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.

I didn't like dsis so much when she was born.

I remember asking to take her back. And also remember drawing on the living room wallpaper with crayons pushing her next to it and then telling on her. In the hopes I suppose that she's leave.

My three year old brain didn't think it through. I also threw my space hopper at her head when she was 1. It rebounded and almost knocked me out. My dad said it was hilarious.

Bloody hell em, does she always make you walk down the stairs ahead of her?

Not any more. We're like besties now.

I had gotten used to being on my own with my parents though. So having her around sort of cramped my three year old style.

I'm getting a terror baby aren't I. Karmas going to seriously kick my ass on this one

I've just been sent a video on YouTube.

If you want a "wtf" moment. Or a bit of a giggle YouTube "cyber punks dance to Thomas the tank engine". I've watched it 4 times.

Oh Girlie you poor brother.

NSD!

Is it child friendly em or have I to wait for dc to be in bed?

It's fine mammy just a bunch of cyber goths in neon outfits dancing to Thomas.

Em dc is always watching grown men dressed as superheroes doing weird things. He loves it.

£24 swimming lesson which I didn't realise was tonight until thirty mins before the lesson which is twenty minutes away...

Exactly Fluffy its ridiculous, have just got back from seeing him and he can't use his right hand or arm at all. The left is better but still strapped up and very swollen, apart from anything else he is in pain and really worn out from it. He has told work he will def be off until after the fracture clinic appointment which is a week tomorrow.

Had a busy evening, had to take girl cat to the vets, her breath has been stinky for a few days and the vet took one sniff and said 'yep thats an infection' so she has a course of antibiotics. Should have cost £51 but they told me I was in credit through boy cats insurance so actual cost was £25. Also picked up some bits for the hamster £6.

Feel like i am living in a zoo atm as we have also gained my dads dog for a couple of weeks dd is delighted and so excited, she has also promised me faithfully that she will be up early to walk him before school!!

The cats are looking decidedly peed off

Had great plans for evening when dh would be gone to his evening activity & dc would be in bed for 8 I was going to enjoy a chick flick for my birthday.
Ds has whinged & whined since 7 & only shut up stopped now that he's asleep. Tesco haven't arrived yet & I'm worn out already.

Think It'll be bed after putting away shopping

The school will just have to cope without him, Girlie. Health comes first.

I also wasn't keen on my new sister aged 3. I wanted her to be called Leanne and she was called something different, so I announced, "I don't like her. Send her back". I only really started liking her when she was 3 and I was 6, so it only took 3 years, Snuggly.

Spends for today: £16.82 top-up shopping and £35 for 5 Pilates classes.

Oh and £2 on a doughnut and latte from Greggs for breakfast.

YIPPEEEEE Broadchurch time!!! :o :o :o

No spoilers cag. I won't see it until later

I was 2 when my brother was born, so I don't remember that, but my parents say I loved him and loathed him in equal measure depending on my mood. My sister was born when I was 4 and a half which I do remember and I decided on a name I wanted her to be called and my parents actually called her that! Infamous story in our family.

Love all the animal posts. I want a dog so bad but DH says no not until at least we have relocated in summer and then he'd consider it again. (Crossing fingers!)

I am eating rolos.

Seacow My dad tried to teach me to ride a bike when I was 11. I managed to ride up and down a bit but all shaky and unconfident and found it super stressful as he used to get frustrated with me about it as well. Never been on a bike since, don't think I would be able to balance to ride at all now. I would like to try again sometime with DH as my teacher but then bikes are an expensive investment if it turns out I can never learn to be confident enough to ride on the road. Plus I would rather focus on trying to learn to drive.

Watching Crimewatch now, it's a special about child sexual abuse. Utterly heartbreaking stories.

Meadow I won't cycle on roads (well, not with real amounts of traffic on anyway). Still glad I can ride one because it was an integral part of my childhood, but it's not so relevant now that I live in a city (and am scared of traffic and fat and unfit ) . I just want DS to have the chance and to not feel left out if others have bikes. He may always use it as a balance bike but that's okay. And if he doesn't like it, at least we tried!

It was very cute, I showed him a picture of a red and blue one and asked what he liked. He was adamant he liked the blue one. He has never chosen between two options before ❤️.

Watching Broadchurch here too. We so rarely watch things in real time that I had forgotten how annoying it is to have to watch adverts!

Oh I meant to say that if you did want to have another go at cycling second hand bikes can be picked up pretty cheaply round here, probably everywhere. It doesn't have to be a big investment. Your DH sounds lovely, he might be a great and patient teacher. But probably only worth it if you think you might enjoy it as a leisure activity.

But meadow you could learn in a park & cycle there instead of on the road. I can cycle but don't like to cycle, and I cycled lots as a teen as a means of getting to my part time job but in the countryside, I couldn't cope with cycling in a big town at all so bike never got used in college.

I think I would like to learn, to do cycling with DH because he cycles and it would be awesome to do cycling on holidays and stuff with him, I know he'd love that. Maybe one day. However for now I want to focus on swimming and then driving. DH taught me to swim last year but since we moved back to the UK we literally haven't been swimming once - so not until June! We used to go every week in France as we lived 10 minute walk from a pool and it was really cheap. We were just saying the other week we need to start going back again so I can improve and do more than just an awkward, bit splashy, length .

I also think I'm going to bite the bullet and start driving lessons after I graduate if we can afford it because it's really going to limit my job prospects if I can't drive. I don't know if I will be able to learn but going to try automatic and hopefully I'll get there eventually.

I'm sure your DS will love the bike Seacow. I think I didn't enjoy it as I was older than most other kids who could already ride by that point and my dad is not the greatest teacher as he gets frustrated quite quickly! So I'm sure your DS will enjoy it more. It's funny, I find it hard to make decisions a lot as well, I didn't know that was an autistic thing (or maybe its not??).

Just catching up and checking in. Will post properly tomorrow.

Em I have several friends who are quite A-type and they did all produce terror babies so it might be good to brace yourself. Fluffy LOL about the stairs.

£12.99 on a flu vaccine that makes me feel crappy is not a very satisfying use of cash. Hopefully they are right about the 2 days thing.

Meadow I love that you are eating Rolos. I haven't had one in years.

NSD planned today.
It's payday. Getting costs for a new boiler today too though.

Today will be a NSD & despite my intentions of getting up when alarm went off I've been mumsnetting & now have 15 mins to get dressed make dd & my lunches, check & sign her homework, grab something for breakfast & find my work clock in card

Reason bed is much warmer than getting up

Good to know ipsos. Lucky I'm not an A type I guess.

Dentist this morning. Goodbye eleventy million pounds.