Our DMP Adventure or We Don't Have a Clue!

debtfreewannabe321

ummmmmmmmmm a bottle of.......squash?????? robinsons one mind, that's posh in this house lmao x

BlushingRose

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

ummmmmmmmmm a bottle of.......squash?????? robinsons one mind, that's posh in this house lmao x

hehe.


Actually, we were given a free voucher for the cinema for Christmas so we're planning to go and see a film tomorrow, and perhaps, as it's pay day, even have a take-away over the weekend :eek:

BlushingRose

Well, today is indeed pay-day :j and we've done our big monthly shop. We tried this last month too, buying everything we need for the month in one go, then just do little 'top-up' shops through the month. No idea if it actually works out any cheaper, and we're still using Aldi & Asda. We have been chatting about using a butcher and a green grocer but not sure if it's cheaper or more expensive to do that, anyone got any thoughts on that please?
We also bought a new bath-mat *finally* cos the one we've got horrid.
Also, in spite of the fact that it's Lent, I've bought some stuff to make some cakes - just getting an urge to have a bit of a bake. I'll let you know how that goes although now I've remembered it's lent, I feel a bit bad about doing it, still, as long as it's not choccy cake!

PinotGrigio41

Bit of delayed response to your posts yesterday, but have to agree, you can't buy much for £1.90 these days !

So.... your possible plan to go to cinema tomorrow sounds perfect to me. Take a look at the Free Cinema Tixs thread when you get a second. Its really worth a look to try and bag a few free tickets to preview screenings. That way you and Oh can still get out a bit but for free !!:)

I'm still getting my head around being organised each month on the shopping front but thats because our pay doesn't come in one lump at the beginning or end of a month but in dribs and drabs throughout. I have found that generally Aldi and Asda are cheaper though. Our butcher and greengrocers are actually more expensive, but you never know, it may be worth a look for you in your area.

I caught the baking bug just when my LBM was all but a tiny flicker. Cant say I enjoy it particularly, well actually I do like licking the mixture from the spoon, thats the best bit . It certainly saves loads of money though and they do get eaten whereas the shop bought cakes I used to buy were often thrown in the bin.

Now make sure you lay off of that chocolate !! :A

debtfreewannabe321

hey

I buy one big shop at the beginning of the month. Usually from a$da or te$co (as ald1 don't stock everything we need) so i'll get all the expensive stuff then- meat, nappies, tins (don't go off) etc etc and just buy fridge stuff weekly & bread and i can say we've seen a difference in the bills (well i have not sure mr dfw cares lol) and Jan i managed to get all the food in for £200 for us all. Our local butchers is expensive and not all that nice to be honest. Our local greengrocers is in town and i have to pay £1.70 to park there for an hour lol so i never go!

I have used Rosspa for food (online grocers) and their fresh stuff is nice. And just bought from donald russell for meat. not eaten any yet but heard lots of good stuff already about them Just a case of shopping around and trying new things and see what works for you

I've looked for free cinema tix and you know the most local cinema to me is 20 miles away that seems to offer all the free screenings so i didn't bother with it!

wannabee_in_credit

My friend's hubby is a butcher - he doesn't earn enough to give me mates rates, but I find his stuff much better value and quality than supermarkets etc. I get him to make me a mixed bag of stuff at the beginning of every month for £25 and it easily lasts us the month. And is so much better quality.
How has the baking gone?

BlushingRose

Thanks folks!

No baking done as yet as we've been out most of the day.
As I mentioned above, we've done the shopping then I had an appointment, after which we went to town and went to a Chinese buffet for lunch (£18) then to the cinema with the gift card (although we still had to add £2.00 to it cos we wanted a drink each and some pop-corn!) and then the parking charges, so not actually the cheapest day ever!! :eek: But, still much cheaper than it should have been. I had joked with Mr BR that we should buy foody stuff from Aldi and smuggle it in, and I wish we had now.
Not great news re: choccy though as I had some chocolate sauce and a couple of mini eggs on my ice cream at the Chinese and had eaten it all before I suddenly realised I was eating choccy! So, morally, I cannot claim that today has been a no choc day

BlushingRose

Urgh, woke at 5am today - worrying cos we spent so much money yesterday (£40 in total). This was on the buffet meal, some birthday presents (about £15) parking, you know, nothing too 'out there' but £40. That's on top of the groceries we bought in the morning!
Today we have to pay the car tax...we've got it in the budget, don;t get me wrong, but that's on the first day of getting paid! We need to guard against going 'woohoo' on pay-day too much I think, cos it'll be beans on toast at the end of the month if we're not careful. *sigh*
It's moments like this that I realise a) what little 'life' we have now and b) how expensive our life was before the DMP. Somehow we have to find a middle ground, but as yet I don't know what that is.
This month, I've divided the money into three columns. 'Housekeeping', 'Petrol' and 'Sundries' and we have a budget for all three. I'm hoping that we'll have something left in at least the 'sundries' colomn at the end of the month (more than £1.90!).
Oh, just remembered, as we don;t pay the water on a 12 monthly pay scheme (not sure why, was one of Mr BR's chores to find out and perhaps change it - has he done it yet? nope :mad: ) but it does mean that the car tax will most likely be equivalent (hopefully less than although I doubt it) the water payment, so it'll be as though we've paid the water this month (hope that made sense!)
Gosh...I think I'm going mad...

debtfreewannabe321

wow WIC i wish we could get a goodie bag for £25 :eek: our butchers does a monthly one but i think it is more like £40+ and a lot of stuff in the box i'm not sure my little ones would eat (fussy!)

BR don't get yourself down, at least you have had your LBM so you realise how much you are spending on a day out. And as for cinema sweets the last time I bought something at the cinema was probably the 90s lol. I ALWAYS go to a SM before going to the cinema never been stopped yet! I can't afford the prices they charge for popcorn & drinks!

xx

BlushingRose

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

BR don't get yourself down, at least you have had your LBM so you realise how much you are spending on a day out. And as for cinema sweets the last time I bought something at the cinema was probably the 90s lol. I ALWAYS go to a SM before going to the cinema never been stopped yet! I can't afford the prices they charge for popcorn & drinks!

xx

True, I wish the lightbulb would push off actually and let me sleep properly!