Page 13 | Juggling July - Frugaleering into Summer

AdoraBell · 24/07/2013 01:24

I splurged £4 on sanity restoring chocolate for myself and DDs this arvo Exhasperated, don't worry about cup of tea. So, we dumped OH after the movies, Dispicable Me 2, as DD1 needed bras. Took ages to find the right fit in a colour she can wear under her white school shirt, £15 for 2. Both also got a paír of extra thick tights Style leggings, £8.

Roads were £2.40 and parking a few quid off the prepaid card, didn't look at How much. DD2 got beads too.

Dogs are still with the vet, another night of hotel charge. Tomorrow DDs have Dr. appointments, and opthalmologist on Thursday. DD2's toe is much better folló wink the antibióticos so I'll ask Dr. what he thinks without mentioning the other one recommeding surgery as I'm not convinced. We have business lunches and dinners this week, which is always nice for the school holidays

AdoraBell · 24/07/2013 01:41

confused it's never too early or late to blame it on the baby

ExasperatedSigh · 24/07/2013 07:00

Arf, yes, I didn't mention the sanity-restoring curry we had last night too. Both done in (me from child wrangling, him from decorating) and everything in the house needed washing up. The grout around the kitchen sink has all rotted, so you can't stack anything to drip dry over the edge of the drainer as it leaks into the cupboard. So washing up has to happen in tiny installments. Bloody house is falling apart (avert your eyes SpangleMaker).

On the plus side, I made about £70 profit on eBay last weekend. Thinking that can be my spending money when I go to Belgium next. month :)

Fluffycloudland77 · 24/07/2013 07:23

Aldi voucher in the mirror tomorrow. £5 off £40 spend.

Helenagrace · 24/07/2013 07:42

Managed NSDs on Sunday and Monday.

Schools break up today so looking forward to no routine for a few weeks.

DD's room desperately needs storage. The second hand / discount furniture shop in town had some pine furniture in so I got a chest of drawers, wardrobe, desk and office chair for £145. I feel a bit about buying her second hand but we're renting until we can sell the house up north so it seems pointless buying new if it might not fit when we move again.

ExasperatedSigh · 24/07/2013 09:31

Helenagrace you need to do a Kirsty Allsop and upcycle them DD will then be the proud owner of original vintage pieces.

Fluffycloudland77 · 24/07/2013 14:10

£10 on ecloths in tk maxx

£8 on cleanser.

Topcashback are being deliberately obtuse on my question "if I purchase a seperate buildings policy and a seperate contents policy will I get two lots of cashback at £63?", they answered a building and contents policy only generates one lot of cashback but is it that hard to imagine two seperate policies? Is it?. I'm going to get dh to sign up, he can do one policy and I'll pay for the other.

daisychicken · 24/07/2013 15:22

Ok, £1.49 on high juice for DH then £10 spent not allocated for... Ds1 needs glasses he didn't like any of the free glasses and as he's going to secondary in Sept, I felt he had to have something he was comfortable wearing.. I know the pair we chose is heavily reduced but I didn't want to spend £10 sob!!!

Swim passes also bought today (£44 & we didnt get the gym pass (ds1 wanted it but "i might only use it once" - not at £10 you wont!!!!)). Both boys know that this is to last the 6weeks and that I have nothing else to spend. However, Ds1 gone out with a friend and it turns out friends mum is paying for a game of badminton and then doing lunch (not sure if at home or not) so am feeling a bit eek.. as I know I can't return the favour atm..

Helenagrace - there's nothing wrong with secondhand! If she brings it up (I don't know how old she is) then just discuss the fact that you have a fixed budget and you want to get the best you can for your money. My two know that DH and I don't have a problem with secondhand, that we hunt around online (shops & ebay etc), then look for the best price and that sometimes secondhand is best. Also, you can always paint wood to change the look or tart it up!

daisychicken · 24/07/2013 15:23

Sounds a good idea fluffy for the cashback!

confusedofengland · 24/07/2013 16:48

Totally agree that there is nothing wrong with secondhand. At least, I hope not, because DS2's toddler bed for the new house was previously DS1's & before that came from a car boot sale for £10 & all of our bedroom furniture (shabby chic style) has come from Ebay We couldn't afford everything new as well as £6.4k on a roof

daisy what a pain about DS's glasses. Still, it is an essential & £10 is not too bad

fluffy good idea re cashback, they can be a bit sneaky!

Today I spent £2.20 on parking at a local park plus £3.50 on ice creams, but the activities were free - council run --'wild Wednesdays' in a country park with lakes & forest, boys did den building, tree climbing, mud pie making, bug hunting & much more, so a great day that has left them shattered! Then Tesco for broccoli, cauliflower, peas, blackberries, 3 loaves of bread, pain au chocolat, 2 x Mr Kipling cakes, anniversary card, swimming costume (mine has gone see-through!) & potatoes - £20 total.

It's mine & DH's 9th wedding anniversary today so we're going for our first meal out sans DC in a year. We're walking to a posh restaurant in the village which is normally very pricey but we have a free trial Taste card so will get 2 for 1 a la carte, plus my pg means the wine bill won't be huge!

Tomorrow DS2 is at nursery all morning, so am taking DS1 to the pool fun session at our local pool, where they have lots of toys out. That is £4.50 each, plus I'll probably grab a McDonald's Happy Meal for him afterwards as it's easier & makes it a total treat for him (holiday Thursday & Friday mornings when DS2 still has nursery but DS1 doesn't are the only times I get to spend with just DS1, so I want to try & really make the most of them).

Fluffycloudland77 · 24/07/2013 16:51

Second hand furniture is probably better quality, I looked at a bathroom cabinett in John Lewis, it was plywood and veneer, £200!.

wheredidiputit · 24/07/2013 17:16

Nothing with second hand furniture.

DD1 has my bedroom furniture which bought at least 25 years ago. We just replaced with new as it is now falling apart after I used it, my mum used it and my BIL have had use of it during that time.

DD2 has a wardrobe that my aunt bought when she had my cousin. My cousin is nearly 17 this year.

I can't see the furniture we just bought lasting as long some how.

takeaway2 · 24/07/2013 19:03

NSD 11! Thanks for the tip re aldi in the mirror. Will try and get to the shop for that.

Nothing wrong with second hand. We have second hand clothes and shoes and its saved us so much money. Plus it's all really still good quality. The previous people left some furniture behind and it's been helpful. Our bed was from our previous previous house and we are still using it (new mattress!).

Helenagrace · 25/07/2013 00:30

She's delighted with her new furniture! It looks nice and will look better after I've sanded and waxed it.

AdoraBell · 25/07/2013 00:40

Spends day here

£106 for DDs to see the Dr
£42 on multivitamin and a dietary supplement drink for DD2 who is currently on the 3rd percentile, on the plus side he didn't recommend surgery for the ingrown toe nail.

Roads £2.4
Parking, clinic and shops, £3
Groceries £66
£4 on urgently needed snacks, I felt faint in the supermarket despite having porridge for brekkies.

Back tomorrow for eye assessment, DD1 had surgery to remove a growth a few years ago, turned out to be a mole which had suddenly changed and spread but luckily was benign. It needs periodic checks, and DD2 used to wear glasses and had a squint. They also need a couple of vaccinations which I'll get done tomorrow.

OH spent a whisker over £1,000 on 4 tyres, main dealer wanted that much for 2 greedy b'stards and we Had a late lunch out, OH paid.

AdoraBell · 25/07/2013 00:44

Oh, dogs are home but I haven't spoken to the vet so have no clue how much the bill is.

AdoraBell · 25/07/2013 02:36

Happy anniversary Confused and Mr Confused hope you had a lovely meal.

Glad DD is happy with her furniture Helena, another vote here for 2nd hand.

daisychicken · 25/07/2013 09:16

Hoping for a NSD today! Ds2 wants to go to the park so depending on the rain... (am hoping it stays away!) we'll go there for a bit and then come home for ice creams.

Adora hope vets bill isn't too bad... We spent £364 this month....

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/07/2013 09:47

How was the meal confused?

confusedofengland · 25/07/2013 09:57

Adora that sounds like a spendy day! Everything seems so expensive where you are

Helena glad DD is happy, quite often DC just like to get 'new to them' things

daisy hope weather holds out for you

Morning everybody! The meal was divine, but expensive (£87 for both of us, including drinks & coffee, but we didn't have puddings as just too full. Taste card saved us about £25). It was so nice to go out as grown-ups, and this is a really posh restaurant (apparently frequented by David Beckham, but I'm not so sure), which we could never have afforded this time last year, so we are really lucky

Off to swimming with DS1 shortly, selling something on FB selling page also (£3), so that should pay for his Happy Meal afterwards. Wasn't going to get food today, but DMum tells me we need tea & I have a code for £15 off Sainsburys online if you spend £60, plus you can get 10p/litre off if you spend £60, so may well do that & stock up on bits for the new house.

Dropping DS2 at nursery this morning & there had been a massive accident on the A-road nearby - car on its roof, air ambulance, fire engines, 6 police cars Things like that really make me stop for a minute & just think how lucky I am with my lovely family & that DH has a great job & that we have lots of friends too.

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/07/2013 16:47

£5 top up shop for salad.

It's a good job you had that taste card.

takeaway2 · 25/07/2013 18:26

NSD 12! And happy anniversary confused!!

Will probably do a shop tomorrow at sainsburys as we have some money off but also if you spend £60 you get 10p off petrol. Worth it I think.

BuildMeUpButtercup · 25/07/2013 22:34

Oooh, just discovered this little corner of Mumsnet and I'd like to join! I want to cut back as I do spend to fritter money on rubbish and I'm left scratching my head and wondering where the heck it's all gone!
Will try and read the whole thread and forum and glean some tips and inspiration!

AdoraBell · 26/07/2013 01:37

Today's damage

Eye Dr £120 for both DDs
Vaccinations, both DDs x 2 vaccines 345 fecking pounds -

Roads 2.40
Parking free- less than 2 hours
Snack due to me not having time to eat and DDs needing a top up £12

Lunch out with Big Cheese visiting £130
Took DDs and Big Cheese bowling £25
Another £8 on roads OH using the new road into town and back.

Jeans for DD1 reduced to £3 -yay at last, a bargain!
Same again on beads for DD2 to avoid arguments and £4 on herbal chill pills for me -see above for reason.

And 2/3 of a packet of ham used to entice 3 bleeding dogs back after they escaped to chase bleeding wild rabbits.

AdoraBell · 26/07/2013 01:38