Friendship and Falling Leaves, Frugal Autumn Continued

[Wolfcub]

New fred

Not sure if I'm too early for this new thread or not?!

Kessie Yum, I love sushi but hardly ever get the chance to have it, especially because DD definitely wouldn't eat it and I don't think DS would either as he doesn't seem to like rice. He is just starting to slow down with his eating now and starting to become a little fussy now too 😫He's 11 months, probably was inevitable though especially with DD's (4) terrible influence!

I need new glasses as mine are scratched a lot on a particular lens. The weird thing is the previous pair became the same, I bought 2-4-1 last time so then started using this pair and now it has happened again. I don't understand how it's happening as I don't really put them anywhere except wearing them or putting them in a glasses case...and I've been wearing glasses for about 2 decades and the previous pair was the first I have ever scratched! It's a mystery...will need to buy from Specsavers cheapest range this time though because if this is going to keep happening I can't afford more expensive ones. I usually only buy a pair (or two if there's a 2-for-1 offer) about every 2 years or so but this would be my third pair in about 12 months which is ridiculous.

Hope you are recovering well Gen.

Thanks re: the tax code. Yes it's because they've put me on an emergency tax code as a few people mentiond. I will call them but I think I will wait a month or so because my employment in my 'main' job ends in a few weeks and I will then be starting a further new job that will become my 'main' job. Very complicated as I will be working 3 jobs. So will leave it til I've started that last one and then I guess I need to calculate how much I'm expecting to earn in each one for the rest of this financial year and tell HMRC so they can split the allowance properly over the three? On top of that, I need to apply for marriage tax allowance too, would that change my tax code for each job or just one of the jobs?? I naively didn't think about tax at all when I decided to change my jobs, I thought HMRC/employers had some kind of tax magic where they would just sort it all out for me hah.

Today should be an NSD for me. Might even bag a free lunch at my DPs 😜.

Place marking
Thanks wolf for new thread

fanks for Fred

Thanks for thread, Wolf.
£8 in Sainsbury's - DS wants macaroni cheese for dinner, so I bought the ingredients, plus extra milk. Surprise, surprise, macaroni cheese is not on the Matt Roberts' 12 week fitness plan, so I will have something different. I am enjoying being told what to eat, and therefore what to buy, although I am only 3 days into my plan.

DH taking DS back to his university city on Saturday and staying a couple of nights. I am a bit envious of his 36 hours in Leeds (have found lots of good itineraries and places to go, bet they don't do any of them) but will get my turn later in the autumn. I am here with Ddog, planning to exercise, clean the floors, clear out a cupboard and paint it, read and watch Uncut Gems again. None of which will cost me anything, yes! Have told DS and DH that they are not leaving without first rehanging the mirror and a couple of pictures in DS' bedroom - jobs that have been waiting since April, when I finished painting it.

Hope you are recovering Gen. Best wishes.

Thanks for the thread wolf and the good wishes everyone. I spoke to my surgeon and he says it’s rare but likely to be nerve compression from the tongue clamp they use to keep your mouth open. He said it will resolve but he couldn’t say when as for some people it is days and others weeks. So I guess I might need more time off if it’s still bad in 13 days when my sick note runs out.
had the most restorative nap and do feel a lot better in myself. Going to open the bedroom windows for a breeze.
Sold some old DMs on Vinted so have £20 to spend on clothes, super excited 😄

Thanks for the thread. We all feel a bit off here. Thinking of something very basic and plain for our tummies. We were supposed to have a chilli con carne with guacamole and soured cream tonight!

I have extra lean beef mince to use up and I was thinking something like mince and tatties may be basic and comforting enough for our tummies.

NSD today!

Everything feels sort of grey and dreary.... I may make some gingerbread men to cheer everyone up. Another gentle yet comforting thing!

Actually, I think we may have Hogwarts Pie (cottage pie)

Loving the seasonal comforting food again 😋

Thanks for the 'fred.

Got to Lid, even after a long day. £75 but included beer as friends over tomorrow for a pizza to celebrate DS's birthday and lots of their vegan stuff that is on offer. £25 other spends. Long day and another one tomorrow. DD making tea, I've poured a glass.

Small pleasure in a full two loads of washing dry from the line. Smells lovely.

Thanks for the new thread wolf still trying to catch up on the old one
wishing you a speedy recovery gen

Eating out of the freezer and using up odds and ends in the fridge. We've had prawns with chorizo, stir fry veg in a tomato and chilli sauce with a packet of Uncle Ben's rice that was lurking about.
Taking salads to work has saved me about £50 over the last few weeks so I'm really pleased about that.
Someone on the thread was talking about small pleasures which I relate to. Mopped the floor with Zoflora and it smells gorgeous.

Wolf thanks for the thread

Ginger / Need also mopped floor with Zoflora and lit our stove for the first time since the spring, with wood we'd had left over. Small pleasures

Gen hope that resolves quickly.

Collie feel the need for comfort food here. Thinking fruit crumble and custard at the weekend.

Good luck on the plan Bigskies. Its hard when your family eat different food but it will be worth it.

Weightoftheworld the sushi was v nice. DD loves it (just cucumber maki mainly) but DH and DS prefer pies! . It was £4.95. Some of my colleagues called to Costa - was the first day back for some. They were shocked to pay £7 for a drink and a snack. Felt a bit better after my splurge in Asda! We may have to start a baking rota for our day in the office to save money!

£4.09 at Coop. Milk, diet Coke and sour cream.

@kessiebird
Oo, mine was Hello Spring. Totally out of kilter with the seasons but I love the smell.

Will try that one Ginger!

We had cottage pie in the end and it was yum! Mmmm fruit crumble.

Well another NSD
But last night DH sold a spare bike for £10.

I'm having a glow up / pamper day today. This week has been manic and I look weary!! Going to highlight my hair and have a nice long bubble bath.

Hi all

Great to read the thread qnd catch up with all, sorry to hear some people have been ill or uncomfortable lately.... very lsd week I have either been@ work @ my pgce course or alseep, lol. The week is blur and I feel like have spent the week in traffic jam. In happier frugal news work have had lots of open days so I have literally lived on free sandwiches breakfast dinner and tea for 3 and q half days 😀 lsd week and this thread is helping! I have managed to reduce our electricity usage massively! I have watched the prepayment meter and nagged EVERYONE in my house! Same eith gas meter, noting spends and petrol usage. It really is working and whilst I cantcearn anymore, I can spend more wisely. So thanks gang!😻

@Fearofawelshplanet I was looking at doing a PGCE too! How's it going?

Thanks for the new thread.

£5 playgroup. The best one around, but times are hard for everyone now aren't they and even this doesn't feel such a great deal nowadays. When I used to take just DD it cost £3 for the two of us. Now it's £5 for us + DS, and it seems theyve stopped providing a 'help yourself' fruit selection now too so more expensive and you get even less for your money. It's a church charity who runs it so totally sympathetic, just feel the creep of increased prices is just everywhere and starting to squeeze us.

DS looking for P/T jobs back in university city. He worked a lot last year, and during the summer, but dear god, that lad can spend. Had a chat about budgeting, (importance of,) and planning for fun (basically, his solution has always been to work and earn more, and just keep filling the same hole as it empties). I was shit with money at his age, and for much longer than that actually. But at least he's getting to grips with it and - I really hope this is the case - will talk to us and discuss problems and solutions as they come along. I don't think he should work more than 8 - 10 hours a week (there's research showing this to be optimal) so that he has time to focus on, you know, his course. Thankfully he agrees. But that does mean he is going to have to reduce his going-out spends.

I also want a serious financial summit with DH, because I have Big Stuff to discuss - mainly house, retirement plans. We've always relied upon each other to pull our own oar - you deal with this, I'll deal with that, we'll deal with these things together via the joint account - and keep the boat going along nicely that way. I don't think that is going to work for things we might want to achieve in the next 5-10-20 years though.

Phew, it’s the end of the week. I woke in the night with a stonking headache and felt rough all day so not been productive. Apart from doing a GP consult for DD2, talking her briefly out of school to do a wee sample and then getting her prescription.

Spent £19 in Tesco across two trips. Went to the more expensive Tesco express, but then had to wait around in the bigger Tesco for the prescription so did some more shopping.

I’m hoping DH gets home soon so he can cook dinner

Thanks for the new thread
Just en route back from a lovely week away with the best news possible, that there was no sign of the cancer having spread. So no chemo needed, just very regular check ups for a long time.
Over the bloody moon!
Now to focus on recovery & how not to develop paranoia while remaining alert to signs of recurrence!
Will catch up properly later 🙂

Wonderful news north

Oh @northender what a relief! I’m so pleased for you 💖
My biopsy results haven’t come in yet, it will be delayed by the Queen’s funeral as all the labs are closed apparently. He said usual turn around is 3-7 working days so I guess it could be middle to end of next week.
DH is making me sausages and mash for dinner - should be easy to eat.

Evening.

Fabulous news north, just wonderful. Now you can concentrate on healing well.

Gen, missed the update re speaking to the consultant, fingers crossed the numbness recedes.

Hope you're okay time

Good though that you're thinking of planning for the future skies, few do. My DC are extremely frugal, DS extremely so, he looked like a waif at university as he spent so little on food.

Pretty expensive for a playgroup I agree weight, and yes, price creep.

Frugal total fail and thought I'd cancelled an Ocado order and hadn't, £60. Pah! Mainly staples though thankfully, but I'm cross with myself.

It won't go to waste long term but some items not as cheap as Lidl.

Having pizza tonight with friends as the last celebration for DS's birthday.

Kessie - absolutely love Zoflora, everything smells so wonderful afterwards for ages.

Amazing news north

Successful NSD today, the outside temperature has dropped hugely!