Frugaleering, cakes and baby talk

[Taytocrisps]

Just starting off a new thread as the other one was getting full.

Will everyone be getting their Christmas presents in a basket this year em ?

Spent £47 in Smyths. DD1 used £25 of birthday money though. We may have to go back again tomorrow as they have £10 off £50 in store, and DD1 would like a £40 doll which comes from there for Christmas so makes sense to get that and something else

Our fixed rate doesn’t run out until January but we can sign up now fluffy. I’m getting a bit fidgety waiting with all the talk of a raise of interest rates soon

I am picturing the scene in friends where joey gets given all the fruit baskets 😄

Glad DH is looking after you, he's a keeper em :o

Rest day today but glad I got out of the house as well. Breakfast was disappointing though, not nearly as good as the cafe in our local park partly due to a lack of fried bread

girlie sorrrrryyy! I'm honestly not trying to show off. I just hate sitting around at home. I'm itching to get back exercising. But know I need to wait for that.

I freaked out a bit yesterday when we wen tin the car just the 2 of us. But not before getting in the car. While we were in it. Too late by that point!

And today I didn't even realise I had left him until dh pointed it out. Obviously I knew he wasn't with me but i didn't make a bit deal of leaving him for the first time.

Dh said his work were suprised to see him back on Thursday. He said he thinks some of them must have thought he was a bit of a dick. Baby arrives on Sunday back to work on weds leaving his poor wife. He said he wouldn't have gone back unless he knew I was ok. And is aware (as am I) that this early "coping" I seem to be doing could all fall away over the next few weeks. And that's when I'll need him the most.

Ds just peed on my face. Sigh.

cag yep. Everyone gets a basket gift! Haha

oooh fried bread. I had fried bread for the first time a while ago. So so bad. But so so goooooooood.

Welcome to boys em. you will become a nappy ninja very soon.

Just looked at budget for Oct, very depressing!!

Once all the DDs are paid and put a bit in savings I will be left with about £80 a week to live on.

Soooo £40 a week food and £15 a week petrol.

I have a few gifts to get people but will be doing so on a tight budget and there is half term at the end of Oct to think about

Going to ask work about doing some extra shifts as well pre Christmas

It's the only bit of white bread I've had since starting low carb! Lots of fat and we are supposed to pair minimal carbs with fat or protein so yay 😂

They are silly if they thought he is a dick. It's horrible having such little paternity leave as an entitlement but your DH is clearly looking after you even if he's not there 24/7, you are happy, gorgeous little boy is happy 😍😍😍 that's what matters, why rock the boat if it's working. It's better that he saves his leave for future times you might need it more IMO - if you or baby are poorly or something then time off will be more valuable I think.

I'm a little worried myself about how I will manage after baby arrives if I'm honest. I have been so lucky with the fibromyalgia - apparently it's pretty common for symptoms to fade during pregnancy (due to the hormone relaxin mainly) and I have had very little pain. So I don't know what will happen painwise when I go back to normal! Kind of relieved baby is looking to be on the small side so not so much to lift 😂 and I know that my friends will gladly help when I need it too. DH gets the UK standard two weeks but his boss has said he will look into whether he can get more (DH spotted a massive problem at work which has caused about a grand loss a week 😱😱😱 so this was a thank you...) and he has saved leave up too. But we shall see what is needed. Caglets are super helpful too when I ask them to fetch and carry etc, they will be awesome big siblings I'm sure 💕

Looks like I have a lot to catch up on. Been very busy/tired/stressed for the last few days. Not spendy though so that's good.

We're busy making a pyramid out of sugar cubes. Is costing lots of money but should look good in the end...

DD and I are crossing London on the tube. There were definite poo faces at Shepherd's Bush but I'm not investigating.

Off to a barbecue. Meanwhile DH is taking DS twitching birdwatching. This is not DS's choice and he's not known for being quiet so I look forward to hearing how that went . But apparently this red-necked grebe is not to be missed

Awww love a bit of twitching!

Fecking Amazon I just tried to cancel an order I made literally half an hour ago and it wouldn't let me because it's preparing for despatch already apparently I can refuse delivery if I'm in but otherwise I'll have to faff about with returns. Half an hour!!! FML

Oh well serves me right for not checking Asda first I guess. Put in a big order with them anyway, lots of baby essentials plus some nursing tops which will hopefully fit, £76.

I think I'm going to preorder some DVDs too on Amazon though. Family Guy and American Dad new seasons come out next month. Perfect viewing for endless night feeds :o

I was itching to get back to exercise too Em. I did a lot of walking with DS too. I think you are doing brill not to make a big deal of everything as it needn't be a big deal unless you let it be.

Blimey Cag that's super speedy of Amazon, to your detriment of course but super speedy.

@ Seacow. I obviously feel the same about the red-necked Grebe....

Hope your okay Snuggly.

Well, I've done loads more than I expected to get through today. I had an idea to have a chilled day but felt more energetic that that so cracked on. Lots of jobs ticked off and very little spent.

I'm definitely sitting down now with a cuppa. I've got lamb tagine in the SC for myself and DS. Couple more washes to put through. Fighting the temptation for a glass of red given that the weather has turned to rain.

Going to investigate the Christmas thread and see if I can find some stocking fillers.

Amazon orders usually arrive here the day before they're due, so you stand a chance or refusing the order. Caglet might be a super chilled baby who's no bother.

Dh wants two bottles of malt whiskey for Christmas, both £50. I had better get some match betting done the Amazon voucher for setting up a sun life policy won't arrive until January so I'll save it for his birthday.

Em If he hadn't gone in it would've been "he's got a baby to support he should be here earning". Can't win, don't try. He should've said he'd given you a list of housework to do and put his order in for dinner.

Made fabric softener. Looks ok.

quick place mark..as fallen off thread..

NSD .weve been out for a long walk around coastal path.. its been lovely here. Now have {wine] DH making Italian sausage and pepper pasta . yum

I finally watched first episode of Black Lake last night ( reminded me of Blair witchand I had to hide my face at the very end. ) DH fell asleep though which means we will have to watch it again!

Cag I think if the fibro is in remission during the pregnancy then it may stay that way while breastfeeding hopefully. It maybe depends on exactly what is keeping things so good. Good to pace yourself if you can though.

Em I was out of the house like a rocket with ds too, and breezing about the place. I think you just do what works for you both. Might be good to find places where you can go and find nice company to just sit and relax. If it is only you at home then relaxing there may be harder.

We are having a great day off here after three busy weeks. Totally zonked and enjoying it.

Spendy day.

Butcher - £23
Greengrocer - £9-ish
Slice of cake, coffee was "free" with a full loyalty card, £2
Chocolate for DDs and friends £2.70

Aaaannnd ds just peed on dh 😂🤣

He also just did the biggest fart/poop ever. It woke me up. He was snuggling with dh at the time. We've developed a rule. Whoever' holding him when he poops deals with it. also I'm meant to be resting 😂

We're lucky that around our flat there are loads of lanes for us to walk.

www.31dover.com

Quite cheap for drinks incl spirits & next day delivery.

girlie our October budget looks rubbish too due to a childcare voucher cock up we've only just realised!

Where is the cheapest place to get toilet roll, dishwasher tabs (that work) and laundry stuff? Think we will have to shop at Aldi from now on until I have a job.

Ignore what I just said. I'm too fussy about toilet roll haha!

Ffs! Now I want a bacon buttie you lot!

Having trouble keeping up but glad everyone is mainly doing OK. DD and I are coming to the end of our third day without dh who is away till late tomorrow night with work. DD has been awesome but I am very tired and need a good sleep.

Spends over the last few days have just been £52 for weekly food shop, plus £11 for nappy supplies from aldi. I need to get a move on soon with the rest of my Christmas shopping though so that'll be spendy. I'm very proud of myself though because I've managed to save a good portion of my maternity allowance as an emergency buffer through budgeting.

Haha Collie i am quite fussy with loo roll but am liking a brand called Nicky (I think) that you can get in Wilkos or The Range. Aldi for dishwasher tabs and laundry stuff.

So we popped out to The Range and spent £22, got my brothers bday present and other bits. Think that is all the Oct bdays sorted now thank God

We may have also accidentally walked into MacDonalds and spent £10 on a lazy dinner

I don't know why but the minute I find out how skint we are I want to spend money

Em have you worked out if there are any local baby groups you can take ds to? I found I needed something to get me out of the house most days, we went to a lovely breast feeding group which was really helpful and a good place to meet other mums. We also did baby massage and baby swimming, once you find a few other new mums to hang out with you can also organise cafe meet ups etc

The Aldi quilted loo roll in the purple pack is nice. The Iceland with the flower on is ok too.

£15 Chinese, £10 emoji cushions, £9 on Pokémon cards. £10 for world record book but that was free as had a full Waterstones stamp card.
£30 Amazon on present. Will get 2% back from kidstart. Need to draw down my cashback sites money.
£5 earned for doing an ONS survey.

Need to go back to sainsbury as forgot hot dog buns for the party.