Fantabulous February with the Friendly Frugaleers!

[Cagliostro]

Hello everyone, new thread time yet again!

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I also can't believe I am 20 weeks already - where does the time go?! It is a little girl, I am very excited. And SIL had her baby today and they HAVE gone for the bonkers foreign name. PILs will be all of a twitter over it!

Flute is very exciting Cag, that is an absolute bargain.

Balloons and birthday pile look great Girlie

Seminar sounds really interesting Cath. It's a subject close to my heart too, having also been a scientist. I was the only girl in my year at school to take a-level physics. Uncharacteristically at the time (I wasn't very assertive at that age!) I put in a complaint about my male physics teacher, who used to make a big deal of getting me to write on the board for every lesson /group experiment and never let me actually do the experiment. Like I was some sort of decorative game show hostess I wasn't even very decorative . And he used to tell the rest of the class not to be beaten by 'the girl'. I went to the deputy head about it because it made me really uncomfortable and it stopped, but he never apologised. I went on to get the only A grade in the year - ha!

Spends today were £3 parking at SN playgroup and about £40 on some second hand girls' clothes - a friend gave me first refusal and I picked up some nice bits for £2 each, v reasonable. I will dress baby DD in some of DS's old stuff anyway (some was unisex anyway and some was just lovely and perfectly fine for a girl - including some science t-shirts ) . But it was nice to have some summery dresses, especially as the seasons don't quite match up with DS's stash.

Off out for dinner tonight, just waiting for DH to get home from work so I can head into town. It is VERY cold down here in London at the mo and there was even snow /ice in the air earlier, though not enough to settle. I will hint to DH that it would be nice to find a hot water bottle in my bed when I get home

Yes we've noticed that too about car sizes, Fluffy. We can see pros and cons of getting a newer car on finance or getting a second hand one. Have been looking online all day and the second hand ones we could afford all have ridiculous mileage and/or are diesel, I don't think there's much point getting a diesel for the small mileage we do. We do very little mileage, about 6k per year so lease deals have been quite good for us as we've always been able to trade in early for a new one with quite a bit of value still in the car, plus no unexpected repair costs etc.
Anyway, going to talk to our current lease provider tomorrow to see what they can do for us. I've worked out on their online tool that we could get a bigger car for less than we are currently paying! We might do that with a view to buying it outright at the end of the lease.
I'm too tired to traipse about looking at lots of cars and trying to haggle to be honest, another example of disorganization being more costly, we should have sorted this out weeks ago!

Trying to catch up with everyone but there's so much!!
Managed to get in early every day this week and will probably do the same next week.
No unexpended spends this week. I've got my ddads birthday next week me and db are going halves on a kindle.
I'm looking at getting a new car later on this year. I'm probably going to do lease hire. I want one of the small cars like a fiat 500 or skoda citigo.

Well done brighter! Hope you're getting all of your work done

Dh was late home tonight (I didn't know he would be as he left his phone at home) and I'm annoyed because when he came in he didn't say anything about being late ie why or thanks for dinner he's just being grumpy about wanting a shower. Meh.

Snuggly, both my DCs have lease cars and kids ( only 2 each though). It's a good deal for them. DD does very low mileage but DS does mega miles. They tell me it's all about what you can or can't fit in the boot.
Brilliant idea of Fluffy's to take the car seats along.

Absolutely shattered, so will just post spends and read and catch up later.
Laundry: £16.25, on my card. Very pleased, as I was expecting it to be over £20. That included ironing 3 if DS's school shirts, which will be a treat for him, as we don't even own an iron!
£1.50 top-up bus fare and £3.35 on an early lunch (cheese and onion pasty, mocha and doughnut, yum!) in Greggs.
Total: £21.10.

£4 o on fitness.£3 lunch (disorganised). no other spends

Fab balloons
Good news about the scan

Deffo all about what the boot can hold!

Spendy day today - €33 on waxing at beauticians & €60 on cut & colour.

Creme hope ds won't get fond of the ironed shirts

Wreck that's no good. You could've been worried about him.

Brighter that's a lovely present

He can buy himself a cheap iron if he does, Mammy. Night all. X

I do try to make lunches the night or morning before but it is hard with the awful exhaustion I get. I make DH's too to take to work as well but if I don't manage his he always does it. So it's just me who sometimes gets stuck. Tomorrow I'm planning to be in work for 11am so lots of time in the morning to sort my lunch to take with me. I do buy a lot of "lunchbox" type snacks as well as stuff to put in sandwiches for our lunches and I always take my own water bottle.

I've never made flapjacks, never really done much baking. DH and I wanted to start doing some, we made fairy cakes first which were yummy, then we tried brownies and we managed to burn them . And we've not gotten around to anything else yet. Any tips on something easy? Was thinking scones as have made them before yonks ago.

Seacow I am excited for you! Reading your post makes me so broody. Also cannot believe your A-level experience, that's so gross, it was really brave of you to complain as well!

Cath DD is saving all her money to build her own computer in the long period when she finishes her GCSE's and starting 6th form. She will have fun with the pony in the summer before he goes (don't anyone comment or I will cry!!) and concentrate on this project. I like the kids computing attracts, if that isn't a strange comment.

Training was £5 as they had double booked.

Need, that's great about your DD building her own computer. I love to see bright girls doing things like that. There is usually no reason why they don't other than peer pressure. Know what you mean about the type of kid being attracted to that sort of thing.
Meadow scones are fairly straightforward to make and freeze well so perhaps start with them, and you can make several varieties, cheese, herbs, plain etc. good luck.

Thank you Trying. DD is very much like me, knows her own mind, has her own opinion -gobshite like me- and follows her own path. I was badly bullied as a teen, and before really, which held me back for a long time but she has been strong enough to stand up for herself and be her own person, even if that's not 'cool'. Her friends fill me with joy and reassurance, they are so sensible and normal!! Teenagers get such a bad press.

She thinks I keep banging on about equal opportunity for all, like she doesn't know already, which shows how far we have come.

Off topic.

Just started snowing here. Fell asleep putting ds to bed (we are still at the lying with him till hes asleep stage), so a bit crap and bleary now, and not very tired

Well, my wormery is here, have opened it, but will put together tomorrow. It's a lovely almost jade colour, would have bought it full price and not known it wasn't the right shade of green, so glad I called and asked for a cheap one.

I like the type of kids music attracts, slightly square, and the bitchy/hair/makeup crew don't seem to touch the music lot. And by high school the kids in the band want to be there, its done on merit rather than how pushy your parents are.

meadow flapjacks are dead easy, just melting, mixing and baking. Lots of super easy biscuits too. We do events cycling yawn and I regularly bake enough to feed 150+ people with cake/snacks. Have developed very foolproof yummy recipies. Yet I still struggle to make something for the lunch boxes each week, I actually buy cakes sometimes - thats crap when I have everything I need, just don't get round to it.

Ah Meadow, that's nice of you to say so! Re. Broody, hopefully your time will come. I love being a mum and I am excited to be doing it again but I loved the time before too - savour the small pleasures and freedoms while you can! Like not having company every time you go to the toilet.

Scones are quite easy - the main mistake people make is to overmix them. They are still okay but come out much lighter if you just do the bare minimum of mixing to just bring the ingredients together, and then knead and handle the dough as little as possible. I don't even bother with a rolling pin, just push it to roughly the right thickness and cut them out.

You might find that a simple banana loaf cake or similar is also a good place to start. Google 'cake all in one method' to find some recipes that are not too complicated or sensitive. Or cookies - you don't really need to worry about whether you get a good ride or not and they cook quickly. Good luck!

Just had a lovely dinner with two old friends - posh freekeh and pomegranate chicken salad and a hot fudge sundae. About £27. Having lunch and dinner out tomorrow, followed by karaoke - I am looking forward to just cheese and crackers on Saturday! I am already feeling decidedly overfed but am sure I will get over it by the morning

Need not off topic at all. I think one of the main aims of child rearing is to give them the confidence to not feel the need to do the 'cool thing' but to do what they really like. And hang out with the people they really like. I think most people get there in adulthood but it is very painful navigating your teenage years if you don't have that confidence.

Luckily I was always so square that no one really expected anything 'cool' of me!

Not mentioning the horse. Hope your DD has a lovely summer with two such different interests on the boil.

I think one of the main aims of child rearing is to give them the confidence to not feel the need to do the 'cool thing' but to do what they really like. And hang out with the people they really like.

YES! This! A subject dear to my heart. :)

I love reading about your lovely teens and their plans Need.

No Em today? Not occupied puking I hope.

Morning. Nope. No puking here. A couple of almosts but so far so good.

Yesterday was busy with work and I felt completely exhausted. Dh had to force me to stay up when I got home from work. And had to force me to meditation class. I would have just crashed in bed otherwise. And going to bed at 6 pm probably would have meant I'd be awake at 3am! So while I argued and cried a bit I did it.

Spends yesterday £23 eyebrow and bikini wax.

Yes, I think having the assurance to follow your own thoughts is key. Well done need for raising such a great DD. Hope mine turns out as well.
Visiting friend who lost her step daughter today. Might slip, trip or fall into lakeland so could be expensive

Dd is younger than yours need, but we have had some amazing chats about feminism and growing up in such a pressured era of celebrity and social media. She had a tough last couple of years at primary school but is a really independent character and is flourishing at high school. I'm really hopeful that she will have the inner confidence to follow her chosen path whatever that is.

meadow soups can be really easy to make. I often make enough for both of us to have 2 lunches. You do need a microwave at work to heat them up or a flask.

Getting ready for Devon trip this morning. We are v lucky to have family there and so get frequent low cost breaks. Going to pick the dc up and set off straight from school if dh finishes work in time. We'll have a picnic tea en route which I'll prep this morning.
I've got a GP appointment first as I'm now starting the 3rd week of my period. I'm normally pretty regular and they last 5 days max so this is unusual and so draining. Had a couple of glasses of wine last night with dh and this morning feel like I've had 10!!

My salt n. vinegar crisps arrived yesterday. Yay

Dh also went to the shop and bought hot cross buns. I love him. even though it's stupidly early to have hot cross buns

Also seemingly everyone I know and see on a daily basis has the horrrible cold. Dh and my entire team at work. They have been warned that if I get it their lives will not be worth living.

Em first time I was pregnant I existed almost entirely on hot x buns! This time it's been avocado and feta on toast, these babies obviously have more expensive tastes!

Meadow I have never made decent scones until this week, I usually roll them out too thin. This time DD had responsibility for rolling and cutting and they were superb! Bit worried a 2yo can do it better than me though!

Just had a letter from nursery saying they are putting up their fees by £5. This wasn't a big surprise as they will have to absorb the cost of the 30 hours provision thing. DD will get her 15 hours free after Easter. Does anyone know how to find out if she's eligible for 30? I read something in the paper at the weekend that implied she might be because I'm on mat leave?? I might email nursery and ask them.