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Cost of living

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Amigos actively attempting austere actions August 24>

711 replies

Happierwithouthim · 26/07/2024 17:15

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

Familiar Friends in Frugality(Feb 24>) | Mumsnet

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

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

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Thread gallery
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Happierwithouthim · 17/08/2024 08:26

Interesting rum I stopped getting them from all except one lovely food truck that does amazing cakes & try to keep that to a minimum too

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Happierwithouthim · 17/08/2024 08:29

So my old mortgage will go out on 31/08/24 €637.39 and new mortgage on 16/09/24 €621.00 what's the betting solicitors won't have sorted out my transfer in this time GrinHmm
Luckily I've savings & the money will come back to me.

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Starlight40 · 17/08/2024 11:30

We spent £15 yesterday at our local bowling place and we have a discount code to go back and I saw a local gym offering adult football shirts for £22 on a Facebook page so I have been down and bought 2. No idea where they are from but they look and feel like the real thing. My son asked for one and I haven’t bought him one for years. I can’t justify paying £80 if he loses interest again.x

lifelongfrugaleer · 17/08/2024 12:36

Skoda kamiq SEL. It’s currently on a ship.
I gave up on tgtg as well. Still like a yellow label hunt though

think we came home with some kind of bug. Dh and I feel
lousy.

Nellieinthebarn · 17/08/2024 12:49

£20 on milk, bread, and treats for the DGkids who are due soon. I also have a bottle of prosecco chilling in the fridge for DD. Its unopened but left over from christmas so I hope its ok, I don't drink so have no idea, DH who does drink but thinks prosecco is muck, won't give an opinion. Bit annoying as I actually want one from him, he's usually quite forthcoming whether I want it or not.

lifelongfrugaleer · 17/08/2024 14:24

The Prosecco will be fine Nellie

Happierwithouthim · 18/08/2024 11:26

Lovely car life and great to have it at a smaller payment. Happy motoring.

That's lousy to come back from hols under the weather

I did back to school shopping yesterday
3 pairs of runners & school bag in sports direct €166
Uniform shop €193 (with another visit there on Monday)
€30 online for a pair of leggings each for myself & dd
€56 dunnes on bits for school, a running top for me & sunglasses for me-I had €16 rewards vouchers towards this
€26 on a burger, hot dog & chips from a street food trader at local festival
€1 cex shop on dvd of podge & ridge for ds

€96.40 on a disappointing dinner out for 4

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Happierwithouthim · 18/08/2024 11:30

Nellie Opened probably only good for two days unopened good for a long time

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IDontHateRainbows · 18/08/2024 16:15

ebadame · 26/07/2024 20:40

Has anyone else filled their freezer with reduced food?

If only I could

Sadly we only had space for an American style fridge freezer which has bugger all space in it. I dream of having a large chest freezer to put all my yellow sticker bargains in.

2024Hackathon · 18/08/2024 18:57

€96.40 on a disappointing dinner out for 4

I am always so disappointed when that happens.

Or when you plan something as a treat an it just doesn't work out that way.

We're beginning to see some gaps opening up in our pantry inheritance but it will probably still provide the backbone of what we eat for another year (for which I'm thankful).

However, I admit that we bought some meal replacement mixes for DH (£130 or thereabouts). These were more expensive than some on the market but I know that they had to mix in easily (within seconds) and just involve a shake, not a blender. They also had to taste good and have an acceptable composition. He's pleased with the ones that we bought and they should give him some choice over the next few months. And, to be fair, I'd have happily have paid privately for Monjaro injections for him if I thought it would have helped so this is substantially cheaper.

If there's one thing that DH's current health investigations are highlighting to him it's that he needs to shed much of the weight he gained. The payment for the mixes is about to come due which is why it's on my mind but, in combination with greater commitment to the Peloton, he's dropped about 9lbs or 4kg.

We'll see what unfolds.

RumBananaSundae · 18/08/2024 19:14

Oh Happier I’m always disappointed too when something does live up the expectations. Sorry about your meal.

This weekend has been dreadfully spendy.
£1 on some hand soap.
£12(ish) on groceries I mostly didn’t need in a combination of Waitrose, Aldi and Sainsbury’s. Waitrose was a GC.
£28 on some photographs at Snapfish. The shipping was almost as much as the photographs.
£8(ish) on two drinks in Pret with my friend as she’d taken me for lunch.
£lots on next year’s holiday.

This week is annoying me already. I’ve looked at my work diary and there’s two events. I hate events where you’re expected to go, they cost money and are not on company time.

PositiveDays · 18/08/2024 19:27

Long time lurker but have now decided to join the thread to help keep me accountable. Need to build up some savings and tackle debt

Happierwithouthim · 18/08/2024 20:25

Excellent @PositiveDays glad we could entice you on board

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Happierwithouthim · 18/08/2024 21:18

It's local to bf his dish was a special €34, two small pieces of fish, 3 cherry tomatoes, one baked potato & a small helping of veg. Mine was seafood linguine and other than the chilli in the sauce it was tasteless.

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2024Hackathon · 18/08/2024 22:10

I’ve looked at my work diary and there’s two events. I hate events where you’re expected to go, they cost money and are not on company time.

I feel embarrassed about this but I share your feelings. I just don't feel the value of what these are supposed to achieve. And as somebody whose bill is routinely approx. £10 (usually a side salad and some water), splitting the bill with colleagues who drink alcohol or fancy non-alcoholic drinks plus a couple of courses means that my 'share' is rarely less than £40.

I've been very fortunate this year that I've been able to reduce this to 3 events but I admit that I resent it.

Happierwithouthim · 18/08/2024 23:20

As someone who does drink hack I'm horrified that you've to subsidise your colleagues drinking that's definitely unfair

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lifelongfrugaleer · 19/08/2024 07:59

I refuse to do so hack. It’s tough to speak up and say no but I’m gobby. I refuse to subsidise alcohol.

RumBananaSundae · 19/08/2024 22:14

Oh Hack absolutely. I hate it but never speak up. People are rude when it comes to spending others’ money. Generally I don’t go but sometimes it’s a bit too political to avoid.

Today was mostly gift card spending. £1.45 on milk and £7.20 on juice. I met up with some hobby friends this evening - £9 for a gin and tonic. In a local pub. I won’t be going there again. Now trying to wind down with YouTube. I don’t miss cable at all. I can’t believe I spend so much on it.

ememem84 · 20/08/2024 06:58

Hello frugal friends. It’s been a while.

a lot has happened.

school hols.
dd turned 5 (how?!)
family from nz came to visit. So fun.

and I had a bit of a life blasting part news yesterday.

turns out I have breast cancer. Treatable. But still shit.

so there we are. You might be seeing more of me.

Happierwithouthim · 20/08/2024 07:35

Wow em that's a blow but good that it's diagnosed & treatable, wishing you nothing but healing vibes

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Rainbow1901 · 20/08/2024 08:23

@ememem84 So sorry to hear this but as a survivor of 8 years so far. I can tell you that it is shit!! But you've got this - they have told you it is treatable. It won't a great deal of fun while you go through the treatment but I'm happy to hold your hand any time. Hugs!!

2024Hackathon · 20/08/2024 08:49

I had a bit of a life blasting part news yesterday.
turns out I have breast cancer.

em So sorry to learn this. Best wishes for the smooth running of your treatment pathway.

ememem84 · 20/08/2024 09:41

Guys.

thank you.

its been a whirlwind of 10 days. From finding something odd to diagnosis.

im in the “is this a shit not funny dream” stage now.

lifelongfrugaleer · 20/08/2024 10:53

Em ❤️

lifelongfrugaleer · 20/08/2024 13:18

10 days is good going though. Hopefully caught early enough for not too invasive treatments

and 5 holy shit. The am I pregnant debate wasn’t that long ago. Flipping heck

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