Austere April Advances (even though it's mid March.....). Frugaleers Unite

[needastrongone]

New thread. Can't link.

ipsos I think it will help me, I get very complacent as I do the same 20 miles every day, day in, day out. It was the 'hey, let's all bond with total strangers' that made me grumpy. I am a very solitary person I am discovering! And it was much better than getting points.

Just catching up with the thread. Yes Creme (I think that's who said it ) boosted is just the right word. Not just the experience itself, but the fact we were lucky enough to be picked for it IYSWIM - after such a crappy few months, we've had the most amazing couple of weeks just now, with the lovely little holiday (I don't think I mentioned, our cabin was upgraded :o I guess due to low season!) and then while we were away I found out about the studio tour - a lovely run of luck for us and a great way to spend DH's time between jobs.

I'd been really worried how I'd manage it, but thanks to the staff I did get to rest frequently and not have to stand up for long at all. It was only the train home that was hard (nowhere to sit and I'm too wimpy to ask). It's the first time I've ever mentioned my health problems at a tourist place so I was nervous of that aspect too but they were really lovely. And I thought Butterbeer was great! Gluten free too so DH was ecstatic :o couldn't quite work out what it reminded me of, particularly the foamy bit on top.

Em crikey that is a huge difference. I am shocked frequently by how much companies can charge just because of the name attached to it - also applies to the Harry Potter shop TBH, prices are crazy there, although according to the review thread they are even higher in the Kings Cross shop! Need I am intrigued as to what an 'interactive wand' does :o. I'm curious Em as to whose wand you'd choose ;) although of course technically the wand should choose you :o

Knitting obviously not asking you to out yourself by saying but I'm really wondering what kind of shop your DP runs!

Everyone seems to have a lot going on.
Pleased you enjoyed your spa break creme.
What a horrible day you had yesterday North, sorry to hear about that. Something similar happened to a boy in my form once but instead of reporting to a teacher the girl in question told all her friends first. We had to isolate the boy for his own safety as there was a big crowd baying for his blood. It was awful, especially as she denied anything had happened as soon as her parents said they'd go to the police so again an innocent boy was frightened. The good news is that it soon blew over but I get really angry with girls making up things like that, it makes it so much harder for actual victims to report incidents and be believed.
Have a lot to do today before we go away and DH has a stomach upset. I hope we don't all catch it.

Pleased you had a good day creme.
Cag I want to know that about knitting too. Re credit cards when you pay it doesn't really make a difference from what I recall. As long as you pay in full before the due date you won't be charged interest. Except cash, never get cash on a cc unless dire emergency, costs a fortune. Your credit rating is boosted by you showing you can manage credit sensibly. So using the card and paying it in full each month will boost your rating better than dormant, unused credit.

National trust Easter egg hunt today.

Okay I've read back through the past couple of days now.
girlie what a scary experience for you, glad to hear your dd is on the mend
em we had a similar experience with Timpson and a watch battery a few years ago. Obviously something big companies try to make huge profits on
need that sounds a really good price for the upgrade, on first reading I assumed it was per person.
Welcome to newbies, such a supportive & encouraging place here

I managed to get some sleep so feel better than I did. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your comments. It's not something we'll be sharing widely in "real life" for ds' sake so to be able to share on here truly made a difference. I don't want to say too much more but ds has learned some very hard lessons. I hope the girl involved has support as she clearly has had a very troubled background. As you said pointless false accusations don't help those with genuine grievances. We have several issues with how it was handled and will take those up with the head as I would hate anyone else to go through what ds did yesterday.

School hols here are bizarre this year, dd is now off until 5th April, ds is just off for the long weekend then has a 2 week holiday in mid April (this is the LEA holiday). I've been up making my traditional Good Friday hot cross buns so that should be a scrummy breakfast. Taking dd to Messy church this morning The football team dh supports are playing locally today so we're all going, meeting my auntie and having tea with her afterwards. Busy is good I think

I think having a CC does help with your credit rating, but better to pay it off in full?

Cag. An interactive wand cast spells of course . They are for HPW Florida. You buy them at Olivander's and can cast spells round the park, in special interactive areas. But you have to say the spell correctly and use the right movement.....I've told DD she can buy her own if she wants one.

Didn't get milk, so need milk, but that's it for me today, unless DH spends something.

Busy is definitely good north I checked 3 times with the girl if that was the cost pp or not too, definitely for all 4 of us!

Enjoy the Easter hols North, sounds like you all deserve a break.
We had hot x buns for breakfast too but am still sitting around drinking tea in my pjs instead of getting on with things!
Just realised DD's shoes are a bit small, could really do without shoe shopping today. There are some second hand trainers in the loft that might fit and tide us over until after the holiday.

When applying for our mortgage last year the advisor said that using a credit card was helpful for our credit rating. But he said it should be under half of the credit card limit. We spent £250 on it and within months our credit ratings shot up and we were given a mortgage. We had setup a direct debit that was double the min payment.

Really sunny here. The bluest of blue skies too. Probably a low spend day.

Have upped our Nectar balance to £6.10. It was £3ish two weeks ago so very chuffed with that!

Happy Easter my lovely frugaleers

Happy bank holiday frugaleers. I hope you all have something nice and relaxing planned.

I made a frugal error as I've been panic buying birthday presents for dh. Then I realized last night that it isn't May next week!

£20 last night on drinks. Last minute going out with the girls. Was fun. Out at 8. Home by 1130. Not feeling too bad today. Yippee!

The watch battery made me really angry. Its just a joke. The guy in the small jewellers said that it's because no ones trained to do it in the big stores anymore. he also gave me a creme egg as it's Easter

The whole shop is wonderful. It's a proper old shop. Smells like a proper old persons shop, musty and dusty. And is full of interesting things. Loads of cuckoo clocks ugly trinket boxes and gaudy but probably stupid expensive jewellery.

cag obviously the wand chooses the owner, so I wouldn't really have a choice...but if I did... Maybe snapes, or dumbledore's.

For our 1 year (paper) dh bought me the marauderers map. It's amazing.

Yes having a cc balance that takes a few months to pay off is better for ratings from memory but not frugal as unless it's 0% you pay interest. Unfortunately the cc for low credit ratings have eye watering interest rates (30 odd%)

Those are really cool anniversary presents em. DH is more imaginative than me. For our paper anniversary he gave me a photo album and for our China anniversary he got me a Chinese recipe book! I usually get him beer!!

north that's an awful thing to have happen to your ds, and will definitely make him more nervous being around girls too. Hope you get answers from the school.

Last night I went out for dinner and had forgotten it was changed to last night and had already brought leftover dinner for lunch to work. I chose a black pudding salad starter and asked for it as a mains, it was beautiful with pears/carmelised walnuts/balsamic dressing & it was just €9! We had water as our drinks so it was a very frugal meal out.

Haven't caught up yet but assuming girlie's dd had flu, I remember her having a temp earlier in the thread, hope all is well now. Dd got her booster vaccination for 4 in 1 on Tues and so did about 8 more of her class at the same time, not one tear was shed by any of the others, I think dd is still crying and she was finding it hard to raise her arms the first day or two. Felt so sorry for her as I had to go back to work straight after so gave au pair money to take them to soft play & to get them lunch there too. It was worth the expense.

For ours we've had:

1. Paper - map (me) and tickets to a gig he wanted to go to
2. cotton - beach towels. Gaudy bright coloured soft beach towels. We both had the same idea so now have a gazillion lovely colourful towels 3)leather - he bought me a new handbag (that brand that starts with M and ends in "ulberry"....) he'd also just qualified as an an accountant and it was also a thank you for my patience with him while he was studying. I bought him a handmade leather key fob and a shoe shine kit.
3. last year. Fruit and flowers. I had the biggest bunch of flowers delivered to work along with a pineapple (they make me laugh). He had a fruit basket. A gigantic fruit basket. Also delivered to work.

This year is 5) wood. If we had a garden I'd buy a tree. But we don't. I might get him a cheese board. But it's not till July. So might have thought of something better by then.

Still in bed. I can hear what I think are poached eggs...

We're off to Friends today for Easter Sunday lunch (people are away on Sunday and it's an annual thing so we've brought it forwards) need to buy some prosecco to take with me.

Money wise this is where it stands.

My ac £179. Joint ac £889. My penny save ac £46.45 (this is since Jan 1). Cc balance £0. Yippee.

em they are some great balances well done

What noise do poached eggs make?

pointless they make a sweary noise as Dh faffs with cling film

Oh wow Need that wand does actually sound pretty cool :o

Em DD was looking longingly at the Marauders Map! DH was wearing a t-shirt with 'I solemnly swear...' on it, with glow-in-the-dark footprints. Was much admired by the staff :o I love geeky presents. I'm not a flowers and chocolates kind of person (not that I don't eat far too much chocolate) - Lego, anime and board games for me please... :o arf at the 'm..... ulberry' clue I like bags as presents, I have a small Animal (muppets) one from DS, and DH has in the past given me shoulder bags with Muttley, Marvin the Martian and Top Cat on! Not to mention my taste in wallets - DH got me a Looney Tunes one, and when that finally gave up the ghost last year I got myself a Baymax wallet. I love Baymax. I swear I am actually a grown up, honest

Thanks all for the advice re: credit cards. I have no idea what my rating is TBH. I got the card from NatWest when pregnant with my eldest, so would've been 2007. I would like to get back into the habit of using/paying off, but worry about being organised enough! DH has quite a lot on his - we've used it for things like DSD's bus pass, and just use his rather than both cards as it's easier to keep track of. So need to get that down first perhaps. Was really hoping we could use the extra from DH's final pay to do that, but since we found out about when DH's first wages from the new job will be, it's not so simple.

I seriously need to get up now - still lazing on the sofa not feeling very motivated today though and will be attempting to get through it with painkillers and caffeine .

I love the muppets!! I have a kermit backpack. Never used it. But love it.

I've been looking online at hp stuff and moved onto Lord of the rings... Found a skirt on etsy which is made from material printed with a middle earth map. Want.

When we went to hobbiton in NZ Dh had to stop me buying all sorts of souvineers. Came away with a pencil for my collection topped with the eye of sauron, and a cloak pin.

I also spent €1.50 in work canteen yesterday and €19 in the supermarket on my way home from work.

Fluffy thanks for the tip re sugar soap, I'll def try that. No Wilkos near me but I'm sure I can find it somewhere

My spends this morning €44.50 €1.38 of which was reimbursed by work for milk for the canteen. Rest was on a mullerlight peanut & caramel flavour as a Friday treat and filling my tank with diesel.

I intend visiting my parents 100 miles away on Sunday-Wednesday so this was an essential spend.

I'm on holidays as of 5.30pm this evening!!
Plans are softplay tomo, village fete type thing on Sunday morn, lunch using a voucher on Sunday and travel to my parents. Meeting a girl enroute to sell a skirt and top €15!

Monday - day at my parents
Tuesday - day at open farm with inlaws
Wednesday - travel home in am, counselling in afternoon donation €20-€50 (DH has gotten worse and I feel it's domestic violence of a primarily non violent nature so going to get some help for me) Second job work wed eve
Thursday (payday!) taking ds for halotherapy haven't figured out where dd is going to go yet, actually cleaner will be at our house might leave her at home
Friday halotherapy, again need to figure a place for dd
Sat - swimming lessons, dd will be at birthday party while ds & I are at halotherapy

North
I would write down in bullet points what you want to say to school now while it's fresh & then put it away and enjoy your Easter. This is one thing I warn my DS's about all the time. 💐💐

Cag
Glad you had a good time, onwards & upwards!

Girlie
Sounds like DVD are a good plan after your dd's illness.

Welcome newbies!

Not very frugal here. Had to get both DS's trainers (3 pairs total) fat mans & another gum guard & rugby boots for Ds1. Football for ds2 although he is giving me money for this from pocket money😜 €25 back!! Came to a whooping €370😳😳😳
That's right! They are both adult sizes! At 13 &14! That was buying the stuff all at discount ie buy one get one half price, 10% student discount (dh has student card from doing college degree part time😀) and reduced boots!
The only reason I could afford this was we got a refund from tax of €870 so I am putting €500 away for my dream bathroom fund!!! I never get money back and was expecting a bill. Dh keeps telling me not to look a gift horse in the mouth!

I wish mine were small again as you guys all have lovely plans for Easter! Although we are going for Sunday lunch with in laws on Sunday. PIL treat! Was hoping to go as family to Batman v's Superman but it ll be €50!
Have Easter eggs bought!