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Had a Spendy Summer? Join the Friendly Frugaleers as we Segue Smoothly into a Sensible September

999 replies

LivingInLaputa · 19/08/2019 00:36

All welcome. Couldn’t see another thread!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
49
SnugglySnerd · 01/09/2019 16:45

I have also found looking at the calendar a bit stressful! Dd can't wait to get back to school though and even I am quite looking forward to going back it won't last

Tayto that sounds like the worst week ever. We thought our oven had packed up on Thursday but then it randomly started to work again. We would be properly lost without the fridge though.

Thatsnotmyflamingo · 01/09/2019 17:32

Yesterday's spends were £4 in Supermarket, I wasn't feeling well so just grabbed what I needed for once (some baking ingredients).
Nightmare @Taytocrisps, definitely blame it all on H.
Reviewing last month's budget, things were pretty much on track, apart from the spendiness of children's shoes, I need to remember that.

ememem84 · 01/09/2019 17:39

We e been for a pub Sunday lunch with mil the littlies and “auntie” and “uncle” (family friends). Was nice and chilled. I had another glass of wine even though I was suffering with hangover. First hangover for a very long time. Not worth it...!!! Haha.

I told dh pre lunch I didn’t want to go because wasn’t feeling up to it. He told me that I could stay home but it’s upset mil and it wasn’t fair on him for me to leave him with two kids (true).

Must remind him that he told me to tell him how I’m feeling and to let him know if I’m not feeling up to anything.

Anyway. Feeling ok is right now. Must drink more water though. As am probably a bit dehydrated.

In other news ds is doing really well telling us when he needs poopooweewee. It is frustrating as I was hoping I wouldn’t have to deal with this until Dd was a bit older but hey ho.

We took a walk from the pub to the side of the airport and watched two planes land. Ds was amazed. “Wow!!!!!”

mogloveseggs · 01/09/2019 18:55

Flowers em your hair was lovely!
Anxiety sufferer here and it's bloody awful.
Spent £8 in Asda on bread, milk, yoghurt, And a few other essentials. Including scissors for dd for school which have disappeared! The bag broke on the way out so they must have fallen out.

Tea is on-red Thai curry.
Eating through the freezer first. Got a weeks worth of teas in there.

Wolfcub · 01/09/2019 19:06

Woo I had £15.23 in Quidco cashback. That’s on its way to my bank account

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 01/09/2019 19:16

Thanks love.
Ahh I see wolf, that sounds like a nightmare.

NSD yesterday but very speedy today.
£53.98 on new boots and bag for work, but the boots are super comfy, and will keep my feet warm.
£19.98 in decathlon on waterproof over trousers a fleece and a yoga mat strap.
£30.50 tesco on bras, and food
£44.10 primark on jumpers, long sleeved tops and tights.
Everything was needed and I'm really glad I got some bras, I've been needing some for a while.

Bluesky2019 · 01/09/2019 19:34

I am already having a speedy spending start!
Today’s outgoings:
Two pairs of school shoes £82
Ocado online shopping £70
ParentPay (school lunches) £140
Mortgage, council tax and gas & electric all come out of my account tomorrow!

Income wise, cash back 54p Hmm

CamdenTownie · 01/09/2019 21:02

Blue sky - same here, bank account looks fine at the moment, by tomorrow it'll be almost empty, I do prefer the bills coming out on the 1st of the month though, it makes it much easier to know where you are, our council used to insist the council tax was paid on the 25th of the month. It was a bit of a nightmare as at the time payday was the 26th! I've also recently set up a groceries and other purchases (bus fares, petrol etc) account so I know that I don't have to worry about the money in the current account as only the bills come out of it! I've got £405 in that to last until 27th September, not sure if that's too tight, but I do have emergency money in a different account if I need it!

Dorsetcamping · 01/09/2019 21:56

Small gain for me today. V low on food in house and normally I would just do the 15 mile round trip to go shopping without giving a second thought.

Today though, made do with what we had in freezer and realised I could save petrol by combining shopping with other things I need to do in town tomorrow Smile

Disneyinmyveins · 01/09/2019 22:11

Can I recommend the plum automatic saver. I have been doing it since May and have saved nearly £400 and I haven't even noticed it too much

maddenlightfoot · 02/09/2019 07:15

Dorset I love that! Such a sense of satisfaction when you realise you can use what you have - often randomly (like Branston pickle with a curry rather than mango chutney - it works!!)

We've had a good, frugal weekend. Have done loads of batch cooking. We went swimming on Saturday which although has a cost, only costs £9 for the 5 of us so a good low-cost choice. Yesterday was a NSD at a local National Trust - members and took a picnic.

I need to pick up a couple of things today - carrots, toothpaste, bread - which il do at lunchtime (back to work today)

lifelongfrugaleer · 02/09/2019 08:02

Spendy day treating DS yesterday at a play farm. DD was hanging out with her friends. £40 ish. Mil is in crisis again and he had to have done things cancelled so this was totally his day.

Swimming today £10. £25 gym pass for September. Need some baking bits from Sainsbury's.

ememem84 · 02/09/2019 08:33

I need to pop to boots today and get nappies for the kiddies. Probably around £10 I guess.

Spends £6 Amazon on dummies for Dd. We only have 2. And have already lost one. Ffs.

Dh is back at work today. Mil has gone back. Flight this morning. She’ll get back to nz on weds evening our time.

She’s left birthday gifts for ds and a couple for me too.

Dorsetcamping · 02/09/2019 08:44

Thinking of you Em, sounds like lots of change today.

DS has been away for 5 days and it's become blatantly clear where all our money goes! With just DD at home we've managed to have a pretty frugal weekend.

ememem84 · 02/09/2019 09:28

dorset thanks. It’s much calmer here today. Ds is nice and calm and we’re waiting for dparents to come and pick him up (they have him on a Monday). He’s helped me put washing in the line and has had a snuggle while he’s had his second breakfast (toast on the couch)

He’s probably off to the beach with them today so Dd and I will join them later on. Probably after lunch.

Dd is asleep in her basket in the living room with us. It’s amazing how much calmer things are without mil and dh here.

lifelongfrugaleer · 02/09/2019 12:14

It's not calm here. I have 4 pre-teens playing with my fridge box

Girliefriendlikescake · 02/09/2019 14:16

Just back from town, dd had a hair cut £20 and it looks lovely very grown up bless her.

Popped into Morrison's for a few bits and spent £34 🙄 oh well got quite a lot for that.

Need to order my friend a Moonpig card for a big bday coming up.

CamdenTownie · 02/09/2019 15:02

Dds birthday today, so made pancakes for breakfast.

Had to take ds2 to a college thing for two hours, needed to buy bread so spent £7.05 in the supermarket on bread, chocolate milk, soft drinks, 2 packs of samosas and I picked up 3 packs of 5 hobnob flapjacks for 9p each! Couldn't let that pass!

Having an Indian for dinner tonight at dds request so that will be around £30 gah!!

It's a lovely sunny day here, dd2 is starting senior school tomorrow so a big day for her.

SnugglySnerd · 02/09/2019 15:10

Day 1 done. Still at work but my brain is full! How long until half term???

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 02/09/2019 16:25

7 weeks Snuggly! If you break up on the 18th Oct.

Camden, happy birthday to your Dd.
life, wishing your mil well.
em, hope today has been better.

First day back at work, but not at my work place, we went to a conference.
Some of it was ok. The food was meant to be vegetarian with at least one vegan option. Instead it was mostly meat sandwiches and fish, luckily I took a pastry with me. There was a Costa near by so got something there. Our head wasn't very happy has what they paid for wasn't available.
So Costa was £5.50.

SnugglySnerd · 02/09/2019 16:44

I think we break up the week after Sad

Littlechocola · 02/09/2019 17:45

Low spend weekend!
Bottle of wine to take to a bbq. £8.
Taken out for lunch yesterday. I just got drinks. £6.
Bus (followed by 3 mile walk because they don’t stop near us!) £5.

Tomorrow should be a NSD.

lifelongfrugaleer · 02/09/2019 19:06

£15 Primark, £40 Sainsbury's. Some of that will be returned as mil has gone into hospital and wanted new pj. Although might get myself some add they are nice this season.
£10 swimming

MeadowHay · 02/09/2019 19:58

Spends were £2.30 bus to work then about £2.90 in the Tesco by work at lunch time on cookies and satsumas. Which was partly for my lunch for the next few days and partly for home. Ate one of each and kept two satsumas in work fridge for tomorrow and Thurs and brought rest home.

May or may not do some online shopping of some sort later tho.

Got my new contract at work for my promotion and have asked my manager if I can negotiate more pay lol. It's not up to him so he will speak to his manager tomorrow but we all know that she always says no to everyone but if you don't ask you don't get right?

ememem84 · 02/09/2019 22:03

Absolutely meadow you’ve lost nothing by asking! Fingers crossed!!!

I think I might have ds home with me tomorrow. He came home from dparents and I had to lift him out of the car he was sound asleep. He woke up but was really quiet and also super chesty/raspy. Ok in himself but poor baby sounds awful. No temperature.

I’ve given him calpol and have smothered him in vapour rub and have the calpol diffuser on in his room.

I’m in bed and both our doors are pulled ajar. I can hear him snoring from here. Poor baby boooo.

Dm is on hand tomorrow though if I need help. Suspect I might...

Sorted through a huge laundry bag of clothes dfriend gave me for Dd. And have put them all away. All sorts of ages and seasons. So kind.

Two loads of laundry done today.

And I had a response from our payroll and accounts manager re my mat pay. She’d miscalculated. So will send through revised figures.

Spoke to dh about our budget. He’s dismissed everything I said because there are “hidden” costs in that we put food and shopping for the dc on his Amex. Which is paid from the joint ac. He puts in the money for this. He won’t show me the statements though apparently he doesn’t get them. So the budget I’ve done doesn’t make sense because I can’t work our the average food shop etc.

I have said that I’m not happy still laying 50% of bills etc while I’m on leave. He kept telling me it’s ok money’s not a problem. But insisting I still paid in. I’ve suggested he deals with it while I’m on leave. Or at least during the November to January part. I’ve told him he has 20 days to think about it. I’ve cancelled my SO to the joint account so won’t be sending any money until I know what we agree.

I did also say that considering he earns roughly £15k more than me we shouldn’t be putting 50/50 in anyway it should be split accordingly. He wasn’t happy with this. I did remind him that when he lived in my apartment he paid no me rent or bills and saved everything (he also claimed he didn’t live with me as all his post etc went to his parents place), when we bought our apartment he took a massive pay cut (almost !15k so he could train to be an accountant) and we split the mortgage etc proportionally. Now he’s the higher Earner. I think it should flip reverse and I should be paying in a proportion. Not 50/50.

He keeps saying it’s joint money anyway so what does it matter. Joint savings etc. He’s due a payout from the shares he has in his employer this month. I’ve suggested that if it doesn’t matter he sends me the payout money and I’ll put it in my savings ac. Because I get a higher interest rate. So makes more sense. We shall see.

Tomorrow I have a busy day. Window person coming round at 10. Then am meant to be meeting a friend for coffee at 2. But the matter depends on ds going to nursery. I’m not taking him on a play date if he’s not well.