A miserly May on Mumsnet for the fantastic frugaleers!

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

Saw April was getting very full so thought I'd start this off early!
Welcome to all who want to save cash, live frugally and pay debts, or just trying to live within our means!
Full of hints and tips on how to save money in the supermarket, meal planning and daily life.

Spring I think our DHs could be long lost twins.

Well done Mr Fluffy.

DD's school closed early, problem with the water supply again, so I ended up taking DDs plus 1 into town to spend some pocket money. I spent £4 in Starbucks,
£2.40 on the roads and parking was on my prepaid card.

I was in the middle of coffee with a friend when we got text messages re the school. Coffee and cake was £4. Not the best of days, didn't even get the groceries I should have bought. Expect honey, nuts, oranges and apples. About £18, that was a kilo of shelled walnuts, kilo of honey, 3kilos of apples and half a dozen oranges.

Spent more than I realized. DDs bought their own snacks though, didn't even ask me if I was paying? They left school before lunch and we came home for them to change so today's lunch is in the freezer and will be put back in the lunch bags in the morning.

Audit we've used an expanding foam in our roof, would that work for you?

Adora, the foam might work, I assume you mean to one that sprays onto the inside of the roof? I have seen it, but I need to get my financial situation in a better state before we can afford it!

Also, last week when you mentioned the pride of honey I was going yo ask where you get it from, then I remembered you aren't in the uk. A couple of years ago we bought a kilo of honey in Spain and I wrapped it really well and it flew home in a suitcase. Honey is so expensive here compared to Spain.

DD1 has a hospital appointment today, I must remember to tell her teacher she won't be back in time for lunch (see even worrying about £2.05 school meal cost!)

It's on the moneysavingexpert email that bg are giving away free loft insulation to people not on benefits.

I think the qualifier is that you have either no lagging or the old 4" thick lagging.

The new thickness recommended is 11".

Might buy thermal curtain linings today if dunelm have them in stock. We should be able to hang the curtains this weekend so will need tracks, hooks and extra slide runners.

Ilikesweetpeas try www.shoesforkids.co.uk they have loads of discounted clarks shoes

So last couple of days been interesthing, went to the gynecologist yesterday, who wanted me to see an anesthetic consultant regarding epidural. Went to him today (I am a regular atm at the hospital, so glad insurance pays) and the anesthetic consultant do not think I can get an epidural if I need/want it, due to my heart condition, which makes my blood pressure low. Apperently one of the common side effects is the drop in blood pressure and mine cant really drop lower without it getting risky, so now I am waiting for my cardiologist, gynecologist and the anesthetic guy to have a medical meeting and discuss. I prob end up having a labour without any pain relief, do not look forward to that, but really not much I can do.
Today has at least been NSD. Yesterday we spend 20 topping up OV card, 12 on a car mirror for future DD for her and us to see each other in the auto chair (at least it was on sale) and we got a free baby box with nappies, bottles, dummy ect.

Cancelled equifax was more difficult than the other one (memory blank!)

Italian I'm not allowed epidural a either due to a medical condition. I've had two children, one with forceps. Yes it hurts but at least you can get up straight away and have a shower

Italian Sorry to hear that you won't be allowed an epidural. I had one when I had DD - one thing that really struck me was when I had to sit up to have the epidural inserted, the labour pains were a lot more bearable. I had been labouring on my back and once I sat for a while, they were still painful but a lot more manageable. A friend of mine said the same when we discussed it. So, just a thought, but if you can remain more upright, rather than flat on your back in your labour, you might find it all less painful. I do hope that helps you.

£8 in asda this morning on the fruit/veg not in my Tesco delivery

spotty the thing is, my blood pressure might drop anyway, highly likely to do and therefore I will be dizzy anyway and need monitoring, so not likely to get up up straight after. My cardiologist have to approve before I can get off the bed after the labour.
To much stress to think about to close to the damn due date, take some of the fun away.
Fanta I will dfn try being more upright but wont be able to walk around, due to the monitoring, they dont give me so much free room....

All fours is much better than flat on the back. Honestly panicking will make things much worse, try to relax and go with the flow, you have plenty of people looking after you!

I know spotty thanks for the reassuring and I know I am just moaning. Think its just because I am so close and was so happy I didnt need a c section and then all these things comes up and they make me worried and also annoyed. Deep breathe in and then of course things will go fine...
Thanks for the advice :)

I'm very jealous it's the best thing! I asked dp if we could have one more straight after ds was born (he said no!). I get ill in pregnancy too due underlying conditions so I know it's difficult

Italian I couldn't walk around either as I had to be monitored. I meant sitting up was a lot better than lying down - the pain was quite a bit less sitting .

There is a lot to worry about just before you have a baby, but try and focus on the moment when you hold your new daughter, and that is not far away now .

£10 petrol

£33 work shoes but I'll put that through the business because they're not the kind of shoe I'd wear out of work unless I was 80.

£10 petrol

Thank you sweet ladies :) And sorry for hijacking the tread, tried in the beginning to be on the ante natal tread but they just makes me more stressed and already feeling like a failure before even having my dd here.
I feel more comfortable here :)

£1.97, on travel and muffins.

Glad you feel welcome here, Italian :).

Italian don't worry about hijacking and you have no reason to feel like a failure - pregnancy and delivery are a very worrying time and everyone who has had a baby will understand that .

I was thinking the other day about what a lovely friendly group of ladies there are on here .

Nsd today.

NSD!! And glad you feel welcome here Italian.

Don't worry about hijacking the thread. I've just got the one DS but looooved being pregnant so it's been lovely to feel a little teeny tiny part of your pregnancy. I had a cs as ds was breech. This was absolutely not the birth that I had imagined and I do still feel a bit cheated. Initially I even felt like I wasn't a proper mum as I hadnt laboured but I don't feel like that now at all. I waffle but what im trying to say that, although birth is hugely important, its only a little part of the whole thing of becoming a parent. Try not to worry and make the most of what you're working with.

Oh and NSD.

Well said picnmix! italian glad you feel so welcome here! as do I ladies!

£2.63 on lunch as I left mine at home. £30.73 at the petrol station (only a little of that was on a dairy milk bar - oops! )

I second "Well said picnmix."