September's Step-Up!!!

thriftylass

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

THRIFTYYYYYY where are you PICCIES???? :rotfl:

You'll need to wait at least till tomorrow for the first ones. Patience, painting multiple layers takes time and I've only done two doors, 16 to go

Well here's the before (excuse the mess and the fussiness):

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ladymay

Oh NSK, such a disappointment! Only five people turned up, nothing in my size so I just took my clothes back. Think I need to try a bigger event, ended up being a bit grumpy about the whole thing, but I will try it once more when I get back from holiday.

Anyway, this is me signing off until October:eek: My bf is getting off the ship tomorrow, weekend together in London then a week in Ireland, where he lives. I will try and pop on to update, but if not I'll do that when I get back. For now, cheerio!

I GET MY BOYFRIEND BACK TOMORROW!!! :j:j:j

littleskintdragon

LSD love this "under budget" chitter chatter from you ESPECIALLY since you have a new littler Dragon in the house... a few questions if I may.... is this number one? How do you feel about buying expensive clothing for baby? Do you feel pressured to have the best of the best? Do you feel guilty if you don't? Do you have other mother friends that aren't MSE'ers... ooooh I could go on


This is dragon number 2, dragon number one is 8 and is a lady dragon, baby is dh's first though, i was quite young having dd (21)
Clothing: i intend to buy as little as possible for a while, he's been really spoilt, and in three months we'll have xmas which will be another top up and hopefully we'll make do with what were given. I dont buy expensive clothes, but im afraid i do like the n3xt sale, online only, im not getting up that early, expensive full price but i usually get dd a few bits for dd for xmas and birthday from there on sale.

As for expensive things, the only expensive baby item i bought was the pram, we were given a lump of money to help us and i used some to treat ourselves to a lovely pram, the one that i wanted. It was my treat, after waiting for so long and having gone through failed ivf etc i thought i deserved it.Everything else ive bought as its been on offer. Amazon mainly.

I dont feel pressurised to have the best, im happy to make do as long as things are safe and clean and tidy. My friends have given us loads of clothes and blanket, which im more than happy to use.
I suppose its early days yet and ive not been out socialising with fellow mamis of babies the same age, so who knows whats 'cool' these days!

My others friends are fine, tbh where i live in south wales,most people in the area are on minimum wage, and people just havent got the money to be extravegant with, which is nice i think. No pressure then to be the best.

Mr.Cobes

Food..............£171/£120
Petrol.............£110.12/£100
Holiday...........£180/£200
Going out........£55/£40
Incidentals.... ..£28.25/£40
Alcohol days... 14/26
SFD................11/18
Unaccounted for Line rental £120/£180
Direct Debit reduction £72

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Day 19

Copped the mega hump with my broadband,telephone and TV provider today...I havent wanted an upgrade..this that or the other..However when my brother rang and told me his super deal for £7 a month less than me, who was told nothing they can do for me as I had a fantastic low price !!:mad:
So after I picked teddy up..and would actually talk to them again after the first call today :T
I spent £120 up front for Phone line rental..saving me £60 on year..
reduced my dd to £30 from £36=£72 a year saved..1000 minutes from landline to uk mobiles..landlines or Auatralian landline..which I like
Free 0870 0845..plus the normal put down after 59 minutes..
More TV channels <yawn> 30MB Broadband..:T Plus a recording box ( Internet ?) which I like the idea of....I think..but crazy they would have me go to another provider ..and I was..for the sake of no loyalty..

I have an all inclusive mobile that actually works so could have left with no compunction.. But I am now happy(ier) having saved a further £112 for a layout of an upfront £120 plus more stuff..

Got a £10 Train code at 4 pm..didnt understand the 10 am refresh
thing..1 pm MSE crashed ..4 pm :T..so train to York deffo looks good as opposed to driving in the thick snow as I am going the first week of October !! ..It looks like there and back for the cost of 1 tank of petrol..no hassle..Lovely..;).. Could have a G+T if NSK wasn't looking as well
So out tonight with son for a chat and curry..I wonder if I am paying... again?

Update tomorrow with todays costs...£10 for fence as well so all spends in today ! I think ?

cottage_retreatist

Mr Cobes - good going on the discount for the phone!! :j

thriftylass - can't wait to see the after pictures!!

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OK - I'm ready to declare my numbers after a day or so!!!

groceries - 94/100 - eeeeeek!!! :eek:
tobacco - 17/40 - (also includes dry cleaning - really proud of OH!!)
contingency 40/40 - all gone!!
beauty - 4.5/0
transport: 4/20 - won't need the rest of this now not going Cornwall so will put 16 into savings!

SFD - 11/18
AFD - 19/30 - hell yeah! :j
exercise - walk to and from work!
charity - 0/3 :mad:

Which means for the 11 days left for the month I can only actually have 4 spending days or I'll fail! Is that correct? My maths is terrible!!! Sounds much more scary saying it that way round!!! :eek:

Fmess

Oh dear, just found out there is a Next sale on Saturday, which may not bode well for my debt busting! I have made a plan and a list, only "need" 3 items and then I'm looking for mainly Christmas gifts. But i am going to be tempted to buy other nice things

thriftylass

Fmess wrote: »

Oh dear, just found out there is a Next sale on Saturday, which may not bode well for my debt busting! I have made a plan and a list, only "need" 3 items and then I'm looking for mainly Christmas gifts. But i am going to be tempted to buy other nice things

Dont be tempted, just think of how many % of debt you could pay off with the money you'd spend - for example £130 would be 1%. You can do it, stay strong.

Fmess

Thank you thriftylass that's just what I needed to hear That's a great tip! Unfortunately, day to day I'm surrounded by people with much higher wages and no debt, so it can be hard to focus on my situation and I easily lose perspective

thriftylass

Fmess wrote: »

Thank you thriftylass that's just what I needed to hear That's a great tip! Unfortunately, day to day I'm surrounded by people with much higher wages and no debt, so it can be hard to focus on my situation and I easily lose perspective

I know it can be difficult. Ok our wages arent too bad but after childcare etc its not looking great either and we're just out of debt. But Im not tempted by the sales anymore (i shop in primark, tesco, ebay or with vouchers once or twice a year), maybe an age thing (35) but find i now really just buy clothes when the others fall apart (better not look at my current pair if jeans lol. Maybe this bunch here is to blame too. Not that i dont want to dress nice, not that i look like a tramp, but i just cant part with the money for it anymore

I try not to compare incomes as it often doesnt seem fair why certain jobs with sonetimes even less qualification earn more.

jazzyjustlaw

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

Oooooh there is SO much going on here!! I went to my friends house yesterday straight after work - she made the most amazing thai noodle soup.. coconutty and spicy.. can't remember what it was called though....

We brain stormed about my travel... we ran through ideas... it was a productive evening... I got home just in time for a shower and bed by 10pm hence no check in....

Andrar when you start on the freebie path you just don't realise how much people really want to help you... you are doing so well so feel free to post pictures if you want...

Siouxsie32.... soda bread in my freezer that Mumsy sent over. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Are you familiar with the almost-as-difficult-to-find-as-a-tiger-in-Belfast treacle farl???

LadyMay ....SO????. What did you get??

MagicLily - if this challenge is making you think about your spending then my job here is done. Don't beat yourself up about SFD's expecially as it is your first month!! Am mighty impressed with one job starting and another being gained as we speak AND with kiddies... you are amazing!!!!

KarmaChi these cars you people all suffer with are driving you guys mad eh? Massive goodluck at the garage...

MrsO2B... okay I know exactly what you mean about "bits and bobs" being added in... I don't buy Pepsi Max or Chrisps because I am trying to be healthy - if they aren't in the house I don't miss them. But those odd moments at work where the cans are 55p and 40p respectively I could avoid as cans by the job-lot are between 25-33p each and crisps that I quite like are decanted from big bags of Tesco Everyday Value Tortilla @ 44p per 200g... massive savings. So I think I know what needs done..

Glad you and Mr Cobes are liking the challenges though... I am going to start plotting October now... make sure we have something to really get us moving...

LSD love this "under budget" chitter chatter from you ESPECIALLY since you have a new littler Dragon in the house... a few questions if I may.... is this number one? How do you feel about buying expensive clothing for baby? Do you feel pressured to have the best of the best? Do you feel guilty if you don't? Do you have other mother friends that aren't MSE'ers... ooooh I could go on but I shan't...

MoneyMash - I have fingers crossed for you - imagine a nice rounded £1000 return on the interest.... #gulp!... Oh I am a little jittery for you now....:o

Chickadee I LOVE the sound of your little getaway.. I was looking at ideas for my next birthday ( April ) and thinking a staycation is on the cards.. with Hercules the Bandit....you have inspired me...

Fyggy I am so jealous... think I might try and imcorporate the Staycation with a trip home next year... would be rather fun I think...although I am sure there are sanctions in place to ensure the limited export of soda bread per person...:rotfl:

Superdosa I am glad you mentioned the whole "getting prepped for Christmas"... and getting ingrediants in the house.... your budgets look goo though despite the SFD count.. although I think you are allowed the celebratory alcoholic beverage...:)

JazzyJustLaw.... now then..? Free taster?? Free Food?? How on earth do I get me on one of those...?

THRIFTYYYYYY where are you PICCIES???? :rotfl:

Right that is catch up I think.... I [STRIKE]need [/STRIKE][STRIKE]want[/STRIKE][STRIKE]need[/STRIKE]..yes need a new el'cheapo laptop....£300 max... IF I manage to get myself debt free by the 1st December..

I am booking as much OT as possible....ahem.....


Onwards!!!

Phone Tesco customer services to tell them you want to be notified of such events. These ones are over they were in 48 Tesco's in the UK over the last three weeks. They were on tues, weds and thurs lasted an hour.

Spend day but planned was at Silver class and needed some blades and soldering items.