The Fantastic Frugalleers Meander into May.....

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

Thought it was about time I started a new thread

Hello all, yes we had a lovely time was very sunny and hot. The villa was about 5 mins from the beach and had a pool which most of the time we had to ourselves. We stayed in a place called Arenal D'en Castell which I highly recommend.

I was a bit of a wreck on the plane though, had a panic attack going up and was literally counting the mins until we landed. Not sure why but every time I fly I seem to get more anxious, oh well probably won't be going abroad again for a while anyway!

Spent all the spending money was hoping to have a bit left but as it was glad I didn't go over budget. We ate out all but one night and bought a fair amount of gifts/ souvenirs etc.

Today has been very spendy already, picked the cats up this morning and paid the cattery £100. Also went to Morrisons and have spent £75 the fridge and freezer was almost empty though and also needed loo rolls. That also included a gift for my friend who had a baby girl while we were away.

Have just braved it and checked my account, eek doesn't look very good! Am looking at £200 ish for everything for the rest of the month back to reality

Haven't caught up with the thread yet, hope you are all well and good?

Will try one last time to attach a picture of dd on the beach at sunset

Gorgeous photo Girlie - glad you had a lovely holiday! It's horrible getting back to reality, but hey, you didn't go over budget, and frankly you deserved a damn good holiday!

Just catching up with the thread now. I did miss the frugal chatter while we were away :)

Trying you asked about the Space Centre - I didn't go myself (that was when I had a little wander round the city, and had lots of rest in the pub/hotel room :o) but the DCs absolutely loved it. I think it was pretty interactive. DH's only gripe (as a space-mad nerd :o) was that the staff didn't seem that knowledgeable/enthusiastic about the subject, but that's not something that hindered the DCs' enjoyment of it!

There was also a pumping station nearby that happened to have an open day, and the DCs really enjoyed that too.

Actually might get them to write a review of the places they visited as a home ed activity. :o

Spends today:
€5 lunch
€270 car tax

Spends Tuesday:
€2 toddler group

Sounds like a lovely holiday Girlie.

Nsd.

Delighted you had a great time, Girlie. I think where we stayed is quite close to where you went, as I remember the name of your town.

Encouraging to hear you were up to the challenge of spinning and even better that you found a fitness pal, Wreck. You can motivate each other to go!

Gosh, Need, 9 exams in 1 week is bloody hard going! Will he be finished for the summer then? Or is he one of the unlucky souls who have most exams in the first week, a long break in between and 1 or 2 at the very end of exam season?

I was back at a school that I like and I was last in 3 years ago on supply this morning and they remembered me, so I hope that's good! I'm booked to go back tomorrow and Friday mornings too. I also had an afternoon in another school, which I agreed to do, as it might lead to a regular day a week (I wouldn't have done it otherwise). So to get to school B from school A, I booked a taxi for £12 and then I had to pay £3.30 single on the bus, as a different bus company serve that area. I enjoyed my afternoon there, so I hope it was worth it!

My first payment has come through for the editing. Yay! :)

I was feeling very uninspired today, DD usually cooks eggs before Brownies on Wednesdays but we'd run out, so I did the DCs pasta and thought I'd get something easy at Coop for myself when I pick her up. But I had spaghetti hoops on toast instead. Not the most grown up of meals but really rather comforting and very frugal! Although I'll probably still spend on chocolate anyway.

I fell into ebay earlier, just under £20 on a couple of, surprise surprise, board games. Used but complete and bargainous. One Egypt themed and one Roman, DCs love ancient history soooo they're kind of educational resources... Really should set a home ed resource budget, as Educational Stuff is a major weakness of mine! And it'd give the DCs some control beyond their own pocket money. I keep talking about it, and the DCs liked the idea, but I haven't actually got round to, you know, DOING it.

Seriously need to get my unfrugal arse in gear anyway, I was supposed to rein it in after the holiday but I clearly haven't! I have £40 from my colleagues to splurge so I should just make my decision (I know this sounds ridiculous, but actually having that giftcard and not knowing what I'm doing with it makes me feel all weird and angsty?!) on a few treaty things and that has to be it! Argh!

I also need to continue tidying the house. DH made amazing progress (he stayed home when I took the DCs on a home ed trip) on Monday and I'm trying to do little bits here and there to carry on, because I'm hopefully doing my first maths club next week! Yikes. I kind of feel like a new start is imminent. :)

Do you put a tax return in to reclaim the taxis and bus fares etc? Union fees? creme, I'm sure the tax office would guide you through it if the supply agency doesn't reimburse you.

girlie your holiday sounds brilliant. It's always back down to earth with a bump.

need no we can't agree on colours. Despite £13 being wasted on sodding tester pots.

£6.50 on dark circle corrector. I'm pale skinned so I've had them since I was 4-5 yo.

£3.50 lamb mince
£1 Greek yoghurt. I'm allergic to milk but I'm hoping I won't react to yoghurt.

Dhs Aviva cashback came do he is £60 better off.

Just spent €15 on a baby present and €25 on a new grobag for DS. The baby present was definitely a frugal win as I got a beautiful Pumpkin Patch dress on sale.

I also have to pick up a few groceries this evening, the every second week Lidl/more expensive supermarket plan isn't quite working out, I think I need to get better at planning ahead and judging how much of certain items we go through in a fortnight.

The carnations sound like a nice frugal treat Em. Well done there.

What I've used Wickes a lot and they are really fantastic. Amazing customer service and nice staff. Definitely not your average Big Corporation.

We're having a bit of a crappy time here. Ds is looking better, but dh and I really aren't and are sort of taking turns to look after ds, while hugging a hot water bottle. Oh well.

The weather is beautiful outside and ds helped me to do a bit of a spring clean this morning so that was good.

I wish I didn't get so strung out about referendums. The EU referendum and IL visit two days later is playing havoc with my inner wosname. WIsh I could have a news blackout until it's all done.

I've been really quite good with the frugality recently so that's good.

Well done on the inspection Cag.

Fluffy, I hadn't really thought of that, as I never make enough money from supply to pay tax, so do you think it would still be relevant? As I said, the taxi is unusual, but I'll have spent £40.30 on travel this week for about £230 earnings.

Nsd today. Walked a total of 11km today.

LSD today. Going to see about ds being picked for u7 squad in a bit. Must not take purse.
Pleased you had a good holiday girlie and you got some supply crème.

Gws ipsos and dh.
The space centre sounds ace. May need to look into going in the summer and combine it with something else that way.
Good luck need ds. GCSE and a time is so full on

Ipsos, my husband dealt with them and they were fabulous. Everything is now here and my refund is on its way. You are right, they were very good and behaved much more like a smaller business than a faceless shed.

That might change it creme. Is it standard for teaching agencies not to pay expenses and claim it back off the schools?.

That's great What. Wickes were wonderful with us too. We bought all our kitchen bits from them and they gave us a designer lady to work with and we could just phone her direct with any questions at all. She was wonderful and very kind and interested. We went back to them for our bathroom and hallway too, as they always seem to have things that just suit our taste perfectly and always there to be bought off the shelf (except the kitchen obviously, which we ordered.) Oddly, their staff always seem very happy too. Whatever they are doing, they are doing it right.

Some agencies used to let you claim for expenses, through a payroll umbrella scheme, but it was six of one, half a dozen of the other, as they took money as a handling fee, Fluffy.

Do you have to go through an agency? It seems that they take the booking and tell you about it and that's it.

I wonder how much commission they take per hour and if it's cheaper for them to pay you directly at a higher rate than now?.

Creme, DS had 7 in the week prior to half term, 9 this week, 3, then 4. A lot of exams, but mainly as he does triple sciences, Additional Maths and a double GCSE for business, so that's boosted the number of exams. He's quite confidence in his own intellect (not so much in other areas of life), so he's coped well in the main. It's DD's turn next year, she's the opposite, confident and outgoing socially, less sure of her own academic ability!

Fingers crossed for your extra work, a day a week would be brill wouldn't it?

Did DS get picked babs?

Glad you have had a lovely holiday Girlie, and glad to have you back Close to M date.. Moving, that is!!

Oh my goodness, Need. Wow, how many subjects is he doing? Yes, I really hope yesterday will lead to something more. Even a day a week would be fab.

Fluffy, that's the plan once I get established in a couple of schools. The agencies are sharks!

Yes need he did. They are setting up a new u7 team next season and 9 kids have been selected. Proud mammy

Brill, really chuffed for your DS Babs.

One day of guaranteed work a week would be very welcome indeed for you Creme.

He's doing 13 exams in total Creme, 12 GCSE's then Ad Maths, which isn't a GCSE but carries UCAS points. It's a lot, but he's coped fine tbh.

Free Schwartz spices in Tesco, asda, morrisons on checkoutsmart, today only.

There's a list To check if the one you want is there.

Morning all, yes Need just had an email from the solicitor asking about a completion date - eek! Have offered the 24th of June, am going to tell the council today as really don't want to have to pay a months rent and mortgage although there will be some overlap I guess. How does it work with council tax? Who do I tell about that?!

One of dds teeth fell out last night