Frugally Forward To Autumn

[Wolfcub]

New fred

@minesalargered that's such a lovely idea. We were about to take my kids old nursery furniture but realised it was in good Nick so stuck it on FB. Got £100 for it and it's a lovely thought to think a whole new family are using it now.

@NotanotherboxofFrogs Good luck with your teeth today. The relief of having them out will be worth it.

Im new to the thread but I do enjoy a bit of frugalling so hope it's ok to join. Am reaching my annual "tired at the end of the summer holidays" where we eat too much takeaway and spend too much money. (also a farmer so my loooong hours have finished for the summer). Need to reign in the spending for health and wealth reasons.

Spent £1 yesterday. DS did a rugby camp and a promo after was you could become a youth supporter of our local big team reduced from £10 to £1. He LOVES rugby and you get Free kids tickets to pre season friendlies. DH is a big fan too so hopefully they could have some cheap ish days out.

Spending £15 on an escape room experience for DS today. Like a poster said upthread im amazed at how expensive some things have got. The kids mine are friends with do have a number of families in that must be those spending hundreds a week on kids activities. I have to try and limit what ours do. Happy and can afford some of the things but I don't think it's healthy to be doing stuff all the time.

DD is being trawled into work with me. Hopefully Granny will appear at some point so I can get some work done!

Ok I’m gonna have to catch up in stages sorry if I repeat as I’m typing as I red

re air fryers. I was a dittherer and I’m pleased I got mine &80 cursori from Amazon. There are in effect 4 adults here and it doesn’t have capacity for a full family meal but for the dc sorting themselves or a side where you would use oven and hob brilliant. I haven’t used it to it’s full yet but there are loads of Facebook sites with ideas, recommended by me

I’ll do the rest from my laptop, standby

Hi flowery. Welcome, and great news on the table. How you finding farming in this current financial climate, if you don't mind me asking?

Good look with the teeth frogs. A lot of the spends would seem to be good investments for the winter in fairness.

Great sales ears! And hello!

Half - hello! Waves happily at you. Yes, I was Jam too, and probably other names. Nails are much less nice, apart from occasionally these days. DC thankfully are at home at the minute having both finished university, yes finished university! One is having a gap year and working in retail, the other going on to do a masters, but going to live at home for financial reasons. They've been my rock these last 3 months. What a strange time that period was wasn't it? I agree, many left, but great some of us are back, and new folk too. Brain fog over here too 🤣

Hope the tooth is okay collie

Thesk, yep Jam!

Hi Kessie, great budgeting for the holiday!

mustbefunny - I found my Nectar card and it has 18,000 points on it, delighted and doing the same as you.

Hope you feel better soon socathe

Work today, then going for a run with a friend, probably my only social engagement this week!! Previously referred to veggie soup for tea.

Collecting a TGTG bag later for £4, these will stop when the DC aren't around as much, it's a cheap way of having lots of the kind of things they eat, but less so me.

Have a super day!

Im also back hopefully more frequently although I have popped in occasionally, ( but not really posted much ) I was always Laska something (but am now really hoping that I wasn't That Poster , but hopefully not as I enjoyed the chat here... ) Good too see old names, Need weren't you justamile at some point? , Good to see old names, like old times.. . Also remember Collie, mammy, wrecktangled, the Caglets, Em, etc..

I was here 2012 ish in debt, with a son that wasn't doing too well dropped out of college unemployment etc ( Now working in IT) , sudden acquisition of an unexpected grandchild ( who's now 9) and hoping to live my dream of retiring early (yes, I did ) and buying a campervan , (which is on the drive)..

Now we are doing ok , weathering the storm so far but on a fixed income from work pension and house is open plan and a bit cold in winter...
Im not bricking it yet, but a frugal change has to be made if we are going to manage.

I do not want to have to go back to work !

Anyway assuming that I am Not That Poster, Hi all, and looking forward to joining the chat again

Oh and I now have 4 grandchildren!! Oh my...

Nice seeing some old and familiar user names 😍
north I’m thinking of you 💖
we are on our mini moon, wedding blessing went really well, it was just lovely - it just went by too quickly! I didn’t get to talk to everyone but there’s something so powerful about having all the people you love in one place. Having a chill day today and just going to potter around the town we are in. Pub booked for dinner.
payday is still ages away for me too curls - we set aside some spending money for this trip but when we get back home on Friday it will still be about a week!! Feels like a very long month 😄

laska I am also hoping I wasn’t THAT poster 😂 was here as MissA and Peonies for years around 2011-2014.

I also had a bit of a Hush addiction after debt paid off . ( now it's Toast, eek even more expensive ) and occasionally people would ask why I was on the frugal thread , but then I was bring frugal to afford things ...

Now I am being frugal to make sure we can keep them ..

It's really good to see all the old folk coming back and all the new folk joining - although a telling hint of the times we were living in.

Mines I also remember you as Jam (I seem to remember we are not too far away geographically either) and if you look back over old threads you'll definitely see your name mentioned in dispatches a number of times along with Quite, Laska and others

We ALL remember that poster

I remember you Gensola,.. Hi !!

ive already started my xmas shopping decaf and told my brothers not to buy for us and likewise. they wont listen but they will be disappointed when i mean it.
i hear you on the summer holiday pinch - i need to up by budget.

thats not a bad price for hallway decorating - i defo wont be able to do our new stairs, the blind fitter was scared and he does it all the time

sorry to hear about redundancy and crappy job market collie.

great frugalleering gran - and the satisfaction of kicking that plumbings ass.

collie - dont underestimate tins and frozen "fresh" fruit and veg, cheap and long lasting - and good luck with the interview - someone has to get it and why not you ? it is lovely having you back and that we have had a thread running for so long.

your breakdown is so organised happier, i aim to be you :)

diana - be kind to yourself if you are suffering, all of those together mean you need to rest and just do what you can

Morning all

Well this thread has gotten busy! I agree everyone if so friendly and it's a lovely corner of the internet.

Re expense of days out....I have 4 DC from toddlers to teens so a variety of ages and stages one is severely disabled aswell so life is busy. I'm a carer to DC so generally get discounted or free ticket for big data out not that we have them often. We are members of national trust and a local sort of nature reserve thing so we use those alot and pay monthly, take a picnic etc or just go for half a day

Re airfryer I harp on about mine all the time but honestly it's fabulous! I wasn't sure if we would like it etc so just bought a basic Asda own brand one it was £44 and it's amazing. I cook 2-3 meals a night for my family and our oven is small and crap so now I can do some stuff in the air fryer. I think in July we used our oven once and our gas usage was around 300 kWh less than usual summer usage and electric didn't go up that much. Obviously the price did but I mean the usage

Does anyone use vinted? I've signed up looking for cheap jumpers etc and some of the postage options seem to be free so I just pay for the item? Is this true? Also if I sell it says I have to choose which postage options to offer? Can anyone explain?

Hope everyone has a lovely day.

Ahhh Laska and Gensola I remember you both! This is like a reunion.

Thanks Life! that's so true. I'm just a big negative nancypants!!

I really hope that the poster I'm thinking of is the poster you're all thinking of too! It must be... it must be.

Anyway, today is an expensive day re: my tooth. But I'm paying for it with a refund. We paid out for "unlimited" annual swimming membership and it turned out that we were only allowed in the pool for 2 sessions a week. So since it wasn't actually as advertised, and not unlimited - we got refunded!!

Sad really as I'd love to get better at swimming as it's such a great physical and mental health boost.

Other than that, its a NSD!

We just had a beautiful holiday in the Cotswolds and we spent our Nectar points on food and fuel so our balance is back to £1.35.

Welcome to all the newbies, very friendly here.

I hadn’t clocked who you were mines, lovely to see you collie and laska and other returners too. Sorry that life has made people return to the thread, but good to see you! I’ve been on here a long while too, but had a name change.

DH had an online interview yesterday and it was raining so I took the DC to the cinema to get them out of the house. £20, plus snacks from home. Always a bit strange going to the cinema as I used to work there 18 years ago

Today is probably going to be a sorting school uniforms day to check we have everything and sorting through the DCs other clothes as they just keep growing.

decaffe you usually pay postage as a buyer on Vinted, once you buy the item it offers you different postage options and tells you the price of each one.

as a seller you can choose which postage services you want to offer the buyer - I made the mistake of offering Hermes and then ended up having to drive out of my way to a drop off point so now I have it set only to Royal Mail.

@Decafflatteplease I think the free postage is for your first purchase on Vinted. After that you have to pay.

I think!

welcome - weegie - i hear you on CoL its scary.

maybe we should dig out the LONG tips post again and review it, i will look later

Adora - can you keep the tubs until Christmas though......

Half - you are thinking of need with the pony and running, Cag was doing ok last time i "spoke" to her but its been a while. Girlie popped by briefly but her DD's eating disorder has been her focus. shes on the ED threads usually.

Ive been trying to reduce UPFs i really noticed the difference when i ate junk over the weekend and its set me back. While i was making a conscious effort i even didnt want chocolate - which for those that know me is a minor miracle. Need to get back to it - baby steps here though as we have some UPFs to work through in the stash.

i wouldnt have paid that parking either £17!! buy icecreams in the supermarket and have one at home - not quite the same but ££ cheaper for the multi packs.

Mines - its you just as i mentioned you - missed you need! Sorry to hear DH is poorly still/again - did i read that right? BTW that poster never came back. YY peed off, not necessary imo - pay it forward on the dining room is a great idea

welcome back weight

Do what works Kessi - you are welcome to post as you see fit.

i need to go garden shopping ear -

boxoffrogs - if you save it up and only buy when coordinating with a visit it is frugal - no need to justify we do not judge

welcome flowery -

Hope teeth are ok those getting work - i would not be without my mouth guard for grinding

No Laska 'twas not you "that poster" - 4 grandchildren - ah lovely -

I didn't know your old names Gen - and no wasn't you either

DAys out are £££

right thats my epic catch up - sheesh -

look at that i saved them on my one-note - its LOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG

Frugal tips from the hive mind so far....
Check your outgoing-are they essential, are you on the best deal
Loyalty cards for stores you regularly shop at
Meal plan
Annual budget rather than monthly for those, well annual, expenses
Second hand is fine for 90% of stuff
Sign up to money saving expert emails
Insulation at home.
Close curtains at dark and tuck behind rads
Foil behind external wall rad
Turn the heating down . Tropical houses are not necessary
Use the washing line when you can
Look out for food recycling scheme- bread and butter thing, company shop, too good to go type things
Do you have to buy that Christmas/ birthday present. Can you give time instead
Eat less meat (tho I’m rubbish at this)
Have a on toast day. Or baked potato weekly
Double up while the oven is on for a reheat meal or a bake. Save electric running the oven less.
Branded goods are not always the best
-Walk those short trips if possible, instead of using the car (I am the worst for doing this). Saves petrol, good exercise too.
-Combine car trips better too e.g. dropped DD off at an activity tonight, which is next to the supermarket.
Cancel sky, if you still want the programmes switch to Now Tv for a fraction of the price
Cancel any subscriptions you don't need. Check direct debits to make sure you're not paying for anything you no longer need by accident
Check all your bills, insurances etc are the cheapest you can get for the cover you need (the last bit is important)
If you can get a voucher, use a cash back site or have some sort of work discount (nhs, bluelight, Tesco, student etc) check before paying
Meal plan before you shop. Make extra to freeze for another day as it's often cheaper per kg to buy bigger packs of meat
Go veggie a couple of times a week
Aldi and Lidl are great but not if you're going to get side tracked by the aisle of doom
An annual budget is essential but pay yourself first each month so money into the annual pot, into savings, off debt before anything else happens. Make sure there's a line in your budget for fun money even if it's a tiny amount, budgeting can be a grind otherwise
You will have patches of spendings and demotivation, don't give up just start again from wherever you end up
Take your own drinks, snacks, food, picnic - Invariably cheaper and nicer
Make your own if you have a stocked baking cupboard and spice cupboard. Cheaper and nicer, tho building said cupboard can be ££ (costs can be reduced by a visit to your local international supermarket)
Aldi for baking stuff it’s fine.
Work out of season for clothes as it’s usually cheaper
I switched to a coffee subscription (coffee is my weakness) - so our local shop delivers me a 250g bag of ground coffee every 2 weeks (I have 4 in the cupboard currently) and I make my own morning coffee. the subscription is for 6 months and costs me £58 I think. a takeaway from the same shop is £2.80 a pop. so it is a money saver. I bought a Contigo cup (spendy but worth every penny). so take my coffee hot to work with me.
I'm also a fan of using it up. so things like toiletries, stationary (I am also a notebook hoarder) food etc. not replacing until it's all gone (or all of one thing gone).
my Lloyds account does "save the change" so it rounds up a purchase and then moves the pence to my savings account.
I also pay myself first on payday and am trying to use the things we have- zoo membership - use it loads so worth the £160 a year cost. same with my gym membership I use it so get my money's worth.
Also what you can save/be frugal on can be inversely related to your means. If you have more "spare" money per month it's easier to buy in bulk and choose things that are cheapest per kg. If you have less or no spare money this isn't possible to do and then you're looking at cheapest price per item rather than per kg.
Agree re taking own stuff although I do often forget but a good coffee cup and water bottle is a good investment if you can afford it
If you have a dog use something like all about dog food to work out what the best food is you can buy based on what you can afford to spend per day
I also give the clothes an extra spin in the washing machine before they go in the dryer, and dry outside whenever I can - currently not living at home, so limited to a washer dryer (which is crap) and an airer next to a rad which I hate.
I'm a big fan of using the freezer and freeze anything I can. we buy reduced items (like bread and keep it in the freezer as it saves it going off - we maybe get through a loaf every couple of weeks).
I know that credit cards are sometimes seen here as the work of the devil (on MN specifically not this thread) but if you have one use to your advantage. Mine gives me money back in the form of M&S or amazon vouchers every quarter depending on how much I've spent. and as long as you pay it off every month it works.
Top Cashback for all internet purchases.
Join the library - many have free access to Audible, Libby (for magazines and newspapers) as well as having an amazing selection of books.
Consider how you cook things - residual heat cooking works really well for rice and any slow cooker recipe.
Grow herbs and salad leaves on a window sill
Grow soft fruit - your local allotment / neighbours with a raspberry cane/ strawberry / current / gooseberry will be more than happy to give you a cutting.
Look for local food pantries
If you need credit use a Credit Union. If you are saving support your local credit union by becoming one of their savers.
Shop seasonally as its cheaper - pick your own can be fun and cheap - pick on eat one. Just be careful of the weight racking up

Useful websites
Money Saving Expert especially the 90 ways to survive the cost of living crisis
Independent Foodbank Network There are some things that I wish we did not need
CAB
step change
cooking on a bootstrap
Thrifty Lesley

I have a very dull question. But I've just moved into a slightly damp house so reluctant to dry clothes indoors on the heated airer and don't wish to shrink them in the tumble dryer.

Does everyone find that clothes still dry on the line outside in the colder months? On a crisp sunny day?

I plan on tumbling underwear, pyjamas, DC clothes, towels and bedding

I think we should sell the heated airer as I really don't want to add moisture and mould indoors as DS has asthma...

Just looked back at page one.. I remember girlfriend buying the share ownership house and her garden,
And the Caglets moving to a lovely new secure rented home after being. In an old drafty house for so long .
I think I have muddled Jam/Mines up ( remember you now ) with the person who liked horses and running

So Unescorted, who worked in the same field as I did then and it turned out that we both knew a few of the same people professionally

And that list @lifelongfrugaleer ! Wow , yes just like a reunion, indeed.. So glad it I wasn't TP !!🤣

I think I've got covid again. Had a terrible night and I feel like my head is going to explode when I cough. GS went to a festival and brought something back, he's insisting it isn't covid but bad cold/flu/covid whatever it is I feel awful.

It is making me feel a bit unreasonable, my neighbour has some sort of problem with his car alarm and it has been going off every 45 for the last couple of nights. At 3am I serious considered going round and punching him on the nose, probably not a good idea as he's bigger than me and a police officer. The cells might be quieter though.

One positive is I think I'll be having a few NSD. I hope everyone else is fit and well.

That list was from the start of the year, im happy to admin it and add to it

My gran always said if the paths are drying up your washing will dry on the line,

Life that's YNAB app