Frugaleers chatting and saving into August...

[ipsogenix]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

Useful links copied from last year:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

Or if you don't want it to last too long fondant icing comes in a range of colours

In terms of modelling it do you have one of those rulers with the cut out shapes? Or make a strong card template model or two in hexagon shape and use it like a cookie cutter on the dough. Part off the learning making a hexagon shape?

If you don't want multiple hexagon to fit together hand mould the dough to a flattish shape , however thick. Doesn't matter if it's not flat then use a hexagon pencil to push down different size poles if you like then just make the outside look like individual poles with a knife?

These sound and look good in my head, hope the help and have translated.

Collie your dh sounds very understanding! Could you claim for it on the home insurance?!

I had my nephew (7yo) over last night for a sleepover, dd and him have been very good and didn't wake up till 7.45am which is fine, they are now watching Epic while I mn in bed

There is a fun day type thing on at a local park today so will pop down to that I think, hoping there won't be too much to spend money on there but will have a £5 budget. Remembered ystd that dds best friend is coming over Tuesday night for a sleepover and I promised to take them swimming, think that will be nearly a tenner so my £15 budget is not going to go far. Will probably have to admit defeat and move some money over from my depleted savings.

Cag I have no bright ideas for your model but definitely post a pic on here when it's done, I'm intrigued!
Need the Olympics have been great, but the BBC have done lots of channel changing in the middle of events, still better than ad breaks though. It has made my resting/recovery time go more quickly.
Collie glad your dh was okay with the smashed tablet. One of my best friends has ME and usually has a rest as soon as she gets in from work as it tires her out so much. 2 weeks ago she decided to check her emails on their laptop to see how I was (straight after work). She couldn't get it to work straight away and slammed it shut in tiredness & frustration! The laptop is no more which is being blamed on me & my illness. I hope your house search gets results sooner rather than later.
Creme what a horrible end to your trip, hope you enjoyed Lincoln though.
Scarlet don't worry, everyone uses the thread differently, use it however you can, there is so much support here.

Had a busy day yesterday, not actively doing much, mainly watching cricket but tiring nonetheless. Not very spendy, managed to steer dh away from getting a takeaway by making a pasta bake with stuff we had in. Only today and 2 more days left until we go away so trying to use up all fresh stuff we have and only spend on any necessary things. Today would've been the day we travelled to France but not going to dwell on it, can't wait for Cornwall!

Have a good Sunday everyone.

Cornwall is fab. I want to go but Dh won't go further than Dartmouth.

fluffy the place we're going to is the south eastern tip of Cornwall and is stunning (not too far to travel from Dartmouth either!). When we lived in Plymouth it was only really known about by locals, but is getting much more popular now.

Em forgot to say in my previous post, glad you're enjoying Italy, we've only been once briefly, but remember the gelato well!

Collie, sorry but I laughed too. It's just the sort of thing I would do!
Cag, there is a playdoh set that has shapes with it. I don't know what it's called but DGS has it and he makes hexagons.

Cag, you could make it in biscuits and then eat them

Morning all! Just been reading through all your coach trip dramas/holiday musings/ storage dilemmas etc.

So proud of our NSD yesterday. Went to NT place and took picnic and then on the night I went to meet with friends in town (1 was back from Australia for a visit). Would normally be around £80 if I was paying taxis/drinking. Instead I took the car and drank tap water! Free! Felt a bit asking for just water so asked friends to grab me one at bar while they were getting their alcoholic drinks. It totally didn't bother me as was most looking forward to a good chat and catch up which is all free.

Hoping for LSD/NSP today too, off to free entry local art gallery which has a thing on for kids. Only spend would be if we can't find free weekend parking in city centre or if we can find a laptop charger that works (not sure if laptop has died or just needs a new charger).

Sounds brilliant me! Well done on the changes.

Wow thank you for all the ideas!

Someone also suggested those hexagonal Smarties tubes... :o

Morning all.
Had intentions of lots of housework this morning but we've been really lazy, DH only just got into the shower.
I'm bleeding slightly and worried. Everything I've googled says it's common in early pregnancy and not to worry unless it gets heavier but I'm still worried. Not sure who to phone for advice. Booklet from midwife says A&E will see me but that would feel like an overreaction.
Sorry that has nothing to do with frugaleering, I'll stop diverting the thread now.
I love the idea of an edible Giant's Causeway btw. What about using cake?

Snuggly how far along are you? If you are bleeding without pain and not filling pads at a vast rate of knots just keep an eye and rest a bit. I've bled in pregnancy from my cervix and it scared me stupid, any blood is scary but it isn't necessarily bad xxz

snuggly would the early pregnancy unit see you? I bled too and it was all fine. But it was on a weekday and I saw my midwife who sent me to hospital.

To anyone wanting to come to Cornwall - do it! It's beautiful. I live here and it still takes my breath away.

north that's so funn about the laptop!!

girlie I don't think we'll bother claiming. It was a bit old and very slow!

It's been a no spend morning as we went surfing. In the last week we have saved £27.50 on parking at National Trust carparks as we're members! No idea what we will do this afternoon but I'm demanding a pasty regardless.

Going to keep up with the thread from now on!

Creme, I've just read about your coach trip, I don't know what I would have done if the coach had gone before I got back to the meeting point, awful!

Spends yesterday.
£100 Morrisons (big shop and empty cupboards due to holiday)
£15 M&S
£47 Aldi

All topped up now.

Big spends in the week will be.

£1280 - annual bus fare for school for 2 x DC. Ouch, but prefer not another DD. Annual cost that we save for in a high interest account and keep the interest.
£500 dog sitter while we've been away, which was very 'ouch', but they have been treated like kings and had daily videos and updates.
£70 camp for DD and pony.
£600 as my furniture for the study/snug has arrived. This was budgeted for months ago, but seems to have taken ages for the stuff to actually be ready, as I bought it during a busy sale period.

Today I'm going to get pony and chicken feed, and take some clothes back.

Meal plan.
Jamie Oliver beer butted chicken, sweetcorn, salad.
Veggie lasagna.
Beef hot pot (DD is away and DS loves beef, she doesn't), veggies.
Stir fry.
Bacon and egg.

Spent a bit on nice fruits such as pineapple, melon, summer fruits, salads so we are going to carry on eating well, as we did on holiday.

((Snuggly)) didn't want to read and run...If I remember you're about 7/8 weeks? A good point to get to without bleeding so far. I think a&e might give you a referral for EPU scan in the morning, but for the time/stress etc I think you might be just as well to put your feet up now, relax as much as you can and then get a docs app for tmrw morning for reassurance xx

Snuggly, you are about 8 weeks right? That might be hormonal bleeding, I had it with DS about when my period was due. Spotting, rather than bleeding. Had a scan and all was well. Try not to worry.

Snuggly I have been bleeding a bit in this pregnancy but always been nothing, I'd been advised that if it's looks like fresh blood and is less than can be on a tissue then nothing to worry about. Sending your and

Thank you all, wise frugaleers. Yes I am nearly 8 weeks. I think I'll see GP tomorrow unless it gets worse. It is just a little on the loo roll but has been going on all morning. Will try to relax!

Snuggly that also happened to a friend of mine. She went to hospital and a doctor looked with a torch and sent her home. It was all okay.

We're having a quiet sort of day. Ds is really into Go Jetters at the moment.

I also bled with my first pregnancy. Was away on business so the conference centre called an ambulance! Anyway all was fine and everyone was very much don't think you are a bother it can happen but they would rather see you and put your mind at rest than have you stressed

snuggly - I would give them a call, they are their to keep you from worrying. I had a bleed with Ds and he turned out fine - but it was good to have the reassurance.

I have spent a fortune on the garden - although my bro has been sowing seeds for me so the plant costs have been minimal. The spends have been on Glysophosphate ( £27) to get rid of brambles. £30 on compost because we have really clayey soil, diesel to get to the tip several times and £10 on herb plants. I suspect I will end up doubling all of those spends by the time I finish. Other than the seeds DB has given me a wisteria, rhubarb x3, manuka and a taragon. The paving is being done with slates from a shed that was demolished by a friend.... Once the back grden is done I will get started on the front

Haven't seen Ipso for a while?

Hope you and miniSnerd are ok Snuggly x