Awesome August Frugaleers..

[Laska42]

Blimey.. It's August Already (nearly)

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Yep I have really thick hair too, so if I get 'em, we are screwed! Thankfully the DCs' hair is much finer. Think I caught it in time as DS didn't even have one. Uggggggh though. I'm now washing all towels at 90deg, need to make sure the brushes are ok too.

I love the sharpie on plate present idea! Wish I was organised enough :o do they have to be oil-based rather than regular sharpies then? I didn't know there were different types!

Ipsos I'm on maternity leave, though I might not go back, so this is going to be a year where I work out if I can do it. My husband is on a good wage, but I squander money terribly.

So I have £200 of bills to go out, three shops to do of £40 for food and maybe £50 on fuel. That should leave £500 in the bank account and I should be able to clear my credit card. We will have only mortgage debt then, so that will be a nice feeling. I do worry a bit about our savings, we have lots for everything long term with £500+ in each so can afford it if something goes wrong. I will get my Christmas bonus and DH gets a few thousand bonus in March so that will help.

Centre parcs is booked and paid for as is a hen do next year, so only a summer holiday next year to plan and cost.

m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/20131670/ 80p for a plate and Sharpie Paint Marker Medium Point Oil Based All 15 Color Set www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005QEZAFA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_QjiWvbYQM6G08 these are £2 per pen. If the pens have enough ink to do ten plates that's £3.80 per plate so a very cheap and personal gift for people.

Ipsos I ended up worth PND last time so I'm going to be super careful and try and have a routine this time. My DS will be at play group or day nursery every morning so the baby and I will walk him there and back each morning and pick him up at lunch time. I foresee a lot of soup making for frugal lunches and a good list of free activities for afternoons. Helping mummy do chores is a suitable activity for a 2 year old, right?

Thanks what :)

ipsos I have my Prozac ready to go and I'm terrified of having two under three and everything else. Five weeks to go and it feels more like five weeks till I fall off a cliff than anything else! Parenting and expert never go together for anyone :-)

Sorry I have totally monopolised this morning!

Don't worry what you can do it, just try not to do to much at once.
My ds and older dd are 15 mth apart, not planned, I just trusted my midwife that breastfeeding was enough to stop me getting pregnant again. My biggest helper was my then 12 year old stepson who was better at changing nappies then my dh. I think 2 year olds are great helpers and you don't get "do I have to" and "it's so unfair" like I get sometimes from my 9 year old dd now.

Love I have a 9yo dd as well - I feel your pain! Have had a fair bit of stroppiness this holiday esp if she is asked to help out with unloading the dishwasher or similar!!

I agree with protecting your mental health, mine took a nose dive at the beginning of the year really bad anxiety. Starting to feel more in control again now but its not easy. I find work is really good at grounding me, I struggle more if I have too much time on my hands!!

Anyway this morning took a load of stuff to the tip and didn't stop at the reuse shop! Did pop into a local garden discount centre, spent £11.50 ish but got lots for that including 3 bags of bulbs that were reduced to 50p a bag! Also some more ant stuff as still having issues with them coming through plus lots of other bits and bobs.

Laska I tried the washing up liquid tip and it was seeming to work in slowing the ants down at least but then last night my very stupid cat managed to lie in the washing up liquid had to bath her this morning much to her disgust she did look pretty funny though

unescorted your a darling! thank you for tips...hadn't even thought about condensation. we took tent to field and had trial putting it up care of 'YouTube'. It was really clammy/warm inside... so your tips are perfect!

Boiler serviced and didn't realise how basic and old it was 13 years old with no thermostat internally. It heats at full whack whenever timer on. Blumin rented houses and basic old boilers Grhh. collie are you renting at no? was it you who said you lived somewhere soo draughty the curtains would blow in the wind. How's your new place? someone very kindly added a link for draughtproofing so am off to buy foam for in between floorboards from ebay ...the wind is blowing up through them today!

what congratulations on impending little one!!

£56 in Asda the took DD to the park. She's like a Duracell bunny today and I'm exhausted! Managed to chop down the triffid growing over the fence from next door while she charged round the garden. Have just persuaded her to nap so I'm having a sit down despite the billion or so jobs I need to do. Looking forward to when she is big enough to help with chores instead of just emptying out cupboards!

Just shuddered at your cat story Collie!

£11 on testers but two lots of two are the same colour in different paint so will take them back

£4 popcorn sweets and drinks boxes

£4 KFC

Might have come up with a very frugal way of draughtproofing floorboards!!
Using a Stanley knife to cut strips of a foam pipe insulation cover and squish them in between the gaps with the pizza slicer. Done one floorboard and no wind blowing up...Just need to see how it looks after I've done a few

92p for the pipe cover from b&q rather than the 29.99 from draughtex

Wheely now send that tip to one of the trashy magazines and get £25 for it!

Wow this thread moves fast! Wil have a proper catch up later.

I've got to buy DCs school shoes soon. Does anyone have any recommendations for "cheaper" shoes that fit well and last? Clarks, Startrite etc are all £35+ and don't even last that long

Surely there must be cheaper alternatives that are still of a high standard?

peppa By no means an expert, but once had a couple of pairs of shoes from Next for school, and they have fitted well and lasted as long as Clarks or Startrite etc.

Paid for a ticket for Blackpool pleasure beach for DD and a 'non-rider' pass for myself. It's her good friends birthday tomorrow, and that's where she has chosen to go. Will take a pack up but it's a fair drive so have to factor in petrol.