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

[BigSkies2022]

New thread

My streak of NSDs has come to an end! £15 contribution towards the end of season gift for Dds sports coach - and £83 for the dogs vaccinations.

I did get a £60 rebate from the TV licence people though which has gone towards topping back up the dogs savings pot. I was also given a big bag of tomatoes today. I’m going to make a vat of pasta sauce I think. I’m not a fan of most bought tomato sauce but I love a fresh, home made buttery version.

Bad luck on the migraine. Have you tried Migraleeve? It’s OTC these days but
I originally got it on prescription when I consulted my GP, and I find it stops the visual disturbance band nausea in their tracks and often stops the attack progressing to pain. I don’t have any particular triggers so an attack can come out of the blue, hence I keep the meds on me always.

Lowish SD - Window cleaner £20, Donation to NSPCC £1, Asda - £7.50 for Playdough and a t-shirt in the sale for GCs, Iceland £11, Poundland another t-shirt for GC's £5, Amazon Chia Seeds £7.99
Will need to do a shop in Asda soon - as have voucher for £10 off £35 shop to use in the next ten days. That will come in handy for the family break to Centre Parcs - we are down to provide BBQ food which can go in the freezer ready for when we go away.
DH is still on with clearing one of the sheds - so a trip to tip will be needed to get rid of rubbish. Got rid of 20 things in the spare bedroom - have decided that if I can't get the mojo together to gut the room then small baby steps can only help. All 20 items are actually out of the house so can't clutter up somewhere else!! I can see a square of carpet now!! Still lots to do though!! 😥

nsd here!

Must be the day for it as I’ve also been headache fettling. I swear by mirgalieve as I can’t take triptins

nsd today but doing a food shop for tomorrow for £76

I've never tried migraleeve but I shall grab some asap thank you! Perhaps we all need some and tomorrow we shall all be much better ❤️

Not posted for a few days but I’ve had some spendy ones! Thanks to whoever mentioned the Lidl £5 off as it reduced my small shop to £26 😊

I took a bag back to TK Maxx yesterday and got a £30 refund but I also picked up some storage boxes and some lip balm that cost £15. Today I spent £34 at the garden centre on much needed supplies - two bags of compost and four bags of bark (on special offer). Then treated a friend to lunch £17 (she will buy next time) and tonight I’ve topped up my holiday toiletries for £38 (sun cream etc) but also included stocking up on facial wash and toner. Feel I got a lot for my £38!

I booked the flights yesterday but it was too good an offer to miss. Looking the the big picture, I joined this group in March and am already in a lot better control of my finances already, so thank you everyone.

Been following this for a while now @Imperfectpolly and it’s great that you and others are in better control of your finances. What stands out to me is that people are still buying the things they want and need, meals out etc but instead of just spending Willy-Nilly they are making considered decisions. I’m retired and on a small budget but don’t miss out on anything because I’ve stopped spending on unnecessary stuff

PT session this morning, £34 at Sainsbury's (leaving £46 in this week's food budget), home to protein shake and tuna salad. Ddog is very pleased by the increase in animal protein required by this food plan and turns up, tongue out, in the kitchen any time I'm prepping food now.

Right, walk dog, and this afternoon I have a nice social phone call booked in with a mate - old school!

Well, my migraine turned into a stomach upset last night and I've had zero sleep. Absolutely exhausted and feeling disgusting. It's also turned my spending plans on their head.
No Lidl this morning but a Tesco delivery at £60.
Couldn't get some bits from Tesco I needed so Amazon was needed at £17.
Will have to go to Lidl Saturday for the rest as I refuse to pay higher prices now I'm used to bargain prices!!
Play group charged me £6 as I didn't cancel 24 hours prior (no one's fault but I hate wasted money whatever the amount)
Managed to move swimming session to next week so that money wasn't lost.
Waiting for DD to have a nap so I can get some shut eye in.
I think that's where this group is great @Imperfectpolly , I only joined in February I think but it does make you accountable. I've stopped spending on anything and everything and now have money for the things I want and need.

Sorry to hear you have been so unwell @Frugal25 migraines sound awful.

@Imperfectpolly i find this group great for being accountable. May is an expensive enough month as we have a few communions, my sisters birthday and we go on holiday at the end of the month. however i do feel in control of my finances. While i had a blip in April i'm in better control this month. last year i left these threads at this time of the year and the summer spiralled away with spending. This year im determined not to let hat happen.

Yesterday i spent €2.70 on a sparkling water at the event, could have brought my own but didn't bother.

Today should be a NSD. asked DH what suggestions he had for dinner and siad id a head of broccoli to use so chicken and broccolli bake it is. I'd never have picked this myself even though it would be obvious considering we have leftover chicken in the fridge. so big win.

I've made my shopping list and will probably go tomorrow. We still do have plenty of food but i learnt earlier this year that a weekly shop actually helps me to keep the grocery spend under control. Especially when we are trying to be healthier at the moment. Lidl also have 3 for 2 on sunscreen so will stock up on that for the summer

Been to Costco for necessary bits and pieces . DH had his lunch there as well , so that was £90. I have a Dentist appointment at Half 4 . It is just a restick of my Crown so hopefully it will be £20 .
I am an NHS patient thank God.
Hope @Frugal25, @lifelongfrugaleerand @needastrongoneagain are all feeling much better , bless you all .

Solidarity @Frugal25 I'm ill this week with a toddler it's so ... Much.... Fun

This thread looks perfect for me right now!
Can I join please?

Ahhhh @ChipshopPickledEgg I'm sorry you're in it too. I've just said to my mum "I hadn't realised you're not allowed to be unwell when you're a parent, you just crack on". I'm hoping your little one still naps so you can at least rest then if nothing else.
Welcome @mechanicalpencil :)
Feeling so much better tonight, thank you @MaryGreenhill well, I don't think I could get much worse so anything is better than what I was! Ha ha
Friday tomorrow. Wooooo.

nsd here 🙌🏻

any meal ideas that are cheap/budget friendly?

@PeenaM tonight we had spaghetti with a homemade tomato sauce (tin tomatoes, garlic, onion and herbs) pizza garlic bread (Lidl freezer) and lots of parmesan. I think about 40p per portion and very tasty.

Welcome @mechanicalpencil

Lots of NSDs in here this week, not here sadly!
Had a spendy time with DDs birthday coming up although all budgeted. I've missed a few days as work has been busy - it's been nice to have time off over Easter and bank holidays but need to catch up!

Asda £81 weekly shop
M&S £6.70

Morning.

All are welcome on this thread! It's a friendly and helpful and supportive place.

Spends so far this last couple of days are just shopping related. Weekly shop today from Ocado is higher than usual but we have friends over for dinner on Saturday. Only cooking chilli (meat based and veggie), but the extra bits like dips and a couple of bottles of wine do add to the cost.

We had a great meeting with our IFA yesterday. I did feel like hugging him. The finances are good, we have enough in our respective pots to afford for me to 'retire' and have a decent standard of living. Obviously, not every single scenario can be accounted for, we know as well as most that you never know what's round the corner but it did feel good to know I don't need to have this low level anxiety about whether we can manage long term. I still plan on being careful and organised and keeping a tight track of finance and there's some planning to be had on how best to use the resources we have to best manage tax liability etc.

I need to check I have a full state pension pot too, I'm certain I do but I'll double check,

That's a great outcome to your meeting need, well done!

I am sleeping like a teenager at the moment, Maybe the efffect of my additional exercising and shift in diet. No complaints!

Taking laptop over to DParents' today, to continue the happy trend of helping DM shop and spend a bit. Weekend going to be largely devoted to pottering in the garden, reading and exercise. PT recommended Gabrielle Lyon's Forever Strong and I've ordered it from the library. Realise that my DILs are coming to stay on 4 June, for about 2 weeks, and I'd better start doing some prep if I don't want to spend the whole stay shopping and cooking.

Yesterday and today I am buying supplies for DS birthday which is in June. This is another one of those times where I will save money by buying ahead as I won't have a last minute panic buying overpriced items.

I'm also meal planning for the week. I have never done this before but it definitely brought down the price of my online shopping basket!

@Frugal25
I honestly don't remember my Mum being poorly, she obviously would have been but we're expected to just crack on.

Afternoon everyone 😁
Been shopping for food and bits and pieces . HB £12 for air fryer liners
£24 Aldi on Mums shopping
£5 cancer charity shop and l dropped a bag off as well so that was great.
Refund of £8 in Asda George
Beautiful day here have a lovely day everyone
Hope everyone is enjoying this gorgeous weather 😁

I too was knocked out by a migraine last night and ended up sick as anything. Feel so drained today I couldn't go to work, which I was upset about in the night but I can't drive after a migraine for a day or two. Am only in my 3rd month and still in probation so didn't want to have to miss any days, but luckily my team leader has let me unofficially work from home so it won't count as a missed day. I am doing, and taking in, pretty much nothing but I'm there in body virtually anyway if not mind.

I happily spend £15 on two poles for propping up the washing lines yesterday on Amazon and they're here and I'm silly happy seeing our washing drying on the 2 new lines in the garden. Small joys!

i love cooking and making up ideas for what i have on hand. Can you let us know what ingredients you have on hand and any dietary requirements etc? I'd love to play imaginary meal plan with your pantry.

Yesterday i made a chicken and Broccoli bake. It used up the last of the roast chicken, some random bits of cheese and pasta is always cheap. the sauce was made with milk and stock so pretty frugal.

Tonight we will have curries i froze when i last made them with fresh rice. i sometimes just do a freezer dip as while im great at putting stuff in the freezer i could be better about eating that stuff later