Frugal September, let's get saving for December ;)

[Neverinamonthofsundays]

Who is with me?

Another £16 in Iceland but some of that was for my daughter - I should get that back!! 😃and £40 for Petrol hopefully that should last the month as long as we don't have any long trips anywhere.
Other than that all the bills are budgeted for and funds transferred to the appropriate accounts.
I have started selling things on Vinted and have already sold one item with a couple of other items favourited so hopefully they will sell too. Vinted funds will chip away at the credit cards. Since joining the 'frugal' threads I have cleared two catalogues and three cards so still a way to go yet!! But progress is progress - however small!!

Yesterday was my first NSD of the month, it is no coincidence that it was also DS3's first day back at school!

Today I will have to spend on parking at work but that should be it.

My goal for this month is to survive on the very tight budget that I have set and not to dip into my savings at all.

How's everyone else doing?

NSD yesterday!

This morning was a disaster time wise and I needed to leave to take child to school before I’d made lunch. Instead of then going straight to work I came back and made lunch. Usually I’d throw £3.50 at a meal deal but didn’t. I hate making lunch so this is a win.

Also only been buying exactly what is needed for tea and no extras.

Hi can I join? My mission this month is to reduce our massive food spend its obscene and one of the only areas left we can cut back on. I’m trying out an idea whereby instead of doing a big weekly shop we do it daily… there’s a method in the madness I think! We often did a big shop and then lots of little ones anyway so we’re set a daily limit and that’s all we can spend … will see how that goes!

Hi all! I've been on these threads most of the Year and have found you again.
August was awful spending-wise (though I did pay off a debt, before the 0% rate ended - phew!).
In the first weekend of September we travelled to a wedding, so that meant more expenses. It's my DH birthday next week as well, so have spent more on gifts and we'll eat at his fav restaurant. 🤪
Now that school is back and work is busier, I'm hoping to try and spend less! Fingers crossed.
Brought my lunch yesterday and today and hoping for NSD today.
Good luck everyone!

99.50 in sports direct. 25 in tesco.

I need to have a frugal couple of months, our rent is increasing in November so have to find an extra £250 a month in the budget 😭

I'm on a mission to use up everything before buying more food. So should be able to just do fresh food for the rest of the month. Got enough cat food, toilet roll, cleaning and toiletries to last aswell.

I also need to lose some weight, so no more snacks/treats. That should save some money too! I have got a takeaway planned for next week as I've got a long day (work 8-4, then staff meeting 6-8 then an hours bus ride home so well deserved!)

Got stuff to list on vinted on Thursday which is my day off. I did well last time I had lots listed so I'm hoping to get a few hundred £ in the savings fund!

Wow, £250 extra per month is a big increase - sounds like you have some sensible plans for dealing with it, at least!
Managed the NSD and even went for a run today, too.
Tomorrow I'm hopeful for another NSD as I'll be busy at work - just need to remember my lunch and flask for coffee!
Good luck alla

*all!

It is a big increase, but preferable to them selling which was the initial plan. Landlord remortgaged so increased our rent to cover it. Frustrating though as UC won't increase even though the amount they offer for housing would no where near get a property in this area.

Well done on the run! I would love to get running again but since moving here I really can't enjoy it. Far too built up and too many homeless/drunks/teenager groups in the evening for me to feel safe going out alone.

I've also got my flask and lunch ready for the morning! 😊

@Rainbow1901 well done on debt clearing! I also need to list lots of stuff on vinted, but there’s no time with baby at home. Maybe one weekend when husband is not busy.

@itsmeagainagain welcome. I also struggle with sticking to food budget. I already spent loads and we’re only halfway through September.

I need to look in my spreadsheet, but one of recent spendings was £28 for tummy time toys (this floating mat, walking crab 😂 and mirror). I hope someone will buy them from me one day so I can get some of my money back🙈

Oh and yesterday we went out to costa and paid 8 quid for two coffees 😵‍💫 It’s really expensive nowadays

@SootspriteSearcher I agree, far better to have a rent hike than be forced into moving. But that's a lot extra and UC rate not really being enough sounds tough. Good luck!

I spent £25 on pizza 🍕 takeaway Friday, since we're all knackered due to ds waking before dawn to go for a poo and then not being able to get back to sleep. 😩 Then 5.20 am again this morning...while DH had a lie-in (sigh).

But I managed to go for another run today - a personal best for the 5k (not fast, but I'm pleased!) and a NSD.

Tomorrow planning to exchange some boots at M&S and will probably buy some groceries and go to soft play with ds.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

I have to start again. I have spent SO much money this month it is ridiculous. Today I stop spending.

Really need to join in this! I just seem to have a black hole in my bank account.

Haha I know what you mean @Andnowshesatoddler!

Miraculously had a NSD yesterday - I was far too busy at work to buy anything.

But the costs haven't quite ended for DH birthday, since we didn't go out for dinner yet. He wants to go somewhere special this weekend...even mentioned a taxi to and from, so we can share a bottle of wine. I love him and want to spoil him, but all that wasn't in my plan financially this month. I'm the higher earner though, so I will treat him if I can manage it!

Meanwhile hoping for a NSD again today!

NSD for three days running, but I've barely been out of the house and feel like the most boring person in the world!

Had a hankering for biscuits today and considered a trip to the cornershop. Instead decided to make chocolate brownies in the air fryer using the three ingredient method: banana, peanut butter and cocoa. It came out beautifully. Looking forward to pay day tomorrow.

How long till the end of the month???

Our car went in for a service as we skipped it last winter and have a long journey south planned for the end of the month and had engine management light issues. Ouch!! We shelled out for the service, two new tyres and some water housing thingy for a water leak!! But hopefully it won't need too much for the MOT in December.
On a positive note I have started a mainly wfh job for a charity with the added perk I discovered today that I am allowed to access a food club at the end of the session when I go into the 'office' !! Came home with a huge bag of food for a fiver - lots of fresh veggies and some food items with a few days to go which means the freezer needn't take too much of a hammering while we drag our feet towards the end of the month. Be the end of October before I'm paid though - but it's extra money to save or chip away at the debts.

Glad to know I’m not the only one struggling🫣 But I’m feeling sorry for us all at the same time😂 I have 20 quid left to spend in my food budget. I could exceed it, but I don’t want to! It’s already set for £300, should be enough for two people, so I am going to use what I have in the cupboards and freezer and only top up with fresh products.
I also spent quite a lot on toiletries and cleaning products, I think so far it was 91 quid. 54 to change my driving licence as I didn’t sort it out when I got married as my request to upload settled status to my new passport got stuck in home office for months. But it’s done now, just
in time before insurance renewal.

£78 for DH birthday dinner. Lovely food and wine, and we don't do this sort of thing often. And we walked rather than taking any taxis!

Yesterday spent £23 at Morrisons on fresh groceries top-up and £4 at a charity shop for a wet suit for ds (6), who needs to learn to swim, but he is too cold in his swimsuit and his teeth start chattering, so we've had slow progress so far. More or less on budget still, this month.

Hoping for a NSD. Honestly, we need to tidy and declutter rather than buy anything at the moment! This afternoon I may bring out my lovely autumn corduroy trousers and other clothes that have been packed away. Trying to focus on gratitude for what we have.

Good luck all!

NSD yesterday and today! I can't remember ever having 3 in a row - not in ages, anyway!

But we have a big shop coming tomorrow which is over £100. Cat food, human food, and DH fav beer. 😋

Good night and good luck all.

Oh dear, I'm just catching up on the September thread and it's nearly October

This month has completely got away from me - had Covid for a couple of weeks and am still suffering the after effects - really need to go through all my direct debts for next month. Although like @moimichme we are trying to have a massive declutter; haven't found anything to sell sadly, but lots of the DC's old toys have gone to nursery, so someone will benefit at least!

Well I got paid from my new job - which was a bonus as I was expecting to wait until October. Stuck it in savings while I think about what to do with it. Pay off debts, save it or spend it on upkeep of the house!
We have paid out for a very cheap self catering holiday abroad as we really need the break. So we are now eating some very weird meals from the freezer as we use up stuff before we go and keep trying to have NSDs.
I know a holiday is the last thing we should be doing right now but it has been an incredibly mentally draining time over the last 18 months. MH issues which I never usually have the time of day for have resulted in having to seek help which has finally let me have a little control and calmness in my life and without medication.
The debts are still being chipped away at and there is light at the end of the tunnel - oh heck that's not a train is it?? 😉

Rainbow that's great you got paid for your new job already - good idea to set it aside until you decide what you want to do with it. A holiday after what sounds like a long, difficult time may be just what you need - as long as you can be sensible the rest of the time, or as much as is realistic anyway. 😀

@MissVeronicaSpeedwell I hope you're starting to feel better - having covid isn't fun at all. Our decluttering isn't making us money either - none of it is especially valuable and I don't have time to devote to selling items that are worth less than £20, so charity shop/recycling it is. And simultaneously trying to stop the inflow as much as we can.

According to one of my bank apps, I spent £41 more this month vs. an overspent August - but that doesn't take into account the lack of debt payment from my other account (which I paid off last month, before the 0% interest ended). So actually I'm up about £350 for September, which I've set aside against Christmas expenses - it's a great feeling!

Hoping for a continuation of good frugal habits in October. Only one family birthday this month, which will help. Onwards and upwards!