Saving into summer!

[SnugglySnerd]

New frugal thread.

Can I just share a little frugal achievement? It sounds silly but it's a big win for me, partly due to health/energy and party due to being a chronically disorganised Aspie. Anyway, this week I have managed really well to actually plan and cook meals properly. I've defrosted stuff on time, I've checked use by dates on things in the fridge and rejigged the plan accordingly, I've taken snacks with us when out. This evening I fancied lentils so I used up some sad veggies and made a big batch for the freezer.

I've had many moments where I could seriously murder a takeaway but I have resisted, woohoo! It's not been perfect, I have still bought the odd extra and one of the meals was a ready meal lasagne which I added veg to, but for me given the limitations I have it's a huge huge improvement. Yay! :)

Well done cag! I've lost my way with meal planning a bit recently in that things keep going out of date etc.

Snuggly that meal sounds delicious

Well done cag.
Me too wreck re losing way meal planning.

Had a house full of various people again today. Love it both seeing people and that DC can bring friends here anytime but God is knackering. Back to work for 4 days tomorrow

Me too Wreck. Evening meals are very hot and miss here as DD doesn't like evenings.

Snuggly which JO book is that? I saw a bit of an episode the other day with 'superfood' in the title but there seem to be two books that it might relate to. Which do you recommend? I need some food inspiration

Hope you feel better soon Fluffy and Wreck

Holiday looks dreadful Need. I drove on an Italian holiday once - it was a bit hairy at times. The motorway lanes are narrower than here too . Still, Turkey was worse.

Snuggly excellent result on the sleeping! I remember the first time DS did it at about 10 weeks - I woke up in such a panic! He didn't do it again for about a year though, so normal service was resumed Hope you fare better!

Have a good holiday Girlie

Quiet weekend here - my lovely sisters visited, bringing cute outfit for DD, a batch of home made brownies and a bottle of posh gin. And they helped with the kids so I had a couple of less stressful days. My sisters are so fab.

Mind you, one of them accompanied me to IKEA on Saturday and we did not stick to the list...

Meals are HIT and miss. Rarely hot, in fact, thanks to DD!

I think it's much easier to meal plan in the colder months, you can pencil in lots of stews and comfort foods, in the summer my lot want quick, ad hock meals...it all goes out of the window.

We went swimming, which was great actually, just 2 kids and one adult in the swimming lane apart from us! Spent on coffee after £7 and cakes to get tiredy dc home after £5. Have just spent £100 on 2 pairs of trainers, which I will send back if they don't fit. I go through phases of buying trainers...it's very annoying.

cag well done! I'm not doing so well at meal planning. I write one then just end up either losing it or going off plan. Sigh.

Am going to attempt homemade chicken Kiev next weekend though. Last time I tried this they exploded in the oven...

Greetings from sunny Italy.

I've made that recipe too snuggly, although not for a while. I must make it again though as it was a good one. It's the JO superfoods family favourites book seacow. Hope the babies slept again for you last night.

Well done on being organised cag.

fluffy if you are not better today, please go to the GP, particularly if you've been run down.

We had a quiet day yesterday just to recharge the batteries, DH really needs this when we go on holiday but I think we will explore a bit more today. It's very hot, heatwave in full swing. We are a little out of town and more in 'real' Italy in a small village, lots of old Italian guys sat outside bars and the like. We've happened on one of the best rated restaurants in the area, which is about 5 minutes walk from the villa. It's been 100 Euro for all 4 of us, including tip and bottle of wine for 2 courses and that was our total spend yesterday!

This was our starter last night

I know life, I feel the same about having a house full. I do love it, but it's hard too.

Brill news about the Italy trip copper. How is DGS?

I've been reading a book about depression and anxiety by an author called Matt Haig; it's called Reasons to Stay Alive. It's about his own experience with both, what he's learned and how to cope with the ongoing times he suffers. It's brought the odd tear to my eye on occasion as it's struck such a familiar chord and reminded me of how hard it can be for all concerned. But I truly recommend the book for sufferers and family alike. I really do. He also wrote Humans and The Radleys.

Need that looks delicious!

Fluffy I second need re the dr if no better.

The dc and I are off to visit my sister, niece and nephew in Kent today. Will probs stop at the services on the way home.

Thanks Need. I've ordered the JO book - excited. It was cheaper from a non-Prime seller so I'll have to wait a few days. That starter looks lush.

Since i don't get out much I am excited by very small things these days! DH was smirking at me yesterday because I was gleeful at having nothing left in the laundry basket for about 10 mins till DS had an accident

LSD today - DH has the day off but we're not going anywhere together because of toilet training. I am popping out to get a fruit and veg top up though.

need that looks amazing!!!! Yum.

Will not be nsd today. I'm off work so am going to drop dh into work in a bit - he didn't ask I offered- otherwise I'd only stay in bed all morning and waste the day.

I'm going do a food shop, then sort somenwashing and go for lunch with dm. My treat.

Then make some Mexican chicken avocado thing that dh wanted for dinner.

The agreement now is that I cook every Saturday and Sunday and he will do weekdays unless I'm off.

Need that's spooky my dh is reading that book now. The stay alive one. He rates it too.
Happy Monday y'all

cag
Gonna look out for both those books ta! need
fluffy really hope you're feeling better
seacow good luck with the training! I can totally relate to the empty laundry bin triumph!
Gonna have some spends this week at some point as we need to get some extra bits of clothing for DD for the next stage.

I'm feeling much better thank you everyone.

Need Italy looks heavenly, I hope your having lots of lovely coffees.
Girlie Excellent car choice. Enjoy the holiday.
Wreck Is your throat better too?
lonely You'll have to explain casino to me, I don't get them at all, your doing better than me.
Sunny Are you still on holiday too?.

Struggling to keep up, it seems really fast moving at the moment.
Need that looks idyllic and the local restaurant sounds good. One of the issues for us in France is the cost of eating out so we tend to BBQ, takeaway pizza or I do a simple pasta meal. We usually have a hob & microwave but no oven.
Hope those who are unwell feel better soon. Did you get to the night out on Saturday wreck?
Hope you have a good holiday girlie, where are you camping
snuggly sleeping through must've felt amazing!
cag well done on the meal planning. It really does make a difference, even if you don't stick to it rigidly.

We had a good weekend here & not too spendy. Unfortunately dh has developed the ulcers on his left eye again so had to go to urgent care on Saturday night. He's back to the eye ward for a check this afternoon. He's pissed off as it means he won't be able to wear his lenses on holiday, but obviously relieved he's nipped it in the bud (hopefully).
Today I've got my last pre holiday PT session. I got weighed on Saturday and have lost another 2kg so 13 in total now. Then going out for a walk and lunch with dd and finally open air version of Treasure Island tonight.

Morning!!☀️😎☀️

Wow lots of posts yesterday
We had a family day at home - rare for dh to relax like that but makes for happier household for all of us.
He & dc cleaned toyroom while I went for a run in the rain

We ate breakfast, lunch & dinner together & watched smurfs movie afterwards.

It was almost a NSD present we got for dgd was too small so I've ordered a diff one & second was half price so bought one for dd also, might be put away for Santa we'll see.

Extra cost €18.40 as original present was more expensive & will be returned today.

Hi all, I've been a bit preoccupied for the last few months and mumsnetting has had to slide. But I'd like to join in again now as definitely feeling the pinch with summer hols. So far we have spent a fortune on meals out and takeaways. I've just had a Tesco shop delivered and am hoping to make it last all week.I might make that JO recipe for dinner tonight, am hoping its in the book I have as sounds lovely.

Not quite such a good night last night but not too bad. Just realised we're only a few weeks away from weaning. Where did that time go??

Your holiday looks lovely, Need.

Aiming for NSD today. Spent £12 on Amazon last night on 2 copies of the same book. They are gifts and I was pleased to get them so cheap. Need to start Xmas shopping to spread the cost.

Thanks all am quite proud and now just hoping I can continue this each week. Unfortunately with me it tends to fall apart very easily but I feel more optimistic now.

Will have to order Tesco tonight (we downgraded to midweek delivery saver a while back so can only get tues-thurs), not sure about tonight so I didn't quite plan enough I think. But meeting home ed friends for lunch anyway before a writing workshop.

I think having planned a meal out really helped TBH, I could remind myself we had a treat coming (due to the MN pizza express thing) which held my resolve a bit.

Seacow (sorry I just realised I haven't PMd! Brain like a sieve ) empty laundry basket?!

So glad you feel better fluffy hope you can still have an easy day though you must be feeling so washed out.

North fab weight loss well done!

Book sounds great need I'll add it to my future reads wishlist. Currently trying to read what we've got at home in the interests of decluttering :o

Em what's this chicken avocado thing please? Looooove avocado. And has DH learned to put his laundry IN the basket yet?

I follow Matt Haig on twitter, but haven't read any books yet, so thanks for the recommendations, Need and Life.

Glad you're feeling better now, Fluffy.

Glad your DH caught the ulcers early, but how annoying he's got them back, north.

Welcome back, Frazzled.

Welcome back frazzled!

DH woke me up when he got home last night... to tell me there was a hedgehog outside our door!!! Haven't had one for a few years so very excited :o absolutely love hedgehogs.

I have a couple of questions for people who might know these things.

1. Where is good and affordable for beds? I want to get one soon as a mattress on the floor isn't great for hefting this bump around. Ikea slatted one lasted about 9 years but wasn't that comfy really, we've agreed on a divan this time.

1. Are there rules on companies having to consider flexible working hours now? For parents particularly? DH's job was advertised as flexible/variable shifts which was one of the attractions (as no school runs etc) but basically he has been roped into pretty much entirely late shifts because the other staff refuse (the boss messed up their contracts so they don't have to do them). And despite the fact DD is now 10 she still doesn't sleep and evenings frankly are shit. I really need him here. She is now diagnosed autistic so there's a valid reason IYSWIM. But would that be enough to ask? Or would they be more likely to consider it once Cagletini arrives? I may be totally barking up the wrong tree here but I keep hearing about flexible hours for parents. If anyone knows anything I'd be grateful!

Cag employers have a duty to consider flexible hours but they don't have to grant them. However:

1. Your DH should not be getting less choice over shifts than others anyway and
2. Under the equality Act 2010 he has some rights by association, as a carer. I don't think this extends to more rights to flexible hours but someone may know more. There's a bit of info here

www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/ci/fattach/get/585/1354033248/redirect/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNTAxNzUxNTE4L3NpZC9YSkdVRmNwbg==/filename/carers.pdf

I should think a responsible employer would take his request seriously, as a carer. He works for an ethical chain, doesn't he? I'd have thought even if his immediate boss is rubbish, HR in head office would have something to say. He should start by requesting the company's fkexibleceirking policy.

I know exactly what you mean about evenings, they are by far the hardest part of the day here and more do with the baby. You'll defo need the help even more then, good luck.

The new posh artisan bakery on my high street is going to be the ruin of me.... 🐷