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

[Cagliostro]

Hello everyone! :)

Cross posted with the last few lists -Cag, can you get it in the post today? It may still make it.

Peonies that sounds like a lovely gift (even if it is, effectively, the gift of deadlines! )

Glad you had a good night Snuggly. Freedom starts today!

Cag Exactly. It's just a simple mistake, it could happen to anyone & it doesn't mean you're stupid.

I have fucked up many, many times. Meh.

Peonies that sounds fun! I am terrible at thinking up plots, which is a shame as I'm fairly decent (for an amateur!) at the actual writing.

Welcome Ook!

Oh well turns out I'm not the only one who fucks up - DH hadn't realised that he would have to change the rent amount from his bank as he'd assumed it was done by the landlords! 😳😂 So only (only!) £800 came out this morning instead of £900. He phoned them as soon as he realised though and they were fine about it, he's going to sort it all at the bank on Monday so they aren't out of pocket.

Ooh, Italian I love sweet potato! Avoided them until I started weaning my eldest and then thought I'd better try it if I was making DD eat it 😂 love the stuff now.

Roast is yum, and chips, and sautéed just like normal potato.
Mashed either alone or mixed in with regular mashed potato.
Baked instead of a jacket spud - my favourite combination is just with (no butter) cubes of feta cheese and diced spring onion. It's beautiful!
Soup - do a traybake of roasted sweet potato, red onion and red pepper, then when it's cooked blend it with some stock. Le yum.

Damn, now I'm hungry.

I have just looked at SN nappies online, since DS has outgrown supermarket nappies. I reckon it is going to cost us upwards of £35 per week

Really hope we can get them free from the borough.

X posts. Thanks Frugaleers. Unfortunately it's waiting for THEM to send me something and it actually says on the letter to allow more time, which I didn't as I didn't realise I hadn't done it! Anyway the helpline is open today so I'm going to phone them. And at least explain about the brain fog - although understandably they may not see that as enough of a reason. You do still get fined even if you don't owe any tax.

DD fell in love with our friend's dog yesterday. Labradoodle. Bouncy happy yappy puppy. ADORABLE. She really wants a dog and I can't say I blame her. It was fab - and really thought provoking - to see her so happy playing with her, she was just really natural and calm. Even DS, who can be very nervous of dogs, ended up stroking her and offering toys etc. Really lovely. One day!

Oh with the EDF increase they just said prices generally are going up. I will ask DH to phone and negotiate - I'm not sure what our actual usage is (he's going to bug them about a smart meter too) and don't want to end up owing more at the end of the year.

Wreck when I first moved house they automatically ditched the single person discount and I had a right faff getting them to work it out right, my maths isn't brilliant but even I could see theirs did't add up! Annoyingly something similar happened when I rang the tax credits people to change address, the man actually said to me 'and who are you moving in with?' I was like 'umm no still single.' Its like they try to catch you out

Thanks for the heads up on Trolls might take dd tomorrow and for the smoothie ideas, we are still playing it safe with lots of fruit and yogurt based ones. I like to think all the extra vitamins are helping us to ward off this cold/ virus a bit quicker.

I sat and did an online Morrisons shop last night, remembered that I needed quite a bit of extra stuff as its dds party next wend and I am making a poodle cake so came over budget in at £65, will claw that back on the following weeks shop.

Talking of dds party had a phone call from the leisure centre ystd (swimming party) to say they had double booked the slot I was so annoyed, so dds party has been put back an hour. I made my feelings known about their incompetence and have been promised vouchers and additional extras at the party Luckily I sent out a mass text and so far all of her friends can still make it but honestly how hard is it to book a party and make sure one isn't already booked?!!

Cag I know, I saw your post about getting your dd some crop tops. I had the same thing with dd last year as she suddenly started developing a bit we had a bit of a nightmare finding some that she would wear and then randomly found a load being sold cheap in the BHS closing down sale that she loved and found really comfy!! Which was great except that i have no clue what we will do when she grows out of them I was 13 when I started my periods but think dd will be earlier as she is so tall

That all said dd is currently sat on the rug playing with her playmobil so not too grown up just yet

I hope you get it sorted cag.
I pay my council tax over 12 months and water rates. My council is pretty good when it comes to making amendments. I sent them a query my ds was joking the forces so would I be entitled to single persons discount? I got a generic email saying there were really busy and it might take a month to reply.
Got a new bill then next day emailed with the discount on!
I need to buy an 18th birthday present today and food shopping.

Ah I had the same with BHS knickers for DD girlie! She likes the shorty ones and the ones from there were perfect. H&M ones have filled the void thankfully. I'm going to have to get more of the crop tops - I only got a pack of two as I wasn't sure if she'd like them. Was two for £4.50.

Phoned HMRC, nothing can be done sadly as they don't actually have any control over this particular bit, but she seemed quite positive that due to the genuine misunderstanding/forgetting on my part (I explained about brain fog, she was really nice about it) I may be able to appeal the late fee. :) But if not, meh indeed, I should've realised my mistake sooner, and well. That'll learn me won't it!

Today I need to finish my PIP form as well, I've done the depressing stuff ages ago but just need a few extra details. I can't get any recent documentation to support my claim as there isn't any, which is really frustrating (it's just because I no longer actually see any specialists precisely because the conditions are incurable!) - but it's not compulsory, and I know they will want to do a face to face assessment regardless, so I'm just putting my previous specialists' addresses and hoping for the best - they have permission to contact them and fact check if required. If I procrastinate any longer I'll just end up not doing it at all.

Still haven't heard a damn thing back about the housing form though. DH handed it in personally 2 weeks ago so it's not like they haven't received it.

Gosh, I hope it isn't a big fine Cag

I did a daft thing last year and forgot to file an annual return for a dormant company... long story but I was only keeping it 'alive' because I need to reclaim some money from Hmrc and was too busy last spring, with silly job, DS's diagnosis and my dad's illness, to get round to doing it. And in the meantime I forgot to keep the paperwork going... so will probably extra cost to get back to where I was. Hey ho. Illness and life upsets do have a cost!

Peanut butter cookies are in the oven, yum though the raw mix is even nicer than the final cookie . DS 'helped' me - he has been delightful for his daddy this morning . We are friends again. We're all going into London this arvo for a ride on the tube (for DS's benefit, not so much ours!) and a ride in the cable car thingy over the Thames. I've never actually got round to doing that and it is a nice bright day now. Will take some cookies and try to avoid cafes etc.

Done Ocado order, about £60, but also need to go to Tesco later today for stuff we need before tomorrow, soft fruit and also a few things only they sell (will stock up on their own brand squash and fake brabantia bin bags!). I doubt it will be less than £30.

Should be NSD unless we need milk.

Just been through the freezers, have small one and big one. Want to defrost the big one in the spring so trying to eat stuff up (and save some money).

Meal plan:
Sat- homemade chicken curry and half tub of Ben and jerrys that "needs" eating up
Sun- roast chicken with pigs in blanket (from freezer)
Mon- left over roast chicken cooked some how
Tuesday- casserole using meat from freezer (will be lamb or beef not sure until defrosted)
Weds- duck and fish fingers for kids
Thurs- normally pizza/pasta night
Fri- enchiladas with beef (from freezer)

I found 5 open boxes of fish fingers and 7 boxes of unlabelled frozen roasted meat (turkey, beef, lamb). Must learn to label it!!! Lots of really out of date food too, not very frugal

Well done for not worrying about the tax mistake Cag. I think a lot of people's memories are a bit shonky post-kids. Even the Dads.

Is it the codes they send you for getting into the online bit cag? I forgot to order mine (years ago now), and they came next day even though it said to allow 10 days. I have just (may 16) reregistered as self employed again, and got a letter saying I didn't need to do a tax return until the 17/18 tax year? I used to pay a company to do my tax, as my job was tax exempt rather than not earning enough, so am a bit worried about having to do for myself.

Having a quiet rainy day at the shop, doing a bit of painting work. Even brought lunch, and have a chicken korma in the slow cooker for tea...so hopfully a nsd.

Yes exactly that Knitting! That's a relief thanks :) maybe it will turn up quickly. :)

I've done more form filling and household admin crap. More to do later but also determined to have some fun too, board games etc. We just did the garden bird watch which included a baby woodpecker!

I need to do interview prep but my brain isn't working.

Spent £7 on reeds for dds clarinet and something else the lady told me was useful (have no idea what its called!) My dad has offered to pay for a months lessons as dds bday present so will look to book some. It is a beautiful instrument so would be good to get it going.

Have taken dd riding this morning which is already paid for, was a fab lesson and dd was doing jumps and all sorts completely independently, had a proud mummy moment.

The local church is having a Messy Church later so will go to that I think and am debating a payday MacDs for tea see this is where my money goes am also going to get tickets for Trolls (am blaming you for that Wreck ) to see tomorrow morning, last time we went to kids club it totally sold out.

Need to get some more cat litter, Em which brand do you use? I have tried everyone going but they seem very hit and miss.

Hows ds doing Cath ? Is it both ends poor lad?!

Ooh a woodpecker Cag! We did it today and were very excited to see a couple of goldcrests and a blackcap and some long-tailed tits, as well as the usual garden visitors. DH has a list of every bird that's been sighted in our garden since we moved in nearly 8 years ago.

Wreck is the interview on Monday?

Knitting I think it can be quite straightforward doing your own self-assessment but I was a bit scared so got an accountant to do it. I photocopied his draft return though so I can see where all my 'input numbers' ended up. I think with that as a double check I'd feel more confident doing my own in future.

£25 riding today.

Just packed an overnight bag for the hotel. Yippee!!

Dh has decided we're taking a bottle of bubbly with us. we did this last time and we had to drink it from mugs

girlie we use clean paws. White bag purple writing. About £13 for 15kilo here. This is catfaces preferred one.

Although I have tried the Waitrose one. The whole bag goes in the litter tray. And I think if you put it on your "6things" it gets cheaper.

When we first had her she used the wood pellet one. Don't bother with it. It is more eco friendly. And does smell nice and piney. But is a nightmare - you have to sift the sawdust out every day and if you've got a plastic litter tray it is noisy as fuck anything.

Sorry girlie! I always pre book online.

seacow yes at 10am. I want this job so much I just know I won't get it. That's my life

Catching up with you all.

Girlie hope you're feeling better now.

Sorry I missed your birthday Need - sending you some birthday and and .

Wreck your healthy chocolate covered berries made me laugh . Good luck with your interview.

north it must be great to have all the decorating work done.

Knitting well done on the extra work and paying a little more off your credit card.

Cathode hope you and DS feel better soon. Poor DS must have got such a fright when that cobra made a lunge at him!

Christmas sorry to read you about your difficult few days with your DS. Please don't beat yourself up over not doing the extra activities with him. Sounds like you were at the end of your tether . Hope you have a better weekend.

MissA enjoy your break in London

life get well soon

em thrilled about your breakthrough with catface . Your patience definitely paid off. Enjoy your hotel stay.

Hi to everyone else.

Someone was posting a few pages back about their DD growing up. My baby girl sat her entrance exam for secondary school today. How did that happen . This afternoon she met up with a few of her friends in the local hotel and they had a mineral and chips. My baby chick is starting to stretch her wings. It's exciting and sad all at once.

I'm just wondering what your council tax incorporates? We pay income tax at source (PAYE and PRSI). Also an income levy which was imposed after the bank bailout (USC). A few years ago the government introduced a property tax on all home owners. We pay a private company for waste collection. More recently the government tried to introduce a water tax but it was the last straw for a lot of people and there were major protests, so it's on hold for the moment.

We've worked out our budget for the next six months, until our holiday. After the holiday my priority will be (1) pay off credit cards and (2) start saving in earnest. We've been spending all our earnings for the past few years and I'm aware that we're in a very vulnerable position in the event of an unanticipated expense such as the boiler breaking down or whatever. With DD starting secondary school this year I'm aware that college is looming (only five or six years away) so that's a consideration too. In theory, college fees are free in Ireland but in practice, there's a registration charge which amounts to €3,000 p.a. and that could increase over the next few years. Depending on which college she chooses, we might have to fork out for accommodation and living expenses also.

I had a few bottles of shower gel lying around with gloop at the bottom of them so I got a scissors and cut off the top of the bottles. I have to use them all up before I start my new bottle. I should get an extra four or five showers out of them. Every little helps and all that....

Hotel is fab! In my "superior room" I have 6 wardrobes (?) a super king bed. Three windows a balcony a couch tv giant mirror. The bathroom is awesome.

And we have a sea view. We can hear the sea. Yay!!

Wow Em! Have a fabulous time :o

I may have just spent £3.04 on some sweets from Amazon. But I can never find them in shops.

Oh and Lemon have you tried your pedals yet? DH dug mine out of the cupboard today (they were put away last time I had a relapse). I'm going to do a little with my feet each day, and with my arms too. Just a tiny bit at first

Ahem.

I have also just had a v luxurious bath. At 5pm. With bubbles (the bath kind and the drink kind) and my book and radio 2.

Now have on the mostest fluffiest bathrobe ever. And have found naice kettle chips in the minibar fridge. And humous. Should have hunted about earlier. And should have taken them into the bath with me #classy

trying did I recall you're coming to jersey at some point? Do you know where you're staying? If it's here you'll love it!!!!

Frugaleers please forgive me for I have sinned I walked into Sainsburys with the aim to buy some cat litter and ended up spending £47 I have got myself some black skinny jeans (£12) and a bday outfit for dd (£14) a new swim costume for dd (£8) also got cat food and cat litter! Haven't tried any of the new clothes on yet so some of it might be going back.

Got the wrong Sat for Messy church, its next week!

Picked up cinema tickets, going to take my nephew as well and got tickets for the 3 of us for £6 as used some odeon points.

Car wash £5 - car was grim again.

MacDonalds £8.

I am putting all these spends down to a post being ill payday binge