Fearless Frugaleers Finding Their Feet in February

[SpottyTeacakes]

I've got fruflu

thank you collie will have a look tomorrow since we ended up turning around and going back home after we got stuck in traffic for 40 minutes so I had to call the dentist and reschedule the appointment - I hate road closures
Nutella loaf cake in the oven to cheer us up

Today's spends (gift vouchers so it doesn't really count as spends) £48 in oasis on a couple of tops and a dusty pink jumper.

And £50 online at fat face on a wax jacket. Mine has seen better days. I used a 15% voucher and got the vat knocked off too. Plus free shipping. And £3 something cash back.

Flights were booked today for my work trip to Jerusalem.

Tonight's dinner will be a mix of tapasy type things. And wine. And a movie.

fuzz been to the dentist yet? Also book smear test. They're important. Wouldn't it be nice not really if you could get both done at once....?!?!

knitting I love the labradoodle!!!! Amazing. You're so clever ⭐️

Thanks for the encouragement fuzz. It was the Usborne Lift the flaps computers and coding book that I bought. It's really quite good.

Sorry to hear about the tooth. Yikes!

Love the dog Knitting

Sorry I'm a bit behind. Ds is having his half hour of computer for the day but is talking away 20 to the dozen to me so I'd better concentrate and leave the MN-ing for now. Hope it's going well there.

Been? No! Can barely stand up today, have pretty much only got up to put DS' pukey bedding in the wash. Have found some, but trying to work out what I'd need to pay as we don't have the exemption thing, I do get CTC but we don't get WTC. I will though, I promise (as well as booking smear test). I did book a clinic appt for my CFS though so that's one thing off the list.

Friends visited for most of the day. They had offered to take us out but I wasn't up to it. They brought their info up for the houses they've been looking to buy. They had a few years rent free so have saved a lot and are able to go straight to a 3 bed, garden etc (and that's at nearly double the price of similar houses round here). I know they were just wanting to talk it through with me because they value my opinion (we are best friends) and I did of course because I am happy and excited for them. Jealousy is an ugly feeling, but I did feel that too I'm ashamed to say. Not that I let on obviously.

The whole week has passed so I'm assuming DH hasn't got either of the jobs he interviewed for as they did say it would be this week. Bugger. Will cling to the hope that it was half term delays etc.

I am in a rubbish mood, down, hopeless, you name it. I dunno everything just feels like an uphill struggle, through treacle, while wearing a lead suit. I want to phone mum and cry at her but the DCs are around and everyone else will be here soon. We have DSCs round tonight for game night, I hope I can find the energy to join in as it's always so much fun with them, lovely bunch that they are. :)

Ooh I was looking at that one Ipsos it does look fab. We have a few of the lift the flap non-fiction ones (body, space, dinosaurs) and they are great. We had the times tables and Egypt ones out from the library as well.

"I'm going to try and post every day" hahahaha! I'm behind on the thread again.
Drove back from Devon on Tuesday night having had a lovely time and lots of baby cuddles.
Back in work yesterday and today but fortunately it has been better than of late so not too stresful.
Will try to catch up a bit tonight and maybe post later. After 3 lovely weekends away with family/friends I am sooooo glad to be going not much further than the front door this weekend.

Fuzz(hugs). Hang in there. And book a treat as soon as you have spoken to a dentist.

Ah fuzz it's awful when it's one thing after another. I can't imagine coping with CFS on to too.
I try and remember who posts what but end up with multiple posts as I have a rubbish memory and have to scroll about
In regards cars I think if you are the regular driver, especially with dc in, you need to be able to trust the car. If you don't get another if you can
Week done what with your first month minus your pay. Seems like it was OK.
Lilac if you don't normally get fee refunded and especially if you are a good customer, and make then loads of money through interest, my experience is you will get charges back with a don't do it again lecture. Always ask if it's not the norm for you.
Love the labradoodle
Pleased you had a good trip away those of you who were

£9.98 on swimming. That was just for two adults the dc were free, I think ds shouldn't have been as he doesn't have lessons but I wasn't going to argue

Fuzz I struggle with the green eyed monster too and I hate myself for it!

Fuzz I think you definitely deserve a treat, especially after seeing a dentist.
We've had a spendy day including dinner out. We hardly ever eat out as a family, DD really enjoyed it (the people watching as much as the chips!) and behaved beautifully so we're going to try and do it more often.
We've also talked today about trying to make some overpayments on the mortgage, DH is on board and with our new broadband and life insurance deals we should be saving £40-50 a month which we cam chuck at the mortgage. Hooray!

Hey fuzz I think a bit of is natural is lots of situations - it's not that we wouldn't want the people around us to have the lovely things it's just that we would like to have them too!

£2.78 in Greggs today (my tfi friday treat!)

Today was a mixed bag - managed to save £160 on new car seats - remembered we had some toys r us vouchers and that they sell car seats so sorted it out there for free, so was chuffed with that.

£17 then on unnecessary treat groceries and 2 bunches of daffs, and treated DM/DF/Dsis to a take away with the kids, was only £13 all in though so not too bad.

Fuzz def see the dentist if you can before the prob gets worse. Sorry to hear things are getting to you today :(

wreck I think not being able to open DSs door would mean Id not be happy to drive it (accident, fire etc how would you get him out?). Its a tough one though. We ended up scrapping our dangerous bangers last year and with a loan to replace them - with brill fuel economy DHs pays for itself (he commutes) would that be a factor for you?

Right, I've ordered the replacement dryer for £59.

Long time lurker here who'd love to join in properly. We've had a tight few years whilst I worked part time when the DCs were small but I went back full time 2 years ago & we're finally feeling like we do t have to watch every penny- but DH has been made redundant this week & I feel sick with worry. I earn a good salary & he'll get a good redundancy package so we don't have to worry about meeting mortgage payments & bills for a few months but it's just the unknoŵn I'm fearful of.
I've learnt to be frugal over the years, I shop at Aldi & top it up with a few brands we are snobs about! We can manage for a while & im thankful for what we've got.

On a selfish note, im worried some money my DDad gave me to sort my garden after my DMum died will now get swallowed up in surviving the next few months. I know it sounds stupid but I've wanted the garden looking nice for years & DMum knew that, she nagged DDad about making sure I was given some money after she died. Once the money's gone, it's hard to get that saved again, there's always something more important isn't there?

So, to try & start properly, today was NSD, went shopping for DD10 to spend some Xmas gift cards & I didn't buy a thing, came home for lunch. Then chill out afternoon at home with kids mooching & happy on screens & then cake making.

MinnieLatte, you are very welcome to join us.

Just woken up after nodding off putting ds to bed. Not such a spendy day - I'm so much more aware of spending money now.
Tesco £22.16 lunch for 5, pringles and petit filous (both on offer)
£15.34 40kg of chicken food.
£15.95 the range, four new coat hooks and some fabric markers.

Thanks for kind comments on knitting, I literally have no-one to show my things to irl, dp learnt long ago to say randomly positive things in case he upsets me!

This has to have been the cheapest school holiday ever! Yet I have spent more actual time with the kids and got more done at home than I have for a long time.

Thanks all, I managed to have a quick hug and chat with DH before everyone arrived and I felt better. Game night was fab not just saying that because I'm top of tonight's leaderboard. I got through it with the help of caffeine :o and it very much took my mind off all the crap stuff, and reminded me that I do have something money can't buy - a lovely family :) (soppy I know).

Also DSS' GF told us all about a local recruitment agency that have been brilliant, so DH is going there on Monday. :)

Hi Minnie

That's good news fuzz.
Minnie put the money away in a totally separate account now. Then it's not part of the pot and you can plan without it. Sorry to hear about your dh

Welcome minnie, sorry to hear about your DH. The frugaleers will help you through

Fuzz glad you enjoyed it, a distraction sometimes helps :)

Hopefully a LSD today. DH and I are both off this weekend (yay) but that normally means trips to town etc.

Yes blue that's exactly it! Dh was talking about a new car last night so I think he's got it I'll speak to him tonight.

I only woke up twenty minutes ago and ds only just got up might take them swimming in the evening more often!

Nsd today need to do my meal plan and housework the place is a tip! Got some cheap parsnips in lidl so will make soup with those.

Welcome minnie

I've converted my nectar points to £30 of eBay vouchers & the Internet has lost them.

eBay are denying it happened.

Waiting for nectar live chat to open at 9am.

I just want something to work first time with no hitches. Feel a bit sick now.

ipsos did the usborne book still have the yellow duck in it?? I loved those books. Still use the first cookbook. It's so cute.

fuzz hope you get sorted with that soon.
Hope dh is changing his mind wreck
Welcome minnie I would agree with babs that money was intended for upgrading the garden & should be used for it, if you'd already had the work done you wouldn't be able to change it back to money & it will give you joy & remind you of your dad every time you use it.

fuzz hope dh gets on well at recruitment agency
north how about you try check in every second day?

I've come to the conclusion that our shopping budget just has to be adjusted we are spending an average of €40 more every week and there's nothing being wasted. I will do inventory & batch cooking this weekend, write out meal plan for dinner for au pair & see if that changes anything.

Last night myself & dd had the midnight feast she's wanted as her treat for midterm at 5.30am, she loved it
And I was able to be supportive to my friend whose ds was admitted to hospital during the night as she saw I was online, he has a lung infection & seems to be getting very similar treatment to what my ds had in early December. He's in the right place & should be fine but he's pretty much non verbal & has sensory issues so I'm sure isn't happy there. My ds was a right nightmare for 2 days out of his 4 day stay & he has no issues.
Have offered to mind her other two if her hubby wants to get in.

Hi Minnie, and welcome. Sorry about your DH. Things can work out though, my BIL was made redundant with a 6 month salary payout and was lucky enough to find another job with 2 weeks, think positive.

Shit Fluffy, that's not great, surely Nectar will be able to at least see the build up of points their end though.

Great frugaleering Knitting

Yesterday

£12 in extra contact lenses.
£40 Aldi

My food spends will be higher than anticipated this weekend and we have unexpected family, that was yesterday and tonight. Roasted 2 chickens and used them to do wraps last night, tonight a big lasagne.

Meal plan from Sunday

Chicken broth and Yorkshire puds.
Smoked mackerel and leek risotto
Fish pie and veggies
Cauliflower/bacon pasta bake a la Jack Monroe.
Sausage, egg and chips (easy meal)

In good news, I have stupidly double counted my savings from disposable income and added up incorrectly too! I couldn't understand why we had so little for the last week of the month. Well, I'm £350 better off than I thought, glad it wasn't the other way round!