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Frugaleers Frolick Frugally through February

987 replies

Ipsomatic · 13/02/2017 16:13

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
26
Ipsomatic · 19/02/2017 18:24

I think I need to learn to make gluten free biscuits as they cost a bomb. There are McVitites gluten free hobnobs now though and I doubt I could come close with homemade. ds loves them.

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 19/02/2017 18:33

Fair play to you, NeedStar.

Glad I didn't go for a walk now; as a shower, making and clearing up from dinner, putting the recycling out and 2 loads of laundry, was more than enough for me. Apart from loo trips and sticking 2 crumpets in the toaster whenever I get hungry later, I don't plan on moving from the sofa for the night.

CremeEggThief · 19/02/2017 18:34

Have a good time over in the Lakes, Life.Smile

Tryingtosaveup · 19/02/2017 18:35

NSD
Tired after 6 hours driving yesterday. Been doing work for the charity I volunteer at all day apart from half hour in the garden. Weather lovely here.
Got to drive up to the north east tomorrow ( Middlesbrough )
Need that is a serious cross country. Was it in Lancashire by any chance? Bloody well done anyway
Cag, I absolutely love seabass
Hope mammy's DS and other poorly frugaleers get well soon.
Em you'll get so many pressies and vouchers that you probably won't need to buy anything.
Snuggly hope you get better before twin day

lifelongfrugaleer · 19/02/2017 18:41

Ah trying that's not too far from me, unfortunately I'm in the lakes. Make sure nothing is left in sight in your car, and I mean nothing when you park it.

Thanks crème.

Both dc are complaining of feeling very tired so early night and praying it's not a bug

SnugglySnerd · 19/02/2017 19:05

Thanks, Trying. I've been feeling sorry for myself all day!
Just having fizzy elderflower stuff in a wind glass and pretending it's a lovely spritzer to cheer myself up!

Wildernesstips · 19/02/2017 19:40

Hi all! Watched fab documentary called Minimalism on Netflix, which really gets to the nub of quality of life and less consumerism. Feel fired up by it.

NSD!

allthebestplease · 19/02/2017 20:34

I watched that film when it was first released, I love it, have read all their blogs and listen to their podcasts. I wrote an email to them saying I liked their film. I wrote 3 words, they wrote back saying thank you!!!!

mammymammyIRL · 19/02/2017 21:06

Oh ds is recovered alright, he threw a spectacular 3 hour long tantrum last night Angry
Today wasn't a nsd I bought the Ginseng, some bits to replace things my dc savaged at my brothers house & some flour & seeds for making brown bread tomorrow evening. €38

Well done on your run need
Must check out the explosive child.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 19/02/2017 21:20

Managed a nsd, we cleaned the car inside and out this morning and baked this afternoon! Made scones and some banana and treacle muffins - delish!

I attempted a run this morning, I ran for about 20mins and had to stop about 4 times as thought I was about to pass out 😑 I seem to be getting less fit the more exercise I do 😣 very annoying!

Am loving all the emicons on the hudl 🎎🐵🐕🐩🐱🐆🐯🐑🐃🐗

ChristmasSeacow · 19/02/2017 21:29

Hiya,

Have had a lovely day in spite of only having had 4 hrs sleep (DH snoring again! He'd better not repeat it tonight, no jury would convict me).

Got up with DS and made his favourite weekend pancake breakfast. He was in a sunny mood, it was so lovely. PILs were coming over for lunch so I spent the morning finishing the meal and tidying a bit (not too stressful though as for once the house was not a midden to start with). The meal was a success (including the best pecan pie I have ever made, v pleased there is some left!). It was just nice to see them. We told them the baby was a girl and MIL cheered! DS also interacted with them more than he ever has before, and was playing with a balloon with them for ages. They love him but don't really 'get' him or his ASD (not in denial, just a lack of understanding as to what it really means for him). Hence usually they struggle to connect with him, mainly because they don't adjust their language or expectations. But today I felt DS and PILs had moved towards each other and he went to them voluntarily to play. It was lovely, as they are kind people who mean well.

Only bad bit was that DS fell over after they had gone and hit his head on the door frame. He was v upset and now has a big welt that will no doubt turn into a nice juicy bruise. I look forward to filling in the accident form for nursery!

NSD. Get me!

Haven't had time to read the explosive child yet as it has been a manic week - more sociable than normal due to more friends being around over half term. I need to make it my mission this week - it sounds really useful from Ipso's excellent summary.

Beeneatingburnttoast · 19/02/2017 21:36

NSD

Only 9 days until payday. February is feeling very long for a short month.

northender · 19/02/2017 21:37

brighter I did think this morning how glad I was that ds doesn't play club football any more. It has been thoroughly miserable all day.
need impressive run. My two dc never entertained each other either as young children. Dd would want to do imaginary play a lot and ds never did understand that so it was a non starter! Like yours, they get on well now though.

Had a lovely lunch out with my parents today (mums treat). I sat myself away from my dad to reduce the chances of any arguments or upsets! Got our PC back from our friend who has managed to get it sorted without losing anything. Frugal win.
Busy week ahead with work, parent taxi duties and preparing for our Cologne weekend (12 days to go!). I'm feeling a bit daunted as we'll be doing the whole airport thing which we've only done once with the dc. But I'm hoping my German friend will meet us at the airport which would simplify things. Otherwise we'll have to find and negotiate the railway station at the airport. I do speak German and have been a few times but it has been a while...Overall, very much looking forward to it.

ChristmasSeacow · 19/02/2017 21:40

That sounds like a lovely day Girlie - and muffins sound good too. Any chance of the recipe?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 19/02/2017 21:52

NSD yesterday

£7 today because I nipped into costa on the way back from Mass. Which I hadn't intended to do and was a bit of a frugal fail.

Tryingtosaveup · 19/02/2017 22:27

Girlie, banana and treacle, sound delicious. Please can you post the recipe.
Thanks for the tip Life. I will be mega careful.

northender · 19/02/2017 22:31

Also worth mentioning, we've played lots of cards this weekend (all four of us) which has been really good fun and extremely frugal fun! Beggar My Neighbour, Knockout Whist, Rummy & pontoon. I always try to have a pack of cards with me when we go out too to pass the time if need be.

Cagliostro · 19/02/2017 22:55

Fab north I'm trying to get back into card games at the moment. I used to know loads, DH and I would play all the time, but I've forgotten basically everything! So far my friend's taught me knockout whist and I've got an old Usborne book to learn other games from.

We've played games tonight as well, including Zeus on the Loose, love that. :o

northender · 20/02/2017 00:17

cag we're a game playing family too. We have a cupboard full of them & a box of small games we take on holiday with us. Our recent favourites are Dobble, bananagrams and Billionaire (a card based game from dh's childhood). We got Linkee at Christmas which is good fun.

WreckTangled · 20/02/2017 06:51

North I love the airport it's my favourite part Grin I always plan which restaurant we're going to and head straight there.

Today I need to go food shopping. Really hoping it'll be cheap but the dc are coming with me so who knows...might go out this afternoon to the Heath which is free parking and has a lake and play ground etc. It's quite a drive though.

ememem84 · 20/02/2017 07:47

Have reduced my current account down to £10. And have thrown the rest against my credit card.

From memory there's nothing due to come out of my account until later this week by which time I'll have been paid (tomorrow).

Hoping for nsd today.

Have to pop to estate agents at lunch time. Dh found a house yesterday he's interested in. £425k 3 bed mid terrace 60's build. Looks like it has loads of space. Needs work (new kitchen new bathroom total redecoration) but could be liveable for a few years (if I get over deep blue patterned carpets everywhere and pink bathroom suite). Going to get more info.

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 20/02/2017 09:27

Meal plan:

Red lentil curry with spinach and rice
Vegetable barley broth, homemade bread
Homemade fish cakes, carrots, peas
Veggie burgers with diff salads
Spinach and walnut risotto
Tuscan bean soup and bread
Veggie paella with cashews

SnugglySnerd · 20/02/2017 09:30

Pink bathroom suite - nice! At least it's not avocado!

I am soooo tired today, I didn't sleep well. Yesterday wasn't too spendy in the end: £15 lunch out with friends including parking in town.
Today should be NSD although I might take DD out for a cake or something later.

CremeEggThief · 20/02/2017 09:36

I could live with a pink bathroom suite; in fact, I adore the turquoise ones. Not sure about the blue swirly carpet though!Wink

MeadowHay · 20/02/2017 09:50

Well I've still got this horrid cold so am hibernating at home again which is a pain as means I'm missing like 3 lectures and my mentoring session :/. E-mailed my mentor with some work I'm stuck on so she can give me some help via e-mail though at least. This is the 4th consecutive day I haven't been out of the house, how awful! I will emerge as a beautiful butterfly tomorrow though as I'm sure I'll be feeling a lot better by then and I have to go to work tomorrow evening regardless.

3rd NSD in a row too! Last day of DH's 4-day work stretch today Grin.