BOO! The Freaky Frugaleers prepare for Halloween and beyond. All welcome!

[Cagliostro]

:)

8 what an arse. It'll be nice to start over with all nice things though even if it's costly. I would resist getting too much though as if you go into the John Lewis on Boxing Day they have all their lovely decorations reduced!

Aiming for nsd. I've got work then dd has swimming lessons. Need to make a sandwich to take to work with me. We've got a frost this morning still only have one heater on in the house.

Dreading this weekend. Well, I'm looking forward to it I'm MoH at my best friends weddings but it's going to cost us loads. I'm getting a facial and nails done tomorrow that's £70 and we are staying at the hotel that's £120 not to mention drinks which I'll try to limit.

Also have to put £50 in their wedding card..

cathode from a work perspective I'd prefer to be told by my GP "yep, it's a virus nothing we can do but take some time off-here's a certificate" I can only self certify for 2 days.

Once our sickness reaches 10 days uncertified in a rolling 12 month period every instance after that must be certified.

I'm not an advocate of taking time off but think it's better to go to the GP than not. At least if there is something (even a virus) they can confirm it.

I've worked with a few "Monday clubbers" who drop sick after heavy weekends/at busy times/to get more study time/etc so I always try to cover myself where possible.

Only downside to this is that we have to pay for GP's. So to go and pay £40 to be told you need rest and lots of fluids really gets on my nerves. I'm lucky in that I can reclaim on my insurance but still...

Tax seminar this morning. Briefing about the changes to the uk resident non domiciled rules. 😴💤😩 Important. But dull. free breakfast though!

Em That's really interesting. It hadn't occurred to me that people would do that just because of a drinking weekend or study stuff. I'm relentlessly straight-laced and honest, and don't do stuff like that, but it means it doesn't occur to me I need to protect myself. Must start doing that.

It's interesting that you pay for appointments. We're seriously considering approaching a private GP and are stressing about the £85 cost of a fifteen minute appointment. I wonder if we could get insurance that would cover it?

Thanks so much for this discussion. It's really helpful to have the extra perspective of other people's practical experience, which can be so different from mine.

wreck sorry if youve already got it sorted, but I might be able to buy the ticket off you for Santa at Harrods?
Am just trying to catch up on thread

Good grief weddings are expensive. I'm swerving one this weekend, it's on bonfire night and therefore the cat has to be in so no one hurts him or he gets scared & runs away from home.

cathode you'd be surprised what people will do. I've done it myself before. In my old job where I was stupidly unhappy and overworked. I went sick on the Monday after hearing that something last minute super stressful needed to be done on the Tuesday on the Friday before (if you get that...). I was working my notice had everything dumped on me and had enough. No one wanted to help me so I forced the issue. I went to my GP who signed me off with stress.

I'm insured through work with axa ppp. I don't pay anything (work do) but they're really good. May be worth having a look.

I pay for appointments for me but if I had kids I think they're free until the age of 5.

When I started work someone once told me to cover my arse all the time. Get everything in writing (sickness stuff, work stuff, time off...everything). So I'd do it just to cover yourself and ds.

It may be that by taking him everytime and getting a sick note someone else may be able to see a pattern that you may have missed and help manage it.

Cath a private appt at my GP is £55. If you do that then everything will then have to be paid for blood tests, private prescriptions etc. It would no doubt be better for you to look into private healthcare insurance.

Allthebest I haven't sorted it and would of course sell to you but I think I have to give the dc's name? I think there's a harrods helpline you could call and ask them though? I'm sure they could change it?

I'm much happier at the new job thanks! Some of it is pretty annoying like sorting out pensions etc but I guess you get that anywhere.

I have been going into London 1-2x a week which is great. This week is a bit more frequent but I will be less busy soon and it should all become a bit more routine hopefully after Christmas.

I have to go in for a lot of meetings and so far I've been lucky to be able to dictate when they are! Long may it continue!

Also if you did go you wouldn't need to give me any money as when someone attends the money gets refunded onto my harrods rewards card

Em it's really amazing to realise how different your career is from mine. I know very little about lawyers really.

I'm a scientist and in science we stand or fall career-wise on our own achievements, measured entirely by number and quality of publications. A lot of people work 11 hour days 6 days a week and love every minute, forgoing personal relationships and any idea of ever marrying or having children, just because they love their work.

My friends who have worked in California say it is very normal to work Christmas day, because then they have the pleasure of having their friends around.

I've always been prone to viruses had time off here and there, but in science that just meant that people kind of accepted that I was not a high-flyer. There was never any question of handing in certificates or anything. When I got to the end of a contract, I just got sent to a less ambitious job next.

The flip side is that the salary is very low. After my PhD I got a standard postdoc salary of £1100 a month after tax and pension deductions. The proper lecturer jobs pay £30k a year.

The dress requirements are really different too. Make up was never mentioned at all, and anyone who came in in a suit or smart clothes would be shunned on the grounds that they must be a salesman or poorly informed computer thief.

I wish this kind of information was handed out in careers fairs. It would really help so much if we all knew what it would really be like in a job.

btw in recent years I've gradually been learning the get-it-in-writing plan. When someone's behaving really badly towards me I always ask them to confirm their position in writing and I often find that the demand just disappears. I'm glad you mentioned that. It encourages me to keep at it.

I'm sorry to hear your job was so stressful. Well done for getting that bad day sorted. Eeep!

collie are you lurking?!! [happy]

My work is chaotic these past few days, and due to working extra hours I've gone into the next tax bracket and actually came out with less money when I got paid yesterday than previous week despite working many extra hours I will probably be working a few hours every Sat this month, I'm going to request it in holiday hours instead. I've got more resources in place today so today will be a less crazy day work wise.

Lovely to see wreck and allthebest working together to ensure wreck isn't down money and best's child gets some enjoyment too.

Haha I was going to post "NSD" but forgot

I've been trying to work out a meal plan that doesn't require a freezer (should be moving next week & don't want to waste any frozen food. Chilled is fine though as we have a cool box) I found that Sainsbury's do chilled fresh cod fish fingers which is ideal for DS but am now stuck on the rest.

@ Collie. I get you!!

Will your DS eat pasta and a jar of sauce Collie? Fresh chicken breast good quality nuggets and beans? Pea and ham risotto at a push? Good quality sausages? Sorry if I misread post and these suggestions don't work.

Weddings cost shed loads, It can be quite stressful working out how to cover the cost, then possibly child care, pet cover, travel, hotel etc.

Hi Lego, nice to see you back. And Apivita.

Adora The text from your bank with a phone number to call as the account is compromised is another scam going round.

Em and Fluffy. I won't go into the boring detail about how I know this and it's not frugal related at all but a friend of a friend of a friend (iyswim?) is involved in ongoing and extremely positive studies about lavender oil being used for stress in animals. My friend is using an oil burner with it in for her dog that hates fireworks.

I'm hoping for a NSD, and making a chicken broth with cheap veg, left over chicken and pearl barley.

Actually no, there will be £5 on Boxercise later.

The Jamie Oliver Christmas book, Need. They are my weakness too. It was on offer and it's very good.

I have it Snuggly and it's super. I cook a lot from it, the minestrone soup is lovely, and frugal. The chicken and chorizo tray bake is less frugal, but my favourite I think so far. I haven't cooked the more 'cold weather' food yet so much.

I've just made chicken broth for tonight as we are all doing different stuff and eating at different times, it's in the SC. Certainly frugal, second meal from a roast chicken for a family of four, pearl barley and lots of veggies. Some of said veggies looked a bit er, past their best so I'm less sure of nutritional value but hey ho.

? @ Collie. I don't get you. I hope it was fun whatever it was.

Well done on the NSD. I have my fingers crossed for you here.

I'm not really that concerned about the weather forecast, we're used to this in winter time but the appt made dh more safe. Basically if we are snowed in we need to let the hospital now when my contractions starts and then they'll either send the midwife out with the military or get the military ambulance to get me. If they can't get here in time a midwife will guide dh over the phone and if we have good enough wifi she'll be on skype so she can see what's happening. No worries there

Just seen this little clip from an Australian journalist about Danish kindergarten, quite interesting actually www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/kids-gone-wild
Perhaps sone if you will find it interesting too
Went to the hairdresser today, 35£ but well spent on some welfare for me will have a read trough now

Sorry haven't caught up on thread yet so I have no idea what's going on :o

Snuggly just noticed you asked for pressie ideas - will have a proper think, sorry I wasn't ignoring you :)

Feeling like absolute shit today. Spent some time sitting at the park, and let's just say I've realised that being cold for long periods is a pain trigger :( DH has taken the Caglets to climbing but I have to meet them there soon so DH can get to work. Then I have to get a few groceries and take the Caglets to Badgers club and teach piano. I don't wanna do anything but sleep :( but need the money especially given my epic screw up yesterday :(

Also I'm annoyed because that cheque from mum has, as I worried about, just been soaked up into every day stuff in my bank account and I haven't actually used it on anything birthdayish. Fail.

Sorry in a rubbish mood today! Must cheer up

I'm so sorry to hear that Cag. That does sounds like a rubbish day. Take care there. I just realised cold is a trigger for me too actually, and a friend with meniere's disease says it is for her too. I wish I'd realised sooner. I hope things cheer up for you there.

We only have an old thermometer for the bottom that dd hates so could any give recommendations on what could be a good buy for one that could be used in ears or forehead?

Cag and for you. Hope you feel better soon

Cag, it wasn't an epic screw up, it was a human mistake. We all make 'em. You are allowed to be in a bad mood and have a shit day. I imagine our muscles tense when cold, not helpful. Climbing for the DC sounds fun.

Italian, sorry, my DC are too old for thermometers, Amazon might even have lots of reviews, even if you don't buy from there. I'm not actually sure we ever used one actually, just felt them and observed. Rubbish parents...!

Cag sorry you're feeling so miserable today. Have some and a . Also, you had a nice win yesterday, as well as a fail. Can you spend your Amazon voucher on you, to make up for your Mum's birthday present being absorbed into general expenditure. Hope the next few hours pass quickly for you, so you can enjoy a rest.