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.

Afternoon everyone 😊
@Rum that sounds so difficult for you l am so sorry bless you sweetheart.
Spends £17 Morrisons
Tesco £12
DH after a new car Groan

Not feeling great today, so taking life at a bit of a slower pace. To be fair, I think doing too much has left me a bit bleh.

Spends:
£55 petrol
£25 Tesco, included a Christmas gift
£3.50 Savers on conditioner and toothpaste

DH has ended up with a ton of cash, as he paid for a work night out on his credit card. Tricky to get to the bank, so I keep producing wads of £10 notes every time I shop! It feels really odd to spend actual cash rather than using a card.

Hoping for a quiet weekend. Need to get DD1 a new raincoat as her winter coat got so wet on her way to school the other morning. Still sodden when she put it on to walk home as it gets stored in a locker so no chance to dry.

Have a good weekend everyone when it arrives for you!

@MaryGreenhill is it needed or has he spotted something he likes?
Spends yesterday
€1 parking
50c lighting a candle
€21 takeaway for ds birthday
€1600 to builder with balance of €670 to pay
€47 on a tonne of sand
€70 on blocks
Builder is finished in the house for the moment, he's blocking off half of my open shed face next week and after that it'll be the extension. I'm waiting on some funding to come too from a government payment so this works in nicely.

It has cost approx €10k for the interior renovations

Had you been planning for the renovation a good while, Happier? Sounds like it is going very well.

Nigel Slater recipe for SE asian-themed chicken wings tonight, plus a grapefruit and cucumber salad with lime. No scurvy here! Nice exchange with the butcher today, as they were playing what I thought was The Prodigy. So we chatted happily about early 90s rave music while he wrapped up my chicken wings. 30 years ago...way to feel old!

Finished filling in between the floorboards today. I have an uncomfortable noisy, dusty day of sanding ahead of me, and then can get stuck into the painting, yay!

Exciting times. I’m currently sat I. Heathrow Terminal 5! On way to Lisbon. Yippee.

also had a second interview for the new job.

around 30 minutes after leaving it had a cal to go back on Tuesday. Woop

This week has been hectic so have been following but not posting. Glad you got tickets Half, our journeys to Plymouth when the dc were younger were full of Springsteen music. Ds was particularly obsessed with The rising album, so it used to be on repeat. He & I still love it. Dh has seen the Boss around 50 times....
Dh & ds have gone off to football today. Dd has also travelled to meet them and go to the football but ds doesn't know so it'll be a good surprise (so long as dh doesn't let the cat out of the bag)
I'm here on my own trying to be productive.
I've applied for an Amex cashback card as we do most of our spending on our CC and currently get no rewards. I've worked out we should get £300 a year at least from this.
I've set up the Nationwide regular saver account linked to our current account. £200 a month @ 8% interest for a year
Looking for a current account switch too but can't do the First Direct one as our HSBC account was set up in Jan 2020 (if we'd set it up 3 weeks earlier we'd have been okay). Not keen on the other banks that are offering incentives at the moment but need to re look at it.
Wardrobe sort out planned for later.
Planning some batch cooking tonight to get the freezer stocked up as life is so hectic just now and it's very easy to resort to meals out or takeaways but all so expensive now.
Nagging dh to get his tax return done (child benefit related). I've got money put aside if needed, but am hoping there will be some left to boost our funds!
It has been an emotional week as I've had to have some tough conversations with my parents about them moving house, but all with a positive result as they are now both on board with the idea. I will be the one doing most of the work on the move so it is going to be a busy few months but hopefully with a great result at the end of it.
I, my mum & my aunty are off to the north east next weekend to see dd. We've got a house for 3 nights, so am doing some forward catering planning for that to keep costs down. Also need to make sure dad has meals sorted too.
Lovely weather here, hope it is everywhere, have a great weekend whatever you are doing.

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. The days are flying by. I can't believe we're already at the 11th November.

I have some expenses coming up and I was getting a little bit panicky, thinking that I'd over-extended myself and couldn't afford everything. Then there's the small matter of Christmas looming...... I had visions of telling DD that I'd have to cancel our weekend away in Dublin next month which we're both really looking forward to.

Anyway, I sat myself down today and listed all of the expenses and did a very thorough budget right up to the New Year. The good news is that I can afford everything. Wish I'd done this a week ago and I'd have saved myself a bit of anxiety and stress <rolls eyes at self>. I also had a stern talk with myself about Christmas presents. My family and friends love me for who I am - love isn't measured by the amount of money I spend on them at Christmas. And they would all be horrified at the thought that I had overspent on their presents and ended up in financial difficulty in the New Year. So with that in mind, I did up a realistic present budget and searched online for presents within that price range.

I had already told DD that I was cutting back this year and she's fine with that. She's working and can afford to buy her own clothes and cosmetics etc.

Feeling so relieved now. My only dilemma is, do I buy the gifts now or hold off until Black Friday on the 24th. Hmmmm.......

In other frugal news, DD's radiator isn't working. I'm going to ask my BIL to take a look at it. Fingers crossed he can sort it.

Happier so glad the renovations are finished. Sorry you missed out on the Springsteen tickets. I gather he puts on a great show.

Rum fingers crossed for the mediation. You're very brave attempting paragliding.

martha I hear you on the vet visits. My vet will only prescribe flea treatments for six months. Once the six months are up, I have to take the cats to be weighed and checked etc. DCat2 is a very anxious and gets car sick. There's a nearer vet but they don't have a cattery. Since I use the further vet for the cattery, I kind of figure it makes sense for them to hold all the medical records.

em have a lovely time in Lisbon. Is it for work or pleasure? Fingers crossed for Tuesday.......

north glad your difficult conversation resulted in a good outcome. Are your parents moving to a different area or are they downsizing and moving to smaller, more suitable accommodation?

mary hope you are managing to hold your DH back with the car spends 😂
time hope you’re feeling better
big sounds like hard work but productive!
tayto well done for sorting it all out, you are well on track
north you too, sounds like you have some well deserved rewards planned in there too
em hope you have a fab time in Lisbon, fingers crossed for the job
Day of jobs today - food shop where I managed to be quite frugal, £79. However I’ve overspent on the budget this month. I knocked £100 off when DD went to uni but it seems like the boys are just eating more to compensate!! I did get a free Costa coffee though using my rewards app.
And Lidl dupe aftershave for the DC for stockings - £5 for Dior sausage dupe. Aldi and Lidl dupes always make me giggle, they seem fairly shameless about ripping off the brands.
I hear you on the older parents north - I’m glad you’ve agreed a plan with yours but appreciate the move will be a lot of work. DDad has been in hospital again this week and had another catheter fitted. At least he will drink with that in so that’s something.
meanwhile I’ve got slightly high blood pressure and have to do a week of readings. I did a really long work week this week and the reading I did on Fri eve after that was a bit shocking. The only risk factor I can think I’ve got really is stress, which is a bit depressing really as I don’t feel I can do much about that at the moment.

Sauvage not sausage! Sausage wouldn’t sell as well 😂

im here! Lisbon is for pleasure. I leave on Monday morning. DH is there for a week for the web summit conference. I essentially bullied him into going this morning instead of Monday so I could go too.

we arrived at 3pm. Got to hotel. Had obligatory first beer of the holiday in hotel bar. Went for a wanted. Had petiscos and beers for dinner (tapas) three seperate tabernadas for three different things.

found a shop with Christmas decorations.

bom Noue. obrigada. Por favor.

(my Portuguese needs work).

Have fun em

I’ve spent a Bally fortune on food this weekend. Needed to stick some bits up but mostly just regular food. Sheesh

some unexpected car work has dined me by £600
orfered ds carpet and bed for his room from his birthday. Can’t get a carpet bargain sadly but got the bed reduced in Black Friday and a 10% stacked

getting into Christmas mode but not feeling it at all

My food budget is huge at present too. I've decided to just suck it up while we can afford it. Eating well is such a huge importance for us, and with four adults in the house, eating the vast majority of all our meals at home, plus entertaining more as folk come to us because of DH, then I can justify it because we are spending so little in other areas,

££££££££££ being spent at present though! We've had the main bathroom and cloakroom done so they are more suitable for DH, but also look really stylish too. The decorator has been here and is back next week and in the new year. I've bought new lights and finally spent some money on new clothes for myself because, quite frankly, I've gone from reasonably stylish to downright scruffy since DH's stroke.

Plus it's been DH's birthday and I'm starting Christmas shopping....aaargh!!

Moan and confessions over !!

Menu plan

Left over chicken curry from last night, fried rice with vegetables.
Salmon and Greek style roasted vegetables, feta.
Cauliflower curry.
Carrot and lentil soup.
Goan fish curry, whole grain rice.
7 veg tomato sauce and pasta, green salad.
Friends over Saturday night - haven't a clue what I'm cooking yet
At family Sunday.

Hope the stress reduces soon @marthasmum. Older parents are not easy. My dad a super frail now.

'Is super frail

Glad you did the numbers @Taytocrisps and it wasn't so bad, this time of year doesn't help. It's spend spend spend.

I'm glad your parents are finally on board @northender. Difficult conversations re future proofing etc. After a lovely day yesterday it's pants here now.

Well done on getting something for you need. You have been working so hard. In affect feeding 4 adults here as well. Will need to crunch the figures again

I think you are really frugal with food need (and healthy!) The extra food costs here are unnecessary stuff I know, like fizzy drinks and exciting snacks for the DC. However food seems to be a big way to my teenagers’ hearts and they’ve told me more than once that food is not the place they want me to economise!

Aggh sorry to hear about the unexpected car spends lofe. £600 is a lot to find. Did you have to dig deep to get hold of it?

yes elderly parents are a worry for all of us I’m sure. Having said that my DSis’s father in law, who is the same age as our dad, died unexpectedly at the weekend. So that makes time with DParents more precious.

Bom dia

i have had the most wonderful time in Lisbon. If you haven’t been go. It’s so beautiful and friendly and chill and delicious.

I did a sea swim today. It was 25 degrees.

food is cheap. Beers and wine cheap and tasty. Food tasty. Yay.

Not too deep Martha. But still deep enough
hopefully very few spends u til wed when I need a top up. Mil paid me back her shopping money so I always have cash now a days

My parents have a range, they're renovating the kitchen, the plan was to put in a stove which would still be solid fuel. They're 69 and 72, I've spent over two years trying to convince them to prepare for the day they can't be drawing in and out turf and ashes. Seems it worked they're now getting a wood pellet stove which will power the radiators, it'll still need feeding but less often so if they do become infirm it would be a once a week job for one of us.

My dm talks about when df isn't able or around anymore, he's much more agile than her and just because he's the elder by 3 years doesn't mean he will be the first to go

I'm getting cash from dc these days life dd wants the money in her revolut and ds wants to buy stuff on his nintendo switch

need delighted to hear you've spent something on you. Spending more time at home does tend to being scruffier.

I climbed a hill yesterday, losing weight has helped make that more achievable, I was delighted and bf was amazed at the difference since we climbed one last.

Storm Debi has had an effect here but not in the way you'd assume! We were in a red warning county, the weather that came was a bad yellow really. Government closed schools until 10am, so ds needed to spend an extra hour with childminder, dd's school not opening until 11.15am and because her bus is state run, it's not running in the morning so I'll have to leave work for 30mins to take her to school. So it's negative financially for me

Got dunnes click and collect yesterday €50.53, I'll probably do another one on Thurs eve as I'll be in town with dd at orthodontist and that'll give us fresh stuff for the weekend.

Spends on Sat
€19 on rubbish disposal
Got a refund on a box of laminate for dd's floor that dm had paid for so used it to buy ds lego from her for his birthday
€50 deposit for ds's birthday party, it's €25 a head plus food and party bags
exh will pay half.

life unexpected car work is always a nightmare
tayto glad your figures worked out and you can enjoy the leadup to Christmas.

I want to go to Bord Gais Theatre's Charlie & Chocolate Factory and take in seeing the lights of Dublin with dc, my dbro's family and dm supposed to come too, it's €72 per head so dbro is thinking about it, in comparison local theatre is €70 for family of 4 so it is spendy. I do Christmas Club for Christmas so I'm willing to spend it.

morning all. Soho House White City was bloody lush on Saturday, it was fantastic catching up with our friends, AND we got an Uber home. Money well spent. I enjoyed scrubbing up. The day had begun with a frantic call from my mother who thought my dad was dead, and a run to A&E to find that he was very much alive (although he had passed out, blood pressure on the floor, pulse at 50, and it took paramedic team to bring him round), and ready to enjoy a jam doughnut and his morning paper.

Anyway, he was discharged home after all tests came back clear, and he will be monitored by the cardiology team. So another thing to add to the growing list of appointments and parameters to check.

I am very mindful of the Chris Whitty report on ageing well/badly. And I hope for an efficient heart attack to end my active and independent life at the female average age. And if I can't have that, then an efficient overdose, Martha Gellhorn fashion.

At Heathrow. Flight in had a very sketchy landing. Eeeep. Bounced then got blown to the side.

waiting for my flight home. Left DH in Lisbon. That’s the longest solo flight I’ve done. Winning at life.

have consoled myself with a flight delay by having a wine and a Korean chicken bowl. And bought a new cold cup from Starbucks. And be perfume for dsis as dms back went over the weekend and she stepped in to help in a massive way. She’s she absolute best.

Great post tayto well done for getting a good plan in place.
I always love your meal plans need I think they sound more adventurous than mine, but I enjoy what I cook too. Yes to all the comments re food costs spiralling, Marthas we're the same, not cutting back specifically but trying to stick to the meal plans & resist takeaway/eating out.
Boo to unexpected car spend life
Happier my DC tend to have cash for birthdays but still like presents at Christmas. It gets harder as they get older!
Good week here so far for spends. Missing Booths loyalty points restored so will have an extra voucher before Christmas. John Lewis complaint logged re fridge delivery balls up. Hoping for a discount.
OS map subscription voucher found and redeemed. Thought I'd properly lost it so that seems like a gain.
Booked on a Christmas sewing workshop with a voucher from last Christmas, really looking forward to it