Money Saving Marches on....frugal living, friendly chat, no judgment

[ememem84]

Hello. Took the liberty of starting a new thread...

Hi everyone - I have been following your threads for a while, but have now properly started to sort out my spending as we have an impending building project that will no doubt cost more than we expect.

I have done all the obvious cost cut backs on energy bills, mobile phone, broadband etc and am now tackling the food shopping. Off to ALDI soon with a list for the first time - so wish me luck - hopefully I can stay away from the middle aisle of madness!!

For washing I have discovered the eco egg, which replaces the need for detergent and fabric conditioner and saves loads of money. I have not noticed and reduction in the cleanliness or freshness of the clothes compared to my old detergent either! I also use their tumble dryer eggs and they definitely seem to have reduced the drying time for me. Worth a look for everyone I think.

Hoe you all have a good Friday

£135 after school club. Humph.

Im firmly in the washing liquid camp
Method only -buy when on offer for £6 for 1.5 litres.
This lasts 2 months.
I never put it in the drawer as advised by repair man,just straight into the drum.
Run a 90C wash every month with bicarb and no slime/smell/mould.
I hate powder -it DH spills and sometimes doesnt sdissolve.
The DH/DS washing pile is going down

Payday !!
Everything accounted for and bills paid.
New glasses for DH and savings put away.
Balance looks healthy

That's a shame Em but I agree you are being very positive.

I like the sound of the egg to reduce drying time. Will look into that. I sometimes chuck white vinegar in with the washing. It helps keep the machine clean and softens the laundry. I also run hot washes in both the washing machine and dishwasher to keep them clean.

@Threesocks Ive been using the egg for a while now and it’s great. Although not so good on baby stains.... but I have detergent for that side of things. Everything else though it’s great. The one bad point (and I know this is me not the egg) is that because it’s not perfumes it doesn’t smell. Duh obviously. But the washing doesn’t smell “nice” afterwards. It doesn’t smell bad. Just doesn’t smell. Using bold or whatever it smelled. And I associated that smell with clean!!! Need to get my head around that!

I have to find the positives on the house front. If we don’t sell now it’s not the end of the world. And probably easier because I can deal with ds starting nursery and me going back to work. And then we can look to sell again. Maybe try one stressful thing at a time! Haha! Plus money saving.

I am going to keep decluttering though. Keep on as though we’ll sell imminently.

Ds is looking particularly lovely today in his new raccoon jumper. Thanks Dm. So we’re off to work in a bit for paperwork (me) and cuddles (him). We have to take donuts too. It’s the law apparently. but am happy to oblige.

Just enjoying my “final” cup of coffee before my teeth aligners go in. From this afternoon they must be removed for all food and drink except water. And they will be in for 22 hours a day.

An ex colleague (also a toxic person) commented on my fb status last month when I posted “bye bye money hello straight teeth” that it’s bye bye solid food and it’s exceuciatingly painful...but I doubt it is. Wierd and uncomfortable at first yes. Excruciating? Nah mate.

My brace wasn't excruciating, achey but that's what painkillers are for.

I bought a denture brush to clean mine.

Who knows about broadband? I just did a speed test and got download speed of 3.0mbps and 0.9mbps upload. That's shit isn't it? When I'm paying £25 a month?

wreck as you know I'm not in UK but I pay €25 a month so less than you and get between 8-14mbps depending on time of day.

Thanks. Been trying to watch the brit awards all morning but it keeps buffering apparently I'm still stuck in 2001.

On hold for 45 minutes and the fucking cut me off

So after almost two hours on the phone I have fixed my electricity for two years with a £25 love to shop voucher, upgraded to fibre broadband at no extra cost (apparently 1-3mbps is all we get here) and rearranged my dentist appointment. Oh and during those calls I hung up the washing and cooked and carved a gammon

Great work Wreck, lots of money saved in that time, it’s an investment.
Ds and I are making caramelised onion and Gruyere pizza for lunch - amazing what Googling the dog ends of food you have left in the fridge before payday can lead you to

Not bad for scraps

@ememem84 we have the egg that has a slight scent and the tumble drier balls have a scent stick in the middle too, so the washing stills has a clean smell!!

That pizza looks amazing!!

My ALDI shop was £43.68 - I put everything on the receipt into the Ocado app (which I usually use for shopping) and the identical shop would have been £63.03 so I have saved very nearly £20 ... if I repeat that on a weekly basis we will be over £1000 better off for the year. Looks like I am going to suck it up and actually enter a supermarket for the weekly shop rather than relying on Ocado ... even every other week would make a major difference!

@WreckTangled you deserve a medal for that kind of patience, but well done for persevering. I did it all over the last month and nearly lost my sh*t more than once

Wolf that looks amazing!

Three socks I was not impressed but I really like sse, their customer service is second to none this is the first time I've ever had to wait and when I explained what had happened they raised a complaint for me without me even asking so I no longer feel angry

Hmm those laundry balls sound interesting I like my washing to smell nice too.

Have just hoovered all of downstairs now need to do upstairs...

Wreck you’re making me feel tired

How’s DD now Cag?

Welcome three socks. Do you have three feet or is one sock a spare? Building work sounds exciting. I need to get a grip on utilities, broadband etc as this has been DH’s domain but he’s not very motivated to sort them. To be fair, between work and a non-sleeping baby he’s not had much down time these last few months.

Em I think you’ve taken it really well. I’m a bit surprised that the building management thinks it’s acceptable to get into a pickle such that potentially no one can sell for such a long period. You guys are philosophical about it and are not under any time pressure but imagine if someone had to move?

NSD so far today but will be spending a bit later as it’s the PTA quiz and curry night at DS’s school. We are the reigning champions 💪🏻🏆; however, we are now a team of two instead of the maximum 6 so I don’t think we’ll repeat that feat! £10 each for really good curry, naan, rice etc last time and cheap beer at the pop up bar. So a cheap night out and ££ for the school.

Had a review meeting with the school today about DS’s progress and EHCP delivery. Somehow I think I have managed to get them to engage DS’s private SLT through the school for some extra input. And she’s utterly brilliant much better than the rubbish SLT allocated by the LA so if that goes ahead I will be ecstatic!

Mum arriving to babysit later this arvo and the house is still a tip from all the carpet cleaning shenanigans earlier in the week. I don’t want to put stuff back now as I want to paint the walls first (maybe this weekend). They just need a refresh in the original colour. We’ll see how energetic I am. I seem to have invited 20 people for lunch next Saturday so I’ll have to put the furniture back by then one way or another.

Also happily we’ve booked a bit of our holiday /summer road trip. A week’s sc accommodation in Orkney. Quite reasonable for the school holidays but we’ve got to drive /Ferry there and petrol /groceries will be expensive, being on an island. Can’t wait though. Now to find the stages of our journey either side. I was getting a bit worried we’d left it too late, phew.

The no-chocolate thing is a bit tough -I notice it most when I sit down after a meal with a brew. I had a headache earlier so administered a Murray mint. You know, like a methodone programme.

Welcome three :)

Oooh em raccoon jumper! Would a pic of little dude wearing it be too outing...? 😍 Bummer about the flat sale. Gives you longer to find your dream home though I suppose.

Cagletini is getting there thanks, definitely improving. Coughing fits are becoming less frequent which is the main thing, she’s still a bit rattly though so we’ve opted against a big park trip today.

Did have to run a few errands though, got garment bags for DD’s ballet costume, swapped an item at Debenhams and bought some storage boxes. The big tub we use for baby clothes is no longer big enough so this time I’ve opted for three smaller ones (vests/sleepsuits/day clothes, although not sure the latter will fit). When we move and know the layout of the house then we will get furniture but there’s no point buying anything like that ATM so plastic tubs it is! Plus they’ll be useful for other things in future anyway. I bought a few extra tubs as I now have to find homes for a few toddler toys that we were going to sell before I took that pregnancy test 11 months ago 😂😂😂

I went to work , but had to come home as feeling migraine-y., was sick, then took the pills and crashed.. am awake again (obvs!), but a bit wobbly..

i am off for a few days now ,we are painting the lounge ( v pale grey) . I have marmalade to make.. its Dhs birthday, we were having a curry.. not sure what now.

I ordered some Hush stuff it came today and all going back ! so that was quite good for the wallet..

seacow it’s a bloody joke. There is someone who has to sell. Hers is meant to complete next Friday. I feel for her. But no ones taking any responsibility.

Hi all, hope you don't mind me joining.

I think I'm naturally quite frugal due to years of a very low paid job & no choice but to be or to get in debt. Luckily am now paid much better but have therefore lost a lot of my frugal ways, however things will be changing soon due to soon having a mortgage & much higher monthly payments so need to get prepared for that.

I've started to use cashback sites for shopping I would be doing online anyway. Stupid not to really.

Today used the three mobile wuntu app to get a free Costa coffee. Used it earlier in the week for a £3 cinema ticket too- great considering tickets are £12 here usually. That app is worth keeping an eye on.

Other than that, low spend day of £4 (dry shampoo & 2x easter eggs.)

Welcome radish :)

Ah wolf we still have Catan, it doesn’t get much play but it’s got a special place in our hearts. It was our ‘gateway game’ IYSWIM, played it with college friends and suddenly realised there was much more to games than Monopoly et al. A couple of years later they bought us a copy as our wedding present 😍 although one family member was so desperate to play it that very evening that he said “we can play it now, you can consummate later” 😳😳😳😳😳 (and no, we didn’t play it 😉)

Speaking of games I have a question about contents insurance. Are you supposed to keep them updated about what you have in your house? We’ve never had to claim so no idea how it works, do they just take your word for it what you have? Or go on what the average house has? Eg if we had a house fire or something we would need bugger all to replace our basic telly and furniture, but we have about a grand’s worth of board games I think 😳😂 are you supposed to keep proof or something? But then if the house was in a disaster that would be destroyed anyway. Can anyone explain in words of one syllable please 😂

Hope you’re ok laska

Tiny No need to ask just jump right in. Welcome

NSD. Finally

Cag Hopefully not long now. Is dd1 still worried?.

Sea You are hardcore. I get stressed if two people come for tea.

Three I bet Ocado send you loads of vouchers when they realise you don't shop with them as often so you might get another few shops with them. I used to do a mind numbingly boring detailed list in aisle order on a Friday night and do aldi 8am on Saturday morning, at the till I'd sweep it all into two ikea blue bags. My personal best was 10 minutes.