2017 - Spend less, live more

sashybo

Chanie we're only ever in London as tourists or passing through on our way to somewhere else (usually the outlaws) so we always see the high prices. It's probably true of everywhere that there are cheaper places if you know where to go.

The public transport is definitely much better than anywhere else in the UK too, there just hasn't been as much investment elsewhere, TfL seem to know what they're doing & plan ahead unlike others TOCs & transport operators.

chanie

sashy TFL arent brilliant, its just that in London there are alternative transport options eg other tube lines or busses for when things go wrong.

Sugar if you want details about Cssc, let me know.

Today was a big spend day. It was DNs birthday and so me and Dsis took the children to soft play. I ended up spending nearly £50 and Im still horrified. I made a couple of amatuer mistakes which I dont normally make. Firstly, we went at lunchtime and I should have fed the children before we went, but I was rushing to met Dsis on time. Secondly, I should have bought the children;s water bottles - you arent supposed to bring your own, but plenty of people do. These mistakes meant I had to buy food and drink whilst there.

I told Dsis that because I have access to lots of cheap or free trips, Im not used to paying so much for so little return. We have done trips to the zoo and beach amusement parks for the same price as soft play. The children enjoyed themselves which was the main thing. I will make sure i am prepared if we go again.

sugarbaby125

Chanie, I know how you feel, as I like most people occasionally do things that cost me more than if I had planned ahead. Your children and your niece had a good time and that is what really counts.

When I go to the cinema or the theatre, I always take a bottle of water from home. There is no way I am going to pay for a bottle of water in a theatre or a cinema, when I buy 12 bottles of water for only £2 in my grocery shop. Most theatres have a bag check but I am not being asked to get rid of my bottle of water. Even when I went to the 02 where they do more rigorous bag checks. I was asked to bin my bottle of water, but then the security man changed his mind and let me keep it. I was really grateful for his kindness and his willingness to turn a blind eye.

I am spending the weekend in Birmingham with my sisters, so I will end up spending a lot. I did a much smaller weekly grocery shop, so that money and more will be spent on my trip.

maman

chanie wrote: »

sashy TFL arent brilliant, its just that in London there are alternative transport options eg other tube lines or busses for when things go wrong.

I think one of the advantages of TfL is that it's almost 24/7. At least it is in the more central parts that I visit. I'm fortunate that I live on bus routes that serve the university and the bus companies have cottoned on to the fact that students like to go out at night and at weekends!:eek: Other services seem to stop or become very infrequent soon after teatime and on Sundays.:mad:

chanie wrote: »

I told Dsis that because I have access to lots of cheap or free trips, Im not used to paying so much for so little return. We have done trips to the zoo and beach amusement parks for the same price as soft play. The children enjoyed themselves which was the main thing. I will make sure i am prepared if we go again.

I don't mind paying for something that I think is value for money and gives me pleasure but I hate paying for something I can do just as easily myself. A bottle of water would definitely come into that category. Personally I'm happy with tap water.

chanie

maman wrote: »

I don't mind paying for something that I think is value for money and gives me pleasure but I hate paying for something I can do just as easily myself. A bottle of water would definitely come into that category. Personally I'm happy with tap water.

I agree. We normally take a packed lunch on our trips out as we've found that amusement park type food is often over priced and not very nice - we'd much rather save our money and go to a restaurant at another time.

sugarbaby125

Maman,

My body can not take tap water, so I drink bottled water all the time at home and when I am out.

chanie

Frugal stuff

£41 saved on a trip to Eltham Palace with my English Heritage membership. We had to pay £1 for an activity but received a prize worth £3 per child. The children have forgotten about their prize so Ill Put it aside for a charity donation.

We took a packed lunch today and I made some sausage rolls. Dsis was impressed with them, until I told her that the pastry was shop bought.

£7.53 saved in the Sainsburys 25% off clothing. I bought the children some underwear and socks. Ill buy some more at the next event.

chanie

£17.10 Saved today on a restaurant meal with a tastecard (241 on all courses) - a belated Valentines Day meal for me and OH.

£2.25 Saved on some more underwear for DS is the Sainsburys 25% off clothing

sugarbaby125

Great Savings Chanie on your family day out and on the items you bought

chanie

A Sugarbaby inspired saving

I needed a new spring jacket and I've been browsing on line, with the intention of buying one over the next few months. I'd seen one I liked online in Debenhams and inspired by Sugar I checked Ebay and found the jacket, brand new but £50 cheaper, so I snapped it up.