WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

atush

I got a juicer for my bday this month.

But fruit can be expensive! Esp we dont have a market here in winter.

So i am buying what is on special or reduced ie bags of apples for 1 quid, pears, etc. Will have to make do with that. But at least I wont be wasting anymore, like one apple getting bumped around till it is all bruised or eating 3/4 the strawberries in a punnet etc. what is left can now go in the juicer.

JoJoC

Ooh, i've always fancied a juicer Atush, but not sure quite how much I'd use it. I think I like the concept more than the reality.

Have you tried it out yet?

I got my week's shopping in yesterday for £37.17 which I'm pretty pleased with. And yes, Atush, it is cheating slightly because this week we are eating out at relatives twice and we still have a fairly well-stocked freezer to keep us going in between, so it was just all fresh stuff, nappies and wipes.

I've got some orzo in the cupboard so having a squiz on Pinterest to come up with some kind of orzo salad inspiration- I'm thinking cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and maybe some olives? I'll see what I can find. That should do my lunch for the rest of the week with some salad on the side.

WantToBeSE

Afternoon All (is 5pm classed as afternoon still, or evening?).

Today i decided that i have HAD IT with BT and them charging £67.50 a month for unlimited anytime calls and unlimited broadband. So i switched to Utility Warehouse. I'll let you all know how it goes.
I'll be paying £39.99 for the same thing, but that price also includes my mobile phone usage of £10 a month!

The £10 mobile phone usage includes 600 minutes, unlimited texts, 500MB data allowance. Plus, i can phone my landline for free, and my landline can call my mobile for free. Really useful for when i am at work and the boys are home.

I took out their double gold plan, and as such i have saved £400 a year, and because i went with them for Gas & elec as well as mobile, phone and BB, i got £75 worth of shopping vouchers So i can buy everything i want on my amazon wishlist!

Oh and also, UW pay up to £200 to get you out of your current contract with phone/broadband providers. I pay £110 to get out of mine 6 months early. I get that reimbursed (as a credit towards my bills) after 3 months.

The worst thing is that BT told me i was £83 in DEBIT with them, and they had to increase my DDs, but when i phoned them to cancel my service and change to UW, they told me that actually i was £45 in CREDIT! So if i hadn't have phoned them to cancel, they would have increased my DD to £73 a month even though i was in credit!!

Also, i saved a fortune today by going to see my sister. She was getting rid of some clothes and shoes (most of which still had all the labels on, and the shoes hadnt even been worn! Frugality does NOT run in our family!) and offered to give me whatever i wanted. I came away with a new pair of trainers, a pair of Next boots, 2 pairs of Blowfish shoes, a new bag, lots of t shirts, shirts and some dresses All i need to buy now are trousers!

Frugal day for sure! Now ending my frugal day with leftover dinner, which is veggie/vegan (would be vegan but i add some natural yoghurt to it) chilli Might get a bottle of red and have a glass with that

WantToBeSE

Oh, and another frugal thing this week- my sons primary school has started doing something called 'Pupil Premium'. This means that if you have claimed ANY kind of benefits within 6 years, you can reduced price or free things.

My sons school is offering each child a choice of £59 towards compulsory uniform, reduced price school trips, or free breakfast club.
So i chose the uniform deal. Considering that both of his school jumpers have been ruined by paint (at school) within the last 2 months, this will come in handy.

JoJoC

What a frugal day! I wish my sister would do that- it's more likely to be me giving her stuff. She's a hoarder.

Had leftover lamb curry for tea which was delicious!

WantToBeSE

I am very lucky Jo, she has expensive taste and is very wasteful

Didn't bother buying wine last night, was happy with a cup of tea instead. Didn't want to spend the money to be honest.

Today i am off to work until lunchtime, then i am going to come home and go through all the emails that i received from people wanting a job and find one to replace my current employee.
Long story, but i need to sack her. I need to ring ACAS and make sure that i do it properly, so will get on to that this afternoon. Cant say that i am looking forward to it, to be honest. I have never sacked someone before and am a bit scared to be truthful.

I have 1 woman who i have trained to cover holidays and sickness, so i might ask if she wants more regular hours.

JoJoC

That's a shame about having to get rid of your employee, although I'm sure you wouldn't be diong it unless you had to. Glad you're seeking the right advice beforehand too- very sensible.

Hopefully, you can get it all sorted quickly.

I'm working from home this afternoon after a midwife appointment so trying to get work done and get the odd washing put in and other bits to make the most of the time before the boys come in!

The weather doesn't know what to do here- it's gone from blue skies and sunshine to snow in the last ten minutes, so who knows what the rest of the day will bring.

Did you get your laptop ordered?

atush

Great frugal day, and sorry about your employee.

As far as orzo, I tend to eat it hot. But cherry toms, and feta and flat leaf parsley would work, and throw in some wild garlic if you find it growing. It is growing already up here so should be further south. I put that in loads and even cook it sometimes.

WantToBeSE

Morning All

I am off food shopping today. I have 3x £1 vouchers from Burgen, after i complained (via twitter) that a loaf of bread i bought had holes all the way through it.

I also have a £5 Match and More voucher from Morrisons.

I really only need bread, fruit, veg and some beans, so it should be a cheap week. I hope to spend no more than £30.

atush

PS, have been using my juicer, at least 3 times a week sometimes more.

Carrot apple and something today I think?

Earlier this week did pineapple, mango kale etc and apple strawberry blueberry

Oh and forgot I did celery, apple, cucumber, ginger