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

girlie nope no life here. well not today anyway. well maybe.

tomorrow i'm going to town to get DS weighed. then to look at shiny things. DH said he wants to buy me something shiny for christmas. so i'm off looking. so far there's no budget, no specifics (i.e. ring, necklace, earrings etc). so i can have some fun looking at shinys. I rather fancy a pair of pearl earrings. just plain, classy, elegant small pearl studs. everyday fanciness.

i'm watching suits. ds is napping. carfare is sitting next to me on the couch and i'm making my dinner. its early but i'm off to foam roller pilates (no idea what this entails will revert back later). me going off to the class is thoroughly dependant on dh coming home on time as can't take ds with me and have no one else to watch him. class starts at 630. dh is usualy home by 6. it'll take me 20 minutes to get there.

@Girlie at least she's getting the infection sorted. You're a stronger woman than me to only go to one shop not both!

@Love I adore children's Christmas performances. I'm glad DD had a fantastic time

Stopped in the co op on the way home from the weighing so did spend some money on a cheapy magazine and some cracker bread for Christmas. £2.50

Christmas fair tomorrow. Very excited.

Ds parents eve didn't go well. I could cry. He won't talk at school and the teacher is worried he's using his best friend as a crutch. She's talking about involving the senco etc

Busy today! Tried to spend just £55 in Morrisons, managed £67. Honestly food is just so expensive atm. Fairy dishwasher tablets are an offer, but it was much cheaper to buy the bags of 15, than the huge bag of 50. So I got 3 bags of 15. Will last afew months. Doesn't go on every day. I should get £30 of points added to my match and more card now.

£46 in hobbycraft on pressies! And some baby yarn that I totally needed having no yarn already ds' lovely teacher is off on maternity soon.

£28 in argos, used my voucher from last week.

And £37 getting oil and filters for my little car. It is back on the road, with a new clutch! It's very clutchy and keen, it's been a few months since I drove a manual, I bunny hopped up the road revving like a loony and it rattles. One of the engine mounts' rubber shock thingy has disintegrated. Will get one on ebay tonight. I'm so pleased it's fixed, yes it's taken dp several weeks to get it done, but it cost £80 (with the gearbox oil) instead of £500 + vat. And he's serviced it, oil change, filters too.

Dd1 has had her braces tweaked. He didn't tell me or her off for the 7 bits that had fallen off. I like them! £27 in sainsburys on reward food, and sore tooth food (soup, chocolate, and apparently iced coffee helps a lot). Embarrassed dd1 by winding up all the noisy biscuit tins and running off. It's hard being 14!

Oh wreck that's hard. Is it selective mutism or just doesn't like his teacher? At his age it's anxiety based? And the more they push the harder it will be for him. for you. I hope they tread very sensitively with him.

It's not selective mutism as he does speak he's just so painfully shy. Even when I was sitting with him and his teacher he just wasn't talking at all. He's also got a friend who he uses as his crutch and everything friend does ds does too. I just feel so sad for him. I know it's not as bad as it could be but it was such a shock to hear as he's so chatty at home!

Oh bless him :( that must have been hard to hear. He is still so little though so it may still just be his age and struggling to adjust to the demands of his classroom. It's good he is going to get some support although I know it's not nice that he needs it

NSD for me, DH got some cheap Christmas lights for the Caglets' mini tree. Tomorrow will be spendy, birthday breakfast and then off to trampoline park for a home ed thing

I thought he'd just started school? Surely they recognise some kids are shy?.

Em Emeralds to match the bag? Jewellery shopping is the best shopping.

I used to love Harper's & Queen magazine for the jewellery spreads they did

Managing to stick to meal plan so far, the weekend will be the test...

Spent £20 in argos today on Christmas gifts. Do you still count it as a nsd if your partner is spending money?

Oh yes. Otherwise I'd never have one.

It has been a bit quiet, I think people are busy. I certainly have been, though more PITA-children busy than parties-busy

Just trying to get 2 children to bed on my own (DH is out). Not easy as DS wakes DD . Back later...

fluffy I mentioned pearls to dh. He thought I’d go diamonds. I’m now going to look for diamonds. Who doesn’t like diamonds.

Foam roller Pilates was hard. But I’ll go back next week.

Nsd today.

Must do a good shop tomorrow. Just a little one.

Everyone likes diamonds. It's an investment.

Em I have a tuxedo suit for ds that he wore at my brothers wedding when he was 10 months I can send you a pic if you wish?

seacow I hate bedtimes. Dd1 has to have her stories with dd2 rolling about the floor ("she's touching my things mummy!") and sometimes crying as I haven't got dd2 to be able to settle to sleep on her own. Dd2 nearly always wakes again half an hour after going to sleep. Hate bedtimes! Hope you get yours to sleep soon!

Spent a couple of pound on a coffee for walking with dd2, a tub of houmous and a tin of chickpeas from the Co-op.

I had a reminded letter for paet of the nursey fees. Dh said he'd transfer some money into my account before he went out on Saturday night. Then he was an arse and I've only just started talking to him again. I don't want him to think I am only speaking to him because I need money... .

This month we need Christmas food and drink (but not overboard), dd1 does need a couple of new long sleeve tops, a Christmas tree and I really need a pair of jeans without holes in. Then we can get my parents and brother small, nice gifts and a couple of extra little things for dc. Dh has applied for loads of jobs he is feeling good about.

Wreck My ds has been a bit like that and the thing that's really helped has been for me to go in once a week and let him show me his work.

The thing he always likes is to say "This is where I sit" and he says it with huge pride. Somehow, just telling me about what he's done and actually showing me solved the inability to speak overnight. It really helps to be able to see what he's struggling with in his books too, as then I can help at home to catch him up.

Sorry to hear he's having a hard time. It's not fun to hear that from a teacher. You really look lovely in your dress btw.

I'm bashing away here at the beginning of my grant work. It's fun.

Well in driving to Liverpool and back today for work. Got a shiny new quashci as my hire car.

Lsd yesterday. Had to buy lunch as was lazy. Probably a services so today too

Thanks sunny. Both my dc seem to have anxiety and I feel awful because they obviously get it from me! Luckily I'm friends/colleagues with the school nurse

Ooo life that's my car! I love it

Yeah looks great, just need to figure out how to drive it!!

If it has the electric handbrake you just lift it to put it on and then just drive off to release it!

Am doing housework today. Double yuck. Keep stopping for coffee and crochet. I filled a bag for life with cups and crockery out of the kids bedrooms. Shall I take this plate the 13 steps downstairs? No, I'll stash it under my bed x4 x cups x glasses x teaspoons (why?) x waterbottles. I have cleared the steps (mostly mail and books, lego and hair boobles) and swept them. We will all now fall down them. Always do when they are clear.

And I'm nearly at the bottom of the dirty floor-robe at the top of the stairs, 4 loads so far and counting.

My my, how exciting my day is so far. Plus side is I haven't been further than the bins, and so far spent no money.

lonely I’m attempting to do the same here. So far have achieved one load of laundry bottles sterilised and am making soup for lunch (carrot peanut chilli and lentil).

I’m trying to work out what we can have for dinner which doesn’t involve me going to the shop (and sending dh later on). We have a ton of stuff in the freezer so should be ok.

I keep adding to the shopping list.

Am not feeling too great today - bit of a headache and sore throat. Must drink more water.

Staying in though. I was going to head into town but it’s pouring down and I don’t want to subject ds to that. Maybe tomorrow.

All packed and sorted .ready to go and I am just waiting in hope of the postman before I get the ferry (he is bringing something i wanted to take with me) .. ill read back and hopefully will have time to post back later on ..

Em oh yes, Gelato .. that is definitely going to be done.. I do like your plan though on that