Making savings before it's too late

Spendless

My organisation of the toiletries is working well. To the point DS overheard me talking to DD about our 'secret stash' of shampoo and demanded to know where it was because he's been struggling with what to use. We have a secret stash because I like straightening shampoo and DD Aussie products, both which cost a few pounds per bottle and each time we go to use them we find the menfolk have used them up:( despite DH having very little hair and DS doesn't care what he uses. The secret stash is in the most obvious place, the bathroom cabinet, which is mirrored and newly installed 6 months and bought because it was also a cabinet, so I'm quite confident it won't be found.

Years ago on here, there used to be a 'Februrary, use it up challenge' where you wasn't 'allowed' to open a new item of anything, until every last bit of your old stuff and your mini/travel sizes of items had gone (unless you were saving them for something specific). It was a great way to reduce, de-clutter and economise all at the same time, so I'm doing that at the minute. Not overly keen on the bodyscrub I'm currently using but once it's gone, really excited that I can at long last move on to my Ted Baker stuff.:)

On the grocery front not doing as well. This is due to not being organised and for reasons that I don't wish to go into right now missing our usual grocery shopping day for a few weeks. This needs to be addressed, so have done a meal plan and going to Ald! shortly.

mardatha

I've been doing ok with Asda online for a few weeks and the money I saved has gone on books from Amazon. About half a dozen cheap good books, I'm happy.

blackcatsx2

It’s quite fun finding the glut of product and then working through them. I’m still working through candles using up 3/4 used candles. I suppose I started them, got bored and then started a new one. It’s nice to be using up because every couple of days there’s a fresh smell to enjoy.
I used vouchers that I get from my credit card yesterday. I bought some birthday presents and a new duvet set to use up the vouchers as they were due to expire. Got to the till and the already discounted items were discounted by another 25% which meant I hadn’t bought enough to use up the vouchers so I added in a lovely set of 3 hand creams for myself and only had to pay 75p more.
I’m trying to save money on my gift budget this year and the vouchers meant I got £30 worth of lovely presents for free.
I do all my spending on this credit card (pay it back in full each month) plus get these vouchers a couple of times a year. Very happy with that shopping trip. Now need to apply the rule and dispose of the old duvet set because I’ve bought a new one. One item out for a new item in.

mardatha

Have any of you found a good place to buy candles? Last time I looked they had really jumped in price. I mean plain white long burners for power cuts, not fancy smelly ones lol

Spendless

I'm back for Aldi and I didn't completely stick to my list. I'd only made a list long enough to cover all the meals I'd planned, so was aware that I would have nothing to 'roll-over' to a following week, which is a flagged area for issues in this house, so I bought extra accordingly. I was dreading the total bill and it came in at £68.53 :T:money: I love their prices.

We've also had a smart meter fitted this week. We had similar years ago but it stopped working during decoration. Teenage son is the one watching it all the time, though I'm not sure I appreciate him waking us to tell us we'd forgotten to turn the heating off, think I'd have rather slept.

[Deleted User]

My candles are stearin wax candles mar, not cheap from ecclesia. What about ikea candles?

Doh, I did have cash, just hidden in that wallet. If I had £5 in my purse then that is the max that I would have spent in the shop, not £12. Never mind, I`ll enjoy eating the ready meals and ice cream

So I have been able to transfer 3/4 of the money owed on my cc, from halifax to smile. Not due for a few weeks but I want to get back to zero asap before the real savings start to accumulate from 12th february. Not long now

suki1964

mardatha wrote: »

I've been doing ok with Asda online for a few weeks and the money I saved has gone on books from Amazon. About half a dozen cheap good books, I'm happy.

Prices household candles are showing for 99p on eBay. I pay around £1.50 in an ironmongors

mardatha

Thanks suki, I always forget ebay.
kittie I'll look in Ikea if I ever get up there again, ty.

tori.k

I find the soy candles we have burn better longer then the petroleum one's, but haven't a clue how much they cost as it's something I usually get given as gifts ( I'm an awkward begger to buy for consumables go down well)
My no spend day was scuppered with £6 for some aqua safe for the son's fish, he's supposed to pay me back but I'm still waiting for the last lot, so won't hold my breath.
Fish keeping has massively evolved since I was a child, they cost a bomb in filters and chemicals, even the food is frozen and regular salad bar provided I don't know if you can pampered a fish.but they don't want for anything.

CurlyTop

mardatha wrote: »

Have any of you found a good place to buy candles? Last time I looked they had really jumped in price. I mean plain white long burners for power cuts, not fancy smelly ones lol

Hi Mar data

I spotted chunky pillar candles at different height in bog standard white/ cream in asda in a pack of 4. Think they were about £5. Not sure if this is a good price.