Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Frugaleering, cakes and baby talk

999 replies

Taytocrisps · 26/09/2017 09:06

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
WreckTangled · 26/09/2017 11:45

Aww em! So cute. Scbu wrapped dd in a small sheet for her first bath apparently it helps to keep them calm.

Cag I think it would be a good idea too I'm pleased you had a good appointment

LonelyOversharer · 26/09/2017 11:54

em so you've had the marmite nappy? Always a favourite. All good for going home, yay! But do remember to sit on the sofa and do nothing except feed and sleep, super name btw. Glad you're giving bf a go, if it feels a bit painful, this goes away really quickly. I used to feed ds, then hand him straight to dp to wind/change/resettle. This worked really well at night, dp was very hands on, but never 'minded' (don't think thats the right word) that only I could feed him.

Dentist done. Huge filling fixed "down to the nerve" no shit ! And one prepped for a lovely nhs crown (a white one). £46 in tescos, lots of stocking fillers, all the back to school stationary is in clearance, so filled a bag, it's hard with 3 who don't want toys. Hope ds' teeth are ok life

snuggly I suspect dd1 will be so taken up with her own bits she'll not be overly bothered about the twins piles, so I'd go with clothes, a few board books etc. What we found was that my girls were very worried that dp and I didn't have presents from them (we decided no adult pressies)...I now wrap up 4 little bits of nothing, for them to give us (cup, socks, chocs). Plus there will be stuff from relatives as well.

Why are we conditioned to buy so much junk before christmas? Food I never buy and we never finish finds its way into my trolley. Must try to avoid this.

Frozen berries are great, but I don't think they defrost well. Used here for pies/crumbles, smoothies and overnight oats. They bleed a lot like mammy said, but much more tasty once frozen, why?

ememem84 · 26/09/2017 12:39

Yep done the marmite poo. Or the Guinness poo as dh has been referring to it...

Ds passed his test. I passed mine. They're just running bloods to check heamoglobin levels apparently so I have to wait for those to come back. Sigh. I lost about 800ml of blood apparently at the end. Not major or anything but enough for them to want to check iron levels. At worst I'll be given iron tablets to take home.

Everything's healing up nicely. I've been told to take things easy. Physio has been to discuss exercises etc. So that's all checked off.

Laska5772 · 26/09/2017 12:40

so I finally managed to get someopne to answer at the parcelforce depot and yep, I was right . It was not out on todays delivery despite me having a confirmation number.. So i just drove the 12 miles there and back and picked it up.. decided it was less frustrating that way..

Now all i have to do is put them together .. Ikea chairs..,.. tempted to leave it for Dh though.. but no, I shouldnt ,..

LonelyOversharer · 26/09/2017 13:05

em better safe than sorry. 800ml is a fair bit. I should have called it Guiness as I don't drink it (except in Dublin, but I'm not likely to go back there anytime soon) and it's put me right off marmite!

Best thing to do laska get them built!

thewaitresses · 26/09/2017 13:15

Lovely, lovely name em and hope all checks out well and you're home soon.

Snuggly we've bought a stocking for the babes from dd (empty!) so she has 'given' them something and will just fill with a few things they need (probably socks and new sippy cups). For their birthday we gave them an annual family pass to a local attraction (bit unfair as they would be free anyway but I too have had enough of stuff!)

£2.08 on milk and bread.

SnugglySnerd · 26/09/2017 13:33

Pleased you can go home today Em. Nothing like your own bed/loo/food etc.

Thanks for all the thoughts on fruit/veg/babies/Xmas. I already use frozen spinach in lasagne and curry and frozen squash as it hate peeling it. Frozen corn cobs would go down well. DD and dh both love corn on the cob. I might try cauliflower too as we eat a lot and it doesn't keep well. Will experiment more with frozen fruit too I think. I suspect dd will eat it anyway. She loves fruit.

Going to go for small stocking so for babies and then one main toy each. ELC currently have 3 for 2 on toys so I might see what they have. I could get something for DD or nieces/nephews too.

Taytocrisps · 26/09/2017 13:48

Just got a wedding invitation for the 8th December. Delighted for the bride (my friend) but I couldn't help wondering how much it will cost us in terms of hotel accommodation, a present, drinks etc.

OP posts:
CollieBobs · 26/09/2017 14:14

I popped into The Works just now and they had some impressive kids craft / science kits. And loads of books etc.

I really struggled not to buy anything. Instead I wrote the "gift ideas" down on my phone with costs so I can discuss with DH and perhaps do click & collect. Waterstones had fabulous stationary in. Periodic table stuff, butterflies and moomin. It's my favourite shop and I had to do a U turn and go outside. I wanted to buy EVERYTHING! Not an exaggeration Grin

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2017 14:27

Thank you Tayto

Cag Their probably used to pg women crying. Don't worry about it.
I cried when the cat had a blood test.

Snuggly I bought a metal steamer for veg, I cook them over my spuds & I use the plates as lids so they get warmed too. Cauliflowers the only veg I think is better fresh though. Are there any storage tips online for cauliflower?.

Life He'll be ok, mouths heal fast. One of my colleagues sent her son to school with meningitis so you are still winning at motherhood.

I'm allergic to cows milk & sulphited products like sugar syrups, citric acid & sodium metabisulphite. I think this year I'll just buy naice meat & a few nice pouilly fume/Sancerre for Christmas week. Maybe make a vegan fruit cake.

£1.17 on a multipack of beans & £2 on a German beer. Aldi was shut for a refit so I had to go to morrisons.

There's a boden sale on.

Cagliostro · 26/09/2017 14:56

Very true fluffy thank you, am totally rocking the hormonal preggo look lately.

Got a massive massive heap of kids books to sort through now. It's not even all of them! Not bothering to sell any, time is of the essence and the space they'll free up is far more valuable than a few quid

ibuiltahomeforyou · 26/09/2017 15:12

Hi all, I was on this thread under another username but dropped off it - I too have a young baby and my mat pay has run out so I'm back bring a frugaleer!

Loveabaconsandwich · 26/09/2017 15:53

Welcome back ibuilt

I didn’t get home until 9pm last night so i’ve had a very chilled out day. I used to suffer a lot with IBS, nowadays it’s normally fine but long trips to unfamiliar places like yesterday sets it back off.

Spends:
About £6 yesterday on drinks/snacks but £4.50 can probably be expenses. Boss bought me a hot chocolate whilst the others had booze. Didn’t think alcohol would improve the travelling experience
NSD today

Didn’t have great mobile internet yesterday but did have a look at matched betting and again today. Not sure if i’m clever enough but will give it a go. Can I sign up to betfair etc through TCB fluffy. ? Plan to try it out tomorrow as I have a day off all to myself

Glad it is going well em, and cag you are allowed to be frustrated when things are made harder for you Flowers

FuzzyCustard · 26/09/2017 15:56

Hello Am I in the right place?

Loveabaconsandwich · 26/09/2017 15:59

sunny glad you are doing ok . On a bad day, I always remind DP that if everyone is still alive then i’ve achieved the most important thing. Everything else can wait

Whoever mentioned the chocolate boxes at Christmas. I have to make us open them a few days before now as it has taken a while to for us to realise it is daft to leave opening the Christmas chocolates for 25th as no one is hungry.

Talking of Christmas- thanks fluffy I signed up for the 12 issues of radio times for £1 starting beginning of December

SunnyLikeThursday · 26/09/2017 16:10

Thanks love. It's getting to school that's critical here. If ds gets ill and doesn't get to school I get the evil eye and worse. Made it today, so that's good.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2017 16:13

Welcome back Home Smile

Bacon, sort of. Betfair sports book is the bookie side, Betfair exchange is the lay bet side that you need. What you can do is open a Betfair sports book account, do a losing bet but lay it off on smarkets. That way you get a £10 bet off them. Smarkets charges less commission.

Put a date in your diary to cancel the radio times, otherwise they take £45 off you.

WreckTangled · 26/09/2017 16:19

Eugh £28 Tesco. Some of it was top up for us plus there were some reduced bits (massive bag of carrots for 30p) and I got dd some reduced stationery which will be a stocking filler and then I had to do a box for the food bank for harvest festival.

Cagliostro · 26/09/2017 16:26

Crikey. 60 books so far in charity bags. #proud

Welcome ibuilt :)

ememem84 · 26/09/2017 16:29

And we're home. I've been given iron tablets. My level was just below the norm. As in literally just below it. But hey ho.

Our house resembles a florists. Two huge bouquets from clients of mine - plus a bottle of super nice champagne from one. Dh's clients sent flowers too. Dm has been in and stocked the fridge and has popped a few home made ready meals in the freezer along with a couple of frozen pizzas.

Catface is intrigued by ds who has been changed, had a feed and is asleep in his Moses basket. Catface is not intrigued enough to jump in said basket.

It's so nice to be home. I realised this morning I hadn't been outside since Sunday.

WreckTangled · 26/09/2017 16:44

Em I really love your mum she's so sweet! I hope to be like her when I'm older Smile

SunnyLikeThursday · 26/09/2017 16:58

Em Black pudding is rocktastic for catching up on iron, if you fancy it. Avoids the side effects. Also slow cooked roast beef. Also pancakes made from readybrek. MmmmmmBeef.

Ds is having a playdate. Year 3 is very fraught for playground battles. I think we are doing okay though. I'm teaching ds to shout back, or just ignore the little blighters that keep shouting instructions at him.

WreckTangled · 26/09/2017 17:00

Sunny funny you should say that. We've had some year 3 playground politics too.

Cagliostro · 26/09/2017 17:14

Ah em I'm glad you're home! You'll know this if you've had iron tablets before but if not, keep that fibre stuff around as iron can, erm, slow you down a bit - not fun when you are recovering from labour too! :o

I've just set up Cagletini her first wish list - won't use it for ages but the Caglets want to keep a list of books she needs that we no longer have copies of. Then they can be in charge of choosing what books to buy her for future birthdays and stuff. The ones we've kept (more than I thought, only a few were manky enough to chuck!) are going in storage for now as we will be getting board books at first. Seeing the list name "[Cagletini]'s Little Library" has cheered me right up :)

CollieBobs · 26/09/2017 17:22

Haha cag I was going to say the same to Em! GrinBlush I'll never forget the discomfort after having DS and having iron tablets. Especially with stitches. Eep.

cag well done on decluttering. It feels so good after its done!