Floozie does Frugal 2010

Olliegami

Not sure that I can say much to help, really! Everyone's given so much good advice. =D

Just keep posting here! It's difficult to stay motivated when you're not thinking about every penny, but I think posting on here helps an awful lot!

natsplatnat

Hi IF - and welcome back!

Looks like everything I would have suggested has already been logged above! Defintely give the ebay thing a go this weekend - it does seem to feel more worth it if you have a specific reason for doing it (ie, one of the amounts of money you will need!)

Everyone wobbles - but like weebles, we don't fall down!

Nats x

Intergalactic_Floozie

Thanks guys

Days to payday: 23

Today I have finally finished my CV and sent it to FF for her opinion.

Got DH to phone Natwest CC where he has a £16 credit balance following an earlier balance transfer. They are going to send us a cheque.

Remembered I had sent a cheque off for DH's dental treatment, which hasn't debited yet, so I'm £44.60 down there, which means I am going to finish £66 OD in the bills account, so I have just transferred some money to make sure that account doesn't go OD.

Re-named the savings account linked to a current account as GIFTS, HOUSE EMERGENCIES, CAR STUFF and FUN & NICE THINGS. See if that can motivate me. I estimate out of any savings: 50% to car / 15% for gifts / 20% for House and 15% for fun /nice.

I have "repaid" myself £95 from the £542 I have 'set aside' because I had a 'car stuff' (battery) and 'household emergency' (leak) which I took out of my spends money.

I'm now left with £225 to last 24 days, and will have to fund at least two more full tanks of petrol (£93), which will only leave me £132 for shopping for the rest of the month, which is only £5.50 per day, and I'd like at least £9 (eeek).

I also plan to look upstairs in my present cupboard and see who I still have to buy for. All the adults remaining will just be getting a token gift (nice box of biscuits / chocolates etc). I wish the blinkin' kids would think about what they would like for Xmas!

Went to library and picked up a few books. That should keep me occupied.

Lunch was: Jacket potato, tuna & sweetcorn.
Dinner is: Eat Smart Sausages, bacon, grilled tomatoes, beans, poached eggs and mushrooms.

Spends today: £2.00 (milk & diluted pop)

moo2moo

With some sensible shopping that £5.50 will be plenty. There are some fab deals around at the mo.

Asda - extra tasty calorie laden cheese is £3 for 2 x 400g blocks which gives you the basis of cheese on toast or cheese sandwiches or cheese sauces... macaroni cheese, lasagne etc etc etc.

Gammon joints seem to be half price pretty much everywhere. £7 should get you enough to do at least three meals (you can freeze it once its cooked to save you getting bored) plus have some left over for butties. Roast it as a Wellington (ie wrapped in puff pastry - you don't have to be any good at pastry making as you don't have to eat the pastry!) to stop it drying out.

Mince is always a sensible buy (avoid the bone riddled fatty value stuff) and dare I say turkey mince is even a healthy option if you're back at fat busters. Everything from Shepherds Pie to Sphag bol and Enchilladas.

Carrot and parsnips are 50p a kilo and half kilo respectively at Asda

And seeing as how you're near a Morrisons theres a fiver off there with one of todays papers. Think creatively. Go armed with a list and buy no crap! I bet you'll surprise yourself.

Repeat after me the Old Style Mantra.....

Meal Plan
Meal Plan
Meal Plan
[STRIKE]Donuts[/STRIKE]
Meal Plan

Inventory your cupboards before departure and buy only what you need.

That way you won't get home with 6kg of sugar (1/3rd off at Asda) to discover you already have 6kg in the cupboard...

Dare I ask how the E-bay avoidance techniques are progressing?

Intergalactic_Floozie

Thanks Moo.

Meal plan.....meal plan.....meal plan....

inventory.....inventory.....inventory....

Thanks for the good ideas of 101 things to do with cheese. I am actually going near an Asda today, and also a freezer discount shop. We've run out completely of treats and snacks. I know from memory I have an 800g pack of mince, and some prawns / white fish to make a fish pie. But it's school holidays this week and my two boys (especially the little one) is like a plague of locusts.

Ebay - well I'm thinking of selling my cream Cardy Uggs. I havent actually worn them outside of the house yet, but I threw the boxes and packaging away so have no way of proving they are real and not fakes.

Also have a couple of pairs of Adidas tracksuit bottoms for 12 year old boy, but surprising they don't seem to sell too brilliantly but I guess it could get me two lots of £5 maybe?

I'm also gonna list some 'West Yorkshire' walk books that I bought years ago with good intentions and never used (ahem). Maybe they will be better on Amazon?

DS1 has just seen an advert on TV for 'scrabble trickster' and he said "wow that looks really good" so that can be one of his presents. I'll have to source where it's cheapest when he's not around...unless someone more experienced at me in google-fu wants to do it for me??

Did some Lightspeed Surveys last night and have 1695 lightspeed points, which is 4 x £3 in paypal and only 30 points away from another £3.

Looked in the cupboard and have 7 presents but haven't worked out who they are for, or who I am actually buying for this year.

So - Money post

Days to payday: 22

Money in bank: £227.45
Money in purse: £16.20
Grand Total: £243.65

Savings pots:
Car Stuff: £223.53 (road tax due at end of next month now budgeted for!!!)
Fun & Nice Stuff: £67.06
Gifts: £67.06
Household Stuff: £89.40
Total: £447.05

I have two paydays left before Christmas.

It's my FIL's birthday on Tuesday so I have to buy a present for him

Plans for today are to help my brother and his partner move house (again) for the second time in nine weeks.

Also to do a freezer / cupboard inventory.

mooomin

Intergalactic_Floozie wrote: »

We've run out completely of treats and snacks. Have you ever tried to make home-made hobnobs? Cheap to do and you can make hundreds of them. Even I can do it and I'm !!!!!! at baking

Ebay - well I'm thinking of selling my cream Cardy Uggs. I havent actually worn them outside of the house yet, but I threw the boxes and packaging away so have no way of proving they are real and not fakes. You can list them for a higher start price this weekend for free, so it's worth a go, but don't be surprised if they go for less than you want. I sold a £79 face cream (comping win) for £39 recently. I had £39 though and was happy with that. Take pictures of the labels/inside label. See link below.

Also have a couple of pairs of Adidas tracksuit bottoms for 12 year old boy, but surprising they don't seem to sell too brilliantly but I guess it could get me two lots of £5 maybe? Better than b*gger all

I'm also gonna list some 'West Yorkshire' walk books that I bought years ago with good intentions and never used (ahem). Maybe they will be better on Amazon? Look them up on Amazon and see what the New versions of the books are selling for. If a decent amount, list there. If not, give Ebay a bash...free listing

DS1 has just seen an advert on TV for 'scrabble trickster' and he said "wow that looks really good" so that can be one of his presents. I'll get my Spendy Elves on the case!

Looked in the cupboard and have 7 presents but haven't worked out who they are for, or who I am actually buying for this year. Be like Santa....make a list and check it twice. It might be worth mentioning to people (i.e. not kids) that your job might be going next year and you need to really cut down so will only be getting for close family. Why spend a months food shopping on Christmas?

It's my FIL's birthday on Tuesday so I have to buy a present for him Try one of the online sales (House of Fraser, Debenhams etc - they have Quidco too!) and blame the Royal Mail for the present not being on time Don't you dare spend over a tenner!

Also to do a freezer / cupboard inventory. Before you go to the shops remember!!

Clicky for how to tell fake Uggs guide - make sure your description is detailed.

Red pen above!

Nice to see your money posts back again. :j

mooomin

Tesco have the game for £14.97 + Clubcard points which is a saving of £8 on the ToysRUs price. You also get Quidco if you order online from Tesco. You can collect in store from some Tesco stores to save the delivery charge.

If you have Tesco vouchers in the house you could get the price down further (I know it's not MSE to spend as cash instead of exchanging for deals, but desperate times and all that!)

moo2moo

Scrabble Trickster.... it might be more expensive at Boots (being £20) but it is part of their 3 for 2 offer and this week is X-mas shopping bonus bonanza week providing you blow £50 you'll get 1200 bonus points in store for one night only or 1000 points and Quidco this weekend but you may have to pay a delivery charge.... thats assuming you NEED to buy 2 other items in the 3 for 2 section priced at £20 or more.

I know how much you love your Ugg boots.. if you sell them will you be happy? Will you wait two months and buy more? Why aren't you wearing them outside the house??????????

mooomin

moo2moo wrote: »

Scrabble Trickster.... it might be more expensive at Boots (being £20) but it is part of their 3 for 2 offer and this week is X-mas shopping bonus bonanza week providing you blow £50 you'll get 1200 bonus points in store for one night only or 1000 points and Quidco this weekend but you may have to pay a delivery charge.... thats assuming you NEED to buy 2 other items in the 3 for 2 section priced at £20 or more.

You don't pay delivery if you collect in store with Boots

Intergalactic_Floozie

Days to payday: 21

Money in bank: £188.92
Money in purse: £25.89
Grand Total: £214.81

Savings pots:
Car Stuff: £223.53 (road tax due at end of next month now budgeted for!!!)
Fun & Nice Stuff: £57.44
Gifts: £67.06
Household Stuff: £89.40
Total: £437.43

Today's spends:
£16.24 - Freezer shop (note to self, DS1 owes me £3 for Ben & Jerry's)
£11.91 - Morrisons.
£1.00 -Plasters at Asda.
£9.62 - went to a committee meeting and got a couple of drinks each. (fun & nice things budget)

Did a freezer inventory and have the following left over as, erm, leftovers (ie in tupperware boxes): 2 x Stew (can do dumplings with these), Lamb Curry, Mango chicken and two lots of chilli.

Have 500g chicken breasts and prawns / whitefish, to make a fish pie.

4 Tuna steaks (can do that with Salad and chips)

Sausages / beefburgers and pizza for the kids along with a fish & chip ready meal.

So enough grub for another week.

Went shopping for baking stuff today and made some gingerbread dinosaurs.

Spent all day helping my brother to move yesterday. Have to go back tonight for one last trip UGH. Oh well means I get to see my adorable baby nephew.

Turned down the offer of someone suggesting a shop bought breakfast (stuck to my porridge)