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 had hoped for another NSD but I think I might need to go to Aldi this afternoon to buy fruit. If I could get it under £5 i would be pleased. I always wonder if the market is cheaper but it's quite an effort.

Ah fuzz, sorry you are feeling crap. Take it steady. If the DVD has to go one after the activities, then that's ok.

spotty Hope your DD is ok, any idea what it is?

fluffy Big bill, were you expecting it?

Hopefully NSD.

I have no idea. She's had no trauma at all, although they were out in the woods yesterday. She was fine until she woke up this morning though.

Thank you lovelies

I did have one bit of good news just now though - DH has got an interview for another job. Oddly it's a company he already had an interview with a couple of months ago (he didn't get the job then obviously) but I guess it means they did like him enough to keep his info. Not as good a job as the one he interviewed for yesterday, but still, good news. :)

That's good news fuzz and I hope you do have a quiet day and a rest.
Bought Argos value digital scales for £6.99, from reading all the descriptions they don't seem any worse than more expensive ones although they are a bit small, not sure my big mixing bowl will fit on.
Nipped in M&S for milk as it's next to Argos, it was 11p more expensive than in our local shop! Also got hot x buns and croissants which I've been promising myself for ages. The BBE date is Monday so we might have them for a Valentines Day breakfast treat.

Hope you feel better fuzz

Ah hope she is okay at school and the foot pain eases too.

Got last cookery class today and then ds eye test. He was right moaning today so hope he's in a better mood when I pick him up!

Should be low spend day, a little treat for ds if he is good at eye test.

£6.32 on four cinema tickets for Sunday. It's the good dinosaur I've been looking forward to seeing this one

Thanks for not totally flaming me. I practically crawled back under the door coming from the library expecting a total toasting. Eeeek!

Lilac I hadn't realise that Em was saving to have a family. That's good to know

I think what I mean is that I would love to hear more about the details of the steps that Em is taking in order to save money or make life adjustments. I would very much enjoy hearing about them.

Need I enjoy very much hearing about your frugaleering. Please do not get your coat.

Fuzz I'm so sorry to hear what a hard start you've had this morning. Healing vibes from me.

I totally bottled out of clearing the shed and went to the library instead. It was good.

NSD.

Well, as you all know, I am on the breadline, living on £745 a month after my rent contribution is paid, but I certainly don't begrudge hearing about anyone else's days. As someone else pointed out, we are all here for the same goal, and I love the support we give each other. This is the best corner of Mumsnet for me; the only one I always make sure is on TIO, and my life would be poorer without it. I like to think we all feel that way.

Great news about DH' second interview, Fuzz, and I hope a day of rest does you good.

Should be an NSD, although I might need to pop to the post office.

Interesting to read the varying perspectives on Valentines all of which are basically that it's a hallmark holiday.
We had several dinners out over our weekend away. One of them is meant to equate to a valentines meal out. I purchased sirloin steaks on Aldi super six at the weekend so this will be our Valentines meal - the treat part of it may be that dh will cook it.

We have agreed not to do anything for it, we have done this before and dh has still gone and purchased flowers. Then I look like a loon for sticking to our agreement or a tightwad. Need to emphasise to him how important it is he sticks to it this year, he really can't afford to be buying flowers.

I also bought a groupon for a night away between now and end of march for him for christmas, and we have gift vouchers towards meals out for that night too - hopefully we can put this down to our valentines night out and be done with it.

Great news about interview fuzz and that collie is ok
What about peonies and theonlypink if ye're reading we're thinking of ye!

Dh has said that he is cooking v day dh is awful at cooking and because I enjoy it he never really has to do it. He said he's making Jamie Oliver's meatball sub which looks delicious. I've bought him a £2.50 mug to stop him stealing mine all the time.

Spotty did I remember rightly you saying your daughter had dyspraxia? I saw a really good article about how to communicate with employers about it during job interview stage.

I asked ds's teacher about the fighting in school and she said there is never fighting in school and if ds needs help he should tell a teacher. Ds and other boys say there is always fighting in school and ds says he can't tell a teacher while he is being attacked. He was ashen faced as the teacher flatly contradicted him for the fourth time. Sigh...

Nope not dyspraxia I saw her through the hall window and she appeared to have her foot flat but ds ran off so I couldn't look for longer. I spoke to her ta though and she said she was still hobbling.

Oh, I wonder who it was then. Oh well. It was a very encouraging article.

Glad her foot looks a bit better. Hope that continues.

Severely of your Mexican meal em

DH is sorting out new hearing aids this week. 16 years since he bought the last ones, no wondering he's been struggling. I'm having a coffee while I wait for him, £2.15.

I forgot loads of stuff in my grocery order, will need yoghurt, butter, more veg.

I've started a new thread

OMG, new thread time already?

FFS Ipsos the level of denial in some schools I read about on here is astonishing! Sounds just like DC's school... oh no there's no bullying here...

Spotty if they were in the woods could she have twisted her ankle and forgotten because she was having fun/interesting activity? Hope she feels better.

And yes, all these schools where there is no fighting or bullying if you have more than 1 person in the school there is the potential for a fight or bullying. My DDs are having trouble atm, but their school are dealing with it, apparently this little clique have been a problem long before DDs arrived.

Everything crossed for DH fuzz and for DSD laskie.

£10 petrol.

Totally expecting it Need it's my yearly accounts thingummy.

Ooooohkaaaaayyy I can see that clearly I've rubbed some people up the wrong way. With my posts.

To be clear. I am currently away with work. Ive had to pay for nothing myself bar drinks as above.

I didn't particularly want to come away. It's seriously bad timing. But things have to be done. Because I work hard. I enjoy my job.

I have had to work hard for everything I have. No handouts from family (well for uni but I've paid every penny of that back from my first job). I've put myself through law school #notcheap. To give myself and future kids desperately wanted a better life.

I don't have much. But love what I have. Yes I might lust over lovely shockingly expensive handbags. But who doesn't. I have two bags. Both designer. Both bought for me. I love them. Cherish them. Protect them. Use them. They go well with primark skirts and tops. Ha! I don't waste anything.

I have to dress and behave a certain way while I'm at work. I represent my firm. And have to dress and act accordingly. I deal with people who have hundreds of millions of cash/assets. I tell them how to look after them. And sometimes they treat me to things.

I'm currently saving to buy a house. A proper house. Upstairs bedrooms and a garden type house. A proper family home. For my family which one day I hope to have

I don't waste food. I meal plan. I walk everywhere I can. I buy and sell clothes on eBay. I don't buy anything unless necessary. We run one car.

I shouldn't have to justify myself to anyone. I learned this long ago. We're all here for different reasons. I'm aiming to save £40k this year towards house and babies.

Em please come to the new thread. I love hearing about your updates as do others on there.

Em You didn't need to post that, honestly. I love your posts. Keep posting. x