Oh come all ye frugalers, joyful in December, oh come ye, oh come yea and chat

[babsmam]

New Fred, hope I've done it right I've never done one before.

for everyone in poor health.

Fuzz if you are not well you should stay off. Never mind about people, cant be helped that everyone is worse in grim weather. Sometimes people just don't get that given the choice you would rather be working.

Blimey at the costs of bus passes had no idea, no wonder our roads are so clogged up with cars. Do you drive Fuzz? I honestly can't imagine life without a car.

Ipsos you have been feeling generally a bit rubbish for a while, have you been checked out by your Dr, maybe have some bloods done?

Thanks for the tips on getting fussy dd to eat casserole! Babs I think your suggestion would be the only one that dd would go for!!

Have decided against sending dd on the other residential, its just too much money on top of the other trip she is going on. I think one expensive school trip a year is enough.

Sorry x posts Fuzz

Sorry Bab, Thank you for the new thread.

I hate starting them, I get all anxious about it.

Wow, the thread's busy this evening! I managed a NSD but only because DD refused to have clothes on and I wasn't prepared to take her to the pet shop in her vest! I hope this refusing isn't going to become a thing, she's usually very cooperative about getting dressed etc.
Sorry to hear about everyone's health problems.
Girlie I think my cat would be delighted if I got anything vaguely chickeny in his bed! He was thrilled when DD dropped a fish finger onto him recently! Pleased your casserole turned out well.
Car service tomorrow, it won't cost anything as it's included in our lease but I think I might have to get a taxi to collect it after work.

May I join? I've recently gone back to work and am finding being a thrifty worker tricker than when I was a SAHM. I now also have a school aged child, and am super confused about how one goes about having summer holidays that don't cost the earth...

The problem with the bus passes is the initial payment. If you use the bus anyway you will always save with the longest possible pass. But you won't get the saving until you pay so you need to be in a position to pay a huge sum of money up front. If I had to do that, I'd never have been able to afford it.

Welcome pin. Summer holidays are super expensive! But there's always lots of good ideas on here for free stuff.

I've been a lurker on here , first time posting, love all the thrifty ideas, thank you so much. sorry no ideas to add.

Indeed Rafa I'm reluctant to use the money we have in the ISA but maybe it would be worth it. We have the option of quarterly, which is what we do for DSD's bus pass for college (as she doesn't need it in holidays). I've just looked up the options and the quarterly is £144, so four of them would be £86 more than a yearly. For all three of us the overall saving would be £120 a year.

Old threads that may have useful stuff on;

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/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.checkoutsmart.com/ and this
www.hotukdeals.com/ check here daily

get one of these;
www.nectar.com/
tesco clubcard (can't link it takes you to my account)
any other points card for shops

Fluffy I think you're right about sleep. For the last year-and-a-bit I've been sleeping 8pm-6am most nights which works really well. Just recently I keep waking up at 1am and not getting back to sleep which is not at all helpful. I'm going to work on sorting that out the next few weeks and try to stop taking on daft, over-ambitious projects. The fudge sounds hilarious. Let us know how it goes.

About gas fires - I was reading recently about real fires and breathing health and found out that actually gas hobs are considered the biggest risk because they are so ubiquitous. Apparently they cause a lot of low grade health problems for women because of the accumulated bi-products of combustion (nitrous oxide and so on). We've to turn on our extractor fans apparently and that solves the problem.

Fuzz Gosh what a time you are having. I'm so sorry to hear that. I think I might pop into town and light some Frugaleer candles in the big church there. I think we need a helping hand. Also, there's nothing like a bit of arson to cheer the winter spirits.

welcome pin and dream

I have checked the links and some of the old threads have gone. I have posted what is left unless we want a more up to date thread without chat just for hints and tips?

Spotty I know what you mean about alternative therapies. I do read up on alternatives though, after an alternative therapist saved my sight ten years ago. I don't do daft things, but I do read about the science with an open mind.

Girlfriend yes I had a doctor's appointment today and have had a lot of tests recently. They seem to think I've just been working too hard for too many years decades and just wiped myself out. Both of my best friends from school are in the same boat, so I think they may be right.

Welcome pin and dream. Lovely to have you along.

A bit of happy news: I've managed to germinate some fern spores. I've been trying for a year and a half and finally pulled it off. Score!

Girl I admit I do sometimes curse our lack of car... normally during terrible weather :o but really it's ok most of the time. It does mean it takes longer to get anywhere but in a strange way I think we benefit from having the time to just gaze out the window IYSWIM. I wouldn't feel the same where I grew up, buses there (greater London) were awful and always jam packed. Much more sedate here.

Babs thank you for your kind words. I really do miss work, I was lucky when I had to get a job (when DH lost his through injury) that I got one I love. But it's a physically demanding role, there's no way round it really and I'm gradually - but reluctantly - accepting it. Luckily I have the music teaching thing to fall back on, as that is very easy and flexible and would only need a small portion of the time to make the same money (equivalent of £20 an hour minimum, rather than £8.something).

Sorry I know I've rambled about all this crap before

pointless I would have taken her lol My friend had 3 DC under 15 months at one stage (twins and a baby), and her DS refused to wear a coat and just one specific jumper, inside out, for months. She didn't have time to argue with him, he just got so cold he gave in!!!! Amused at your cat being thrilled about the fish finger

I am not ill. I am a hardy soul generally and luckily. I haven't got time to be ill, and no help anyway, DH can't take time off. DC are not allowed to be ill either!

I like your thread starting posts fluffy Seen the posts about SC fudge on FB, must admit I am intrigued. Would make an easy and cheap pressie too, home made fudge.

About 3 buses a week here, driving essential really.

Morrisons delivery this morning, £70. Flipping DC eat me out of house and home.

Spicy mexican red pepper soup and 'beans and greens' soup also, with crusty bread. Enough for lunches tomorrow.

xpost thank you ipsos and :o at church candle arson I have very little idea what fern spores are, but well done :o

I'm kind of... meh about alternative therapies. My mum has offered to pay for a course of kinesiology for me in the hope it'll help me. Torn between thinking I'll give it a go and at least I don't have to worry about paying, and thinking that I don't want to do something I'm not convinced by, and not wanting to seem rude or ungrateful...

Welcome dream

We have one bus a week

Welcome newbies

Pointless I caught my cat licking his bed earlier

Ipsos i am glad you are getting checked out.

I seem to bumble along with my health, never quite completely 100% but well enough to keep going iyswim?!

Pin I have discovered a website called owners direct which offers very reasonable places to stay all over the world, we are going to Menorca next Whitson and staying somewhere we found via that site.

Spotty I'll remember that next time I'm cursing the bus for being 10 minutes late. :o

I feel the same fuzz. I also like the fact that rather than having to face the rush hour traffic I can just sit back with a book or mn and I don't need to think about anything until I get home. And if I fancy a day out or even just lunch on the other side of the county, there's no additional travel costs to factor in it's already paid for.

The joys of rural living ,spotty One bus on market day.