Spending, saving, snogging and smiling!

vandanfc

Probably very controversial, but can you cut grocery spend a wee bit more. Even a fiver a week less is worth it.

vandanfc

What survey sites are you signed up to apart from Lightspeed ? If you are not already a member Valued Opinions isn't bad. Toluna okay, but slow with vouchers.

vandanfc

Edit - bummer, just opened letter from my buildings and contents insurers and it's gone up £2 a month. Shortfall £49 a month....you win some, you lose some....

Will look for a better deal but it includes a staff discount so I doubt I will find anything cheaper.

So now £21 per month ? What size of house are you in and what level of cover do you have ? Might be worth ringing these guys for a quote: 0800 093 5250. Deeside Insurance brokers. I have renewed with them this year and got a very good price.

Snaggles

Cheers!

I used to do all sorts of survey sites, I think Valued Opinions was one, so I will revisit that too. Not sure I was ever with Toluna, but will take a look.

It's £20 a month for the house insurance, previously £18. It's for a fairly average sized 2 bed house, and includes accidental damage (for obvious reasons, lol....although I'm not sure throwing a laptop or DS at the floor would be construed as accidental, so I haven't dared try to claim!).

I can try to keep the grocery spending down - this week's has come in well below budget, but £10 a week goes on nappies alone, so it's quite tight to stick to £40 for everything else as it is.

There's a couple of things I have to buy well known brands of because I have reactions to cheaper ones (deodorant, moisturiser and shampoo for example, and even then I don't buy premium brands, only Sure, Olay, Pantene), but apart from that I stick to Smart Price or supermarket own brand. My cupboards are a sea of white and green. :rotfl:

I think I will try to challenge myself not to visit the supermarket and just do internet shopping, because even if I can't find a free delivery code, I seem to spend a lot less.

I've worked out that the reason I haven't struggled so far is that I paid my car insurance upfront last year, and I'm not paying for contact lenses because I cancelled the contract and still have a couple of pairs left. But I will have to pay monthly for car insurance this next year, and will need new contact lenses before long. Might be able to get those slightly cheaper, but have never been brave enough to just ask for a prescription and then go and buy them online before.

vandanfc

I would def. give the broker I mentioned a ring - I am in a bigger house also with accidental cover and only pay £21 per month for b & c insurance.

vandanfc

Have you swapped energy suppliers at all recently ? Have you checked that you are on the cheapest tarrifs ? Some firms are offering cashback to switch to them - scottish power, eon, npower, british gas all seem to offer something - all showing on Topcashback.

beanielou

You have been a busy bee hun
Your finances are much more healthy than mine:rotfl:

Keeping_Positive

Hello :wave:

Glad to see you are making progress in the shortfall. Im sure you will find the rest especially when the dreaded xmas is out the way. Have you signed up to any bingo sites. I use Lovebingo that gives me one free scratchcard a day and two on sunday. Minimum of 80p a week that adds up. Valued Opinions is still ok comes in dribs and drabs but I have done quite well recently. Those £10 vouchers are handy.

I understand about wanting to spend more on your kids than you should. Its so hard to keep saying no. So Im glad you have a good arrangement with your ex.

lilmissmup

Hi Snaggles!

Nice to see you having a diary again. Hope you don't mind if another recently single after a long term relationship lady joins the ride

hypno06

Any jaffa cakes going.........

Re B&C insurance - I went to Morethan this year - £300 all in for my 4 bedder because they are doing free contents ins if you take out buildings cover. PLUS £80 cashback on quidco........It's only a couple of weeks since I did mine, so well worth a look.....:D

Hope the date goes well, and no hiding in bathrooms is required