Frugaleers hurtling through November... is it too early to mention the C word? All welcome for money saving chat!

[Cagliostro]

Hi all, please settle in for chatting about all things frugal, and all things everything else :o

Thanks cag.

Welcome hat
Only managed 5 hours ot not 6. Lost the will to live and had a headache.
£50 renewal for outdoor museum membership, unlimited access for a year. £10 ice skating and coconut shy.
£34 Aldi - house full of food.

Thanks cag!

Should be a nsd.

Em we have those wired in smoke alarms, they’re a pita when the batteries go!

£12 in Wetherspoons on dinner & a big glass of Pinot Grigio
£2 m&s on water & a yogurt for the morning

Em interested to hear about Ecoegg, I'm hoping to make gloop this week 

I've a referral link for ynab but can only access on pc maybe @Laska5772 has one

Morning all! Pleased this morning as the doctor is happy to put the scan request through as 'urgent' without seeing me. So should get an appt in a few days. I haven't had any bad tummy pain since hospital thankfully

@SnugglySnerd as far as I recall you're from Brum? Do you think Cadbury world & thinktank are just suitable for children?

@Fluffycloudland77 opinion please candy vented tumble dryer vs Hoover vented tumble dryer - both have good reviews on reevoo.com

Thanks for the new thread Cag
Welcome hat, lots of support here
Love the stove lonely
I missed the last week of the last thread completely as it was the busiest and most stressful week of all busy and stressful weeks here so it was just a case of head down and get on with it.
The major issues of the week were DS' orthodontics appointment at the hospital which we have waited months for, revealed a possible cyst in his jaw bone . This means that they won't even put him on the wait list for treatment until he's been seen by the max facial surgeon (urgent referral done). Even then, the outlook isn't too great for him, a lot of work for small amounts of potential improvement. The only way to resolve his bite issues is surgery which would alter his facial appearance (instantly ruled out by 16yo ds!!) It was harder because it wasn't what we were expecting to hear and a real downer for Ds.
Then it was my birthday on Wednesday which was just a catalogue of disasters at work & huge stress so it will be memorable, but not in a good way
Spends wise we had a meal out and a takeaway, but apart from that, not too bad.
Having a big organising day today ahead of dh's parents arriving on Thursday night for 5 nights. Shouldn't be any spending unless I manage to get on and do some online Christmas shopping.
I've meal planned up to next Monday and am going to cook some mince later for bolognese and chilli. Will wrap dd's presents today ready for her birthday on Friday.
Have finished the advent calendar for dnephew, will post a picture later. The next project is to finish the Christmas table runners and more Christmas bunting.

Thanks for the new thread Cag.

I had a NS weekend but will have to go the shops shortly for a top up shop.

I get paid on Thursday so I'm hoping to take advantage of some Black Friday offers. I'm not going out of my way to spend money, just things that are already on my present list. If they're reduced, well and good. If not, I'll just pick them up anyway. Hoping to finish most of my shopping early in December so I can sit back and enjoy all the festivities in December. Well, that's the plan anyway . I'm also buying some presents in my local shops. Maybe not the most frugal of options but the shops sell some lovely items and I'd hate to be walking down a main street wasteland in 10 years time because everyone's buying from Amazon.

Sorry to hear about DS north. Oh and belated Happy Birthday .

Mammy I haven't been to Think Tank for at least 10 years but iirc there's a mixture of child-based activities and more traditional science and industry museum type stuff. Also the Imax cinema is there or at least next door and I think they now have a planetarium.

Cadbury World is more geared towards kids I would say. Although there is a Cadbury factory shop there and Bournville (where Cadbury so is) is absolutely lovely. It was built by the Cadbury family for their workers and is still a very sought after area. Also the station is all painted Dairy Milk Purple which is cool!

Remimd me when you are in Brum and with what age people? I might be able to suggest something. The Museum and Art gallery is wonderful and also free entrance. They have a lovely cafe. It's right next to the German market. The Botanical Gardens are lovely but £££ to get in and the weather is a bit rubbish today.

I am just surfacing after an epic lay in, got up earlier and saw dd off to school and then thought sod it have no plans so may as well go back to bed for a bit!! Woke up at midday can't remember the last time I did that.

Have now got a bit of a sleep induced headache though

Need to do a few bits at home today but nothing exciting, should be a NSD.... need to go through what Christmas stuff I have and what I still need to get.

Ah yes the old post-nap grogginess! Still I bet the sleep did you good.

Poor DS north :( hope it gets sorted ASAP

Quiet day in so far, just home ed stuff. Taekwondo later though so will walk there, not sure if it's worth putting the car seat on the buggy instead of the carrycot in case I am not able to walk back and we need a cab. Should also need to pay for DS' first grading, and may pick up something in Coop

Workmen just woke dd2 up digging up the pavement to change some gas pipes tomorrow. Means we will have no gas from 8am until 8pm, hopefully earlier. I have two oil heaters but or heating, water and hob are all gas. I thought that I could go out for a long lunch in this really child friendly cafe before picking dd1 up from nursery. Not anymore!

girlie wow midday!

The museum and art gallery is well worth a visit. Have been a bit disappointed with their cooked food at the tea room the last couple of times but the menu has something for everyone and lovely cakes so hopefully it was just a blip. Beautiful room too so worth going for even a quick coffee.

Nsd today, just a bus to and from nursery later. Tomorrow milk and possibly a little pack of salami from Morrison’s to ensure we have stuff for sandwiches.

Are you in Brum top then Hat?

*too

I am! It is a lovely place to live! And I no longer have to go out in the rain to get dd1 as dh is picking her up! Although I would have been able totry out the carrier cover.

The Botanical Gardens is a lovely placeto visit when it is dry. A number of cafes and restaurants to choose from nearby too.

Ooh, interested. We are thinking of taking a short break in Brum next Feb or May half term. I had a tip from a local mum here that your half term is usually different to ours so attractions are not too frantic (good for DS with ASD). And there's lots to do, she says. DS would be in ecstasy at Cadbury world. He'd really love travelling up by train so we have to figure out whether we'd manage fine without a car once there or whether we'd be better off driving. We do have a lot of baby stuff to lug...

Poor DS North, it must be hard for him to accept. And it wasn't a good result with the football (I thought of you!)

Spent £10 on top up shop (I need to knock this on the head, it is bloody expensive!) and then had a latte killing time and feeding DD before a baby music group. That was around £10 all in. It's good to socialise with other mums and babies but I did think £6 to sing a few songs was a bit steep!

Picking DS up from school shortly. It's almost dusk by the time we get home

Caglets and DH loved the think tank. Birmingham has great public transport we found (including trams yay!) although we didn't have a load of baby stuff to carry. We do want to go back to the city for longer at some point.

I'm hungry. Actually, make that hangry! And I was enjoying a nice nap with Cagletini until DD1 got inexplicably stressed with DS and the door slamming started. 🙄

I was from Sutton Coldfield & I avoid Birmingham, I like the countryside now. Too many people 😂

Mammy If it's that close I'd go on warranty length, cycle length & yearly consumption. Then I'd Google house fires started by x brand tumble drier. If you can find a second hand spinner all the better.

North Obviously he reckons he's a looker already . I suppose it can wait until he's older?. Im sorry your birthday was spoilt. I take birthdays off now & usually refuse to have guests. It should be a do what you like day.

NSD because I forgot we needed Mayo. I'll have a bash at making it instead.

I need a moan. How the fuck do I get my mojo back. I know I need to go to the gym, can I be arsed - no. I know it will make me feel better but that's still not enough. I'm shattered and in that down ward spiral. What can I do? FFS.
I could cry. I feel shit, eating shit, knackered and miserable. Sigh

Are you taking vitamin d?.

Moan away Life, you are one of the least moany fuckers on here so when you fancy a moan, you go right ahead I thought the same as Fluffy, vitamin D, but also whether the light has affected you? SAD. Not you, the disorder.

North Your poor DS. Just at the age that appearance matters and they are sensitive about it anyway. No words of wisdom. I'm sorry you've had a stressful work/life too recently.

seacow, did you get your DD sorted with the night time routine.

The parsnip and ginger cake was a resounding success, I'm not great at making them look amazing but it's really good, very moist.

Tayto, and everyone really. There's a Which warning out today that folk really need to check the Black Friday 'bargains' as some are for sale more cheaply for substantial periods during the year. Do the research was the message.

£19 today at Aldi, sometimes I think I get untold amounts of stuff for my money and sometimes I think it's expensive!

I was born in Sutton Coldfield but moved when I was 3.

Survived my first day back at work. Someone was particularly twattish though but a lovely colleague put him in his place.

Frugal day as I got a lift to work. My travel expenses are no longer being paid

Struggling a bit to remember stuff at the moment so hope everyone is ok