Amigos actively attempting austere actions August 24>

[Happierwithouthim]

Link to last thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/5007277-familiar-friends-in-frugalityfeb-24?latest=1

All welcome, the vibe is frugal life to make the things that matter possible, which is different for everyone, some of us have overcome debt, separations etc. All are friendly and we're sometimes chatty, sometimes quiet.

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After expensive weekend away I'm now trying to do a 'ten day stretch' on only £50. This is for personal spends and does not include family food shopping, fuel or bills. Should be do-able but I know I will struggle unless I plan in advance and dodge the coffee shops! I have some ready made coffee in those cans, and a flask - thinking to warm some up in the microwave and put in a flask whenever i go out as cold coffee doesn't quite appeal this time of year!

I'm usually a sucker for a pumpkin latte but they are now £5, £6 at the chains so sod that.

Few spends in town today. £30 Holland and Barrett. £5.50 mil face cream.

Successfully getting through the 10 day stretch mainly by not leaving the house. Bought some leather insoles on Amazon as they have come loose in my new boots and annoying to wear until I replace, only £3 odd as I had some Amazon credit. Amigos, I have also beaten the 'going out for a coffee' habit 2 days in a row, amazing for me!

So that's only £3 in 2 days. Tomorrow I'm helping out on my daughters school trip. Means free entry to the science centre and I'll take a packed lunch and flask.

€20.24 in Lidl
€5 exercise class

@IDontHateRainbows could you buy the pumpkin spice & make your own? Maybe after the £50 limit has passed?

Well done rainbow

booked my Xmas eve Sainsbury slot. We are currently getting a £60 bottle of champagne

5 NSDs for the month so far!! That is rubbish!! Hairdressers yesterday £28 and picked up a few odds and ends for Christmas. The Christmas spends come out of the Christmas Savings so I'm okay with that but it's been difficult avoiding the shops as we seem to keep running out of things which is daft as the freezer and cupboards are full!! Mainly bread - but the GCs seem to inhale that for breakfasts!! Still need cooking oil but will get that when I go to Sainsburys to collect DDs Birthday present.
@lifelongfrugaleer apart from covid times - I don't shop online for food - but I can quite see why busy families will go for it. I like an amble round the shops!! 🤗

I may do that! You can buy the ready made pumpkin latte in a bottle which is not too bad compared to buying one in a cafe but they seen to have made it really sugary, don't know if they changed the recipe.

Problem with going out for coffee is it's not just about the coffee, it's a chance to get out of the house as I'm currently unemployed so home all day and can get a bit bored! I suppose on a sunny day I could do flask + park but precious few of those now!

I do have the Meerkat app so 25% off at Nero which brings it down to 2019 prices

I do a mix of online and amble but not Christmas when I’m booking for the masses

@IDontHateRainbows do you have a library locally? Could be a good place to go out, sit in the warm, and take a flask.

£418 to cc1 (from holiday pot)

Checking in! still here!

soends today £113 Waitrose. Mostly snacks today. I replenish the snack drawer once every 6’weeks and when it’s gone it’s gone.

then £3 coffee by the sea whilst waiting for my Pilates class.

almost finished the nasty Red Devil chemo. Final round of this is next week. Then moving to a hopefully easier one. Phew.

Keep going @ememem84 You got this!! It's great when you can count down the number of treatments left. I hope you've not been suffering too much with side effects but don't forget to do nice things for you when you feel up to it. We just did little things like a walk around the local garden centre for fresh air and finish off with a coffee and cake. It's the little things. Hugs!!

This mornings little treat. Coffee outside by the sea before Pilates. Hoorah.

That's a lovely view! Looks a bit fresh and cool - just reminds me I need to dig out my winter coat!! Enjoy the coffee!! 🤗

Lovely thing to do @ememem84

Best wishes for the continuing treatment.

Lovely view. Don't know if it's the same over the sea, but waitrose currently are running a 20% off no1 products. @ememem84

Holiday balance: 2350 (-418 paid, but it hasn't updated the balance yet)
House project 3 balance: 3640

Am tackling the holiday balance first. Next payday payments planned 375 + 450

Otherwise enjoying the bright sunny day 😎 whilst I work

16 degrees here today. So in theory shorts and flip flops.

but oh the sun was glorious. So wonderful. This is without a doubt my fave time of year.

sunnies boots and jumpers.

been to the pub this evening. Kids at a movie night at school so a few mums decamped to the local pub whilst it was on. So lovely.

also started watching rivals. DH hath decreed that it is far too racy for a Friday night in the house. So I’ll finish the season whilst in chemo on weds. Rupert Campbell black. Woof.

I love a boots and sunnies day. Lovely view em.

25% off tu clothing this weekend and apparently stacks with BLC and Argos vouchers.

food currently £120 plus £57 gusto. I need a home bargains top up too.

Started stocking the freezer for Christmas (main goal will be not to eat it before then!) And trying to confirm numbers - not too worried though as will get a few different ready to go dishes in the freezer if there are laat minute changes (e.g. big ham, quiches/tarts, sides, etc.) Ordered Christmas present for the inlaws.

Otherwise house project#3 continues and doing a bit of prep work ready for the workers to come back on Monday. Weather has not been the most conducive but fingers crossed for no rain tonight.

Bank switch requested so £175 bonus in about 3months time I think (depending on when the switch goes through).

Thanks for the notification @lifelongfrugaleer . Depending on weather and house project it may well be worth it to stop in and pick up socks and pants!

8 NSDs to date. Did a quick stop after work at Home Bargains £13.34 and £21.40 in Lidl. Plus a stop at the Chippy for tea £14.25!! 😋

I'm afraid NSDs gone out the window for me this weekend. I got offered a job last week so had a bit of a celebratory spend as I've been really careful lately BUT I don't want to go mad before I start/ get paid in case something goes wrong plus it's 6 months to begin with, could lead to perm not guaranteed so need to buffer up my savings.

However I did treat myself to a couple of pints down the pub, then walk to park today so breakfast bap hot chocolate and parking £13.

Bought a silver gilet at £20 to replace one I bought a few years ago now gone a bit worse for wear, plus a few new clothes for work as not worked since June. Didn't need them.but nice to have a new outfit and wasn't too expensive
Shirt £34
Trousers £28
Waistcoat £12
Cardigan £20

I'd better rein it in now til pay day! But I may relax my budget a little as I dont start until week after next and next week is half term here so as it's my last week off for a while I'm going to enjoy myself without splurging.

Had a day in town yesterday, nothing unbudgeted but both dc thanked me for a great day

Finished up having food out & asked for a tub to take home remaining pepper sauce and it was gorgeous, waitress went back into kitchen and filled tub up completely, I then left her a tip so it wasn't free but we'll be having restaurant grade steak & chips tonight le yum as em would say
^
€1897.45 on tiles for lobby, kitchen & new snug space, saving €450 with family & friends discount

€95.40 on paint for said areas & ds's bedroom, the magnolia I previously got for him can be used in lobby.

€65 in Penneys both dc happy (primark in uk)
Saw a beautiful coat for me but wasn't in my size dsis will check another outlet today for me.

€34 in guineys €18 for a throw for bf's, this is my third winter at his & his heating isn't great & with stove on it's lovely but I miss cosiness of a throw.

€20.90 eating out as ds didn't want anything

€99 on 200kg coal, should do most of the winter.

Double child benefit in two weeks & an electricity credit so I'm going to put the extra cb & electricity credit with my budgeted fuel budget into my oil tank.

We'll be sorted for winter then, lots of turf from df & bf got us a crate of timber in springtime. Lots of offcuts from building extension^ so that's that.

Did third consult with ikea on Fri so approx €6k for kitchen tomorrow

7 hours gone yesterday in town and no groceries going to go now before Storm Ashley gets worse

@IDontHateRainbows congratulations

€58 diesel

€115.29 in Aldi

€10.98 local store on huge bag frozen sausage rolls & a half sliced pan
Aldi have gigantic sweet potato for 79c I paid €4.50 on Fri in farm shop for 3 of them to equal size of one in Aldi today

I'm done!
Home to tidy my room