2017 - my frugal year

SkintTeacher

I'm feeling strangely melancholy despite being on target for weight loss and money-saving. Think it is mainly work-related stress (won't go on about it, though - I know we teachers have a certain reputation for 'moaning')
On a positive note, I had a refund of £46 for a musician who now isn't able to play our wedding.
Also, I've hidden all but £100 away in various savings accounts so that even if I do feel tempted to spend, from my current account, I can't go over that amount without having to physically log on to my bank and transfer money.
Really hoping to keep this level of motivation in February. Is my OH's birthday but he never wants much so I might do a cheap day out.

Lonire

Hello there, sounds like you are doing very well. Its my Birthday next month as well and I always say to my OH to just do something cheap and cheerful. Love to have something more thoughtful than lavish myself so I am sure you will come up with a great gift idea.

Thats great on the refund and hiding money away. just make sure you remember where it is when you need it. How is everything else going?

I have found it really useful using cash only, just bringing what I need and no card. Im also writing in my spending diary ever evening and also reconciling this with my bank account so I know I have accounted for the money I have taken out. Really makes me feel motivated whenI see the money going out.

FIngers crossed we can keep it up

SkintTeacher

Lonire wrote: »

Hello there, sounds like you are doing very well. Its my Birthday next month as well and I always say to my OH to just do something cheap and cheerful. Love to have something more thoughtful than lavish myself so I am sure you will come up with a great gift idea.

Thats great on the refund and hiding money away. just make sure you remember where it is when you need it. How is everything else going?

I have found it really useful using cash only, just bringing what I need and no card. Im also writing in my spending diary ever evening and also reconciling this with my bank account so I know I have accounted for the money I have taken out. Really makes me feel motivated whenI see the money going out.

FIngers crossed we can keep it up

We can definitely keep it up! It feels soooo much better than constantly being on the edge of a crisis. My only problem is I don't want to spend anything at all now.

My new bank card arrived today - it looks exactly like my other one, so I have put a sticker on it so that I know which is my main account and which one is for 'fun' spending. The sticker says 'NO' as I had to use a sticker I already had and that was the only word I could make that meant anything. Will certainly make me think twice about my spending!

Still not taking my purse to work (although at some point I'll have to bite the bullet and pay tea/coffee money).

SkintTeacher

Well! 5 NSDs in a row this week, so it's been pretty positive. Rounded off nicely by having colleagues over for a lovely night - they brought cheese, wine, cake, schloer, crackers, dips. I provided carrots, cucumbers, celery (all from existing stock) and ambience. Cost - zero.
Now trying to decide what to do with my weekend to be equally thrifty. I don't need anything so I may risk not taking my purse out and see how it goes.
Keeping the current account at a bare minimum seems to work wonders as I'd have to transfer in order to spend and it really makes you think twice.
Clothes spend this month - £5
Oh! Also I'd normally really over-indulge on cheese but I drank loads of water and tried to fill my tummy with carrots before going for cheese etc. First time in my life I've stopped at 2 cheese twists. We'll see what the scales say tomorrow...

sourcrates

SkintTeacher wrote: »

Also I'd normally really over-indulge on cheese but I drank loads of water and tried to fill my tummy with carrots before going for cheese etc. First time in my life I've stopped at 2 cheese twists. We'll see what the scales say tomorrow...

Nothing wrong with cheese.

It's one of life's greatest pleasures perusing a cheese shop in a French market town, whilst sampling the local plonk !!

Fond of the strong, mature cheeses me.

Mouths watering now ......

SkintTeacher

Well, I woke with joy in my heart and a spring in my step so I suggested a long-awaited trip to the farm park. Both the other half and little one jumped at the chance for a bit of fresh air. Also bought gorgeous beef for tomorrow's bourguignon and have spent the last hour cooking. Now in the slow cooker until tonight.
Spends - £15 entry
Caf! - £13
Farm shop - £16 (got lots of veggies and beef, bacon)
On the way home, as was already a spendy day decided to fill the car up with petrol - should be good til pay day. £40 though!
Total spend today £84
£68 in current account til pay day. No panic as this is just the money I am free to spend.
Hope everyone's enjoying their weekends!

SkintTeacher

sourcrates wrote: »

Nothing wrong with cheese.

It's one of life's greatest pleasures perusing a cheese shop in a French market town, whilst sampling the local plonk !!

Fond of the strong, mature cheeses me.

Mouths watering now ......

As a francophile myself (and hispanofile) I couldn't agree more! Love the cheese, but this was a crap selection. Wenslydale with cranberries!? Byeuk!

Lonire

Hiya.. the trip to the farm sounds great,, very hungry thinking about that beef hahaha. Sitting here having my coffee but never too early for beef..

Do you use the slow cooker a lot ? Any tips on what slow cooker to get? Gonna have a look at getting one.

Also thinking of getting another account to have as a spend account like you. Seems like a good thing!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Lonire

SkintTeacher

Lonire wrote: »

Hiya.. the trip to the farm sounds great,, very hungry thinking about that beef hahaha. Sitting here having my coffee but never too early for beef..

Do you use the slow cooker a lot ? Any tips on what slow cooker to get? Gonna have a look at getting one.

Also thinking of getting another account to have as a spend account like you. Seems like a good thing!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Lonire

Hiya - Happy Sunday!
Did quite a bit of research on slow cookers - we're currently using ours 3 or 4 times a week. Mines a Morphy Richards Sear and Stew - it's got three settings (low/med/high) and the inner pan comes out which is great for sealing meat etc.

Got it for £29 in the end and luckily it survived being chucked over the back gate by yodel (!!?)

Lonire

Happy Sunday, Gonna go down and try and get one today heard so much about them and few friends were chatting about how good they are. Do you leave yours on at work?

Chucking over the back gate made me chuckle. love how they always risk it.