Marvelous Frugaleers - May the Money Magic Continue into June

[Unescorted]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from January

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

£7 ish in Tesco on 2 rolls and some pate for lunch plus some Father's Day cards.

2.70 on parking to attend DS's new school interview (talk to teacher and fill in forms) annoyingly when we walked round to go in, the car park was open for free parking!

ipsos I have guilt now when I spend frivolous money, due to this group

But do feel more in control, I do prefer to feel in control!

NSD - hooray!!!

Pasta bake for tea. Cheese sauce, tomato, peas and leeks for DD (vegetarian), added chorizo for myself and DS. DH is in Dubai on business. It is 45 degrees, they expect it to rise, ramadam starts tomorrow so he can't even drink any water all day. He is providing training, outside, using specialist equipment for two days....

We always have sausage roast. Yum.

I'm going to try out Mary Berry's sausage meat lasagne tomorrow. It looks good so fingers crossed.

Afternoon all - Going to try and get a little bit more involved again.

I need to try and get a doctor's appointment tomorrow as I have been dizzy for a week and think it is something to do with my ears. I'm really scared it won't get better and I'll be stuck like this for life. My mum has hearing problems and wears hearing aids and I have a diagnosis of otosclerosis which is unlucky as it isn't hereditary. My mum has constant tinnitus and balance problems - I really don't know how she copes on a daily basis. It is making me see that I need to be more patient with her!

DS1 did his last maths A Level exam today and I got a £20 deposit back for him handing back a maths book (woooh) so that has gone into my £1000 emergency savings. With what I saved over from last month, a bit of mileage from work and this, my savings now stand at £885.10 so just short of £115 to go.

My menu for this week was
M:- Gammon joint with salad and savoury rice
T:- Steak salad and chips
W: Chicken and salad wraps
T: Lasagna
F: Cheesy pasta bake with sweetcorn and mushrooms
S: Giant Yorkshire Pudding and Irish Stew
S: Whole chicken, veg, mash, Yorkshires

I always struggle in summer when it is warm as most of my repertoir is casseroles, stews and curries. If I have salad for more than three days in a row I get fed up - I much prefer warm veg to salad. Any favourite summer recipes out there?

Sausagemeat lasagne sounds yummy.

We tried ox cheek for the first time yesterday, was delicious in the slow cooker but I wasn't keen on the stout I used to cook it with. The veg ended up tasting really strongly of it!

NSD today.

Sausage roast is a lovely easy and cheap dinner in this house!! I cheat and buy ready made just chuck in the oven roasties though

Just realised not such a NSD, just written a cheque for £100 for dds summer holiday club - that is for 3 days its one she has been to a few times though and always had a lovely time so hopefully worth it!!

Ipsos sorry got to ask was £25 for one muppets dvd?!

Ipsos we love the muppets. We also watch them out of season. Love the Muppet Christmas Carol, even more so since DS was in Scrooge!

At DS's school meeting we got a list of expenses: school dinners can be paid termly, half termly or monthly. I'd prefer monthly, but may stick to half termly like DD1 so I don't forget. £2.25 a day doesn't seem unreasonable, the teacher we spoke to told DS they are quite good (compulsory for both students and staff). £15 for a locker, £15 for DT materials (or I can pay £45 upfront for the whole of KS3-I guess this stops any increases?) £17.50 for cooking ingredients.

Collie I always used to figure an average of £1 per item too!

Haven't been keeping up with the thread as well this week.
Meal plan
Today Risotto
Wed Chicken salad
Thursday Ham salad
Friday Burgers at cricket nets
Sat Chicken & bacon pasta
Sun Lasagne

Shouls be another low spend week, although need to sort Father's Day pressies

HI all , for all of you feeling rough ..
and Happy birthday a bit late spotty
need that sounds tough for your poor DH I didnt know you couldnt even have water at Ramadam.. slightly bad timing that he is over there doing it , when its so much cooler here..

Well my weekend of family visitors was manic , but good, although has anyone else noticed that family simply dont seem to help out so much as friends as visitors .. Im only slightly whinging because it was so nice to see them here for a change (Dhs daughter hasnt been here for some years, we do see her regularly but she never came over until she had her own DD). Anyway I was cooking and clearing up for 7 all weekend it seemed (Dh did do some) and i have only just got the last load of towels and sheets dry and the place straight again ..
Ah well! ..
But I didnt spend any more money over weekend so that was good , and we have enough food I think left over to last all week and over weekend. I want to empty the fridge because its Holiday next Monday!! YAY!! 3 weeks away in Greece!! YAY YAY YAY!!

Spent a bit yesterday and today getting ready for that. ..

£9.79 on anti hystamine (mossies absolutely love me so i start taking them before i go )
£43 on new bra-size tankini and two pairs of (big) tankini bottoms am very annoyed at this but sadly am too fat for last years bikini & .. I may have to hide on the beach now , luckily we have a new beach tent .. I can hide under the new hat also!

Actually i havent looked at other clothes but .. my 'hot weather' holiday wardrobe is sarongs, loose dresses/maxis harem trousers and loose kaftan things so I should be ok..
£15 on Amazon kindle books and a drawing book...

Must get 'prepping' though and do what I can with the bits I am still prepared to bare.. , I have been exfoliating my milky white/blue legs for a few weeks and so they should be ok for me to put on a bit of fake tan cream later .. (otherwise If I got them out without you would be able to see both see the Great wall of China and my legs from Space right now )

No water in 45c heat? is he muslim need or just expected to tag along because it's Dubai?.

£10 lidl
£15 sainsburys.

Cat looking peaky. Again.

Hope you are feeling better, Peppa. I went to work today but struggled with being on my feet all day and my knee is swollen again.
Bought strawberries and cream on way home to cheer myself up - actually sent DH in for them so don't know what that cost.

Laska You do make me laugh . I find my own family are useless and will sit and let you do everything. DH's family, completely the opposite and they leave the house with totally everything done and put away, which is wonderful. I wore a skirt last week, legs are beyond white, horrible.

Fluffy No, he is expected to observe their custom, they can drink in the hotel, but as he isn't in his hotel all day, but out on site, he has to be respectful of that. He's done it before, says it's a killer. Hope the cat improves.

It's a bit much to expect him to do so but he who pays the piper picks the tune.

£12 team lunch.

Hmm...summer food. Well, my dp makes a huge fuss and doesn't like hot food when it warms up. I seem torotate salad after salad. ...until I get the rage and do myself some stodge (and him a salad! ).

Hm chicken kebabs, chicken/red peppers/cherry tomatoes in balsamic vinegar on leaves, hard boiled egg and bacon salad, gammon, quiche, tacos, salmon and roast veg, omelette. ...Some of my summer meals.

Nothing better than a bit of my poet Christmas Carol of a sunny June afternoon ;)

We have come back up the road home, weather was on the turn and DS looks slapped cheek so I've brought him home to isolate him. We have two pull ups to last til the test delivery at 10am... wish me luck or we may be doing a bit of enforced potty training! Was good and stuck to the 25 quid lower limit despite having a £12 off 80 voucher - I could spend it easily but we just don't need that much stuff. You guys have changed me lol - I'd normally have spent the 80 to use the voucher ;)

Muppet rather! Phone trying to be helpful!

Tesco! Damn you phone!

I also wore a skirt today (and no tights) .. work colleagues reached for their sunglasses!

Actually I went to work in trousers but it was so hot , I went to New Look for a skirt lunch time (forgot to add that into spend will go on hols) that they describe it as Pink!! (its not as short as looks on the page i'll add..)