Super Scrimpers sashay, save & --squander-- their way through September

[lilacclery]

Thought I'd start us off!

Em I laughed when I read that your DH is planning where the cat will sleep - the cat will decide once it has had a few days to suss out the warmest/most inconvenient place!!
Great news on the class, Cag.
I am headache free, have had quite a nice day at work and an NSD. Hooray!

Well done to your DH cag! Love your scarf em, beautiful bright colour. Glad you're feeling better Snuggly. I have mixed feelings about Autumn. I quite like the leaves turning in September but hate the cold, soggy darkness of late autumn/winter. Much prefer Spring into Summer. I wish I could hibernate from October to March, just getting up for the month of December (and maybe one day in January for DC1's birthday!)

£6 in Sainsbury's today so fairly LSD.

em that's a gorgeous scarf! I've seen a few hats and skirts on Oasis that I love love love. Trying to stop myself from ever going to that website again - it's dangerously good. Our nearest store is an hour away.

Does anyone here pay standard water rates? I have a sneaky suspicion our next house will not have a meter. Water rates down here are extortionate. Our metered usage is about £40 a month. The last time we were on rates it was £70 a month for two people in a 2 bed. We're looking for a 3 bed. I'm very worried! I can get one installed but obviously it won't be immediate.

We pay about £50 a month with Northumbria water. 3 bed small semi.

LSD as I got my team cake £2 and frugal fail lunch top up £6

I like fresh, crisp autumn. The plum and green colours suit me best too.
Good news about the class cag dh.

Collie Ring the water board, explain and ask if you can get a meter installed upon exchange.

Water boards are really keen on metering because you use so much less.

It might not take as long as you think if you talk to them.

Em I adore the scarf! I've gone for navy Chelsea boots this year. Most of the time I think I'll wear my brown lace up rocket dog boots as I'll be walking over mud and a tow path. I've invested in a north face Arctic parka as I plan to walk Wilf to preschool in every weather. I'm considering Waterproof over trousers for us both.

That's great snuggly. Glad you're better. I'm on the mend now too.

Does anybody have ideas for how to enjoy being outside in autumn? We always struggle with the lack of sunlight and I can see that a lot of people here really like autumn. I wondered if there are things that I'm missing.

I haven't spent much money at all this week.

I'm right properly cheesed off today as the school head says that the authorities won't let ds have his occasional afternoons off any more if he doesn't have a letter of diagnosis to back it up. We have no diagnosis so I'm looking at maybe going back to lurching from one illness to the next with him unless I can come up with this letter pronto. I told them that he says he's exhausted because they push him too hard at school. They said he can't be put in lower ability groups in class as it would reflect badly in their statistics. My head is a little tiny bit on fire now. massive inferno

We just wrap up warm and enjoy it. It can be nice to take a flask with you so can have coffee/hot chocolate whilst you're outside. I just love being outside walking through all the leaves etc.

That's a tough one about your ds must be frustrating.

Dd's teacher responded to my note and said she wants us to go through the stories and words more ie make sure she knows what all the words mean so that's fine we can do that.

fluffy that's a good idea! I tried phoning them earlier to ask if there was one at the property but I was on hold for ages. I can arrange a call back for Monday though

cag well done to your DH :)

life I love those colours too! £50! I hate water rates. I hope I can avoid them because we are so careful with our usage.

AGenie I'm going to post my Autumn bucket list tomorrow. Sorry to hear that your DSs school are like that :(

Finally I know who mummyshortlegz is

Agenie

Have you looked at those alarm clocks that mimic sunrise? They get really good reviews. I have been thinking of getting one. The clock part is led but you can switch that off on some models.

It might help the lack of sunlight, especially as you have to get your son to school.

If any of you want to see next seasons colours look on sweet squared,com. The colours for cnd shellac are made to match what the fashion shops will be selling 3 months ahead.

Genie maybe with your ds getting a bit older he may naturally cope better with the demands of school anyway. Tbh I was surprised they let you do the afternoon off thing last year as most schools are so hot on attendance now. Yes to wrapping up warm in Autumn and going out for lovely walks with a flask on the list this wend is to go conker hunting, dd loves conkers and am thinking age 10yo this maybe one of the last years she gets excited about them

Collie we paid £56 a month water before moving here un metered. I am nervous of being metered as think we probably use a fair amount of water although am really trying to use less.

Wrap up here too and go out in shorter bursts. Winter pic nic is a flask of soup and sandwiches. Then Watch the envy faces of everyone else as they wish they had thought of it. evil cackle

That's good that school responded about the reading wreck. Something to work on. We read other books than the school books and I write in the homework book and periodically send our book in so they can hear her read it too. Never been an issue but our school seem quite laid back compared to s lot.
I've just clicked too lilac who she is.
Agenie I always take a vitamin d supplement too. Between now ish and march. Must remember to add it to the shopping list.

lilac ha! I keep forgetting that people don't always know I was Whataboutwhathuh :-)

Finally I know who mummyshortlegz is

Sierra an old neighbour used to do that every winter, he used to be 'sick' in bed for about 3 months every year

Girlie breakfast club here is 8am I start work at 7 it's about €10 per week & asc is maybe €20 so equivalent of one days childcare. But what to do in school holidays then

My tv would have free to air through my sky box if I cancel but not the Irish channels as you need an aerial & saorview box. I watch very little tv just emmerdale. And I'm so far behind I'm watched episodes aired in July currently

I've achieved one of my September goals did a survey worth €4 today which will bring my balance to €12.75 when it clears.

Plus got my cc statement today & balance is €125 less than I'd recorded in ynab, I did give up reconciling it last time though so I obviously missed recording a payment I had sent.

Breakfast club here starts at 8:15 but is only on two days a week

AGenie boys ear muff hat I highly recommend hats like these. :)

AGenie I didn't ignore your post on purpose, I'm just for your ds. How often does he stay home an afternoon on average? Could you work it in with an appointment somewhere? Here if a parent gives a note explaining absence it's mostly accepted but I know things are stricter in uk.

Creme that's an interesting comparison with tv & kindle vs books.
I just want to bring our bills down as best I can so that we can enjoy life more & do our best for dc.

Dd joined ladybirds tonight €2 well spent she loved it ds was distraught not being able to stay there. I hope to do something one to one with it in that time

Genie - I guess the issue is that now he is out of reception his absence is more serious in terms of statistics. I suppose the only thing you can do is load him up with vitamins and early nights and hope he will get used to it. If he doesn't then I suppose the GP will have to look for a cause.

lilac I remember being very small and going to our library with my dad. We sat on beanbags and read a book about "little bear" (he wore red trousers). He had a winter picnic. It sounded lovely.

I've never done winter picnic but may put it on my winter list. tied in winter and libraries

I've had my eye on a pair of Chelsea boots in joules. Tan with leopard print backs. I can't justify it. They're great but will just look at them.

I wanted a new "work coat" this year. I have a ski jacket (warm,waterproof) I have a wax jacket (waterproof wind proof) and have a red wool pea coat (smart). Was going to invest in a black coat but maybe I'll stick with the red.

Am also after ear muffs. I had some a few years back I bought in NYC. They were only a couple of dollars and wrapped round the back of my head. This time I want proper over head headband ones.

I wore boots today. But apparently it's meant to still be flipflops weather here for a few weeks.

Yes, it's because he's officially old enough to require full time education I guess?

That is a really, really shoddy reason for not moving groups though, good grief.

You said the other day that paediatricians etc are involved, are they being helpful? Sorry I'm being a bit dense, is that for the physical health issues or is it assessing for SN? Do they just say he's got a faulty immune system? It's so horribly frustrating when they keep getting ill :(

I'm not sure if we've discussed this before - have you considered flexischooling? It's different to home ed, it's basically doing part school part HE. It is at the head teacher's discretion though, so not all schools will let parents do this (unlike full HE where generally they just have to deregister the child if the parent says so). But it may really be worth considering. That way, when your DS is off, it will be authorised and planned for - even say Wednesday afternoons or something may be better than him just going off sick IYSWIM. Always around if you want to PM me. x

I concur with high strength vitamin D (D3?) and maybe a good all-purpose multi vitamin, plenty of fresh air, wrapped up warm, hot drinks and warming soups and casseroles.

Can you tell I love Autumn too? I'm all snuggled up under a throw on the sofa with my lava lamp and fairy lights, watching a really good programme about Joanna Lumley touring Japan. I'd love to visit there one day!

Em, I think the red coat will look great with your new yellow scarf. So bright and cheerful.

Looking forward to perusing Collie's Autumn bucket list.