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We are Resolutely Frugal! Frugaleers continuing their new frugal year. All welcome!

988 replies

fuzzpig · 10/01/2016 17:56

Hello! I hope nobody minds me starting the new thread :o

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fuzzpig · 20/01/2016 16:48

Only just catching up on the thread in between panic tidying stints! Blush

Creme yes I did have a thread on Amsterdam, we've been dreaming of it for ages but couldn't do it - just too expensive. I really think that with this penny challenge thing it could become a reality, and we can do it in term time so that'll be cheaper!

Interesting about the centre parcs, I'll look into that but it'd need to be easy by public transport. One thing we were thinking of, since a colleague told me, was a mini cruise thing where you do one night on the boat, then have a couple of days in Amsterdam, and then go back on the boat for another night. That appeals partly for the adventure and partly because it'll slow down the travel (something that I find exhausting since getting ill). :)

I will look into Berlin as well, a friend just went there. City breaks are basically what we tend to gravitate towards, because of public transport. :)

Another holiday thing, we're going on a cheapie Haven thing in March and we were discussing them with some other home ed families, we were talking about maybe doing a joint one! Like loads of families all going to the same place at the same time. Would be awesome!

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fuzzpig · 20/01/2016 17:44

Ohhh Spotty sorry to hear that. It's so hard for kids when they have to do stuff like that.

I'm mildly sulky because my thread on oven recipes (thought it'd be better than clogging up this thread) is as yet unanswered... if anyone has any ideas for me please pop over! Especially frugal recipes :o here

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Ipsos · 20/01/2016 17:53

I've had a nice cheap day. Yet another trip to the library, then a small top-up shop. Ds rode his bike without stabilisers for the first time, which feels like a really huge milestone. Chuffed.

colliepirate · 20/01/2016 18:05

Sorry I've missed so much of the thread.

spotty sorry to hear that spotty! Xx

Can't rent the house out because there's a clause on the house that says no renting. Basically its to stop people buying houses in Cornwall for holiday homes. Tis fairly common down ere. We are unlikely to sell the house before DH starts a new job. And we can't rent elsewhere and pay for a mortgage here at the same time. I have to admit I haven't looked at all possibilities as I've been struggling on my knee. Just worried about wasting shit loads of money!

Anyway, just tried to do a weeks shop with Sainsbury's Online & their website was playing up. I phoned them for help and the guy told me to turn off my tablet because that'll fix their website. I laughed SO much at this ridiculous technical advice. I couldn't help it. Anyway - he got shitty and hung up on me! Ooopsie.

colliepirate · 20/01/2016 18:13

Oh and a NSD today.

Going to do my online shop with Tesco in a minute if I get a chance!

Frugal fail. Found a holey pair of leggings yesterday. So I chucked them out today. Only to find out I chucked out the good leggings instead Shock bummer!

CremeEggThief · 20/01/2016 18:29

That was very cheeky of them, Collie. I would complain. I have to say I'm lucky to have only ever had good customer service from Sainsburys, so I am surprised.

Ememem84 · 20/01/2016 18:31

Nsd!!!!

fuzzpig · 20/01/2016 18:32

Aw well done IpsosJr! Star

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Ipsos · 20/01/2016 18:48

Thanks fuzz. Ds thinks it's hilarious that he is IpsosJr.

CremeEggThief · 20/01/2016 18:50

It's an important milestone, Ipsos. Well done ! Chocolate

fuzzpig · 20/01/2016 19:01

Still haven't properly read the full thread yet, but has anyone heard from Blue? I haven't noticed her name since she was in hospital with her DH? Hoping everything is ok.

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SpottyTeacakes · 20/01/2016 19:07

Ipsos that's great Smile

CamdenTownie · 20/01/2016 19:08

Really feeling the love for my 'hometown' Wink

Today was supposed to be a nsd but the petrol was on the red so I stopped on my way to work and put £20 in, also got dh his bananas, a net of satsumas and 2 bottles of water for £2.60 so £22.60 total spend today, I'll make it up and have a nsd tomorrow instead, all of the dd's and so's have been taken from the bank account now, £90 worth of chequer are still pending and the balance is currently £160 ish which should leave us with £70 if I'm successful with nsd's between now and Tuesday next week, I've also got just over £54 in our house account which is primarily for food/shopping.

I'm feeling pretty good about it all at the moment, I've really managed to rein it in this month, and im enjoying being in control too.

Hope everyone's had a good day.

needastrongone · 20/01/2016 19:08

Good point, fuzz, hope you are ok Blue.

Fantastic IpsosJr Smile Well done. I remember the moment with both of my DC, it's magical.

I'm sorry about that Spotty, for your DD. Not easy for her.

I find curly kale really hard to use up in fairness Love. Other than curry, I can't think of any suggestions, unless you disguise bits in a lasagne?

NSD here, but very busy next couple of days for trying to use the SC to eat on the go from. I've defrosted some venison for tomorrow, cheating and having frozen pizza tonight.

Pointlessfan · 20/01/2016 19:19

Well done mini ipsos!
NSD although I dread to think how much gas and electric we have used today - oven on this morning for baking and again this evening for jacket potatoes. Have also run the dishwasher twice, the vacuum cleaner, washing machine and dryer. Also had the heating on almost all day as it's so cold. The garden was still frozen this afternoon!

CremeEggThief · 20/01/2016 19:21

Curly kale is great in green smoothies, with banana and almond milk, and also in soup.

Laska5772 · 20/01/2016 19:27

Hi there , just checking in and marking place, nothing much to report really, have had quite a few NSDs mainly through stilll eating the freezer contents.

Right now I am ( like a sad nerd ) following the live feed of our local council meeting ,( where they are debating the 'cuts' proposals which may mean my job going..) I nearly went to the meeting , but glad i didnt ! its all a bit tedious, but at least here I can follow it in comfort!.

However we wont know for definate for another month.. but have now booked and paid for our holiday in Greece in June/ July .. sod it we're going!

Laska5772 · 20/01/2016 19:30

Oh yes , Im going to make marmalade!! (but not tonight ) . have done it before Have bought the seville oranges now. The lot I made a few years ago was a bit runny though.. Has anyone here use Certo for marmalade before ?

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/01/2016 19:32

Does he feel like a big boy now Ipsos?.

Collie I'd email the CEO about that. You might get compo.

£4.60 on pizza and beer. We had no internet all day and the recipe I needed was on it. It's ok though it came back on so we don't have to talk to each other or anything.

Plusnet pissed me off so I've switched to Sky. £73cb and a £50 marks and Spencer voucher. Fuck you plusnet and your crappy router.

£5 test payment to Sky which I'll get back.
£4.60 emergency pizza and beer.
70p glass cleaner. I have glossy kitchen cabinets and this cleans them well.

www.idmobile.co.uk/shop/pay-monthly/Huawei-Y3-White?tid=IDWIC866 The £5 phone. £21 CB on topcashback from id. Carphone warehouse won't give CB on it and E2Save is only £10 CB. It's sent by dpd so you can choose the day of delivery. But not Saturday's.

Shopitize offers have 3 types of naice chocolate biscuit for free & 80p off cadburys hot choc which makes it 20p if you buy it from morrisons, plus checkoutsmart has free Evian bottles. I like to use spring water in the coffee machine because I CBA to descale it.

Laska5772 · 20/01/2016 19:33

I have a collegue who claims to like Kale and strawberry smoothies.... shudder.....

Pointlessfan · 20/01/2016 19:53

laska I made marmalade once as a teenager. I used one of those massive tins. I think it was the massiveness of the tin that interested me. The marmalade was nice though. Is this the right time to buy Seville oranges? If so I might have a go too, DH loves marmalade.

northender · 20/01/2016 19:54

spotty hope your dd gets on okay with the cast, it must be tough.
laska hope you get better than expected news re your job. The upcoming cuts are frightening, far more drastic than anything so far Sad and Angry at the same time.
Had a very busy day at work but worked extra hours so that will be extra money to go towards the loft project. The planned jambalaya for tea turned into spag bol as I already had a vat of bolognese left over from Monday's lasagne.
Had to send ds' ps4 back to Sony last week (Monday) as it had crashed. It's still in warranty so they sorted labels etc for us to return it. I found out tonight that it hasn't arrived with them. Fortunately ds had kept the receipt he got from the post office so we can prove it was sent. No idea how long it'll take to resolve though. I think ds feels like his world has been put on hold Grin

Whataboutnodetox · 20/01/2016 20:04

Laska I hope your job is safe, it's such a worrying time.

Blue - yes are you ok? Is your DH OK?

Collie - hope the knee is improving

spotty - can they put her in a boot instead it does it have to be casts? Hopefully it will fly past

Ipsos - you can eBay the stabilisers! Frugal win!

I'm sure I've muddled people and forgotten people, I do read and think of you al but my retention is so poor!

NSD today, only did preschool run today, so Cold and Gabriel is coughing and sneezing and havjng little nose bleeds so best to stay in the warm. Ds1 turned my lounge into soft play.

Laska5772 · 20/01/2016 20:06

pointless yes seville orange time is now , I got mine in a local greengrocer, but now think they would have been cheaper in Sainsburys..
St Delia is the recipe i to look up think, but also look up Felicity Cloake 'perfect marmalade' from the guardian , but on the net .

north what a pain, I do hope they find it ,

well yes , who knows what the cuts will bring, should know definately about job in a month ,( which feels a bit like slow torture) , I am trying not to fret , and at least I can get some redundancy money and a bit of the pension and the mortgage is paid etc ..

We are all waiting for the councillors to decide what to do ( but judging from the live feed of the council meeting, they wont any time soon .. too lily-livered!( and to be fair, they can make n no good decision - everyones local councils will have the same going on ,

blueteapot · 20/01/2016 20:12

Sorry guys Im back! (Thanks for the mention need and all the well wishes!) - DH collapsed ?cause on Sun morning and had quite a bad head injury with it so we ended up in hosp for the day. Theres more to it medically but I dont want to put too much detail on t'internet. Brought him home mon and hes back at work now if a bit shaken up :( Sorry I went awol I find it so hard to get on here much in the week bar the odd thread in chat!

I dont work weds so softplay today with the kids, booked their birthday party and we ended up having lunch there (all my planning has gone out the window this week). I then cleaned the car at home for free as it was such a lovely day. Just me and DC for dinner so just made some quick pasta and cheese sauce which they wolfed down.

Going to have a read back through now :)