Frugaleers March On!

[CremeEggThief]

Hi All,
New thread time. I hope you all see this and join in. Newbies are always very welcome too.

Gosh, Superdrug is so cheap! I'd heard something about their own products being cruelty free, so I decided to down brand from Simple to their Simply Pure range. Hopefully I'll like them. And, you know, the bunny rabbits .

I've given up refined sugar, so if anyone has any snack suggestions that would be really helpful. So far, I'm thinking fruit, Cheddar biscuit things, cashew nuts... And I just bought some Bombay mix. I don't know, do adults need to snack though? I went to the supermarket recently, it felt like I couldn't eat half the food in it . And work has been very biscuity / cakey since I gave up too . It actually feels okay though.

Spendy day today as I just had my hair cut. I'm killing time in town waiting for my Boots order to arrive, so I'm just having a flat white too (this is a very rare treat for me).

Happy frugalling everyone .

Oh Knitting what are you like eh?! That's how I feel about board games and DVDs. They are my major vices, and the reason we came up with our pocket money system. :) We've almost tidied enough to fit all the games in and on top of one big cupboard so that's great.

Thank you for all the wise words. Yes I definitely feel that there is an opportunity for me to move forward with my life, the teaching etc. I will allow myself to be sad about it for now though. Unfortunately it's going to take a while so I don't have closure yet - I have about 6 weeks in which to accept a redeployment offer, so I won't really know what's happening for at least a few more weeks. In a way I'm not really that bothered about getting an offer (it will never be this job which I love!) but there is no way I'm going to waste the opportunity to find something else that I might enjoy, not to mention the financial aspect obviously! At least I know that if nothing comes up (which TBF is far more likely) I do have a backup, even if the whole self employment thing is terrifying... will very much have to learn from my dad's mistakes :o

Space is honey on your banned list? I do banana flapjacks from a blog - penny's recipes - over ripe bananas so it only needs a small amount of honey and butter.

Will catch up later, I appear to have ordered and again

Good news today: our 6 weeks of savings vouchers arrived from Tesco :o

Bad news today: had a letter from the council children's ID card scheme (the one that gets DD cheaper bus fares) and apparently they're having a consultation on it. They might stop the scheme or just do it for 16-19yo students. :( They are inviting feedback from current users, so I will definitely be writing a heartfelt email including the fact that not everyone is able to use a car and the fact that my children rely on the local (excellent) buses pretty much every day. (Any suggestions as to other things to include would be much welcomed!) Actually maybe I should get DD to handwrite a letter too! Home ed literacy opportunity and emotional blackmail for the council.

Other good news though, I'm so ridiculously proud of my DCs today. DD was teaching DS to use her rollerblades and he did really well, a lovely sibling bond moment too, and DD has been working on her poetry homework from the writing club. She's so full of glee when she comes up with a good word or phrase, it's adorable and lovely to see her confidence growing. Despite all the crap going on, we have had a very good week home ed wise. And actually my boss asked about how it's going at the meeting; I've always felt rather judged in the past as there seemed to be an underlying 'accusation' that home ed has made me more ill (I can see why they might have thought that TBF, considering I was worried about it myself at first, as I didn't realise how easy and calm it would be) but actually she was really nice about it and I think she's accepted that home ed is NOT hard on my health and is vastly better than dragging (literally) two unhappy children into an environment where they felt so unsafe and scared. She even suggested that I talk about the skills I've gained from teaching my DCs - organising, sharing information etc - in the redeployment form! :)

Enough waffle from me, I should really go and make lunch before we get on with maths and tidying. :)

Adora I've be very keen to hear about that flapjack recipe.

Lovely sibling moment there fuzz

Lila The pony needs feeding twice a day, but at least DD is around to do it in the evening

Spends -

£40 farrier, used existing shoes, so cheaper.
£90 Sainsbo's (ouch..) However, included MD flowers, a lovely top for me for summer, a bottle of Jack D for DH, loads of jars of specialist cooking ingredients that I can't get at Aldi and some food for Sunday.
£20 Aldi
£10 farm shop
£60 diesel in horse box.

A spendy day indeed.

The pony did keep tapping the farrier on his head with his own head every time he bent down to do his feet, then pretended like he wasn't doing anything every time the farrier looked up, which made the farrier laugh. I just pretended the pony wasn't anything to do with me....

Oh and a lovely tea light holder for the living room from Sainsbury's too, which was £10 so not cheap but lovely.

I do love reading about your cheeky pony need :o

Thanks Adora, I'm afraid honey is currently on the banned list as well.

Haha em that's so funny! The bath looked amazing.

Nsd.

£16 on two drinks at the hotel bar last night. Paid on check out this morning.

£35 at the market on lovely veggies. Have just made sweet potato soup for a late lunch.

Am off out to a leaving do tonight. Staying for one drink and am driving home.

Easy Lentil Bake from Pennys Recipes
This looks lovely and so cheap to make

NSD but have been trying to sort out some finances.

We've decided not to service the car right now (despite the servicing light coming up) as it was more pricey than we first thought. Our main dealer have agreed that having the minor service done anytime within the next 6 months is fine so no hurry. Gives us a chance to save up! I was dreading using the credit card. We went 12 months without using it and then needed it for a few small purchases and they are beginning to add up.

Looking into switching credit cards too and hopefully that'll save us a few £'s in interest.

You may remember I mention my sister is organising an event to raise awareness of gdd well here are details

m.facebook.com/events/475903939266738?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A3%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&aref=3&ref=bookmarks

Well our car won't be ready on Sunday like it should have been...bad omen? they're giving me a bmw 3 series instead I might not give it back....

at your pony need

lilac that one is good. I can't link as I'm using phone, but she calls the flapjacks something like breakfast cereal bars. I have adjusted what I do as DD1 doesn't like raisins. I just do oats, banana, honey, butter and cinnamon for her.

£6.50 in a discount cosmetic store. Rimmel nail varnishes for £1.99 each and because I bough 3 I got the remover for 50p. I bought navy but have used the purple today.

And of course £5.45 in the coffee shop

Nice colour Adora

I know you all enjoy the pony stories. Posting them here keeps me smile, and not throttle him.....

Been a really busy day, I've not stopped.

There's a chicken curry (persian, so not so hot) in the SC. With some Indian starters that I found in the freezer.I really need to run the freezer and cupboards down.

Frugal win, hairdresser didn't charge for DD's hair as it was a trim and I have been going to her for 25 years

Aw it's lovely when you have a long term relationship with businesses like that :)

When DH started going back to a barber here (having been living elsewhere and then me cutting his hair most of the time) the barber recognised him from about 15 years earlier when he'd been his first customer! Gave him a freebie :) guess my DH has a distinctive face. Or personality. :o

I think I've managed ok today. Just trying to make sure I do little productive things every so often so I'm not totally stagnating but I'm not overdoing it either. :)

Sounds like a plan fuzz.

Living in and around the same area for most of your adult life does have it's advantages

Space honey is on our banned list too. Snap! Maybe we could just leave it out? Have you met St Dalfour jam? It's made with fruit sugar instead of sucrose so helps if you are trying to combat toddler thrush and things like that.
www.stdalfour.co.uk/

Hello all - its Friday - woo hoo!!

God its been a crazy busy week what with work being silly busy, getting the bathroom done and trying to buy a house < some what manically> but can breathe again now as not back in work till next Wednesday!

I have found a solicitor and sent off the emails and confirmation stuff I had to, have also paid a £500 holding fee to the housing association so now just have to wait to see what happens next. Terrifying but exciting as well.

Dds costume for WBD came together very well and cost a grand total of £2.50 so am pleased with that! She went as a black cat so wore black leggings (already owned) a black top from Primark (£2.50) some ears I made out of cardboard and free fabric samples I found in Dun Elm and a tail made out of old tights stuffed with loo roll!!

Have eaten well last couple of nights courtesy of Lidls ystd had their salmon fillets baked with pesto and grated cheese, with rice and salad. Tonight used up another salmon fillet and had with jacket spuds and salad. Doesn't sound very exciting written down but was really delicious!! The salad had all Lidls stuff in including lettuce, cucumber, beetroot, avocado and various peppers - all tasted lovely.

Apart from the £500 which I guess is budgeted for in the 'for buying a house saving fund' its been another Lsd 60p to dd for sweetie Friday.

Girlie reading your post you sound really excited I'm pleased everything seems to be moving forward for you.

Glad the house buying is progressing well Girlie. It is so stressful and terrifying, but is it lovely when it's all done and you move in :)

I have spent too much money this week on stuff. I have started a new resolution though. I have decided I must stop spending as much on buying lunches at work and will not aim to take in lunch at least 4 times a week. I have put a tracker in my journal so I can make sure I keep to the plan.

Everyone loves a pony story need :o

Friday and NSD! Hooray!! Very busy weekend ahead so having a lazy evening.
That bath is amazing Em!

Space if you don't like superdrug own make you can take it back for a refund 100% happy or something. See the back of the product.
Oh well knitting. At least the cardi will keep you warm and save money on heatind clutches at straws to justify on knitting behalf
Haha em falling out of bed. Bless you.
How exciting girlie.

Spendy day. £110 ish shopping can't find all receips.
£30 in boots on loads of make up but got 2 free gifts and £8 of points to spend later. £10 Thornton's, £2 beavers