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.

GOOd luck wreck 😀😀😀👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Hope it goes well Wreck.
Sitting on train to London for meeting. Should have taken flask of tea. Frugal fail.

Good luck, Wreck!

I'm struggling today. DS cries every time I put him down. It's taken the whole morning to put away the shopping which arrived at 9 and to make and eat lunch (sandwich and salad, nothing tricky!). I'm wondering whether to put him down again as I'd really like a cup of tea. I don't want him to get used to sleeping on me as it's not really practical with the other two.

Sorry that has nothing to do with frugalling, I'm just venting. Should be NSD anyway.

Maybe he's coming down with something Snuggly?

Nice sunny morning here but there's a cold breeze.

Vent away Snuggly, sorry you are struggling. My DS was a Velcro baby and I found that very difficult for the first few months, manageable only because he was the only one I had to worry about! It's very hard to put down a baby that wants to be held.

I have just taken DS to his preschool and after an hour I left him there alone for the first time properly. He was upset when i said goodbye but it's better to pull the plaster off quickly, so to speak, rather than drag it on for days. Otherwise he will just get confused about it and not understand that it is like nursery, i.e. Mummy doesn't stay! Fingers crossed.

Ha, spoke too soon! Got called to pick up tearful DS early. Now he's home he's showing lots of signs of stress... still, we're getting there. I think I might be unfrugal and give him one of the new wooden trains I have bought 'from the baby'. He really tried, bless him.

Bit of amazon shopping too - bio oil and one of those mirrors you put on the back headrest to see a rear-facing baby. And some travel bottles to decant toiletries into. Just under £30.

Oh dear, Seacow, I'm sure he'll get there eventually.
The babies have swapped now. DS is asleep, DD2 won't settle. Thank goodness DD1 is at nursery.

While I'm feeding the babies I've been watching various videos on YouTube. Have found some called The Financial Diet. Some good advice, especially for younger people saving to buy first car, property etc.

Oh Snuggly, you are doing SO well. You probably don't think that you are, but you are, believe me.

Seacow I missed your post yesterday, thanks for the recipe link, using chestnuts in soup is not something I have done before, but it's so obvious written down! You are also right about my DH. I'm waiting it out at the minute.

You still did the right thing your DS I think. That's just my view but you are getting there slowly and your practical calm approach must be beneficial for him, even if you might not consider it so. Go on, give him the train!

Holly I train quite a lot, having had a very long break. 5/6 days a week, 4 running and 2 cross training. It's very difficult fitting it in, I understand that when you are busy for sure! This year is all about having fun and gaining fitness, and then in October I will settle down marathon train with a specific plan.

Copper Hope you had a good nights sleep. Yep, bi-polar can be tough for all of us. The BBC focus on mental health and the attention then royal family have given the matter has been brilliant this last week.

North Just want to say how brilliantly well you are doing with the exercise and weight loss, your motivation comes through in your posts.

Any news on DD Girlie.

Spends.
£30 M&S, called at reduction time and used my Sparks offers.

Menu plan for the week and beyond, all pulled from books, websites but using what we have, bar fresh.

Lentil and veggie bol.
Pulled pork in wraps
Pulled pork maybe in rolls with salad. (I might be a bit hopeful in getting 2 meals out of it with DS in the house)...)
Quiche.
Healthy chip butty.
Malay Chicken.
Beef in Guiness.
Chicken dinner.
Aubergine, pepper and tomato stew.
Chickpea, butternut squash preserved lemon and harissa tagine.
Sausage, egg and chips.
Gammon, home made wedges and veggies with an egg on top.
Salmon and noodles.

Hope you guys are all okay, feels like we have got back into the groove today after the Easter break.

Back from day out, was really good although I now have an epic headache and can't find any paracetamol! Got straight in my jammies :o Caglets are having their screen time now and then we are going to watch horrible histories. They are absolutely obsessed. Decided our first 'school' task of the term is to start learning the kings and queens in order (just the names I don't think I'm they're ready for the reign dates) because they do an annoyingly catchy song with every monarch since 1066.

Wasn't too spendy compared to my fears, as got a discount on entry and didn't actually spend any money once in, which surprised me. There was loads to do without paying extra.
So £17 entry, £12 train, £20 taxis (3 journeys), £3 bus fares (need to renew bus passes)

Sorry the session didn't work out today seacow it happens with so many children though, hopefully next time will be better :)

I hope you got a bit of peace in the end snuggly

Oooh that meal plan need - le yum! What pray tell is in the healthy chip butty?

I was wondering about the chip butty too!

Posted a parcel to a friend, £3ish but That was it I think.

Ha!

It's a recipe from the JO latest book, Superfood Family classics. I can't link, because it's not on the website yet it seems but it uses sweet potato (baked in the oven with grated cheese on!) and you make your own healthy ketchup and an avocado dip instead of butter.

Sounds a faff, but it actually isn't.

This is my 'go to' book at present, I can't claim skill or anything for the recipes, I just follow them through and enjoy the process.

And have a glass of wine while doing so.

My buyer for my Joules tops paid twice, I've sent one payment back.

Seacow keep going and stay calm, I'm sure you will get there with ds. I would say the train sounds a great idea.
snuggly dd would only sleep when held for quite some time but we got there in the end. It helped me to let go of any aim for sleeps to be just in Moses basket/cot. The pram/pushchair and walks were very useful.
need, impressive meal plan. Thanks for the positive comments re my training. I have fought a lifelong (almost) battle with my weight but have never felt focused in the way I do now. The weight loss is very slow & steady but I feel so fit & strong & have so much more energy, it's great.

This morning's session at the gym was hard but good. I haven't got another session with my PT for a couple of weeks so she has left me with routines to do at the gym until then. Planning to jog tomorrow, early morning swim Wednesday and then gym again Thursday.
The dentist was okay as he managed to repair the tooth with resin & thinks it will be okay. £65 which I'm happy with as I was imagining it being much more expensive to fix
Went carpet shopping with mum this afternoon & she has picked a carpet and booked them to come round & measure up.
Mon-Fri meal plan:
Mon chicken fajitas
Tues spag bol (bolognese in slow cooker now)
Wed chicken curry
Thurs lasagne

I've just made a batch of lentil soup which will do Dh & I at least 2 lunches each.

Survived my first day back. Worked two hours more than contracted but will save the time for my next holiday

£4 Poundland included a pot noddle for lunch
Parking has gone up by 50p How dare they!

Problems on the train on the way home. On a delayed train, but it is almost empty and it's the train with the free wi fi so could be worse.

seacow and snuggly you are doing a great job, sounds like you are doing the right things for both your DS

Hi all thanks for asking after dd, she survived her first day back at school and seems o.kay! Decided to wait another couple of days before going back to the Dr as she hasn't finished her antibiotics yet. Yy to post viral fatigue Wreck that would fit, hopefully she will pick up in a few days.

You meal plans sound so amazing Need my dinner tonight was marmite on toast with some cheese, a bag of squares and at least three a biscuit was yummy though

Spends, £2 for parking today which I can claim back, £13 for dds leavers do at school and £10 for dds maths lesson (a friends daughter who is doing A level maths is going to help her out as my maths is so rubbish.)

Spends today £7 in new Look on a maternity dress.

Have just bid on a few other bits on eBay. Couple of nice dresses.

Also bought a present for bil and sils new baby (due at the end of May) so hopefully that'll arrive soon and I can send it out to nz.

Hi everyone thanks for the luck! The day went well I think I'm going to like it

£4.50 parking. I might have to get a permit as it's going to cost me so much!

£33 tesco. Too tired to cook so got ready meals and some bits I forgot in the main shop.

The dc survived school/childminder. Dd has just crashed out on the sofa.

Snuggly sorry you're having a hard time right now I cannot imagine how hard two must be!

We had the pulled pork in wraps, like I imagine burritos to be (never had one!), rice, peppers and cheese, and baked. Very yummy with homemade wedges, thanks for suggestions, I never think to use wraps! Food met with suspicion, but all eaten!

We have just had a proper blizzard I have a roll of bubble wrap ready to wrap up my tender plants tonight.

Very spendy, did all the bedding today. Dd2 and dd3 seem to have been doing crafts on their beds. Bottom sheets totally ruined! Holes (snippy snippy type regrets giving embroidery scissors ), pen, glue, glitter ... will keep them for dust sheets. Two dead duvets and a pillow that appears to have been involved in a nosebleed. So,

Dunelm £69, new sheets x 2 beds, 2 duvets, pack of pillows and a pack of brabantia bin bags.
Lidl (same carpark as dunelm) £21.
£6 costa (naughty)
£3 stamps.

And now I need to do an amazon order, dd1 needs a flute book like now Would it be wrong to process the order with £30 of yankee candles in the basket too??

A question for the runners, do Asics trainers size up big or small? I fit a Clarks 5.5 perfectly, but err towards a 6 if no half sizes. Have decided to force my body to run. If I don't do it now I never will. But the track behind my house is uneven and gravelly so I want a decent pair of runners! Or is a different brand better? Need to feel comfy or I'll not stick to it.

Epic post, sorry!

Thanks for the nice messages - I actually feel quite positive about DS. i didn't expect it to be a one-step process and at least I got to leave him for a bit! And I am so glad we have put this preschool step in before Reception in September. It is so different there to his unstructured nursery and it will do him loads of good. The pre-school teacher is brilliant too, firm but very kind. I wish he'd been there for the past 2 years actually, his private nursery has been useless (it hasn't done any harm but also no good) and I think he would have made a lot of progress if he'd been at this school. But wouldn't have been possible while I was working anyway so no point dwelling. I will bear it in mind for the baby though if we can organise wraparound child care.

The wooden engine (Porter, for you true Thomas fans ) was very well received. Unfortunately Porter likes chuffing through my hair, which is now looking like I've been out in a gale.

Looks like I might be starting my project next week. Eek - I'll have no free time to get things done!

Glad you had a good day out Cag.

I reeeeeeaaaaaally want a chip butty now Need. Unfortunately I am committed to smoked haddock and coconut kedgeree.

The weather is strange isn't it lonely?!

Please don't think I am an amazing cook, it all comes from books and I follow the recipe and add or change if needed. I'm not great at baking, I think that definitely uses more skill. However I do enjoy the process and find it quite calming, cooking.

Glad the day went well Wrecked.

Asics trainers, I would size up but I size up always in running shoes, you could go to a specific running shop and get a gait analysis. They will recommend a shoe, which you can then get much cheaper on the internet. I'm actually surprised that running trainers are generally cheaper than they were 8/9 years ago, when I used to buy them.

I use Asics for my general, easy runs and they do the job just fine.

Marmite on toast is food of the Gods

Cross post - the kedgeree sounds amazing Seacow, our chickens are laying really well now, so I'm going to be using a lot of egg based recipes

Aaargh, we really like 3 of the paintings that were dropped off, which is more than we wanted to like. I feel some strong bargaining coming on with the gallery owner.

Sorry, I don't mean that last sentence to sound wanky, we have saved the vast majority of this years dividend monies, our allocated spending was the paintings, doing the walk in wardrobe (has had one rail in for the last 5 years!!) and enjoying the holiday given the DC may not wish to come much longer. So saving 80% of the money at least. I know we are lucky to have these choices.

Dh is making risotto. It smells so good I can't wait!!!!

need I didn't think it sounded wanky at all. I'm all for spending if it's for something you had allocated money for.

I'm aiming to throw £7k against my pension this year. Only another £3 to save.

Thanks need will go for a 6. Am definitely not ready for a gait analysis! We get people through the shop that try out and then buy online for cheaper. We now sell a brand that does not discount online, no chain reaction or wiggle specials! It used to drive dp nuts, but we both buy stuff cheaper online when we can, so we can't begrudge others doing it too!

Shoes now probably aren't made to last, like everything it seems. We've noticed the oral b brushes don't hold their charge like they used to.

Glad you had a good day wreck can't believe you all made it through the day after your epic journey!

seacow your ds is doing so well, I think you're managing his transition really well. My dc all went to the preschool joined to the primary, and it's very telling in September which kids have, and have not been there before, with the crying/peeling off parents in the playground. Its a huge step for all tiny 4 and 5 year olds.

Thanks Em. I adore risotto, we don't have it all that much as DS says it feels slimy . I kind of respect his choice as he is a genuinely unfussy person re food normally.

Any little flutters yet in your tummy Em? I loved that stage, my favourite thing about being pregnant, feeling the baby move inside you.

Until about 38 weeks when they can kick you so hard it hurts!!

Not sure need maybe. I had read that it can happen from this time. Eeek. I'm excited.

Did find out the other day that my hair (which has gone super glossy and swooshy) will fall out. 😭