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.

@HalfWomanHalfChocolate C0me and join us on the renovations thread - very supportive. I mostly use it to rant about mess

Glad you had a nice break Tayto. Good news re the grant.

Custard tarts sound lovely Em.

Winter is on its way Half - the mornings are chillier. Good speed for your kitchen and quartz choosing. I’m still spending for my break in December so no to Tenerife. It will turn into a money pit.

Wednesday was a no spend day. Yesterday and today had been about £14 in Aldi and Lidl. It’s French week in the latter so much of that went on cheese.

No pay rise for me. Management offered five percent. Union negotiated. We get nothing. Not sure what’s round the corner but it doesn’t smell good.

You are right Rum. i won’t want to leave my nice home by then anyway.

the compromise is a rare takeaway tonight.

so glad today is over, it was brutal! I am looking forward to a night of knob shopping (really 😂). I’ll have finished choosing everything soon and then I can stop shopping.

have bought garden waste bags (garden is a jungle) and a book for DS’s birthday so far today.

That’s very disappointing about the pay rise rum. There are strikes again at uni (in DD’s first two weeks). I feel I’m in an awkward position with this - it’s ingrained not to strike when you’ve worked in health care and it’s hard to feel the impact on students/ patients. But equally I completely support the cause and sometimes feel like a bit of a coward!
Glad your awful day is over half and hope the meeting went as well as it could
Thats a relief the behaviour has improved em
Hope your car wasn’t too expensive tayto
Waves to mrs and granny
I’m taking DS2 to football, then dropping DD at uni. Which is very strange. She went yesterday to drop some stuff off in the flat so met some people. I think it was mixed - everyone seemed very friendly but she felt a bit awkward as she went with her girlfriend who is very shy in company and isn’t going to uni herself. So I think that could make her feel a bit separate, we’ll see.
Financially I really want DD’s loan payment to clear so I can put a down payment on her rent and start paying her the monthly maintenance I’m giving her. On paper it all works out but o want to get going and check it does iyswim. DD is definitely going to have to learn to budget - she does work but she spends it all at the moment!

Morning all.

busy weekend for me. Riding this morning then I’m out tonight at the local pride festival. Mostly just to see five! Remember them!!

I heard kids on the bus the other day say that they weren’t sure why a “retro” band had been booked and they were cross that it’d be full of “older millennials”. That’s me. 🙄

dd did her first gymnastics class yesterday. She’s knackered. Ds started beavers on Wednesday. It’s been a week.

Martha good luck today. DD went up on Monday for rugby & stayed with one of the players. She had a mixed week but had time to get used to being away before moving in to halls yesterday. I did the drive up with my aunty & all dd's stuff. Very exciting, no tears. Love Newcastle & Northumberland so looking forward to lots of trips to the coast over the next few years.
Has been a frantic week so will catch up properly later

Busy week here, was glad to get to Friday!

Spent £19 in co op after work as hadn't got anything quick for dinner. They had a two pizzas and two sides deal for £8 which was good value.

Spent £96 in Aldi this morning, haven't done a shop for a couple of weeks so that felt quite good and hopefully will last til payday now.

Think the dog might have to go to the vets as he's so itchy. No fleas but noticed a few red marks , I'm wondering if he's allergic to something.

That's will clean my account out so am waiting to see if it settles....

Had a double take at your knob shopping Half then I remembered your refurb.

Hope the university drop went well Martha.

Ekk for the dog Girlie - I’m on team settle too.

£9.42 of mostly unnecessary spending today. Really need to get back into better habits. I got some cheese, chocolate milk, mince pies and a few other bits.

Have had a quiet day. There were a few life admin bits I should have done but didn’t. Need to figure out realistically if I can afford, or want, to keep this place going forward. Not sure how much will be down to negotiation. I feel I’m on the back foot having no idea of his finances.

Did check my travel insurance and it expires two days before my holiday. Will have to sort that out.

Spent the day driving to and from a funeral. I'm starting to think I need a funeral fund - (petrol, motorway tolls, coffee and a panini etc). I've been to soooo many funerals this year. I guess it's an age thing - I'm at the age where my friends' parents are passing away. Glad I went but glad to be home again. Going to put my feet up and watch the ruby this evening. I'll have to squeeze all my shopping and housework into tomorrow.

Just lost a long post! Sorry to hear about the funeral tayto.
also rum i don’t think I’d clicked you are going through a separation and financial upheaval. That must be hard.
hope the dog is ok girlie, vets are so expensive.
Thanks for the good wishes north and hope your DD is ok too! Heard lots of good things about Newcastle. DD’s hall is about 5 mins from where I last lived as a student midwife - I had a nosey at my old flat which was much scruffier than I remember! She is near loads of curry houses and other lovely looking food shops which she will really like. Have had a text to say all ok so far. I did feel quite emotional and needed to get out for a run. Paying for it now as I did something to my shins while away last weekend and probably shouldn’t have run on it. That’s a pain cos running is very good therapy for me!

Spends last night: £27 Thai food (chicken satay and beef pad Thai yum) and two tiger beers. £5 overpriced cheap beer at the pride celebrations.

Sorry to hear about another funeral Tayto. I was thinking the same about people dying and unpleasant happenings. Think I’m that age too.

Thank you Martha. It’s not fun. While I want it all to be done I’m not sure what I want done to look like so I’m not being as proactive as I could be.

Spends today - a lofty 80p on a half baguette.

I had a lovely stroll round Kew Gardens this morning. Going to make an effort to go back to doing my physio exercises properly as things aren’t great. Hopefully it will ward off me having to go back to the physiotherapist. No rain here yet. Hopefully it will come as it’s rather muggy.

Winding down watching the rugby. Might read about Christmas markets for my December trip so I know where to head for the best cheese.

Oo Kew Gardens, how lovely. I’ve only been once years ago but would love to go again. Funnily enough my spends today was booking a train ticket for me and my best friend for a trip to London in November. We’re going to see Fern Brady (comedian) in Islington. We’ve got the tickets already and accommodation booked but not paid for, £165 for two nights for us both. Train tickets today were £115 for us both (with a two together railcard that I got for free with my Tesco points!) So I’m feeling that’s a fairly frugal trip. Need to have a look round for other things to do…maybe even Kew though I think that’s a fair way from Islington?
Other spends less frugal, £9 on chips and coffees for me and DS while at football today. But enabled us to have a bit of a chat about stuff including DD going - she and DS1 are close. Also £8 Aldi on deodorant, toothpaste and drink for DS1 after football. Exciting weekend!!
DP gets paid tomorrow and I get paid on Thurs. DP has also finally got some work with that teaching agency he signed up with ages ago (extra to his PT job) so that will boost the budget and hopefully enable me to get ahead with paying DD’s uni rent. Have a good evening all

Just dropping by to flag the DWPs midlife Mot to everyone and specifically the money helper part of that which includes a budgeting tool and tips on where to focus if you haven't got perfect finances (who has!).

Morning,

Nothing much to report here, although I am looking forward to the end of the month when the bills account should actually still be in credit!

Made a small investment of around £8 at The Range yesterday. Food shopping is getting a bit out of hand again. I buy things with healthy intentions, then they sit in the fridge till they go off. So I’ve bought a few new decent plastic tubs with lids. Im off this morning so once I’ve finished this coffee I’m going to go through the veg and actually chop up the carrots and peppers for snacks, make a nice big tabouleh to go with meals, chop up my fruit for sweet snacks etc. It’ll make my fridge look much neater, if nothing else!

Afternoon everyone
Been busy here with one thing and another
Martha Good news re Dh extra work it all helps enormously
Girlie ahh poor Ddog hope they are much better now fleas are a bloody pita!
Curls sounds like a very good idea
Wolf so good to see you it seems ages thanks for the heads up
Em how very dare they say the band was retro !
Rum Kew gardens sounds just lovely
So sorry about your non pay rise & other issues you have going on
Granny thanks for the heads up l will pop over and have a look at the renovations l will need some tips to do this house l know
Tayto it's all we seem to be doing here too, going to funerals , my aunt passed away on Sunday , she had Dementia bless her and she didn't know anyone, couldn't eat or drink , it was a blessing in the end for her and her poor beloveds such a cruel illness
Half the house sounds as if it is coming on brilliantly
North well done taking dd stuff up, you are very good not crying
Spendy & busy few days here , decorating Dd1 bedroom and buying new furniture for her room too .
Ikea bill was £458
Amazon £150
local DIY store £150 for the paint & equipment
We have decided to declutter , clean & redecorate the whole house starting with Dd1's room , it's a long term project but the whole house needs doing . Decorating has been done just waiting for the flat packs to be delivered now .
Hope everyone is ok
Apologies if l have missed anyone out

Martha depending on where you are in Islington Kew Gardens could be easy. You can get the train direct from Highbury and Islington but it takes a while.

Thank you New. Happy decluttering and good luck with the redecorating.

Spending wise was doing OK £11 in Lidl. Most was on a mattress protector that I was planning on buying anyway. Virgin Media annoyed me (filed a case with the ombudsman today) so I had a tantrum and spent £7.75 in Sainsbury on a sandwich and Maltesers. I opened the bag then dropped it on the floor so will probably be finding them for a while.

Rossingol were having a sample sale at the weekend but it’s disappeared from the website so I think it’s been cancelled. Probably a good thing.

£64 coats for the dc. Sigh.

popped into charity shop today found a ton of legos.

😂😂at you buying a sandwich in a tantrum run. That’s the kind of thing I do. Whenever I have boring admin work to do (like today) or things I don’t want to do, I have to scoff to take my mind off it.
lovely to hear from you mrs good luck with the decorating.

Just checking in from sunny Scotland. Well, it's sunny today - it's pee'ed it down the rest of the time!!

Spends minimal
£150 delivery of the weeks food to the cottage
£50 fuel.

Both out of the holiday fund.

£120 dog food, from the 'dog' fund!

We are going to the beach today, so might get fish and chips.

Good idea re the cheese @RumBananaSundae

Sorry - not caught up properly but will from now on.

Nice surprise in my payslip. Change in tax code re the hybrid has resulted (I think due to back pay in part) in an extra £500!

Afternoon all
Marvelous surprise for you @needastrongoneagain Yay!
Enjoy your hols
@marthasmum thank you lovely it's going ok atm
Hope the admin wasn't too bad for you !
@ememem84 brilliant find !
@RumBananaSundae thank you hope you find all the Malteasers
Spends today Tesco £16 , tub of Quality street & magazines for Mum and veg for tea .Weather here is diabolical !
Hope everyone is ok

Hi all,

I was waiting for a guy to come install my broadband but he was supposed to be here by 5.30 and it's now 5.43...... I'll have to phone them tomorrow.

Having a frugal few days while I wait for pay day (tomorrow) to roll around.

The garage have ordered in the light switch for my car and it will cost €270 in total. Could be worse. They're due to fit it on Friday morning.

mrs the weather here has been atrocious - flash flooding in some parts of the city and traffic was insane getting home. It feels like winter - I put the heating on 😬

nice one need!

martha I tend to reach for a glass of wine when annoyed 😁

Awful weather here in London too. I thought I might be too hot on the tube in a coat so just took an umbrella to work. Fool.

whereabouts in Scotland Need?

on the plus side we had our patio doors installed yesterday just in the nick of time. We are now watertight, hurrah! It was getting pretty cold at night in here so this is extremely welcome, and also no more fox invasions (and 💩).

The kitchen fitting starts on Saturday, should be basically done by the end of next week with just quartz to fit. Hopefully I’ll have the use of my ovens by the end of the week (hob will be installed with the quartz), and can do some actual cooking! I am so over ready meals, it’s making me feel horrible to eat so much sludgy rubbish.

I was in the office today and a bit spendy as I bought breakfast and lunch and peanut M&Ms . Not stressing about that for now though. It’s DS’s birthday this weekend so we’ll be eating out a bit too, as I can’t cook anything nice at home.

The end is in sight though!