Frugaleers, keeping their frugal resolutions in the new year. Keep on, erm, resoluting!?

[Cagliostro]

Hello everyone! :)

Morning all, interesting re the different approaches to parenting. Its def trial and error I think I am still very much learning as I go along and am nearly 11 yrs into this parenting lark now!

Have just had some men out to look at the heating issues, typically the thing that is wrong with it they can't fix as they don't have the right part annoying but hopefully slowly getting somewhere!!

Popping into town now, need some stuff for dds party and bday, had a look at what I have got her so far and think am mostly done but could do with a few more little bits and pieces (stationary, bath bombs, socks etc!)

Going to do the weekly shop at Lidls as my bank balance is looking extremely sorry for itself!

Thanks for that review Mammy think will take her then, saves having to sort out a babysitter!! My friend has some sort of deal through work where she can get cheaper tickets so sort of frugal as well

Knitting I love seeing long posts gives an insight into peoples lives and how different people manage money and life's quandries.

Today is grocery shop day, I'm armed with a list today on ShopShop app so can cross off my list as I go along. I'm hoping that typing the items in for today's list makes it more intuitive next week.

I loved my breakfast this morning so have to tell ye about it - a toasted slimbo with half a sliced avocado, fried egg and grilled serrano.

Had a lovely morning with my friend then called in Asda to get some vitamins and discovered they have a baby event on this week. Got some bargains including a Moses basket. Might go back later as I couldn't carry much at once but they had bouncy chairs too. Reckon I've saved about £70 on stuff we needed anyway.
Thought bank account was looking a bit worrying but I think DH gets paid with tomorrow or Sunday so that's ok!

Sorry that post was all a bit Me Me Me! I meant to say, Cath pleased doctor was good and the dietician hasn't charged you.

cath that's not very professional of her, good result

Thanks snuggly and mammy. :-)

That's great about the discounts snuggly. That sounds as if it could save a lot. Very useful.

Booked apartment in Auckland for our first 3 nights. £540. But we have secure car parking, free wifi and a full apartment. And are 5 minutes from viaduct harbour. Via topcashback too so should get approx £20 back.

Posted my eBay sales and am wearing new skirt to work - with a white Tshirt black tights and tan knee high boots. I love new skirt.

Colleague is doing my head in. If I've explained something to her a million times she still has questions. I've asked her to do what she can do of the task and then speak to me when she's finished. But no. At every stage there's a question.

She's refusing to get the files out and actually look through the finalised documents instead preferring to use the drafts on the system.

Bloody frustrating. I'm on lunch now but she keeps interrupting "I know you're on lunch but...." never any chance for me to say "stop. I'm on lunch questions later". Aaaaaah!!!!

I need to tell her again. Trouble is she's older than me. And doesn't take criticism well.

cag you worked in the LIBrARY!!!!??? I always wanted to work in a library. That's cool.

a small part of my wanting to work in the library was because I wanted to use the date stamp

Faily lsd today, baby dd has fungus on her tiny bottom so 7£ at the pharmacy and 10£ in lidl on milk and vegges. One of our windows in the living room needs to be replaced but luckily my councin knows how to do it, so he came around today to measure up and is going to order the window. Tomorrow is child maintenance money from the state so going to save all 1000£, think 100£ in each of the girls savings, 300£ for summer holiday in lalandia and the rest in the normal saving. The in march we get another 1000£ that'll we will save the same way and in April we get our tax money back, so hoping by summer time we will have a good saving

Em That sounds as though the person is not skilled enough or trained enough in the doing the job. How long have they been doing it? I used to exactly that relationship with my boss, but no one had ever given me any training at all in the job or even in the field. The others in the office had been there from the beginning of the project and I came in part way through. Is it possible that she just needs someone else to give her a lot of hand-holding, but someone other than you?

Sounds bloody awkward to me Em, can you get someone else to deal with her?
Cath, good result about the dietician. You must have written a good letter. And by the sound of it you now have a good GP so may not need the dietary advice.
£5.60 on some picture hooks and cup of tea with friends.
Fluffy, hope DH is ok.

Back from town, went on a mission to sort dds bday and am feeling pleased as mission accomplished I think!

Spends;
£8 on a px.
£15 Poundland, various bits and pieces for party bags and also picked up 2 annuals they had going for £1 each obviously which dd will like, got a few toiletries as well.
£2.50 in Greggs
£6 in The Works
£9.50 Primark
£13 Sainsburys, actual spend was £26 but used my Nectar points so pleased with that, got a decent lego set, a book and the David Walliams dvd collection (3 dvd) for that so a bargain really, all for dds bday.

Picked up the cats prescriptions which was £22.

Still need to go to Lidls but have run out of steam!!

at cag and the date stamp. My friend works in a library and when we were teenagers he'd sometimes let me use it, I was so impressed lol.

£11 in Sainsburys for vegetables
£5 in Co-op for lunch with friend. I drove all the way to her house by myself and picked her up to bring her to mine! first solo drive!

Nsd here. Just waiting to get the dc from school/pre school. Pasta and sauce with garlic bread for dinner. I'm going to out my pyjamas on when I get home forgot to turn the hot water on so the dc will have to have a shower tonight instead of a bath.

Another one here struggling to keep pace with the thread!
The discussions about parenting routines is interesting. I couldn't stand Gina Ford before I started on MN, a friend gave me a copy of her book and I tried reading it at a time when I was a bit low in mood after ds' birth. It's not so much the routine that I don't like per se but her language and super prescriptive style which made me feel totally inadequate in not being able to manage the routine she advocated. Looking back, bits of her routine I've used eg black out blinds, not making eye comntact when trying to settle baby before sleep and other stuff I can't remember now.

Cath glad your GP appointment went well.
Girlie sounds like a very preoductive day so far.
Em that apartment sounds great. Hope you get those work issues sorted.
Cag my favourite ever Saturday job was at our local library, I loved it.

I had my second counselling session today which I felt was helpful. I don't think I'll need more than one or two more but it's helping to talk about what happened to someone neutral. Then went out on my bike for the first time since my bleed (I was cycling when it happened). It's just coming up to six months since it happened, I needed to get over the fear & get on with it & that's exactly what I did!! I'm so chuffed with myself. I asked a lovely friend to come out with me and she understood perfectly what I needed, we didn't go far & she chatted to me all the way round.

However, after all that positivity, I then went to give bllod for the first time since, only to be told I would no longer be allowed to (ever again). Pity the poor nurse who told me and then had to deall with me bursting into tears! I had talked this morning about not allowing what happened to define me so it was unfortunate timing. I hadn't even considered that I might not be able to give blood any more.

Visit to mum& dad's on Monday was fine, dad was only there for a short time & of course acted as if nothing had happened. I didn't say what I had wanted to say but am feeling okay about it I suppose.

Sorry none of that was really frugal related but thanks if you read through anyway!! Have had a week of pretty well controlled spending and not much coming up over the next few days hopefully. Taking dd to see A Monster Calls at the cinema tomorrow but it's our local amazing independent place so £9 admission for us (£5 & £4) and then £1.50 for popcorn, £1 each for ice creams. Have been warned to take tissues with us.

Well done, North for getting back our on your bike and Maxwell for first solo outing!
North I haven't given blood for a few years, got out of the habit when I was pregnant with DD. I'll start again when I'm able.

north well done with the bike. I'm not allowed to give blood either but wish I could. It makes me a bit annoyed with people who could but don't Dh.

North I've only given blood once a few years ago . So awful, thanks for the reminder I need to sort out an appt for myself and DH asap!!!

Max Well done on the driving! DH is looking to start lessons soon but he still hasn't gotten around to it and I keep nagging him about it.

North Glad counselling went well, I was meant to have a session today after my assessment session last week but my counsellor didn't turn up . I waited where I was meant to for about 25 minutes and she didn't show up so I asked another counsellor and she said she thought mine was in there, but then said she wasn't there and nobody knew where she was and they were trying to find out...then another one came and said they couldn't get in contact with her and would I like to have 15 minutes talking to her instead . I was said no and she said she'd contact me about booking another appt with my counsellor. Really weird and I hope my counsellor is ok . Was a bit deflated but had my lunch and then went back to work so dealt with it ok anyways.

NSD and I worked for another 6 hours so made money . DH's last day at work today of his rota (he works 4 on-4 off shifts).

I think you were very brave today North getting back on that bike. That took some guts. Sucks about the blood, are you able to give platelets maybe? It was probably the emotion getting to you. And good for you for going to your parents. How do they switch into normal mode I wonder after saying or doing such things?

Cath That's great news about your GP listening to you. Would it be worth using the saving from the diet lady to pay for extra listening stuff? It has crossed my mind before whether you diet issues are related to the strung out stuff, any stress I feel is always stomach related. Did your GP say whether you can introduce things back into your diet?

DH okay Fluffy?

I have only skim read today, apologies. It's been busy.

Spends.

Training for DD and friend £20.
£40 feed for chickens and pony.
£80 Ocado.

Mammy I often have avo on toast for breakfast. Or egg on toast. Or porridge. All yum and filling.

I love avocado on toast with Worcester sauce on top! Ds is being a total nightmare! Anyone want a four year old?!

No

Haha Wreck I found 4-5yo dd really hard work and put something about a 4yo being for sale on fb, the response was 'sorry but the market is saturated'

Oh and made it to Lidls, spent £46 and got tons for that, need to work out a meal plan now though!

Got a friend coming over with a puppy soon - squeeeeeeeeeeeeee, dd is beyond excited!!

I'm quite happy to swap my 14 year old DS for a 4 year old, Wreck.

North, glad the visit to your parents was ok and that's brilliant that you had the courage to start cycling again.

Cath, very unprofessional of her, but at least you got your money back.

Spends: £7.80 travel to work and £4 on my card on milk, a coffee and 2 doughnuts.

Wreck I'll take Biscuit off your hands? Would that help? 😹

North You've been really brave today. I've got out of the habit of donating too. I must look into it. Dh can't donate either.

Max Go you! Nothing like independence.

em I think she's being a pain so you'll give up and leave her alone. Obviously not met a solicitor before.

No idea if Dh is ok or not. Find out soon, GP was nice. Thank you. fucking hope he is ok I've told him he's not allowed to leave me ever

£10 petrol.

Still doing dry January for me. Free baby food & pop on checkoutsmart, the offers usually run on quidco clicksnap too so you can double up.