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?

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Special diet food is ludicrously expensive Mummy :(

I try and just go without but the boys need the cheese and yoghurts for the fat and stuff. I had to buy gluten free pastry and sausagemeat for sausage rolls, just roll now do it so I'm hoping it's better than in other years I've tried gluten free pastry.

Hi all, another work day so am knackered! Its been busy busy busy.

Managed to find the cats owner via the power of fb, she only lived 2 houses up but around the corner so hadn't seen her before. Anyway turns out the cat was actually 15 years old which really surprised me as she didn't look that old at all bless her, probably explains why she wasn't chipped though as not as common 15 years ago. Owner was very grateful that I tried to find her and obviously upset at the loss of her puss

Have managed a NSD I think, got two days off now though so sure the spends will start again!!

I'm allergic to cmp but I can have cheese & yoghurts, annoyingly not butter. Is that a possibility for your boys mummy or is the protein their more allergic too?.

Well done finding the cats owner Girlie, it's better she knows what happened to her pet.

I thought you'd like that offer need.

Where is CRT?.

Girlie I'm pleased you found the owner.

Might start wrapping some presents tonight although maybe too early? Hmm. WreckCat is asleep under the tree.

Wilf was back on dairy for a long time but it was really affecting his skin and asthma. If he's put on weight after the winter we will try and get him up to yogurt and cheese.

Gabriel reacts to minute amounts so far so he is staying off it for the forseaable. Even if it's whey powder at the bottom of a list he gets redness from the contact and a very upset tummy.

Oh that's rubbish. Soya is so expensive.

Aldi have started a free from range but not dairy free. I get soya from there and it's 49p and I use almond for cooking.

Bonjour tout la monde!

Busy day here -absolutely knackered now but nsd.

Yippee! Had to help dh buy his secret Santa gift. He decided on cliff Richard 2017 calendar.

Came home and skyped Bil. He had news. Not only are they getting married next year I'm going to be an auntie!!! Am so happy for them but have said to dh I'm struggling with it (We've known for all of 30 minutes...) as feel really jealous. Happy for them but "why isn't it me...?!" I'll get over it. But I am happy for them.

On the plus side they are doing it first and will have to bear the wrath of mil going crazy with babyness.

That's good you found the owner girlie.
Ah em it's natural to feel all of that. Your time will come too.
Start wrapping wreck, it takes longer than you think and is quite tiring.
Special diets sound v non frugal.

Oh Em def normal to feel that, when I went for counselling the counsellor pointed out that it is possible to feel two conflicting feelings about something and that this is o.kay. Have you been trying for over a year yet? Is it worth talking to the Dr? Saying that I have a few friends who took at least 3 years to conceive but then fell pregnant really quickly with their second, the body is a weird thing sometimes!

Special diets must be hard work and expensive, I would love to cut down on how much wheat we eat but its so cheap!

Em I still feel horribly jealous when I find out someone is pregnant, and we aren't even having anymore! Be kind to yourself.

I know life, I'm not sure I can be bothered though...

Those of you on special diets - can you get money/vouchers for things? Here if you're diagnosed coeliac (sp?) you can get vouchers for special foods.

life dh gets it. I was like this when a colleague of his posted re pregnancy on fb. It seems worse this time because of the "closeness" iyswim. I have stressed to him I am happy for them and have send sil happy messages congratulating etc.

It's not helped by the fact I'm on my period. Bugger it.

I'll be ok. Will get over it. Will do. Soon. Hopefully.

Sorry to hear about the cat, Girlie, pleased you found the owner though.
Em it is natural to feel like that, when we were trying for #2 it felt like everyone else in the world was pregnant.
NSD and I'm planning an extra-frugal food week, mainly because I want to clear some cupboard and freezer space before Xmas but also to save money before big festive food shop. Need to buy cat litter, marzipan & fondant for the Xmas cake, fruit, yoghurt and shower gel but not much else so hopefully I can do it cheaply.

girlie no not a year yet and if I'm honest not even seriously trying. Probably should ramp that up a bit

I spoke to my dr the last time I went to see her for something else. She told me to obviously continue trying but to take care of myself - eat right exercise etc etc. She said to give it a year of my periods coming back then 6 months of proper trying. Then to go back if nothing. I'm 32 so not running out of time yet unless you listen to my grandmother in which case I'm finished

32 is very young, most of my friends didn't get with their partners until they were over 35 and conceived when they were 37 ish, one of my friends who had been trying for a year before conceiving said in the end it came down to quantity rather than quality

Sod that. Drink loads & live on MC Donald's.

Babies aren't connected to you for 4 weeks iirc. Your poor future sil. Poor, poor woman.

I used the ovulation sticks to see when I was ovulating and got pregnant the first month. It was really enlightening as I didn't ovulate anywhere near where I thought.

I get jealous every time someone announces and dh has said no more. It's a weird thing. I'm sure it'll be your turn soon, until then enjoy your life as much as you can.

Aw Em it'll happen. More shagging please :o

Argh so we got the usual jammies from FIL, they are lovely as always but DS' are size 11-12, he's 7 they're F&F but no tags or receipt. DS is going to keep the t-shirts and DD is having the trousers although they're a bit big even for her 😂

Totally get the jealousy thing, I would have loved more but circumstances mean it'd be crazy. But as I had my kids young none of my old school/college friends have them yet and I am quietly dreading how I'll feel when they do. Happy happy happy for them but jealous. I have been through really broody phases in the last couple of years.

Spends today :
€21 in supermarket.

Hopefully it will happen for you soon em. We are trying for a second child at the minute and I understand how you feel.

£25 Christmas present, Dh will give me half towards it.

Scooter paid for

I get it too Em. Took us 2 years to get pregnant the first time and the second year of that was hard as I was starting to give up hope. Happened naturally in the end, if you take ovulation sticks into account!

This summer I felt like you do now when i heard SIL was pregnant. We had been trying for DC2 for a year (and that's with ovulation sticks!) so again I was giving up hope. I suppose I also felt sad for DS because I expect they will have a 'perfect' child and I know MIL struggles with DS's ASD (whilst also not acknowledging it ). Anyway, 2 days later I found out I was pregnant ... and then I lost it. I was dreading SIL having the baby in the NewYear as I knew I would be thinking about my lost child but after all previous slow efforts we got pregnant again within 3 months. Hopefully all will be well this time.

(still feel a bit sad for DS but we, and my family, adore him Even though he has been a little beast today ).

Anyway Em you have no reason to fret yet but if you are feeling like that about it then worth maybe getting serious. I do recommend peeing on sticks as Mummy says. Most likely you won't have any trouble but if you do you still have lots of time. I wish we'd started earlier, I started ttc around my 35th birthday and I will be 42 when I have this second one (all being well).

And yes, quantity not quality!