The grand plan for Catzpaws ... can it be done?

Lemon_Tree

i'm with abbey and OH is with natwest, but through work i've dealt with loads of banks, i didn't go in the end as i was thinking of changing to halifax but i'm not sure if they do instant payments of sufficient value for what i need.

Catzpaws

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

i'm with abbey and OH is with natwest, but through work i've dealt with loads of banks, i didn't go in the end as i was thinking of changing to halifax but i'm not sure if they do instant payments of sufficient value for what i need.

Did you check out Martin's Money Tips on bank accounts? I guess if you're looking for something specific (i.e. the instant payments thing) then it's worth ringing them. Hopefully you have more luck than me with Customer Service peeps!

Catzpaws

I made a batch of veggie soups yesterday – very healthy and yummy – which I’m going to freeze/take for lunches throughout this week. Also made a batch of ham sandwiches for OH to take for lunch this week. He just needs to take them out of the freezer in the morning. (This is one of the great MSE tips that I’ve picked up from this site BTW! :T). Of the remaining slices in the loaf, I whizzed up half as breadcrumbs for topping stuff and put into freezer and the remaining half has been popped into the freezer too for slices of toast. Frugalista, hey!:p

Walking past the fruit bowl this morning, I noticed that one of the Aldi apples bought only on Thursday has gone completely rotten. Yuck! Sadly, it seems that Lidl/Aldi fruit n veg just doesn’t keep. Is there a ‘best day’ to go, I wonder??

Plan for this week:

- Sort out all DDs/SOs
- Remind OH to sort out his DDs/SOs
- Speak to work to change bank details for salary
- Organise appointment for OH to switch contact lens provider to cheaper alternative
- Ring Sky to see if I can upgrade to Sky+ for free
- Try and get a refund/credit note for shoes bought from Tesco (don’t fit properly – but no tags, no receipt)
- Submit expenses
- 3 x NSDs
- Continue healthy habits
- Keep smiling!

CP x

honeybear_2

Catzpaws wrote: »

Frugalista, hey!:p

What a brilliant word! Can I use it or is it copywright?

Catzpaws

Frugalista is SUCH a great term for my mindset at the moment. It sounds a bit more glamour puss than ‘tight’, doesn’t it?
Actually, I had already picked up a hell of a lot of tips from this site over the last 2 years or so (Stardrops, breadmaker and Quidco, anyone?), but I guess I was using the tips a bit more sporadically. My weakness (and OH’s) has ALWAYs been this ‘treats’ mentality. Because we both work hard, we feel we deserve a treat – meals, wine, beer, sweets, magazines, nicer cars, getting our ironing done, weekends away… the list was endless! But, it all certainly adds up, doesn’t it?
The diary is keeping much more focused – HURRAH!
My plan for today is to make it a positive, productive one. :T
· Lunch-time shop at Lidl (note to self: inspect veg/fruit before adding to trolley!)
· Change DDs/SOs
· Make appointment for OH at new contact lens co.
· Ring SKY
· Go for 10k run with OH after work
· Clean bathroom
On another note…. I’m DESPERATE to get to the end of the month so that I can check out my spreadsheets!! Thing is though, I’m not sure how much month 1 is going to impact on our debt as we’re not overpaying anything at the moment (due to holiday) – but, I am really hoping that I am wrong!
Spend so far today: £45 on petrol.

Lemon_Tree

i'm desperate to get to the end of this week, i get my payslip (not pay) on friday so i can work out next month before we have our 5 days away. I really want to enjoy our break away as it's for our first anniversary, but i'm so worried about the cost after what we've spent on the flat recently. argh i hate these days of worrying about spending every penny why aren't i back in the care free days????

Catzpaws

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

i'm desperate to get to the end of this week, i get my payslip (not pay) on friday so i can work out next month before we have our 5 days away. I really want to enjoy our break away as it's for our first anniversary, but i'm so worried about the cost after what we've spent on the flat recently. argh i hate these days of worrying about spending every penny why aren't i back in the care free days????

Congrats on your first anniversary (wedding or 'other' anniversary?)! Aaah, I love celebrating romantic occasions. :smileyhea
I would just enjoy the break away - without going crazy, of course. Try not to feel too anxious about the money thing - that would spoil sense of romance now, wouldn't it!

And, even I know that the care free days were more an illusion!!

Catzpaws

Off my list, I managed the following:

· [STRIKE]Lunch-time shop at Lidl (note to self: inspect veg/fruit before adding to trolley!)[/STRIKE] Went Aldi instead for some biscuits, apples and potatoes - £2.39.
· [STRIKE]Change DDs/SOs[/STRIKE] Have now changed all the ones I could and have requested mandates for others
· Make appointment for OH at new contact lens co. Do this tomorrow
· [STRIKE]Ring SKY [/STRIKE] Really pleased with this! After one phone call, managed to reduce £22 payment for Sky TV, broadband and phone package to £16. Also, found that I can upgrade to SKY + for £29 - just need to ring tomorrow. Result! :j
· [STRIKE]Go for 10k run with OH after work [/STRIKE] Ach well, I'm gonna claim this - did 5k run with OH. Bit of a cheat, but hey ho!
· [STRIKE]Clean bathroom[/STRIKE] Done!


Now doing a batch of jacket potatoes for lunches/light dinners over the next few days.

And, good news, OH has put in his claim for reimbursement of first year of fees of his Masters. Means there should be £1.5k coming our way at some point.... :j

Catzpaws

Another day in the life of my moneysaving adventure…

Christmas presents
I’m the kinda gal that likes plans. So, thinking ahead, I’m now thinking of Christmas. My plan this year is to budget and be organised. Being smarter about gift buying will be more secret weapon this year! I already Quidco/price compare etc. but this year, I’m going to buy early to take advantage of bargainous bargains.

Today, I bought 2 fab Korres make up sets @ £7 each (originally £30!) after reading about it here. Bought a Prada perfume set as well. Bought for Christmas presents.

Also, been coveting some gorgeous cashmere items from Brandalley (good site!), which will make fab presents, but will wait until next month before spending more on pressies. Will probably buy a few Christmas gifts while I’m away on holiday anyway, so don’t want to go too spend crazy before then.

Clothes
Rather than buying new clothes, I’ve been thinking about how I can revamp a couple of items in my wardrobe. One is a Topshop coat that’s perfect for Autumn weather. It’s a brilliant shape, but, I hardly ever wear it as the sleeves are too long and the colour (blue-grey) makes me look a bit sallow. I’m planning on chopping the sleeves to ¾ length, dying the coat and maybe changing the buttons to match. By the way, I don’t have a sewing machine or any dress-making skills so it could end in disaster. We will see!

The other item is a fabulous Paul Smith skirt that I bought ages ago, which I LOVE, but is just a bit too long for it to be a really versatile piece of clothing (e.g I can’t wear it with flats) Now, there’s no way I’ll take the kitchen scissors to this baby. Instead, I’ll go to a professional dress-makers and ask them to shorten/hem the skirt. Actually, thinking about it, I should really get the professional to sort out my coat sleeves, shouldn’t I???

Lemon_Tree

it's our wedding anniversary, and i agree you're probably best to get the professional to sort the coat sleeves as well, especially if it's lined.
I've started for Chrissy as well, got my first pressy last weekend half price.