Springing into the New Year with the 2017 Frugaleers

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Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread grin

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 realised I haven't been in a shop or ordered anything from Amazon since 2016. I'll have to go to Aldi this evening but I'm going to try at least another week before going on to Amazon. Also still haven't driven my car so that's good.

The thought of your DH sleeping in a walk-in wardrobe has really tickled me Need.

Started my college course yesterday, we had a bit of a break and most people bought a starbucks coffee. I was going to do the same till I really thought about it and did I really want to spend £3 more on a meh coffee?! So another NSD here yesterday!

Great to hear others resolutiond and not just money related. Good luck all!

Pixie. He's not disturbing my sleep! Good for you, too many needless calories in a Starbucks anyway...

I've ordered £260 of dresses from Coast, 6 dresses. Not bought, iyswim? I have 2 weddings later in the year, and we haven't been to a wedding for well over a decade. I waited until they added more lines, and the dresses had been reduced twice, so fingers crossed one will fit and will be a bargain. Free delivery and returns. Nothing lost if not, just trying to think ahead.

Well done pixie
That also tickled me need
Mummy that's super going with not shopping too

I'm going to do up a wish list & hopefully get some of the items on it for my birthday.

My sis just told me dm gave her €50 to buy me a restaurant voucher for Christmas so instead I'm going to get new pjs & dressing gown in penneys & add remainder to the voucher I already have for the restaurant.

Need definitely need to see pics of dresses you pick out.

Ah yes need I remember you saying DS loves maths! I really loved further maths, unfortunately we were only offered it in second year so only did AS rather than A2 :( I would've loved to do all of it though, I always found it hard to choose modules as it meant missing out on some. I did go against the maths department though - they said I shouldn't choose mechanics modules because unlike the others in the group I wasn't studying physics (science not my strong point so that will be a priority for tutors later) - but I didn't listen and then went and waved my results in their faces when I got the highest mark :o :o mwahaha.

I meant to say yesterday though - TBH I am expecting that for sixth form they would be attending some kind of college if they hadn't already gone back to school. But it is years away so we shall see. :)

Soooo tired this morning. Supposed to be going into town for a bit. And visiting board game cafe (I think it's called Paradice :o). I haven't been tempted to do any sales shopping of my own yet so quite pleased with myself. I will see in H&M if I get a voucher by buying one item first, thanks for the tip all :).

Jan 4
£7ish train
£45ish dinner for 5
£1.20 water
20p candy van
£4 programmes/posters (don't normally bother with programmes for the theatre now but this one had info about the costume/puppetry/set design which has inspired me to do a project on it with the Caglets - we are going to choose a book and design stuff for a stage adaptation)

science not my strong point so that will be a priority for tutors later

That's what I do! Let me know if I can point you to any helpful resources online.

need I'm through the phase of loads of weddings (ten in one year with five of the same friendship group). You have my sympathies-it's fun but expensive. Also looking forward to seeing your choices (i.e. shopping vicariously through other people's shopping).

No spend day today but tomorrow is a biggie with a trip to the vet and paying the deposit on the car. Bye bye savings, it was nice knowing you.

Ooh thank you Purple :) thinking of starting the periodic table, atoms, molecules etc soon if you have any ideas for a very basic intro please (Caglets are 7 and 9) :)

Ooh, a fun topic! Atoms, molecules and elements are just crying out for a molymod kit to show how elements have one type of atom and molecules have more than one. It's basically lego for chemists. You can use actual lego bricks in different colours to save money but I'd never miss out on the opportunity to recommend something that's so much fun to play with.

www.molymod.com/sets.html

This is an excellent starter book on the periodic table for younger kids...

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1472908856/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JC6JXRT1KJBFW99KH3C2

They're on the young side for the full explanation on the periodic table based on electron configuration so I'd get them thinking about how they'd put different objects into different categories (e.g. A big pile of toys could become the teddy bear group, the car group, the board game group etc and if you know which group the toy is in you know what it might look like and how to play with it-if you know which group an element is in you know what it's like and how it behaves etc). Then I'd get them colouring the groups on the periodic table in.

www.rsc.org/periodic-table

This is an interactive periodic table where you can click on the element to find out a bit about it, where the name comes from, who discovered it etc... a lot of the information will be too complicated but I've found kids like clicking on it and seeing what the funny names mean.

I'm away from my pc but if I think of anything else useful I'll try and remember to post.

Sorry, made a daft error-^compunds have more than one element. Students usually like building compounds based on chemical formulae because I let them use the lego.

Well done for responding so positively to Need's HE questions Cag. It would have been so easy for you to be modest and hide your light under a bushel, so to speak. It's great that you have such ability in maths and that you're happy to stand up and say so.

I love that you are able to combine your need to work and have a sense of self, with your HE. The lessons that you are giving to other HE children very clearly give you that sense of self-worth and identity, as well as the money that you earn, and I love to hear you talking about it all.

Do you think there will come a time when HE networks like yours will achieve recognition as a kind of co-operative private school? It seems to me that your schooling is very much more like a private school than a home school, as your children have such a very rich exposure to other children, teachers and resources in your local area.

Spends today:
€1 work canteen
€45 acupuncture

Em- that's good re tracking ovulation, I used an app last time too and I have actually found it useful this time around to go back and look at my old cycles from 3 years ago. Have you thought about going one step further and using a kit to actually check ovulation for you, and confirm that you are ovulating? That's what I'm using my new device for. No worries if you don't want to answer such a personal question!

£10 fuel
£20 work stuff.

NSD. Did some deep cleaning jobs in the kitchen today. I need to do the insides of the cupboards and drawers and the hob burners and oven on Saturday.

My cousin is off the ventilator, but had to have an operation today for a tracheostomy today, as her independent breathing needs some help.

Thanks Purple and Mammy, I will be glad to show you my choice, if any. If I get a Coast dress for £40, I will be ever so chuffed, as they are usually 3 times that. Then it would only be a shawl and shoes.

I know what you mean Purple, weddings are so expensive. Insanely so these days.

Thanks Cag for being generous with your answers. DS loves the maths that applies to physics, but hates statistics!

£60 dogs groomed, I forgot the appointment but they text so all good.

£3 lunch.

Feeling quite drained after work today. Honestly this is not a minimum wage job ffs I had to show how we are being proactive in reducing type 2 diabetes and how much I had improved the clinic since taking over the admin. Thy wanted to see all of my work too.

Giant cat

Sounds a nightmare Wreck. It's just hoop jumping & box ticking.

creme It sounds good news, still not nice for them to go through though.

Weddings . I only went to mine because I had to. Bring back marriage by proxy, that's what I say.

Thanks Fluffy. I had to explain to DS today that it's a long road ahead and she could be in ICU for weeks, even months.

I have to agree with bring back weddings by proxy!

bertie no. I'm not testing and tracking it. I thought about it but when I was in boots the other day looking at ovulation stuff I was seen by a nasty aunt. So legged it.

wreck holy moly. Giant catface!! Beauty though

Nsd. Yay!!

Blimey Wreck is that half cat half lion? some of our HCAs are on minimum wage which is just unbelievable given what they do, disgraceful really.

Creme that sounds so stressful

3rd NSD in a row

That sounds positive, Need. Hope the improvement continues.

Had my scan. Both babies have dropped a bit on the growth chart so I have weekly scans for the next few weeks. The doctor said not to worry yet but it am, I can't help it. I cried on the midwife which was embarrassing.

Low spend day anyway. Just under a tenner on some birthday cards and reduced Xmas cards and £3 parking. Plus I went to exchange a Xmas gift for a bigger size and saw something I liked better for the same price so I got that instead!

NSD - first of 2017!

Also managed a 40 min jog before the cold drove me inside.
Have downloaded Kayla Istines exercise plan but struggling to find time to do it - I do have half an hour spare but not the 10 mins to get changed into exercise gear, 30 mins to work out and then 30 mins to get ready again.
Think I need to try and get up in the morning and do it before I get ready for work... but I hate getting up as it is

for creme and snuggly