Frugaleers chatting and saving even further into August...

[AGenie]

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.

Yes was a new build, will be trying to suss out tomorrow (day off) what happened, from my bedroom window it appears like the fire was upstairs as the top windows are covered in soot. It is a worry, really hope it wasn't problem with the house.

Methen yes a friend told me similar! Am wondering whether just to bite the bullet and get her some regular roll on, she seems to be growing up so fast at the moment

girlie It really happens very quickly with girls. I mourned the loss of my baby girl for a long time. I remember seeing her in the bath when she had only just started changing into a woman (she didn't even know) and going into my bedroom and crying, she was only about 9/10. DS was about 15. Such a difference. It's hard.

I'd never thought about it that way need. The first ten years feel so long to the child don't they, but so quick to the adult. My two neighbours are 10 and 11 and it seems like about 20 minutes since they were in a baby seat on the back of a bike.

I am sad Genie for the babies that they were and will never be again, but happy to see the adults they are changing into iyswim? Everything is so much easier and less all consuming, but you get to share less of their lives. That being said, they sort of need you more in some ways. Ha, you never stop being a parent.

girlie, mine uses a sanex roll on.

Yes I know just what you mean. It's an odd thing isn't it?

For me the loss of babyhood is less of a loss I think, though that may change. One of the odd upsides of ds having had obstructive apnoea is that I had all the cuddles that a person could wish for in his early years and more. He slept in my arms through the night for two years and in the daytime for three. He breastfed every two hours round the clock for four years.

I think that having got my fill of cuddles I feel less sad at the passing of his babyhood. I'm really enjoying that we can have proper conversations now and I do hope that that will continue.

I worry though, about the time when he will become a distant teenager perhaps. Especially as I don't have a daughter to do the talking past that age. I'm working really hard at establishing a conversational relationship because of that.

I get that too. That much physical (and emotional) attachment must have been very hard, even overwhelming possibly at times. All mother, no person. Please don't worry though, I am very close to DS. I parent DS in a very different manner to DD, who is all emotion and drama, but am no less close. For DS, who is emotionally more reticent, it'a about trusting him and letting him 'be', then he opens up. I think you 'get' your DS Genie and should have no such worries.

agenie I wouldn't worry. You sound like such a great mum I doubt ds will go all sulky teenager distant on you.

Thursday already?? Aiming for nsd today.

Last day at work this week. Have tomorrow off - have an appt at hospital - had the dreaded smear test about a month or so ago and they noticed something borderline abnormal. So have to go so they can have a poke around. Hooray!!!

Lifelong hope you fil is doing better

Went to a parent to be event at a local baby store yesterday, spent nothing but went away with a goodie bag full of bottles, dummy, samples, a baby cup, muslin, baby hottie, diaper bin and 3 packs of bin bags... Success... and won a stokke baby bath with a newborn inset worth 50£ so so happy and really feel very lucky. Some were moaning about their winnings, really really don't understand ppl. It's a free event and you get goodie bag and even win a prize...
Today midwife appt and then off to search the pram, found the one I want, brio sense
Have 900£ for the month and zealando still owes me 70£ from returned clothes.

Welcome frazzled...
Em: hope the appt goes well and nothing serious

I agree with what need has said AGenie Dd is 11 and starts high school tomorrow and is really emotionally close to me which is fab but draining at times. Ds is 15 tomorrow and a different kettle of fish altogether but we still have brilliant chats and he will open up to me if he needs to. Very different relationships but I feel very close to both of them.

Today will be mostly getting dd ready for first high school day tomorrow. She's very excited but nervous too. Ds is having 3 friends over for a sleepover tonight & then dh is taking them to Old Trafford for a day at the cricket tomorrow for his birthday. I'm going to cook a big curry to be followed by chocolate cake! We bought him a cricket shirt he wanted a couple of months ago as an early present and are paying for the cricket & train tomorrow so no presents to wrap. He goes back to school on Monday to start his GCSE studies.

Jam & curry making this morning and then as a last holiday treat dd has her first ever riding lesson this afternoon. We've been given a voucher for 6 lessons by my cousin who dh had helped with their tax returns a couple of times. So my only spend today should be £2 to hire a helmet for the lesson.

That sounds like a great, really useful win Italian

That's a great win, Italian!

Welcome frazzled.

Hope your appointment is ok Em.

North I hope your DD enjoys her riding lesson.

DH has gone to do the weekly shop with a very detailed list. I didn't sleep at all well last night, kept thinking about all sorts of things, am shattered now. Going to try and do a few jobs at home today.

Em good luck!

NSD today as we're having a quiet day at home in the sun. Used 3 super ripe bananas to make a dairy free banana loaf cake - it means we don't need eggs, butter or milk. So a frugal new baking method! :) as I rarely have butter in the fridge unless I'm making flapjacks. And it's super tasty!

Hopefully nsd. We're really poor again due to the vet bill I'm going to make shortbread.

Have started the process of cancelling the shepherds friendly isa and am going to cancel the wetland trust membership. Have asked MIL to get us national trust membership from NZ which will be about £38 for the year (thanks fluffy). I'm sure there was something else oh yes I still need to sort out re registering the dc since we got married. Winder if I can change their names to horror 1 and horror 2...

morning!

Teething new house problems again!
I opened an account especially for bills. It has £500 in it, all ready to go. For council tax etc.

I set up a DD with the council, gave them the bank details. The tax needs to be paid by today. They haven't done it. I don't have a card for the bills account yet, so couldn't pay for the tax from that account (need security code).
So I used my current account, leaving it in the red and not earning the 3% cashback!!! Aaaargh. Next month it'll be ok.

5 minutes before I had overpaid the mortgage. And the maintenance money for DD aren't in my account yet.
Oh well. Next month it'll all settle.

I have 4 overriped bananas, so it's banana loaf chez nous as well.

I used all my minutes, so can't call the council. I overdid it with the minites last month too (moving house etc). The bill came to £68!!!!
Costly mistakes.

Hope it's OK em
Welcome frazzled
Good luck to your dd north for tomorrow

Ikwym about growing up and closeness. Ds is far more cuddly than older DD who at 8.5 is beginning to develop. I fear what is to come as they grow up but hope I have stood them in good stead so far.

Spendy day today. 2 hours drive a friend's wedding. Hotel paid for but need dinner as we are evening guests.
Fil no better. Meeting at the hospital this afternoon

Thinking of you all today, Lifelong.

Thinking of you here too lifelong

Sorry to see that lifelong

The dc have just found their trunkis which I was going to give them for Christmas. Ffs.

So now I'm officially on sick leave until maternity leave. Job was really understanding and no hard feelings so that's nice...

Oh thinking of you lifelong and that sucks wrecks

lifelong sorry to hear your FIL hasn't improved
italian sorry if I've missed it, how far along are you? Glad that work are understanding for you. Take it easy.
8 what a pain about that money
Welcome frazzled and good luck em

I need to pop out for some fruit later but other than that should be lsd. Must get on to looking into credit cards.

Thinking of you lifelong

My appt tomorrow will be fine. My GP said if it was super serious they'd have pulled me in much much sooner. I spoke to the hospital too and they also confirmed this. So I'm not looking forward to it (don't really want a stranger going "up there" ) but it'll be ok. Positivity!

Good for you em. It's why having smears are so important, they can stop things before it happens.

Thinking about you too, Lifelong.

When is your due date, Italian?

Midwife told me today that I'll probably have to stop working at around 30 weeks. Last time I worked up to 37 weeks. I hadn't planned to be on maternity pay quite so soon!

Wreck could you tell them the things are to send to a friend/cousin etc? Then re hide them?

Great freebies/prizes Italian

em if you have a Boots near you they do something called Quiet Life, it's a herbal thing that helps with stress. I use them when I have a smear done.

Everything crossed for you Lifelong

Today might be spend or an NSD, depends if school shoes we ordered are in.