poster
Laska5772 Sun 14-Jan-18 15:35:41

..and £28.12 in co op .. That should be food enough for the week though.. I am going to poach a chicken in stock with a star anise.. ginger spring onions and garlic for lovely Chinese-y style stock/soup base..

OK so that is my 2nd local chicken bought this month but i am doing the Blood Sugar Diet as really do need to lose the weight I put on over the last year (again sad) so I dont need to buy new clothes!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread