Friendship and Falling Leaves, Frugal Autumn Continued

[Wolfcub]

New fred

October has been as bad for me financially as September was. I'm a total failure at being frugal and having just looked at my finances for the month I can't even figure out where it all went. I feel hopeless but I have 3 family birthdays in November and I've bought the presents, cards and wrapping paper, I've got quite a few of my Christmas presents bought and I am determined that I will do better in November. To be frank I couldn't do much worse.

One good thing is my SRP is paid twice in November, I get it every 4 weeks so one month a year I get it twice so if I can't manage to save something in November there is really no hope for me.

I haven't been keeping up with the thread as I got so down about it all but I will have a read and hope for inspiration. Hope everyone is doing better than I am.

Gran you are back posting and have owned the lack of frugal. Try not to be down as it’s hard

the fun day was wet and cold but we raised £135 for the horses.

@ancientgran try not to be too tough on yourself. You’ve had a lot to shell out for. Plus you’ve got a head start on the Christmas presents, so you’re doing really well.

@lifelongfrugaleer sounds like a fantastic day for the horses.

NSD here. Got home from work and made the meat part of a cottage pie for tomorrow. The potatoes are chopped and ready , as is the veg that needs using up for a soup.

Night all xx

Back from hols. Was a great family trip to Amsterdam and Berlin, lots of travelling, activities and good food. Possibly the last one that DS (Year 12) will come on so I'm pleased we did it, despite being spendy and depleting our hard worked for savings. I did stay within budget, but with an MOT and Christmas round the corner, I am back to frugaleering tomorrow. Got a click and collect booked from Aldi in the morning so that's the post hol shop sorted.

Need to list a few items on Ebay / Marketplace tomorrow - good week to sell toys I used to find, with Christmas coming up.

Good to see you gran and that you have some Christmas and birthdays sorted. Don't be too hard on yourself, I'm starting again from tomorrow too 😊

Will try to keep up now! My body clock is all over the place, back an hour when we landed, then back an hour again Sunday 🤪

Planning a lazy day today after the crazy weekend, though think mil is coming to go to home bargains
did you all remember the clocks? Back.

Glad you had a good holiday kessie, I find the DC keep coming while you keep paying for them to!

gran, be less tough on yourself, you are back, it sounds like there's a lot of Christmas and Birthday stuff sorted. And, you'll have a bit extra this month which will lessen the load.

We love the Greggs TGTG bags Mrs, they are so generous. I've got two to pick up tonight, which will help as DS has the week off work and the fridge will take a battering!

Hope the Indian was tayto.

Just a sorting and catching up day for me. It's still mild here.

Spends
£18 on a huge stock up of Oat Milk on Amazon. Works out at £1.50 a carton, it's £1.90 in Lidl and £1.80 at Ocado.
£36 wine for Christmas
£6 TGTG bags from Greggs.

Have good days all.

Martha thanks, I'm recovering well physically & have just picked up with counselling again (free through work). I'm fine most of the time but then get tearful when I least expect it.
Gran sounds like you're doing well, awareness is half the battle. Are you recording all spends? That can be great for helping identify areas that you can improve on.
Tayto hope you managed not to comment on dd's outfit!! It's so hard isn't it?!
Mrs that's an amazing TgTG haul!
We had a day and a bit at home & are now on a flying visit to in-laws in Devon. I've had enough of the travelling but we needed to visit. Diesel is going to be the main cost of the trip I think, going up again as you said need. There is an amazing little bakery here so I'm off shortly to see what they've got today, that's my treat. Sunday lunch out but I think the pil will pay 🤞

Thanks for the encouragement. Things will change in November.

@ancientgran - hello there. I have also been bemoaning my miniscule progress frugality-wide on the face of oncoming winds and tides, and some months - years! - alas, are just like that. But reading your previous posts, gran, you plainly have great frugal habits and skills, and will bounce back!

As for Christmas - oh, god. We've pared back present giving and haven't exchanged gifts among adults in the family for years. But even so, i still want to buy extra food and be able to entertain guests, gifts for DS, the nieces and build in some fun outings, even if they're just walks in new places with Ddog.

Spendy day yesterday, being DH's birthday outing to the Japan House. Afternoon tea for two cost £63, but worth it. Great exhibition on carpentery traditions of the Hida region (I know, sounds a bit niche, but was very accessible - they have apprenticeships which are more competitive entry than medicine, and involve the students rising at 5am for a run before their day in the workshops, to help prepare them physically and mentally for the challenges and discipline of becoming artisans). The shop was a revelation - the slippers the best I've ever seen or felt! I would never take them off! Definitely on a future wishlist and, at £48, actually one of the most reasonably priced items there.

Back on planet Earth, £19 in Aldi this week, £10 in the Co-Op. Will buy a chicken and some carrots today, and see if I can make this thing stretch to 3 meals, one more than our usual two.

Oh - frugal win though. DH wants to sit down and a little forward planning sesh - organise a fund for next year's holidays. He's not a forward planner usually, so this is a big win!

Morning everyone.

Last night was a little messy. After waiting forever for the parade to start, we discovered we were waiting in the wrong place. The parade route was close by, but not actually going past us. There were loads of people standing around us, so obviously they all thought the same thing. Some of the streets were closed off, so by the time we found a place to watch the parade, it was almost over. And it was really crowded so we couldn't see everything - only the taller floats.

The fireworks were cancelled for health & safety reasons so that made for a bit of a damp squib (pun intended). They're going ahead tonight instead. I'm toying with the idea of going to see the fireworks tonight.

But having all that, there was a great atmosphere and there were loads of people walking around in costumes. I had a good chat with the three women I was sitting beside over dinner. One of them took our phone numbers and suggested meeting again for coffee. So all in all, it was a good night.

I'm going to nip down to the shop in a minute and buy some fresh bread. The plan for today is housework/cleaning. I might drive into the nearby town - I think there's a bit of a street market with stalls and I know one of the stallholders.

In frugal news, I've arranged a FREE day out with friends in December. Well, we're going for lunch which won't be free but the rest of it will be.

I was getting into a bit of a latte habit but I've put a stop to that. I've also been very disciplined when it comes to making my lunches at work.

£350 in next this morning (online) on 4 dresses (in both 10 and 12 so 8 in total) for a black tie event im going to on Friday and had nothing to wear. Had planned a trip into town last week but sick kids put a stop to that. Paid extra for specific day shipping (Wednesday) and will trawl shops in town on Monday lunchtime just to see if I can find something suitable.

whateverbi don’t wear will be sent back. So not money wasted. I’m in between sizes hence the two sizes.

I don’t really feel like going out out on Friday but can’t cancel now. And it’ll be good for me to go and meet people.

Sunday lunch today at dparents. Yay

£6 on coffee and cake.
DH spent £10 on storage bags, the vacuum type.

Expect NSD tomorrow and groceries delivery on Tuesday.

Almost a NSD today but DH went to Costco last minute with his DB and spent £9 on a katsu curry meal. I suppose a trip to Costco could have been far worse and at least we have an easy meal for in the week now!

Just had a mild disagreement with DH. I was looking at a £9 mini Christmas tree for DS' bedroom. He is 3. He said he wants a big tree in his room. DH starts telling him he can have a big tree. Well I'd like to know who's going to buy it including new lights and enough tree decorations to fill it up. When I pointed this out he said I'm spoiling the fun! I said well someone has to think of the money, he really is terrible at budgeting and wouldn't even know what his take home pay is each month if someone asked him. He said he'd rather get that for DS than have presents for himself but I know in reality he would act hard done by if we did this. Plus I've already bought his presents. Oh well I'm sure all of this will be forgotten by December and I'll just get the small £9 tree 😂

I have a £5 pink tree for DD in her room, bought from Asda a few years ago. We go to The Range every year and pick a few new baubles for it. It's gaudy and retro. I'm with you socathe get the £9 tree!

That still sounds a good night out Tayto.

I'm often the same Gen before a night out. Fine once I'm there and if you have a new outfit then all the better.

£68 Aldi.
£6 coop on firelighters and tealights for the pumpkin which I always forget! 🤦‍♀️

Sorry em not gen!

Sat in the car outside a family Halloween party (DH's side) as DS is asleep ha so found time to catch up. On the App though and my short term memory is appalling so find it difficult to recall bits to reply sorry but from what I can manage:

Em I often feel I cba with events but I almost always do enjoy it when I'm there so hopefully you will have a good time, hope you get your outfit sorted soon!

Curls hope you get paid ok. I have Sage app for one of my jobs and my old employer used Sage too.

Ahhh what else, I had something to say to BigSkies and now I can't remember what!

Hope Decaf is ok I was wondering whether maybe recovering from surgery as PP has said.

Our food shop is expensive too, I've cut down to cheaper brands for some things - e.g. hardly ever buy branded crisps anymore, or popcorn, or biscuits, cereal. And stopped buying some more expensive items I used to buy that were not totally necessary too like exotic fruit, pre-prepped veg, yoghurts, juice, buy a lot less chocolate and cereal bars. Yet still, we are spending a lot more on the food even despite all my changes! I think we spending about a third more.

weight I really notice the food too, every item is 50p-£1 more than last year and over a whole trolley it adds up so much. Butter is 🙈
lovely weekend with friends staying but got no cleaning or admin done and no prep so starting the week feeling a bit discombobulated 😩😂 next two weeks at work are crazy busy too, I’ve kept next weekend free to just collapse and recover before the next week of busyness!

Pay day thank heavens.

Payday here too thankfully!

But it’s a bit rubbish because there were no extra hours to pick up anywhere so it’s a flat months pay.

I have a question. I’ve got an iPad that is easily 10 years old now if not older. And there’s so many apps and websites I can’t use on it anymore because the iOS updates don’t work on the software anymore and haven’t for years. Plus the battery life is terrible. A 2021 iPad is currently £309 on Amazon. Does anyone think it might be worth waiting for the Black Friday sale to see if they go down in price further?

Kids are really excited for Halloween. I think ds thinks it’s a huge thing not just a one day.

Happy Halloween everyone ☺️
Aldi 38,
Tesco 9
Marks 50
Matalan 31
George 12
Willo 30
Had my Echocardiogram this morning so decided to go shopping & stock up , being as l didn't have to take Bob to see Mum . Dd1 did it for me she is a sweetheart ❤️

Happy Hallowe'en! 👻💀🎃

We're all set for the trick or treaters. DD is mega excited, bless her. She has painted her nails in Hallowe'en colours and designs. Obviously she's way too old for trick or treating but she loves answering the door to the little ones - I think it reminds her of the excitement of going out trick or treating when she was that age. She hasn't made up her mind about dressing up or not (just for answering the door). It's kind of rainy out so I don't know if we'll get as many callers as usual.

Having a nice, relaxing day otherwise. I was meant to meet a friend for breakfast but she wasn't feeling up to going out, so I got a breakfast roll from Centra and a bag of scones and called to her house instead. When I got home after, we watched Strictly and the last few minutes of the results show. DD is cooking dinner - buttered chicken with rice. It smells good.

Driving back home later tonight & am so ready for home. Pil paid for lunch yesterday so that helped keep our spending down.
Met up with an old friend today at her house, only cost was £3 for a piece of the most amazing chocolate mud pie which we shared. It was a really lovely catch up.
Also wanted to recommend the latest Frugal Queen in France YouTube video. It addresses budgeting and explains it really well.

@BigSkies2022 Thank you for the encouragement. I haven't done too badly today, spent £3.45 in the co op for some bread and a cake. £7.45 to post a gore tex coat to a repair place. GS is doing DofE gold and was away last week, had a fall on one of the activities and ripped the coat. A week of activities plus travel came to just under £400, wrecked coat cost £350! Spoke to a lovely lady at specialist repair place and hoping she can sort it, not sure how much it will cost. Fingers very firmly crossed.

I've been proactive and applied for a transfer to a Nationwide current account and should get £200 for doing it. I think it will be end of December or early January when I get the money but that should be a nice start to the year.

I'm hoping to do in January what I did last January and have a "no spending real money" challenge, real money being my pension/salary. I have some money mounting up in Prolific, some more in topcashback plus nectar points. Should come to about £100 at the moment and with Christmas leftovers and too many chocolate presents I shouldn't have to spend much on food in January. My direct debits go out as normal and the money I normally spend over the month is a start to saving for 2023 and replace some savings I've dipped into.

I'm thinking of letting my hair go grey and save a fortune on hairdresser colouring it. I wish my hair would go white, my DH and sister have pure white hair, had it for years and mine is still a dark battleship grey, well it was the last time I saw it. The hairdresser says its 50/50 now so I'm going to give it a go.

So that's the plan for now, I'm going to treat November/December as a warm up for 2023 when I will get back on track.

@CurlsandCurves I'm pretty useless at Black Friday as I can never find anything. Hope you find a deal for the ipad.