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!

Sold my old mixer yesterday so £110 in my pocket to be thrown against the credit card. Yay.

that’ll be down to £3600 when I get to the bank. Wooop.

DH almost had me spending money yesterday. He suggested we take the kids to London for the weekend in half term. He’s flying over for work on that Friday and thought about just extending his trip and me and the kids fly across to meet him. Flights for us three (me and dc) £400 with Ba. No luggage. Can’t find a hotel with family room for less than £800 in central London. So that’s a no.

we’d planned on doing the same in May half term. So will look to get that booked. It’ll probably still cost the same. But more time to consider it etc.

@Happierwithouthim nearly there!

@marthasmum sounds like working like a woman with A Big Job to me! It's cool in my direct work team in hetero partnerships that the women all out earn the men.

@ememem84 London accommodation is crazy - half term sounds nice.

Well done to all the small free dopamine hits everyone is getting 👏

January is always the longest month ever 😩

Haven't yet run out of budget but think I will by this Saturday. It's been a good way of keeping myself mindful of every penny though.

Spends
£5 food
£8 travel

Avoided spends
£30ish Walked and got public transport instead of ubering
£5 coffee on the go - I dithered but walked on by and thought I won't get the benefit of walking saving money if I now spend on a coffee
£16 round of drinks - had a cup of tea at their house instead

I would say you can reframe saving as a dopamine hit. I enjoy putting money into my different pots for short/medium/long-term goals on pay day. I've set a BHAG for 5 years hence, and broken it down into the 60 payments it would require, on average, to achieve it and set up a spreadsheet to log them. Even though I'm miles off the payments I need to be making at the moment, it still gives me pleasure to log them, and if I get any extra, no matter how little, to lob it there.

Rum - I hope the solicitor makes things feel more manageable, it sounds horribly stressful. To answer your question, we are thinking about the Loire (currently honing in on a spot between Saumur and Chinon) or Burgundy (between Auxerre and Dijon). Haven't spent much time in these areas to date, bit closer than the long trek to the Dordogne, fewer mosquitoes and hornets one hopes, loads to do and see. Will get DS tucked up back at university this weekend, and then turn our attention to it, mmmm.

Today brings more insurance purchasing, opening a savings account for DParents, a load of ironing and washing to help DS get packed. Royal Academy and ramen at Yokocho tonight to finish the holiday with DS. I always feel the urge, sometimes stifled successfully, mostly not, to fill him with 'useful advice' at these points. He's driving back with a friend, and I shall be very pleased to get a text that they've arrived safely.

@Chile1978 isnt it? I had also wanted to take the kids to see the lion king - and have the seats on the aisle so the animals can stampede past them. but that would have been another £600 for a matinee. so . maybe not.

ds is 6 and really wants to see the kings crown so a trip to the tower would have been a must. and i had thought about taking a trip out to legoland. but again - time and money.

for us being based in the channel islands it is always slightly more costly as we need to make the most of a weekend as it's not something we do often. ie it's not just hopping on a train. the logistics are way more complicated - planes and luggage and trains and children and family hotel rooms.

it is gloriously chilly here today. the sun is blazing through the windows, the sky is the bluest of blue and it is COLD. i love this kind of winter weather. no clouds today either so feels slightly chillier than usual.

ordinary i'd be off for a run or a walk on the beach but the covid has really knocked me out. i'm totally negative now apparently. but am still so congested and snotty. :(

Finally feeling a bit better. Did the school run earlier and I think the fresh air/winter sun did me good. Although -5 was a bit harsh on the chest.

It’s been frugal being unwell, as not been to the shops nor have I felt up to doing any online shopping. Heating has been on fairly low all day though.

House is a tip though, as no one seems to be capable of tidying up after themselves!

I received two prepaid credit cards at Christmas to the value of €1200, the company is now going into liquidation so we've been advised to spend the money quickly.

€400 approx is going on my car insurance but I'll have to spend the rest too.

I must see if there's anything I can buy for extension ahead of time

Happier can you purchase supermarket gift cards with them and then bank your shopping money?

£50 haircut. It's only this expensive once a year
£35 Sainsburys
£7 McDonald's

I just thought of a way of using them, I can make a payment into my account at work for when the building work commences and it'll be in credit then.

But that's a great idea too wolf

@ememem84 lion King is so worth it even if you weren't in the aisles 🦁 but you definitely want to be in the stalls. I loved front row too, especially as Simba is rather good looking.... 😉(he was an ex Pacific islander rugby player as well as being a west end star and very handsome! Some people really are blessed!)
It does all add up like you say. Would it ever be cheaper to book 2rooms with 1adult1child sharing a room each? Sometimes it can work better that way but depends on the hotel pricing structure.

Need to get veg and fruit but it's too cold! Will get tomorrow.

No new money has appeared in my account today even though I checked three times.

Have requested first direct account for the bonus switch but now awaiting the post for my log in details. It's my first time so fingers crossed! It will be £175 bonus

Spends
£55 theatre (local production)

Just got back from our funeral trip, with petrol, accomodation and food I will be struggling to stay in the black as usual, but it cannot be helped. We did do the trip as cheaply as possible, Travel lodge and food from home and supermarkets not pubs and restaurants, so it could've been worse. Obviously, I cannot spend any money at all for the rest of the month! I don't know how feasible this will be, but I'm going to try.

No new money has appeared in my account today even though I checked three times.

Fridge fairies don't turn ingredients into ready to eat food no matter how tired we are.

Money management fairies don't add cash to our bank accounts no matter how much we don't spend.

It just doesn't doesn't feel like all this repays the effort at times.

Nsd today and I did an extra shift at work 👍 this will help when we have to get a fill of the oil tank in a couple of weeks 👎

NSD today, wish I’d also managed not to eat all the biscuits but hey ho. Not planning spending anything over the weekend: just wait till next week’s online delivery. Ordered through topcashback for first time, after seeing so many recommendations on moneysavingexpert.
Also made some preserved lemons to gift to a friend in a couple of months time simply for being a good friend…and some lemon curd for us…they were reduced so DD19 bought them knowing I’d find a good use.

Didn't feel like cooking last night & had €50 voucher for local restaurant, 4 of us cost €42.50 as three of us got desserts & dc got two kids meals each.

€17.03 in local shop weetos were on special offer at €3, they cost €5.50 & ds loves them, I bought the 3 packs on the shelf & will get more!

€70 diesel

That's a good value restaurant Happier.

£14 butchers. Will also need to spend £70 for ds driving lesson.

Bought a couple of 99p kindle books yesterday including a nice looking vegan one tin book which has some good recipes in it

Might go to the pub later but the decision sits elsewhere so will see what happens.

£40 extra in my pay packet so unexpected bonus!
£58 on Tesco food delivery later today. £6.50 was delivery so I’m not sure how good that was. I’m trying out a theory that if I use Tesco delivery to have the basics in, then I need to only go for a sort of top-up shop for treats, ingredients etc and it will
hopefully prevent the dopamine-induced situation where I do a big shop and end up flinging all sorts in the trolley?!

Meanwhile, a question for the dog owners on the thread. I’ve got up late and I’m lounging on the sofa in my jamas posting this. I’m also guiltily thinking that shortly I need to get dressed and take the dog for a big run. I swear the dog can tell. She’s looking out the window and she keeps coming up to me looking hopeful. Anyone else think their dog can read their mind? She does recognise my running clothes but I’m not wearing them!

Dogs totally know

@2024Hackathon I know right? The audacity!

@Happierwithouthim it's a chocolate Weetos house here too 😋

@marthasmum that's a nice Jan bonus! Maybe try and save it or allocate it to something for yourself otherwise it might get swallowed up by day to day things.

Officially over the Jan budget but made it to the 20th which isn't too bad at all considering. I don't think there is much more to be spent except milk/fruit top ups, gym/exercise class, and then one birthday trip (rickets already bought and have bought snack food today so should just be travel and lunch out). So maybe £100 more....... she says.....

Happy weekend everyone

Spends
£121 food

Martha that'll be the change in national insurance I expect. Dogs definitely know.

Oh yes of course it will be! That won’t explain DP’s £300 will it? He’s on a relatively low wage, would it be more backpay?

Dogs do know. They're also creatures of routine, so if you are 5 minutes over your normal running time, she will getting antsy. Mine will come and drag my arm away from my laptop.

Impressionists at RA was good last night - Rum, I also wince at the ticket price on exhibitions these days (the rooms and staff are already there and paid for! it's not like a theatre production!) but this was worth the £19 a head. Lovely Degas drawings and pastels were the standout for me, and a fantastic Seurat, informative juxtapositions, big and diverse enough to make it worth while, not so big that you are plodding around endless exercises in landscapes. Also very nice to see DS really enjoying the exhibition, and being inspired to get his pastels out again. Yokocho in Heddon Street afterwards was fun, and good for us zone 3 types to be in a properly stush bit of London, and remind us of why we put up with the crap.

Other spends, £190 on Timberland boots, a belated Christmas present for DS, but offset by the rebate on house insurance, so net zero. Have had to buy separate cover for DS' bike and laptop, but paying for that monthly which makes it easier on the cashflow this month.

One thing I will carry forward for next year: our January is expensive! Insurance renewals, boiler service, higher energy bills and ongoing hosting of guests (the Australians are coming back from Europe this week - have just waved off DS). Last year, we just seemed to absorb these costs, but these higher prices are largely baked in now, and I will have to prepare for them better.

£1.20 on milk. But I found the change in a coat pocket, so I am counting that as free as it didn't come out of the bank account. I mean it obviously did at some point, but I cannot remember last time I wore that coat, so it was a while ago.

@marthasmum I feel your pain, I was in work til 9pm last night and marking exams this morning 🤪
suffering toothache / extreme sensitivity to cold drinks and air (fine with hot drinks) - hoping it settles as I don’t have time or money for dentist 😂 I also had an old filling replaced only 3 weeks ago in that area so it’s unlikely surely that something has gone badly wrong in that time. She did x rays and it was all fine then.
I am through to the final round for one of the external promotions which is super exciting, waiting to hear info about the final interview day.

heading home now and planning to put heating on, light fire and relax on sofa 😄

@Wolfcub as in it was €92.50 in total

That sounds hard work gen-. Is it just a pressure point or is that the status quo? Brilliant news on getting through.
well my shopping plan was…not that successful as I still overspent. Only win was that I bought pretty healthy food and fewer snacks. I think I’ll just have to enlarge my food budget and pull it from my car/ vet /household slush fund ☹️