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 never went to the gym, always been working out at home, but I like it, so it's never an issue to me. I have dumbbells, big ball and resistance bands.

Rent paid. Otherwise, NSD.

Lunchboxes bought today. My babies! School! Waaaaaa! £26 this includes bag, and tupperwares and mini ice packs. They have water bottles.

Hi all

Frugal fail this morning. A few months ago there was an offer on the 5litre bottles of washing up liquid / laundry stuff we buy so trying to save money in the long run I bought 30 litres and they've all been in the boot room. Well I don't know what happened but one has cracked and leaked all over the floor so that was a waste of money. Plus I spent about an hour cleaning it all up grrr!

Off to the beach this afternoon makes a change from the gym to blow the cobwebs away. I'm feeling really grotty nothing in particular just so very tired. Treat tea of McDonald's after beach. I feel we are having far to much McDonald's this summer but it's easy, everyone is guaranteed to eat and it takes up less space in my head. Plus I have the app so often get "free" items. We feed 6 of us for around £20 which to be fair isn't that bad I don't think.

em i love lunchbox stuff shopping 🤣

north have you got a surgery date yes? Am I correct in thinking it's an ovarian cyst apologies if I'm wrong. I'm due surgery probably for the same thing

Nsd, caught up with some work before I go back in properly on Thursday.

£20 for six is not bad,
ah school boxes

We paid 50% of the bathroom fees in May to be started Monday. The fitter double booked and no bathroom. I asked for a refund. There is more to it but basically I’m going else where

Oh no life that’s a shame. I am still waiting for my front door to be fitted gggrr the porch wasn’t strong enough for it so dh is doing it and it’s still not finished it spoils the excitement of getting something new when it doesn’t go to plan. Hope you get it sorted soon

How was the salad skies? Ours was lovely and I made enough for lunches today. I didn't have olives in, so used capers and that worked just as well.

Ah, that's a pain re the bathroom life.

Hopefully a NSD. I claimed my expenses back yesterday too, so that will go into the account today but don't consider that a credit or a spend in truth.

I may get chance to go to Lidl, but more like that will be tomorrow.

Oh and I sent ALL the work clothes back to Hush, that's been refunded today. Will check Vinted instead as an when I need things.

Study day for me today. Online classes this morning then self study this afternoon. Might also try and sort the kids toys downstairs.

should be nsd.

The salad was great, mines. Although DS announced that he does not like tuna at all, and would buy his dinner from the Caribbean. In other frugal fails, I spent £57 in Sainsburys. Indulgent purchases included: 2 bottles of wine (£17), marinated artichokes (£3), 2 x Wasabi noodle pot things (£3 each), Sabra hummus (£2) and about £11 on cheeses. I think I am falling down on a number of fronts with that list, but I will focus on my good habits and try to crowd out the bad. I did do a nice yoga practice yesterday, clean the kitchen and walk the dog. And the hygienist was very complimentary about my gum health!

Visit to parents future flat went very well. Although I think they will be needing to change more of their furniture than they are currently planning to make the space work.

For those who are awaiting an ovarian cyst removal: I had this op done in 2015. Cyst, ovary and fallopian tube all removed via keyhole surgery. Very straightforward and life much improved with the absence of the orange-sized interloper pressing on various nerves.

Oh what a pain @life but at least you got your money back so can start again.

I returned my Seasalt raincoat yesterday. Should have listened to the reviews. It said it was oversized to allow the wearing of jumpers underneath but this was ridiculous! Like a tent on me! So have returned and I think I will try the next size down as I really liked it.

Day off today and well needed. I’d forgotten how hectic school shoe season can be, we just do not stop and it’s a very physical job. My knees are sore!

It’s so lovely and cool here so I’ve got all the windows open, wax melts on, beds stripped and I’m going to blitz the house. Lots of life admin to do as well so got a few phone calls to make as well.

NSD yesterday and today no plans to spend too. Yay. Except rent yesterday, but it's not really something that I can refuse to pay 😂

Less spends so far this week, gousto meals have been good so far & my parents are taking us out for tea tonight. I got some work done on the quilt for ds last night so am definitely on the home straight with it now. I should get enough time over the weekend to get it finished. Also at the weekend going to bake & freeze the layers for his birthday cake & then put it together when I'm home. DD is away to Switzerland tomorrow to stay with my friend for a week of German practice. She has all-sorts planned for her so she'll have a ball. Middle of the night drive to the airport but hey ho. Mobile data will not be happening over there as it's £3 per MB!
decaff yes it is an ovarian cyst, but unfortunately it is huge, has grown very quickly & is being removed (along with everything else) via a big incision so long recovery afterwards. I'd love a keyhole op like yours BigSkies but hoping I'll feel so much better afterwards. I've been going to the gym 4 times a week to predominantly circuit classes in preparation & have already got some Pilates planned for afterwards.

I'm off today because I had to leave my car in for a service/pre-NCT (MOT) check. The mechanic rang me to say that the car is in fairly good shape (phew!) but I need new tyres. I expect the cost to be approx. €600 in total. I'd budgeted for more than that so I'm really relieved. The savings will go straight into my winter fuel fund. I've to collect the car around 4 p.m.

Nice to have a day off mid-week. I'm catching up on laundry and housework which will save me time at the weekend. I'll be back for a catch up later.

Gosh north, that's quite a size and operation you face. My DH has been in hospital for 3 months now, I understand your anxiety and trepidation. Sending the best of good wishes to you.

Hope the days off were productive and enjoyable curls and tayto.

Glad the salad was enjoyed Skies. We omitted the tuna as DD is veggie and DS and myself are 99% (the occasional tin of tuna between us), I added sun dried tomatoes for a bit of depth of flavour. If you eat in most of the time then a few luxuries are allowed re shopping!

Halloumi wraps for tea I think as I'm tired and lazy today!

NSD.

Hope all goes ok for you North have you got some nice things for after eg cosy clothes and easy meals.

big that's great to hear you felt better, I think mine is about orange sized but I kt found out last week so haven't seen gp yet to talk more. Can you explain more about what you felt where the benefits?

Good frugaleering day today I got some good bargains in Asda i got £21 worth of food for £8 on yellow stickers and it.was all stuff we usually buy so that's fab.

I also got a duvet set for £14 and actually prefer it to the £35 one I got the other day so taking the expensive one back tomorrow 👍

It was not an nsd.

£10.35 releasing ds’ bed from customs - will be delivered on Friday.

£9 b&q picture hooks.

£100 dunelm. Curtain pole for living room. Two fitted sheets for ds’ new bed. Mattress protector. Method refil spray. Broom and dustpan.

dsis came over and helped me try and put pictures and mirrors up. Then she called her boyf who did it for me. He’s a legend.

Lsd today, great bargains though! Charity shop having a sale curtains 2 for a pound( both dunelm!) 2x cushion covers for q pound and 2 cream throws for a pound and 4 pound for a 20 tealight candelabra. So with a greggs on legs 15 quid all in, 2 hours free parking. All curtains are up, candles and blankets are in, I am officially ready for winter. Oh and I boiled the kettle today, put the water in the flask and made brews qll day from that. Must have saved 4 or 5 kettle boils, so impressed. ...back to work tomorrow. There will be no more spending then at least. Hope you have all had a good day. To be fair daughter had q miserable trip to dentist and I wanted to cheer her up a bit.

Nsd the last couple of days. Its simply to warm to be anywhere else than the beach.
There was just a news documentary about the UK on yesterday here in Denmark. About the looming issue of poverty for lots of ppl. They interviewed Martin Lewis among others. It looks really really scary.. it actually made me quite sad. I've lived in the UK for several years before moving back to Denmark and absolutely loved the ppl and the country so found the documentary so depressing...

Decaff - I can't really remember how I found out, or why I was having a scan in the first place. But that's how it was picked up. I had been experiencing sciatica -like pains in my hip and down the leg. I used to feel sort of - itchy inside is the best way I can describe it. Not painful exactly, but sort of a crawling discomfort that would keep me awake at night. I wasn't prevented from doing anything, but I just felt - not the top of my game. It coincided with a crap job and not taking care of myself very well. But getting shot of it was fine. Surgery straightforward, recovery fine, back in yoga class after a week, albeit carefully. I was peri-menopausal/menopausal already, and I suppose the loss of one ovary (i was still ovulating at that point) might have pushed matters along a bit, but my hormones didn't fall off a cliff.

Didn't return to the crap job though!

Return to shoe shop today £4.65 but then £4 on lunch,
££ Aldi

Oh and £50 hair cut and booked my Christmas appointment!!

north hope everything goes well. Also hope DD enjoys her time practicing German.

em I remember the first lunch boxes.

We use the gym 3 times per week, most weeks. I have one PT session each week, that’s about £30, and our joint membership is £37 per month. It’s not a spa type gym, just weights and weight machines. There are some classes but I done use them.

Spendy day, I had to go into the bank in town and DH suggested fish & chips. We ate in so that was £26 with drinks. He paid.

We’re visiting DD1, her fridge is broken and having lost a week’s worth of food she can’t afford to do another shop. So, I’m taking minced beef, bacon, ham and cheese options she can freeze. Also non perishable bits and toiletries. I had to pay her rent this morning because her hours at work were cut and her loan doesn’t come in until the end of September🤦‍♀️ She’ll pay me back.

Forgot to say, had anyone frozen Brie? If so, is the texture the same afterwards?