Is your March miserly or munificent? Join the frugaleers sharing news and tips.

[BigSkies2022]

New thread

NSD for me today, well, I spent £2.60 on make up remover and £37 on a gift for a friend's birthday but used points rather than money.
Welcome @PinkPonyPugClub and @Peanutlicious this chat really does help!
My kitchen also has annoying cupboards I have to clean the top of. Argh

My sister got her kitchen made by a husband and wife team that make it themselves. It meant they were able to design it for the space and it was actually cheaper than a big box store one.

however in your case I’d check to see where the kitchen is originally from. If they still sell it it’s possible to just get some modifications done.

mine is a b&q kitchen they still sell and I could probably go there and get it redesigned to be more practical but it’s more hassle then it’s worth to me at the moment.

Our kitchen was put in by our vendors, about 17 years ago. It's a Howdens, and I want rid! I have a long list of changes across two connected rooms - involving kicking out a window and turning it into a door; bricking up the existing door and making it into bigger windows and adding kitchen worktops; decent aluminium windows and doors; underfloor heating; new flooring; proper ducting outdoors on the extraction system (currently a stinky useless bit of filter paper on a fan over the hob); gas hob changed to electric induction; possibly the chimney breast turned into storage; better lighting and electrics; space for a big dishwasher instead of the shite integrated little one. There's a whole bunch of fundamentals that have to be sorted before I think about units. Honestly, I could. go on and on. I don't imagine we'll come out with much change from £30k, possibly more, but where do I start? An architect? a kitchen designer? I don't want to extend, or move drains, just - just! - use the existing footprint much better.

47 yesterday in tesco
today should be 0

@BigSkies2022 I did a big renovation last year which involved blocking windows, swapping kitchen and part of living room round to create a kitchen diner and a snug as well as an external courtyard.

I have a trusted builder, plumber and electrician so asked all of these to check it was feasible before planning. \\\\we did do a lot of the grunt work - removing tiles, painting and fitting the kitchen. Our total budget was £20000 and it came in around £23000 (this included 2 new sofas and 2 new tvs so not as bad as it sounds, We used IKEA for kitchen as I was impressed with old kitchns longevity

Gosh, that sounds a very good price grannycake. I think we'd be using Plykea (IKEA carcases, customised fronts and worktops) for the units, and there is an option for them to fit. I need to talk to our guy who does all our bathrooms - he's a talented all-rounder, a plumber, a carpenter, great tiler, electrician, has a regular team, and hires in extra trades to do additional work where needed. It's going to be skips, underfloor insulation, fixing the crumbling cellar roof beneath the floor of one of the rooms, will it require RSJs, planning consents...I have no clue, just a wishlist at present.

I long for the days when we can rebuild our kitchen. Our new build is only 8 years old and the kitchen is fine, it just doesn't use the space well.

I remember when I was planning my kitchen renovation a few years ago that there was a planner mentioned an awful lot on Mumsnet - she had rave reviews and was booked up months in advance. Think her name was Karen? Company name had Plan/Planner in it I think, if anyone else has a better memory than me??

A bit of a spendy day as I’ve been to the hairdresser. £54.50 to have it all braided up so I don’t have to deal with it for 6 weeks!

Very tempted by a takeaway but I know there’s food in the fridge 🙄

Spendy day here too 🙄
Petrol £41
Went to McArthur Glen outlet, bought 4 Joules polo shirts for Dh £80 but we saved £40 buying them there instead of online . Hotel choc £3 for a huge bag of mis shapes for Dd1. Whittards 2 tins of hot choc as a thank you to a friend £22 , their new Mango flavour, which is delicious and the sticky toffee puddingy favourite . Great dates on them both , she loves Christmas so l know she will put them away for Christmas.
Charity shop , a new oven glove and 2 new skirts for Mum £6 St Davids Hospice and a new M@&S picnic set in a basket and 4 books for £7 Cancer UK .
Iceland £13.50
Will put pics on now 😁

Here's the skirts, picnic stuff 😁 .

VLSD here. Two croissants for breakfast on the beach with a friend 1.80€, then she insisted on paying for lunch because 'you got breakfast '. I know her well enough not to argue

You always get good chazzer bargains Mary
i need a new kitchen. The layout is ok and I’ll keep the worktops but the rest can do one

welcome new frugaleers.

Spends couple of days being needed clothes

@lifelongfrugaleerahh thank you re the bargains, it's just luck and being there at the right time l think 😁
Good luck with the new kitchen 😁

Low ish spend today. Bought some new jeans so now I have jeans that actually fit me even though they are the largest size I’ve ever bought. Also a Twix at lunchtime.

<immediately spots why she needs jeans a size larger>

Went to Lidl on my lunch break and spotted rolls of wrapping paper and communion and confirmation cards for a really good price so I got them. We have 3 communions and 2 confirmations to go to in April and May!

Overall a LSD.

🤣🤣🤣

God how random was that well done you and Lidl !

Great bargains @MaryGreenhill , I love the picnic wear. I used to live beside a large M&S and was able to stalk their sales to get their picnic wear at 70% off. I love how it looks like real plates and not plastic.

today was spent in the sun setting up the garden for the summer. Last year was so wet that some cushions etc needed a good wash to remove mildew etc. we also had furniture setup in an area that meant they got covered in tree sap. This year I will be smarter and setup differently. All part of the party setup that we are hosting.

spent €26 on cushion covers to supplement what we already have.
€72 on 2 garden storage boxes. I’ve realised the key to keeping things nice outside it to make it easy to put away the cushions. So garden boxes close to the seating areas is key. Last year I bought 2 expensive rattan storage benches but they are useless as storage. The included cushion bags let in water which is so annoying. I’ll use them as toy storage instead and they are nice as benches at least.

€156 replacing the chairs that DH broke. Used my personal sinking funds for these purchases. This should be the last of the garden furniture purchases this year. I spent a good amount last year and I’m glad to say its all still good and works even in different areas.

VLS today, and I also have a black eye following my ophthalmology procedure! Went home with an eye-patch, and occupied a priority seat on the bus with no guilt.

Motivated by kitchen chat, I have contacted our plumber and he is coming on Monday to take a first look and talk through my wishlist, so I hope I will come out of that knowing a bit more.

Hi everyone!
Joining this thread as I’m hoping it will keep me on track and stop me spending un-necessarily.
Saving up to do our bedroom and en-suite up - decorate and new furniture for both.
I also want a new sofa this year and would like to go abroad next year! But we may make do with a couple of cheap uk breaks again.

Im very good at spending £40-50 on nothing and it needs to stop.
I have £335 on my credit card which doesn’t stress me out too much. DH pays the mortgage and the bills. I pay for food shopping, car insurance, broadband, my phone bill, things for the kids.
We have 2 short breaks booked this year, first one coming up this weekend. Both booked using the sun holiday codes. This weekend cost £250 and October half term is costing £100. We already have spending money for both.

I currently save about £200 a month, but would like to do at least £300.

Looking forward to being frugal with you all 😊

Morning all! Oh gosh this kitchen chat is making me dream up my kitchen... My Pinterest board will be getting an overhaul until I can afford it I think :)
Welcome to new joiners!
Absolutely adore the picnic set and sorting out garden furniture reminds me I must do mine...

NSD yesterday for me. Car went in for a service, it was due but I didn't have the funds so had planned for July to coincide with the MOT when I knew I'd have the money. OH said he would pay and to get the big service, and I'm glad as they found two punctures although tyres haven't gone down and my battery is very low. All being replaced next week. OH paid yesterday and will.pay next week which I'm massively grateful for, he keeps me and our DD very safe.

Thats good news @frugal25 , glad you will be safe motoring.

We're in a new build (3 years) and we designed the kitchen at the time so we're still really happy with it. However my garden is another story! Paving area was finished (funded by me) in September, we would love some kind of outdoor kitchen (bbq, sink, pizza oven, electric at least) but DH is going to have to fund this. We have to buy new garden furniture as well, will have to start looking around for it.

Starting to think about the summer and breaks away. We have to return to London for a week but also hoping we might be able to afford a couple of nights somewhere sunny in August. The priority though will be our Nov/Dec canary holiday as I've gone really fond of winter sun. If anyone has free/cheap ideas for London with 2 boys (11 and 6) please let me know.

I've been a bit spendy last couple of days on immediate gratification spends need to get better with that again.

Does anyone use a money tracking/budgeting app that’s free??

What do people class as a lsd ?