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.

Need I really wasn't prepared for it but she was hard work compared to my sleepy baby only because she needed me to do things with/for her and he didn't. Nowadays I prefer whoever is being better behaved at the time

It's really interesting to hear what people feel on the arrival of a second baby. My dm has been telling me what her friends feel on the arrival of a second grandchild and she is really shocked at how partisan some of them are towards one baby or another. It must be hard to try to be equally nice to each baby when their natural feelings are not necessarily helping them out.

Love all this baby chat, although not feeling as broody as normal as the baby downstairs woke me up twice last night screaming the place down so I had an awful night's sleep, it screamed for an hour between 4 and 5 am! And it's screaming a lot now too and the dad is going ballistic and shouting loads too to add to the noise -.- I do feel for the parents though. But it stops my broody feelings haha. I actually had a dream about my baby cousin last night as well, I miss her loads. She is about 18 months old and the sweetest little thing.

Well DH just rang the DWP to start the Mandatory Reconsideration notice and the woman on the phone was sooo snotty, I thought he was gonna shout at her he was getting so wound up. But he stayed calm. And he has also put in a complaint about my decision because the implications that me being "intelligent" mean I can't be disabled is really insulting and ableist. And we've requested a copy of the Capita assessment report too. God knows how many months this will all take. The first time I applied for PIP I got enhanced rate of both components and that was only about 3 years ago. I was expecting less this time as my depression is much better but my anxiety is still crippling. They gave me zero points for 'mixing with people' and zero points for 'planning and following a journey'! They said I can mix with people because I could answer the assessor's questions. Even though I had to have the assessment at my own home with DH present or I wouldn't have been able to go to it at all, which I did tell her .

Missed both my morning classes today as well due to anxiety, in no doubt precipitated by yesterday's PIP decision. It has such a knock-on effect on your mood, it's so painful basically being told you are lying about your ill-health. I felt properly suicidal last night. But it's a new day today and the sun is shining so I just need to keep plodding on I guess. Thank you all for your support and kind words I appreciate it.

Today should be an NSD for me. Oh and my brand new laptop from Disabled Students' Allowances arrived!

They really are a complete joke, Meadow. There is a high rate in terms of decisions being overturned though.

CAB were quite useful if you are able to get help from them.

Meadow my heart goes out to you suffering this while you're trying to do your best and get an education so that you can earn and support yourself and your future family

cag I'm really intrigued with what's happening with your dd regarding seeing her bully. My dd is very anxious with regard to being away from me or me going out at the moment. But last night I wondered if it's just a phase of trying to control me. I went to my weight loss class, collected her from her dance & drama class and took both her 6.5 and ds 3 with me. Ds sat happily listening to 'hit the diff' on my phone using headphones despite the chair he was sitting on collapsing and upending him and having fallen asleep for last 3 mins of journey. Dd however complained of being bored, which I rectified with paper and a pen to draw a picture, then once finished that she complained of being bored once more, threw a strop and cried and sobbed her way through the talk. I used to be the leader of this class so I was mortified by her behaviour. I didn't want to give in and leave as I don't want to give her the upperhand in these situations or have her think if she turns on the waterworks she will change our plans or my decision regarding something.

Meadow I'm so sorry you're going through this, what a horrible, heartless system.

Dd is meeting a friend at the gym this afternoon. This probably wouldn't be a big deal for most 12 year olds but she has low level sensory issues and has always struggled to make friends. The move to high school and the support & counselling she had in Y6 have combined to transform her life. She is literally jumping with excitement to have a friend to "hang out" with. It has brought me near to tears to see her so happy. Ds has always been very laid back and makes friends easily. He drives me mad at times with his lack of drive or laziness!! Interesting that a lot of their personality traits were evident from a very early age so I would say much more nature than nurture.

Apart from that, I've been busy today. The washing is all done and being line dried for the first time in 2017. Meals all planned and shopping lists done for the next 10 days based on meat & fish that's already in the freezer. I've been to Booths for some of it this morning, will send dh to Aldi with a list tomorrow. I'm back to work tomorrow after a lovely week off, but I'm going to be working my usual 3 days next week plus the weekend so hence the forward planning.
Haven't heard from our friend about the computer yet so keeping fingers crossed that it's something simple.

Welcome back, Rafal. I haven't seen you on any of the tennis threads either, for a while.

At long, long, last, I've got my £101 cashback for switching to the Co-op Bank last April. Good things come to those who wait, eh?

NSD in cash terms, but I've bought a ring on eBay for £19.95 on eBay and train tickets to Leeds for a day out next week for £31.35.

I'm not sure why eBay has come up as a clickable link in my post.

That's a nice cash boost creme but what a long wait for it.

Our meal plan:
Today chicken with BBQ sauce (dd making)
Fri spaghetti with sausage meatballs in tomato sauce (ds making)
Sat Lasagne (made with bolognese left over from yesterday)
Sun. Meal out with my parents (their treat)
Mon. Chicken fajitas
Tues. chicken curry
Wed. Jacket potatoes

Meadow North sums it up, what a callous system.

North What lovely news about your DD. I would be pretty emotional too. Hope she's had a super time.

Mammy I get that re your DD, from the outside I would have done the same. I know that no 2 situations are similar but I think pretty firm boundaries are definitely a positive thing. I was really strict on routine and discipline but obvs this might not apply to your DD. Funnily enough, I am really chilled now, but think that's because of the previous expectations of behaviour.

Wrecked I like the one who is behaving the best too [grin. Joke...but no child is the same and no child needs the same at the same time, as my wise Mil says.

Great news of the cashback Creme.

DH has won £30 on the lottery, he bought a random ticket for the first time in years!

Occ health are being difficult. They want evidence that I've had my BCG. I don't have a scar and I had it done at school so there's no record on my notes

Nsd. Lent my friend £10 but I'll get that back tomorrow.

Wreck could you contact school? Maybe they keep records/know who does. My scar is almost invisible now, I'd need a suntan to show it.

Slightly spend day, will catch up properly later.

Adora it was 15 years ago was a grammar school now an academy, they won't have a clue. I've often wondered why the vaccinations done at schools don't get put into medical notes, it doesn't make any sense.

Wreck that's really strange when the kids are not getting the BCG these days. I was given it the day after birth and again at primary school so it really stood out to me that ds is not due to have it at all. I suppose someone must have recorded your BCG once upon a time, but it could be quite a hunt looking for the records.

need we've never disciplined dd (she's 6.5) because she's never needed it, she's always been good, done what she's told, been polite etc.
Ds (3) on the other hand, has got the odd smack, been shouted at, and had his toys removed
Last night we both sat down with her and told her that this behaviour couldn't carry on, and that it made things harder for me to enjoy myself or have some free time when she behaves like this. We also culminated with, if this behaviour continues there will be punishments.

Ipso I think it's odd too, if I was a few years younger I wouldn't have even had it done.

Dd1 is having a big mass injection (boosters of all the usual with some meningococcal ones thrown in I might gave just scanned the consent form very briefly first day back after half term. She's y9. Guess this used to be the BCG?

Just £10 in the coop, but I did buy a scratchcard, first since Christmas. Having deep fried pizza pickets for tea, as not enough bolognaise sauce to go round, so having mini calzone pizza instead.

I think so Knitting, I recall DD having similar.

Em Some of the new season Hush summer dresses would be amazing for a tall pregnant lady............. so cool and comfortable....

I might just have spent a lot at Hush, just to try on (hopefully...)!

There are tennis threads? Well I never. you'll never see me over there, I can't use a bat

North I would be emotional too. It's amazing to see your children take the next steps, and especially when you know they have had to overcome fear or difficulty to do so.

I sometimes have to discipline DS but very seldom. Most of his 'bad' behaviour is anxiety related, which needs a different approach (and not punishment), but occasionally he is just being plain naughty and testing me! When I do it is usually confiscating a favourite toy for a bit (but not his attachment teddy /toy, as that would just be really distressing for him). I don't think I am too soft as he is very sensitive and feels even a light-touch punishment very keenly. Horses for courses!

Meadow I am sorry that the PIP result has make you feel so bad - that is awful. Obviously crack on with the appeal, but in the meantime try not to take it to heart too much. The people who make these decisions don't really know you so why should their views (e.g. About how truthful they think you have been) affect how you feel about yourself? Hopefully they will review everything properly at appeal and come to the right conclusion. It is certainly odd, and indefensible, that they should cite intelligence as meaning you are not adversely affected.

Had a lovely day with my friend and her little girl and DS was on good form and good with having strangers in the house, unusually. He is firmly in my good books. I am ready for a nap now. Zzzzzzzzzzz

Oh Meadow big big hugs. I had missed it in your first post but you're right that is horribly ableist! My dad is the cleverest man I know but can he function on his own? Nope (but the GP won't even refer him because "he's too old" 😡). I'm an intelligent person but I can't manage a lot of normal everyday stuff even without my physical issues. It worries me filling in the form - I've been told I'm very eloquent with that sort of thing but what people don't see is the hours of pain (mental and physical) that go into writing that stuff.

Mammy it is difficult knowing what goes through a kid's head. I feel so lost with it all! But with the whinging etc I still give boundaries because even if there are different reasons for her behaviour she still needs to learn to contain it because she still has to learn to live in a neurotypical world.

Seacow You strike me as an extremely capable parent, I absolutely promise. Extremely practical and calm. Sure you have your moments but you seem entirely sensible to me

I seem to have fallen off all my long term threads, Creme. Must do better at keeping up.

You don't need to be able to use the bat scarecrow just watch other people. I'm hopelessly unco-ordinated. I'd probably fall over the bar, the ball or my own feet.

Would occ health give you a blood test for immunity, Wreck. I have wonky MMR records and they were happy enough once they'd tested me rather than getting me to have the vaccine again.

That's amazing that so many of you rarely have to discipline your kids. Great too. My ds was born wanting to be in charge so we have a sort of constant dialogue going on about where the line is. I was totally prepared for this because a lot of the men in my family are corporate management types, and I know they have to cut their teeth on someone. It's very interesting watching a corporate manager growing from nothing though.

About vaccines: I know that when I was in school we had the polio/diphtheria one in yr 6 or 7, and then a few weeks or months later, we had the BCG, which is a vaccine against tuberculosis.

It's odd that the BCG has been dropped as I know tuberculosis is still an issue in London.

Rafals I think it's a skin prick test they can do? It's annoying though I just wish I could hand my notice in and get going! Interestingly enough the nurse wanted to ask my about my diabetes but not the progressive neuromuscular disease I have. She probably didn't know what it was