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

989 replies

Cagliostro · 14/01/2017 23:22

Hello everyone! :)

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CremeEggThief · 23/01/2017 13:58

Sounds the wisest course of action, Mammy. It's a horrible feeling though, after a row.

3rd NSD in a row. At least that's 1 good consequence of the flu. I've felt a tiny bit better today. I've been up about 3 and a half hours, had breakfast and lunch; put the rubbish and recycling out; washed up and wiped down the surfaces; hoovered the kitchen and washed and dried a load of laundry. I'm going to put the dry laundry away and wash up the things from lunch, and go back to bed for a few hours now.

WreckTangled · 23/01/2017 14:26

The big pond was frozen enough for us to walk on (it's shallow for the first few metres)

Frugaleers, keeping their frugal resolutions in the new year. Keep on, erm, resoluting!?
Fluffycloudland77 · 23/01/2017 14:54

£1.92 washing up gloves, food bags, bleach & glass cleaner.

Lemon12345 · 23/01/2017 15:09

Thank you for the warm welcomes.

Sounds like you're having a rough time mammy.I hope things settled quickly. DP and I were both in a mood yesterday, maybe there's something in the air. At least he's aware something was up. Poor kids too, and a burial too boot. Make sure you get some 'me-time'.

We're both dreading the car insurance renewals, which are coming up quickly. We've always paid in one go, but might have to pay monthly instalments this year. I'm eligible for free car tax because of my new disability status, but totally forgot I set mine up on a direct debit last year. I've got a form to print off, fill in and post and hoping I can get the majority of that back. Always nice when you can get insurance cheaper Brighter and a meerkat to boot! You can often get a bit for them on eBay if they're not your thing.

I wasn't too keen on the name Felix... too 'catty' but I did work with a boy named Felix and he was lovely, proper little gentleman, super clever, not a bad thing to say about him. He changed the name for me. I'm with you Snuggly working with kids is great, but you get through so many names that were nice but now can't be used.

Cagliostro if nothing else it teaches us to be more resilient and keep trying. Or be miserable and sit and eat crap all day. I'll let you decide which I do most of! I'm improving though, and hoping to get back to full time work eventually (says the woman who can't leave the house on her own).

I made DP a packed lunch last night whilst warming up leftover stew (which I dislike more every time I make it, but it's super cheap and filling). He seemed pleased enough with it even though I had to remind him to take it out of the fridge this morning. Hope he eats it. He's said he's fine taking stuff, as long as he doesn't have to heat it up. So wants a thermos. Now wants two so he can take porridge premade for breakfast instead of ordering a butty from the van in a morning, and take soup/stew/whatever for dinner. How is he so bloody skinny! The bastard! But they are £20 each for a medium size on Amazon. Are they really that good?

I broke my hand blender last week, really need to get another one. The blade came away a bit from the plastic bit and the liquid was getting it, and back out. Yuck!

On the plus side I knocked one of my handbags of the coat rack yesterday (lost my balance in a pain induced dizzy spell) and heard coins as it hit the floor. Managed to pick it up and check it this morning, found £50!!

More left over stew for tea, and found some potatoes in the back of the cupboard but can't quite reach in to get them. Will get DH to pull them out when he gets home, hopefully they will be okay and I can make mash tomorrow to go with some fish in sauce in the freezer.

Beeneatingburnttoast · 23/01/2017 15:17

Joined before Christmas, only posted once Blush and now had to NC as had a silly Christmas username. Anyway, discovered free wi-fi on the train so will try to do better and both read and post

@need think you posted about the boots. May have been forced to buy some Grin

confusedandemployed · 23/01/2017 15:36

£14.75 in the pet shop, DDog is sorted for ages now.

I was browsing through my late mum's recipe book for a cake and came across a handwritten recipe for carrot cake. It looks like my old neighbour's handwriting (from 30 years ago when I was a kid). Anyway we had all the ingredients for that so now it's in the oven while DD and I have come back to bed with the Fire and the iPad. Pleased I didn't have to get any cake stuff.

Hi Lemon! I'm newish although was a regular a couple of years ago.

Wreck where are you for it to be so cold? It's almost spring like here, warmer than recently and beautifully sunny.

Needastrongone · 23/01/2017 15:41

Burnt I sincerely hope that you haven't been eating your toast, it has been deemed carcinogenic this morning. Grin Don't blame me for your wanton spending ha ha. And welcome Smile

Brilliant find Lemon, wow, £50

Mammy I found exactly the same with DH, pre-diagnosis. I became less of a person and crept around to accommodate. Your approach seems good.

Glad you are feeling a touch better Creme.

£25 on fruit and salad. A lot of it. We are fruit bats here.

WreckTangled · 23/01/2017 15:45

Confused I'm West Sussex/Surrey border. It's got up to three degrees today Grin

Frugaleers, keeping their frugal resolutions in the new year. Keep on, erm, resoluting!?
lifelongfrugaleer · 23/01/2017 16:07

Nsd

Brightermornings · 23/01/2017 17:01

Just marking my place while update when I get home after HIIT and kettlecise 😩 I'm crying already.
Lemon that is where the meerkat will be going my dc's are older so hopefully i will sell it.

SnugglySnerd · 23/01/2017 17:01

I've been reading the freezer thread but I'm a meticulous labeller like Em's DH so I can't join in!

Frugal win today - notified teaching union of impending mat leave so I'll get a discount on my monthly sub.

Frugal fail - got really hungry and bought a muffin in Costa.

2 more days at work!

Cagliostro · 23/01/2017 17:47

23 Jan
£65 Tesco for what ended up a big shop. Lots of meat etc. Had steak and onion baguette for lunch. Epic.

Really lovely afternoon helping the Caglets with their projects and playing board games. :)

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Cagliostro · 23/01/2017 18:13

Oh and frugal win thanks to my mum, I had asked if she could look for something in Tiger (which we don't have here) and I'd pay her back, but she insisted as it's educational she would get it :) aww. So a free eye anatomy model kit thingy coming our way. :)

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Girliefriendlikesflowers · 23/01/2017 18:14

Hello all, welcome newbies Smile

Mammy hope you are o.kay, that sounds rubbish and stressful Sad

Need I am such a sucker for boots Envy those are lovely.

Snuggly I can imagine re names! My sil is a midwife and had a similar name issues!

Wreck Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Its cold here but not that cold Grin

Lucky find Lemon

Its been a work day and managed a successful NSD, also have sold a few of dds clothes so that is £20 in the pot.

Dd not feeling well now and there is ridiculous amounts of sickness at her school Hmm she is currently dosed up, under a blanket and watching a film. My day off is tomos so can keep her off if need be but am working rest of the week.

Payday Friday, can not come fast enough!

Oh and dd announced std she wants to learn the clarinet, we were lucky enough to be given one from some relatives, have found someone who does lessons but its so expensive Shock £15 for half hour, £30 for the hour. Will have a think....

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 23/01/2017 18:15

std = ystd!! ridiculous autocorrect!!

Beeneatingburnttoast · 23/01/2017 19:02

Couldn't manage to park in the pay and display (as bad at parking) so had to park in the free place and walk in for my meeting. Frugal win for my employer as would have claimed it back (does that count?!)

Otherwise:
£4 lunch with 40p cashback
£72 boots with £3ish tracking for cashback
Some petrol but claiming £6ish back in expenses

Feel bad now for telling my DD the other day that there was nothing wrong with the toast I'd burnt Sad

AdoraBell · 23/01/2017 19:31

Slightly Spendy day here, walked into town for errands/fresh air/excersise.

Holland and Barrat £9.58
Pound shop type place £4.
Then I bought a copy of Vanity Fiar, first in about 18 months £4.80

Sainsbo's delivering tomorrow- £63.80 this week. Need to tighten belts, so no more magazines, as cash flow issues means delayed pay. It will come through so not mega stressful.

Cold here, but above freezing, just.

I have enough boots and need to find a tenner to get a pair out of the cobbler's on Thursday.

allthebestplease · 23/01/2017 19:52

My car insurance came through for renewal at £360 but I got a quote from Direct Line for £210, so happy with that.
I bought a sweet making book from the charity shop and would love to have a go the pictures look amazing.

confusedandemployed · 23/01/2017 19:55

Well shaking up our menus has proved a massive hit so far. The salmon and edamame bean risotto yesterday was amazing, as was today's lentil and chickpea curry. All made with ingredients we had in too. However tomorrow is moussaka, which has been lurking in the freezer for ages and does NOT look appetizing. I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow night we get emergency fish n chips.
Off to bed now, working an extra shift tomorrow.

ememem84 · 23/01/2017 19:59

Dresses arrived finally

I'm keeping them both

They were about between £25-30 each. And I'll wear them - have two weddings and a few events at the end of the year to go to.

Cagliostro · 23/01/2017 20:10

DH mentioned that about burnt toast, but I swear that's old news? I'm sure it did the rounds a few years ago, my mum always mentions it anyway... not that I ever really know what to pay attention to with these things, it's a new one every day. But luckily I don't like burnt toast anyway. :o

Girlie ouch, music lessons are pricey! Although £15 not TOO awful compared to some I've seen around - but it sure adds up. I'd definitely go for 30 mins anyway if you did go ahead, an hour is too much for a total beginner IME. It's a great instrument though, lung strength and all that - I wish I'd carried on with it now (promptly dropped it when I got my piano).

I do like a nice boot, I have no intention of replacing mine though - bargain Skechers several years ago. Still going strong and often complimented. I like patterns and just couldn't resist them at £20ish IIRC. (the pic is nabbed off google)

Lemon (are you sticking with lemon?) yup, trying not to sit and eat rubbish. Trying. It's getting easier though as I'm finding that a lot of convenience food is making me feel so much worse these days and I'm craving more fresh food. It's tricky though isn't it, finding the balance between good food and not wearing yourself out by having more to prep! I'm glad things are improving for you :) I had to stop work last year (well technically haven't actually done a shift since September '15 but wasn't 'let go' til last summer) but I work from home now tutoring. I'm just about to dig out my mini pedal machine thing to add into my daily routine, it's been a while but I haven't had any major relapses for a while and I feel ready for it. :)

Frugaleers, keeping their frugal resolutions in the new year. Keep on, erm, resoluting!?
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Girliefriendlikesflowers · 23/01/2017 20:47

Those boots are amazing Cag Envy I love boots so much!!! Just been chatting to my mum about the clarinet lessons, she suggested I ask my dad to contribute Grin

Talking about eating rubbish I have just polished off a caramel wafer and a wagon wheel Blush I am such a chocoholic, still planning on going chocolate free for feb - eek!! I can recommend our little smoothie maker for anyone trying to get a few more of their 5 a day in, dd didn't want any dinner tonight (not feeling well) but did have a smoothie which had a banana, frozen berries, pineapple and yogurt in it.smoothie link still 30% off Wink

IdStillRatherBeKnitting · 23/01/2017 20:54

£9 on last bit of wood to finish my little shelves, £12 in the coop, only needed mozzarella for the pizzas for tea, so overspent a bit.

girlfriend my dd's all have lessons at school £70 a term - my lovely dad pays for these. But dd1 has a £650 yamaha flute, which she loves, we paid a bit a week for a year! dd2 plays clarinet, she has viral trigger asthma, and it definatley helps her lung capacity, dd3 also flute. Is there any option for lessons at school?

Does anyone have any favourite slow cooker recipies? Am happy to google, but as most of you have them, I thought I'd ask. We eat all except very spicy.

The girls have spent a lovely evening teaching our delinquent, untrained (my fault) fat spaniel to fetch. He is suprisingly good at it!

Tryingtosaveup · 23/01/2017 20:59

Mammy, hope all goes well with you. It does sound nasty for you and the DCs
Get well soon creme
Went out this morning at 9ish and was only -1. So not too bad.
I love the frozen lake pic.
Another NSD. In meetings but frugal win. There was a lot of food left over and no one else could be bothered so I brought it home. Do me for the next few days. Unfortunately it included a lot of cake. Which I have eaten. Feel a bit sick!
Welcome lemon.

Cagliostro · 23/01/2017 21:06

DH forgot the fucking twiglets.

That's a valid defence for murder right?

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