Marvellous Frugaleers - Chatting and saving through November, and into December.

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Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

I'd wear the first with heels and a fluffy jumper maybe?

At a push I'd wear the first ones. With a snuggly jumper. But even then they're a bit out there for me.

The second ones are a no. I'm putting my fashion feet down. If any of you even think about buying velvety sequinned leggings that's it. We're done here. -bangs fashion gavel-

(But feel free to try them on. For a laugh).

The nice car electrician came and looked at our car. A machine that he connected to the battery said "reject", which apparently means that the battery, which we bought to fix the current fault, is probably knackered. That means buying a new, new battery and waiting to see if that goes flat too. Weird.

Nsd. Thanks for the new thread. Actually I lie £1 for own clothes day.

Em I can definitely promise never to wear sequined trousers.

I have worked out what's wrong with the car. Apparently if it's not driven more than 30 miles a week then the battery doesn't charge enough and just gives up the ghost. We hardly drive at all as Cambridge is a cycling city. So apparently we have to get a solar panel on the dashboard and trickle charge the battery through an internal socket when the car is parked in the drive and that will keep it going. I'm going to try that.

That's interesting Cathode we don't drive our car much. I probably go less than 30 miles per weem most weeks (and definitely did when working) so I should look into that.

I wouldn't wear those trousers. Can't quite put my finger on why as I love the odd sequin but... at the moment I am too fat for new clothes. I can't blame the baby, I have just been eating a bit too much toast, cake etc and know I am going to balloon soon so not very motivated. I would like a nice top for Christmas though, might look around s a bit.

Had the roof repairs done today so that was £1250 (not sure whether they will add VAT either). But it is good to know the roof is sound, and hopefully the ventilation issues improved. Decorator still working on the hall so will pay him next week when he finishes. He was suspiciously cheap for London but is lovely and doing a good job so far. Once it is done I might just move a chair into the hall and sit and admire how clean and bright it looks!

So much housework, so little energy... friend coming over in a minute, she's never seen it so disorganised and grubby! I doubt she will care but I've made brownies to distract her!

Thanks for the new thread, Cath, hope your rib is ok.
NSD - hooray! Have lost my gloves though.

Went to town and collected parcels and posted letters. Would have been a nsd but I bought oven liners from Amazon!!

Good day for oven liners then huh?

Tiring afternoon. Looking forward to dinner (homemade pizza) tv and chill. I wa going to get a bottle of wine. But a)couldn't carry it and b) probably won't sleep well with wine.

Colleague was annoyed today. She's not going to the Christmas party. Or our lunch. Fair dos. She said it's because she doesn't drink, she hates drunks and won't be able to relax knowing she'll have to look after us all.

I was a bit at that statement. Fair enough don't drink. And fair enough don't come because of that. But to effectively say we can't control ourselves? But rude I thought. Or maybe I'm over sensitive today.

Seems odd em, it's not like she would have to stay all evening.

Delicious dinner using up bits from the fridge. Jackets in the oven. Fry leek and bacon and put in a bowl with creme fraise and black pepper. Scoop potato out of jackets and add to bacon etc, add grated cheese and mix it all up. Put back into jackets and top with grated cheese stick under the grill. Mmm

I know what she means Em. If she hangs on another 5 years everyone else's alcohol tolerance will start to decline and she won't be the only one any more.

Yeah you've got to show commitment to drinking or you end up tipsy really easily. I miss being able to drink 3 vodkas at lunch & not have to go to bed.

£45 food.

Put the window film up, found out one window is badly fitting and causing a polar Draught. Fab. Lounge is warmer though now.

Well, she doesn't have to look after anyone does she Em, that's her choice.

Dinner sounds lovely Wrecked.

We are having chicken, marinated with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, oregano and garlic. Then laid on a slice of seeded bread, with a dollop of cream cheese and a mushroom on top and roasted in the oven, with baby toms and asparagus, also marinated in the same. Nom. Strangely, it's another JO recipe.

Today.
£20 to DH for cash for a funeral.
£25 cleaner.
£29 reindeer. I will post a picture tomorrow and you can name him. I am too busy having a G&T and MN'ing to move. I got soaked on my dog walk then doing the pony and, in an unfrugal manner put the heating up to get warm again, chilled to the bone.

My good deed for the month is to donate to the local food bank. You can drop off at the local supermarket. They are very short of tins and toiletries at present. If I can't afford to buy some of these at Aldi and drop them off then I am a very bad person.

Thanks for new thread Cath.
I have never even heard of oven liners and I hate cleaning the oven.
Going to order some from Amazon....or perhaps wait til I go to Aldi next week
Spendy day. £236 on 10 square metres of tiles for 2 bathrooms upstairs. I went to TopTiles. I cheekily asked for a discount and they said ok. And took £9.60 off the bill. Yeah!
Velvet, sequinned leggings....no, no danger here.
Hope your rib is feeling better Cath.
Tidied up all the leaves in the garden using my new leaf Hoover that DP bought for me last week. It's slow but good. Got lots in the compost and a pile for leaf mould.

Sounds a bit , Em. I fancied a couple of glasses of vino tonight, but like you, decided against it, as I'm so tired.

Sounds like a great trip to Ikea, Mammy.

Spends: £9.70 travel.

£18 on dinner and wine, £2 lunch. £9 postage, inc. parcel to Canada.

Cath hope your ribs feel better soon.

Need I work in social housing and the number of food bank vouchers we have issued lately is crazy, so well done and thank you for your donation. Some families I see are so desperately in need.

Blimey you lot have been busy chatting!

Thanks for the new thread Cath I had a gas oven at my old place, it was o.kay (I only had it cleaned once in 7 years ) but prefer the electric one, things seem to cook more evenly some how.

Need I am thinking of doing a collection for a homeless charity, you can fill a box with things a homeless person might like toiletries, warm hat, gloves, socks etc and they will be handed out at Christmas, thought it sounded like nice idea.

It has been properly cold here today, it even snowed at one point crazy! Have just driven dd out to her Granddads for the weekend as I'm working all wend - rubbish.

LSD £1 for CIN.
£5.25 on drinks when we met my dad.

I really like those leggings, love a bit of sparkle!

Ha ha , not they are vom

£4 for CIN, £2 beavers

Food shopping this weekend. I need a top to go out tomorrow but will get from sainsburys with vouchers.

Ds has been coughing all night and is still coughing. He has a temperature. I don't know whether to take him to the doctors or not. The thing is he's fine in himself playing normally but not eating.

Does he have any other health issues wreck? Sorry I forget.
If not then pain relief and maybe a steamy bathroom to break the cough cycle this time. And monitor.
Vic's on feet on night

Is he drinking wrecked? I think if he is lively enough and drinking, if not eating, they might not worry unduly.

No he doesn't. You're both right it's best to see how he goes it's just exhausting for him coughing so much.

Is it a productive cough?

If it's not then codeine based syrups stop the cough really quickly but he's so little it might be too strong for him.

If he ate he might throw it all back up again with the coughing.

Morning all!
I would give him some Calpol if he has a temp, Wreck and see how he is in a couple of hours.
Does this sound dodgy? Got an email from HMRC saying I am due a tax rebate but they don't have my details to pay it to me. DH reckons they would just send a cheque in the post if it was legit. I might give them a call of Monday to find out. It would be nice if it were real, it's nearly £500!