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.

Don't lurk, join in

Great news on the job rainbow

Thanks. Aware it's not a stable work situation until I've settled in and proved myself so resisting the temptation to spend spend spend! Ran the gauntlet of the Trafford centre today to get daughter a coat, managed to avoid buying too much crap/ unplanned stuff.

Lunch at wingstop £14 for 2
Coffee £5
Coat and slippers for daughter £54
Underwear for son £12

Halloween decs £14

All planned/ anticipated so spendy but OK.

I want to hide under a rock - having recently replaced the fridge freezer - the dishwasher has given up the ghost. It was 20+ years old but still.............😠

Annoyingly it looks like I need a new cooker, but this is what I am trying to build an emergency pot for. All our appliances and both cars are getting on in years, and realistically coming to the end of their lives, and sods law says they will all go at the same time. I have managed to save nearly 2k since January, and this is the first thing to come out of it. So, not too bad, and budgeted for in a way.

Great stuff Nellie budgeting working at its best

@nellie agree with happier, this is just what budgeting is for
@rainbow well done on the job and fingers crossed for it to become permanent
@happier so nice the kids enjoyed it - makes it all worthwhile. Great saving on the tiles! Sounds like it's all full steam ahead 🏠

Sadly weather meant the workers couldn't finish the job. They'll be back later this week hopefully. Otherwise we've continued to plug away on related jobs that need doing and don't require professionals. Getting quotes for phase 3 - no responses yet.
Frugajobs: £205 on new bed frame second hand on ebay (still selling new at £400) as we'd had the previous one for 10yrs and it was getting a bit ratty and was a cheap one to begin with.
Birthday present for OH on its way. (Saved £40 using code).
Got to keep an eye on food spends (only £80 left in the budget)

Em that view looks familiar, it's very close to where we stayed isn't it?
Idonthaterainbows well done on the job
Life good work on the Xmas delivery booking
Nellie great budgeting for the cooker
Rainbow1901 our house feels a bit like yours at the moment. We've replaced the fridge freezer & combi oven in the last year and I feel like other things might give up the ghost soon.

I've not posted for a couple of weeks as there has been lots of family stress which is becoming the norm really. Another day in A&E with dad after another fall. Had thorough investigations & finally has been referred to the memory assessment service. His behaviour towards me has reverted to type with lots of shouting & aggression which takes me back to growing up & is hard to deal with. DD has had a bit of a mental health breakdown which resulted in her coming home with me from our meet up in York. She went back to uni yesterday but still pretty fragile.

Spending has not been well controlled but have managed to stick to home cooking with no meals out or takeaways. My pay rise lands tomorrow which will be very welcome & then we've got a quieter month ahead.
We had a weekend with ds in Somerset £300
Day in York £100
New jumper & pair of boots £150
Food shop coming in at less than £100 a week now we are only two.
Gas & elec usage significantly down too. BG have even reduced our DD amount
In Devon staying with the in-laws this weekend

The frugality totally collapsed yesterday I'm afraid to say. I had an unexpected windfall of around £100 so rather than save it or put it towards something sensible I'm afraid to say I cained it all on living it up...
Went into town centre had lunch, drinks and bought some essentials from boots / whsmith. Spent £40 odd. Resisted expensive clothes or makeup at least. We're taking boring things like cotton buds, deodorant, pens.

Then went out with a local women's group last night everyone said 'just for an hour' but ended up coming home at midnight £40 spent on booze and around £12 on taxis.
So I pretty much spent that £100 with very little to show for it, but I had a great time and as it was unanticipated money it's not coming out of budget at least.

Just have to ensure its not a regular thing!

Cheaper day planned today, taking daughter ice skating will take flask of tea and snacks with me to avoid any cafe temptations!

@northender it is. It’s in st aubins by the harbour. So just down the road from where you stayed.

big news here. Finished 4/4 of the more agressive “Red Devil” chemo yesterday. 2 week break for recovery then move on to a “lighter” one on a weekly basis. Phase one done. Phew. And I still have some hair left. Win.

moneywise I’m using my time off to a) save money by not being in work and in town with temptations -!: b) trying to sort stuff for Christmas.

idonthaterainbows don't beat yourself up about your spending. You had a good day, you bought some practical bits and, as you say, it was unbudgeted money.
Em great news that first phase is done

@north Sorry to hear about ddad and dd. I hope you've got someone looking after you too. It's tough being in the middle of the sandwich 💐
@rainbows I'm a believer in the odd treat it sounds like you had a great time - £52 well spent.

Frugajobs:
The opposite as celebrating aunt's big birthday this week and also helping my niece move. Spends aplenty, but most have been budgeted for or paid already.
Switches have been requested so will be transferring money around when payday hits.
Avoided spends by having a freezer buffet rather than takeaway!

North ❤️
i think that treat is well deserved rainbow
Hurrah em. 4/4 done
few spends, mostly food
i need a new deodorant. Mine just not cutting it anymore. Not Mitchum or wild

We use Bionsen roll on deo

I ended up waiting in for ikea delivery this morning & fell into Ticketmaster website & bought two tickets. Bf's Christmas present sorted, Christmas is budgeted for so all good!

I just realised his Christmas present for last year coincides with his work Christmas party this year. Oops, maybe we could go to show and then he could join them afterwards or we could it's my former workplace

€30.35 on bperfect sale would've been €50.90 full price and I'd the money in my revolut which is off budget money

I’ll give it a bath north.
who did you book happier?

Feeling meh. Likely had covid this week or some bug

@life I use dove or aldi
@Happierwithouthim sounds exciting.

Frugajobs: I too, like happier, used my round ups account to part pay for dinner last night. Had a brilliant night, but train delays mean we will need to pay the babysitter extra. Used railcard to bring down travel cost and walked to avoid tube fares and will need to try and claim delay repay.

The Sawdoctors

I use sanex but don't sweat much

I sweat loads. Bloody meno

all ahead of me I guess.

House project #3 workers all finished. We are now doing the finishing. Probably another 2hrs worth of work and then all done on that.
House project #1 has been sent to a recommended plumber but no reply either on that.
Otherwise making the most of the dry weather and out in the garden. 1 tip run already done. Trying to get quotes for garden project #1 but proving difficult. One quote came in but was beyond what we were prepared to pay so we've been doing some of the labour but need a professional. So might get that person to quote again now we've scaled the job back.

Transferred money for switch1 so will leave that in until Monday evening/Tuesday morning and then transfer it out again.

Another tip run done and 2hours solid in the gardening. OH still out there now whilst I'm on messy play duty. Think both dds might be a bit under the weather, might do a film night later as we're travelling to see family tomorrow. £10 on petrol for the lawnmower.

I’m into the garden today before the bin goes on wed and I’m not sure how many we have left

Christmas shopping today. Eeeep. Trying to get the kids stuff done before k start on the weekly chemo.

hungover to shit today though. One small glass of red yeaterday. Apparently I hadn’t quite shaken of the meds….! 🤣🤣

so coffee it is.