Friendly Frugaleers chat their way into February...

[Ipsos]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from last year

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/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

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.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

I live in fear of viruses. I am pretty certain that it was a UTI in 2011 that first started my CFS and fibro issues (except POTS - postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome - which I have had since adolescence) but it's always fluey type things that really kick it off for me. Even ten minute walks are too much at the moment, since the sodding common cold I got last week.

My storage box (I got it for wrapping paper as it always ends up unraveling everywhere) arrived today, with a very cracked lid I've emailed Hobbycraft.

The sear and stew sounds awesome, I've heard very good things. Definitely not spending money on one now :o but will bear it in mind if this one conks out. Anyway, DH got it out as soon as he was home, and chopped/grated all the veg so it's smelling scrummy and it's got plenty of time to cook on high (DCs are at St John tonight so won't be eating til 7ish anyway) and I'll be freezing the rest once I've given the new tupperware a cursory wash. And dammit I AM going to label the tubs, using scotch tape and a sharpie - no longer will I be defrosting mystery items for Russian Roulette dinners! :o

Doctors tomorrow, already planned to get the bus and go home via town (due to bus routes this is actually easier). Will hopefully get my bus pass tonight or tomorrow depending if cheque has cleared, and tomorrow I'll go to the travel shop to get DD's electronic card sorted, they need to take her photo etc. That bit is free - I won't buy the bus pass for her until next month as I'm spacing them out, and her fares are tiny anyway. Although actually it just occurred to me that it may be worth getting her a one month pass, if that still saves money - I'll have a look and do the maths later. For now I have some child free time which will be spent very productively. I'm finally watching season 4 of Revenge. :o :o :o

Don't think of the mess Girlie, think of the new bathroom

Hello all. Ibhad hoped for a nsd today but realised I forgot to get cereal in the shop the other day and dd is completely out so will pop out few a few small bits in aldi.

Oh righty.

I'm just glad we don't live in the age of TB and polio. Give me a nice innocent virus any day, and ten days it fine by me as long as it goes away again.

I remember being sent to school the day after having a sick bug (was the norm then) can you imagine it now?! last time I had a sick bug I was in ITU for a week. Being ill is horrendous when you're diabetic and thankfully I avoid most things (I have autoimmune diseases and always wonder if that's why? Might be a silly thought but my body seems to like killing off its own cells so I like to think it does it to the bugs too ).

I've decided to do an online shop this week as I've already been to the big town three times this week for hospital (the one where lidl is) and I just can't be bothered to go again. Plus it costs me about £7 on fuel each time.

Oh I also was made to have dental treatment with a sick bug. They though I was just nervous

I think I must have a nice dm. I never got sent anywhere ill. (Phew!)

I think single dad with three children made us hardy

Gosh, yes I can see how it might.

Fuzz. I got cfs after a flu like bug I got while abroad. The FM was definately caused by a couple of minor accidents plus over work & stress!
I need to pace myself not always easy to do.

Had to have tests under general anaesthetic. Getting a bit better. More tests tomorrow.😔 It ll be grand as they say!

It ll be worth it Girlie!

He's the best but we all learn from our parents mistakes don't we? I'm sure my dc will do the same.

I've got gnocchi in my shopping basket and I'll be blaming you lot if no one likes it!

I bought some frozen mash to make some GF gnocchi over the weekend. I thought dd might like mixing it and rolling it out with me

I've just put my ice cream in the freezer. Not sure how it will work out, but its fun trying new things!

£40.81 on online shop. Here's my meal plan:
Friday: omelette, sweet potatoes and salad.
Saturday: pizza.
Sunday : Quorn roast, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, broccoli, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. First roast dinner of the year!
Monday: tofu and veg stirfry, in honour of Chinese New Year.
Tuesday: pancakes, in honour of Shrove Tuesday.
Wednesday: pasta.
Thursday : Pizza Express for my birthday meal (using my 2 for 1 mains voucher!)
Friday: veggie burgers and wedges.
Saturday: veggie sausages, mash, peas and gravy (might move to Sunday. )

Enjoy the gnocchi, Spotty. If the others don't like it, all the more for you!

Flu often seems to be the culprit along with things like glandular fever. As I said I think mine really started after a UTI (had it for weeks, it was so severe my periods even stopped ) as it was around then that I started getting symptoms (and I've read that a particular bacteria is often implicated in CFS) but it was a chest infection that really kicked it off, it kept coming back and turned into a flu-like thing. I will never, ever forget the day it really took hold. Flu fucks you up at the best of times (and I am careful not to overuse the term - a bad cold is not flu! :o) - I always try and drum into people that if they've had flu they must allow themselves a good few weeks or longer to really recover. It lingers. My initial diagnosis was post viral fatigue syndrome - it's really common.

In other less depressing (but more boring!) news, I did the maths re: the bus pass for DD. I'm going to go for a 4 week one, at £16. If we do the bare minimum of her regular activities that require bus rides (creative writing, sports at the leisure centre, Brownies and dancing) the buses required add up to £3.80 a week. So bearing in mind there are usually other activities, social meet ups and trips out with DH etc. So I'll get that and by the time it expires it'll be time to get her quarterly one. :)

Bolognese was ok, but rather watery without the usual lentils :( but I wanted DH to be able to have it, and the lentils we have don't guarantee they aren't contaminated.

Welcome don't.
Rest up poorly frugaleers. It's quite interesting to hear about your long term conditions.
£2.10 on sweets for dc and £3 on fitness

Eugh fuzz I had glandular fever about 6 years ago. Felt awful. Never felt so tired and run down in my life.

Only last year after switching gps was it properly diagnosed though. Gp at the time just thought I was tired. Or had flu. They took bloods which showed gf but only new GP told me this. Years later.

I am hating these antibiotics. I'm feeling sick. Which is a super common side effect. And my new GP told me to expect it. I didn't want to eat I felt so sick. But can't take drugs without eating. Stupid sinuses/throat getting infected stupid.

Beat ya on the bolognese fuzz, our was yummy

Which is a joke

Took the dogs to meet their home boarder tonight, for when we go away. Not a frugal option, but totally the right thing for my two softies.

I'm going to look into car hire tomorrow too, any frugal options will be welcome.

I meant to mention that the process I had to go through to open my M&S account was immense, 20 minutes on the phone answering bags of questions and financial detail, all to deposit £250 pcm with them! I've had 2 of these accounts before, so this must be a tightening of regulation kicking in.

I'm back after a busy afternoon/evening..

Spends today:
23.50 for my sons ice skating lessons- eek.

He has private lessons for 30 minutes then the public session on ice. The cost does make my eyes water however he thoroughly enjoys this so I try not to feel too guilty and the look on his face as he learns new things and skates around with his friends he has made there makes me feel that it is worth it 100%.

Came home, had some leftovers from the freezer.. Done all his homework and reading (he gets insane amounts for a year one child). I sometimes feel they get pressured so much education wise at his school and that it's all about targets and success rates. It makes me so angry!

Glad your son enjoyed the skating, if he loves it, then it's worth it if you can manage it. A lovely skill to have. Homework in Y1 other than a bit of reading and spelling is mad, bags of time for all that.

Em are you taking pro biotics? We always give them to the dc when on antibiotics to stop them getting an upset tummy.

Pay day for dh and I got ctc (£70 for the month). Phew! Working today and taking the dc swimming tonight if dh isn't late home from work. Then the food shopping is coming later. I've got chorizo risotto on the menu but have no cheese in the house so we will see what it's like!

Thanks fluffy will do that think I maybe paying them though its so rubbish!!

Thanks points he is OK checked it and healing OK he has obv knocked it at night as had blood on his muslin he sleeps on but seems OK but def severed the lip tie which is a good thing but must bloody hurt n be sore now.

Let yes I found the same in reception. It's been much better now in year 1. I think it depends on the teacher. Our year 1 teacher is much more relaxed and he's much happier. So glad she's there.

That's intersting Fuzz about the flu. I had proper flu at the start of all this, but it was kind of just the last straw that broke the camel's back as I'd been working 24/7 for years with ds and was under huge stress. Interesting business.

Need to go to home bargain and the range today for done beavers stuff which I will get the money back for eventually. The question is how much other rubbish will I come out with. Will need to buy lunch today as my pack up this week is not agreeing with me.
Dh is going to aldi but that should be about £10 no more

Eurgh had an awful nights sleep. I had an op a few weeks back and have an open wound that has daily packing.. it's been quite sore the past couple of days and I'm off work until it fully heals, whenever that is. Thankfully the company I work for sick pay is quite good or else I'd really struggle. My worst fear is due to the type of environment I'm in that I'd be more at risk of infection and the work is strenuous so for the area of where the wound is could lead to potential of breakdown.

Today's spends should be:

23.50 ice skating lesson (again yikes)
40 pound food shop tonight- need to get meal planning.