Primark

I used to hate cheap shops and Primark is a good example.

Walking into an evironment which looks like a church hall jumble sale on a Saturday morning is not a pleasant shopping environment. I do not care how cheap it is.

I will only enter the shop, if a friend has specifically recommended I buy something from there.

I recently bought 4 or 5 differently coloured vest tops in microfiber that I wear a lot under low cut dresses to save my modesty. Too much boobage is not really office appropriate. They were £3 each and just brilliant, no ironing and come in such a variety of colours.

Today I walked into the office and my friend "G" was pouring us both a brew (what a woman!). The first thing I noticed about her? Great pins! I mean her legs looked fabulous! And I told her straight away. They were a lovely natural tan and very shiny.

She had bought a box of tights out of desperation from Primark. 5 pairs in a box for £3.

Primark £3 / box

I have paid £6 per pair for shiny posh summer tights before now and not looked any better.

60 pence per pair!

So today I went and bought 10 pairs for £6 to last me through the summer. At that price they are great value. And they come in small, medium, large and x large. I am 5ft 7 and need a large otherwise I get penguin crotch.

A classic example of penguin crotch.

I am fully expecting, wolf whistles and random bouquets of flowers being thrown my way june, july and august in these babies ....



 I also threw in 30 hair bands for £1 and a batman flannel for my nephew at £1 too. A good little stocking filler for him when I want to send him a well done present.

£1 each

The truth is I still hate Primark as a shopping experience, but have got to admit. You cannot beat it for a bargain.

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Cutting The Shopping Bill.

If you are looking at cutting back, one of the first places to look at is your monthly shopping bill. I do not advocate living on bread and water for a month. But a shopping trip can cost dramatically less by buying unbranded or own branded products. Aldi and Lidl are great for reducing the budget, but I do find I cannot do a full shop in there. Life is too short to visit 2 supermarkets per week, so I do 1 big shop per month in both then, top up in with vegetables.

Hellman’s Real Mayonnaise. Squeezy bottle 430ml £2.49

Tesco Own Brand Top Down Mayo 480ml £1.00

That is a saving of nearly 60%, plus an extra 50ml.

Both are creamy, but the Hellman’s is a little more whisked egg white consistency.

Heinz Tomato sauce, top down squeezy 460g £1.85

Tesco Tomato Ketchup, top down squeezy 460g 85p

Tesco Everyday Value, top down squeezy 590g… wait for it 18p


PG Tips Pyramid Bags, 160 £3.50 (2.18p / cup)
Tesco Original Bags, 160 £2.40 (1.5p / cup)

You can also stop buying expensive ragu sauces. 1 jar of Dolmio at £1.99. Instead buy two tins of chopped tomatoes at between 31p - 50p (buy the extra value they are fine) and add one small tin of tomato puree at 35p which will thicken in. A sprinkling of dried herbs and / or garlic bulb and the pasta sauce is done. Cost 97p.

Value pasta also tastes fine and the swop will not be noticed by family members. Nor will it be detected if you only add half the usual amount of mince to your spagetti bolognaise and top it up with porridge oats. Healthier too!

If you buy a lot of snacks then I would recommend PoundStretcher or Poundland. The Chap loves Wheat Crunchies which are normally £1.88 for a 6pk in Tesco but only 89p in Pound Stretcher. I have to walk past the shop every day to get to work.

Own brand washing detergents work just as well as their more expensive labelled neighbours too.
Persil Powder Non Bio 25 wash / 2.125Kg, £7!!
Tesco Powder Non Bio 25 wash / 2KG, £4

The list is endless to own brand alternative - spirits, biscuits, cereal, fish fingers, frozen veg, chips etc

However, if I can give just one piece of advice please do not buy own brand or cheap washing up liquid. Nothing beats fairy for value!

Frugally yours
Abigail
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P.S. Living with The Chap does amuse me. He came home from work late yesterday about 9.30pm as  I was cleaning the poop from the litter tray. He takes one look at me and states "I was going to kiss you, but now I am not as you are holding a bag of sh*t". He was right I was. So I popped the poop in the bin and washed my hands. Walked back into the lounge to finding him waiting for me puckered up!! :o)

Ummmm, I Did Buy Them.

Firstly Hello and Welcome to my new follower. I cannot see a new name on the list of members. So please leave a comment to say Howdy! Thanks for visiting. x

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A theory suggests that a woman’s hemline rises and falls according to stock prices. Therefore, in good economic times we get miniskirts (60s) and during periods of recession hemlines drop to the floor (70s).

If this was the case, then I would currently be walking around the office with a 20ft train to my suit!

I have new theory, heels drop in height according to one’s age and experience

In my teens and twenties I tottered along in 6 inch heels and platforms (if appropriate) bearing burning soles and stiff calves in the pursuit of elegance and high fashion.

I also of course wore black velvet hot pants. (Oh the naivety and arrogance of youth!)

Earlier this week, I mentioned my work shoes were walking their way to the great fashion catwalk in the sky. I measured them, they are 3 inches high and for the last 12 months have been a little uncomfortable by the end of the day.

I might even have said “Ahhhhh” as I kicked them off in the evening.

Yesterday I found them walking their way outside to the bin, I think they took offence when The Chap said “Have you taken your shoes off?” whilst gagging the other night in the lounge.

Normally, of course I smell sweetly of purity, virtue, and rose petals. My feet, have other ideas…

So today, after trying on the same pair of shoes in Wallis for 3 days and egged on by a couple of site Visitors (I blame you Out Of My Window & Amanda) I decided to buy them.

They were perfect for my needs, under £30 and smart.

I also adored the little heel with the large surface area.

As I get older, I am really chasing comfort in work attire and the cobbled streets around our offices coupled with the 15min walk to the town centre did mean I wanted to be at ease during the stroll. 

High heels and stilettos do not promote this. Plus after breaking my kneecap 3 years ago, I get nervous about falling and causing more damage.

It appears that growing up for me these days does not mean getting taller but getting shorter and as I get older more experienced, my car insurance is not the only thing reducing in size....my heels are as well!

I am terribly concerned that another few years and I will be walking around in flat brogues and elastic waisted skirts! Lol

On a quick aside, there are a few good deals around this week. WH Smiths are giving away free sweets everyday with O2, this week our office have enjoyed Moshi Monsters, Fruit Shoot Jellies, and Guzzle Puzzles as we cold called our way through the county.

And finally, Tesco have a new voucher scheme on. I am not a huge fan of pyrex cooking dishes. I find them a little ugly, but I do really fancy the Cast Iron casserole dish for £29.99 with 10 stickers. Each sticker is given out with a spend of £20. So you need to spend £200 before you can buy the pot for another £29.99. That is an expensive way to buy a casserole dish!

However, if you do shop at Tesco this could be a month’s shopping for a family, plus of course you get vouchers with petrol purchases too.

I have as always put a call out to family and friends. So far I have 2 stickers, but my mum has secured another 5 today for me.

I think Tesco have now wised up to the fact vouchers are being traded, which is possibly why they have changed from vouchers to stickers. But, I have managed to peel them off when our office cleaner gave me one yesterday. I also checked the terms and whilst they cannot be sold there is no mention that they cannot be gifted to a family member or friend.

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Look At What I Did Not Buy.

These are my work shoes, and they smell.

They smell really bad!

I have been wearing them for about a year, 12 hours a day, 5 days per week. The insides are worn and I keep having to dig out plastic bits from inside of the heel.

Truth be told, they have not been the most comfortable of work shoes as they are slightly too large and the left shoe tends to flop off a bit if you walk into town.

I once went out to visit a client and walked to the top of the stairs only to have the shoe fall off and clatter to the bottom. That was a bit embarrassing.

So I have been keeping a weather eye open for a new pair. I bought these off Ebay, but I think I prefer to try shoes on.

I found the perfect pair today in Wallis for £29.95. Low heel with patent toes and in black. These are the same pair but in brown / black.

http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=8744256&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=221016&parent_categoryId=&pageSize=200&refinements=Price{2}~[20|30]^category~[700028|221016]&noOfRefinements=1

I toddled off to WH Smiths whilst I thought about them. WH SMiths are currently offering free sweets everyday this week for O2 customers. Yesterday was Sour Patch Kids and today was Fruit Shoot Jellies.

That made me think of vouchers, so I sat down outside the shop and searched O2 online, Quidco, Voucher Codes and MSE. I even, I am ashamed to admit, rang up Wallis Customer Services who also stated there were no deals currently available.

I guess I am not getting any new shoes soon then.

I then went off and grabbed a free can of Cola from Greggs with another voucher.

I think I am slightly obsessed with vouchers now as well as socks.

The poor Chap, having to share a house with these offending articles. If something pongs so badly it affects the owner / wearer then you know it has to be bad!! Lol

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Unicorn Poop

I am still feeling absolutely lousy, but I dragged my sorry ass into work today. Really wish that I had not bothered, no thanks and no sympathy. After 14 years with the same company you would think I would learn that my employer expects me to be dead before I take a day sick.

Harrrrumph!

However, now is a really good time to buy stuff.

Normally I would never advocate you buying anything, unless you honest to goodness need it. But if you do honest to goodness need it then buy it now.

I had Friday off to enjoy a long weekend. So off I tootled to my local town centre for a mooch and to visit the bank. As often happens The Chap also asked me to do 101 jobs for him, as he hates anything which could be even vaguely entitled as “shopping”.

I was delighted to do so as our road still had an inch of ice on it, TC had picked up 2 bags of rock salt and was going to have a go at clearing it with a spade. Now I would have cleaned a ticklish elephant’s bottom with a soft toothbrush to get out of that job.

One thing I really did need was some moisturiser for my face. As I hurtle towards 40 at break neck speed my face is just getting dryer and dryer or is that drier and drier??. The cheap supermarket pot I picked up for under a £1 was irritating my face a little by causing a slight burning sensation.

I would love to have picked up a Clarins pot, but at £40 I could not bring myself to do so.

However, I did come across a voucher for The Body Shop. I rarely enter The Body Shop as the last time I went in I found it a little too flowery for me.

Plus I thought it expensive.

However, they were offering an excellent deal with this voucher. Spend £40 instore and get £20 off your purchases. That is a 50% discount. So I ended up getting some day cream, night cream, hand cream and aftershave balm for The Chap. Total spend £41.50, price I paid £21.50.

This is not worth doing unless you really need something, but TC was delighted with his aftershave balm and utterly convinced it will make him look devastatingly attractive to women. I told him he did not need the lotion for that.

He still thought my face cream was expensive, and he is probably right, though I absolutely refuse to admit it to him. The situation was speedily resolved by telling him it contained Unicorn poop.

I like the moisturiser and would (so far) buy it again, but probably only if there was another deal. I was wondering if it was worth stocking up for birthdays / Christmas?

I accessed the voucher using my O2 priority moments, but  think you can also get it (or something similar) at vouchercodes  / voucherclouds and a link on the moneysavingexpert website and finally on their own website.

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Well That Was Worth Doing!

Firstly, hello and welcome to my new follower - Mad Maison. Thank you for visiting and your kind comments. x

Remember December? All that festive good humour and anticipation of time off to celebrate Christmas?

I do. I remember writing my Christmas cards, and getting cramp in my hands.

I remember buying all the stamps and being in a mood for a while after, as it had cost me so much.

I also remember getting our local magazine. You know the type of thing all glossy pictures and text, telling you of local businesses and some photos of posh people in expensive clothes opening something or other or at a fancy pants dinner.

I like getting this magazine, it comes every couple of months and I always have a read through. I shove it in my handbag and grab it out one lunch time for a mull over.

Well they always have competitions. I do like a competition.

In December they had three, 1) win a dinner for two at a local posh steak house 2) win a gold pendant from a local jewellers studied with semi precious stones 3) win a £50 voucher for the local high street to spend at one of 5 stores.

I entered all of them, some of them twice. Most you enter with an email. The final one you had to send a postcard and the answers to some very easy questions. As I had a couple of stamps left over, I entered twice.

I only went and blooming won! I got home last night to find a letter from the posh mag saying congratulations and I just needed to take the letter in with a proof of ID and “Bobs your Uncle”. £50 of free stuff.

There are limitations to the stores it can be used at

2 menswear shops

A jewellery shop

A photographic studio
A kitchen / cooking supplies shop.

A local museum shop.

I squealed, yes an honest to goodness yelp of delight passed my lips in the manner of an Enid Blyton heroine.

The Chap looked vaguely concerned, and I passed over the letter. My thoughts whirling as I mentally decided between some earrings, or perhaps a locket (I have always wanted one).

“Oh Good!” he stated, “We can get another saucepan or two”

…

Frugally yours

Abigail

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£1.33

Things are very tight at the moment. Paying off my credit cards has meant that the savings have been severely reduced.  It is time for major belt tightening.

A difficult time compounded as I got another flat tyre last week. Same tyre as I replaced about 3 or 4 months ago. I went into work late on Friday, as I visited Mr Tyre in the morning and they put the spare on so they could look at the offending article.

Another blasted nail. And again it is located at the edge of the tyre so it cannot be repaired. Luckily I know that Mr Tyre have the cheapest tyres around me at £51 per tyre. So on Saturday I went off to have it replaced.

4 new tyres in less than 6 months, plus I know that the last original one will have to be changed early in 2013. According to the nice garage men, it has about 5000miles left on it.

The Plumber came round on Saturday to service the boiler and prepare the gas safety certificate required to let out my little flat. Whilst I had his undivided attention I also got him to have a look at the bathroom sink which was draining slowly. The waste pipe was full of the most revolting gunk!

He also re-programmed my heating so now no heating in the morning and no hot water. An effort to reduce the quarterly bills. Not that I will hopefully be paying them for much longer.

And finally, he checked the shower. It is completely bust. If it was up to me I would just live without it, and have a bath only. However, as the flat has to get rented then it needs replacing.

Sigh…. Always money to be spent that I can currently ill afford. But, it has to be done, so we are both hoping I can get one for about £60 plus fitting costs.

Oh, did I mention the telephone bill arrived £90…

So, I need to reduce my food bill in November.

I had a £15 voucher from Tesco, and spent some of Friday going through the store cupboards to work out what I had in stock.

This is how it got spent.

Pasta                                  .98

Eggs                                  1.19

Cheddar                            1.99

Smoked Bacon                1.64

1x Tin Butter Beans          .69

1x Tin of Peas                   .21

3x tin of sweetcorn           1.45

Chorizo                              2.00

Lard                                    .39

1x Courgette                        .46

Celery                                 .89

1 x Butternut                     1.48

Potatoes                           .99

1x red onion                     .15

1x onion                            .12

1x leek                              .74

Wholemeal Loaf              .47

1xjar peas & carrots        .49   

Total                                     16.33

Voucher                               15.00

Left To Pay                             1.33

This food combined with the freezer and store cupboards will have to last me until 29^th November with the exception of buying milk.

I researched my purchases using mysupermarket.co.uk to ensure that I was getting the best deal and so I knew what my final spend would be. For example  the website told me the cheese was on special Lake District Mature Cheddar was reduced to £1.99 from £3.98 for 350G. I only like cheese melted on pizza or used in cooking so that amount will last me ages.

I did buy a Butternut Squash.

I have eaten it before, but never cooked it. Looking at the size of the thing I am not sure what to do. I was thinking one third roasted and put into a quiche and one third to make some soup and one third mashed with butter. Unless, you have a better idea?

£1.33 is the sort of shopping trip I can get used to!

Frugally yours

Abigail

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A Shopping Trip

Firstly, Hello and Welcome to my new follower - Mrs M. Thank you so much for visiting and your supportive comment. x

I did a shopping trip late last week which I forgot to photograph, but I thought you might be interested in how much I managed to get for £13.76. This list will cover me for 8 evening meals, 2 weeks of work lunches, and breakfast.

Tesco Every Day Value = TEDV

2 x 2L bottle of own brand diet cola          78p
2x peach barley squash                           1.59 bogof
TEDV Antibac surface cleaner                    25p
TEDV Bleach                                           29p
TEDV Value Instant Mash                         20p
2x loaf                                                  20p (reduced)
12x baps                                               10p (reduced)
TEDV 2 x cottage cheese                         1.18
TEDV Kitchen Towel                                1.10
tin of mushrooms                                    41p
TEDV Cornflakes                                     31p
TEDV Caramel wafers                              40p
TEDV 2x chicken kiev                               88p
TEDV 2x Baked beans                              52p
Beef mince                                            2.00
2x milk                                                  1.10
I x cabbage                                            76p
reggea sauce                                          1.00
Tom puree                                              29p
3 x mushrooms                                       25p
Total -                                                  £13.76

I am really pleased with the frugality of this shop. The mince lasts me 3 meals, I do not buy the TEDV mince as £2 is cheap enough for mince.
By changing and buying the low cost alternatives that Tesco have I was able to reduce my shop by quite a considerable amount.

For example in Tesco the Daisy Kitchen antibac in a spray bottle which is their cheap range is about 89p. By buying the TEDV Antibac which comes in a screw top bottle I reduced the cost by approx 50p, and only need to decant it into a spray to use. Plus it is larger than a spray bottle.

I am nervous about 2 chicken kievs for 88p, but I suppose the taste test will let me know if it is worth purchasing again.

The TEDV Cornflakes at 31p a box are indistinguishable from Kelloggs, and the TEDV cottage cheese is....um... well as nice as cottage cheese can be, but again no difference from more expensive brands.

I also then over the weekend popped into Iceland for a freezer fill up.

3 x Sweet Chili Chicken Pizza   £4.50 (for those days when you cannot be bothered)
1 bag of chips                         £1
1 bag of mixed frozen veg        £1
1 box of Mr Brains faggotts      £1
Total                                     £7.50

So for about £21 I think I should have the majority of the month's food covered, with maybe a trip for some milk later on in August. 

A convert to the frugal brands at Tesco? Time will tell and I think next month I might try similar frugal own brands at Morrisons.

Any recommendations on TEDV products to try?

Frugally yours
Abigail
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When Is Thrift, Really Thrifty?

I often deliberate when is being frugal really thrift?

An example.

Earlier this week I was in Stoke on Trent at the end of the day and was walking back to my car when I happened to walk past the factory shop for Royal Stafford.

So I popped in.

It is full of beautiful items, like all the factory shops for ceramic ware in Staffordshire. Visiting any one of them is a lovely day out and you will get a good deal compared to high street stores.

I especially like the “seconds” which are imperfect goods sold at a fraction of their perfect siblings’ price. E.g. perfect price for a plate £29.95 seconds price £10.50.

In Royal Stafford they had a section of items on the floor, baskets filled to overflowing with mugs, cups, saucers, plates etc. All seconds and end of lines. And, all reduced to 50p. Yup 50p!!!

I saw these

And fell in love immediately.

So I bought some……..umm, actually I bought 10. Total cost £5.00 yes they have almost imperceptible marks (I went though all 50 or so plates to find the best) but I like them a lot.

So is this frugal? Surely the thrifty way, would have been to not buy them at all and keep my £5.

And, why the hell did I buy 10? When there is only little old me at W Towers.

However, I did reason that I could give them as gifts with a cake.

Actually, all is not lost my friend K at sewing class fell in love with them too and said she would have them off me if I decided to sell.

Currently they are in the halfway house of my car boot awaiting a decision.

What do you think I should do?

And, did I save money by buying the plates at 50p, or spend £5?

I am not sure, but I do still really like them.

Frugally yours

Abigail

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My Idea of Extreme Couponing, "Abigail Style!"

At the moment, I always want to get the most for my money. If I am paying for an item, I always think

1. Can I get it cheaper somewhere else, and am I saving money by taking the cheaper option?
(e.g. if a bike is £100, at the shop down the road, but £95 a 20 mile drive away, it is better to buy it for £100)

2. Am I getting my money's worth?
Is it really worth it for the money.

3. Could I increase my money's return?
This for me is the big question over the last 6 months and it has made me ever so slightly obsessed.
An example, the foundation I bought on Friday.

By buying the bottle from House of Fraser I saved £2.45 and got 5 freebies with it, plus some loyalty points. Much better than going to Boots to only get my loyalty points or buying it online.

I was thinking about this today, as my mother asked me to pick up a present for The Chap. I paid for it and duly handed over my loyalty card to get the points.  I also then completed the competition to win Sheskpeare tickets and chose the free gift of a notepad with matching pen. Did I mention I bought it today as there was 20% off?

Such total obsessive behaviour can amuse those around me as I constantly struggle for a loyalty card, or bring out a voucher. But it DOES save money and give me free things.

Do not misunderstand, yes I have a Boots, House of Fraser, Tesco, and Subway loyalty card, but I do not blindly go to those stores to get my purchases. I price check and if one of those establishments has the best deal, then I also get my points to use at a later date.

If I forget lunch one day, well at least I am getting something 'extra' for the money I do spend.

I also love a voucher/ coupon, often using one means I can have a treat or make my money last longer, or even better get something free!

Currently I am sitting on these

The voucher at the back for Frankie and Benny's I printed off today, we are going tomorrow night as it is not valid from Good Friday to Easter Monday. It should cover a third of our bill.

Even If I am not sure I always grab a coupon, then every month I bin anything out of date. But, I also check them every time I do have to shop.

It saved me quite a bit, once I got over my middle class sensibilities about vouchers.

Now I do not care, I hand them over and wander off happy in the knowledge
1) If i had to buy it at least I had some points back
2) It reduced my shopping bill which means I can pay more of the debt back.

This is extreme couponing "Abigail Style". Ha!

Do you go shopping with a coupon / voucher or loyalty card always in hand?

Frugally yours
Abigail
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