The Friendly Frugaleers, saving and chatting as autumn arrives

[AGenie]

Hello all :-)

Brilliant snuggly. Frugal triumph.

Checkout smart app has free birds eye cod portions in asda. If you combine with the other free offers in asda it's £6 of stuff free.

Landing definitely cosier now we've sealed the loft hatch.

I actually HATE shopping so hardly ever buy clothes. I did when working properly because like boobs, I had to dress the part. Not any more.
I hated shopping then and still hate it.
I am the sort of person who waits til the fridge is empty and I run out of milk and then go shopping with a list.
I have to buy tiles and stuff for the bathrooms but I can't persuade my self to go and do it. I find other things to do. I keep putting it off.
I spend money on the DGCs though. Ridiculous amounts. That's a big weakness for me. But I love doing it.
If I internet shop it's always for them
£5.24 in little chef on way home from friend's house. It was a long drive and I was starving.
Welcome Keepon.
Hope the house is sorted soon Collie.

Woah snuggly that's awesome.

Catface licked my hand. No treats. Just licked my hand. So either she thought I had treats. Or we are slowly becoming friends. Or she's plotting my demise.

dh is making soup. I was watching only connect (and totally killing it - clearly I've got my quizzy Monday hat on) and am trying to work out what to wear tomorrow. serious problems

Must wash hair tomorrow (I spend a lot on shampoo but my hair is a bit unruly. It is thick and frizzy and waivy. It needs a lot of taming I've found shampoo that works and I'm sticking to it) so have to get up early.

boobs what is this shampoo? My hair is totally untameable!!

Snuggly that is amazing!!

Trying if I'm honest my dd is my weakness, for example all the clubs she is doing, i tend to find the money if its something she wants to do! That said she is by no means spoilt.

8 I do similar with my dd, I say 'of course you can have that sweetie, you have enough of your own money right?' As soon as its her money mentioned its suddenly 'not really worth it'

girlie tigi s factor. I buy the mahusive bottles from Feelunique.com (via topcashback) it's the one my hairdresser uses. But in salons it's ridiculously expensive.

Bit of that then some frizz ease and hair is tamed. A bit.

Excellent news, Snuggly.

Meal plan starting from last Saturday:
Saturday: pizza.
Sunday: Quorn roast with roast potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, broccoli, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.
Monday: Omelette with leftovers (2 roast potatoes, carrots and broccoli).
Tuesday: veggie cottage pie (green lentils, mushrooms and carrots).
Wednesday: same (hopefully another 2 portions for the freezer).
Thursday: pasta with avocado and pesto.
Friday: veggie burgers and chips.
I'm making soup for lunches tomorrow- Thursday (I might even make 2 types- leek and potato and carrot, parsnip and potato, so I'll hopefully have some portions for the freezer) and I am having a pub lunch with a friend on Friday.

Woo hoo snuggly!!

Another with totally untameable hair here.. I have a babyliss 'big hair' which really helps actually!

Mixed day here today. Started out well with the awesome new washer being delivered, it's rather fancy and Im quite taken with it! A rare morning just me and DH so we went for brunch with some money left over from last nights date night (£10). In bad news my phone which has been circling the drain died completely. £129 on a new handset. Taken on a new contract at £18 a month, before I was on PAYG at £10 but running out of data after a week or so then ending up paying an extra quid a day so it will be cheaper in the long run. New phone is rather plush compared to the one it replaced so Im pleased although Id have rather not gone there at all. £6.99 on a halloween costume for DS. DH took us all for coffee £7.50. Handed 3 nearly new pairs of converse from aunt in my size which I am delighted with as I was just thinking today I desperately need new trainers

Food shopping tonight, between huge trolley in lidl £39, iceland £9, M&S 80p (for two huge bags of reduced stuff, came to £10.80 but I had a £10 voucher), local butcher £11 I did rather well, and the cupboards, fridge and freezer are full to bursting. £30 of the grocery budget left which is fab and I will aim to hang on to it!

Knackered now its been a busy day!

Nowhere near caught up with the thread yet! But wanted to share something we are thinking about. Basically I have posted before about our housing situation, due to various unpredicted circumstances we are stuck in a tiny, dark 2 bed private rent with no heating. Which with 2 autistic kids and an ill mum is actually just shit. We are miserable. We realised something that we may actually be able to do though. Long story short we are going to look into statics/prefab houses on residential sites. Might be a wild goose chase but we are just kind of trying to 'think outside the box' (I hate that phrase!) and it could possibly be a way of living more cheaply. So we are going to look into it, what deposit we'd need and all the extra costs like ground rent etc. If it'd still end up much cheaper then we will consider it. There are some decent sites around, just need to check rules about residency etc. We don't want to move too far from the area as the home ed scene is amazing round here. Although I would love to live nearer the sea... I don't know, we have to do SOMETHING - it's really hit home lately that we just can't carry on as we are.

Oh dear Cag, sorry to hear you are miserable. How does the landlord get away with no heating?
I have a friend who lives in a prefab ...couple and 1 year old baby. They love it. I think some sites are residential and others are restricted times and are just really for holidays.
Good luck with it.
Great frugal win, Snuggly, just when you need it too with baby on the way

Oh yes need I hate sales but love discounts.

Thanks I love the jumper I'll wear it to all of our grotto visits and on Christmas Day

Snuggly that's brilliant!

Will be nsd as we are mega overdrawn

Keepon you can do your banking manually in ynab no need to give them your information.

Cag that sounds like an interesting move

Nice jumper wreck
Result on the refund snuggly
Cag, sounds like something worth exploring certainly.

Nsd planned today. Going to carpet shop at lunch time to price up.

cag no heating? Def look at other options.

We didn't have heating until last year - but we are double glazed all south facing and sandwiched between two other flats who did. We put two radiators in. And only really use them in January.

Today will hopefully be nsd. Boss is in London today so hoping I can get some stuff done.

Thanks all. I realised after posting that no heating is a fallacy and unfair of me really, as it's storage heaters - but we can't use them as they make me ill (air blowing through = repeated chest infections etc for me - can't use fan heaters either). So from their POV nothing needs changing IYSWIM.

There is no natural light in the living room either due to the way we face. Kitchen gets lots of daylight but the living room is horribly dark even with the light on.

cag definitely check them out! Sounds exciting :)

We once lived in a dark, cold & damp house. It drove me mad!

It was supposed to be a NSD but I spent £67 at Next online on storage boxes, slippers, scarves and trousers for DS. Pah.

Fingers crossed for some progression today. unlikely

at you electric only needing heating one month of the year that's brilliant

collie, my heart broke for you hearing about the house. You, girlie and I have been through the mill this past year as far as houses is concerned. I'm sure the right house will come along for you.

cag, I used to have storage heaters, they were indeed hideous. I think your idea is fab, why not?! I really hope something will come along for you too!

wreck, glad you had a nice time on your night out :) I don't go out anymore (I was saving for a house, then moved etc, I got out of the habit), I'm such a hermit. Must make an effort!!

lifelong, what carpets are you thinking?

I'm thinking either l light or dark grey but can't decide. Will put it to the frugaleer jury. My sofa cushion is laid across both

mammy we only need it in January. This doesn't stop it going on any other time.

I'm determined though not to put it on until at least December.

What age are dc lifelong? I'd pick lighter grey if they're over the spilling stage.
Electric I'm not a cold creature but when I'm tired I like coziness. Last night i had hot water bottle & blanket on couch with me watching tv!

lifelong personally I'd go light grey.

But also factor in any pets and potential spilling.

Spends today £7.34 at post office posting eBay things. All factored in.

Prebooked 4 tickets for a few of us to see Bridget Jones Baby tonight @ Fiver Tuesday, two have cancelled, frugal fail , there are still 3 of us going so not too bad.

Must pay €7 to collect two packages from Amazon at Post Office tomorrow, well get dh to collect them. One is a phone book which work will reimburse me for.

Frugal win. When I was off sick a couple of weeks ago I had a moment and ordered some things from the body shop. They've still not arrived. I called customer services (from work) and they advised that my order had been returned to them. On 11 October. No one had told me.

So I'm getting a refund. I didn't really need the stuff I ordered. So £26 back in my account.

I'd go for lighter grey :)
electric, this has happened to me, except I really need new bras, they went back because they couldn't find my street???!!!!
Twits!!!