The Friendly Frugaleers; joyfully saving through July

[Wolfcub]

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Ouch snuggly that’s early. You’re a teacher aren’t you? Secondary if I recall correctly? So more In depth lesson planning marking I guess than dsis who teaches primary school. I was astounded at how much work she actually had to do when she got her first job as an nqt. I was of the belief teaching is easy and is a 9-3 job. She (and you) bloody earn those holidays!!!

ds wakes up at 6 on work days most days the earliest has been 430 and that was a killer. But it’s consistently 6.

That’s early enough for me. We leave the house at 8 (or 750 if we can) drive to either dparents (on a Monday and a Friday) or straight into town for Nursery and work. We then get home at around 6. Ds is in bed for 8. I’m usually in bed for 10. Maybe awake at 3. Nod off again at 430...

In the time we’re home from work we sort laundry cook dinner play with ds bath ds shower sort clothes and bags and lunches for the next day.....

School will surely tire her out Snuggly.

Sunny there’s carbon dioxide in tonic water. I think I should have a G&T just to see

Snuggly I don’t think it’s too old. DS still has one and he knows that if he wakes up he can read /play in his room till daytime. Useful until they can reliably read the time, I reckon. Maybe you can train DD to stay quietly till the clock goes yellow? I reckon the others are right though, School will tire her out!

NoFilter can you pls link to the Clarks outlet?

Wolf your day sounds like mine except I’ve shopped online. I’ve bought absolutely £££ of stuff because I didn’t know what size I need (I’ve bought 3 swimsuits each in a variety of sizes, will only keep one). But even so, the stuff I do keep is really going to add up, I can tell. I did a Seasalt sale order the other day expecting not to like it all but I like almost all of it and would really like to keep it (am wresting with my conscience there!). Today’s shopping: DCs and I needed swimwear, I needed a fabric sunhat that I can pack (I only have a straw one - relic from a previous trip) and some plain t-shirts to go with patterned trousers. Also bought one pair of Birkenstocks. I wanted a black pair but the styles I liked were all sold out so I bought a yellow pair instead! I’ll wear them with navy a lot. I love yellow but it doesn’t suit my skin tone so I have to keep it away from my face . Could still do with a black pair but I’ll probably not get round to it now and I think I’ve spent enough

Holidays are bloody expensive with all the extras! More so this time round as neither I nor the DCs are the same size as when we went on hols 2 years ago, hence the shopping frenzy.

I am going to have to seriously look at going back to work come autumn.

Laska are you back from hols yet? And Meadow how are things going with baby DD?

I reckon when it gets a bit darker she will stay in bed a bit later as well snuggly

I've been wondering how meadow was getting on as well, bless her.

That's definitely true Girlie the light mornings and evenings are not helping!

Yes I do teach secondary Em although 2 of my best mates teach primary and I think they probably work longer hours than me! Partly because they have to plan every single lesson for the week whereas I might have 2-3 classes in the same year group so can plan say 2 year 8 lessons and reuse them during the week with a bit of tweaking for abilities. The marking is a killer though! Especially at exam time when I might have 90 versions of the same thing to mark. A lot of secondary teachers make extra money as external examiners markers but I just couldn't face it (as well as not having time).

NSD planned for tomorrow. Fingers crossed we manage it!

Out with a friend. Just bought two double G&Ts and it was £25!

I hope those were 2 bloody good g&t's Sea!
So last night we explained to DD that if she woke up early she should stay in bed and try to go back to sleep. She listened. She stayed in bed. And banged on the fucking wall to wake us up because she wasn't supposed to get out of bed. I understand her logic but

We're going to the festival of speed today. Can't wait! We're leaving soon will need to buy food en route at M&S

Naughty DD snuggly

Have a great day wreck

Chicago was so good last night. We're a bit tired today though as went to bed at 11.30pm and woke at 6am due to the heat/light.

My brothers house is currently having some renovations done so no kitchen tap and can't find the kettle. So we will be heading out to buy a cup of tea this morning and a big bottle of water.

Excited for Wimbledon today. We'll get to see the boys final and a couple of doubles matches. Not looking forward to the 30* temperature today though and my hay fever has come back with a vengeance 🤧

Have a great time Wreck!

love and wreck enjoy!!!! Sounds like great days ahead!

Ds woke up at 6. But despite him “dadada” and flapping his legs up and down in his cot he appears to have gone back to sleep...

I’m off to the gym at 9. Dh is still sleeping.

£40 last night owed to friends on tickets. Out door theatre was good and the weather was fab four the second time in 13 years.

Not sure about today. May renew nt.

Ex finally put the money in on the 11th. I couldn't bear to check my account, but had to yesterday.

So, am thinking of paying 1/3 of the garage bill, and getting the girls' matresses this month. Their current ones are shocking and I can't believe they get any kind of quality sleep. Quick Q: should I go for a solid foam or get pocket sprung with foam top layer? Dd2 is about 10 stone (wreck she's one you'd weigh, do a double take and check. I swear she is made of concrete!), they are just cheap slatted bunk beds. I want to order them today but feel odd about spending so much money.

It was bonkers hot and stuffy last night. I think we were all up at some point. Dd3 has a sore throat, as does dp.

That's naughty snuggly I would not have been impressed if dd had done that! Would an incentive work for her? If she stays in bed til 7 am she gets a sticker and if she gets 3 stickers she gets to chose a small treat? Dd was a sucker for stickers at that age! She is def old enough to understand that waking you up that early is not okay (unless ill or emergency! )

We have nothing planned today, might try a bike ride if it's not too hot.

I would be too scared to count up what my holiday cost me. Between the frenzied buying before we went, the who cares we’re on holiday attitude whilst away, and the replenishing of the fridge and cupboards now we are back, all I know is it was a lot 😱

Really hoping for a NSD today.

Sea it might be worth remembering that in Scotland there is a minimum price of 50p per unit on alcohol, so depending on what you drink it could be cheaper to take some with you.

Ds is still sleeping.

Dh just asked whether we should wake him up.

I’ve reminded him re the “never wake a sleeping baby*” rule
*exceptions to this being absolute life or death emergencies.

So we’re leaving him sleep. He must be exhausted.

Morning all. Have great days Wreck and Love. Love I reckon you should wear a flowers in you hair so we can see if we can spot you in the crowd in centre court.

I have a stonking hangover. Went round to friends so the kids could play and for one drink. Ended up staying for tea and getting a bit fresh. Checked my bank account today after yesterday’s spending expensive was going to buy bras today but don’t think I can face dragging ds with me so we will stay home I think and mooch

Hi Ladies,

Can I ask please how you physically manage your cash and expenditure each month?

I started a very complicated envelope system in Feb with 10 Cash envelopes - filled my whole bag!

So since then I've realised I don't need a cash envelope for anything that stays within its budget. So Fuel, Horse, Celebrations (Bday & Xmas saving & DD actual Bday).

So I've ordered 4 small cash binders to fit into my purse from Etsy $6...

FAMILY (All cash spending not related to below categories)

DINING (Takeaways, Dining Out as Family)

HOUSE ( Gardener, Dog Walker, DIY (as we are moving)

GROCERIES (Includes everything cleaning, beauty stuff etc)

Can I ask how you all do it? What categories you use?

With the above simplified system, if I want to spend ££ of family money online I just get a paper clip, fold the money and keep it to one side and then when I next take ££ out I subtract this amount to reconcile the bank account. Maybe in future I'll want to leave half of family money for online spending etc, I'm not sure but I have already setup a card and account called ONLINE SPENDING... so after a month or so of this I can decide which accounts to keep going..

TIA!

nofilter I don't do anything like that. I have a spreadsheet that I fill in every day to say what I've spent. I almost always shop online, and use a credit card, so actual cash doesn't enter into it.

I do monthly accounts and then
After savings ,bills DH and my allowance etc all accounted for I have a "kitty" and simply write down what I spend and deduct as I go along-all receipts saved
Food is cash which I take out and divide into weeks.
I tried YNAB but I found it baffling Im good at budgeting so my accounts book works for me.
Dont spend on credit cards is my top tip been there and learnt its too easy .Unless its a big spend and you need the insurance aspect ,repaid straight away .
FluffyI posted your seeds

Home from a night out with friends
Spends
Car wash €10
Make up application €15
Meal €16
Drinks €24.30
Tip €2
Lotto ticket €2

Seacow my round included 2 g & t's, a water, glass of wine, bulmers and soda water & lime - difference between country & city prices I guess!

Lonely that's a relief about the money
Nofilter I use ynab and have an app on my phone which has as many categories as I want and it adds cash & bank accounts together and then you budget stuff accordingly so it doesn't matter if it's cash or online spending. I've got a referral code if you're interested? It's free for first month(sometimes three if you find a link online) and then about $50 per year.

No filter I use the lists function in iPhone reminders. I’m currently running three current accounts due to life circumstances and I know what is due to go out of each each month including a budget for food, ds’s clubs and nails hair etc. I then work out what I think I need to pay annual bills like car servicing, birthdays, Xmas etc and put a twelfth of this in a savings account.

Each month on payday I deduct all of the above from my pay and transfer the balance to a savings account. As I spend through the month o keep a track of what is left vs what’s left to pay and transfer amounts from that savings account into a current account to cover my “fun money” spends or lately my diy and holiday spends. Anything left at the end of the month gets shoved in the annual pot or if I have a credit card balance from spending on big purchases it gets knocked off that

Yes I'm thinking Gro Clock and sticker chart together might be the way forward! She's now complaining that she's tired. Er... yes love you would be!

snuggly You have to admire her ability to spot a loop hole though. Horlicks used to work for me but I'm glad of an early night.

Nofilter I don't do any of that. I know what we need and find the cheapest way to buy it for myself. I've never had categories.

Quite Thank you, I have a long list of plants I'm going to buy from seed now. It's going to be a very busy winter getting them all going.

NSD.