Summer savings support - be frugal

[ememem84]

Running out of space on the old thread so here’s the new one. Everyone welcome.

for background this is a slice to share your No spend days, your big spend days your savings your situation. We all help each other out with advice and tips etc. but it’s mostly for friendly accountability.

I don't know the full story @Alfiemoon1 but it all sounds good with your DD.

Low spend today, far better than yesterday! £5 in Costa as I was "wfh" in Costa for a change of scene, that Inclided redeeming a drink so it was "free". I always make sure I take my own cup so get double beans and therefore the free one faster.

£10 on chippy tea for DC as I'm not feeling great. Ive missed my period and feel super rough with hayfever to boot. I feel like I need a period to reset if that makes sense, feel like I'm about to get it but then nothing. Pregnancy not really a possibility. Uurgh. Might give it a week or so then pop the doctor. I've got a couple of minor health issues which could account for it aswell. Uurgh

Also in the spirit of frugaleering I've reserved a book from the library rather than buying it. One of my favourite authors and I'm 12th in line. Trying hard not to give in to Amazon temptation and have it here tomorrow. Patience, decaff, patience!!

OMG that’s great news alfie. I really am pleased for your DD. So good on her that she saw the light and did it herself, hopefully it will be a great life lesson to draw on.
My DD also split up with her partner recently but, unfortunately in my opinion, is back with her. For context the break happened because DD’s girlfriend told her she fancied a break so she could see other people. As far as I can tell this was a huge drama move prompted because DF went to the pub with some other friends. It’s not in the league of what your DD has gone through but does drive me mad.

Alfie that sounds really positive. Big hugs to you and your family.

Re the budget holiday... I agree that people will be understanding if you are upfront.

Thank goodness it is pay day.... Uni is so expensive.

Thank you all once again for your support I feel so guilty about the cats the local rescue centre aren’t taking on anymore cats so we had to explain dd is leaving an abusive controlling relationship. But I feel it’s the right decision for dd to get closure. He used to threaten her with letting them out of the flat and they live near a main road and train track plus they are male not spayed so prone to roaming
i believe they are in an awful state full of fleas have scabs aren’t spayed and nervous dd says due to him shouting a lot so they aren’t staying with him either

really hope he just hands them over tomorrow without any fuss although I doubt it. I have had words with dd about getting pets and being responsible as we had the whole dog breeding fiasco as well but I am proud of her for ending the relationship finally and signing the papers to hand them over to the rescue centre as I know she loves them and if circumstances were different we would of taken them in

The cats will be nursed back to health and go to a good home alfie. Dd needs all ties severing

I’ve got whatever ds had. Not done a Covid test t he was +ve so assuming

nsd today and tomorrow

Hope the cat handover goes well and without any drama today @Alfiemoon1 and then you can all really draw a line under everything.

Got to pay my Next bill today £74. And then tomorrow is just a few £ on bread rolls for the barbecue that evening, everything else has already been bought.

I won’t be there I will be at the hairdressers it’s dh and a family friend who will be doing it so fingers crossed

hope you feel better soon life. Covid is doing the rounds at my work at the moment

Afternoon.

I don't the details, but it sounds like this has been an incredibly difficult situation that you've had to cope with. Hope your DD is okay Alfie.

Perfect weather for a BBQ Curls.

Boo again to covid life. It's everywhere at present!

So hard to not say anything isn't it martha, DD has made some dubious choices over the years but current partner lovely.

Hope you're feeling better Decaf.

Welcome gossip

Todays spending.

Parking £2.80
Fuel £71. So expensive to fill the car...

There won't be anything else and having a quiet night in. Last nights veggie curry to use up, I'll make bhajis.

Menu plan
3 x Gusto meals (probably there will be leftovers so likely 4 meals). Stopped my subscription after discounts ended.
Spinach, pea and lemon risotto.
Chickpea, tofu and harissa stew.
Aubergine and tomato pasta (aubergines on the specials at Lidl!)
Bhaji burgers, sweet potato fries.

'Know' the details, sorry!

Afternoon everyone 😊
Another NSD here thankfully 😊
Have used stuff out of the freezer for meals . l am glad because l want to defrost it . One of the benefits of this hot weather it won't be ake long and it will help to cool us too yay!

Oh l forgot to say , l redid my Mum's home insurance yesterday . She had a demand for 266 to renew her house insurance on Weds . She has until the 29th to redo it . I did confused. Com , money super market and Gocompare price comparison sites and the final quote was for 133 including legal, accidental and replacement keys . I was really pleased . It took a little time but l think if we put the work in then it really pays off 🤗

Hello all, hope you're keeping cool. I have drawn all curtains/closed all blinds/shutters and I have put a couple of hot water bottles in the freezer to keep us all cool in bed later. 2 fans running, dog's cooler blanket in the freezer. Took dog to a park with lots of swimming opportunities and shade this morning, and I think that's it for the day. Watered the garden at 7 this morning, hope it will help the plants through the day.

£48 in Sainsbury's! included an FT and a cake on special offer. But I find the hot weather promotes expenditure because I am just throwing lots of salad stuff and cold meats into the basket to make easy meals that involve minimum cooking. CBA to trek to Aldi. CBA either to clean the floors, so we are just getting fluffier. Will drag myself to the delivery collection point to pick up the bed linen I ordered. If I'm going to make the beds, at least have the pleasure of new sheets.

We had a very frugal lunch eating up leftovers - wraps from the bottom of the freezer and leftover risotto made into rice balls (turned into rice mush rather than balls but still tasty!)
£43 in Lidl on bits for the weekend and picnic for tomorrow. We’re going wild swimming, with the rest of Yorkshire I presume 😂
Waiting on DP to be paid, then I’ll do a big shop Mon with my Tesco Clubcard 10% off. That’s definitely working out better than Aldi as I can scan and see the total.
DS2’s birthday today, had to dip into my holiday savings fund for that. We go away to Devon in four weeks, have money put aside for that. My everyday spends and food are fairly under control now but I’m still not on top of the ‘occasional’ things like birthdays and weekends away which seem to be happening every month! Obviously I need a fund for them.
Good savings on the insurance mrs your mum is lucky to have you.
food sounds lovely mine and thank you for the DD solidarity - glad yours is settled now
hot water bottles are a good idea big! We sleep in the attic and it’s roasting. DP and I’ve just been sorting out our attic cupboard (we don’t have a loft so this is our storage). Putting away lots of blankets for the winter, you can’t even imagine being chilly when the weather’s like this. But it’ll come!

Ive started eking out the food shopping. Went supermarket shopping last Thursday and have topped up with two bags of frozen fruit, a tub of cream to make ice cream, tin of condensed milk.

But I haven't done the weekly shop yet and we are eating whats left over. Ive managed to make another few meals from store cupboard foods and freezer foods - so should get through till Monday.
If I can add on a few days each week then I'll get a free week of shopping each month

Cats taken to the rescue centre knobhead changed the plans at the last minute an announced he would drop them off at my sisters instead of dh collecting them. Family friend dashed round as he text 20 minutes beforehand. Haven’t seen my sister but he tried to start a conversation and was told by the rough looking people he was with to leave it. Sister has blocked him as he was texting about bits of clothing he has. She told him she has plenty of clothes we’ve just bought bags full of em back from university and we can always buy more so either put them in the charity bag or bin then she blocked him

relieved that’s over but his mother lives on our road so he has been spending time there since the break up we have seen him walk past twice today just putting rubbish out glad dd doesn’t currently have a car and we put the ring doorbell up despite being in the middle of knocking down the porch

expensive day ggrr gave a £200 donation to the rescue centre hopefully that should cover them being spayed flea treatment etc they are seeing the vet Tuesday then should be up for rehoming they were so lovely with dd and she can ring to check on them anytime
£65 hairdressers appointment for me covering up all the grey hairs dd has caused me over the last 2 years Lol

Your sister handled that brilliantly as did dh alfie. Totally worth £200 and exboyf is a twat.
wasn’t his mam ok though ? I can’t recall?
the cattery sound lovely

£30 Lakeland on some bakeware organising. Free delivery weekend

@Alfiemoon1 I’m so please for you and your dd. New starts. Amazing.

xx

Totally worth it life. They didn’t ask for any money but they are a charity over run with cats at the moment so I chose to give £100 per cat

em I am so proud of dd leaving finally and sorting the cats out.

Best wishes to your DD @Alfiemoon1

ivy homemade ice-cream sounds wonderful!

Martha we are also trying to use up bits and bobs out the fridge and freezer for lunches there have been some interesting combinations 😂

@BigSkies2022 be careful with the freezing of hot water bottles, apparently if they have been frozen you can't use them again for hot as the rubber will have been compromised.

Can I ask about savings? We are thinking of setting up a savings account for big yearly purchases eg school shoes, car insurance, basically anything that isn't day to day expenses. I think we should pay ourselves first and set ya standing order for a certain amount the day after payday. DH thinks just sweep anything at the end of the month that we are in the black Into it. What does everyone else do?

We've been busy planning frugal summer activities. We are off to visit family so no accomodation charges we will have to buy our own food and activities, plus we will buy them a meal out as a thank you. Looking up as many national trust places in the area we are going for free days out!

Trying to do a vague meal plan involving the least use of oven in the heatwave!

Sun... spaghetti carbonara
Mon... halloumi and air fryer veg wraps (think it was @minesalargered who did this and it sounded fab)
Tues.... fishcakes wedges in air fryer. Home-grown broad beans.

That's as far as I've got!

Hope all ok!

decaf - would a set amount a month make you more disciplined? I know it would me. I'd try to live within what was left, rather than just seeing what's left at the end of the month. If that makes sense.

Any recipe that uses halloumi rocks!

My DD very settled martha, in fact DD's Bf was going back to his home country after graduating, but he's got a job over here. She's played it all cool, but can see how delighted she is with this fact!

One less meal to make, I've been invited to DSIL's for dinner. Bought them a bottle of wine for £6. Parking £2.80.

Have a great evening folks, stay cool x

Yep I agree mines that doing a set amount at the start of the month works best then I know what I'm working with for the rest of the month then. Rather than just hope we have some left at the end of the month.

We had a bit of a scary realisation that when the October energy price hikes come (well Jan for us as on a fixed deal ATM) that mortgage plus energy bill would be over half of DHs wage. 😱 That's not Including any other bills. Just on the one wage here (plus benefits but we can't rely on them as could be taken away)

@Decafflatteplease pay your self first every time. It’s easy to have something one up and erode the money but if it’s already in savings then it’s there and needs thinking about getting back.
obv sometimes you need the money but it’s too easy to see the money left and spend it before saving
voice of experience

Decaff - ah, I did not know that. TBH, we never use these HWB anyway, they were languishing at the bottom of the linen cupboard. But I shall scribble a note on them when I put them away to that effect, just in case.

By virtue of following all the advice on keeping the house cool, and barely moving for the afternoon, we're fine. But Ddog is keen to go out again so might try an evening walk in the park.