Frugally Forward To Autumn

[Wolfcub]

New fred

Another one here feeling the end of summer pinch must

We've had a couple of unexpected bills for things that broke so have used basically all our (small amount of) savings on those which is frustrating. We were hoping to save up for a new gate but that will have to wait. Plus we always spend more in the holidays.

Anyway onwards and upwards.

New start in September, going to try to fully switch from ocado to Lidl/aldi/Asda.

Although we do need to find almost an extra £200 a month extra in nursery fees which will be a challenge.

Also need to start saving for Christmas. Think it's going to be a lean one this year. I've already bought my parents present which is good. And found some old Waterstones vouchers which still have credit on so will use those soon for a family game or jigsaw we buy a new one every Christmas it's a lovely tradition.

Nsd today, swimming which is membership so paid for already. Although it's up for renewal in Jan which will come round quickly and be a challenge to afford by then I think.

I'm so glad this thread is still going! I used to be CollieWobbles back in 2012 and it really helped me for years.

I think I might have to come back now, as I've just been made redundant and the job market is crappy.

Anyway, just saying hi as I recognise a few names :)

I was also around in 2012 passion and I remember you as collie - I just can't remember what my name was back then 😂. Sorry to hear about redundancy x

I've been frugal with plumbing costs. The plug hole and waste pipe under the sink came apart as bolt was rotted. I went to Howdens first who said they could see me the parts but they were part of a set so cheaper to go to plumbers merchant down the road. Got the bits I needed for just under £10 and fitted it and all good.

While I was under the sink I thought I'd change the cartridge in our water filter. It needs doing every six months and I hate doing it as Ihave to turnt he water off and the filter if full of water so tends to make a mess. Well it developed a drip, not too bad but not good either. Tried redoing it twice, wondered if my hand arthritis meant I wasn't doing it up tight enough. I was on the point of calling the plumber when I thought maybe it was the rubber seal thing (you can tell I'm technical can't you) so I went on line and found one for £5 including postage. Now fitted and no drip.

I feel ridiculously pleased with myself and I'm sure it would have cost alot more than £15 to get a plumber out.

That's not a bad quote. I got one that was over £1,000 so I did it myself. Not sure it was sensible at nearly 70 and I was nervous up the ladder over the stairs but I am pleased with the result. It took me weeks as I did it a bit at a time but I'm retired (well I have a very very part time job but just 4 hrs a week) so have the time.

I'm off to the tip shortly to get rid of an old mattress, GS is coming to help me. We did a spend on a new mattress last week but it was really needed but I just decided £30 for the council to collect it was a waste when I can do it myself.

Can anyone tell me if airfryers are worth it? I'm trying to cut down on how much electricity we use, we use alot as DH is disabled so electric bed and chairs, lots of washing and tumble drying. I've heard different things about if they are worth it.

Welcome back Funny, I’ll also be trying to work out if I know you. I’ve been around since about 2015, I think, but had a festive user name for ages.

hi Passion, I remember Collie but my addled memory is struggling now… did you have another user name before that that you also used here for a good while? The person I am thinking of lived fairly rurally, IRC, but I might be combining two posters in my head!

I also noticed the name change of the board but thought it might have happened a while back without my noticing 😂

gran I’ve never dared to decorate over the stairs, good for you! Annoyingly I have a picture rail that goes all around the stairwell and gathers ridiculous dust in the far regions but I can’t reach to clean it. I am not going up a ladder over the stairs so I try not to notice it 😉

i am also worndering about an air fryer,
especially for when I’m just cooking separately for the DC. I am not sure they are always big enough for families, we are sometimes 3 adults plus 2 kids. I have a rice cooker that we use loads and that is on its last legs (I have to sellotape the lid down) so wondered whether an instant pot would be a better replacement, as can do more. There seems to be a version that Is also an air fryer but I don’t know if it’s as good. Anyone have any experience of that?

Back at work today and it’s a bit depressing. Just having a lunch break and then back to the inbox and all the aggro. I feel as though I took my work with me on holiday so I’m more annoyed about being back than normal 😡

I've changed it back to Collie ish to make it easier 🤣

Yes I did live rurally, a little more suburban now. I moved 4 mins closer to town haha!! I used to do those frugal outdoorsy activity lists for each season

My 2013 baby is now 8.5 years old...

My frugal moment of the day is dying my natural brown hair back to brown as I can no longer afford regular £70 blonde highlights! But hair dye is £10!! I am sure it used to be more like £5.

My roots were about 3 inches long so I'm glad to get everything even again.

Just did the weekly shop too and my fridge looks rather empty still. I've stocked up on frozen and cupboard things but found fresh food a little unaffordable this week. I might be in a state of shock at the cost of salad, tomatoes, cucumbers and cheese etc

@ThisisCollie2022 I'd love some frugal outdoor activities lists please! We love marking the seasons and try to be outdoors as much as possible (kids can't bounce off the walls if there are no walls philosophy!) And would love some new ideas!

Welcome back btw! I'm fairly new around here 🙂

Breakdown went like this life second uniform category was actually a schoolbag.
My raspberries & tomatoes had 30% off

Curls they were €2 which is a lot

Collie I was probably mammymammy or a version of that back then I remember you

Schoolbooks have been despatched now so that's a weight off

Ancient gran I love your independence and savings as a result, hopefully that'll be me in years to come

Halfwomanhalfchoc are you a knitter living in London?

Oh yes the seasonal bucket lists!

And half was it a festive sea creature username?!

Congratulations, gran, on handy home diy. It is satisfying to be able to sort out problems and not have to wait and pay for a trade.

Ddog back from groomers, and a bit fed up. I forgot to buy milk and tinned tomatoes, and will have to get back up the sodding hill to the sodding supermarket. Cheapest butter in Sainsbury's today was £2 for Kerrygold on special offer. Sainsbury's own-brand was £2.15!! Aldi was £1.75 last I looked, and the days of Aldi butter at £1.15 seems a distant dream. Way to make me feel old...

Spent loads of time in the garden this weekend, filled two wheelie-bins with garden rubbish, watered everything, mulched, cleared and swept. I haven't quite finished (run out of wheelie-bins for one thing), but the garden looks much refreshed. I'm not sure there is a better feeling than working in garden all day, followed by a hot bath, and dinner (cooked by someone else) in your pyjamas!

@PassionIsAFashion so sorry to hear about your redundancy, hope you get something sorted soon

@ancientgran wow you are a very impressive lady!

new monthly budget started on 20th but we had to pay balance for our holiday in October so not the start I was hoping for!

4.84 in shop - garlic, milk, ricotta (DH is making courgette and pine nut pasta using our home grown courgettes tonight and we needed ricotta for it) and pack of snickers.

we have so many potatoes from our garden that we’re hoping they keep us going until Xmas. Also going to harvest squashes soon so same there. Plus apples, hundreds of the things, plums, blackberries, tomatoes. Spare freezer in garage has gone on as DH has been making loads of portions of tomato sauce and stewed apple for the winter.

I need to take a turn really but been struggling with motivation for anything recently (according to the doctor I have depression, burnout and anxiety)

Yes I remember you Mammy! 👋

I'll get the seasonal activity lists sorted ASAP as I'll need to have No Spend Weeks rather than No Spend Days to pay for upcoming birthdays and Christmas.

@DIanaRiggFan thank you! I have applied for a few roles near me (there aren't many, as the job market here is dire!). I thought I had a good chance but just seen that over 80 people have applied for each one.

I have 3 interviews lined up but now I'm not feeling confident at all :( how can I compete with so many people?

I feel quite low today but I'm happy to be back here with people I recognise. That's really cheered me up.

I also remember girlfriend, as we were both buying shared ownerships at the same time (I think!). I can barely remember last week so 2012 - 2016 ish is a distant memory! Haha

I have some small sense of order restored to my house after a visit from the insurance company. Not there yet but three spaces have/can be returned to normal. Also took the opportunity to clear a bit of clutter. I have a big bag for the charity shop. A big bag for the bin including a load of stuff from making wedding invitations and the associated congratulations on your wedding you're made for each other cards from friends and family. Those of course are all heading for the bin men tomorrow!!!

HalfWoman I do my rice in the instant pot so it's definitely a good rice cooker replacement. Can't comment personally on the airfryer lid though I have a friend who loves hers. I've gone for separate airfryer so I can do something and rice or something and mash (instant pot makes mash a bit of a doddle for those with less than cooperative hands)

Will be back soon but collie your lists are the stuff of frugal legend.
i think I was babsmam or some such. I don’t know
back for a long catch up late
and welcome other newbies

@HalfWomanHalfChocolate I have the instant pot duo crisp and it's great. Used mostly as a pressure cooker but the air fryer function works and you can get an accessory that lets you layer up food. However I also have the Vortex and that's my favourite air fryer. I don't have an oven at the moment (2 years now!!) so I cook everything in the two pots along with a single induction hob. Hoping the kitchen can be completed early 2023

I'd quite like to join if you don't mind? I've lurked on these threads for a while.

Dh has a good job but the cost of living is frightening and we are supporting dc at Uni. Dd1 is starting her final year at Art School and we pay her rent, ds is about to move out to start Nursing (but as we're in Scotland he gets a generous bursary so is paying his own rent!) and dd2 is in her HND year of beauty therapy and living at home. She has a serious hip condition and is waiting for a hip replacement (at only 18) so we end up spending a lot on taxis, so she's learning to drive and a car purchase looms!

Expenses are increasing as I'm going back to studying to be a counsellor after 18 years at home! I'm hoping to be frugal with lunches and coffees and i already cook too much so dh can take leftovers. He's also staying over at work an extra night a week to save petrol and do his paperwork.

No more takeaways on a Friday night (or any night). More cooking from scratch (when I can, I'm physically disabled and find it difficult). We've cleared out the freezer so I'm batch cooking this week. Dd2 is back at college this week so making lunches at home. The dc all have part time jobs and we don't ask for a contribution, just that they save not spend.

Looking forward to hearing tips! Getting the air fryer out for dinner tonight!

£7.65 in Tesco, 2 tubs of Quality Street on club card offer and 1 carton of apple juice for DH.

Thanks for the compliments. It hasn't always been painless as DH used to do the DIY but he is disabled so initially it was me being his hands but now I am doing more myself. I think decorating the stairs was probably mad, initially I intended to do the hall and landing and get someone to do the stairs but I was on a bit of a roll.

I'm having a look at the airfryers but there are so many it gets confusing, I am determined to cut down on our use of electricity so I have to do something, number one was cutting right down on the tumble dryer back in February/March and it has been helpful. Not sure what else to do.

I am trying to do as much shopping as I can on a Tuesday at The Food Warehouse, they are doing 10% off for over 60s on Tuesdays and it is a useful saving.

I remember when petrol was 7/6d a gallon, that would be 37.5p for a gallon not a litre. Everything seems so expensive to me, is it or is it because I remember ridiculous things like that and when my weekly shopping was £5.

I feel like we are going back to the 70s with inflation, interest rates going up, strikes etc. Still I survived the 70s so I'm sure we can all survive this especially when helping each other with handy tips.

Happier and MustBe you are both spot on 😄. I am loving the return of the old timers, and great to have new people too - welcome Weegie . Your activity lists were fab Collie, looking forward to pinching your ideas again! I still miss a few regulars - Cag, Girlie and Lonely spring to mind, and another poster whose most recent name I’ve forgotten (DD had a horse and she had a lovely kitchen). And is Pointless here with a name change or has she gone?

thanks for the instant pot /air fryer info. Everyone I’ve asked seems to love whatever they have so that doesn’t make it easier to choose but does at least mean I am more confident they are useful machines! I can see what you mean Wolf about wanting to do Thing Plus Rice, I was also thinking about that. Will look around a bit more and then take the plunge. It’s storage and counter space that is the real issue, both very much lacking in my kitchen, but my oven is huge and slow and rubbish and on its last legs (old timers may remember it has form for breaking down for weeks at a time, often just before Christmas) and as my extension and new kitchen isn’t imminent (decent builders are massively oversubscribed here and inflation is also outrunning me 😭) I need to try and make the oven last. And not be putting on a huge range oven for a handful of oven chips for 2 DC.

ive been reading up on the impact of ultra processed foods and it’s really concerning me, especially as I can see DD (5) already getting the dopamine hit from crappy snack foods, which have crept in a bit since lockdown and eating more shop -bought snacks while on holidays. I am going to make a concerted effort to wean us all off some of the worst offenders, though DH is the worst of all and is completely resistant to change he eats like an 8-year old let loose in Tesco . Starting with crisps and biscuits, then I’ll need to tackle DH and his expensive and sugary cereal. Saving money and /or making healthier choices all takes time though, doesn’t it?

Off out knitting tonight at the pub so will not be an NSD, but I won’t be boozing so just a soft drink, but at naice London pub prices 💰. I’ve lost my knitting mojo actually, and need to get it back, so I’m going even though my house is still a post-holiday mess. Office-bound tomorrow!

Gran I don’t remember the 70s but I do remember the unthinkable interest rates of c 1990. My parents were hanging on by a thread back then with two jobs each, I can still remember the sick feeling of needing new school stuff and not wanting to ask them ☹️

Sorry I can’t see who it was but I would love a seasonal list of activities please! This week we have done blackberry picking and also baking with the apples from our garden so already feeling very harvest-y, if such an adjective exists!

we are visiting MIL at the moment and took the DC on a day out today. I don’t begrudge the cost because we all had a lovely time and this is basically our summer holiday (she lives near a nice beach town) but it did make me thing just how expensive everything is and how our society is now basically set up to make it very normal to spend money like water. A day out is routinely now paying for parking (we went somewhere yesterday where it’s £17 a day in the car park, needless to say we parked on the road a longer walk away because there’s no way I’m paying that!), coffees, lunches are £10+ a head even in pizza express. Kids activities all super expensive, even ice creams now are £3 a pop for a 99. DD asked me for a go on a merry go round thing…£5 for 2 minutes! I said sorry but no. Some families must be spending hundreds every weekend.

Love how genuinely frugal the chat is!

Confession, for good or bad... in a really non judgemental place. I've been here before, and was for a long time, as needastrongone. I got quite pissed off at times with one poster, sorry, I perhaps ought to have been kinder. My fault there.

I came back when I've needed a kind place, with DH being so dreadfully poorly, and our lives changing. I'm trying to exist on my wage, to see if that's possible, and save all of DH's. Managed this month less £100, which is a big cut back. We earn 50/50 so huge saving but I'm not sure what the future is so needed. We did it!

No horse, still a lovely kitchen. 🙃

Tonight a huge chunky veggie soup, loads left, used just a few vegetables and pearl barley. Free bakery item from Lidl via a lovely tiger loaf, that'll last two days. Genuinely thrifty!

Re airfryers. The size of one you'd need to cook for a family might be a compromise re space. I bought the cheap Lidl one - it's fine for one person, but honestly not useful otherwise. I sold it on at a fiver loss and bought a large one, which is utterly fabulous, but I have the said lovely kitchen space, I'll admit!

Good to be back. X