Frugaleers saving and chatting through April

[SunnyLikeThursday]

Newbies welcome to join us for a bit of chat about budgeting, saving, paying off debt, and everything else that comes along.

Needs must cag but they really should let them stay in the waiting room, could you explain to the receptionist that you don't want to tell before an "all ok" scan? I know our surgery would be fine, but we don't live in a big city, I imagine your doctors is a smidge bigger than ours!

It was almost a nsd, but dp and I went for a cycle (20 miles along Hadrians Wall) and it was so windy we were knackered, so I bought emergency supplies for bacon and brie panninis when we got home. Cheaper than having lunch out. Back on my summer bike, I love it so much- the more time I spend riding it, the less time I have to shop.

And I dug out my 20 year old roller blades, dp has soaked the bearings and they're still good. So I'm going to pretend I'm 20 again and go out on them tomorrow and hopefully not break myself Dd1 has challenged me (she uses my uber expensive us import ones, never quite fitted my stupid feet grr), she feels a bit sorry for her dear old mother...I'm going to have to show her and probably put my hip out

Morning! Early start for me as I'm travelling for work today. Yesterday's spends were around £20 on taxis to/from a meeting, but related to running club stuff so hoping I can claim most of it back.

Need thanks! Sounds like you had a good race at the weekend, well done.

Cag sorry to hear about your relative.

copper I'd like to join a gym to supplement running training, but like you I'm worried about finding time to go. I was interested in people's personal training experience. Assume it's expensive, but at least I would know I would be getting something out of it.

Lonely sounds like a lovely bike ride. Makes me want to get out on my bike again!

Have a good day all!

Sorry for the messy friends, but you can get an idea of what freezer space I have. Right now it is being occupied by the ice cream.

I am dog throwing away a lot of fruits vegetables and meat. I will buy minced meat, chicken, and usually fish cakes or chicken nuggets.

On the first day I am might make tacos or wraps with either the chicken or minced meat and will have half left over.

Are usually buy the chopped vegetables or things that are easy to cut. I can't cut big carrots or potatoes so will just buy baby carrots or potatoes. Again I use half and find the rest spoils.

I live in North West London. I have never looked into using Iceland for delivery. Also what is midweek saving? I am also a little afraid of having deliveries after dark, which is when The cheaper slots are.

What did you put with your beef and chorizo in your slow cooker? Is there a way to buy a chopped chorizo? I have a very hard time cutting things.

Sliced chorizo can be bought from the deli counter in however much you want. I wonder if you might be better buying your meat like that too from the counter or a butcher. Not as cheap as the value stuff but cost less in wastage.
Your freezer is tiny but freezing flat will be your friend here. Also giving it a defrost. I have some small square tubs that i line with a freezer bag, freeze the food then take out of the tub and they are more stackable.

Of school with DS today.

You can get cubed chorizo for cooking in Waitrose, not sure about other places.

Cag surely they will let your DCs wait in the waiting room? They are not tinies and thee are plenty of appointments /conditions where people wouldn't want their children listening! Do you have to even ask or can you just go in? You'll only be there 5-10 mins at this stage unless it's your proper booking in appointment (but both times
Mine was separate to and after my initial appt re. Pregnancy). Hope it goes well.

Roller blades Lonely? Eek!

I would speak to reception cag. Ours will have a receptionist sit with them.

Get your ppe on lonely.

lonely roller blades? I miss skating. I have a pair of ancient quad skates. In Dec last year I was going to start roller derby to help with stress relief etc. Obviously I'm not now. But I miss skating so much.

christmas where does one buy cubed chorizo??

life freezing things flat? Why have I never thought of that? Clever stuff.

Hoping for nsd today too. Woohoo!

cag good luck at your appointment.

Thanks guys I think I'll phone up when it opens and explain. DH is absolutely convinced they won't let me so I'm worried about risking it in case they don't let me! They're good kids, they'd just sit with a sticker book or whatever and surely it won't take long just to chat with the midwife about dates (and presumably do another POAS test to confirm) and hopefully book a dating scan

Holly the midweek saver thing is something Tesco do where instead of being able to get free delivery any time (i used to pay £6 a month for that), you can only get them tues-thurs. I mean I guess I could still get one on a different day but I'd then have to pay delivery charge.

Interview day today. Ahhhh!

Will catch up when it's all over

Good luck bacon.

Em i have the square stackable boxes from Lakeland. I forgot the size but they hold 1 portion for adults or 2 DC size

Product number 15648, 400ml. Just looked it up

Oooh best of luck bacon 🌟

Currently number 27 in the call queue. Popular doctors.

Good luck, Bacon!

Seacow that does sound like a tough few days. I hope you are managing to rest when possible and take care of yourself.

Really annoyed, got two loads of washing done and it's just starting to rain. How long do I give it to see if it stops before I resort to the tumble dryer??

Good luck bacon!
Cag hope you get through soon and they let you keep dc's in the reception - lots of people would be in the same position not wanting children to overhear an appointment

Cag I leave dd in the waiting room now if I have to take her with me to the Drs for what ever reason, she normally just plays on my phone or reads a book. Can't see how they could insist you take them in with you, its your call.

Off to the vets in a min and seeing a friend this afternoon, trying not to think about going back to work tomos

Have been looking at holidays and have found a campsite in Devon where the tent is already up and there are camp beds and a camp fire already set up. Its £40 a night for mid August which seems quite reasonable, looks very family friendly. Am a bit nervous about going camping but dd is very keen!! I have always said no before as there is no way on Earth I could put a tent up by myself this seems a better option.

Well that was completely pointless. Got through to doctors and as suspected they said it'd be fine.

But DD was super upset and panicky that I'm seriously ill because normally she'd go in with me (anxiety sucks) and that made DH decide that the better option was to tell them, rather than let her panic.

So after all that, the kids know about the pregnancy anyway. I'm not convinced that was wise but can't take it back now. Just hope for their sake as well as ours that all is ok.

They're still going to wait in the waiting room though.

Ah cag you have to do what's best. Your children are a bit older, so will be intuitive, so sooner rather than later will probably be the best thing.

I feel sick.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Sorry cag I'm about to unscruff myself for my interview. Heels, tights and make up today!

Well it's important to unscruff yourself for special occasions :o hope it goes well!

DD as predicted is ecstatic, had to remind her it's early days and we need a scan to make sure everything is ok, DS was disgruntled at first (he really does not like babies, it's the noise!) but is happy about the prospect of having someone to teach about Transformers and Lego :)

Flowers, I am not eager on camping either. I can't stand insects! I grew up in very rural Florida and we had a huge spiders, cockroaches, snakes and alligators roaming around. I was a rainbow girl, the teenage equivalent of the Masons but for girls and we used to do activities. We went camping one weekend, and even though we were in a cabin with bunkbeds, the spiders came for us anyway

Bacon, I run my own very small charity and if it makes you feel any less nervous. I find interviewing people to be one of the harder parts of the job. Just be yourself . Good luck!

I don't mind camping but having everything set up is a godsend.

Ah cag, best laid plans eh. Hope your appointment goes well

Ahh well Cag I reckon the kids would have worked it out sooner rather than later, if they are anything like my dd they are nosy buggers!!

So dhamster has gone onto a better place, vet agreed it was a tumour and said the kindest thing to do at her age was to PTS. Dd sobbed bless her but understands it had to be done, apparently tumours are very common in hammys. Cost £30.

Went to Dun Elm for a cuppa and cake £4.50.

Picked up a container on a bit of a whim to make a small pond with at the bottom of the garden with, think it will make a nice feature in an otherwise unusable part of the garden. Cost £7.

Hello I can't stand insects either but am guessing the insects you get in places like America are much bigger and scarier than what you get in rural Devon - hope so anyway!!

All done. I survived and didn't cry. Ha ha. Not hopeful though but it was good interview practice