For Finally Forgoing Frittering 26 July 2014 at 4:48PM edited 26 August 2014 at 5:42PM in Debt-free Wannabe Challenges 90 replies 11.3K views

Saver-upper

Hey,thank you for coming out to play,boys and girls-very encouraging :j.And already it has paid off,because there are a couple of brilliant ideas,which I am going to pinch .

I hope you come back,Sazzie23.I wonder if I would have been better off posting on the DFW pages.Might,as you suggest,do a link,thank you.

Hi marmiterules,thank you for stopping by.Your idea of thinking of my waste as enough for another whole new week (free week) is inspired!LBM right there,thank you

I never go into the red.The way it works is that my very modest wage covers a couple of direct debits.Then each month OH transfers across money to my account,to pay for running the household (I guess it IS housekeeping,though that sounds very old-fashioned and under the thumb,but it's not like that-I only have to ask and more money is produced-usually only happens on birthday months/Christmas.)It covers groceries,petrol,school holiday activities,school trips,scouts,school dinners (once-a-week-treat for 3 youngest kids),clothing,school uniforms,days out,birthday presents for school friends,ice-creams after school.....basically anything that is not a bill.Sometimes,if I have had a really good month,there is even enough left over to pay a chunk off my next month's council tax,which is nice-that does feel like free money.

I do sort of use a list,but I know I MUST get back to meal-planning,which was going really well in the new year,but has slipped,so find alot of "popping to the corner shop" going on between grocery shops.Not good.

I have thought about physically setting aside,say £40/50 for the month for frittering,and when it's gone,it's gone.This would include my after-the-kids-have-gone-to-bed snacks ,after school snacks(Friday afternoon treat),and anything else that takes my fancy.

parsniphead and buffythedebtslayer I don't know what it is about "breaking into" notes.It seems once we have broken them,we feel thay must be "thrown away" all in one go.As if they are too untidy in our purse :rotfl:. I have heard/read about this being a recognised phenomenon.I read an article recently saying that as a nation we would save more money if there were smaller denomination of notes(am guessing £1 and £2's.They probably won't invent a £3 note :eek:.) It does make sense to me.The nipping out for "bread/milk/marg" is what knocks my budeget sideways too.
I must get back to meal-planning today!

Right,off to browse some more MSE,do housework,and meal-plan :j.

Saver-upper

Three hours later......Am really off to do housework and meal-planning,oops (but no spending,hooray)

Sharon87

I am the same here.

I started compiling a backdated spend diary based on my debit card statements (I have 2 I can spend on) and I realised how much I'm spending on food and work lunches, as well as shoes, clothes, going out, drinking.etc

In May I spent at least £70 on work lunches!! and last month at least £80 in eating out. This month I know I've spent more than that (brother's wedding means her in laws came over and we went out eating a lot!)

From August onwards I am on a frugal mission to cut unnecessary spends. I will make my work lunches, spend less in general on food, reduce food wastage (I throw out a lot of fresh stuff like bread, fruit, salad).

I am looking to move house soon, which will increase my rent by about £200 a month so need to start finding that from somewhere!

parsniphead

. I have heard/read about this being a recognised phenomenon.I read an article recently saying that as a nation we would save more money if there were smaller denomination of notes(am guessing £1 and £2's.They probably won't invent a £3 note .) It does make sense to me.The nipping out for "bread/milk/marg" is what knocks my budeget sideways too.

I miss the old £1 notes. I still feel that they seemed worth more than pound coins. I found an old 1/2p in the house the other day. I remember when they were phasing them out and spending a pile of them on one of those sachets of temporary hair colour.

This is making me a certain vintage.

Buffythedebtslayer

I got my pocket money in pound notes. fond memories of the toy shop, Harvey's and Sindy doll clothes .


I did spend today- I went to Sainsbury's and spent 35 quid, however much of this is for my friend's birthday tea/lunch thing tomorrow so was not frittering. the rest was guinea pig food.


Am resisting wasting money on the guinea pigs..........


Maybe if I sell something I might allow myself to buy the stuff but realistically I should not.


Hope everyone is having a good Sunday xxx

Sazzie23

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

I got my pocket money in pound notes. fond memories of the toy shop, Harvey's and Sindy doll clothes .


I did spend today- I went to Sainsbury's and spent 35 quid, however much of this is for my friend's birthday tea/lunch thing tomorrow so was not frittering. the rest was guinea pig food.


Am resisting wasting money on the guinea pigs..........


Maybe if I sell something I might allow myself to buy the stuff but realistically I should not.


Hope everyone is having a good Sunday xxx

On a toting up exercise I discovered I spend one heck of a lot on fresh food for guinea pigs, however I do not consider this waste unless I throw it out uneaten. The balance there is to buy it with a long sell by date and keep checking what needs using up, but then I have to do extra supermarket shops which encourages me to fritter, so it's something I'm still working on. My current tactic is to only take £5 to the shop, but I can still fritter half that if not careful.

[Deleted User]

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

I won't be pooping out during my lunch hour!

I should hope not.

Pooping should always take place on company time.

Buffythedebtslayer

Sazzie23 wrote: »

On a toting up exercise I discovered I spend one heck of a lot on fresh food for guinea pigs, however I do not consider this waste unless I throw it out uneaten. The balance there is to buy it with a long sell by date and keep checking what needs using up, but then I have to do extra supermarket shops which encourages me to fritter, so it's something I'm still working on. My current tactic is to only take £5 to the shop, but I can still fritter half that if not careful.

Oh don't I mean I was wasting money on the piggies' food, I have that down to a fine art (twice a week, salad, peppers etc basics when possible), however I am resisting buying this,


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161376731666


Which would be a waste of money right?


XX

kerri_gt

I still have a scottish '£1 note tucked away somewhere.

Here's a thought,of the £90 you would normally fitter away, why not take what you would fritter each week, spend half and save half, then save the 'savings' for six months or a year and see how it adds up. You could then have an annual family treat perhaps.

Or, for every spend fritterd, you have to save the same amount, I bet that would be an eye opener to see how it adds up.

Buffythedebtslayer

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I should hope not.

Pooping should always take place on company time.

:o:o


Am mortified!


x