The Friendly Frugaleers, saving and chatting as autumn arrives

[AGenie]

Hello all :-)

I'm struggling to keep up with the thread it moves so quickly.
I've had a great weekend. The Beetle Drive was a huge success on Friday night then last night we went to our friends' Japanese themed party. Today we've been mainly starting the house clean up as the loft is nearly finished.
Dh has applied for a new job. It's a big step up but it has at least made him get his cv up to date. We'll wait and see what happens.

Ooh a Japanese themed party? Tell me more!

Hugs Collie and anyone who needs a hug! (Like others I am struggling to keep up with the thread)

Yes need a dog would definitely be too much. I guess a kitten would be similar in the beginning! I don't go out to work though so maybe... I don't know. I don't reeeeally want to go down this road TBH, not that I wouldn't absolutely love a pet, I just don't know if we have the resources - money, time and energy!

Slight disaster here, we have just been informed that while we thought each other had set up the standing order to Beavers, we, erm, hadn't DS is leaving anyway but have over £100 to pay. They offered instalments but I don't think we need to drag it out really, we can manage it.

Spendy today though (before I found out the above! [facepalm]) - couple more presents for birthday parties coming up (some of their best buddies all seem to be born in the same few months!), got DD some hairbands/clips to keep her bangs off her face during her exam (waltz today - went ok she things) and was totally reeled in by the whole buy 3 get 3 free thing in Claire's so the Caglets now have another beanie boo each . I also got DD a free trial for a small tap class that her friend goes to. Oops. And got a few Christmas things but that's on PayPal which I have a really good balance on due to refunds etc so doesn't affect the bank account.

6 of my eBay things sold! Yay! So made about £35 yesterday!

Will post tomorrow (one buyer hasn't paid and has already sent demands for me to post today. Er...no. Clearly states on my listings that I'll post within 2 working days of payment being received. Cheeky).

Catface was less noisy last night (still heard her tearing around chasing her toys but less meowing) and more vocal this morning. She had a chat with me while I was sorting her breakfast.

In other news - dh skyped mil last night. New development there. Mil has a boyfriend now. She was gushing all about him. Dh just nodded. And smiled but after the call went quiet.

Not sure what to do today. I need to pay some cash into my account that Dh gave me for Christmas shopping. We will go pumpkin picking somewhen, we could go more than once. There's a place near us which is free and they have loads of fun things going on; face painting; launch the pumpkin; smash the pumpkin; mini fair ground etc and it's all decorated nicely with a big combine to see too.

We're all full of cough and cold though poor dd wheezing like a trouper after the doctor said she definitely didn't have asthma.

Undecided what to do today too. We could go to a local parks Halloween thing. Ds wants to go to build a bear and smiggle his sister went while he was at a sleepover.
Want to fit a fitness class in if I can and will order the carpet too. Dc are going to stay at me dm tonight but they are not keen so I'm expecting a fuss.

When does everyone make three Christmas cake. I'm having a go this year for the first time, not that buying all the ingredients is particularly frugal.

Can't see who's DH is applying for fancy pants job, but fingers crossed for ssuccess. Also for Collie, hope everything goes to schedule.

Spend day yesterday, I spent aabout£112 in supermarket, DDs and DH managed to increase bill to £56 , so he paid it. Also another £50 on petrol as driving to ILs today Instead of them staying with us as planned .Long story, don't ask. Just had breakfast at motorway stop, no idea how much it was.

£12, I spent twelve quid. Not 112.

Awww I love guinea pigs. When the vomit machine cat finally departs I am going to get guineas for myself DD.
Yesterday I spent £12 on a small anniversary gift for DH. We only do small treats for it but will go out for dinner too.
Today will be spendy as we are going to look at fridge freezers, we have that mortgage refund to spend though which will more than cover it.
Lifelong I will be doing Xmas cakes and puddings in the next couple of weeks. Did the Xmas pudding in the slow cooker last year, much better than using all that gas for it to boil for hours on end!

I've got the offer on amazon of getting a fiver when you top up £100. Think I will as we get heaps from amazon anyway especially in run up to Christmas

Morning all, had a lovely lie in this morning till 10.20 love that dd is old enough to wake up fairly late herself (8.30) and then quietly occupy herself until I get up!

Plan for a quiet rest of morning and then maybe pop into town later, dd is desperate for a pumpkin so that will be on the shopping list....

Scratch that looks like I missed it! Should've done it last night as can't find any reference to it now

Am having a tantrum!!

Just rang the housing people to be told that of the 15th of October sorting out any heating issues is my problem so bloody typical!!

Grr.

Anyone know how much having someone out to sort out lack of heating downstairs is likely to set me back??

girlie everything is under guarantee so don't worry too much. We were allowed to contact the developer ourselves if anything was amiss.

Or, you could contact the boiler manufacturer? Ours is under warranty for 2 years (and has already sprung a leak )

I called out an independant heating guy last week which was £50 and he was brilliant. He bled all the radiators too. He checked the whole system for us.

He said in new builds the water pressure could be too low and all the radiators will need to be bled frequently. There could also be a blockage somewhere.

It's tricky because it's like a crossover between developer, gas boiler person or a plumber. Or it could even be a thermostat issue.

£22 in boots - deodourant toothpaste period parephanaelia (sp)

Looked at Dior mascara - have taken pictures and will add to dh's present suggestion list. Just have to decide which colour - plum purple or pink!

"Al desko" lunch for me (pastrami salad and mayo homemade sandwich).

Yes collie I wonder if its a thermostat issue as you can hear it 'click' on but the radiators don't then do anything! My mum knows someone who is a heating engineer so will try him first..... the joys of being a home owner

Weather is dismal here so not going far atm, dd seems to have a cold so may just have a stay inside day!!

NSD yesterday and will be today too. Feel absolutely miserable with cold which is now affecting throat ans ears so I have taken a sick day.

That's a pain, Girlie. Afraid I can't offer any useful advice but you have reminded me that we need to get the central heating serviced!
Just been to Hobbycraft to get paint and glitter for some half term crafts, goodness things are expensive in there! They have so many lovely things though.

Been grocery shopping, so 27£ in rema.
Food plan for the week is
Mac n cheese with vegs and ham
Lefties and rye bread
Pizza
Chicken indo style
Lefties
Jacket potatoes with chili con carne
Fish frikadeller with veg rice and hollandaise

Want to make a new madress for the play pen so need some foam thingy and fabric.

Girlie Ring the boiler company. I did that and they came out for free.

Our company gave us two years and after that you were on your own.

£9.99 on a reindeer in cancer research
£15 at the pumpkin patch; face painted for both dc; a ride each on the merry go round; a big pumpkin; three very small ones; two corns from the maize maze.

Just placed a big amazon order. £125. Got stuff for dc for Christmas plus my friends two dc and one of their birthdays and my nieces birthday.

NSD here but am feeling so rough.

Also I screwed up dinner! No idea what I was thinking. just added all the wrong ingredients and too much fluid. It's grim! Where was my mind at??

Food waste frugal fail

Mini pumpkins

Those are lovely, Wreck.
I'm covered in glitter!