Advancing into April - Frugal Friends still being, er, Frugal.

[needastrongoneagain]

New thread.

All welcome.

In unfrugal news, I set up a stocks and shares LISA. Only put a very small amount in, but it appears I should have done a bit more research first about shares etc . I’m quite enjoying learning about investing now! Fortunately the 20% top up will negate it a bit.

Accounts spreadsheet updated with all the increased monthly payments. Thinking about a bond in July when my regular saver matures - would top up what's in the regular saver to put 3k in which is 50% of predicted first year uni costs so I know that's locked away for 2025. Would leave accessible savings looking very skinny though and that's the money that pays the annual expenses so need to have a good think.

Payday here too and retirement day so I’m now the main wage earner, eeeeeerkkkkk

Kessie Oh what a pain about being charged twice urgh.

Girlie We were in a similar position with TCs after having DS2 and we worked out it would be financially better to end our miniscule claim so we could start using tax free childcare instead. As we were never entitled to the childcare component of TCs anyway.

DS is poorly, he's had fever on and off since yesterday evening. He's been well for 3 weeks which is the most since early September so we knew it was coming... so we are trapped home today. But I am going for my X-ray later so will spend £4 in total on the bus there and back. And we do need a few bits so I might pop to the shops at some point.

And now for the big question, how do we work out if we could comfortably afford a third child or not? We didn't need to with our current two because we knew we obviously could but I'm unsure about a third. I don't know how to price up the cost of a third child other than the additional childcare costs hah. When I say afford I mean without dropping our current living standards much, I've no doubt we could feed and clothe a third particularly if I became a SAHM (perversely, because of childcare costs) but I'm not sure if we could give all the kids the current standard of living we enjoy. If that makes sense.

It’s about thinking about things being set up for a family of 4 imo
so car and car seats - is yours big enough
bedrooms- could they share would you want them to have one each
family holiday rooms and attraction ticket are usually 2+2

Pal of mine has 3 and these are her biggest frustrations after childcare

Also think about the long term it may be ok when they are little and don't eat much and clothes can be handed down but can you feed five adults, could you afford three lots of school/college bus fair. What if they wanted to go to uni etc.

Been into town, met mum for lunch which was nice and she treated me.

Spent £14 in Wilkos needed a few things, stuck to my list.

£3 The Works on revision cards for dd.

£20 Superdrug, stocked up on vitamins for dd as they were on offer, got myself a new mascara and a couple of other bits.

Home now and tired, might have a little nap before dd gets home from college 😴

My post disappeared earlier, very annoying!

Spent 2 hours at the opticians earlier as I had to wait between my contact lense check and sight test even though they were supposed to be one after the other. Unfrugal shuffle- I spent £140 on some prescription sunglasses, and that was with 50% off. But they should last ages as I won’t drive wearing them if my prescription changes.

Delay meant I missed my slot to visit Ddad at his care home (I was already too late before choosing the glasses) so I’ll visit at some point over the weekend.

DH finally got his holiday approved! Woo.

Hope everyone gets a bit of extra time off this weekend, or hopefully some extra pay if working.

That’s a lot girlie on the pension contributions, I think DH’s has gone up a similar amount.

Hope DH has enjoyed his first day of retirement life, does he have anything in the pipeline?

weight one of my DC is nearly out of needing “childcare” but the things to pay for are much more. School trips, activity trips, swimming, music lessons, hobbies etc seem to just coming with money requests. Although lots of these are nice to have, it really is nice to let them do these things. Could you afford this for 3 DC?

Have any of your DC started school yet? The requests to pay for things school related never seem to end!

And I’ve now repeated part of my post from earlier 🤣

£40 on yet more sodding gcse flash cards. Ds will not make his own (too much like hard work) but does find them helpful

Back from our holiday. It was fully paid all inclusive and so was hoping for a no spend week but got caught out on a few things.

Accommodation tax which has to be paid locally, two museum tickets , a few small.gifts and water after security at corfu airport. Luckily all of this and a few tips were easily.covered with the 160 euros we had.left from past holidays and I still have some left for the next time, whenever that is.

In the UK though we forgot the extra petrol cost.to airport £50. Coffee waiting.at airport £6. Cattery £90.

So.not a no.spend week but good value as we stood (lucky in that it was all paid for sometime ago)

Back now to reality

Evening everyone. So glad it's Friday. It's a Bank Holiday weekend here and I got to work from home today. Yaay!

Opened letter from the Residents Association to discover that there was a Residents Association meeting on Monday night but I missed it. Oops [blush). There's an estate clean up tomorrow morning but I've a hair appointment (booked a few weeks ago) so I'll miss that too. I've texted my apologies for both. I will pay my grass cutting fees promptly (€40 x two instalments) and hopefully my neighbours will still speak to me afterwards.

I got an e-mail from my electricity company to say that they're applying €35 credit to my account. Apparently they're forgoing all profits for the financial year in response to the rises in energy prices. Unexpected and welcome news and it will cover most of this instalment for the grass cutting.

I also lodged another payment into the credit union for DD's college fees. Which reminds me, I must try and book a time with DD to apply for a college grant. I suspect my income is too high but it's worth a shot.

Weight as I'm sure you know, I'm in Ireland, so I'm not sure how costs compare. Child Benefit isn't means tested here so all children are eligible. It's €140 per child per month and I think it's higher if you have twins or more than two children i.e. you get more for the third and subsequent child(ren). My understanding (from reading MN) is that it's means tested in the UK so I don't know if you would be eligible for it. Having said that, the cost of raising children is probably higher here because we have to pay for school books and supplies. And there's no NHS. If you earn a low income here, you'll probably qualify for a medical card (free medical treatment) or GP visit card (GP visits are free but you have to pay for everything else). But if you earn an average income, you will have to pay for all medical treatment or else pay for a health insurance policy. It's means tested. They've introduced free GP care for children under 6 but that's relatively recent. When DD was a baby and small child, I had to pay every time I took her to the doctor. You get tax credits for a dependent spouse or children here - I'm assuming that would apply in the UK too. DD is doing a PLC course (one year college course) at the moment and hopes to go on to University in September. Thankfully she's working and can pay for things like bus fares, lunches, clothes, nights out etc. She'll be able to get a bus to the University (there are advantages to living in a small country) so I won't have to pay for rent or bills for her. I just wouldn't be in a position to pay for that. You said you're planning to give up work so I guess you'll have to work out your income (DH's salary + Child Benefit if eligible + Tax credits) and outgoings (mortgage/rent + bills) and see what's left. I'd try to leave a cushion if at all possible. My many years on this earth have taught me to expect the unexpected i.e. recession in 2008 when Ireland went bankrupt, separation in 2019, the war in Ukraine having a huge impact on energy prices, the ECB raising interest rates etc. etc. Having said all of that, if you really want another baby but hold off for financial reasons, you might really regret it later.

Has been the busiest week here. I've already told DH that when he returns from his "jolly" in Plymouth, on Monday I will be doing nothing & he will be put to work!!
Half the "dirty northern b***s" chant to the Exeter fans will absolutely have happened, as it did against Bristol Rovers in Tuesday! DS is absolutely beside himself with excitement for today's game, 21 going on 6!! He has got DH to agree to go out on the Barbican tonight if promotion happens......
Re the NHS pension, it's all a bit mad really. I'm B7 but have easily enough experience for an 8a and I would really like an advanced clinical role. However, a promotion from top 7 to bottom 8a would mean taking home less money (for 5 years) due to higher pension contributions. Add to that, I'm 51 and can take my full 1995 pension at 55 so there is no incentive for me to progress.
Frugal week here with just DD & me. We did go to Mowgli for tea though after her first A level exam.
This weekend will be spent cooking burgers & sausages for our cricket club beer festival. After a tough week at work I'll definitely be sampling the ciders!

£1.65 for the most delicious coffee from Portuguese cafe

about to drop £40 on sugaring at the beauticians so needed the caffeine to get me through! 😂

North exactly I'm a band 6 but I have no desire to progress if it means loosing even more money!! It's so frustrating, have the rcn done anything about it? I'm not sure that's even in the list of reasons we're striking.

Wolf have you checked eBay for the flash cards? My dd found them helpful as well so they were worthwhile getting but so expensive for what they are!!

I'm very glad of a 3 day weekend, feeling very tired atm. Dd is revising today as she has a biology exam next week, after saying she wasn't interested in going to uni on here she promptly told me she likes the look of a wildlife conservation degree 🤦‍♀️

I had a quick look at the course online and it does look amazing, I can't start thinking too much about the financial side as it will just start freaking me out.

Off to Aldi this morning for a big shop.

£65 beauticians. Hollywood sugaring, eyebrow wax and tint.

£80 boots - necessaries

£5 bakery on donuts

£7 the entertainer on kids monopoly. I’m reintroducing game night here.

€35 dinner with school friends including tip and a non alcoholic cider last night
€12 car wash
€1.45 pastry
€25 eye makeup and lashes
€30 bottomless brunch
€20? Wash & blow dry

Tayto that was a very comprehensive post, do you qualify for gp visit card? I did while renting €3 under limit & now qualify because earnings were under €46k last year, I suspect with wage increase I wont increase next year

Got €21.22 back from a tax return for 2019 & €156 coming back from vhi for claiming for my optical benefit on it, must see if I can also claim this on med1

Kessie being charged twice is a pain. I always used to leave it but now I don’t. Currently chasing a utility company for ~£160 they owe me.

Needs I’m trying to be open minded about the resistance bands. But I’m already not a fan.

Weight sorry your DS is poorly. Hoping he’s soon on the mend.

Was at the office yesterday. I bought some resistance bands online for £35. They are marked as being handed to resident when they haven’t been so I hate them already. I hate chasing things and wish people would just do their job.

Today I’ve spend £14.13 in Lidl and Asda on my cottage cheese fix and a few other things. That includes some hay fever spray.

Am starting to think about a photobook for my holidays. I used to scrapbook (a lot) so it’s nice to be finding things I like to do again. Feels a bit like taking a step forward. Not sure which company to go with as I’ve not ordered a book in so long.

Pay day for me too yesterday. Nearly the whole of that pay goes to the bills account but there's a bit left for me as its my salary.

Spends yesterday
£17 M&S food - lunch deal and pizza deal as Friday was a busy day.
Today
£54.94 Home Bargains from the wants and presents budget, DD's birthday and some garden art / solar lights for the decking. Just need the warmer weather now, I'm set to sit outside!
£29.42 Lidl
£31.10 Home Bargains groceries
£15.58 Poundzone.

£9 lunch in a cafe waiting to collect DD

Headed out for food later too, its the bank holiday weekend here. Shame about the weather so far!

Today I have spent £17 in Aldi and £56 in the Coop. Sorting out a shopping app shortly to stop me doing the latter. I sorted out my banking app registration earlier. I was almost in tears trying to do it. Why is everything so complicated now?! Sorted now which feels like an achievement!

@GreenArmy! Did you see that Argyle is now through, having beaten Burton 1-0?? Yess! Another victory at Port Vale will get them the trophy, which would be sweet indeed, but they are home and dry into the Championship! Get in! My dad is 91, and it is high time!

Took DS and DH to see D'Artagnan at the local fleapit last night - £15 for 3. DH then took us to Rotorious - rotisserie chicken. £49 for 3 of us including 2 beers and a doughnut with icecream and miso caramel sauce between 3.

DS now gone back to university, so we return to more vegetarian meals. Starting with aubergine parmagiana tonight.

Been doing some garden tidying today, now want to stretch and have a nice bath. Then try and alter my milk-white legs (complete with fetching veins) with a bit of fake tan. £12 in Superdrug today for a mitt, some moisturiser and some Dove tanning lotion. Must pitch my expectations rather low, methinks.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I feel like I’ve properly chilled today for once (though I got up at 6.30 to take DS2 to footy and went for a 10K run!) Think it’s because I had Thurs and Fri off work to go to London with my friend to the theatre. It was fab. She is very frugal and we stayed at a YHA and found cheap places to eat so I don’t feel ripped off which is great. That’s my last great trip for a while - need to rein it in now
Spent £154 in Asda on weekly shop. Went there because DP has a blue light card with 10% off, so there’s no justification for not except…I don’t like it. However I’ve cancelled my Tesco Clubcard plus for now and going to try and train myself to like it.

weight I have 3 DC. I’m afraid I’m not one of these Mumsnetters that thought ahead about the finances and planned it, I just desperately wanted 3 (and would have had more if not disallowed by DP!) I love having 3 and feel
my family is complete, but many times over the years I’ve reflected on the finances of it. For me it’s meant working FT when I probably wouldn’t have had to with 2, and being more career-orientated than I’d have liked. Three babies/ small children is relatively cheap, 3 teenagers and you are just handing out money hand over fist. Clothes, shoes, sports stuff, tonnes of food, driving lessons, uni if they go…So worth thinking long term. There are a few threads about the costs of older DC if that would help.
tayto- and happier we are so lucky to have the NHS, with all its issues. We are very lucky that mine are not often ill, but when they were little we were still at the GPs a lot with various things.
north hope the A levels are going ok. DD starts hers soon and is finishing off a BTEC too.

Pissy wet weather

Morning all. For those trying to whip GCSE studentoids into revision shape with flashcards, have you looked at Anki? it's a free flashcard app - I use it for French vocab, but you can use it for any text based information and create different decks for biology, physics, English lit quotes, whatever. Free, portable, and the little darlings do have to make their own - which is supposed to be where the memorising bit comes into play. You have to make a decision to do something with the material you are studying, and that's what creates the memory.

It's bloody hard getting them through it (my DS was a lazy sod, and had me wanting to dig my own eyeballs out with a teaspoon). BBC Bitesize (multiple choice quizzes, quick expos) used to be another way of getting him to stay at the desk for a bit longer. But nothing beats practice papers and making them sit and tell you what they know in response to exam questions. (I absolutely failed to do this on sciences, consequently, he didn't do very well on those - everything else, we hauled our arses through it with him and he did well. I'm sorry to say, the lesson learned was that nagging and being on his bloody case, got the job done. Leaving it to him, not so much.)

Cleaning and laundry today, plus overdue house admin with DH. Ddog has sniffer training. Hope to get a good walk in somewhere tomorrow.