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Original poster

Fantastic Frugaleers Continuing Austere April!

998 replies

Cagliostro · 15/04/2016 17:49

Hello! :)

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blueteapot · 30/04/2016 21:56

fluffy rather you than me on the tile front.. we did a big push on the DIY while I was on mat leave and I completely burnt myself out. There's way more to do but the thought of starting is too much. Exhausting but worth it in the end.

ipsos well done on the poker face, Id have been livid!

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 30/04/2016 21:58

Em I would be nervous as well, we are flying to menorca at the end of May and although I can't wait for the holiday the thought of flying does not fill me with joy! Am sure once you get going you will be fine though and it will be an amazing trip.

Ipsos I think those letters are standard if your childs attendance falls below a certain level. Dds attendance this year has been pretty rubbish and I have yet to tell the school that I am taking her out of school for another 2 days due to being in Menorca!! Ah well, last year her attendance was 98% so I'm not too worried plus being in itu is a pretty good excuse for being off school Wink

Am pleased with my Morrisons delivery, seemed to get loads although have some how doubled up on yogurt drinks Confused anyone know if I can freeze them?

Ipsos · 30/04/2016 22:13

Thanks Blue, I felt very grown up indeed. :-)

Girlie I think you're right about them being standard. I had a really great meeting with the headmistress last week which gives me much more hope that this could go well. She said that the man would be glad to see us working co-operatively together. Your holiday sounds wonderful. Smile

Big news here though - I just did my numbers for the month and I did much better this month on spending less. WooHoo!

CremeEggThief · 30/04/2016 22:18

Ipsos, I agree it will just be a standard letter they have to issue, when attendance falls below 90% (I think). Still, they couldn't have timed it worseAngry. Well done for staying so calm.Star

Em, good luck tomorrow.Chocolate

Ipsos · 30/04/2016 22:41

Thanks Creme. Yes that's a good way of looking at it. I will go back to pondering what I should wear for the meeting to look like the correct kind of Mum. :-)

Original poster
Cagliostro · 30/04/2016 23:00

Frustrating about the letter Ipsos - it's not like you or DS choose for him to be poorly so often :( you did fabulously keeping calm! I hope DS had a great time - I'm guessing Lego featured in his present pile :o

I have a lot to catch up on. 800 posts already? Really? FFS you lot :o

Best o' luck em Wine

I have enough book points for a freebie on the book people... do I or don't I?

In other news I'm finding out room hire prices for my maths club eeek!

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Ipsos · 30/04/2016 23:08

Very exciting to be hiring a room for your club Cag. :-) You're basically founding a new private school aren't you? In about 600 years it will be like Eton. :-)

There was definitely lego here today. :-)

Original poster
Cagliostro · 30/04/2016 23:12

Haha! Well this one might be even more exclusive Wink

DS went to a lego club at mum's work today. She got to show off her grandson, DS got to build - win win :) I'm helping her plan the rest of the sessions. She's lucky to have a geek for a daughter :o

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WreckTangled · 01/05/2016 07:23

Girlie yes you can freeze them

em hope the flight isn't too traumatic for you. I've flown loads in my life and it never used to bother me but I do get a bit jittery these days. It's glorious weather here today so you'll have a nice view taking off from gatwick, I expect you'll fly over me Grin

Ipsos it's a load of shit isn't it? Ffs it's just the way they worded it isn't it? If they'd sent you a nice letter about discussing it it wouldn't have been so bad.

Dh is going to finish the tiling today and I've got to try and get dd to do her homework....

lilacclery · 01/05/2016 07:32

I'm behind on the thread again ConfusedHmm
Had plans to attend a christening today ds has come down with chicken pox so it'll be a nsd after allGrin

babsmam · 01/05/2016 07:49

I love the Lego movie. Quite often catch myself singing everything is awesome.
Ipsos that's awful. It will be a std local authority letter chick up chuck.
Exciting times cag

Going out for lunch today. My dad normally pays bless him but will take funds just in case

Ursulatodd · 01/05/2016 07:50

Hello everyone! Long- time lurker and occasional poster here jumping back in for May if that's ok? My aims are to get our miscellaneous spends accounted and budgeted for and to save for maternity leave and beyond (due identical twins in September!!) I've been keeping receipts and jotting down spends in a little notebook since the beginning of April. It's not a sophisticated system but it's working for now and will give me an idea of a workable budget going forward. We have no debt and some savings which is largely due to being super- frugal in the past, however the more comfortable we've got the looser the purse-strings have become! I'm hoping that following and posting as much as I can will refocus me on my miserly ways!

beesarethebest · 01/05/2016 08:32

Was a spendy day as dh did weekly shop £88 at Morrisons but got lots particularly as its ds' first holy communion today! People coming to the house later for cake so bought stuff. £6 at waitrose for posh cakes (had £15 voucher). Some more money at aldi for beers and crisps.

And the biggie. £279 for a second hand violin and keyboard. Kids have been learning for a while now but with no practice it doesn't work (I know that. I used to play the piano). So we bit the bullet and got the these things. I'm happy that I'll be able to sell them on when they outgrow both. It's a 1/2 size violin. He just about can reach the 3/4 but not v well so I guess this will be fine for 6 months?

PurpleRibbons · 01/05/2016 09:45

Welcome back Ursula and congratulations on your pregnancy, you were TTC last time we heard from you if I recall. Twins! Very exciting!
Good luck with the flight Em and have a wonderful time.

lilacclery · 01/05/2016 09:58

Hi ursula congrats. Not having any debt is fantastic place to start. System doesn't have to be sophisticated if it works

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 01/05/2016 10:22

Morning all Smile

Ursula amazing news! Do you know if they are boy twins or girl twins? I am Envy I think twins would be amazing - hard work but amazing!!

Thanks wreck will stick some in the freezer then.

Lila hope your ds in alright with it, how old is he? Dd had the pox when she was 1yo and was completely pickled in spots but not very unwell with it.

Have been very good and been on the jnr park run this morning, I am really trying to make the effort before the holiday - not feeling any fitter at the moment though!! Dd is much fitter than me, she made it round in about 12 mins Shock

Plan is to go into town in a bit, need to take a dress back to Debenhams and get dd some football gear.

WreckTangled · 01/05/2016 10:31

Congratulations ursula! How exciting!

Ursulatodd · 01/05/2016 10:45

Thank you everyone! After a long, disappointing 18 months of trying it was even more of a shock to find out we're having twins! We should find out whether boys or girls in the next couple of weeks!

Well I've started off with a frugal fail and it's not even lunch time! Walked to a very specific shop to buy ingredients for a mezze dinner we're going to later to find it doesn't open until 11am so have spent £5 in the cafe next door on breakfast for me and DD to share!

CremeEggThief · 01/05/2016 11:12

Wow, Ursula, twins! How exciting. CongratulationsSmile.

Original poster
Cagliostro · 01/05/2016 11:19

Oh wow Ursula congratulations! Thanks :o Star

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needastrongone · 01/05/2016 11:21

Just popping in from rainy Wales.

Many many congratulations Ursula, lovely news.

Many moons ago, when I was a school Governor, attendance was a safeguarding issue first and foremost. Which is why they jump so hard if it is perceived that there is an issue. if the school failed for example to investigate sporadic attendance which turned out to have neglect or abuse at its heart, there would be uproar. Obviously theres learning issues too, but the main one was safeguarding, might have changed. Many kids have chaotic lifestyles.

The wording on ANY official letter leaves a LOT to be desired imho, some of the ones from the HMRC make you feel like some sort of criminalSmile

Ememem84 · 01/05/2016 11:28

ursula oh wow!!! Congrats!!! Xx

At gatwick now. In the lounge with a wine. Feeling ok. Smile

needastrongone · 01/05/2016 11:29

Enjoy your trip EmSmile

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 01/05/2016 13:42

We are just back from town, spent £27 in Sports direct on various sports wear including some jodhpurs that dd has promised me she will wear.

Also £3.10 in Greggs on lunch for dd.

99p on a seal rubber for dd (her latest obsession is collecting character rubbers, WHS is full of them.)

Took a dress back to Debenhams so am £24.50 up.

£16.40 on a half price t.shirt for my dads bday.

Have a fab trip Em

Hope the weather perks up Needa

Wheres Collie gone?

Ipsos · 01/05/2016 14:46

Thanks for the encouragement. A helpful lady on the education forum who is an educational welfare officer has explained a bit more about it to me so that's helping.

Em - Is it the turbulence that worries you about the plane? In recent years I've found it helps to sit forward on the seat, hold on tight under the seat with one hand centrally below me so I can push my horse riding seat bones down into the chair and then move with the plane (just in my mind almost) as if I were moving with a cantering horse. I'm not sure why but it seems to make my balance systems much happier with the turbulence. I won't say it cures all, as that would be bring murphy's law right down on me, but I just thought I'd mention in case it's useful.