Frugal Living 2011 - the preparation stage

mooomin

Well I've been doing what I did last year and buying things from the sales this week because they don't come from the "frugal" budget :rotfl::rotfl:

I've decided that anything which is still on my credit card come payday will come from the 2011 budget as it will be paid off with my January wages.

That thought has already had me return a pair of shoes, some undies and a pair of trousers

I'm heading to Costco tomorrow hopefully to try and stock up on essentials before the VAT increase, and also to pad out the freezer with some mince and chicken. Other than that I'm doing quite well for food, so hopefully I won't be over budget in the first month!

Quick question for Cheryl - will it matter if I've just saved a new version of the 2010 spreadsheet with my budget for next year?

Thanks!

itsallinthemind

Sounds good Caseymoo. You want to avoid a house full of toys for as long as possible!

xnatalie81x

My 4.5 yr old and 3 yr old wear nappies to bed STILL!!!!!!!!!! One pack tesco value nappies £1.91 and pretty good. Don't leak but are the old fashioned style. Cheap and cheerful - wipes have to be huggies but buy when B1G1F or £1 pack or from morrissons 5 for £4 pack. Baby have yet to buy nappies as this was what i asked my mum for as a welcome pressie - but will be tesco ones until size 5 and then into value ones sorry kids, it was good enough for me so it is good enough for them

JustKeepSwimming_2

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Sounds good Caseymoo. You want to avoid a house full of toys for as long as possible!

I second this! Seem to have even more stuff now with Christmas :rotfl:

I've played around with my budget - I use M*soft Money which gives so much detail its frightening. I'm somewhat dismayed at how much I spent last year, so have set budgets for most things. But I'm going to sleep on it & see if they still look doable tomorrow before I report it!

I'm also in limbo somewhat with trying to sell my house & find a job - I'd love to be planning what I could start planting ready for next year but can't as I hope I won't be here. Usually I'd stock upon stuff, especially as VAT is increasing, but I don't want my house to look even more stuffed to the rafters than it already does!

frizz2

Thanks Caseymoo, great planning for Birthdays and events.

I have made a list of all family I need to send Birthday cards too and then ticked the cards I already have, then I intend to go to The Card Factory and buy all the cards I need in one go. Put them in a safe place and then I am sorted! I had to pay £2.50 for a SPecial to My Mother at Christmas Time in Tesco for my Mother in Law because I kept forgetting to get one. In The Card Factory They are 59p each!
I managed to get two for half price in the sale for the next two Christmases!

xnatalie81x

JustKeepSwimming wrote: »

I second this! Seem to have even more stuff now with Christmas :rotfl:

I've played around with my budget - I use M*soft Money which gives so much detail its frightening. I'm somewhat dismayed at how much I spent last year, so have set budgets for most things. But I'm going to sleep on it & see if they still look doable tomorrow before I report it!

I'm also in limbo somewhat with trying to sell my house & find a job - I'd love to be planning what I could start planting ready for next year but can't as I hope I won't be here. Usually I'd stock upon stuff, especially as VAT is increasing, but I don't want my house to look even more stuffed to the rafters than it already does!

grow in pots tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, small carrots - and then when you move - TAKE IT WITH YOU XXXXXXXXXX

itsallinthemind

xnatalie81x wrote: »

One pack tesco value nappies £1.91 and pretty good.

Both mine are in size 6 and they stop at 4 locally(luckily eldests gets from Continance service shortly!) in the value range.

Good deal currently is Boots own. Size 6 carry pack of 22(more in smaller sizes naturally) x 2 = £7. Get 6 packs = £21.00. Use parenting voucher(£5 off £20) = £16 delivered to store for 6 packs of 22 or 132 nappies. It is not £1.91 a pack, but £2.66 is not bad

I get these wipes http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pampers-Sensitive-Baby-Wipes-Packs/dp/B003P2UU6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293659564&sr=8-1 £5.98 when you subscribe(can cancel a delivery, have monthly, three monthly etc). So nine in a pack means 66p a pack, delivered buy a cute driver for free :rotfl:

xnatalie81x

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Both mine are in size 6 and they stop at 4 locally(luckily eldests gets from Continance service shortly!) in the value range.

Good deal currently is Boots own. Size 6 carry pack of 22(more in smaller sizes naturally) x 2 = £7. Get 6 packs = £21.00. Use parenting voucher(£5 off £20) = £16 delivered to store for 6 packs of 22 or 132 nappies. It is not £1.91 a pack, but £2.66 is not bad

I get these wipes http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pampers-Sensitive-Baby-Wipes-Packs/dp/B003P2UU6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293659564&sr=8-1 £5.98 when you subscribe(can cancel a delivery, have monthly, three monthly etc). So nine in a pack means 66p a pack, delivered buy a cute driver for free :rotfl:

cute is good - my wine delivery guy today was a bit nice but young - i am 30 at the end of jan lol. My DD is small size 6 - boots looks good! Especially with boots points on top and order to collect in store May look into that - and TOPCASHBACK.CO.UK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

itsallinthemind

xnatalie81x wrote: »

May look into that - and TOPCASHBACK.CO.UK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

:eek:Chill:rotfl:

xnatalie81x

Topcashback is my 'other' budget, the more i make there - the more i have available for things not on my original budget