I have lost my OS ways, help!

Pinkstar206

Hello all! Not been around for a while as was away at youth hostel and now rushing about trying to get organised for back to work tomorrow... Should be a NSD for me and free lunch at work and no chance to shop, though OH will have DS to contend with and may be planning a trip out with him so they will likely make up for my frugality!

Sadly OH did not get the library job he was interviewed for last week. Heard yesterday & he's pretty disappointed as he's still stuck in a job he hates for now, but we'll keep looking and hope something better turns up.

Must try & keep in touch on here when I'm back to work and more busy as it's so good to know there are people out there with the same aims and values, even if they're not here physically. Good evening, PS x

Maitane

This thread is exactly what I need - I'm a long time lurker and thanks to the advice and kind words of the good folk here, I managed to keep our heads above water when things were really awful.

Now we're a little better off we've let things slip, we're less frugal, we're planning less and generally not being as OS as I'd prefer. We need to get on track and I look forward to mooching through this thread to see what everyone is suggesting.

Caterina

Hello again,

Maitane welcome to the thread. Most of us here have slipped up at some point and that's why I have started this thread, so we can encourage each other to return to good OS ways.

Pink, sorry your OH did not get the job, I hope there is a perfect job around the corner waiting for him!

Update on my w8rose trip: I hit the jackpot! For a spend of just under £15 I got a few full price essentials (eggs, cheddar, soya milk) but reduced ciabatta loaves, salad, a whole load of seedy rolls at 5 p each, did not get the Poilane but they were reducing another very expensive, very lovely lot of breads, from Gails Bakery, all organic sourdough, down to 50 p a loaf. Got quite a few. But the best bit was bagging nearly 1 Kg of fancy goats cheese, normally going for 25 quid a kilo, for just over £2! The guy at the deli counter reduced it so much because I told him I would have the lot. P

And free camomile tea at the cafe, of course. DH had a latte.

Well pleased with the results of our evening shopping trip!

Good night all.

greenbee

Well done on the shopping trip! One of the disadvantages of living in the sticks is that it's rather a long way to the shops... easier not to spend, but harder to get the bargains (although I have a feeling the chest freezer has a lot of sourdough from the local bakery buried in it!).

Only one more batch of apple to stew, and then I can concentrate on plums (two batches done). I may make some of them into crumbles as I'm running out of boxes to freeze in, and crumble topping should keep them in the dishes ...

I'm travelling again for work from next week for pretty much three weeks in a row so need to cook all the perishables over the weekend and make sure I have 'ready meals' available for the few days I'm here between trips.

jlhmd666

Sorry to hear your husband didn't get the library job Pink Hopefully he will find the right job for him.

Well done on the shopping bargains Cat I don't go at the right times so never really get many y/s bargains. It's nice to read fellow MSE'ers picking them up though

patentgirl

Well done on late night shopping Caterina sorry you missed your bread but you certainly seemed to make up for it ! I am another one who never seems to get the ys bargains, went to Aldis this week followed my list so pleased with low spend.

Sorry your DH didn't get library job Pink.
Had to pay car tax this week but no unplanned spends apart from that should be NSD fingers crossed.

Caterina

Good morning,

Today I hope it will be a NSD. After last night shopping bounty we have all the essentials so nothing is needed.

Just made DH packed lunch with YS salad and felafel, he keeps a little bottle of olive oil in his office to dress the salad. Did I turn him into an Italian or what? When I met him he would nor even touch salad! LOL

Lazy morning today apart from washing dishes in the toilet *groan* then at 11 my friend picks me up, we have lunch together - I am contributing a piece of that lovely goats cheese - then I am working on her accounts. So today will bring a bit of cash too.

Evening will be quiet and relaxing as DH has his martial arts class. I usually use it as an excuse for a nice long bath and early night with a book or iPad. Or both, and lashings of camomile tea.

Have a good OS day.

XSpender

I didn't spend a penny yesterday and made a lovely lunch for my visitors (and tea for DH) from what we had in.


I normally go food shopping today but we don't really need anything and as DH isn't paid until tomorrow I am going to leave it as long as possible. I am planning to have a use it up very frugal grocery spend month in September as it will be the first month since I was made redundant that we only have DH wage and child benefit coming in.:eek:


Caterina thanks for the tip about draining fried foods on brown paper bags. I get some of my veg box stuff in these so will give it a try.


Today will be a bit of a spendy day as I need to go into the city for a haircut, exchange a top I got for my birthday that I picked up in the wrong size but may change for a more practical jumper and take some cash out of the ISA to repay my Christmas savings pot that I borrowed to pay for my dogs dental work earlier this month.


DS is at DMIL today so other plans are:


1) Dry a load of washing on the clothes horse
2) Defrost some chicken and turn it into something for tea;)
3) List the freezer contents
4) Do next weeks meal plan
5) Post DS nursery photos to rellies
6) Vaccum upstairs and living room
7) Do some ironing (I hate ironing :mad:)

Caterina

XSpender don't mention ironing! ARGHHHH, I should be tackling the ironing mountain instead of mucking about on the iPad! If I started now, even taking 1/2 hour off for breakfast and getting washed and dressed, I would amply do it, in 2 hours. Oh dear, I have talked myself into a guilt trip now! Better get up and ready then :eek:

Quick news on the hoof: I have joined the September Grocery Challenge at £300, so will need all the encouragement to stay within budget. It means starting a spending diary. Hope I can do it!

:money:

lynsayjane

TB I hope you do get the secret santa thing working, it would be a good fun idea. Last year was the first Christmas we had a next generation and my sister was told there'd be no more presents for her and her partner as the LO would be getting spoiled rotten by his favourite (and only) auntie. I did still spend on her though as I'm in a better position financially, she got gift cards with the express instruction she was to treat herself and not the LO. I'm more than happy with a little 'auntie' present, it means more than anything expensive. If a time comes I have kids then we'll stop buying for each other (well maybe a sweetie) and the kids will be the focus.

Pink sorry to hear your OH missed out on this one, fingers crossed something else comes along.

Caterina if you don't get onto this ironing soon you'll hae no clothes to wear haha do you need someone to come round with a big stick? why not sort it into piles of tops/trousers/dresses etc then tackle one pile today, one tomorrow and so on to break it down rather than a huge and daunting pile at once?

Bl00dy miserable day up here, it's really throwing down. Also managed to sleep in this morning (damn snooze button being right next to dismiss!). Not so bad for me but I feel terrible for the BF who was with me and was then running late for his college induction. Am really proud of him going back into education to get qualifications. Sent him off with a packed lunch and 'play nice with the other kids' haha might do something nice at the weekend to celebrate.

Should be a relatively OS day here (other than forgetting breakfast and ending up in works costa for scone and coffee!). After work am meeting a friend in a group I've joined for a tour around a new aparthotel venue. Need to pick up milk and a couple of things on the way home, shall make a list and stick to it! Payday today so have already moved money into savings and will get out my cash and find individual wallets for food/fuel/spends. Am determined to get spending under control this month.

Hope you're all having a good day, hugs where needed or wanted
LJ
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