Springing into the New Year with the 2017 Frugaleers

[CathodeRayTube]

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.

christmas that's good to know. One of my school gate friends is a hospital dietitian but is inexcusably diplomatic on these issues. Maybe I need to take wine to playdates.

Also (cross posted with your last post Cath ) I would not see any medical professional privately who does not also practice in the NHS. I don't think the ratio matters too much (though ideally at least 50% NHS time) but it's important to their professional development and general oversight of their practice for them to be in the NHS. In my view.

I can't say more as I will out myself!

Okay...have finished. This thread is a fast mover!

Sorry to hear about the crap dietitian Cath...but chocolate and ice cream sounds amazing advice!

We are having a LSD as there's no money left in the account so £6.20 on essential groceries. Also sent some books I sold on Ziffit which will be £5.76 (every penny helps) and dropped a bag to charity that won't sell on eBay.

Plan to do more ebaying later as have a mountain to put up.

I handed my Notice in on my current contract last week as I am hating it without anything else to go to (gulp!); was supposed to have an interview yesterday but now moved to Weds so will also prep for that. Defrosting pea and ham soup for dinner and plan to watch Netflix with DP this evening.

Good to Know Christmas. All this advice really helps, as I don't work in medicine. I've been an academic research scientist all my working life, and haven't a scooby doo about the medical profession or school stuff. Becoming a Mum has been a real learning curve.

If you ever want to know about Universities or computers btw, then that's my line. Very glad to be able to learn from the frugaleers, and very very glad to return the favour any time.

Have any of you seen the dire headlines about the NHS being overwhelmed? I feel a 1970s general strike coming on again.

Riding lesson done. One of the dads gave me an envelope today. He'd been there last week taking pictures of his daughter and had taken some pics of a few of us jumping. The pics he gave me are great. I look like a total pro!! Nice surprise!

Catface has discovered cheese. Apparently she likes it

No other spends today planned just have a fuckton lot of cleaning to do today before dinnner tonight.

need glad Skirt has arrived. Mine took a week last time so am hoping I'll have it by this time next week! (It looks good with black tights and boots right)

Just checked. Skirt is on it's way. Yippee

Mines on its way too. What kind of top should I get. I also have the black one but not worn it yes as clueless about style

I just had free taster hot yoga and meditation classes at the boutique gym in Durham. To be honest, my £5 yoga class in a church hall in a nearby village yesterday morning, was far better. I know it was only a taster session and you can't really compare, but the instructor today went far too fast. I managed to get out without being hassled into signing up too, so that was good. So like Cath's experience, it just goes to show private/fancier doesn't always mean better.

I also got my slender Pandora bracelet replaced free of charge, as it snapped yesterday, after snagging on a top I was putting on. Definitely worth keeping the receipt for.

Spends: £6.60 bus and £5, on a large cafe latte and salted caramel brownie. Delicious!

Spendy day without spending real money! Bought 3 books in Waterstones with vouchers - their selection is appalling (tried two different stores) and I could have got them cheaper on Amazon but hey ho £27(voucher). Yummy food treats in M&S £21(credit note).

Also, we have been looking at electronic keyboards for DH's birthday. I used to play the piano many moons ago, so quite exciting although will potentially cost quite a bit.

Your kitchen looks lovely Wreck very impressed by how much your DH did.

Sorry your appointment was disappointing Cathode .

life I wore my black skirt yesterday for work with a white Cani and a denim shirt over it. With my huge yellow scarf. Shirt collar "popped" and sleeves up. Black tights and tan ankle boots.

I sometimes wear it with a blouse and a cardigan for work days (not casual Fridays).

Sometimes switch out the denim shirt for a red check one.

Will the blue hush skirt look ok with black tights and boots? I'm tempted.

stumbly it's partly that and partly wider MH issues (although he doesn't suffer from any) and also just that due to having an alcoholic mother with (then) undiagnosed MH issues he had a rubbish childhood and is scared he'd be a bad dad... sigh. I think our talk last night has really got through though.
I'm so grateful to all those who posted reassurance on here, I think that gave me the confidence to bring it up

Bought shampoo and conditioner on boots points planning to pick up some mugs I ordered from wilko for work (£2 cheap stacking ones!) and then try to get an episode of A Series of Unfortunate Events in with DH before evening at work for an event.

Doing my PIP form. Depressing.

Just posting on the run not up to date with thread since 3pm yesterday

This might be useful for those dealing with sensory issues, if you don't have Kindle you can still download app to your phone or tablet
Games for Sensory Processing Disorder

Hullo all. This thread has really really rocketed since I last checked in and I still don't have a handle on who you all are. I hope to get some quiet time to read through properly. I'm sorry for not being able to namecheck more people.

Need your post about your mum jumped out. I'm really shocked. That's horrible. Em catface is lovely. I want a catface too... maybe when I've saved a bit one day.

Can I ask .... There's a thread in AIBU titled something like '100k earning NHS and can't afford a loaf of bread'. Someone in there posted up the response in the screenshot below (my share link does not seem to be working properly so I can't copy and paste from the comment).

Can anyone tell me anything about matchedbets or online surveys.... the money mentioned really got my attention!

My cheeky wipes arrived a while ago and I used them for the first time yesterday. My skin felt nice afterwards. Clean and soft.

I'm not convinced I'm meant to use them with my ordinary cleanser to remove my eye make up so may have to use a separate one. But I think we are going to get on.

I'll still buy wipes for holidays/travel. And will keep a pack in my gym bag (although rarely remove make up for the gym - an I meant to...?) and one in my desk make up bag.

But on the whole I think it's a success. Thanks to whoever recommended. I think it was mammy or life but can't remember sorry

Thanks for pointing to that book Mammy. I have bought it (99p -quite frugal!) and am now avidly reading it. I have been looking for new games to play with DS and I think he will like some of these, which will also serve a purpose.

Thats frustrating about the appointment Cath although she does sound like my kind of dietician suggesting ice cream and chocolate!

Peonies glad you had the chat, I reckon your dh will come round but its important he knows how you feel.

I have been working all day, tired now! Ended up spending bit more than anticipated as ran into the shop for a drink and ended up picking up some food they had on offer £6. Also popped into Tesco after work and spent £11 on a top up shop.

Came home and got my pjs on had reheated spag bol for dinner and just polished off a load of a big bar of dairy milk was yummy though!

My Breville smoothie maker has come, am quite excited to try it out now. Have any of you got something similar? Do you just chuck the fruit in and hope for the best or is it better to follow a recipe?

girlie I have a nutribullet and it's a lot of trial and error. Probably best to follow a recipe Dh and I have a smoothie in the morning of; spinach; cucumber; half an apple; couple of frozen pineapple chunks; chia seeds; water. Lidl have got massive bags of frozen fruit in this week so I bought strawberries and raspberries. I think you should always use something frozen as it makes it nice and cold.

Girlie Today I had a smoothie before my run. Small (and old) banana, some blueberries, almond milk, some porridge oats and a teaspoon of cocoa powder. Nom. Nom. I prefer almond milk and coconut water to plain water, but it's trial and error really.

MissA. I'm glad you have made progress with your DH. I agree with girlie, it's such a fundamental part of your relationship, you need to have agreement that you are both 100% happy with. If you want children, that won't change. x

Thanks lean. I'm over it now. Used to it. I'll go and see her tomorrow. I should go NC but I'm too soft.

Life I usually wear a sloppy joe jumper with my skirts, but Em's suggestion is good too. And yes, black tights and ankle boots, definitely!

Keep going Cag.

Em I think they would be a bit harsh for normal cleanser. I use them with my Emma Hardy cleansing balm if the cloth that goes with it is in the wash.

M&S food is divine isn't it Wildnerness?

How you feeling now Cath?

We are in a posh hotel for the night, our Christmas present, already paid for. It's about 10 minutes drive from us maximum. It's an old castle, mentioned in the Doomsday book, it's history is interesting. The reception rooms are stunning, as are the grounds. Having a large glass of red and getting ready for dinner.

Sounds great, Need. Enjoy!

Have a good time need

Well BIL and SIL have cancelled for tomorrow so no panic about vegan puddings any more! Thanks for the help everyone, I will keep the ideas for next time. We will have a lot of curry but it will freeze. I wouldn't have spent so much on posh fruit if I'd known though!

After a very traumatic morning of attempted toilet training (did not go well; DS flat melted down when we try to get him to sit on it so no go) it was not a very frugal day.

First, midway through toilet efforts I sent DH to sainies to get lots more pants and trackie trousers for DS (we were on 6th pair of each and running out!). No idea what he spent but ug.

Once we had given up and retreated to nappies (on the basis that I can deal with accidents and him needing to learn the signs but am not going to scar him for life by physically forcing him onto the toilet against his will) we needed to do something nice. So we took DS to a cafe for a toastie and a brownie. We don't often do that but it was lovely.

While toilet training was a disaster we had two successes today: first, DS was obsessing over the alphabet this morning, and a card that said A for Apple. So I asked if he wanted an apple (last eaten 2 years ago) and he said yes! And then actually ate half of it, cut up. This might turn into a frugal win because it gives me an alternative to strawberries. Assuming he will eat one again, of course. Second success: DS finally worked out how to jump with two feet. I will miss the weird dancing from foot to foot on the playground trampoline though