The Friendly Frugaleers, figuring out our finances with furry feline photos!

[Cagliostro]

Hello all :)

£21 in IKEA on Kilner jars to make gin in (blackberry and Apple), loo roll holders, a spatula, some funnels, a clock and a throw. The throw I'm going to see if I can make into a Christmas throw on my embroidery machine.

£7 in asda on blackberries as all ours have done over. Bloody annoying. Next year i will pick and freeze. Gutted.

Need I've given blood before...once . It was absolutely fine, I felt a tiny bit dizzy/light-headed afterwards as my blood pressure tends to be sorta on the low side, but had a sit down and they gave us water and biscuits and I was fine. They came to our SU a few years ago which is when I did it. Been meaning to do it again since then and never got around to it . I should really follow your example and book another donation asap, and with DH and he's never done it either and always said he was going to. Although I had blood test yesterday and fainted afterwards!! I've had loads of blood tests before as well and this was the first time I've ever been that bad.

Oh I say no a heck of a lot TBH Genie and "because I said so" admittedly not with financial stuff mind you, we do talk about that stuff a lot and manage expectations (DD's best friend at school for example is very wealthy and has all the gadgets etc but DD is fine with the fact it's not happening in this house)

life sorry totally missed your reply earlier re the savings v debt, thank you.

The debt is more than the savings, we are both in the overdraft and there's CC debt as well

DH has just received another job offer! And this one is properly full-time hours so pays a little better too, as well as being more interesting and less gross (in terms of the amount of bodily fluids that would need to be cleaned up lol).

Just confirming costs with ye when I click on the link here it's £29 for that gift, is that right?

When dd wants something shit I read her all the crappy reviews from Amazon

Ooooh well done to Meadow's DH! Very cooool.

genie I keep thinking I'm fine then just crash out. It doesn't help that I'm on my own this week at work (and can't really justify working from home). Today was a total work from home day the way I was feeling. It's also awful weather - 19 degrees and muggy wet and a bit cold. Eugh.

On way home for homemade chilli and chicken noodle soup. Then probably bed. Need some serious sleep-a-deep-deep.

Bake sale for McMillan on Thursday so tomorrow must bake some cupcakes. Planning on vanilla with limoncello frosting. Yummmmmmmm

(Hoping I get some vouchers for shops for my birthday. Seen some amazing clothes! Want! And it doesn't count if it's vouchers right?)

need Your slim so ask them to take the minimum amount. It's fine, the nurses are really good at putting the needle in. Free bourbons and a lie down while chatting to a nurse, what's not to like?.

Welcome newbies.

£1.50 work stuff.
£80 nail tech stuff for my free course in October, saved £13 on rrp.
£5 petrol
£4 fish fingers, squash and cola. Cba to cook Chinese curry from scratch tonight.

My chop cloc hasn't arrived yet . Dh keeps going on it'll be hard to fit but I've watched a YouTube video and it's easy. I've been forbidden from taking the electrics apart on the boiler control to fit it.

Welcome to more new people.

Cag, I would keep £1000 for emergency savings and use the rest to clear overdrafts, or at least one of them, personally. You never feel as if the money is yours, if some of it always has to pay off the overdraft.

Genie, I would say it's either that or a few other things he wants, but that you think are better value. Give him a while to think about it
with a bit so luck he'll forget before December. I'm going to try an Iceland delivery soon, now that my Sainsburys delivery pass has run out (expecting my final free delivery on it tomorrow), so I'll report back, but I would say the least processed food is probably of good quality and the most processed probably isn't; same with everything.

Another NSD, so 3 in a row. I copied Trying this month and plotted them on my tablet calendar, as I don't know how many I have in a month, despite usually listing them on here. Anyway, I have had 11 for the whole month, so quite happy with that.

Collie, as long as you have time, apply for that job! Go on; you know you can do it!

Em I'm the same. I think it might be an every-other-day virus. I keep feeling a bit better and then a bit worse the next day. I think it's just taunting us. I reckon ten days should do it and you're about two days ahead of me, so you should be okay by Sunday. Saturday will be ten days for me.

Wreck I love your idea of reading amazon reviews to ds. That is really good thinking. It gives him a life skill that he can use without my intervention. We'll get on it.

Hi everyone and especially newbies! Busy couple of days so haven't really kept up with the thread. Also bit too spendy so need to get focused again. Will try and catch up later x

I think sometimes with kids you have to keep it simple, my nephew is 7yo and could argue black is white and also has the broken record technique down to a fine art so now I don't tend to get into a long debate with him. Its pointless and we both end up getting frustrated, if I have said no to something I just say no, give the reason and then walk away. If he carries on I just repeat until he gets the message!

Am lucky with dd that she rarely asks for anything (probably knows what the answer will be ) That said she is obsessed with these little plastic figures that you get in Lidls so wants to spend her pocket money on them this wend

Sorry to hear you are still feeling rubbish Em

I haven't given blood for years Need but last time I did the process involved being asked loads of questions, having a finger prick test to check you are not anaemic and then the actual giving of blood. It was fine although I did feel a bit tired afterwards and I don't look when they put the needle in!! For a nurse I am rubbish with needles

Just back in from an hours run. Lovely to run again. I am obsessed with running.

Meadow Woop woop for the job offer for your DH! Thanks, especially the low blood pressure thing, which is a family trait for me, I wasn't even 120/80 at full term in pregnancy.

Fluffy Thanks too. The idea of actually lying down during the day has clinched it for me. The last time I tried, I was fully into competitive running and was too thin to donate. Now I'm just slim, so I will ask about the minimum donation. Are you excited about your course?

Thanks Girlie too. We parent in a very similar manner you know! Done alright so far I think.

I'm not a massive fan of needles but very into 'giving something for nothing' at the minute. There was a radio piece today about a hairdresser who cuts the hair of homeless folk on his day off, just because it's the right thing to do. Lovely article.

I'm really glad I don't get ill very much. Sorry Em that you are feeling crap still. Hope the chilli is nice, that's good comfort food I think.

girlie nothing that a homemade roll with my homemade soup won't cure did I ever mention that sometimes dh is the best?

My shopping arrived. All keepers. Black cigarette pants, burgundy red shirt dress (for work and play) both new look. And leopard print pointy flats from accessorise. May have been a bit tipsy when I ordered these. But they're awesome!!!! Wearing tomorrow.

Home now. Make up off. Comfies on. Have slathered on so much hydrating moisturiser my skin is either going to super hydrated tomorrow. Cat fed. Litter box changed. Washing machine on. Now curled up on the couch with soup. And telly.

Realistically can't go to bed until 9. Too early otherwise.

I've never given blood hangs head in shame I often think about doing it. Just never been brace enough. I like the idea of biscuits though....

genie I'm thinking healthy thoughts for you. Health health health!!! X

Almost another NSD but DH has had to pop out for baby wipes and cat litter.
Well done blood donors - give a pint for me, I can't do it whilst pregnant.

50 pounds in M&S, tights, underwear, slippprs and some naice soap.

Oh girlie I just threw out loads of those u could have posted to you!

Thanks very much Em. Healthy thoughts also to you. :-) It's bound to be finished soon. I must admit that having your company is really helping me a lot. Thanks for that.

Need I gave blood once when I was a PhD student and I have the happiest memories of that day, which seems weird. It was one of those things which brought about a huge sense of community spirit and positivity. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I found that I was a bit breathless during football games for a couple of weeks after, but that was all really. The biscuits were wonderful. I haven't been allowed to donate since then because of frequent trans-atlantic travel, and then pregnancy and baby stuff, but I would be glad to go again just for the fun of it all. Good luck with it!

Can I also just show off my dinner. Homemade chicken veg soup. Souper spicy souper tasty. And homemade bread.

need

Yes but I feel intimidated by the thought of other techs knowing so much more than me, like they'll look at me & know I'm only starting out.

I'm not used to being the newbie.

Claimed another £10 JL voucher from valued opinions. That's £50 in five weeks or so. I need £130 to buy the lamp shades and cushions we need for the lounge.

Fluffy I think I would love to give valued opinions a go!

Em that looks so fricking yum! Loving the sound of the burgundy shirt dress.

Creme that's exactly what DH said. I'm going to apply! Eeek.

Girlie thank you :)

It's been such a tough day.

Genie Thanks for those thoughts. Yes, I also think I will get something from doing something I am not comfortable with, if that makes sense? For the good of other people. Or something! Did you play football? Wow, that's cool!

Fluffy How do you know they will know more than you though?... You don't. Its the fear of it. I'm sure they will all be lovely. Fear of the unknown and all..

Em I've never given blood either, to my shame in my 40's. Hope the food is good. Have a look at Hush clothes. I am a convert...

Good for you lot giving blood. I did years ago but got banned cos I passed out three times. Haven't tried since.

I've got a killer sore throat, thanks ds. No training this week. Boo. GWS fruflu people.

You will be fine fluff. There will be other new people too.

Welcome new people.

Had a go at Madeira cake today. 1 choc and 1 vanilla for birthday cakes. Got a feeling about the party venue as they were being vague and had heard nothing so set dh on them. We weren't booked in. Could have been a nightmare.

Collie, go for the job.
Cag, tis fine. Mse always says pay off the highest interest first. I second split your £70 a week to savings and debt. Maybe try paying a £500 lump of some, see how you get on then another lump in a bit?

Think my washer is going. It's making a funny noise on the final spin. Sounds too smooth, in suspicious