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.

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www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

Trying to play scrabble

knitting That's really interesting to hear that your school is not an academic hothouse like ours. I think the problem is that our school is almost entirely EAL kids and poor kids and they have to work them really really hard and insist on incredibly high attendance rates in order to get the good ofsted grade. In the past they slipped down the ofsted grades because they had 80+ additional languages in a pool of 200 kids and couldn't cope, but when they get a low ofsted grade the good families locally start sending their kids to other schools, and then our school slips even further.

I think they're basically hammering us for high results and high attendance because they have no leeway for anyone to be only-human.

Seacow I sent you a PM. Also I mean hi not how

NSD. The local tip wanted £25 per 25kg to dispose of the tile offcuts. So we drove to the tip just over the border which is still free. A 10 minute drive saved us £50.

Us teachers are just as fed up of all the targets, intervention plans etc too if it's any consolation! There just doesn't seem to be time for fun in school anymore and I worry about how many of the kids are suffering serious MH issues. I'm not that keen for DD to start school in some ways, that's not good coming from a teacher is it?!

Spends today £2.75 hospital parking. DH got a few bits in Sainsbury's but didn't get a laptop yet as DD was being a bit uncooperative!

£250 on new glasses yesterday. Was determined not to spend too much but couldn't see anything cheaper that I liked, and I reasoned that I have to wear them every day, so they might as well be nice (they might also have black Swarovski crystals in too)

Have been de cluttering after that Minimalism film (3 bags this week) plus have listed some items on eBay and more are waiting to go on.

Am using up some leftover cooked sweet potato in my roast dinner tonight.

I am apprehensive about the school years too - obviously DS will have a lot of challenges but even so, I really enjoyed school just for the sake of learning but it was much more enjoyable with no testing regime. Seems a lot of pressure for very little kids really.

NSD here and we are actually getting somewhere with the declutter of two studies (prior to the Big Merge, which will be the biggest test of our marriage to date ). I was very surprised that DH threw away all
of his old VHS videos without me nagging him. He must have been sniffing glue or something - this is not the man I married.

Fluffy is that the kitchen floor that you have finally finished tiling?

Wreck, have replied, thanks so much

Snuggly I definitely don't blame the teachers! Funnily enough my friend said her dd didn't have the homework? It's done now though.

Wild Your glasses sound gorgeous! I have thick black frames with white sides. They are Specsavers own brand though, only cost me about £30 after my NHS voucher.

Snuggly I think 4 is way too young to start school to be honest. Lots of other countries they don't start until nearer 6 and I think that's much more reasonable. So I'm not surprised you and Seacow are nervous about the little ones starting. 4 is sooo young especially if birthday is late in the year like my sister - her reception teachers used to say she wasn't naughty or anything but just sort of sat in her own world singing to herself half the time . Not that it did her any harm, she has not long finished her banking apprenticeship and has just successfully applied for a promotion to a supervisory role and she's not even 18 yet . But I think kids should be allowed to be kids as long as possible and there is so much learning to be done without sitting down and doing it formally.

Oops, typo, she's not 19 yet. She is definitely 18. She's not quite that successful .

We scraped ourselves together and went swimming, so £16 for 6 of us. It is so much easier now they're bigger, and can swim independently and change themselves (dp takes care of ds), so I had a good time and even did a few lengths. And I remembered to bring snacks so no stopping off.

Crispy fried chicken and chips for tea. Have just found the lunch bags I meant to wash, so will shove them in with the cossies and towels, hope they dry by the morning.

Our primary school (nursery to year 6 on one site) is ace, so-so ofstead wise, but the kids go at their own pace, and the teachers are lovely. Change of head in September, so I hope it stays the same.

Yes sea. Floor ✔️

Just got to seal the grouting, put decorators caulk on top of the tiled skirting boards, put the doors back on, put the skirting boards back on, the kick boards, prime & paint the skirting boards & fill & touch up the kitchen walls 😩🔫

Snuggly you'd be surprised how many home educators are ex teachers :(

I agree 4 is too young especially for summer babies, DS was 4 literally a week before starting school and yet had the same expectations on him as kids who had already turned 5, it was hard for him.

Good woman, Fluffy. In awe of your DIY skills.

Spends: £25 weekly bus ticket, £30 on a top, and a choker for my sister for her birthday, and £56.15 altogether on a day out in Newcastle. We had a lovely lunch in Rossopomodoro in John Lewis and then went to the Life Centre. The Lego exhibition is great, Life and Knitting. I think it's on until May.

I won't say too much about schools, only I am not at all impressed with the pastoral care for DS at his school. I presume it's even worse at all the secondaries that don't have the faciliates, resources and advantages that come with a school that is consistently rated oustranding.

outstanding*

Cag, we often say at school that we should club together to home ed our kids!

I was wondering if it was worth the money crème. Might jump on the train one weekend and have a look.

Few spends for wbd costume, under £20

Ow me back.
Driving to Whitby has set it off again.

I agree schools no longer have time to have fun.

I achieved a nsd.

Creme

Dh does most of it, I do passing of screws & painting. I get stuck in though, I don't want to be a dead weight iyswim.

Teamwork, Fluffy.

Nsd here.

Dinner with dm. She's given us a huge bag of leftovers. So probably won't need to do a shop this week

Snuggly Do you think it would be any better if I took ds out of the state sector and into the least academically ambitious independent school I could find? It would be expensive, but we could manage it if it would solve the problem. I hate to think of him slogging through mock SATs in year 5 and actual SATs in year 6. The other day I was honestly ready to just get on a train instead of taking him to school.

Thanks for everyone's saving priority ideas.

I think mortgage overpayments will be my priority but will look at upping my pension contributions.

Anyway, started writing a job application for somewhere new so may just lurk this week on the thread until it is done. Undecided whether to also apply for a temporary job at work but last time I felt so rejected that I think I'd better not. It's also a job like the one that made me ill with stress and I've never been the same since. I think just writing that down has made that decision a no for me!

Also blue (I think) I will join you in a very frugal first week of the month.

Hi all another busy day am feeling rather worn out! So went to Morrison's and spent £61, we needed lots though so have stocked up quite a bit. Had lunch there which was £10.

My brother has managed to break both of his arms 😲 he came off his mountain bike, we are all trying to club together as he is going to need help doing everything 😱

I agree re the schools expectations becoming more and more ridiculous, bloody Tories 😬