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Frugaleers Flying into the New Year All Welcome on the January Thread

999 replies

SpottyTeacakes · 28/12/2015 11:04

New thread hopefully someone can add some old links?

OP posts:
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9
Pointlessfan · 06/01/2016 21:50

Auto Aid looks perfect for us DH agrees, thank you babs that will save us loads on AA/RAC.
Get well soon need.

Ememem84 · 06/01/2016 22:03

We've planned our holiday! But not booked anything yet.

Heading to Florence Pisa and portifino/cinqeterra in August. I am so excited. I love Italy!

Flights from here to Florence were stupid (about £1500 return for just me and dh) so we've decided to hop on the ferry to France (£60 return for 2) get the train to Paris (€20 each) spend a day in Paris then get the overnight train to Florence (€84 each ish). Obviously there's hotels etc to pay for and dinners and cooking school for a day. But. More frugal travel. And more fun I hope. Something a bit romantic about train travel. Eeeee!!! Grin

need feel better

laksa carrot and beetroot soup sounds yum. What colour is it??

nk good luck with the job!!

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 06/01/2016 22:08

Hope You are feeling better soon, need.

£5.08 in Tesco on bread and some other bits.

Am torn at the moment. Really want a fitbit, but also really don't want to spend money on one. Would rather save it. It's the same issue I'm having with replacing my tablet.

Ememem84 · 06/01/2016 22:11

rafa I have an "up2" it only tracks my steps and sleep. But it had better reviews than Fitbit looks better (is slimmer and looks less like a prison bracelet) and for me does the job perfectly.

I think they're cheaper than Fitbit too

Ememem84 · 06/01/2016 22:12

jawbone.com/store/buy/up2

I think dh got mine on Amazon though

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 06/01/2016 22:24

They look about the same price I think. Argos have the Charge at 64.99 at the moment.

I suspect this might be a bit of an impulse buy as everyone else has one. Might wait for a bit. I'm using Runkeeper for logging most of my running/walking/swimming when I do it anyway. That's free. I'm not sure I really need to track my steps.

And I have a free app that tracks my sleep, which supposedly has an intelligent alarm.

Laska5772 · 06/01/2016 22:39

Ememem its a sort of dark orange.. v yummy ..

here is recipe.. It changes as I do it each time depending on what i have in though . This time it had more carrots ( as I had lots , ) and no red cabbage ( but its v. good with red cabbage in ) . It comes from my old 5:2 recipes, so if you are interested in calories its about 670 cals for the whole recipe so about 112 a portion
I like mine with a little crumbled feta on top and a splash of hot sauce

Carrot, Red cabbage and beet borscht

2 packs of Cooked Beetroot In Natural Juices, (250 gs ea.)
2 Medium Onions -
3 Celery stalk, medium (7-1/2" - 8" long)
4 Carrots -
200g Potato
2 cloves garlic
quarter of Red Cabbage chopped
Pancetta 110g, 1 pack
400g can Tinned chopped Tomatoes
Caraway Seed I teaspoon crushed
Dried Dill half teaspoon
Fresh - Dill, small packet
teaspoon smoked paprika
Chicken (or veggie) Stock Cube, 1 cube
Splash of red wine vinegar or lemon juice

Chop up celery onion carrot into small dice , Fry off with pancetta in large pans until soft and then drain off excess fat. add garlic (or if making veggie version use tesp oil ) .

Thinly slice potatoes (I left the skins on) and add to the pot with caraway seeds and dried dill. Add made up stock add to cover and simmer until pots are tender.

Shred cabbage and chop beetroot and add to the pot with the tinned tomatoes and smoked paprika, and simmer until cabbage is tender.

Add chopped fresh dill salt an pepper and splash of red vine vinegar or lemon juice to taste and liquidise.

You can use uncooked beetroot but the pre cooked stuff is v cheap and easier ..

Rafa ememem i have a Fitbit charge HR which im a bit addicted to, got it 2nd hand on ebay , (so much cheaper!) .. since ive had it , about 2 months , ive lost half a stone, not dieting, (because that would be silly over festive season) but just upping my steps. I try and do 15000 a day , but dont always make it.. ( have started getting up from desk every hour and running up the stairs to the 5th floor .. however people think im a bit mad..)

Laska5772 · 06/01/2016 22:47

Rafa if you buy a Fitbit get the large wristband , the small is very small, My wrist is only 6 inches and I needed the large , you need to wear it a bit loose .
Also the Charge HR has a much more secure wrist buckle . When I was deciding which to get I noticed lots of complaints on the internet about people losing the Charge , because of the bad strap fastening.

AdoraBell · 06/01/2016 23:02

NSD

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 06/01/2016 23:15

I might try on a friend's. My wrists are ridiculously small.

eastmidswarwicknightnanny · 07/01/2016 05:22

Being back at work is hetic today is first in the week of extended hrs as I used to finish at 2 but now 4.30 same as Tue n wed so after collection of boys from nursery and childminder we get home at 5.30 sometimes earlier if I leave a little early from work then tomorrow I finish at 2. We have been good in having either a pre cooked home meal out of freezer ready like a casserole or easy dinner like gammon n eggs or left over chicken so we don't buy takeaway and only once since going back to work in sept have we done that but wasx workoless days so must make more of an effort now.

Ipsos · 07/01/2016 07:47

need, Sorry to hear you're feeling so bad there. You've had a really difficult few weeks, and you really must need a bit of down-time to allow yourself to recover. Take it easy there is you can. I'm glad you have your dog-walking time to get a bit of a moment for reflection.

Ipsos · 07/01/2016 07:49

Things are good here right now. I haven't spent much money. Just a little on buying essential new clothes for ds, as his school trousers were starting to rip at the knees. I've tried writing around to see if there are any science grants for someone in my situation to continue my photography. Only slight hope, but it keeps me busy.

Ds has started a reading spurt and it bashing through books all of a sudden. I think I may need to visit the library.

NK5BM3 · 07/01/2016 08:16

About emigration - I think we are all up for it... Including the kids. Part of that was realised when we were away (at my home country) for Christmas and the kids (and us) really had a great time bonding with the cousins and extended family. It made a big difference as I could call on anyone to help with childcare and other related information or help. Although oz will not be the same as home it's closer to home so people are already saying they'll visit etc.

We don't get the same family support here. Dh's parents are at best uninvolved and at worst couldn't care less. Not entirely sure why - perhaps it's because we don't live close enough. Perhaps it's because dh is fil's son and the step mother doesn't care for the step children but cares a lot for her own. Even when we are up north for a visit, they don't make an effort which frankly I find quite hurting (but I don't say anything). I know dh is hurt too.

But we shall see.

fuzzpig · 07/01/2016 11:38

Two days away and loads to catch up on! Had a nice couple of days at mum's. Recorded all my spends but don't have DH's yet (hope he remembered while we were away!)

Whataboutnodetox · 07/01/2016 11:46

Annoyingly I have shrunk one of DH's posh jumpers. He wears it all the time and loves it so is understandably upset. I've ordered too similar ones in the sale to try and replace it. I've spent £56 but one or both will go back. I am never washing his jumpers again. Annoyed at the waste.

£66 has gone out for the AA. I would happily cancel it but DH insists, I think this will be the last year I allow that, we'll go back to auto aid or at least something cheaper.

INeedSomeHelp · 07/01/2016 13:19

Has anyone ordered from Muscle Foods? They seem to have loads of deals on which look really good value but it depends on the quality. I would quite happily stock up the freezer but dont want to spend £50ish if its not good quality.

Whataboutnodetox · 07/01/2016 14:03

It is good quality and really lean and high in protein cuts. I even like their random sounding chicken sausages

Girlfriend36 · 07/01/2016 14:27

Have only ever heard good things about muscle foods, think it is worth it if you like your meat and have a big freezer!

So dds mattress still stinks Sad will give it another go with this spray tonight but am thinking will probably have to replace it.

Spends today,

£2 parking
£20 back massage - used bday money for this, was lovely am going to try and book one a month I decided!
£13 in Poundstretchers, got tons for this! 8 toothbrushes, large colegate tooth paste, 2 pairs of gloves for dd, 8 tea spoons, 18 bags of hula hoops, 2 large scented candles and some nice shampoo and conditioner Grin love Poundstretchers!!
£7 on a t.shirt in Debenhams which was 50% off.

Thats it for today, no other spends planned.

ItalianWiking84 · 07/01/2016 14:39

Dh union is trying to get his former employer to pay out his over hours money which would be 780£ after tax..

SpottyTeacakes · 07/01/2016 14:40

Nsd so far. I have three birthdays I need to buy for in the next three weeks plus another mid Feb. It's never ending!

Girlie that's really annoying about the mattress.

I had a disaster this morning. I was emptying the bin which is dh's job anyway ffs anyway the liner was stuck and I could not budge it so I ended up sitting on the floor with the bin on its side between my legs pulling the liner with my hands and pushing the bin away with my feet (yes it was as ridiculous as it sounds!) anyway it finally came out only to find the liner had split at the bottom along with an almost full massive tub of double cream.

Frugaleers Flying into the New Year All Welcome on the January Thread
OP posts:
Whataboutnodetox · 07/01/2016 14:45

Oh spotty, I'd have sobbed. What a bugger.

SpottyTeacakes · 07/01/2016 14:48

Well I was going to what but then I decided to clean up the floor, laugh, then close the lid on the bin and leave it for dh GrinBlushGrin

OP posts:
Silvertap · 07/01/2016 15:00

I like your plan spotty!
2.45 spend for me today. 1.00 on church playgroup and 1.45 on an emergency loaf of bread.

Am off to the library with the kids - hoping I can avoid the £7 fine that's on my card again!

lilacclery · 07/01/2016 15:03

Oh spotty you're evil!

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