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Fearless Frugaleers Finding Their Feet in February

999 replies

SpottyTeacakes · 10/02/2016 12:54

Smile I've got fruflu Sad

OP posts:
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13
fuzzpig · 15/02/2016 10:51

Ooh good luck to you NK how exciting that you've decided to go for it. How long would your commute be?

NK5BM3 · 15/02/2016 10:55

hey fuzz - I just got off the phone with my occ health person phone call too. Basically she's asked me to try out a 'mindfulness' app. she said my stress levels seem to have dropped. I told her it's because I've got an interview elsewhere! :)

commute - on the train it'll be just under an hour. and because the place is where the end of the line is, I don't have to get on the tube! just walk round the back and it's there - which is great. I can 'candy crush' on the way there and back! ;) (best use of commuting time?!!)

fuzzpig · 15/02/2016 10:58

I was going to say you could always read on the train :o but Candy Crush is good too :o fab that you wouldn't need to get the tube. Always a mad squash in there.

I'm glad you are feeling less stressed :) I really hope something comes through for you soon.

Right I actually am going to get up and have breakfast now! Blush

colliepirate · 15/02/2016 11:05

NK when I lived in London my commute was just under an hour. No tube but it took me straight into London Bridge (worked at Liverpool St).

I actually really liked my commute. I used to read, play games, listen to music etc. Sometimes I got the train home via Canon Street and when there was a cancelled or delayed train it was scarily busy. But it rarely happened! Things started to improve for me when I got in the habit of taking a bottle of water with me at all times. It really calmed me down during busier than usual commutes. And in hot weather.

The thing that used to make me laugh is the really impatient commuters who press the "open door" button repeatedly before the train has even stopped moving Grin the fools.

You can do it! Sending positive vibes Smile

lilacclery · 15/02/2016 11:17

fuzz glad to hear phonecall went well and that work stress is coming to an end for your dh too
nk that hour to yourself twice a day will be invaluable I think for your mind, can read, candy crush, think the day over, make plans etc with responsibility for getting there safely given over to the train driver.

lilacclery · 15/02/2016 11:17

collie fingers crossed for your dh too

NK5BM3 · 15/02/2016 11:42

thanks all!! :) yes, I already spend an hour on FB so... I'll just do that on the train. other issue is the salary - the top of what they are offering doesn't even cover half my train fare. I'm hoping they'll be able to negotiate. They said that the Dean wanted me to interview (ie, initially HR said 'well, if you can't make it - I had classes - then we will go onto the reserve list of candidates') which gives me the impression that they really liked my CV. let's see anyway.

babsmam · 15/02/2016 11:55

Fingers crossed collie dh.
Sounds like a relief fuzz

babsmam · 15/02/2016 12:14

Pleased the phone calls went well. You are all sounding positive.
Lilac I don't think Amazon notify you but have a look at camel camel camel you can set price alerts on there

lilacclery · 15/02/2016 12:23

Ok babs will do probably best not to until I've my debt cleared as that's the condition I've put on buying one anyhow

fuzzpig · 15/02/2016 12:26

Hmm... the company DH has the interview with today phoned him. To tell him that the salary is £500 less a year than what they'd said. DH said it's fine and he would still like to be interviewed (TBH if he gets this one, we will be back below the limit for housing benefit anyway, so it doesn't make much difference - the [obviously secret] plan would be to accept this job knowing we'll get by on the rent, but continue looking for something better). Bit weird, DH reckoned they seemed surprised that he's still attending the interview. Couldn't help wondering if they were trying to put him off Hmm and maybe they already have someone in mind. But worth a try anyway. He finishes work at 2 on Mondays so he's not even having to leave work for it. Don't feel quite so positive now!

Fingers crossed eh! :)

Pointlessfan · 15/02/2016 12:28

Well done on the phone call fuzz. I saw a friend last night who is in a spookily similar situation to your DH with work. He has opted for long term sick (he has depression) to buy him some time and he has his union involved. It's worrying how some companies don't seem to give a stuff about their employees.
Good luck Collie's DH with the interview.
We spent £13.70 on last night's take away and a tenner at soft play this morning. Have just made a vet appointment for our poorly cat for tomorrow, goodness knows what that will cost, I expect he's going to need blood tests.

fuzzpig · 15/02/2016 12:32

Indeed Pointless it is really shocking. When DH hurt his back he was out on his ear within a few months, it was awful. I do feel slightly safer working for the council - if I worked in the private sector, I would've been given the boot a couple of years ago, but I've actually been pretty well looked after really. I guess, being cynical, it's just because they have stricter guidelines so they don't get in trouble, but still, I am grateful that I've been able to take time off and try to get better (even if this time round it hasn't worked! But it did when I had relapses before).

fuzzpig · 15/02/2016 12:35

Oh and on a positive note I've finished doing all but one chapter of the author's edits (harder than it sounds, her handwriting is tiny!) and now I just need to go through again for all my grammar checks, and put the pictures in the right places with captions. And carry on reading it to DCs.

Last minute as always Blush

lilacclery · 15/02/2016 12:57

fuzz maybe it was a test to see how interested he was in the job?
Think positive Grin

Lovetoknit · 15/02/2016 13:27

Good news fuzz about your phone call and fingers crossed for your dh
Good luck collie's dh with the interview

Managed to change and wash all the bedding and hang it outside before my doc appointment this morning. They were running 20 minutes late as usual but luckily dc took some books with them to read.
I have osteoarthritis in my right knee so she did a referral for physio and specialist since I don't want to have knee replacement op.
£8.20 for prescription - some gel to try instead of tablets which I hate
£6 at Asda for rubber gloves and lip balm for both dds
Lovely sunny and just bit chilly day so dc are enjoying the garden while I work

babsmam · 15/02/2016 14:29

£33 in sainsburys so not a nsd after all. At work for the next few days which will help immensely

WreckTangled · 15/02/2016 14:32

Good luck fuzz, fuzz's dh, NK and collies dh. Lots of stress for you all but hopefully positive outcomes Smile

I had planned roast chicken dinner for tonight but I don't really feel well enough. I'm just going to do it with rice and peas instead.

WreckTangled · 15/02/2016 14:32

Oh and nsd.

colliepirate · 15/02/2016 15:03

Thanks for everyone's best wishes. DHs second interview is tomorrow early morning. They move so fast. Am trying not to get my hopes up though Blush

Fuzz don't worry too much about the £500 less per year. This happened to DH 2 weeks ago with a job up country. Only they offered a few thousand less and still offered him the job. But we just decided we couldn't afford to go for that salary.

Was expecting to do so much today but haven't Blush

CremeEggThief · 15/02/2016 15:27

Fingers crossed for those of you or your partners awaiting interviews.Smile

I am much better in myself today, but still no voice. I didn't realise laryngitis can last more than a week! This is my fourth full day with it. I managed to hoover and mop all downstairs, clean the bathroom, change towels, do 2 loads of laundry and put all the weekend's laundry away, so definitely time to rest for a while.

Need and Wreck, I found a thread on here last night for people with affected dryers and most of them who have been offered cheap replacements are going to take the offer, so I probably will too. Need to get paid first though!

NSD.

Whataboutnodetox · 15/02/2016 15:41

New mop and bucket and bottle brush today. We have a steam mop but I don't think it's as good as the old fashioned way. £30 altogether so not too bad.

Ipsos · 15/02/2016 15:49

I'm still plugging away at the people skills here. Ds is doing much better for just being away from the computer and being talked to, and is now pulling me up when I forget to pay attention and make eye contact. (ooops) Also bashing away at the writing job, so it's a bit frantic really.

Good luck Fuzz. I hope the interview goes well for your dh.

Girlfriend36 · 15/02/2016 16:01

Ho alll, beautiful day here very cold but so sunny as well Smile have had a quiet day, dd wanted to play all morning and made one her bday lego kits. This afternoon we went for a lovely walk on the hills.

Think that makes a 3rd NSD in a row

Tomos though that will end, plan is to go into town to get a few bits and pieces. Dd needs a few new clothes, I want some new gloves as all mine currently have holes in them and may get dd a haircut.

Fuzz glad the phone call went o.kay and good luck for your dh, yours to Collie!

Meal plan.
Tonight - jacket spuds with tuna, cheese and salad.
Tues - chicken roast
Wed - eat out (plan to be in Bristol for the day!)
Thus - spag bol
Fri - spag bol or maybe lasagne using same mince!
Sat - fishfingers, chips and beans.
Sun - salmon, rice and veg.

We have quite a lot of food in so going to try and manage with what we have and not do a shop this week.....

Ememem84 · 15/02/2016 17:35

£70! On the certificate to prove I am fully qualified. totally worth it annoyed that I have to pay for it though thought it'd come for free the amount of money I've spent. Curse you law school!!! But hoping work will reimburse me.