Floozie does Frugal 2010

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to payday: 18

Grocery Budget: £300 / £119.29 spent / £99.25 left
Petrol Budget: £130 / £73.50 left
Everything Else Budget: £317.74 / £243.09 spent / £56.71 left
Grand Total: £747.74 / £309.74

Spends:
£0.60 - newsagents - DS2 sweets
£5.89 - Chemists - Hayfever spray
£73.39 - Morrisons (BAH)

Typical! I get let loose in Morrisons and what happens? I spend loads. GRRRR.

Non BBQ Food: £21.78
BBQ Food: £22.21
BBQ drink: £20 (6 x bottles of coke, 24 cans Carling, 3 x fruit juice)
Non food: £7.56 (razors, water bottle for DS2, tissues, cat food)

Although when I say we are doing a BBQ, what I mean is we are grilling BBQ in the oven. So there shouldn't be much waste if any. Just means we'll be living off BBQ food for the next few days. Don't know why I bought alcohol because there's only DH who drinks it. I've invited my folks up to watch the England game as our telly is bigger than theirs. Maybe they will partake in some lager and burger eating too...

Definitely think I am gonna be over budget this month. Definitely gonna have to dip into the savings again, which leaves me short again next month BAH!!!

Discovered today that my hair dye is actually a different shade to the one I normally use, which is why it's a bit darker. I usually use Spice Power, but yesterday I used Scarlet Fever. Doesn't matter though I like both shades.

mooomin

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

Days to payday: 18

Grocery Budget: £300 / £119.29 spent / £99.25 left
Petrol Budget: £130 / £73.50 left
Everything Else Budget: £317.74 / £243.09 spent / £56.71 left
Grand Total: £747.74 / £309.74

Definitely think I am gonna be over budget this month. Definitely gonna have to dip into the savings again, which leaves me short again next month BAH!!!

Ok, Morrsons was a minor hiccup, but you don't have to be over budget this month. You have £99.25 for groceries which is £5.51 per day or £38 for a week. I bet you could do it.

Why don't you have a look in the cupboards and freezer and see what you have and post it here, we can then see what you could make that would stretch well. Try and think what you need and only buy that when you go to the shops. Step away from the deals!!

Intergalactic_Floozie

Actually I have got rather a lot leftover, plus stuff that was already there, so I'll take stock tomorrow after work, and have a gander of what I've got. From memory I reckon I've got enough food left for at least ten evening meals.

mooomin

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

Actually I have got rather a lot leftover, plus stuff that was already there, so I'll take stock tomorrow after work, and have a gander of what I've got. From memory I reckon I've got enough food left for at least ten evening meals.

Hurrah for positive thinking :j

Don't think, oh $hite I'm over budget, think "how can I stay on track". It's all about the PMA

Intergalactic_Floozie

Yeh, and we love BBQ food LOL

mooomin

Om nom nom....!

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to payday: 17

Grocery Budget: £300 / £119.29 spent / £99.25 left
Petrol Budget: £130 / £73.50 left
Everything Else Budget: £317.74 / £243.09 spent / £68.89 left
Grand Total: £747.74 / £321.92

Spends:
£3.09 - excema cream for DS2
£1.98 - on DECENT HAYFEVER TABLETS THAT ACTUALLY WORK!

The more eagle eyed of you may have spied that I have more money left than I had yesterday despite having spent! Well, I was looking for my library card in my purse which necessitated in me having to take all the cards out of my purse, only to find a crisp tenner wedged between two cards (woohoo). Then to add to this, DS2 has decided he doesn't want to have school dinners this week so I have sent him with a packed lunch, saving me £7.25.

Re my hayfever - used to use Claritin (which worked) however last week when I went to buy some more, there was none left, so I went for the other type, Loratadine, thinking "Hayfever medication is hayfever medication" however it's been crap! So I went to Boots and tried the other stuff, (but cheaper) and it's worked a treat.

Have done a quick freezer inventory:
6 x Lamb Koftas
6 x Lamb Kebabs
4 x Chilli Prawn Skewers
8 x Beef Burgers
8 x Sausages
Spanish Chicken Ready Meal
2 x Fish & Chip ready meals.
1 x Shepherds Pie Ready Meal
2 x Chicken en Croute pastry thingies.
500g Diced beef
400g Minced beef
450g Chicken breasts
4 x Tuna Steaks
2 x White Fish Fillets

So plenty of main meal things to go at, will just have to make sure I only buy WHAT. I. NEED. On my next shopping trip! (BAH)

My current thought of the day is that we could do with getting some Mortgage Insurance. We have no critical illness or redundancy cover so this guy will ring me back tomorrow. I had an online quote for £26 for the pair of us, to start immediately and pay out for 12 months, but he reckoned he could beat that, we'll see.

PS - I've just had some bad news, although it's even worse for my friend. She works for Virgin Media and I get Mates Rates. She's just been made redundant, which means I go back to "ordinary customer we cant give two hoots about now we've got ya" rates. BAH! But, like I said, it's worse news for her.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to payday: 16

Grocery Budget: £300 / £119.29 spent / £99.25 left
Petrol Budget: £130 / £73.50 left
Everything Else Budget: £317.74 / £243.09 spent / £66.46 left
Grand Total: £747.74 / £239.21

Spends:
£0.69 - Yorkie bar last night
£0.69 - Toilet roll
£0.55 - Vending machine
£0.60 - Vending machine

Was on the world's most boring training course today and the only thing that got me through the day was the vending machine.

Insurance man got back with the quote for Critical Illness, Accident and Redundancy cover for the mortgage and for the pair of us it comes to £30.89 and doesn't pay out for 13 weeks. I think it's rather a lot but then again insurance is a tax on fear, so would it be worth it for peace of mind. As I work in the public sector my employees are having to make cuts from jobs of 25%. Hopefully some of that will be through natural wastage but what if things come to the worst?

Without my debts (which total £419.46 per month) my vital direct debits including mortgage are only £812 and so we would probably get £1522 (tax credits, jobseekers, child benefit) if I were made redundant. So not sure it's that worth getting? Does anyone have any opinions?

mooomin

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

Without my debts (which total £419.46 per month) my vital direct debits including mortgage are only £812 and so we would probably get £1522 (tax credits, jobseekers, child benefit) if I were made redundant. So not sure it's that worth getting? Does anyone have any opinions?

Nothing sensible to be honest. I cancelled mine, but then I only have Mr Fresian and the cats...I think it's different if you have kids.

Verbatim

I heard a radio programme about how they often refuse claims as well. may be worth googling the company to get reviews from current and past customers.