October Frugaleers part deux

[CremeEggThief]

HI all, took the liberty of starting a new thread.

Our shower uses more electricity than anything!

ipsos - thank you I think I could definitely use that - may make the children think about the downside of having every single light known to man on.

I'll google where to buy - where did you get yours, do you have any suggestions?

Also thanks to whoever posted about the Mug Cake cook book... I don't belong to the Book Club or need >£25 of stuff to get free delivery, so I went on Amazon and got it for £3.99 - 49p more but without the delivery charge, as I have free delivery with my temporary free Amazon Prime Trial which I have diarised when to go in an cancel so I don't get charged the £79 annual subscription.

Learning a lot by lurking on these threads - thanks all

Electrolux I love the idea of getting the DCs to snitch - hilarious! My two will not need any encouraging.. if only it worked on 'who ate the last packet of crisps'!!!

bbc I bought it direct from www.your-loop.com/
I'm really enjoying it and will keep it for the long haul. I've learned a huge amount from it and feel so much less guilt about using things like the tumble dryer. I hadn't realised that it was actually quite economical. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. :-)

Just to let you ladies know, Mothercare have got 50% off selected toys online. Looks like there is some good stuff on there if any of you are looking for Christmas presents. Will try to catch up properly later.

I hadn't thought about showers using electricity. We don't have an electric shower. It's just a pipe that comes out of the top of the tap. We've never really wanted to change it. It's funny realising that our old house is really quite frugal, what with the fireplaces, and having only one bathroom. :-)

electrolux glad the water situation is better!

I have almost the opposite issue, we've gone over to a meter a while back and they are saying we are using the amount of 1 person in a flat (we've gone past the half and half bill bit they ease you in with so now fully metered). There are 4 of us in a 3 bed. I'm careful with water but not obsessively. we have 3 showers and a small bath everyday and the washing machine and dishwasher are on everyday too. Obviously it's good at the moment but I'm so scared that they are going to say they've got it all wrong and we owe them back pay!

Afternoon all - I have worked from home today and resisted the temptation to turn the heating on. The kids looked at me very oddly when they came home from school to see me bundled up as if I was going on an Arctic expedition.

Water meters - ours was placed so it measured our neighbours useage too. We didn't realise until a 4 person family moved in. The water company refunded us over ?3000 for the previous 4 years of water.

Under another one here who has money for 24 hours while all the dd fly out the door. As someone else said, cut down everything that is not essential - if it fails the keep body and soul together test then don't buy it. If it is essential then try to find a cheaper alternative.

Had the butternut squash soup! Added garlic chilli and pepper twister thing to it from home bargains to give it a kick. It tastes amazing! Thank you
Have popped a chicken in the slow cooker, thinking about making a broth tomorrow, any other cheap chicken ideas? X

Tomorrow is payday
Must avoid temptation to be a payday millionaire and be poor again by Friday
Will pay bills and then sit quietly
My head always thinks there's more money left over than there actually ever is

Dizzy I do chicken and chorizo casserole. I do add olives, peppers and bay leaves but you don't need too as there's so much flavour from the chorizo. We have it with couscous.

Had chilli on low in slow cooker all day. Still stone cold... Slow cooker has packed up.

Can't believe it, you'd think you'd get more than 11 years out of a trusty appliance, wouldn't you !

Another thing for the list... gahhhh.

Oh rubbish girly!! Pay it and put it out of your mind. There's nothing you can do about it...

£5 for harvest donation. £65 for holiday camp for 2 days for 2 kids!!! We never ever have it so cheap. I hope they enjoy it. Dd's first time as she's in reception. A friend has offered to have them for one day, dh is taking one day and I'm taking one day. It was a 50% offer. I was initially dreading it all as it'd worked out at £125 or something (few quid sibling discount). And bonus, I paid with childcare vouchers so no cash outlay!!!

£22 in Booths on a top up shop.
£20 yesterday for friend's daughter's 18th birthday

Going to London on the train with ds tomorrow for his first check up on his chest braces. Paid for the train tickets in September so just planning what food & drink to take with us. Will have some time spare so planning to do a spot of Christmas shopping with ds.

Heating on tonight for the first time as dh & I are both feeling under the weather. Not on for long though

Risotto works well for leftover chicken, pretty much any veg that you have would work, leeks, mushrooms, spinach, butternut squash.

Or chicken curry?

Jamie Oliver has leftover chicken recipes too.

I've ordered an extra box from Abel and Cole for next week, especially for soups.

Tonights tea is ready soon, looks fab I must say! Oven roasted veg, salmon, all covered with lemon and coriander tagine paste.

girlie How crap! Can you appeal?

good news about the water electro, is there any way you can explain that paying the bill has wiped you out? Seems so unfair.

Mm chorizo! Sounds lovely

Thanks for info about the loop monitors, their website says they work with Iphones or android, I have a windows phone
Sorry to hear about poorly people, parking fines and dead slow cookers. My electric toothbrush also died this week but replacing it will have to wait until I have enough Boots points!
I got 4 different Xmas catalogues through the post today - is it the official start of Xmas shopping time or something? The Hotel Chocolat one has a 15% off voucher which I am going to give to DH as a subtle hint! He will probably get his mum something from there too.
Leaf collecting and sticking went down v well with DD. I'm wondering how often I can get away with it as it kept her occupied for an over an hour!

I'm supposed to be revising for my exam but I have actually spent most of the afternoon plotting how to leave my job for good when my training contract finishes... somebody slap me and tell me to get to work lol.

Hi all, this thread is moving at lightening speed again

Wednesdays are always such a mission what with work and swimming lessons, its nice to sit down! Have been feeling stupidly hungry all day hoping I am not getting a cold or something.

Needa I checked with work but don't think I could have appealed it unfortunately, it is my fault should have double checked my permit was on display (and not in the inside of the car door ) more annoyed with myself than anything. Anyway have paid it now as def don't want them doubling it!!

My dd has managed to break a 3rd water bottle thats 3 in 3 weeks ffs!! If anyone knows of any indestructible clear water bottles please let me know.

We had chicken and chorizo gratin using the chicken sausages from my muscle food order. They were great and so filling! It was a sachet I have had waiting to be used for six or nine months but could have made it without, so I'll try it myself next time.

DH is going away with work for a couple of weeks on Friday morning (middle of the night really!) so tomorrow he is taking us out for breakfast and then we will take Ds1 to nursery and then we are having take away too. I'm trying not to cry as I'm bricking it having too children on my own for so long. I'm only just driving again DS2 is 5 weeks old and nights are very tiring. DS1 will be in nursery so week days will be ok, but he is daddy's boy and it is going to be hard for him. Saturday i am going to take them for a walk in the forest in the morning, I won a new woven sling in a Facebook competition (I am sure I am very outed in real life but that might take the biscuit!) so looking forward to trying it. In the afternoon DS1 has his first nursery birthday party so that will kill a couple of hours. Should mean that the next few weeks are very cheap as I won't be eating out or needing so much shopping.

What don't worry you'll be fine!

I'm freezing. Not putting the heating though. I'm a stubborn little shit.

Putting stuff on eBay now. My goal is £15. Just did my weekly shop. My meal plan is so boring though.

Pizza
Beef stew
Toad in the hole or sausage roast
Spag bol or chilli
Omelettes
Chicken korma
Jacket potato with spag bol or chicken korma leftovers

Bought extras to bake flapjacks, banana loaf and possibly some cheese straws

Havent posted since early Sept as life (work mainly) got in the way. So comforting to come back in to the cult and see.familiar names. I feel like I am back in the fold. Payday for me at the end of next week. I am OD on my pocket money account and will have £15 left in the mortgage and bills account with a fair old cc balance too. Time to get serious. Plan : halve the amount I normally apend on food and petrol and household groceries for 2 months. That will see us right. I am jeading over to the cash world. No cards in my purse and working with a weekly budget. I am kind of looking forward to it!