New year frugalling commences. Save those pennies for January

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New Fred.

Girlie Snugly - I live in fear of what they do and who they are meeting. I console my self with knowing there is an electronic record of who they have met. When I was DD's age bars didn't even have CCTV so when I went into town I could have been with anyone.

Only 2 and a bit days until dd finds out about her Oxford admission. She appears quite calm, but I know she is stressed. I just want to scoop her up and make it all go away - I feel sorry for kids who's parents are really invested in the outcome. The Oxbridge admissions thread is a bit of an eye opener.

Snuggly it's a hard balancing act but dd has really over stepped the mark and I keep reminding myself that I didn't have a phone at her age and still managed to see friends etc!

unescorted I might have to venture onto the Oxbridge thread now, just for fun! I have a ds who I have only just today cajoled over the ucas application line so I have no idea what invested looks like, never mind over invested! Good luck to your dd.

NSD yesterday.

Morning! Why does the second Monday back after Christmas feel so much harder than the first?!!

I've had a relatively low spend weekend. In fact, Saturday was a nsd and yesterday was just £30 on shopping in Aldi. I haven't shopped at Aldi for so long as I had a Tesco delivery saver and no time for actual shopping. However, delivery saver has now expired and I think there are times in the week one of us can get out to Aldi, we're going to see how it goes.

Menu plan to Thursday:
M: tapenade stuffed mushrooms and salad
T: carrot and courgette fritters (from JO Veg book)
W: soup for us (I now have a soup-maker so it will be whatever veg is around!) sandwiches for the girls (swim night)
T: beige freezer night

So far this month we've only spent £100 on groceries, much lower than the previous 3 months, and I'm hoping to come in under £300 for the month (previous months have been edging upwards of £400)

Today I'm shopping online for car insurance quotes, my aim every year is to get it for the same price or less. This year adding my bf has reduced it by €50 but my current insurer quote hasn't come in the post yet so will see what that brings.

I keep my €500 prepaid cc Christmas bonus from work every year to pay for it so it's not another bill I've to worry about.

Imaslattern have you got a sub card? I got one and rack the points up so quick. I've had all sorts for free with the card.

Happier my car insurance is expensive. It's £86 a month.

I shopped around and that's the cheapest I could get. It's my second year driving so I really hope it comes down next time. With petrol, car tax and then the insurance I sometimes wished I walked!

danni it's horrible when you start out but it can only improve from there.

North worth looking in. The over analysis of every part of the process is quite eye opening. A number of them appear to be living very vicariously through their offspring. My contribution has been to ask where to park. Tomorrow will be interesting when all their hard work at moulding their kids into the image that makes up for their own shortfalls comes to fruition.

I have wfh today so it has been a NSD.

That’s quite scary Unescorted. Poor kids, it’s a lot of pressure if you have other people’s expectations to live up to as well as your own hopes. I remember my parents being thrilled when I got my offer but they were completely uninvolved in the process - having not gone to university themselves I think they had no idea of what was involved and no great expectations. That definitely helped, I never doubted for a moment that they would be disappointed for me if I hadn’t got in but nothing more. (My parents were, in fact, brilliant at supporting me in general. I’ve been very lucky)

NSD. Yes, really! Bit of a rubbish work day though as DD was sent home from nursery at 10.30am with a high temperature. She was a sorry, hit and tearful thing when I went to get her but has since perked up. I’ll have to work this evening though to make up some time. DS doesn’t seem himself either, he’s been quite agitated today. It’s been hard going. I may not have spent any money but I have dug into a box of Leftover Christmas biscuits . Oh dear.

at that insurance bill danni

Finally submitted the assignment, and it’s passed! One more to go then never studying again

I cracked open the biscuits to celebrate at work sea. Now the assignment is done, the excessive eating needs to stop. Tomorrow is a new day, tonight I need to finish off what is open

In frugal news, NSD. Also set back up the standing order to the savings account which mysteriously stopped. Also claimed £15 in vouchers from receipt uploading apps.

Good luck to your daughter unescorted and to keep you calm too

NSD...

Good luck unescorted dd! And well done on the assignment love - biscuits well deserved!

Sea I hope dd and ds aren't coming down with anything that a good sleep and dose of calpol can fix.

Unplanned nsd for me. I popped into the shop in the way to work as there were a couple of missed items from the shopping yesterday. Got to the till only to realise I'd forgotten my purse 🤦‍♀️! But because that happened I'm now challenging myself to find alternatives that are already kicking around, e.g. carrot fritters are meant to be served with hummus (forgotten), but reckon the bit of feta, chilli jam and yoghurt we do have will be fine.

Spent a fortune today but on things I needed

£71.67 diesel
£24.84 Sainsbury's - don't usually shop there but needed oat milk and vegan mayo and can't get those in Aldi/Lidl
£5 on 2 beers (ok I didn't need these but we always go to the pub on our break on a Monday and I'd been doing biology for nearly 5 hours so I deserved them 😉)

Evening all!

Love those biscuits were definitely deserved, well done on getting your assignment finished.
Good luck to your dd Unescorted.

I have booked a holiday for Spain, in August, it will be my first time abroad, and the younger dcs! We are going with my friend and some of her dcs, I can't wait!
It will cost me £852 for 3 of us, flights and hotel, I don't think that is too bad for a week?
Have already paid a deposit and then the rest will be paid monthly.

In other news my dd2, who is 9 started her period today and even though she has expressed an interest in using reusable pads, these will still be a bit too big.
I know the shops sell pads aimed at teens, but have any of you bought them for your younger girls and were they ok?

Good luck Unescorted's dd!

Danii that insurance bill is a lot! Mine is under 400 pounds a year now so it does improve!

Just logged into online banking app to pay somebody 30 quid and moved the "loose change" over to the ISA. That is one of the first frugaleer tips I picked up here about 5 years ago now! I save a few pounds a month that way and don't notice it.

Evening everyone
Have been so busy today l haven't even been to the shops or even thought about them , thereby a NSD for me again today not even a loaf of bread yay!

Evening.

Dh. Is. Putting. His. Clothes. Away.

Nsd today. Wahooooo.

Tomorrow is likely to be spendy.

I’ve written up a form to submit to our local tribunal type place to appeal a planning decision (development behind our house). To submit this we have to pay £538!!!! But then this means we get to write a formal statement and submit to tribunal so covers legal costs etc.

Also need to pop to boots with dd. She has a bit of a sticky gammy eye. Which I suspect is because she’s teething/has a cold. But want to see if there are any drops or something I can give her without going to the dr.

Ps. Day 13 no clothes spends.

Sea mine were still are on the vicarious side which is why we are there to pick up the bits & proud for her no matter the outcome - her work is so extraordinary beautiful and no university can detract from that.

For good insurance get a job in the public sector with essential car user status, get a lease car and it will cost £10 pm fully comp including 4 named drivers. The govt cannot be insured so we have a group insurance paid by everyone's subs & b/c there are quite a few of us it works out cheaper. We don't get pay rises bit some of the other benefits are ok.

Low spend day, £2.60. Panini and lemonade for lunch at work. Taking own sandwiches in for tomorow. DP taking leftover chicken pasta bake for his.

NSD here :)

Costa £3.35 (I tried the ruby hot chocolate. Meh)
Lunch after therapy £11.65
(This reminds me I must have forgotten to write down a spend from the other day as I probably forgot I did the online payment - £90 therapy 🤦‍♀️ Worth it though)
Taxi to circus £4.60
Circus food/drink £7.85