Familiar Friends in Frugality(Feb 24>)

[Happierwithouthim]

Frugal Friends Facing Forward with Fortitude http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/costoff_living/4957140-frugal-friends-facing-forward-with-fortitude

New thread

Hope everyone is good. I'm back from my holiday. We had a great time, but it worked out a lot more expensive than I'd planned. There are always extra/hidden costs such as cattery fees and airport parking etc. I need to factor these in, next time I plan a trip abroad. Although I don't think I'll be heading out of the country in 2025.

The good news is that I'm on track to pay for DD's college fees in September and I should be ok to pay for home heating oil in October.

I'm back to my frugal ways and determined to rein in my spending. I got a new fridge recently and I can rely on the freezer (the old fridge wasn't working all that well). I'm determined to buy meat in bulk and freeze it in one person portions. In case you're wondering, DD still lives here, but she spends some of her time with her Dad and some of her time with her boyfriend, so I just plan for one person portions unless I know for sure that she'll be here. I'm trying to cut down on food waste as much as possible. Not good for the environment and not good for my pocket.

DD is looking for work. I'm hoping she finds a job soon. I seem to be constantly sending her money via Revolut. And I'm mindful of the cost of buses to college in October, if she doesn't find something by then. She intends applying for her driving test soon, so that will be €85 on top of the cost of her lessons. It all adds up. I always smile when I see those 'How much does a baby cost' threads.

On a positive note, we're very short-staffed at work so I'll be starting overtime soon. The extra € will come in handy.

NSD today and should be a NSD tomorrow also.

@Nellieinthebarn that sounds great about your DH eye.

@Girliefriendlikespuppies glad you had a good holiday.

I've spent lots of time this weekend planning out summer budget activities. Need to tighten our belts as the house needs so much ongoing work the joys of period property!

We've got 3 big days out spread out over the summer circa £100 each. Zoo, aquarium and farm. Then the rest of the time is the usual swimming (annual pass), library reading challenge, nature reserve, beach (free parking thanks to blue badge). We also hoping to go a bit further afield with our NT passes as now our youngest doesn't have car danger naps any more we can drive a bit longer!

The teens also have a few days out planned with friends but mostly they will be with us.

We have 2 nights away visiting family which family have very kindly paid for so we just need to for diesel/food/ activities.

I also spent an hour sorting the fridge and freezer so trying to use things up this week so our main food shop bill was only £100 which is great, its usually £150-160 main shop, £40-50 midweek top up.

Tayto I'm closing my eyes to those talks of what dd will cost in the future & in time ds

I need to take a leaf out of your book regarding meat. I always feel more in control when I'm well stocked up with meat. I've a few bits in my freezer which will become cat food now because they're there a while

Yesterday I used Tesco vouchers to bring Milanos(Pizza Express) cost down to €26.65 we also agreed we will get one pizza to share in future so that's a help too

Dsis paid for dinner, a very disappointing steak sandwich

€6.50 snack stop

Friday was a NSD

€18.26 topup shop

@Taytocrisps absolutely! They only get more expensive really - I think primary is probably the cheapest age. Is exh helping at all with any of the costs?
@Decafflatteplease sounds like you're very organised! And some lovely activities planned.
@Happierwithouthim well done on using the vouchers

Absolutely knackering weekend. Very glad for wfh today although rest of the week in the office.
Big shop done yesterday - went with a friend to utilise their staff discount so £210 then using offers and discount was £150.
£25 teacher present donation
Money flying out - always expensive with end of term and July birthdays. We'll also be saying goodbye to our lovely childminder now DDs will be at school so £200 cash plus a gift from the girls too.

Frugajobs: keep my wallet closed!

I find this time of year is when money flies out of my account too
Extra childcare, more eating on the go, back to school, exh only pays it back in Sept, so I've everything paid at that stage just to be reimbursed for his half

oh god. childcare. i've booked the dc in for 3 weeks at kids club and a weeks swim camp. close to £1000 for this. which is insane.

was away again yesterday. up in the west midlands to see a client. travelled with my boss. he has a BA gold membership so on the way back took full advantage of the fancy lounge at heathrow.

am wfh today and tomorrow - catching up on work from the last few days. sitting in DD's room to work today so i dont get distracted by a) the messy house b) the snack drawer and c) the TV.

We had a 3 day break and spent a fair amount between the accommodation, food, and entrance to exhibitions.

I regret none of it, it's our first for several years and was much needed. It was also a way to mark the (invisible) point at which the mortgage is fully covered.

DH is edging slightly nearer to consenting to have a budget conversation. (One of these days…)

I'm at the other end of the childcare problem! my daughter is coming to stay with us in the Summer Holidays for a couple of weeks so we can help out. Luckily her work has an office she can commute to from ours a couple of days a week, and she can work from home (ours) the rest of the time.

I am so looking forward to it, I just hope I can cope with two little ones! I expect Grandad and I will be going to bed around 7;30 when the kids do though.

I nearly had a fit when she told me how much holiday club would cost. It's hardly worth her working, and she is quite well paid.

They did not flake Time. We had a lovely lunch and went to an exhibition. They are good company so I forget the flaking once (if) they’ve arrived.

Glad you had a great holiday Tayto. I need to take a leaf out of your book and return to frugal ways.

Spending has been £90 topping up my travel card, £80 on lunch, £5 on toothbrush covers, £3 in Lidl, £16 on a bra and two £2.59 TGTG bags.

I had opened the toothbrush covers before the toothbrush and didn’t realise the brush came with a cover so I can’t return them. Will give the TGTG bags a break for a while. They’ve been a disappointment recently. Will save a bit on commuting this week.

Had a measly pay rise awarded today. I know it’s better than nothing but given the shite they’re pulling you’d think they’d be a bit more generous. It’s no longer backdated either. Will be glad (on one hand) when the thing that shall not be mentioned is done and I can concentrate on job hunting.

Nellie dm baulks at cost of childcare but isn't very forthcoming either in summer holidays better at midterms, that said she's having them four days next week if ds will go and then she's coming here for a week in august to take ds & a friend to a camp and staying for two days the following week and then they're back to school.
That leaves me with three weeks to pay for.
In her defence she's also being pulled in another direction because her in-laws have medical appointments and no longer drive & she doesn't trust df to drive in the city

€4.10 on a lindor bar & drink, thoroughly enjoyed both.

Had crab claws for dinner that were freshly caught & free super garlicky & super delicious

No parental help here. I pay in surplus in to the childcare accounts every month so that it covers holiday camps etc. That way I don't 'feel' any additional expense.

Glad your friend turned up @RumBananaSundae
Crab is one of my favourites @Happierwithouthim 😋

Money still flowing like water here. Budget truly up the wazoo- top up shops and unaccounted for outings (a brunch here, snacks there), plus the various cash outs are mainly to blame. That said, we have our holiday kitty sorted and have started the sipp savings.

Frugajobs: work lunch already packed. Hoping for NSD.

Sometimes Lidl Plus is great
Gained myself a €1 off my next shop also

Today I'm going window shopping, literally shopping for windows

Signed my mortgage switch papers & discovered that the folio hasn't been transferred into my name yet 3 years later, had I not done a switch this might not have come to light

Oh well done @Happierwithouthim, good to get that sorted.

£180 in Aldi. I didn't think that it was possible to spend this much in Aldi, but I managed it. That included a bottle of gin, dog supplies and all the cleaning stuff, loo rolls and toiletries for at least 6 weeks. I also doubled up on things that keep, like jam and pickle, so in theory, I wont have to go again for the rest of the month. I will have to do a veg, bread and milk top up in about a fortnight, but can do that with other jobs to save a special trip, and save petrol.

Dh's car in for its MOT today, the number plate light wasn't working when we checked, but he gave it a light thump and it came back on.

€550 on a 6' x 4'6" picture window for kitchen and a 7' x 2' window for utility. I love them both. Put €60 diesel into bf's van for borrowing it, next time I'll be using it for getting rid of mattresses in shed I won't give him anything!
€37 diesel into car because we'll be using it going away at the weekend and he will be taking it back to my house tomorrow and he'd put diesel in it if he saw it half full

Nellie that was a great restock.

Good discounts @Happierwithouthim
Sounds like you got a lot for your money @Nellieinthebarn I often spend £150 in aldi, not sure that I buy anything particularly special but the dds and us do love smoothies.

Frugajobs: must ring bank tomorrow to ensure fixed saver doesn't renew - think the plan is to donate the interest earnt to charity (£105), use £500 for OH LISA, £500 into SIPP, and £1000 into pb (which we're using as a medium/long term savings);

Good catch on the transfer not happening.
lidl plus is sometimes fab. It I don’t shop enough to make it worthwhile

excellent Aldi shop. I need to go and do similar as school breaks next week for the summer
£74 Sainsbury’s
£277 refund for specs i just can’t get away with
might try the online ones. Any recommendations?

need petrol today

not a bad price for windows there Everything trade wise is £££££&&&& here. Still haven’t got someone for the garden

You raised a smile with your wazoo comment Chile. I feel the same. And thank you.

Glad you noticed and the papers have been signed Happier. Good savings with Lidl.

Spending has been £2.90 on snacks and yesterday was a no spend day. Today has been £5.04 in Asda on milk and dinner for today and tomorrow, £25 on my credit card and £25 topping up my travel card so it’s at the maximum when I’m back after my break. Can’t believe how much I’ve spent on travel this week. I’ve only been into town twice.

Yesterday was an awful day thought I was going to end up in hospital. Am really looking forward to my break now. When I’m back I need to take a serious look at managing stress. Have spent quite a bit more than expected this month. Hopefully after I’m back as there won’t be holiday expenses and I can think about mortgage applications as I guess I’ll have to do that whatever happens.

Had a statement from my solicitor and I’m still in credit so I won’t think about that for now. Am on the sofa taking it easy today. Work can wait until after I’m back.

Windows are from seconds department of a window supplier about an hour away.

Must measure and order lintels & sills too.

I'm dreading the rest of it and what it will cost. I've budgeted approx €50k

@lifelongfrugaleer we've used glasses direct before successfully, but I have heard from one friend that they don't do very complicated/niche prescriptions. Look out for their discount codes too.

@RumBananaSundae 😀 . Sounds like the trip will provide a much needed reset.

@Happierwithouthim great frugaleering! Sounds reasonable to me, but London and its surrounds building is outrageous. I still dread to think of how much we spent and I never even fully tallied it all up - suffice to say we could have bought a house for the same price of the renovation.

Wasn't able to use my waitrose gift card yesterday, so will have a think on what to use them for - possibly a summer holiday picnic.

Party full steam ahead!!! 🥳

Have fun chili. Thanks for the recommendation

£40 petrol yesterday

@lifelongfrugaleer I have also used Glasses Direct, and they are fine. I only have a straightforward prescription for bifocals though, and go for a classic John Lennon type frame I have worn for years.

£99&pence Aldi, £33&pence Iceland, £1.50 Poundland. £49 school uniform, £28 the spicery..

Thank you Chile. I’m hoping it does and am looking forward to being on the plane. Happy partying.

Twit emailed today and that knocked me. Kudos to those that have done this and are still going.

Spending today has been an unexpected £100 putting extra euros on my card to buy microspikes when I arrive tomorrow. Weather not looking great and think I’ll feel better with them than without. A further £5.80 in a combination of Marks and Spencer and Poundland. Spent £80 in the salon on waxing. First time in years. It feels strange. On the frugal side I’ve put some bits in the freezer that will do for some meals when I’m back.

Rum I missed you were nearly hospital. Hope things are a bit better now. Sorry things are still hard with twit. You can do this x