We’ve had our Merry Thriftmas, now bring on the Happy Fru Year! All welcome as we Frugaleer our way into January 2018.

[Cagliostro]

A new thread in case we are too tipsy (or in my case, asleep on the sofa) to remember later.

This is a friendly group where we chat all things money related and all things everything else related. Everyone welcome so settle in and let’s make 2018 the year we save money!

wreck that's worth waiting for.
Mammy I hated that phase where they repeat back your stock phrases.I realised what a pompous tit I sound like.
I need to get out of bed and take my boots for a walk. It is beautiful outside. Seems a shame to waste it.

I don’t deserve any sympathy but thanks anyway . We had a lovely night out with our best friends. I’ve had 3 hours sleep which is fairly standard for me at the mo and it was in one block (which isn’t always the case so feels better). And I had a lovely time to earn my tiredness, rather than the usual cycle of baby stuff. My poor sister got the runaround and was up with DD when we got back at 2.15am but she was cheerful about it although she emphatically didn’t want to take DD home with her .

Anyway, I sent DH back to bed at 8am and he’s just surfaced. I feel okay so I’m about to pop to my high st as it is farmers’ market day and it’s lovely and sunny here so I fancy a wander. I’ve just stuck a chicken in the oven but I’ll pick up the makings of an apple and blackberry crumble as it’s DH’s favourite. I am feeling a bit soppy towards him after my friend lost her husband unexpectedly last week, and he was also lovely yesterday as he didn’t really want to stay out so late but didn’t complain (or hint /sulk) about staying out a bit later because I was having so much fun. He’s a good ‘un.

I think I might crash out after our big lunch. Though I need to do some batch cooking really.

Pleased you had a good night Christmas. DH and I haven't been out together for nearly a year! We should try and remedy that.

The twins have slept until 5.30 3 nights on the spin. Is this it? Are they going to sleep from now on? I've just jinxed it for tonight haven't I?

Should be NSD although I'll probably book the online shop later. Yesterday was just 89p on milk.

Snuggly hopefully this is it

Went to abs and spinning this morning. People interested in 2 more items on face book selling.
Born- are you on a Facebook selling group? You could try there with the clothes. What size are they?

Having a jobs day here. Board games and pool. Ds is going to a pals later.

NSD! Hooray....

I find eBay best for branded clothing. Mmm leftovers for lunch

Ladies, hello! Hope everyone had a good Christmas and happy new year to you all .

I am doing soo much better I am pleased to say. Nearly 17 weeks now and over the last fortnight or so have made massive strides, I am no longer on medication and only having the odd vomit here and there, have been out the house a few times and surviving the 20 minute car journey to my parents without being sick, eating more normally although still only mini portions, etc. I am going back to work tomorrow finally although I'm doing half-days this week to start with and will review it at the end of the week with my LM and his manager too. So just 1.45pm-5.30pm and I think that will be manageable especially missing lunch hour as I think that will be tricky later on as lots of people eat at their desks and certain food smells still set me off puking sometimes, bleurgh...but anyway I am soo pleased this is clearing up now as I was terrified of being housebound my whole pregnancy and my MH was suffering for it. But now I am feeling much more positive. 3 more weeks and I will be halfway through! Exciting but scary.

Also one good thing about the merger at work is the dress code of the new company is 'appropriate dress' which apparently means if you're not client-facing (I'm not) then 'smart casual' is acceptable, which I think will make it much easier for me to find comfy and affordable clothes for work now. Because otherwise the old company had a 'smart business attire' dress code so it was like suits etc and I'm pretty sure out of all my suit skirts/trousers only one black pencil skirt will still fit me as it has an elasticated waist . I looked for mat work wear in the sales but no joy but with the relaxation of the dress code I can hopefully find affordable mat workwear now in like H&M and that. I also desperately need to get bra fitted next weekend or before work one day this week because OMG my boobs have really outgrown all my bras and they are so uncomfortable to wear now and fall out sometimes . So probably the next few weeks will be a bit spendy on mat clothes & bras but on the plus side I will be paid for my work which even at 50% is way more than SSP!

Seacow Hehe, sounds like you had a great night, get a good nap in today!

Welcome back @meadow

Ah meadow that's fantastic news, great to see you back here too. Primark have a maternity section now too although H&M would be much better quality

Hi all hoping to join! Always seem to be on a budget so hoping to get some new thrifty ideas. Absolutely prayed at the moment till DH gets paid again on Thurs. made a big por of home made soup today to do for today and lunches tommorow and now researching ways to save for Christmas 2018 so it's not as much of a struggle xxxx

Yay meadow so lovely to hear from you! And so glad you are starting to feel better, what a relief. Random question, do you think you’ll find out if baby is a boy or girl at the next scan? I have lots of clothes to send on if you’d like some of which I’ve been lucky enough to receive from other Frugaleers :) some is very girly but some is more neutral so could send some or all if you’d like them (equally won’t be offended if you don’t) xx

Welcome mum :)

meadow!! lovely to hear from you and so glad things seem to be improving! 17 weeks?! Wow almost halfway there

Not to enable but I lived in my ruched skirt from hush - stretchy waistband

£28 breakfast (3 breakfasts, a toasted teacake and scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and 8 coffees). Not too bad.

Home now. Need to make a start on laundry and washing up.

thats good news meadow.

doing home admin - locked out of my accounts so in password hell.
made leftover spuds into mash and roasties for the freezer - about 4kg.
beef stew for tea
spag bol tomorrow of which i will freeze leftovers. Thats as far as my batch cooking goes as it doesnt get eaten here.
Seeing as the oven is on im going to make lonely's flapjack and maybe some buns.

When I read buns I think of the things you put burgers in

I'm going to do some more apple crumble cookies but I made the mistake of sitting down and now I just want a nap

Personal spends €4.70 on strepsils with antibacterial and anaesthetic in them
Joint account spend €13.80 on lunch for journey but will have cheese strings & babybels left
Dh spent €58.60 in Aldi he went in for some cold meats for lunches, dates, Greek yogurt & lemon curd, I've got an online delivery coming tomorrow and weekly budget is €150 will have to see what he actually got & reduce online order. I had hoped to spend €150 for free delivery. He thought he was helping me though cos I have dc & don't feel good.

Doing the vat, ugh. Printing out invoices, but the computer is going soooo slowly. Took a lot of the rubbish from the front garden to the tip (is it bad or goid that the guys who work there recognise me now?), and brought home the needed till stuff. £5.12 in the coop on geens and lunch box yoghurts for tomorrow.

So glad you are feeling better meadow getting out and about will do wonders for your mh. Nearly half way, you'll feel baby move soon! Its a weirdly unique feeling. And all the vomitting will be worth it, and a distant memory soon.

Brisket in the slow cooker, smelling lovely. Got baking to do later for lunches too, as I didn't buy snacks for them. Right, back to it...

Mwahha

I was doing shepherds pie for dinner and then remembered no one likes mash apart from me so I'm just doing the mince and loads of veg plus Yorkshire's.

Have made two tubs of cookies. Will make more of the flapjack biscuits somewhen.

I don't want school to start again!

jut found some pigs in blankets in the freezer! Will have those too...

I've skim read and only missed a day ha!

unescorted your daughter is so talented and you should both be quite rightly proud. I also get your DS comment, my own DS is a straight A** star kind of kid. Luckily for her, he's a lazy toe rag and she's a worker with a whole heap of determination and she managed to get similar GCSE grades to him. I was kind of more proud of that iyswim? They also get on famously

meadow, so glad you are feeling better. Nearly half way!

Really glad you had a fab night seacow, you deserve a bit of a laugh.

I was a Run Buddy at Parkrun yesterday which I enjoyed immensely as there were lots of new folk with resolutions. Today was 6 miles XC and I'm fairly sure I was in the top 10 ladies so a good result.

It's been a cheap weekend.
£8 riding lesson DD.
£20 think DH grabbed from my purse.
£25 huge fruit and veg box

This weeks finance goals

• one last subscription to cancel.
• no frivolous spends.
• menu plan
• persuade DH we really do not need to move again.....

Well they are also buns but proceeded with bread or burger or hot dog, you get the idea.

Only 10000 steps today. Mammyis it cheating to put my tracker on my ankle for spinning as I don't have a bike setting? Will ask RH on Facebook late if you don't know.

My bold has gone weird, I'm not sure why. I deleted the post twice too. Must be a glitch, I think you had that wrecked no?

Frugal fail, nothing for pack ups next week. I'm sure I can scratch about and get something

pink I do the same with the charity bags!