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

[Cagliostro]

:)

Ah cool snuggly I bought a few things ages ago in Argos 3 for 2 for it so must check out what I've got.

Bit spendy here yesterday and today - I bought some Thomas track stuff from ASDA for DS for Christmas, and a Christmas t-shirt for each of us. Also topped up on shampoo and conditioner from amazon, as it is half the price of Boots for the non-frizz stuff I use. And £13 in Costa meeting a friend and her child for drink and cakes - we usually meet in one or other's house but we occasionally go out for a change of scene because it's a treat for the kids and good experience for DS, who can manage a coffee break but not really sitting down for a restaurant meal. I bought the 'round'. Not doing well on frugalling there!

Today we went into central London to see The Gruffalo at the theatre with DS - we bought the tickets a while ago for half price from amazon tickets. I thought there was a high chance he'd want to leave as soon as we got there but we decided to try anyway and bought aisle tickets for a fast escape. Anyway, he was really good and watched the whole thing! He likes the tube (trains, tunnels are good) And then he liked the theatre mainly because it was dark although he was a bit squirmy towards the end and had to be distracted with a gingerbread man. It was more than half empty, which was a shame for them but helpful for us as DS finds crowds stressful! Went for a cup of tea before heading back for lunch at home. Did a quick shop on our local high st for fruit, a few Xmas offers and nice bread from local baker on the way back (about £10), plus 3 for 2 vitamins for DS (about £10 again). Ocado coming later with weekly shop, about £60. Phew!

I am ready for a nap now.

christmas I am ready for a nap nap too.

Just got in from riding. House is a mess. It's pouring with rain. Luckily I had waterproofs with me. Dh is annoyed that he has to do all the chores. We switched roles I do food shop meal plan and cooking he does everything else. Turns out that "everything else" is a. It much for him. 3 days worth of washing up is on the side. The washing g baskets overflowing and the bathroom is in serious need of a scrub. But. I've done my bits. So am chilling now.

The washing fairy hasn't been then?. How odd, she always visited for you.

Dh used to tell me washing up was no bother until I threw all my toys out the pram & made him do it.

He lasted two nights. I ordered a dishwasher.

I'd washed up for 6 years and through two bouts of whiplash. My boundaries are higher now.

Nope. Turns out the washing machine isnt vagina operated as he first thought. Neither is the kitchen sink. Or the cleaning spray. Or the bedding. Or the shower cleaning spray. Or the Hoover.

I'm enjoying watching the struggle evil while sipping a cup of earl gray and eating a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich. I may also watch the rugby while he's cleaning.

On the plus side my nails may last a full 5 weeks. Not the usual 4. Haven't yet gone to the pet shop. It's too rainy. Eugh.

Frugal win. DH found some tap shoes in DD's size for a fiver in the charity shop. Think they might be boys' ones but they're lovely and DD is overjoyed with them so hopefully won't be an issue!

My washing fairy seems to have done a runner as well have just spent a good 45 mins sorting washing out. I honestly don't know why we have so much, there is only two of us ffs!!

Have had a nice morning, dd has been riding (my mum paid this week) and had a good lesson, did a few jumps on her own which was a first. Popped over to a friends and have come home to do a few jobs before popping out to my brothers later. Think will get a take away tonight, can't remember the last time we had one.

Good to hear re the NHS Need we get a lot of stick but actually my experience with working within the NHS and being at the receiving end of it with myself and dd, has been that the vast majority of people are conscientious and hard working. The team that cared for dd when she was in PICU were astonishing, I honestly don't know how they do the job they do but am beyond grateful for them!!

We don't have NHS here. But I agree you guys who work within the health care system wherever are worth your weight in gold. I've never touch wood had an overnight hospital stay but know that family who have have been cared for in the most amazing way. When my grandparents were both in hospital here the nurses arranged for them to be taken to a side room to have breakfast and dinner together. Every day. They didn't have to do that.

They also put up with an awful lot of abuse from my grandma. the old racist she was although my favourite was to a rather plump nurse "tell me dear, do you need to have such a big arse to work here?"

I apologised to said nurse. She thought it was hilarious. Luckily.

Until recently I was a senior manager in the NHS. There are always those people who just do as little as they can get away with but the vast majority, in my experience, care a lot and work bloody hard. That includes managers, who get a pretty bad press but at a senior level they shoulder a lot of pressure and work incredibly hard, in a system that is underfunded and over-controlled from the centre, making it frustratingly difficult to offer the service that everyone wants. I've never known a departmental director of a service area to be working less than 70 hours a week, routinely. And having to be on call too. I found it frustrating and inspiring in equal measure, but there's no doubt that working in healthcare at pretty much any level takes a lot out of people.

£13.34 at pet shop for cat litter and poop Bags.

Spendy day,
£30 matalan on dd party outfit, £35 in adds on children in need and a few other bits on offer, £87 on dc shoes, would have been more but had a £19 voucher, £20 party money for 2 parties, £30 cash, £8.40 prescription,
On cc £306 boiler repairs, £31 lakeland, £32 Amazon, £950 carpet and kitchen floor

Leaves thread>>

Knackered now.
Went out for the day with DP, DiL and baby DGD. Had a lovely day and coffee and lunch out.
DP treated us all, so NSD.
Cold and wet here. DP watching the rugby.

Holy moly life I think you win the thread for the spendiest day. Impressive.

I've just been sucked into a thread about board games and have ended up spending £40 on exploding kittens and blankr. Damn you Amazon.

Also my bank account is overdrawn by 50p. So have had to transfer savings across. Gah.

Penny account is at £130. So that's good.

£4 beer.

That's great that your leg is better need and that the scan went well.

LOL at the idea of a vagina-operated dishwasher Em.

Wreck you look absolutely lovely in your photos.

We went out for a short walk today but that was all. The hibernation instinct is kicking in hard here.

£8.40 on prescription and £2 on butter.
House is in a bit of chaos, I'll sort this now.

Regarding prescriptions, ive signed up for prescriptions on line its provided by nhs and you pay £120ish or pay by dd and then all your prescriptions are free for a year. Wished id known earlier I will save me a fortune.

Aww thanks cath

Spendy day. Was the party today and I'm soooo tired.

£60 in lidl on party food
£7 in wilkos on two stocking fillers for ds
£11 in the Iceland warehouse thingy. I got hash brown chips

I've had a bit of a spendy day too, did some Xmas shopping on Amazon, £45 and a top up shop in Sainsbury's. There are so many lovely clothes and toys for DD in there I really had to use some willpower.
We have decided we are definitely going to need a bigger house. Will wait until I return to work after mat leave but it's given me some new resolve to keep being frugal and try and make some mortgage overpayments in the meantime.

MacDonalds £8, parking £1.

Nice afternoon catching up with my sister in law. Have just stuffed ourselves on MacDs and finished off some ice cream was bloody lovely though!!

Snuggly the nectar points double up is next week (16). Toys and clothes have been included in the last few

Ooh thanks, lifelong, I was wondering when that was. Pleased I resisted today now!

£15 more food -DS2 decided to make brownies - yum.

£33 John Lewis for Christmas presents.

And I thought I had had a spendy day Lifelong

Lovely day in Tynemouth for us today. It was our first time there for about a year. We had lunch in a diner we frequent whenever we go there, had a look around the shops and market and walked the length of Tynemouth and Cullercoats beaches, before finishing off the day with hot chocolate in a café we love in Cullercoats. It was great seeing how many people were making the most of a mild, dry day and walking on the beach and about 20 hardy souls were our surfing!

So, spends: £12.90 travel; £14.60 lunch; £3 cake pops at the market; £5.60 hot chocolates and £3.80 on a couple of Crabbes alcoholic ginger beers for tonight. Total: £39.90 (I think!)

Sainsburys double up is 16th-22nd November. I think I posted it earlier on the thread.