Frugal Friends Facing Forward with Fortitude

[Happierwithouthim]

Here's a friendly space for new and existing frugal friends.

We have all different types of incomes and lifestyles but with a common goal of making the best of the money we have.

Many of us have experiences of becoming debt free or being in difficulty with money for one reason or another so there's no need for embarrassment, just join in, post as little or as often as you wish.

Some record daily spends, some record only spends that are unplanned, some don't record spends at all, the choice is yours!

@marthasmum two are at other unis and one is internal - tbh I’d rather leave at this stage but I would be thrilled to get any of them. 😄

Checking in after a few office days. Got fed yesterday.

That’s very exciting about your daughter and the exhibit Unescorted. Well done.

I’m joining the lack of subsistence outrage party Gensola. My work pays a ridiculous amount for subsistence so when people are away in the UK they use it to buy their groceries. Good luck with the interviews and fantastic with the credit card.

Solidarity to you tutti I’m in nearly the same boat. It’s scary indeed.

Hope you’re feeling a bit better em.

A big boo to you 2024Hack for mentioning paneer. I love it and now want curry. The day is young. I might go out again later and buy some.

Enjoy your week off north.

Spending since Wednesday has been: ~£400 on a jacket. I got £100 off. It was my second choice as the one I wanted sold out while I was checking out. Not sure I like it so might return it after I’ve seen it. Groceries have been £2.99, £9.05 on a cable from Amazon to try and link my work laptop to my PC. They’ve changed their set up and I am not getting on with it so will try the laptop with my desktop. Another £37.74 at Amazon on water flasks for my holiday in the summer. They’re smaller than anticipated. £10 on thermal socks in Marks and Spencer. £97 on some waterproof over trousers this morning. They were a third off and I do need some.

Meeting with the solicitor yesterday cost about £1.5k. It was from my account so no new spending. Think I need to transfer some money across. Am still trying to work through it all. Bit overwhelmed but it has to be done.

The PT I’m meant to be seeing on Monday seems to have vanished off the face of the earth. Will see what happens. My Eurostar points have also vanished. I was saving them for a rainy day so am disappointed. I had enough for at least two trips. Their customer service is woeful and I know contacting them will just annoy me more. Feeling rather irritated and cheesed off today.

@RumBananaSundae that sounds like a rubbish run. Hope it picks up for you.

@MrsShortbread welcome.

Conger eels are a step too far for my tastes. They fall into the same category as cottage cheese and mushy peas... Those things that I won't even try. To put it into context I tried dark tripe in the full knowledge of what it is. It is in the try once never again category.

@Gensola that fizz will taste great. Well done on getting it all paid down.

I am finding having savings makes me spend less. I know if I really want something I can buy it but it means I lose my savings. It puts a dampener on my feckless spending.

I am finding having savings makes me spend less. I know if I really want something I can buy it but it means I lose my savings. It puts a dampener on my feckless spending

• That's interesting - I guess it's loss aversion at play. There's a lot of our internal mind systems that often factor in to how we deal with money. I definitely cycle between feast and famine in my approach, and want to try and achieve a better balance.

Evening everyone
Been to Home bargains and Asda
Had to buy a new kettle £16 Asda
Home Bargains , l bought loads of stuff £75
Chinese tonight for the 4 of us £45
Very nice too for a treat . Probably won't have one again until my DH birthday next month.

Thanks @RumBananaSundae.

That is seriously annoying about your points! 😡 I had a similar problem with BA and it was a trade off between points and blood pressure!

Agree that having savings gives you that incentive to minimise spending and preserve progress. I have a small amount tucked away from last month. I'm don't think I will have ANYTHING left this month but I had saved some of that money last month for two expenses this month so if I manage not to dip into that little pot I feel like that is a win (and worth some of the more 'basic' meals I am turning to this month)

Enjoy your takeaway @MaryGreenhill!

Absolutely here you re the savings. I think the turning point can really be when you start to get the same satisfaction/comfort from savings that used to come from spending.

£7 sports store but ds will pay me back
£4 Sainsburys

Ahh thank you @tuttifritti it was delicious fair dos

Today was £60 on the Aldi shop but tbf still a ton of stuff in the freezer so wasn't a massively 'complete' shop but should do me until next Friday bar the odd milk and eggs.

Just made my second loaf of sourdough but not sure it's risen as much as I would like..,

Felt feak and weeble today after a rough night with angina, no breakfast, DH did beans on toast for lunch, and cheesy baked potatoes and coleslaw for dinner, basic, but very nice. NS, just vegged for most of the day.

Bought some gloves yesterday as it’s very cold and I can’t find mine. Bet they turn up now

Fri
€10 bulb replacement in car
Sat
€29 lunch with my cuz

Hope you are feeling better today nellie

we had takeout as cba to cook
Got a £13 refund from Sainsbury’s for subs but spent £25 is Aldi rebuying, £25 farmshop.£15 takeaway

@RumBananaSundae I had the same with BA. It wasn't worth the effort in the end.

@tuttifritti Maintaining is still a good start.

Glad you enjoyed your takeaways @MaryGreenhill@lifelongfrugaleer

Chilly chilly chilly here this morning. We've come down with lurgy so think it should be a NSD spent at home.

@Nellieinthebarn hope you are feeling a bit better today.

@Wineisnottheanswer it is always the way. I have also noticed a correlation between gloves reappearing and the kids half arsed attempts at tidying their rooms.

It is a bit chilly here today. Poor Neo was only 15deg so although he has risen and looks super bubbly I think the cold has retarded him a little. I have moved him to the draining board and started running the dishwasher to warm him up a bit.

Got up early to drop DD to her bus. It's quite frosty but looks like it will be a nice day.

I did a smaller supermarket shop than normal yesterday. I didn't need any cat litter and DD got Ex to pick up some cat food from a wholesalers (she paid him for it). So I've enough cat food for another week or two.

I dropped off a big bag of books at the charity shop yesterday and came back with four books (4 for €1). So a big saving there. Tbh I felt a bit embarrassed paying just 25 cents for each book when it probably costs €10 - €15 to buy them new. But I'll bring them back to the charity shop when I'm finished with them and hopefully they can re-sell them. And hopefully they can sell the ones I gave them. They had a lot of clothes and I overheard one of the staff saying that they weren't taking any more children's clothes.

DD seems to have got the decluttering bug too. She did a big clear out of her bathroom the other day and has bought lots of storage boxes for sorting things into. She was moving furniture around in her bedroom at 10 p.m. the other night!

Going to have lunch with my Dad, sister, her partner, my brother and sister-in-law today, for my birthday. I usually go for a carvery lunch with my Dad which is around €15 but my brother suggested a restaurant which will be more expensive. Hopefully the saving I made on my shopping will cover the difference. And I'm driving so I won't be drinking.

Treated myself to a chocolate croissant (from Tesco) for my birthday breakfast. Off to have a cuppa and tuck into my croissant. Have a good Sunday everyone.

Morning all.
I have the feeling of something being stuck in my throat, it feels horrible - I’m not sure what would cause this? It almost feels like I need to cough or be sick to move it but there isn’t anything actually there I don’t think.
Mega interview prep today plus a visit to town to have my nose piercing redone as it came out in bed and has closed over in one night! So annoyed as I don’t have time really but don’t want to let it close completely 😰

Poor you @Gensola. Could it be anxiety related for the interview?
Hope it goes soon

Happy birthday Tayto.

Had to de ice the car to take ds to sport this morning as he wasn't organised (again). It was iced up inside and out. I've now put the window blanket on and removed all the potentially damp dog towels from the car to wash - hopefully less of a fight to de-ice tomorrow

Ds tried to repay the £7 I spent him with a bag of shrapnel. I have requested real paper money instead!

Need to think of something to do with salmon for tea. Ideally something low effort

Dishwasher on and kitchen tidy. Dog brushed, washing put away, dog stuff on to wash and bag half packed for work trip next week. Just need to add jeans and a jumper

@Nellieinthebarn hope you feel better today.

@Taytocrisps happy birthday, sounds like it’ll be a lovely one.

I have the fire on already, it’s the only heating for the whole house so takes time for the heat to percolate around. Does mean it’s super cosy on a cold Sunday though. Dog is walked, wee ones are playing with moon sand and singing along to my 70s playlist, and I’m procrastinating rather than doing the washing up. Horses in a bit, DD6 wants to have a beach ride.
The whole weekend has been No-Spend which is good. Feel a bit glum though, no dopamine kick from buying I suppose.

Happy birthday tayto

Happy birthday tayto enjoy meal out.
Ds has a friend over so I'm about to make a round of toasted sandwiches for everyone to avoid hunger when we go to skate park.

I've spent the morning doing general housework, wash basket empty, kitchen floor doesn't feel gritty underfoot anymore. Should I return all the sand to the beach?

Ds emptied recycling bin in kitchen which has been overflowing all week, threat of no play date worked wonders

Mrsshortbread sounds like a chilled out morning

Happy birthday @Taytocrisps .

It was going to be a no spend day here but DS has just become a National Champ in his sport. So when he gets back later there might be a bit of a celebration.

Agree with you Unescorted on having savings making you spend less. Currently oscillating between splurging as I don’t when I’ll be able to next and being frugal because it’s sensible. Congrats to your son.

Sorry about BA tutti and Chile. I can do without the stress and frustration so will leave it.

Hope you’re feeling a little better today Nellie.

Happy Birthday Tayto. Enjoy your lunch.

Did you swallow anything scratchy Gensola?

Have spent £10 today in a combination of Poundland and Marks and Spencer including some crisps. Thought they were a more fiscally responsible pick me up than going to Paris.

Spent this morning doing admin. Glad I’ve got some of it done but I started with the easy bits. Looking forward to some cheese for supper. The last of the blue cheese I brought back with me last month.