The Mighty Frugaleers Meticulously March into March

[WreckTangled]

New thread. Sorry for lame title

Meadow I read that as posh 'suite' instead of suit, I was wondering how a posh sofa would help
Good luck with the mandatory reconsideration, I receive pip and know how stressful the whole process is, I imagine even if someone didn't need it before they certainly would by the end of the process! Lots of people win through MR and appeals so fingers crossed for you.

The bean salad was really nice, bit hard going, took me a long time to eat it. Yes, cookies not brilliant (the pistachio and almond ones). I will not snack tonight, and only had 2, so 238 calories (thats quite a lot tor 2 cookies), dp had 7! One left. I'm guessing the orzo pasta salad wasn't enough for him!

So relieved about the school place. We are in catchment by 6 houses, it ends at the end of our village. We are 9.7 miles away from it, and out of county (so no bus until year 9). dd2 is thrilled!

£2 new cups in homebargains
£1 choc covered rice cakes.
£2.50 new ear plugs
50p teabags.

My spray tan machine arrived but the free solutions were missing so their sending them out seperately.

Thanks for well wishes re the school, its a relief as dd will be able to walk and it specialises in arts and drama which is right up dds alley!! Going to be a big change for us both though, no more childminder or after school club, she will be coming home and chilling by herself until I get back from work - feel a bit anxious about it but no real alternatives once they get to secondary age!!

So had an o.kay day, got petrol £40 and also picked up milk and juice, £3.

Day off tomos and just seen the weather is meant to be lovely so thinking I will take the dog out somewhere nice. The cats are still disgusted by him but they are getting on o.kay i think, ddog seems paranoid that the cats are after his toys/ bones and he constantly moves them about depending on where the cats are the cats look at him like WTF

Not sure if I mentioned but girl cat has an infection in her mouth, she has started antibiotics but is looking quite sad bless her.

Bonsoir mes amis.

Ended up going out with my friend today.

£11.50 primark on some holiday bits.
My friend bought me a swimsuit as she owes me some money so took it off of that however I think it looks shit on me and doesn't cover enough of my saggy bum 🍑🍑
£8 in tiger on three travel games which I've hidden for on the plane.

Dinner was frugal as used up odds from the fridge (although planned) spaghetti, pesto, asparagus, olives, cherry tomatoes and feta. Dd doesn't like it but ds did pretty well.

Evening all - welcome to the other blue!

Good news to people with school placements! It's a different system in NI, high schools or grammar, have to do an entry exam for grammar, other than those places being academically competitive, where we are there arent problems with oversubscription and you can apply anywhere you like. We have applied for DS to start primary one in the same school where he is in the attached nursery, hopefully there wont be any probs - should find out around easter time I think.

NI election tomorrow so DS school is closed to become a polling station. Not sure what we will get up to - maybe go change our library books.

£2 today in the pharmacy who were doing 2x 4 packs of cushelle loo roll for £2 which I thought was good
£3.20 in the shop on bread, milk and a pack of biscuits
£1 toddler group

Having a real down day today - dont know if it's the weather or if its that DS is going through quite an argumentative little phase... early nights all round. He's now being adorable and singing along to nursery rhymes on the TV with DD so i feel bad for being annoyed with him. Was feeling all tired and lazy and was going to suggest we go out for dinner to avoid cooking but gave myself a shake and made chicken curry and we baked a choc sponge and custard for afters. Glad we stuck to plan. I have a voucher for 2 free kids meals at a place locally which we might use at the weekend as a treat

Evening.

Long busy day.

Also discovered that petrol does not make me feel well. Had to ask a nice man to fill my car up for me he didn't pay for me though

So. Spends £43 petrol

£37 parking tickets

£10 Waitrose on bread milk pasta pasta sauce and fancy turkey for sandwiches.

I suddenly feel very sad about DD. We have had a really lovely day together today. We've played games, built towers, done crafts, made pizzas and she's helped with a few jobs. She's just been sweet and funny and adorable all day and next week her whole world will be turned upside down and I won't get to play with her all day with no interruptions again. She's in nursery for the next few days so I feel like today really was our last ever day just the two of us. I feel a bit tearful about it. Sorry I know I'm being ridiculous and we'll all just move on and adapt but I feel really sad today.
NSD though which is good!

Oh snuggly it's ok to feel sad. Just think about when she's able to play with the twins.

Big love.

Ah snuggly. Totally normal but she will love the twins and will love being your super special helper (getting wipes, feeding you biscuits etc). She will no doubt understand them before anyone else too

Thank you, it just feels like the end of an era and I didn't see it coming. I wish we'd had a few more outings in the last few weeks.
She will be a good helper, she loves to help with things!

look what the rolls Royce factory have done for my local hosoital

Hospital

Hello after a longish absence :) ( must be a few months now), that I've spent looking after myself and taking it easy. Ready to jump back on the frugaleer wagon. I'm sorry, I haven't caught up with any of your news, but I will :)

I think I got the hang of food shopping a bit better, it's strange cooking for two. But it's all good. :(

Can I join in? Very much struggling to make ends meet on a single income. Wasting money on junk food and tatt but can't afford house repairs.
What are the rules oh wise Frugaleers?

That last emoticon was meant to be a smiley face

Has your Dc left home 8?

Welcome horse, the rules are no frittering, packed lunches & meal planning.

Wow, Wreck, that's wonderful. I wish they had one in St Thomas' in London because DGS will be having major surgery there in the next few months. He'd love to ride to theatre in that car.....well any child would.
Need, the 3 peaks is really challenging. Are you doing it over one weekend?
Em😀 at you asking a man to help you fill up. Bet he was puzzled. You'll have to get DH to leave it full before he goes to NZ.
NSD. Put 4 wheelbarrows of horse manure on my new third raised bed and completely turned my compost. And covered it so it can be ready for next spring.

Welcome, Horse and welcome back, 8, lovely to see you again!

Hi horse I like listing my spends, as it makes me very aware of what I'm spending on. I have a default setting of "must fill a trolley at any supermarket" so shopping lists and planning is the way to go for me. But it is so hard

snuggly I don't remember this with dd1-2, but do with dd2-3. She went from a stable home, to having a new sister, to moving house in the space of 3 days. She was only 21 months and it set her back dreadfully- more from the move as she was very routiney and I blew it to bits, she always loved dd3. I still carry a lot of guilt. But I could not stay in the situation I was in. They adapt beautifully, and your dd(1?!) is little enough to never really remember not having the twins.

Ugh petrol. With me it was the smells of coffee, smoking, fuel and the taste of diet coke that made me heave.

Em I was obsessed with smells when pregnant. Nice ones obvs. I used to make Dh come with me to the supermarket to smell all the shampoos. Herbal essences were the best couldn't stand other smells mind.

Welcome back 8 hope you are still enjoying your new house

Welcome horse we don't have any rules as such we just find it helpful to post what we've spent and our money saving tips. We also talk a lot but don't worry if you can't keep up. We usually say to new people to make sure they've cancelled any unnecessary direct debits, got the best deals on electric and sky etc and joined topcashback.

I really do sympathise Snuggly I think I am going to feel the same about DS. It probably won't happen immediately but you will be able to carve out some 1:1 time again in the future. And other good things will replace some of that time you have now - friends with 2+ Kids have told me there is nothing more wonderful than seeing their children play together. File away your memory of a lovely day and savour it

This thread was so active last night it took a fair while to catch up and I am afraid my tired brain can't retain much! Welcome new Blue.

Good new about school places - must be a great relief. We get the primary school places next month so fingers crossed.

I can't even remember yesterday. Today has been a bit spendy - haircut and colour £90 + tip (this is outer London /local salon prices ). Then went into London to meet a friend for lunch. She's not local so haven't seen her for ages, it was fabulous to see her. We went somewhere naice, so £40 each. Then I went to John Lewis because I was nearby and bought some posh Chanel nail polish for DM birthday and a sheer lipstick for myself - had a voucher so no actual spend there. Then went up to baby dept and bought a pack of 3 lovely newborn babygros for baby (I have quite a few from DS but did want at least one pack where she looks like a girl!). Also a couple of bits for DS - a light for his microscooter as we scoot through an unlit bit of park on the way home from nursery; some solar system stickers and some interesting marbles that I can hide in hand putty. About another £30. Phew!

I did return some maternity clothes by post (just after the 28 days but hopefully they won't quibble) for £100ish so that will help.

After all that I picked DS up from nursery, showed him the light and attached it to his scooter but he got really upset and made he take it off again. Unfamiliar objects are clearly not acceptable on the scooter .

No cooking tonight. I have leftover soup from yesterday if I get hungry enough, DH is fending for himself.

Oh yes, on the soup recipe I posted the screen shot of yesterday (which didn't specify quantities): I made it with 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp strong chilli powder, 1 tsp ground coriander, 2 garlic cloves, 1 medium onion, 2 peppers, 2 tins black beans, salt and pepper and a good big handful of chopped chicken. Then added chopped avocado and hefty squeeze of lime at the last minute. Before adding the chicken to warm through I roughly blended the beans /veg soup bit to help the beans thicken the soup and the flavours combine. Just a few pulses with the hand blender so it was still very chunky. Was YUM, definitely a keeper and will feature regularly in our leftover chicken options. I think Doritos weren't necessary (Possibly wrong flavour - lime or salted would have been best but I couldn't get them locally, original flavour were a bit weird) but a swirl of sour cream would be a good enhancement for the future.

Cross posted with a few people.

Welcome Horse

Need are you doing the organised 3 peaks challenge that you do over a 24-ish he period, in teams with drivers etc? My dad did it a few years ago, he would have been almost 60 at the time. He was very fit and prepared well so he was fine but it is pretty hard and a lot of you fed people dropped out. You must be well tuff!

Wreck I love the car but want to see the road!

Em I usually have a good sense of smell but st the moment it is a superpower. This is a curse in London/on the tube, definitely not a blessing! It was the smell of feet (from someone who had taken her shoes off for SW weigh in about 8m away from me) that made me take the pregnancy test!

Ps DH has not noticed my haircut yet. Even though it is about 6" shorter (at shoulders, not diwn to bra) and straighter cos of blow drying. And no inch-long roots.

He is a bit useless.

Pregnancy does give you a superhuman sense of smell! Strangely I lost mine when it had a bad cold over Xmas and it still hasn't really returned. I'm paranoid that our house might smell of cat and I can't tell!

Thanks for lovely supportive messages, I know we'll be ok in the end!