September savers/frugaleers continue into October

[574ejones]

All welcome!

Babs, I think you live near enough to me and if I am right, the main leisure centre in our area is ridiculous about moving them up. My DS spent 2 years on Stage 5, and the only thing he wasn't ticked off for on his last couple of assessments was the butterfly. We gave up in the end, as he'd had enough and got completely bored. He is a strong, confident swimmer who enjoys being in the water and to me, that's far more important than the perfect execution of the butterfly.

babsFrom a swimming teachers prospective, I wouldn't move a child up until I was completely confident they could cope at the next level, especially as this can lead to them regressing. But a year is a long time to be at a stage, so I would definitely speak to the teacher. Might be that a change of teacher and teaching technique might help. However butterfly technique is really difficult to perfect, and they tend to stay at a stage for longer as the techniques come into play.

ipsos we also had to thoroughly vacuum DSs bedroom yesterday for the same reason. He was never stuffy and snotty in the old house. We have an air purifier and anti allergy bedding. I wipe down his furniture twice a week.

When we relocate (whenever and wherever that may be) we may go back to having no carpets. I can't decide if carpets make it worse.

Anyway - sorry for going off topic.

NSD today and our weekly shop is due tonight. Have made £13.50 on eBay today already. Thinking about listing our pram but we've lost the bumper bar thing. We didn't need it (the pram was only used for daytime naps after we lost the bumper bar) and not sure if it'll sell without it. It's 2 years old.

Would love to get £35 for it though. It's a Jane one.

Nsd today as an home again (48 hour rule). Feeling more myself (hungry!!!). Actually feel I could have gone in to work but safer not to. So will be spending the day doing house work (nothing too strenuous just washing) and might venture out for a walk around the lanes. Might. If it stops raining.

Am also going to sort more things for eBay as I've been doing really well recently.

Ordered some new boxing wrap/glove things off eBay this morning for £4.99. They'll probably be crap but I don't mind replacing frequently really. Feeling the need to punch some frustrations out!

It's so grey and miserable today I feel like I could go out and buy 10 cakes and a bottle of gin. I won't obviously. I'm just in the mood where I do so many things in the house and a minute later they seem to need doing again (along with an early waking child and kids that just will not stop bickering). I guess that's being a grown up. Sorry for being all doom and gloom, the weather says sunny tomorrow so hopefully I'll cheer up!

Hairspray, I know how you feel sometimes. The bickering can really get you down. Being tired stops you feeling positive about anything, I find.

babs DS (the strongest of my 2 DC for swimming) got stuck at breaststroke for quite a while, he just couldn't master the technique, which is very important. I did have a few long chats with the instructor. However, once he did 'get' it, I think he moved through the badges literally termly. From the instructors POV, the technique, done correctly was key. It's hard isn't it?

DH has severe asthma and nearly died as a child, he was in one of those 'bubbles' for weeks. MIL took out the carpets in his room and she recalls it helped massively. All our downstairs is wood or tiled and DH would agree it helps. Not sure about allergies though.

Listening to a debate on Radio 5 about whether we are too obsessed with germs, following on research about bedding. It's interesting. The expert on is the side of allowing a little muck!!!

Actually ipsos, I wouldn't listen if I were you, they have just talked about what is on pillows and duvets, it would send you into a frenzy

Hair I know just what you mean. I've been tidying constantly since school went back and somehow as soon as I get one room clean another one explodes. Our weather is also grey and everyone is coldy. Hang in there.

Thanks Collie. We've been having the carpet v. no carpet debate since 6.30am this morning and are really none the wiser. I know two houses with no carpet and they are so much easier on the eyes and nose, but our house was freezing before we got the living room carpet. I think we'd have to get the floor wood-boarded if we got rid of the carpet, which presumably costs a bomb and is slippy. It's a bit of a dilemma.

Placemarking
I know very little about allergies but remember my mother's friend having corkboard flooring for her dd due to asthma if that's an option

Seriously, cheap, synthetic bedding (duvets and pillows) work better for DH, asthma-wise

Yesterday ended up costing a fortune. Bus didn't turn up on time so we got a taxi to Brownies. A tenner for the round trip. But had already got bus passes for the day as I'd had Dr appt etc. Hmmph. Must be more organised and get the earlier bus next time.

Payday today but I won't really see any of the money! :o

Need to phone my boss later and break the news that I won't be in for a few weeks. And see if I can find out about sick pay, eeeek.

I remember corkboard wall covering too. . It seems as if the fashion if for oak floorboards here. I bet it costs a lot though. Just mulling that over now.

I think the sensible thing for beds may be to switch to thinner duvets that we can put in the washing machine to hot wash. That would help with the dust. I do have anti-allergy bedding but it's so heavy to get it and the duvet covers off that they get left on for far too long between washes.

Weirdly, our house feels amazing now that it is completely dust-free, and I didn't think I had a dust allergy.

Just received Clubcard Coupons in the post. totally random

Fantastic! Weren't you wondering when they'd come about 72 hours ago?

Yep! Weird isn't it. But these must be a little extra and not the main Clubcard vouchers. Just a little somethin' somethin'. It's like they know I cheated on them with Sainsbury's and are trying to woo me back with 25p off various things.

Also just did another Nectar Survey and my balance is at £17.39 already! (Up by a few pounds in just 3 weeks) wish I had been doing Nectar Canvass and Mycoupons all year.

I checked my Tesco Christmas Club when ye spoke about it, I only have €25(thought there would be more feel like we had tesco deliver a lot this year) which we kind of earmarked to save for ferry tickets but I'm leaning towards €100 of boost vouchers instead. Will see closer to Christmas.

Morning everyone!

collie that's weird about the club card vouchers!

fuzz good luck breaking it to work, I hope they are understanding.

Spendy this morning, bought a beautiful canvas picture for our kitchen/dining room area. It was €15 and I'm so happy with it, it's a big wall, and has been empty except for kids scribbles art work for the past 7 years, and I was so sick of it. It's boosted the whole room.
Tesco have 25% off all clothes (in roi at least!) ( lilac ) and dh has a work trip to the UK in October, so needed a few smart winter bits. Bought 2 shirts, a knit jumper, and a pair of leggings for me, for €28. Those clothes were budgeted for, and I'd budgeted €50, so balances out my picture!

I'm waiting for M&S vouchers to arrive (credit card scheme). We paid for ds' brace with it so have built up £30+ I think. The Skype consultation went well last night, the orthotist is pleased with how it's going. Need to see him in London again next time. Just booked our train tickets £75. Seem to be having a very spendy time at the moment and on top of that have started buying Christmas presents.
Frugal win has been booking self catering accommodation for a 2 day trip to York in November. It would have been almost £500 for 6 of us (dh's sister & hubby coming too) in a hotel but we've found a house 10 mins from the city centre for £220. That should save even more money as we can eat in, make packed lunches etc if we want to.

Pink that's a great feeling when you finish off a room like that and so cheaply too.

I felt like that when I bought my seat for our landing and thought we'd need a lamp to go with it but dh put a bog oak lamp up there which was a housewarming present from his db and was lost around the place. I feel happy every time I pass that space now and dd loves her story read there too.

Thanks for heads up about Tesco x
north that's great news about consulation and also about your trip too.

I saved about €70 in argos 3 for 2 and got some fab santa presents and one for one of dh's grandchildren. Must study it better to see if I can tick anymore children off the list! Books I think though will be main presents for friends children

Just got my shop and scan newsletter after estimating my christmas vouchers at €110 this morning a 2350 points bonus was applied to my account so that brings it up to €130! Thrilled!

Brilliant lila

pink I know what you mean. Our house is pretty much done, but every room needs a little something extra iyswim? Just a print or an ornament. I rarely get time to shop, and never find what I want when I do!

north Glad the Skype went well.

Ok, for the first time in ages I updated all our paperwork and tried to catch up a little with finances.

Big breath, deep breath.

£1100.00 paying off school trips for the DC.
£250.00 car tax x 2
£90 vet fee
£1800 decorator cost.
£40 shredder.

Some of the car tax is a company expense, as is the shredder. The rest is not.....mainly in the budget but ffs!!

I am very behind on being organised. I always feel like this at the end of the season. It's hard working lots of hours and being away every weekend, training twice a week

Saved £200 by switching gas/electric.

Collie I found this great page about floors and allergies.

www.healthyflooring.org/alternatives.html