Significant Summer Saving, significantly less spending, super (non) splurging. Frugal folk continue being frugal here. All welcome.

[needastrongoneagain]

Making a new thread!

Please check in regular posters and welcome new people.

This is a super friendly thread to contribute to. We are all wanting to be as efficient as possible re spending but all have different budgets and priorities. No judgement here.

NSD (no spend day) for me.

Hay is £££ as last years was rubbish cos rain and the fields are taking so long to recover and perversely it’s too dry this year before now for the grass to grow.
horse here so we are ALWAYS on field and weather watch. Love donkeys too

deep breathe frugal. You got this. Allow yourself a bit of panic then remember that. A year is not very long to be debt free and you and keeping teaching yourself frugality and chip away more at it
start planning now for the mortgage hike.

train and poor lunch planning snacks always get me too
defo too hot for the tube today

yeah on the shoes already being there.

Did some errands yesterday )32 home bargains, )20 takeaways for dc. We’ve been hit by germs so food is what you fancy

today is SD 70th at DM house. Be nice to see my wider family.

Boots are from next.

I love living here (most of the time). Me and the kids this summer are doing a charity thing “30 bays in 30 days” essentially we go to a different beach every day (they are numbered) and tick them off as we go for a sea swim.

just back from a sea swim currently sitting in the garden with a coffee and pastry. For the last 2 weeks it’s been the most glorious weather.

downside of jersey. It’s so expensive. Wages are roughly the same as central London for most jobs. So are housing costs.

my uncle (in Devon) is looking to sell his place and buy somewhere else. 5 bed 3 bath parking for 7. Wrap around garden. A wood. An annex. A workshop. Land. £550k. Looks like it needs cosmetic work.

our house - 3 bed end terrace estate house 1970’s build. Garage. Back garden. £575k when we bought it. Right at the top of our budget. We wouldn’t be able to afford it if we wanted to buy it now. One down the road in worse condition that ours went recently for £850k.

a litre of milk costs me £1.80. Loaf of bread £2.75 for the basic one. And we don’t have the “normal” supermarkets. No Tesco. No Sainsbury’s. No Asda. No aldi. No lidl. Just coop. Waitrose. M&S. and a very expensive Morrisons.

we do have an amazing Portuguese supermarket. And a polish one. And we are spoiled with amazing food places. And views for days. And it’s safe. I’m pretty sure I left the car unlocked last night. We’ve left the car doors open before overnight (thanks kids).

it’s obviously the sea air which has addled my brain! 🤣

@ememem84 thank you.

@lifelongfrugaleer we normally get 70 odd round silage bales off our grass fields. This year we had 27. Never know it that’s low.

Morning everyone, thanks again to everyone for the kindness and the people who messaged me. I'm much more positive this week.

Used my pal ChatGPT to really thoroughly look through my budget and bank statements and tweak my budget and put in everything. It works on average we have about £500 'spare' a month now which feels more manageable. That's for everything (but we get gousto for dinners so food only needs to cover lunch and breakfasts). We have electric cars so no petrol costs. £500 doesn't feel like a lot but I like knowing everything will be paid and that's my lot. I also started a christmas pot as recommended and have catered in big birthdays.

Yesterday spent £80 on two coverless washable duvets for DS. He needs doubles and these looks brilliant as they can be tumble dried. He's got adhd and finds things like bed changes very overwhelming, I'm trying to wean him off my help so I think he can manage stripping sheets and pillowcases and shoving the duvet into the wash each week, much more than feeling overwhelmed about trying to get the duvet cover back on, which I inevitably end up doing.

I love Jersey, went to Jersey Zoo many years ago and had the most beautiful scone 😆
Was shocked how expensive everything was and was totally unprepared for that.
Some in our group brought gadgets though which was cheaper than the mainland.
Sounds even more expensive than central London even then have Aldi etc.

One of the “crappybarbaras” aka capybara escaped from the zoo here yesterday. 🤣

it is spendy here. But we are so spoiled. I love it. We’ve talked about leaving a few times but something keeps us here.

I have never been to Jersey but it is on my list to go for a holiday to. It looks gorgeous and you have just sold it to me @ememem84 !

Was on track for a NSD yesterday, my petrol was low but I was happy piddling about until pay day (Friday ) with it but OH frog marched me to the petrol station as he didn't like it being so low. He went to pay but then work called him so I ended up paying. £10.01 to tide me over until Friday.
I was going to work tomorrow but I'll WFH and go in next week instead so the travel cost hits next pay month instead which has evened out the petrol cost nicely.

Went for a walk yesterday morning as it was going to be a hot one, and stopped for petrol at a cheap garage on the way £50. Then tried to do some sunbathing when I got home but it was just soooo hot. Had a shower and went to B&M, just planning to get some solar light bulbs for my shepherd hooks I ordered the other day and some sponge dishwash refills - and ended up spending £37 on those,plus other post lights, a couple of organisers for my drawers and various other household bits. Then I went to TK Maxx and bought some dog treats, some really knocked down notebooks, a yoga mat and a small whiteboard. I’ve decided the whiteboard is going back and when I looked at the receipt they’ve charged me twice for it!! Also spent £7.50 in Aldi on pizza for dinner (I was thinking about getting a takeaway so this was definitely a cheaper option!) and a couple of mini proseccos as I really fancied a limoncello spritz!

The yoga mat is for my spare bedroom (I already have one downstairs….) as I think if I set it up in there ready to go, I’m more inclined to actually do some exercise. They say make your environment conducive to facilitate the good habits you want to create, right?!

Planning on a NSD today 😊

NSD on Friday. Failed on Saturday - I bought a paper and a meal deal to take to work. The evening was no better - we normally have a takeaway but couldn't agree on what we wanted and it was still really warm. So we ate out at a local horse charity cafe - we both got what we wanted to eat and the horses also got a donation and it was paid for with my wages for working on Saturday. So no hit on the bank account. Today - Lidl £46.11 Sigh!!! 😕

Nsd yesterday and today though I have eaten all the ice lollies. It’s 32 here
@ememem84 love re the escapee. Did you see re the bears in Devon who escaped raided the honey store and then fell asleep

NSD for me today, going to Lidl tomorrow instead, it's supposed to be cooler tomorrow. Boiling hot here again today but it's all changed tomorrow.
@PearlsPearl so good to hear you are feeling more upbeat bless you sweetheart 😊

LSD
£2 sticker book as bribe to behave in coffee shop where we met friends. Wasn't picked up once 😆
Husband paid for coffee
£2 for a top from next for DD as had a voucher.
It's cooler thank god!

LSD
£2 sticker book as bribe to behave in coffee shop where we met friends. Wasn't picked up once 😆
Husband paid for coffee
£2 for a top from next for DD as had a voucher.
It's cooler thank god!

Yesterday: £16.50 for a cafe lunch for me and dc after meeting friends at a playground. Lovely day as we went to a new playground in central London where we haven't been to since dc was about 2. Then £2.90 for Saturday sweets for dc. Went to the cinema too alone but had a free ticket which made me happy.

Today : £7.99 for a present for dc friend before going to a birthday party. Annoyed as I had ordered a present but it didn't arrive on time. Will gift it to someone else, though.

But dh made shakshuka for breakfast with leftover tomatoes and tinned tomatoes, using up slightly stale bread, and dinner was/is cold noodles with store cupboard basics.

NSD for me today. I’ve been busy sorting out the garden and doing other chores so no time to spend. It’s been a nice day. Relaxing in the early evening sun with a 0% beer now and feeling very chilled. Dd is at a friends.

Tomorrow will be spendy again. I’ve got to donate to the leaving presents for several members of staff. Will probably put in £40.
DD and I are going to see Billie Eilish in the evening. I was hoping to convince dd not to go and try and sell the tickets instead but she wasn’t having it. We will eat before we go but I’m sure I’ll end up buying her an expensive snack whilst we’re there. No merch or drinks though so hopefully it won’t be too bad. I think I’ll put a spending limit of £20 between us but I’ll try and stay well under that.
Ddog will have to go to the boarders for the night. That’s £40 but she’ll have him all day on Monday whilst I’m at work and I was going to have to pay for at-least one walk tomorrow anyway so it could be worse.

NSD weekend on personal account. About £27 on joint account on food. DS away this weekend, back late tomorrow, so food expenditure will increase thereafter. But we’re looking okay this month.

I have to sit down with Dh and make a list of jobs that need doing, prioritise them, and make a budgetary plan. This lovely weather makes it easy to overlook the garage roof that needs fixing, or the window sills that need attention…

managed a fast sweaty workout with weights today and a good walk with Ddog. Did some chores and found homes for various items. Planning to watch the Wimbledon highlights and go to bed with Jane Austen.

have a great Sunday evening everyone xx

LSD here. £2 for parking at a park near us, had loose change in bottom of bag so it didn't hit bank account. Then I found £1 when pushing DD on the swings. I did have a proper look to see if I could find anymore. But no. But still. Half my spends back!
Should be a NSD tomorrow seeing as I'm now WFH. Hoping Tues and Wednesday are too.

We visited Jersey 5 years ago (and met Em ) & went with easyJet holidays. Had a fab time.
£86 on groceries this weekend, including a £2 5kg TGTG veg box from Booths. Dd and I played cricket today so had a few drinks & food afterwards, about £40 in total

Meal plan for this week is
HM pizzas & coleslaw
Gnocchi bake (with butternut squash, mascarpone & kale)
Spiced chicken with quinoa & spinach salad
Sausages, new potatoes & veg
Quiche & salad
Lunches for the next 2 days: roasted veg, feta with pitta

Was that really 5 years ago?!

if anyone fancies a trip to jersey you should come. Happy to give you tips on places to visit or eat. And also happy (if wanted) to meet up. Xx

Can’t believe that was 5 years ago either.
nsd yesterday. Food shop needed today.
got this summer cold / Covid/ virus so feeling grotty

NSD yesterday and hoping for the same today. Looking after my sons dog so planning on a couple of longish walks too (second one is heat dependent) so hopefully a few calories burned.

Have reached the half stone loss point after over a month on WW so I’m pleased with that. I know I could have been more strict with myself and lost more but I think I need to step up my game with exercise.

And I’m currently trying not to book yet another cruise!! Have seen a bargain transatlantic with 0 single supplement…..but I honestly don’t NEED a cruise and could be saving for Invisalign treatment instead!

Afternoon.

Lost track of the thread this last week. Busy with life and trying to do some financial and life admin.

Ticking along here but this week is the 'danger zone' week for me!! I look at my 'pots', think I'm doing great and that there's only a week or so to go and loosen the reins a bit, underestimating how much I'll need to get to the 25th.

Ddog is my expensive pot this week and he's tipped me over budget in this department, having needed painkillers for a sore leg and antibiotics.
I'd budgeted for their groom and a bag of food, but this will have to come from another pot as I'm over budget already. Bloody Spaniel.

Anyway!! Other than that - all is okay in the Need household.

Menu plan
Spicy lentil, carrot and bacon soup, crusty bread.
Chilli
Red pepper and cashew sauce with pasta.
Basil and tomato risotto with salmon.
Home made pizza.
Lasagne and salad.

Note to self to keep up.

Spends today
£30 M&S

Afternoon everyone 😁
Shopping today
Lidl £70
Farm foods £20
Home bargains £17
They had frozen Pasta Natal egg custards in RF omg my God they are delicious 🤤 😋
Hope everyone is ok 😊

£4 on mop head