Frugaleers Frolick Frugally through February

[Ipsomatic]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread

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.

Hi Knitting I'm a size 12 on bottom, 10 on top but I weigh 11st 11.5lbs, highest bmi weight should be 9st 11 but I look good and am very happy at 9st 7 which is at top end of bmi but any less and I look too skinny so have 2st to lose. I'm only 5'2.5" so the weight shows.
It's motivation thing yes but I have that at the moment too.

I've struggled to lose weight since having ds 3 years ago and I'm doing all the right things, except lots of exercise. I've done this weight loss thing before with mostly concentrating on food.

After bedtime in our house, I'm fit for bed myself!

Mammy If you and I were combined into one person we'd be sorted. I'm 5'10" and 9st 3lbs at the moment. Weirdly I'm also exactly at a size 12. I'm on a ruthlessly meat and two veg diet, with just potatoes and rice, because that's what agrees with me, but it means I never gain weight at all unless I'm really trying. I think it's not a million miles from the paleo diet. Usually I'm 10st, but that last bug that came home from school knocked off a whole ton of weight and now I have to slog to put it back on.

ipso that's exactly it! When I get back to 9st 7 I'll be a size 10 & 8 in most dresses 👗
And when I'm sick like that I gain weight!

When I hear of you eating potato in the morning I'm in the horrors as I hate potato

mammay I'm about your height, and wear 12 bottoms and 10 tops but weigh 9 stone. I'm no where near fitting a size 10 bottoms. Maybe I need new scales! Strange how weight and height make such a difference person to person

ClickSnap have Nutella to claim back for free (may explain my size 12 trousers!)

£58 in Tesco but bought new dinner mats and coasters as ours were falling to bits
£22 of Boots points spent on mascara, eye shadow and 3 hair products so cost no cash

The sun is shining. I'm in such a good mood!

In frugal (I think) news, DP told me not to throw away the free Tesco magazine as he wants to read the declutter article. I can dream he will actually do something about decluttering... he's the ebayer in the household so fingers crossed!

Mammy we are definitely the inverse of each other. :-) I live on potato.

I wear a size 10. 5'7" and (am guessing) the best part of 11 stone. But, I got an old dorothy perkins size 14 jumper in a charity shop last month (beautiful purple colour), and it fits like a glove. So I guess this is vanity sizing. I remember being a 14 for ages after dd1, and I felt no bigger than I do now.

I usually do mfp to keep an eye on my eating, and I have several garmins that monitor all movement (not much at the mo), so no excuses. Plus if I'm not eating so much, it means I can buy less food!

been I'm guessing your dp is the hoarder! Dp and I are as bad as each other, so we both keep many useful things that never get used The sun was shining here, right up until I was hanging the second load of washing out.

been you know the old wives tale about heavy bones, I reckon I have them!! Everyone has different types of shapes and of being overweight too. My sd is quite overweight but has no soft fat. I'm overweight and have big thighs, calves, and wobbly belly.

Isn't it a beautiful day? Washing out on the line, I love hanging out the washing and the way it smells of fresh air.
I'm trying to hide from the cat who will not leave me alone today, he's driving me mad!
One good bit of frugal news, the insurance on the new car is the same as the old car. I was expecting to pay a bit more as it's newer, bigger and more powerful!

It's funny how they work insurance groups out & risk etc.

NSD.

Good find on the Nutella Toast, maybe your oh has an account so you can get another one.

There should be some free pancake mixes on checkoutsmart over the weekend, there was last year.

Hello frugaleers, need some advice. DH and I have been thinking about buying a proper dehumidifier for ages as the flat we live in now is very moist (think lots of condensation on windows which causes mold that we have to clean periodically etc). DH has found this one: www.amazon.co.uk/EcoAir-DD122-Simple-Desiccant-Dehumidifier/dp/B00474K8SY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487954324&sr=8-1&keywords=dehumidifier%20dd122&tag=mumsnetforum-21 and we are wondering if it is worth the money. Because they are very expensive but we are willing to pay if it will really make our lives easier? What do you lot think?

No spends yet but going to a thing in the SU later that I got invited to through work so will probably buy a drink or two there. It is the last day of one of my colleagues today who has been really nice and friendly to me since I started, I will miss him a lot. Lovely sunny weather here too. One of the managers brought her friend's dog into work this afternoon (no idea why ) and she was gorgeous and then when I finished I was allowed to take her for a walk in the park which was great and now I'm shattered .

I'm going out tonight so will be spendy 🍾🍾🍾

wreck jealous. I want to go out and get drank. Probably shouldn't though. So instead I'm staying in. With a juice and tonic and a home made shredded chilli beef stir fry. Mmmmmm

NSD.

I haven't been out out since the summer I don't think? I will be having my rehydration sachet before bed to ward off my hangover 😆

Not an NSD after all, as the window cleaner (well, 1 of them, as they're a team and different people come) came and said I owed him for 2 weeks, so £8.40. I paid up, but I could have sworn I paid him when he was here 2 weeks ago. So I'm going to make a note of it on "One Note".

Enjoy your night out, Wreck.

No idea re the dehumidifier I'm afraid :( we had a mini one by prem-i-air for about £35 off amazon and it was ok, but I have to say the only thing that really made a difference to the mould issue was the tumble dryer as we no longer have wet clothes everywhere.

I'm so grateful to friends today - a few of us were supposed to be meeting as we shared our home ed anniversary yesterday (2 years for us!) but I had to cancel due to fruflu and one of my friends drove by and took the Caglets for me so they still got to go and I got some rest. ❤️ £15.50 cinema (friend has that kids pass thing) and macd lunch for them.

DH went to local co-op before work for snotty wife supplies :o stuff like squash (to have hot with honey) crisps for itchy throat etc. I was good though and resisted the temptation to ask for a Dr Pepper which I normally crave soooo bad when I am ill! But I've been doing so well without it since new year, only having Pepsi etc in restaurants, so I didn't break my streak :) fresh oj instead

Must say I am feeling a bit better for the rest as well.

That was lovely of your friend Cag, hope you feel better soon.

Gutted I missed the free nutella when I was shopping today, I did pick up the free chocolate biscuits from the shopmium app though. Not that I need chocolate in any form!

Payday, money shuffled, had an £8 off £40 for Sains and DM needed a few bits too so we went together. After voucher and cashback app £22 spent which includes 2 bottles of wine and some beer for DH. We had enough freezer stuff to do dinners this week so only really needed some fresh bits. £8.30 in boots, used a voucher for £3 off no7 makeup, one for 100 extra points on baby stuff, and one for buy one get one half price on boots baby stuff (got 2x 4packs of wipes).

All of this came out of last months cash which was in my purse so havent had to dip in to marchs housekeeping yet

Thank you all for your lovely, friendly welcomes. This thread moves very fast so I'll have to make sure I'm coming on regularly to keep up with the chat!

Filled the car with petrol, £36, but that's it for spending today.

DH and I did some sums earlier, and reckon we can get a house deposit together in around 5 years...it's really motivated us to stop wasting money on silly things so we have a proper saving plan now. I'm going to open a Lifetime ISA when they launch in April (they're for first time house buyers and/or your pension), that way I won't be tempted to dip into the savings like I currently am!

Enjoy your night out wreck and hope you feel better soon cag - my daft iPad won't let me scroll up to see any other messages

I don't like the meatballs either in IKEA.

Ffs bastard boiler. Not only has the pressure valve gone the regulator valve had too but that can't be got at because the boiler is on the wall. Cheapest way is a separate until to regulate the pressure. That means loosing another cupboard.
I'm thinking new boiler. £2k by my maths.

£10 refund in the range, £8 spend in home bargains.

Will catch up now when I've stopped cursing long enough.

Any way it's made our mind up about moving. We wouldn't have any cushion of we took on a bigger mortgage for these things. So back to plan a, stay here until DC in senior school and use childcare payments for new house. 5 years to save like bugger

Super spendy day today:

£88 for haircut, manicure and eyebrow etc wax. Ouch money and pain wise.
£7.58 at m and s food for tea tonight and lunch tomorrow.

Yesterday's spends: £7 for coffee+drink+snack for 2.

Off to catch up on thread.

I can't believe it's been 2 years, Cag! Where did that go??

It was an NSD but DH is about to go out for doughnuts...

That was nice of your friend cag. I can't believe it's 2 years. I remember is all chatting through it with you while trying to decide.

Have a good night wreck. Take a berrocca tonight too if you have any.

Meadow I know nothing about dehumidifier but the ebac range got good reviews when I was looking. Based in the north east of England.

I'm 5'4 if I stand properly and 10 stone. A flabby 10. But sometime get a 12 to is it's not nork friendly. Could do with losing a few lb but this is the weight my body sesms to stick at iykwim. Toning up will help but no gym until Monday week.

blue Free Nutella runs until the 28th.

Plenty of time yet for free Nutella.