Money-managing Masterfully into May - Frugaleers unite!

[needastrongone]

Thread continued for old faithfuls, new posters and anyone else that would like to contribute.

Financial talk, tips and discussion, with quite a lot of other stuff too.

We are a friendly bunch and there's lots of support for new and old.

Thanks Life. Know what you mean, but I think I'd quite enjoy it. Something to belong to iykwim.

Great news about your paper sunny

cag I'm guessing your lady has had a loss of some sort. Hideous, but you can't go around saying hateful things to others you can think them if you must but not out loud It costs nothing to be nice, whatever has happened.

So far, a nsd. Got spag bol (mostly lentil) out ofthe freezer for tea. Feel a bit tetchy. Not sure why. Will take the dogs out on the bike later to see if it makes me feel better.

Opted for a stretchy dress and boots today instead. Why I hadn't thought of dress and jacket before I'll never know.

Conference was good. Lots of ideas batted around and a huge bag full of freebees (pens notepads key rings and such).

Lunch was amazing. It was at a lovely hotel here so they did a full hot buffet with dessert buffet. Yay!!!

cag yes. I picked names yesterday. A boy name and a girl one. Luckily dh agrees. They're sensible names. And named for grandparents. The first girl name is a common first name of three of our four grandmas and the middle is my other g-ma. The boy one is my two grandads names. Traditional, all work with our surname and super cute.

I met a lady at the conference who I thought was pregnant. When we happened to be in the toilet at the same time I told her I liked her dress hoping she'd say it was a maternity one (she did). So I asked her where she was shopping. We've swapped emails as she's about three weeks ahead of me and she's going to send me links.

I know these things are for professional networking but I may have made a new friend.

Cag. It must be difficult, and you are being very understanding, but you also need to protect yourself and your own emotions, you are a sensitive soul. Like you say, at least you will be busy with lots of other stuff and you attendance at the group might naturally fizzle out.

Seacow You have had a challenging day in the extreme. I wish you could have a gin or a small glass of wine, in fact, have one if it helps. I'm sorry your DS had to go through that experience but as you said, needs must.

Sunny That's great news about the paper. And brilliant news about Beavers. DS went from age 6 until only last year and only finished as he needed to get the D of E done this year so went through school. The Scouting movement has served us well over the years and I am so appreciative of all the helpers, their dedication and commitment is wonderful.

Snuggly My friend had twins of 15 months and then had another baby, trips out were hard, she used the car most of the time, even to go to the park. But she did have a massive garden that she turned into a child heaven as an alternative. We all used to go there for coffee as it was easier for her and she got some social time in!!

I'll read back thoroughly later, it's been a busy day. Spends.
£60 dog groomers.
£15 Aldi
£58 M&S.

I've also agreed to be on the committee for the running club. It's a small but growing club and has already given me so much in a short space of time, including 2 people that I think real friendships will grow from. I do know my stuff in this regard having done committee work at my previous club and obviously know a thing or two about running so it's a good natural fit on both sides. I haven't 'given' back for a while so this is my chance to do so.

Awww Em how lovely! With the names and the new mum friend. Yay! :)

Lonely thank you it's infertility. So it is hideously painful for her when others get pregnant etc. What complicates things is that I am one of the only people in our wider group who knows that she adopted her DC. So later on I expect everyone will be like awww isn't it great Cag's having a baby etc because they won't realise how horrible that is for her - and it's going to be really hard for her hearing that.

I am very grateful for the kind comments. Sometimes I don't really know what's reasonable and what isn't. TBH I know I'm going to get a lot of judgement anyway for this far-from-ideal pregnancy but I do agree, kindness (or at least thinking bad thoughts to oneself) costs nothing. We've had a whole lot of bitching from DH's family too and I would really just like to enjoy this pregnancy without feeling like DH and I are bad people for being excited about our little Cagletini! I'm grateful and glad I can be excited here.

Anyway. Chilled afternoon here playing a whole load of Chopin on the piano, and now catching up on Masterchef. Making me hungry though. :o

Cag You are too nice. It's very exciting when someone has a baby.

Sunny Well done. That's quite the achievement.

Em All three of my grandmas were called Doris. I couldn't have used a family name. It's lovely you bonded over clothes rather than be catty. I only attract catty types as friends . Usually nutty substance abusers to boot.

£6 hydrocortisone cream and table sauces.
£46 Aldi 😳
£10 petrol
£4.65 lidl steak.

Goodness, Sunny, having you paper published is one thing that is amazing in itself. But doing it self funded at home is eye wateringly good. And to be on the cover as well. I hope you are very proud.
And Beavers sounds exciting for you both. It's great that DS liked it.
Seacow, what a day! Definitely appeal. They will have the time that the payment kicked in on their records so I think you will be successful. My friend is the consultant to all London for all parking (you are outer London, aren't you?) and he tells me that 50% of all parking appeals in London are granted. Don't forget and tell them about DS and how distressed he was. I have appealed twice in London and been successful.
Em, that's lovely about the grandparents' names. I bet they are very proud. Funny, somehow I thought you might choose MIL's name😀😀😀
Need, I bet you will be great on the committee and it is good to "give back". I do lots of voluntary work for the charity I am involved with. Most of it is committee stuff.
Cag, I don't care what that woman has or has not got. There is absolutely no excuse for rudeness or nastiness. And she has DCs. Adopted ones count for God's sake. Enjoy your pregnancy. We are all pleased and excited for you. Take no notice of her.
£1 on cup of tea with friend.

Need we are aiming to do that with our garden to make the summer easier!

Thanks copper and everybody else on the kind words about my paper. I am quite proud, but almost nobody in RL knows about it, so it's lovely that you all can be pleased for me. I wish I could show you it, but that would out me pretty comprehensively.

Cag sorry to hear about the home ed group.

Me too Snuggly! I don't have twins but still so much easier... I'll just bake a few cakes and let people come to us!

Right, I have just spent a tedious hour sorting out my electric tariff for next year (gas lpg so can't dual fuel). Ffs what a polava. Basically it boils down to staying with the coop fixed for another 12 months.

But it's gone up so much. From £86 to £125 a month but it was more expensive everywhere else. I checked u switch, mse etc. This was a tariff for existing customers only. So I dunno. Also signed up to the midlands (I think) coop that do the elec, so will get rewards back for that. Bleugh. Horrid job. But done.

Before the frugaleers I had never even checked my tariff, let alone switched!!

**we use a lot of electricity, 2800kwh per quarter.

When we lived rurally Dh worked with a nieghbour whose lpg was £500 a month.

I don't know what her electric was. 5 bed detached on the edge of a field.

Lonely, I am in the same position. Tried to swop but the tariff from co op was the best. Mine has gone up as well. I am trying to cut down but am already very frugal. Everything gets turned off at the socket, cooker, microwave, radio , everything. And I always turn lights off.
Trouble is DP and family like to compete with Blackpool illuminations! Still they are not here all the time.
Well done Snuggly on taking all 3 out for an hour on your own. It would have taken me an hour to get them all ready!

Good going, Snuggly. Thewaitresses, don't feel guilty about your coffees out either. Getting out of the house with 3 deserves a small treat.

Sorry to hear about your day, Seacow. Tomorrow will be better.

Any news on DPony, Need?

NSD. I've done loads of deep cleaning jobs today. Loads. I bet I pay for it tomorrow, but at least the house is sparkling and they're all the sort of jobs that are very few months or annually, in my case!

Nope. Absolutely not mils name. Sadly only one grandparent is left 😭 But she'll be happy we've used her name.

I took myself by suprise when I asked the lady about her dress. It's not something I'd usually do. Guess I'm getting brave in my old age! Haha!

NSD - I am amazed! But it does mean I didn't go to the supermarket like I had planned.

DH has to be in London in his office on Saturday afternoon so we are all going to go. He has a season ticket and the children are little enough to be free so just a ticket for me. We are going to go to the NHM but I need to find somewhere cheap for lunch between there and Canary Wharf (where DH works). I'm going to take the boys to the Docklands Museum while DH works, it's free and looks good for little ones. We are going to go on the cable car, that will be fun. I am hoping it won't be too spendy. Lunch at the NHM would be very pricey I think.

Blimey this keeps moving so quickly, I'm struggling to keep up.
need that's why I am on the cricket club committee, we get so much from it, it's my chance to give back.
sunny well done on getting published
I've had a busy but productive day today. The cricket season starts now & so I've been getting the cupboards stocked up so that we've got lots of options for quick meals and snacks. The cricket takes over, ds is playing on Saturday and Sunday, dd is going to be scoring both days so her iPhone fund will be growing!
Went to the gym this morning and did a workout that my personal trainer had sent through. When I looked at it initially I didn't think I'd be able to manage it, but in actual fact I did & was proud that I did. Also I weighed again this morning and have lost another 2kg making 8 in total so far, 31 to go!

Yay em! :) You might find pregnancy/baby gives you a little more confidence in that regard - it can be a natural ice breaker. I remember being amazed at myself for asking a mum about her pram which resulted in a conversation, I was like "OMG go me, I just talked to an actual stranger in a shop!" :o I would never have done that before DD. I'm the type of person who flushes bright red if people even look at me!

Did you and DH agree on whether to find out the sex by the way? :)

I am annoyed as I can't sleep, been awake since 4 despite no caffeine at all yesterday! Will grab breakfast and catch up with the remaining episodes of Masterchef. I have never seen so many fondant potatoes in my life. Anyone here make them?

Sunny hope you didn't take my post the wrong way. I'm all for scouts being a leader myself. It makes me laugh when they try and recruit helpers by saying it's only an hour a week.

Yeah you em on the names and the chit chat.

Any reward for getting our of the house with twins and more should be had.

Cag, in as gentle way as possible, it's her issue not yours. Yes she will be upset but better no need to be rude. Ditto family.

I love hearing people's news and exciting times.

Gonna be spending today as out shopping but have lots of vouchers.

cag yes. We're finding out if we can. Yay!!!

Life I didn't at all, I know you're quite right. What section do you lead? Iooking forward to getting some training as I hope it will help me communicate with ds better.

Pay day today. Woohoo.

Haven't done this for a while so ac balances:

My ac £300
Joint ac £1347.87
Cc: £141 (have just thrown £200 against it so this is the cleared balance)
Penny save ac: £33.67

Have almost £10k saved up 😮😳 next payday will tip the balance over the magic £10k figure. Yay! All to be funnelled against my pension, house and baby. Hooray.

Sadly the pony fund has had to take a back seat. 😂😂😭😭😭😭🐎🐎🐎

That's good sunny. I'm a beaver leader and also help at cubs when the need arises.

Well done on the saving em.

That's a great savings milestone em At least if you find a house that needs immediate work you can do it without borrowing.

Am no good at volunteering, as I find I can't speak very frustrating but I am involved with our cycling club, do all the signing in, timings etc, so it is getting better. If I could give one gift to my dc it would be the confidence I have lacked.