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!

NS day today, had toast and hot chocolate for breakfast, DH had a poached egg, toast and porridge, but I didn't fancy that. We had tuna sandwiches, a sliver of left over broccoli quiche and a raisin muffin for lunch. I am planning tuscan chicken for dinner, possibly with a green salad but more likely with peas.

I have returned a jumper to Amazon which has given me £40 back in the pot. This means I have just over £100 in the bank until 1st February, and I scrabbled round all the drawers, pockets and handbags and scraped up £24.63 in cash.

I hope I can feed us from the pantry, freezer and my last food shop until the end of the month. But if not, the £24.63 is for milk, bread and emergency meal use if needed, I will not use the bank card unless it's a dire emergency.

I feel like wrapping the dog in bubble wrap, and not using the car, dishwasher and washing machine at all for the next 8 days.

I hope your dog is OK need. It was certainly noisy here.

Spending today was about £90 on a case and screen protector for my new phone and a case for the ear things. The phone made it out the box and was promptly returned after I left a fingerprint. It’s making noises so I think I’ll turn it off.

Was hoping to do cupboard eating until payday but I have a work lunch tomorrow. The sweet potato soup tastes much better today than yesterday. Still not sure about the texture.

Does anyone use too good to go? I think I’ve seen it mentioned on this thread. I was thinking of giving it a try next month.

Does anyone use too good to go? I think I’ve seen it mentioned on this thread. I was thinking of giving it a try next month.

No, I haven't. I'd be tempted if I could just get a selection of fruit and vegetables but I have such extensive pantry stores I'd be spending money that I don't need to, IYSWIM.

Ah poor doggo. It’s certainly blowing a hoolie.

Frugal win free kennel cough for labratwat.
frugal fail replacement laptop £875. £500 not covered by the old one pay out.

my fitness watch is dying but I’ve looked back I got it replaced in Nov 20. So it’s done it’s Service. £220 for a new one.

I’m with you girlie on the change of government. A lot of my teaching is around poverty and inequality and I feel so angry that there are families that can’t eat in this country. I give a monthly donation to the food bank but it’s never enough.

on a more cheerful note I have insurance for my fridge freezer. £5.90 a month but I have just booked someone to come and repair the busted drawer and confirmed if it breaks irreparably I will get a replacement. Also did the car and house insurance renewals which surprisingly were about the same as last year, around £1000 for both. I need to re do DD’s insurance in March for her car, she will have a year‘a no claims 🤞🏻but by then DS1 will hopefully be a new driver, so god knows what it’s going to cost.
hack that sounds difficult. It is probably not comparable but my DP is not at all financially astute and I took control of the money years ago. But the difference is he’s been very happy for me to do that. It mostly works in my favour because I can run the finances exactly as I like, and I’m more of a spender than he is but he doesn’t question my spending 😂. But it also completely absolves him from having to worry about making ends meet and/or being responsible for the family finances, so it’s been a mixed blessing over the years. It was hard for many years when were not well off but works better now.

Interesting to read the various set ups of those in partnerships.

Sorry can't remember who but someone posted a yummy meal plan 😋
@Nellieinthebarn well done on returning the jumper. £40 is worth getting your money back

NSD yesterday and hoping for a NSD today.
This weekend will be spendy so trying to stay on the straight and narrow as much as possible during the week. Monthly budget currently at -120 so every NSD counts

I used £100 out of my savings ystd on a deposit for a necklace for dds bday. I'm having it commissioned, the lady who is making the necklace is going to use gold from my nans wedding ring which makes it even more special.

Otherwise I'm doing quite well at not spending anything. Roll on Friday though!

Oh wow that's fabulous girlie my dd's name is a gemstone, I'm hoping to buy her something with it for her 18th, she's not 14 yet so I've a while to be saving up! Ds saw lovely lego set for €500 at christmas, I told him if he's still interested in lego at 18 I'll buy it for him

Unexpected dental visit this afternoon, toothache and awful swelling…pretty certain I’m going to spend on buying a pizza to feed the kids tonight as am exhausted already and still have the 40 mile round trip to dentist and work this evening. Maybe I could just make them cheese toasties or something though, I’m trying so hard to keep spends down.

Ah sounds lovely girlie

now wrong with toasties for a one off. Do beans and cheese if you have veg guilt. Hope you feel better soon.

my watch seems to be working 🤞 so not spent £220 yet

Sorry to hear about the dentist trip mrsshortbread, but hopefully they can relieve the pain quickly.

We had a Chinese takeaway yesterday, not planned. But it was nice!

Good news life on the watch still working. Mine currently has a crack across the screen which I am trying to ignore.

Amazon have reeled me back with another free 30 day prime trial. We have a number of birthday presents to buy this month, so easier than going to the post office to collect for free delivery. Will cancel at the end of 30 days.

To whoever returned the item of clothing, that was one of my frugal tips when we last collated a list. If you buy something, but still have it unworn in the packaging 2/3 weeks later, then consider returning it! (With exceptions of things with a specific need at a later date eg swimming costume, prom dress etc)

That was partly my concern 2024Hack but I might give it a go.

That's lovely Girlie.

Anything with cheese is good Mrs. Sorry about the impromptu dental visit. I hope all is on the way to being well.

Horrific spending today. £30 on work lunch and £2.5K to the solicitor. Have the credit card to pay over the weekend and the TV licence so no let up for a while. Still waiting for the management fee invoice to arrive too. Savings are rather rapidly disappearing.

Will be at the office tomorrow but think I will leave it at a two days in the office week. I don't have enough on my travelcard for a third day and don't really want to add anything more until next week.

Think I'll spend the rest of this evening watching nonsense on YouTube and feeling sorry for myself.

@RumBananaSundae sorry 😞 is it nearing the end at all?

Was going to recycle a jumper I shrunk in the tumble dryer but I'm going to put it in the girls to grow box as it will probably fit the eldest in 2years or so. Somehow you end up going in/out of the loft a lot more than you think!

Spends
£7 gym

Ins
£2.70 selling and avoided spends by printing and walking to the locker

@lifelongfrugaleer thanks! I’m glad your watch is working at the minute, long may it continue.

@Timetoswitch a Chinese sounds SO good.

@RumBananaSundae I hope you feel brighter soon, stressors really take a toll don’t they.

@Chile1978 i still remember being gutted shrinking my warmest pair of socks down - they fit my three year old perfectly! Keeping it for growing into is definitely a good idea, two years will fly by and it’ll be nice to see your eldest in it.

I have 10 days of super strong antibiotics and almost certainly hospital dental surgery needed 2.5hr drive away afterwards. Been given tonnes of painkillers but time is going by slowly. I did, however, do toasties rather than pizza so feeling at least a little frugal. Didn’t even have the energy to move the kids’ toys off the settee tonight - don’t think I’ve ever not done that. Worked four hours but now just sat trying to cope with pain before next medicine due.

Rest Mrs as much as you can. Y least until the antibiotics kick in

rum ❤️

NS yesterday but I had to spend £35 on a bunch of flowers and choccies for a birthday present, I already had the card and stamp though. I completely forgot this birthday, and didn't budget for it. Still got 10% off as a first time customer and the choccies were free, so not too bad.

Egg, toast and porridge this morning with h/m plum jam, cheese and tomato toasties for lunch with an apple, and tuna and sweetcorn fishcakes for dinner tonight, I made them in my last batch cooking session and found them lurking in the freezer.

Fridge and freezer are looking a bit sad and empty, and I keep having to remind myself this is a good thing because I've used stuff up that needed using and saved money this month after Christmas.

I get nervous if I don't have food for at least a couple of weeks. Once you've experienced food insecurity I don't think it ever leaves you.

MrsShortbread -did, however, do toasties rather than pizza so feeling at least a little frugal That's commitment levels approaching stoicism! I empathise both with the complexity of dental conditions and the money needed to pay for them. Best wishes for clean healing and good pain management.

RumBanana - Horrific spending today. £30 on work lunch and £2.5K to the solicitor. Have the credit card to pay over the weekend and the TV licence so no let up for a while. Still waiting for the management fee invoice to arrive too. Savings are rather rapidly disappearing. I swear at some periods of your life it's like your finances are humming along but there's a small stumble into what turns out to be quicksand and savings disappear in the blink of an eye. I wish you so well with this.

Nellie - Fridge and freezer are looking a bit sad and empty, and I keep having to remind myself this is a good thing Isn't it just. I look forward to things looking like that in a year's time or so (it's going to take a while to see a difference).

I think it’s only the beginning Chile1978. I have an awful feeling it’s going to get ugly. The mediator seems utterly useless so he’ll railroad it all because he has to win.

I’ve been spending more money Mrs. That’s (temporarily) made me feel a bit better. Hope the antibiotics are doing their job.

Absolutely 2024Hack. I guess at least I’d done some saving. And it certainly feels like I’m in quicksand.

Today I spent just under £80 on four vest tops at Uniqlo. They are, I think, a frugal version of the bravissimo ones I’m replacing. Paid the TV licence and my credit card.

Will stay at the flat tomorrow and save the fare. Need to go to the post office to make an Amazon return. My first ever. And get a few things for a packed lunch for walking on Saturday.

Just popping in to say hello! Need to catch up on thread and log recent spends. Pay day tomorrow! Woo hoo!

@MrsShortbread get well soon 🌼

@RumBananaSundae that is horrible. Is there anything in particular he's pushing for? My friend is gearing up for an unpleasant divorce - it's all very difficult and going to take a long time.

Payday today! Hooray! Have done all the money moving around. I actually really enjoy that. I could set it up automatically but I think it's helpful to consciously move it to the various pots.
Ended up January at -160 which isn't too bad at all. Start February with a clean slate

Acc1 -1176

Yesterday spends
£22 takeaway treat for payday today

Will be spends today for diy stuff and some new clothes and uniform for the DDs in the next size up.

Payday!!

I've spent £112 before even getting out of bed 😬 had lots in my Amazon basket for dds bday and party.

This will be a spendy month but once dds bday (her 18th) is out of the way in a couple of weeks things should calm down a lot.

Just saying hi. Have been away with work with limited internet so I'm behind and also skint. Just had £50 of expenses repayed with another £115 due. Bit frustrating paying out towards the end of the longest month in the year and having to wait for it back. Shopping arrived yesterday £65. Whilst not shopping has been good for the wallet I ended up with no food or milk when I got home late this week so not ideal. £75 today for a course and £70 tomorrow for ds driving lesson. I've also paid out for sports trips and uni visits for him this week so very skint.

payday here too. woooooo!!

thrown another £250 at credit card. need to wait until monday to pay another chunk off - because our paydays moved and i had to change my standing orders etc i want to make sure 've got sufficient in the account before i do this!

Spent 7.65 in the co-op on bread, milk, potatoes, spinach, sliced turkey and a cucumber. Not too bad, I am hoping this will be the last spends of the month. Used the cash I found in pockets and bags.

Today's menu is bacon sandwiches for breakfast with coffee, h/m celery and carrot soup for lunch with ryvitas and cream cheese, and h/m chicken kebab with h/m vegetable rice and spinach and cucumber salad for dinner.

Happy Friday Everyone!
Hope those of you who've been paid this week have noticed a little bit extra in there due to the NI cut.
Did the weekly big shop at Aldi earlier and managed to stay within budget and snuck in a few extra treats too. The whole shop cost <£72 so I'm pleased with that and will allow £13 for top-ups later in week.
Any thrifty plans this weekend?