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.

Sending encouraging vibes to cath for the dietician though I'm too new to know the backstory

I've thought about moving away before to somewhere much cheaper and rural than here (Surrey) like maybe Yorkshire near the moors. The main thing that stops me is my circle of friends though, I'm not sure I could bear to leave them so I can imagine how sad it would make me feel if they started to move away.

I've always found that meetup.com is a good way of finding people with similar hobbies/lifestyles for new friendships.

Today has been a NSD for me...

Seacow I think thats enough to make anyone cry even without throwing pregnancy hormones into the mix! Not sure if this has been asked before but would very part time work be an option for you at all? Even working one or two days a week might give you a bit of 'you' time. I know as much as I love my dd and being a mum being a SAHM would not be for me but neither would be working full time. Part time work, for me at least, gives me a the best of both worlds.

Have had a nice day, was lovely having some time with my niece although you do forget how different it is having a little one to look after - I do not miss doing battle with car seats!!

Spends
£6.50 in the cafe on drinks and cake
£12.99 on a teddy for dn (a small treat as I don't get to look after her that often) and a book for dds bday.

£3.20 on chocolates for my nephew who had his appendix out.
£1 on sweets for dd and dn after the school run.

Should be a LS wend as i'm working all wend and dd is away.

Next week is the spa days!! Am so excited, have my bday money stashed away to pay for it, two days of lounging around, occasionally jumping in the hot tub, eating lovely food and the only interruption being a facial or massage

Yes, we are on the outskirts of London and inevitably over time our friends have made the green leap! It works when one of you commutes in to town but not really if you both do (as we did and will probably do again).

Hey ho. I am v hormonal, which doesn't help.

Oh Scarecrow, you are allowed to moan. Being at home is isolating in itself, never mind with additional complications. Did you mention a specialist group for autism that you attend? Is there any capacity for an evening hobby that gets you out of the house once a week? It's lonely be at home, as well as hard work, as well as being great too.

Mammy I would be very interested to hear what the nutritional therapist said. I'm really into nutrition and eating well. I don't do diets, but more 'eat well for life' philosophy but find it all fascinating.

Cath I'm far from perfect, got plenty of issues going on here I can tell 'ya. I sometimes think that's why I prefer to be busy, less time to think.... Good luck at the appointment tomorrow, I've no further bits of advice re remembering that others have not already said, but would love to hear what the outcome is, if you would share (only generally of course).

Girlie Thanks. FWIW you work pretty much full time, have bought your own house and are a single parent, you are pretty fucking fantastic yourself.

Trying I am a size 6 yes, although I run a lot and take care of my diet so I'm a fit size 6 rather than one with issues! Genetics are on my side though, I've never got past a size 8, that helps.

Em I can't believe we've bought the same... . I didn't see the other colours, so can't have been available in my size. It's a good price and is so pretty on.

Stumbly DH is bi-polar. It's been a rocky road at times. I can get that.

Spends.
£6 Boots on various tablets.

Takeaway later, but DH can pay...

Reading the above I realise I probably only have a handful of true friends. 4 that I can count. I know a lot of people from work hobbies etc that I'd happily spend an evening with but they would see a different me to my friends iykwim.

Today's spends £0. But I bought pant liners and fleece insoles from boots using my stash of points.

need it's shoes that are my issue with it. What shoes to wear...

I debated one of the lovely voluminous skirts. But it needs to go in my hand luggage on the flight. So somethingvtgatll roll up small is best.

Ditto re the shoes too Em. I have some nude suede open toe sandals where the heel is sparkly crystal iyswim, but haven't tried them on with the dress. Ankle boots worked well with a black dress in a similar style over Christmas for a more informal, funky look, but not for a wedding!

ps - I actually bought one of the voluminous skirt dresses. It's going back. I'm too small and looked insane. The concept was far nicer than the reality.

Girlie, DGD loves the magazine and is taking it into school. If you are not sure if DD will like it then you can get a trial issue. But if you do go for it use the code NGK199 and it's £30 for 12 issues and they get 3 small gifts. You have to do a direct debit though but you can cancel after the year is up.
Oh Seacow, I am so sorry you feel lonely and isolated. Not helped by pregnancy hormones. Can you possibly try a hobby just for you while he is at nursery?
Cath....lots of positive vibes going your way. Hope it goes well for you both. Please tell us about it afterwards. ( generally obvs)

sorry Knitting, welcome back and don't feel guilty. Everyone on here is just trying their best and none of us are perfect. In fact, I never want to meet anyone whose perfect. Apart from anything else they would be boring?
So you are always welcome.

Christmas I know what you mean about RL friends. I had a huge number of friends through work and lost all that on leaving. Then ds and I struggled to make friends because we got so many viruses and then I got CFS. Frugaleers is a great help with that but doesn't get ds contact with real people, which is unfortunate. It's definitely the big challenge of being a SAHM health problems or SEN in the family. Are you churchy at all? That can help sometimes, even if it just means that you can go along and help tidy the church garden while ds rushes around.

i also think need that one of those skirts would make me look like a truck. I'm small ish. I'm 5'10 size 10. And have some serious boobies. I think it'd make me look very wide.

Dh went to the shop and bought popchips my absolute faves and Moroccan humous.

I'm waiting for dinner - home made Nando's chicken sweet potato chips and corn on the cobs. Yummmmmmm

Dh has also transferred some money into my account. I questioned why this afternoon and his response "you said you wanted to be fabulous in nz. So if it helps use the money to buy more fabulous things"

Did I ever say he's my favourite.

Thank for all the encouraging vibes. I'll do my best tomorrow.

Stumbly all it is is that my ds had a sleep disorder in infancy and I had to work 24/7 for four years to get him through it. He's been better since coming off wheat. I went splat when he finally slept through the night and having been living on bland food and putting my feet ever since. Great hopes that this lady will be able to help gee up my diet a bit and get me back on my feet.

Anyway. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

I did try to post a long one yesterday but lost it. £32 petrol yesterday. £47 food today.

Good luck with the dietician tomorrow Cathode. Future Learn have some great free courses on nutrition and wellbeing - I've done them all!

I only have a few friends too. But I'm happy with that.

Ds cried at swimming with his new teacher, she had to drag him from me BUT he enjoyed his lesson and is looking forward to next week also the pool was freezing I'm glad he had his new wetsuit on.

Dh has done the floor. Our kitchen was horrendous before and we don't have much money. The new tiles, worktop and doors were all free and we paid for the floor. Dh has done everything himself it's not my dream kitchen but I won't be embarrassed to have people round now. Excuse the mess I haven't had a chance to tidy!

Thanks for the sympathy, I am pulling myself together. It's not hard to find people to chat to here and there but it's real friends i miss. I think DS's autism puts a lot of people off too. They don't understand it and feel a bit uncomfortable. Hey ho. We're not churchy, I agree that is a good start as a social network fof those who are.

Going to have a crack at toilet training tomorrow. DS is 4 and school really would like him trained before he starts. Previous attempts have not gone well, fingers crossed.

Exciting about the kitchen Wreck. Can you put up some pics (cryptic arty ones if better? ) I love a bit of kitchen porn. Ours is what we inherited and it is dull and tired but no chance of changing it fit the foreseeable future. It is serviceable though so I can live with it.

Lovely DH Em

Now, I need to make a gluten free, dairy free pudding for SIL on Sunday. To follow a curry. Any ideas? I am completely blank - literally everything I can think of is one of the other at least!

Ps. DS is playing the pre-set 'silent night' tune over and over on his keyboard. I am reeeeaally over Christmas songs!

Seacow I have a few vegan gluten free dessert recipes in my deliciously Ella cook book if you'd like them?

Oooh, Cag I've been on a school trip to the Thames Barrier, I loved it! We combined the day with visiting the Greenwich Observatory which was also brilliant. Not sure how feasible it is to do both in one day normally, we obviously had a coach to drive us about!

Seacow I think having a new baby is a good way to meet people. I found in general that lots of people stop to talk to you when you have a baby. I now know my neighbours much better than I did pre-DD. Plus I made some really good friends at baby groups and we meet up fairly often either with the kids or for a meal out in the evening.

Low spend day. DH picked me up from work and we went for a coffee and a cake before collecting DD from nursery and I bought 4 rolls of reduced Xmas wrapping paper. They are 4.5m rolls too so I'm pleased I waited instead of getting the 2m rolls from Clintons that were the same price.

Thinking of splashing out and buying some new make up and getting my eyebrows threaded. I've been looking at lots of style blogs and Youtube tutorials and I think improvements could be made! I have some Xmas money that would cover it.

I didn't know you had actually been diagnosed with CFS Cath, that's really interesting and makes sense, from the little I know anyway. Last time you 'spoke' of such things, the private GP had suggested your symptoms fit CFS. That's great it's moved forward. I'm not sure why but to me, I would feel better just for the knowledge of the diagnosis iyswim? Like the start of the road forward to recovery.

You know what Em, funny isn't it, I always imagined that with your height and slim figure, you would be the ideal candidate for the style. I'm 5ft, I just looked like one of those dolly things that hides toilet roll in old ladies houses. How fab is your DH? What a lovely gesture. I think you should definitely use that specific money for that specific purpose too.

Pizzas for 3 will be £20.

One of my friends sells scarves and bags. It's stuff that usually goes into places like Moda in Pelle etc. I've reserved 2 bags at £20 each. DF is giving me birthday money soon. I'm done for spends for clothes for January, in the 'little and often' resolve.

I have quality over quantity for friendship. I have 3 real and true friends and lots of folk that I know and like and am happy to spend time with. I'm not much of a sharer emotionally, I don't need that validation that my life decisions are right.

Cag We visited a power station in Scotland when the DC were small. It was really fascinating.

Posted too soon, meant that some folk need to talk stuff though more than me, and that's fine too.

Evening all! Welcome back knitting, I remember you! I am also a returner :)

Had a job interview today and I think it could go either way really. Fingers crossed! Wreck, good luck with yours!

£8 at the shop today on some lunch, and treaty bits for the DC. We then checked out the local library which was fab, DD really enjoyed the colourig and DS the books, we have a selection home with us - cant believe it is a free service and one at risk of closure if more people dont use it. There were quite a few people in when we were which made me feel happy that it was being used. Going to make it a weekly thing.

Sorry to see so many going through an emotional time - one thing that I've always admired about this group is the caring attitude and excellent advice given - just wish we all lived a bit closer together to get a real life coffee! As it stands, this will have to do

Or even one of these as its a friday night!

And thanks all for listening/reading these last 2 days.

Had a nice glass of wine and pizza so tired and relaxed now.

It's fine need, anytime.
I'm 5'4, not very toned and can't wear pouf.
Welcome back knitting. I was babs.
Em you dh is a star
Good luck with the dietitian, don't be afraid to take notes or refer to notes
Good luck with the interviews.
I didn't get an interview so at some point I will be going back down a grade.
I have lots of people I'm friendly with but only a few friends.
Good news about teddy dog.

Hope I haven't missed anyone

Thank you Need we are all awesome I reckon!

Trying thank you so much for that code, that is a better deal than the others currently online so have done it! I think dd will love it

Have dropped dd to her Grandads for the wend, she will have a lovely time while I work! Am feeling a bit knackered now so off to bed early for me.

Dds scooter has turned up and its in a massive box, dd is going to be impressed at the size of the present if nothing else God knows where i am going to hide it!!