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.

need I've had lots of courgette fritters, courgette cake & roasted veg!! Runner beans have been blanched & frozen & apples peeled, sliced, frozen.
@marthasmum re the child benefit, over £50k it's a sliding scale up to £60k so if your income is only just over 50 then you will lose or have to pay back a small amount. You do it through a tax return at the end of the tax year but make sure you include any gift aided charity donations you've made in the tax year as that may offset what you lose in CB. That includes regular donations and one offs.
And I hear you loud & clear about the student accommodation, it is a scandal! DD's first choice was £35 a week cheaper than the block she was allocated to which is £6k+ for the academic year. As you say it must put off many young people from higher ed 😡

Afternoon.

Sorry @marthasmum I did know the answer re child benefit but forgot to reply, although you've been given the low down now I see.

University costs are unfair and tough, we've been there. DS went to a university in a city where accommodation and halls were much less expensive and being honest, far superior than both types where DD studies. Add in paying rent for nearly a year on both when they were actually here because of lockdown....

Thanks for the courgette and bean ideas - Ive beetroot now too!

£10 shopping
£22 birthday present (budget).

Thank you Kessie.

Very irritating martha when all the planning goes out the window. And goodness for poor parents having to find it all.

Bit of a rubbish morning - think falling out with sibling has become more serious. Funny what death brings out in people. I have so much going on at the moment I don’t care too much. Police arrived again last night for my neighbour. It’s unpleasant and worrying.

Had a lovely afternoon having cake and coffee with a friend. That was about £12 and I topped my travel card up by £50 as I was 10p short to get back. Spent £2.50 odd in Marks and Spencer this evening.

Missed your beetroot need. Just eat it all. Anyway. Anyhow. I love beetroot.

Thank you all for the well wishes and CB advice! I’ve calmed down a bit now. Had a ridiculously long day in work though 1 couldn’t sleep so got in for 7, left at 6 as loads to do. Have a half day Friday though as away for the weekend.

need chocolate beetroot brownies??
-rum sorry to hear that with your sibling. That’s not pleasant to have to deal with that on top of a bereavement.
DS2 is back to school tomorrow…DS1 has finally done some work on the A level geography project he was supposed to do this summer. That’s not insignificant as getting him started is the key thing. I’ve unashamedly bribed him with money for driving lessons.

Mmmmm beetroot
defo just boil it the little ones. Optional pickling. Choc and beetroot cake.

Another chocolaye and beetroot cake here need.
.rum sorry to hear about the sibling. Sounds like the last thing you need.

Quite a busy day at work plus planning for DD return to school tomorrow. Meant I didn't spend a lot. £12 in coop. £7.50 ice cream for DD, as work was blagging my head so I took a long lunch.

Today was child benefit day
€280 normally split €100 towards treats/days out etc & remainder towards bigger bills. Today €100 towards treats/days out & €50 each towards clothing, we all need stuff. Remainder went towards over budgeted categories

25% off F&F got myself bigger size jeans returning the pair I'd bought Sunday, one exercise top & one lightweight knit for autumn/spring €32.25

€18.78 on topup shop Tesco also

This raac business is costing me a fortune in Sainsbury’s as I buy other stuff that pack ips

Yesterday
£170 car repair. V happy with that. This is DHs cat N write off that we are keeping on the road. Plenty left from the insurance pay out for the subframe repair (pre accident) and MOTs. I hope!

£65 Aldi click and collect
£13.49 Ebay bed sheet

Morning.

Cheers for the beetroot ideas. I've got a great recipe for beetroot hummus that I usually use too, DD is home tonight and will use it up with me, DH and DS are less keen on beetroot.

Spending minimal the last few days, or from budgets
£66 birthday presents for DS birthday next week. (Budget)
£15 other spends.
Not expecting to spend anything today

Great news re the car @kessiebird

Boo re the raac and additional costs @lifelongfrugaleer

€54 diesel
0.85 kinder bar
1.25 stamp for child benefit letter to confirm I still have them, get these at least once a year and if you don't send them back you get cut off!

€25 childcare
€130 birthday present for bf, an experience we've been planning on doing for ages, thought I'd buy giftcard for him, turns out we're going on day of his birthday with his brother & partner who are visiting! Lazy present!

Saving on dd's horse riding this week as there's a special day in village and she wants to miss it + €20!

Are your children off school life or is it homeschooling like in covid times?
kessie that's great news on car repair bill

I nearly forgot - paid €38.69 to clear cc that's charging interest and €120 off cc I put flights on, this has a balance of €3k ish and needs to be cleared by Jan.

Builder came to look at my ensuite renovation and utility extension. He'll do it on day work price and I will buy materials. He will do everything from blocklaying to tiling, roofing, painting etc and will get in a plumber/electrician for the necessary stuff they'll have to do. My parents are helping me out with this luckily, so I must discuss figures with them and see if I need a home improvements loan as well or not.

One block of the school is closed but it includes the kitchen. School is open though but they need pack ups

At least they're still in school, nuisance though. Ds's lunch is very handy at the moment carton of smoothie(I've tried with the bottled ones & he just doesn't like them), pack of fridge raiders chicken pieces, a clementine and a roll done in air fryer so that's the only bit that has to be done in the morning & fill his drinks bottle with miwadi.

Do you know roughly how many days are needed for the work @Happierwithouthim so you can't have a rough idea re cost?

Well, we got home from work/therapy to a letter from our pension provider saying they'd miscalculated some units prices within our pension funds and they'll be issuing a refund to each of us, combined total £750!! I've no idea why it didn't get reinvested and the letter is quite technical but I'm taking it as an unexpected and welcome frugal boost!

Hello all! Fell off the thread…
will enjoy catching up with everyone over an iced tea later.
we have had an eventful few months - I paid off my student loans, which felt like a huge end of an era and also paid off my peloton which I had on 0% credit. This means I have about £250 in total per month back in my pocket. Of course DH immediately had a huge dental bill but we will feel the benefit eventually 😂

MIL passed away sadly but at least she is no longer suffering and in pain.

work is always quiet over summer but things are heating up now for the start of the Uni term.
I am seeing a PT again to try and lose some weight and build muscle.

Welcome back gen and good news on student loan & peleton.

Need. I don't yet but I'll ask when I get my list of materials etc from him. I'm just so glad it's finally starting

Sorry about the raac Life. Grocery stores are dangerous places in my experience.

Whoop whoop on the £750 Need.

Good luck for the renovation Happier.

Nice to see you Gen - Goodo on the student loan and PT.

No spending today. Yesterday was £100odd. The tour company for next year’s holiday upgraded my room for one night and billed me. Wasn’t impressed at them not checking first but it’s done now.

Was planning on being at the office tomorrow and spending a Fortnum’s gift card I have. Now the office is closed I’m not sure I can face the bus for fun. Trying to ignore the strange noises the fridge is making. Hoping it’s not on its way out.

hi All

Spendy day £660 on dh motorbike lessons 5 day course test next week then £2k on on a bike that is also coming next week. Leaving him to it as I feel it’s part of his grieving process over his brother who was a biker dh has all his brothers gear

just to add to what has been a crap year ddog is at the vets for an ultrasound he’s not right refusing to walk and put on 3 kg in a few months tests for thyroid and cushings negative dh had a routine bowel screening and they are sending him for further tests so fingers crossed it’s not bowel cancer

Dd has to give a statement to the police on Monday about a robbery in the shop she works at insider job her old manager has already been caught shop lifting on cctv and been arrested would I sound neurotic if I ask to work from home that day dh is away dog sitting- not been paid his £350 so that needs addressing ds is working so she will be on her own in the house. I am on probation so not signed off to work from home officially but have done when nobody else is in the office and when travellers took over the car park and when I was unwell my stats are actually better on the days I work from home I wouldn’t be in the same room as her would be downstairs in my home office think i would prefer someone to be in the house with her but I might be being irrational

Lovely to see you back gen and sorry about your MIL
alfie likewise, what a tough year you’ve been having. I think it’s really reasonable to work from
home especially if you can say you’re more productive!
Good news on the money windfall need and happier that’s great to have help with such a big expense.
rum how cheeky about the holiday!
life what a nightmare about the RAAC. Was it expected or were you one of the last minute announcements?
Finances looking a bit tighter than expected here after the student expenses. I’m waiting for DD to open a bank account but it’s complicated as she is changing her name (long story) and needs to update her driving licence with the new name.
Had my appraisal at work yesterday. I’m stepping up to a more senior role in the team and my manager is going to our weekly support meetings in for me and her which is great, very reassuring as I always benefit from talking stuff through with colleagues. She is very supportive.
Working a half day today, hurray! On train going in. I’m away for the weekend with colleagues from work who I did my 10K weekend. We are going running/walking together but also chilling and eating nice food. Don’t think it will be spendy which is good as there are no spends left! I’m a bit sad though as it is DD’s last weekend at home (though she will be spending it with her girlfriend I’m sure).

Dc treat money balance is reducing quickly this month
Dominos yesterday €40.50 using €5 just eat voucher
€20 for local day out today, between them
€5 on a fishing net & bucket for rockpool fishing with ds
Other spends yesterday
€5.10 on a sandwich and bag of treble crunch when it dawned on me I didn't have time to go home before picking up ds from school
€2.50 bottle of water for ds for football match
60c parking

Rum surely if holiday isn't until next year you could query the charge and get it reduced, refunded o squashed?

Martha great news about more senior role and the ongoing support, best of luck to dd heading off and enjoy weekend away, sounds lovely.

I've a lovely weekend with bf planned, plenty of walks, some sightseeing and eating out. Going to his cousins house for dinner tomorrow night so planning on taking a bottle of wine & a share tub of swizzlers sweets for the dc

Hi all, I'm back again. Drop off for 30 pages now and again by hey ho...!

I love beetroot too, but nobody else in my house will eat it!

Gen Sorry for the loss of your MIL.

Martha Well done on your promotion!

Alfie I'd ask to WFH, if you don't ask you don't get anyway.

Happier Enjoy your lovely planned weekend!

NSD so far today but will need to buy milk on the way home from collecting DD from school. Thought I'd be paying for playgroup, walked there with DS to find it wasn't on and resumes next week. Woops. Saved me a quid though I suppose, so every cloud...

Ha ha thank you for good wishes 😊 it’s not quite a promotion though as no more money!! It’s one of those public sector things where they give you a more senior role to give you experience for a promotion at some later unspecified point…
Weekend away is lovely. Have a good evening all