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

[needastrongoneagain]

New thread.

All welcome.

Lovely news, em. What kind of Birkenstocks? I am tempted by the Arizonas, but Must Not Spend any more until I've paid off the current PayPal balance inside the 0% period.

@FuckingHateRats - well, I find the butcher is good for stuff I can't buy in the supermarket - good merguez, nice Italian sausages, duck legs, good bit of belly pork, quails - and then direct price comparison isn't always relevant. If I'm doing a roast chicken or curry/tikka or just need a bit of minced pork or beef then I will look for the best price in the supermarket. TBH, we have cut our meat consumption quite a lot, and save that way. But DS is home this weekend, so I will cook a couple of fancier meals than usual and invite DParents over.

Boo to the insurance @Girliefriendlikespuppies, that's so unfair!

Every penny definitely counts @FuckingHateRats, years you are taking off the mortgage. My DD worked at McD's, her interview consisted of her being asked what size uniform she wore. She had tough shifts in truth and wasn't her favourite part time occupation while studying!

Good budgeting re the food @BigSkies2022. Honestly, do the POA, I know it's a pain. If we'd had POA in place last year, things might have been so different. You don't think there might be family conflict, but just protect yourself in case there is..

£274 house insurance. Pre saved. Cheaper than last year, sorry @Girliefriendlikespuppies 😁

Hi, hope you're all ok, sorry I've dropped off again as usual. Unwell atm, just a horrible viral illness which has caused sinusitis. I seem to have recurring sinusitis now a good few times a year from infections which is annoying.

NSD for me today, I started WFH for the first time in job 3 this week after them recently giving me a laptop. Only was meant to work 1 out of 2 days from home but given I'm absolutely full of cold did both days from home instead, nobody would have thanked me for being in today coughing and sneezing everywhere...!

I've got a question about mortgage overpayments. I want to put a small lump sum into it - £5-£10k, not sure exactly yet -, the provider's website says that they automatically recalculate your monthly payments if you do that unless you contact them to 'discuss your options'. I've contacted them as DF tells me that's not a good idea and I want the payment to come off the term instead? Spoke to the mortgage provider and they've said I can't do that and there's no way to prevent them recalculating our payments? DF is insisting my DSis has been able to do that with her mortgage which is with the same provider though? Anyone got an advice or been through anything similar?

What kind of mortgage is it std repayment or of set?.
With my offset I can have a fixed payment so any over pay takes off the balance outstanding - like the standing order trick - bit I have to set up the fixed payment first

Can't advise on fixed rates but who is it through and what do you t&c say?

bigskies I got the arizonas in real leather in a pecan/light brown colour. Simple neutral will go with everything.

weight what type of mortgage is it? We are able to pay an additional 10% on ours if we like. If we have spare cash then that’s what we’ve done in a lump sum because it works out better financially and will lower the amount of interest payable and cut the repayment time down. But check the terms of your documents. Speak to your mortgage provider get the fact about your mortgage No one else’s.

I was able to call up my provider (Nationwide) and have my payments allocated in one of three ways:

• Reduce the next month's DD amount
• Reduce the outstanding balance
• Refuse the term of the mortgage ( I don't see how the second won't automatically do the third, I guess it will but it's to do with the way the money is initially allocated.

The person on the other side set it up so every overpayment goes to the second option for us.

Off to the garden festival today. It's overcast atm but I'd say the sun will come out in a bit so I'm going to bring suncream. DD has to work so I'm taking my Dad instead. I'll meet DD after work and we'll go for dinner like we'd planned. It's just a little bit messier because I've to pick up Dad, bring him to the festival, drop him home afterwards and then meet DD somewhere.

One day left at work (tomorrow) and then I have a week off . Can't wait.

Does anyone understand credit cards? There's a few different options that my bank offer, I'm assuming I want one that gives me points and a long no interest? I'm really clueless as haven't had one before 🙈

I had a terrible nights sleep, was awake more than asleep 😴 not sure why but my brain was in overdrive 😕

All the DDs have come out and my bank account looks awful, I'll have to move some money around, it's not surprising given how much I've spent recently but it is depressing!!

Apparently my local NHS trust accepted the pay deal so in theory at the end of this month I'll get a decent bonus which should help the depleted savings pot...

I do girlie

What do you want to use the cc for?
Can you pay it in full each month?

Tayto Enjoy Bloom, I was meant to go the year Covid hit with all my family as my bro enjoyed it in 19 with his wife & daughter. Since Covid though I've something on June bank holiday weekend so didn't get there yet, might pencil it in for next year! It was overcast here earlier but has already brightened up.

I'm after securing a TGTG for an elite butchers for today, I'm excited as their produce is delicious! €4.99 they also do a €9.99 one but that was gone.

€2.50 on a 99 yesterday from my nearest shop, they've changed the mix it wasn't wonderful
€3.50 on ham for dd's lunch, I got Dunnes delivered on Monday but forgot ham. They had some stuff out of stock so then I fell under the €100 so only one €10 off voucher got applied, note to self order €115 or more to avoid this happening in future!

€100 on surfing camp for dd for July, ds will be doing a football camp the same week so babysitter will have an easy week of it.

weight sinus rinse gives great relief from sinusitis if you don't already know
€98 back from VHI straight off credit card also put €156 from vhi against it during the month

Will post more later but the M&S Birkenstock dupes get rave reviews. They were recommended on MN recently. I bought a pair and haven't stopped wearing them. £25

https://www.marksandspencer.com/leather-two-strap-sandals/p/clp60256050?intid=mobileappppdpshare

@Girliefriendlikespuppies - I am a fan of credit cards but I always have a 0% deal, I use the card for something very specific and bounded e.g. a holiday, DS' foundation course, rather than financing ongoing purchases, and I set up a DD to pay off the card within the 0% period. And I have enough in savings to pay it off if something went tits up and I didn't have a regular income for a while.

My brother's family use their credit card to finance everyday spending, for which they get points, which they use to pay for flights every year. It's how they afford to take their family on holiday. They have a variable direct debit which automatically clears the balance each month so they never incur interest.

Basically, credit cards are good if you can afford the purchase you are making and you can hold them in such a way that you never pay any interest. THey're not a substitute for income, or for emergency funds. Having one that you pay off is good for building your credit score as well. You also have additional consumer protection (section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act) if you pay for purchases over £100 by credit card - the credit card provider is the first line of redress for you if the supplier goes out of business. Again, make sure you can pay it off if you pay by this route!

Martin Lewis' website will tell you what the best deals are, and they may not necessarily be with your current bank.

Sorry you had a bad nights sleep @Girliefriendlikespuppies. Depends re credit cards. Are you after interest free credit and not to pay the full balance each month or the rewards offered?

We used to use ours for all work expenses as well as all our spendings, but had a DD to pay in full. This was an M&S one and we used to get vouchers. That's how we used ours, but as others say, definitely depends on what specifics you have in your life.

Enjoy the week off @Taytocrisps!

Other than budgeted spends, and spending re rehab. We are on for a NSD.

Big Hope the roof quote isn't too uncomfortable.

Rats Sending good vibes for your son's interview.

Girlie Crikey on the insurance renewal. I should shop about for things too. Hope you have slept better.

Ememem Congrats (congrats and congrats). I used to have Birkenstock habit but it was curtailed when Parcelforce decided they could not longer find my address. That was probably a good thing as I hate to think how many pairs I would have now otherwise.

Weight In my days of overpayments all were taken off the balance with a limit to how much could be made in a year. I am fixed rate but you should check your paperwork.

Yesterday's spending was £5.35 on some odds and ends in Boots for my trip away later this month.

Today has been a no spend day so far. Took a trip to the community fridge this morning and got some nice Marks and Spencer bakery bread and some fruit. There was quite a bit there but it was my first visit and think I need to get used to going.

Found a Deliveroo gift card that expires in five days. Trying to decide between pushing the boat out on a take away I never have but like or buying enough cottage cheese to fill the bath.

Booked some tickets for the Diva exhibition that is opening at the V&A later this month.

£60 in vet for follow-ups on a dry eye condition and, ahem, anal glands. 6 months clear now so Ddog signed off and fingers crossed no further recurrence. Ddog loves the vet, and positively relishes the anal gland evacuation, the little weirdo. He has lost a magnificent 100grams since the last weigh-in a month ago, so we are moving in the right direction, albeit glacially.

£75 in Aldi for what is quite a big shop for us. £27 in Sainsbury's for considerably fewer things, but some nice to haves. Including a pot of Moroccan smoked hummus which I am currently eating with some celery and pitta. And very nice too.

Cheap mince in Aldi, so will do a big chilli tonight and freeze some. Putting off butcher until tomorrow and will attempt more of a plan for the next week. Can't promise to match need's mouthwatering menus!

Girlie towards the end of my marriage I was not using credit cards responsibly & had 3 on the go as exh wasn't contributing to bills properly etc, they got cleared with sale of house and I had to be debt free to get my mortgage. I have managed to use them responsibly since & currently have one on 0% for my flights to Canada which must be cleared by December. The other one is a good interest rate but I plan not to incur interest & has balance of accommodation for this weekend(which will be paid on Tues) and my house insurance which will be paid within the 56 days.

All of the advice above is excellent 👌

Re mortgage overpayment I'm not in a position to at the moment but my agreement is I can pay up to 10% of balance penalty free in every 12 months. When my short term/medium term savings are under control I plan on doing this, but that could be years away.

I'm expecting a one off lump sum in next twelve months & this might finance changing my car or perhaps complete a medium savings goal.

Yellow sticker turkey breast & leftover dips dd bought last week = frugal lunch

Impressed - unfortunately i can't eat mushrooms and don't eat potatoes but I'll pass that off on my friend instead

Yes. Re credit cards. That’s the one you want. The one which gives you the most benefit.

i have 2.

an Amex which I use for everyday house spending. Builds up the points etc. this is a second card on dhs account.

and my hsbc premier one (because dm used to work for the bank and so did I and it’s an ex staff perk!) I get cash back plus rewards.

as long as you pay off in full every month you’re golden.

£85 Pilates for the next half term

£5 lunch at local sandwich shop to work.

Bloom (garden festival) was fab. It was really crowded though - the sun had brought everyone out. We had a look around the show gardens, Dad had an ice cream, we went for some food and we had just started looking at the plants when Dad dropped hints about going home. I found a bench for him to sit on, grabbed another plant or two and then we hit the road. He was tired and I think he was finding the heat a bit much. I was disappointed we had to cut it short, but what can you do? Anyway, I dropped him home and we sat out his back garden for a bit (in the shade). Then I met up with DD and we went to a Japanese restaurant for food. I didn't find the peacock windspinner but I'm happy with my new plants and the garden is looking a lot more colorful, even though I haven't planted them properly. I watered everything but I don't think I'll get to plant them until Saturday.

It was a spendy day but it's been in my calendar for months and I've been saving for it.

Today had been more spendy, but it's my son's 16th birthday tomorrow so...

Had a free coffee on the Costa app so grabbed that on my way to work. I'd forgotten how miserable their coffee is - the kids I taught first thing asked why I kept making faces at my flask haha. Stopped in for petrol top up; £30

I went for a walk with a colleague and bought some nice berries, greek yoghurt and a bottle of fizzy water as a lunchtime treat (it'll also doy lunch tomorrow). Was £6.

Son is 16 and of course is after cold hard cash, but we wanted to get him a couple of things to open too. He's a history supergeek so got him two books he'll love from Waterstones - Project Mincemeat and some kind of MI6 historical novel by Helen Fry - both nonfiction and on espionage/war. Picked up some of his favourite tropical flavoured Dextrose as a joke gift (he's T1 diabetic) and some Hotel Chocolat barons. £35-ish total.

Husband made a double pot of chilli tonight. We had with rice but will also have the rest with baked potatoes on Saturday night (son gets to pick treat dinner tomorrow - Five Guys. I can tell it's going to be a very un-frugal day tomorrow)

Happy birthday to your DS *rats. 16 is a big one! It’s my eldest’s 19th on Tues, I’m really wondering where the time’s gone there. It was really not weather when she was born too, I remember her chilling in a vest when I brought her home (can you tell I’m a bit nostalgic for the baby days? 😊)
Right, I actually have a day to spend on my PhD so I need to crack on.

Agree with the credit card advice especially the bit about only getting one if you have the funds to pay it off in full. I do this with a Tesco card, put my ‘fun’ spends on it and pay it off every month. There are better ones with points though I expect.

Thanks for the credit card advice, I think I would be aiming to pay it off each month and only be using it to avoid having to use savings to get me through the month iyswim. I think I'll go into my bank and talk to them about it.

This month is going to be so tight, my plan is to have a whole month of only essential spends which are food and fuel. I'm going to do some batch cooking and baking and do as much overtime at work as they'll let me.

A secondment opportunity is coming up at work which is full time and I'm considering going for it, it's a teaching role and would be a good learning opportunity that said I like my current job and am not sure how stressful the new job would be.