Jumping into July: Frugal Friends Financial Fun

[needastrongoneagain]

New 'Fred.

Very low spend couple of days.

£12 AdBlue but that's expenses.

Will be back to post fully later.

I would have just handed it back need. The guys on the truck don't care.

Lots of decent things on mse this week
Free national Trust pass and criteria for school uniform grant

Oh for a boring week never mind life

Can you do that with a collection from store? Not to worry, I'll use it all - non of it is massively perishable.

Just picked up an amazing TGTG bag 3 slices of cake, a cinnamon bun, a brownie & a slab of rocky road bigger than my fist for €3.99. Will take it to work tomo.

€8.45 in Aldi
€5 rubbish disposal

Had a lovely long walk with my dog & neighbours dog came too!

Planning my first sea swim of the year tomorrow morning

Need I got a Tesco delivery once literally all that was in it was 5 different types of bread turns out I never checked out the full order

Girlie glad you got a good pay packet, I'd no childcare or groceries really this week so a good chunk going off cc

ememem Phew on the pox. Love the cake and the birds.

Jenny Eeekkk on soft play. That’s a bit harsh.

Girlie Sending good vibes your way re the bursary.

Camden Boring and repetitive is something I’d take. Though I’d miss TV.

Need Oh no for Sainsbury. Anything that’s terribly nice that you’d rarely have otherwise?

Two no spend days. Big whoop. Didn’t put any money on my transport card so am now at -20p.

Went to the community fridge this morning. Got a huge cauliflower, assorted fruit and vegetables and some flowers. Very happy with that. Took some blue cheese out the freezer to have with the rye bread I got.

Have my eye on a book on amazon (£12.18).

I think so
I will ask next time I c&c

DH back and forward to building supplies merchant, (£67, ballast, more cement, some timber) and we're getting a couple of days help from an experienced builder/landscaper with the work that's beyond our competence. This will add costs, but will have the advantage of producing a seating area that won't subside! So we currently have all the digging done to the right levels, and by the end of today should have the concrete footings in place. Then work has to stop to allow them to dry out before the next phase.

About the only place I can make savings at the moment is entertainments (nothing lined up for August!) and the food bill. Everything else is just out of my hands, whether that's ongoing fixed costs, discretionary expenditure already committed (paying off holiday balances) and this project. This will transform our garden and our use of it though. And yesterday I visited a lovely garden centre with DM, to buy plants for her plot - starting to feel the stirrings of inspiration!

Absolutely shocking day at work, feel completely frazzled.

The plus side of work being busy is that I've had very little time to spend anything.

I moved £60 over to dd today to cover bus/train travel costs which have added up over the hols. She's been working today but I'm getting a bit uneasy about this job as they haven't paid her properly and it all feels a bit underhand (cash in hand) plus I'm not convinced the health and safety is very good 😕

I've said to her to ask for the money she's owed on Sunday but if they don't pay her she can Jack it in.

Happier That TGTG bag sounds sooo nice, yum. Would love some cake rn.

Girlie Oh no, hope you can have some time to recover after your hard day at work? Also horrible about DD's job, what kind of job is it if you don't mind saying? (No worries if don't want to obviously). Sounds very difficult for her and the employers sound rubbish.

I dropped off absolutely ages ago, I'm just going to have to jump in and out when I can.

Absolutely shattered today.

Just spent like £82-ish online at Ringtons buying gifts for people, most of it is for the nursery staff. DD will be leaving in about a month to go to school, and DS is moving to the next room next week.

Also spent about £15 in home and bargain on various bits and bobs. Oh and £3 in Pets At Home, DSis has got two kittens so we bought them a tiny toy each and then put £1 donation to hearing dogs.

So very spendy day by my standards eek. On the plus side - pay day! Paid in all three jobs today. Although one of them I've realised they haven't been deducting any tax at all, which I can't imagine is right, as I'm definitely going to earn above the personal allowance this year (across all three jobs, not just in this one specifically). Emailed HR about this yesterday so will see next week if they've responded.

Big Your garden really is a big project. Kudos to you. I’d run a km.

Girlie Sorry about work and for your daughter too.

Spending since my last post - £12.18 for the book on Amazon. It arrived folded. Yes folded. £3 on a new job card for a friend and £16.60 in Boots on vitamins (four months worth) and toothpaste.

Tried on a few pairs of walking shoes in TK Maxx but none felt good enough to buy. Saved some money but am still shoeless. Emailed a tour company about next year’s holiday so I can start thinking about it seriously. Checked flights and business class is cheaper than economy. Put my (tiny) expenses claim in from June. It will take ages to be paid but at least it’s been done.

Payday Monday so frugal weekend ahead

Rum - I found the Peter Storm waterproof walking shoes to be the biz. Comfortable, supportive and really waterproof. Mine are likely to need replacing soon, and that's years of wear and many miles.

The garden project is one of those things that I would not be involved in were it not for DH's enthusiasm and problem-solving skills. And I like to support his enthusiasms, especially when it involves stuff that will improve our environment! I would not be initiating it, but now that it's up and running, I'm into it.

Dd is 4. Can’t believe that she’s four!

£25ish on contact lens check which was a few months overdue. Have to go back next week to trial a new type of lens that is apparently less drying than the ones I use.

£8.30ish in Iceland on groceries, but that was just some bread things, some biscuits and eggs.

Will have to pay travel to/from work later but will claim that back as an expense. That should be it for today. Checked my bank balances last night and was pleasantly surprised so that's good.

I've made a booboo with the home contents insurance though. I thought I had a few more days before the auto renewal so hadnt looked into it yet. However they've confirmed it already, looked into the small print and they did warn me payment would be taken earlier because I pay annually. Is it too late to cancel this and get my money back as I didn't actually want to auto renew? I havent even looked at the cost of it yet...! Does a cooling off period apply to auto renewals as it would to new contracts? Contacting them will be tricky as it's One Call so not great contact/customer service options.

Morning!

Thanks all, nothing fancy or perishable in the extra Sainsbury's groceries, so all good.

Just been to the hairdressers, cut and colour (getting rid of the grey!) -£50

Can't see us spending much more this weekend.

Menu plan.

Roast chicken dinner.
Chicken broth/curry.
Tuna and apple pasta bake.
Wraps
Veggie shepherds pie.
Dhal
Cape Malay chicken curry
Rainbow roast with halloumi

It's Saturday so I did all my errands earlier. It's been an expensive morning.

€96.70 in Tesco

€29.99 in Jysk on a laundry basket specifically for towels (sick of DD leaving towels everywhere so hoping this helps) , wooden clothes hangers and a pretty glass soap holder so I can pretend I'm posh .

€11.50 in fishmonger

€6 in butcher

€5.45 cakes in bakery

€3.75 on a retirement card for my sister

€3 car parking

That adds up to a grand total of €156.39

Bumped into my brother and nephew in the shopping centre- my nephew is starting a paid internship in September so they were shopping for work clothes.

It's a sunshine and showers kind of day here. I'm in two minds whether to hang my clothes outside or not. It's very windy and it's warm so if they even got an hour outside without rain, they'd dry fairly quickly. The sky doesn't look too promising though. Really sick of the rain now, especially 'cos I didn't have a sun holiday this year. I know, I know, first world problems and all that.

Not much news otherwise. I've one week left in work and then I have a week off.

Sorry, no time to catch up on your news - I've a long list of things to do. Will be back later or tomorrow.

Quiet day here, dd out with the bf and I've felt tired so not done much!

Got a quote for the bathroom and downstairs loo flooring £320 so over my budget for £250! That includes fitting which I think I'll go for as, even though I'm sure it's easy, I know I'll get stressed trying to do it!

£30 pets at home on pet food.

£28 in Dun Elm, new blind for the bathroom which came in under budget and I'm really pleased with plus a couple of little bits. I'll try and attach photo of said blind 😁

Dropped off the thread again 🙈

Yesterday I took DD to see Barbie, spent £28 on food. DH spent £11 at coop.

Today £33 at Coop (we get discount and I take advantage of deals).

Took DD and friend out, £14.50 on Bubble Tea, £1.60 on parking. Other than that I've done breakfast, lunch and dinner at home.

Have interview on Friday. I'm not unhappy or stressed, just in a bit of a rut. It would make a huge difference if I got it. But will be fine if I don't, as I'm breezing through work at the moment.

need you reminded me to get hair colour.

girlie love the blind and such a good price.

tayto feel the same here about the weather. Spent a lot on the outdoor space, planning for a nice summer. Barely had the garden cushions out, because of possible rain damage.

£27 Indian take away, I seriously CBA to cook, there's enough to last dd and I two nights 😋

I'm putting together a mini hamper/gift bag for my sister who has retired (we're meeting up next weekend). I'm trying to come up with relaxation/leisure themed things. I don't think I'll bother with food or alcohol related items because she doesn't drink much (she's prone to migraines), is a vegetarian and I don't think she's particularly into cheese or chocolates etc. She loves to travel and loves walking.

My ideas so far

Candle
Travel journal
Cheap dressing gown
Something ornamenty for the garden (she might be moving house so something she can take with her as opposed to an actual plant)
Hiking socks

Any other ideas?

Love the blind @Girliefriendlikespuppies

Good luck for the interview @kessiebird, good to be relaxed about things.

Something to do with mindfulness @Taytocrisps? A blank journal, podcast ideas, etc. My friend swears by jigsaws?

We are having pizza for tea, DD's paying!

Happy birthday ems DD!
Nice but spendy day today. DD and I met a friend with her DS in Leeds and went to the Thackeray museum - it’s a museum of medicine which we all found interesting. Went for food locally and found a nice afghan restaurant. £30 on food, £22 on museum entrance (but we got a year pass for that). Expensive day out but I don’t see this friend often and her DS is a lot younger than my kids, so we often end up spending to find things that will fit both ages.
Now watching the Detectorists with DP - bit of a slow burn, it’s quite different!
DS1 has friends round so I have about 5 somewhat drunk teenage boys socialising upstairs - they’re pretty harmless though 😂

@Taytocrisps my Dsis also retired recently. So far I've got a candle, some chocolate and was thinking of a nice shower gel, we both love Lush products. My other sister got her chocolate and two magazines which I thought was a nice touch, books are lovely but if you aren't in the book reading zone, magazines are a quick win.

Morning.

Had an email to pay the balance of the holiday last night, £750 or thereabouts, but saved/budgeted for so fine.

£40 Amazon on a new heart rate monitor. Had bought a very cheap one but it rubbed, so wasted money.

Happy birthday em dd. 4!! Though where has that time gone.

Lovely blind.

Shame about the monitor. Can you return it

Not much happening this weekend. Usual gym parents kids bloody tired though

£17 chips with in-laws
£30 petrol to get to in-laws
£60 Sainsbury's on shopping

£17.odd for school milk for DD up until the Xmas hols.
£2 entry to a playgroup/play centre type thing. DS was free which was unexpected so that was nice little frugal win.

That should be it from me for today.

Good luck for your interview kessie.

Martha Off to google that museum, sounds super interesting.