First Frugalling month of 2018 almost done , so Forging forward into Feb we go

[Laska5772]

...and here we go !
Welcome all!

I found a rat in the garden yesterday and I'm kicking myself now as ds needs to photograph 5 animals or birds in the garden for beavers, and I missed photographing the rat. Darmit, how cool would that be?

Maybe if I put the lid back on the compost bin and then take it off later, really suddenly without warning?

Well said meadow, I am on a few vegan Facebook sites. They are very fond of the fact they don't touch animal products but happily post their amazing vegan finds, wrapped in packaging and containing palm oil. but still adhering to the strict definition of vegan. It's basically impossible to be totally cruelty free. I'm vegan most of the time, but I draw the line at leaving my chickens eggs to go rotten etc etc.. this is new for me, it's interesting and certainly tests my cookery skills.

Here is the enchilada bake recipe. I'm a bugger for messing with recipes but this is pretty close

http://www.aberdeenskitchen.com/2015/07/vegetarian-black-bean-enchilada-casserole/

Black beans are my best thing at the minute.

mammy, I am sorry, you really do have what I would call flu. Rather than cold. Poor you.

Lovely friends called in with a big bottle of gin for my birthday, so I am a bit tipsy.

It's been a spendy day but DH has told me the company figures and I've relaxed my grip on the finances for a bit.

£30 Sainsbury's on baking ingredients, cards, beer and treats to send to my close friends daughter in America.
£20 Boots, shampoos and treats.
£250 JL, 2 new bar stools to replace the 6 year old £25 ones, that rotate by themselves, are scratched, squeak and were only supposed to last the first year of moving and we have been here 6.5 years...... also bedding as seacow got me thinking about that and having no washing machine this week made me realise I need more than one set per room that I wash and put straight back on..

Home made pizza for tea and a film.

raging hormones and attitude, oh yes - welcome to teenage parenting!!!

Need your enchilada casserole looks very similar to my Mexican bake (good food recipe)

seacow,I got these today from JL, having realised how little bedding we have, I too like crisp white bedding but the weave might negate the need for an iron. I'll let you know if the reviews are justified when it arrives.

m.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-emma-seersucker-duvet-cover-set/p430191

Confession On Wed I bought pair of boots - they were down to the last two in my size on website so it was unlikely they'd be still there next thurs when my NSJan was over

we had a Donimoes for tea. It was thirty-four pounds have I done that right laska? And your lamp will go very well. Love seersucker too. Not sure white bedlinen would work well here. I'm a) not good at changing it every week and b) drink a lot of coffee in my bedroom (hiding from dc usually).

Also £19 in asda on diet coke (£7.50 for 30 tins) juice, milk, & donuts, but forgot the wet dog food. Doh.

Brought some more random craft stuff home, plus the slat wall shelf brackets I forgot earlier. Ugly, but free shelves.

Lonely we had dominos too but ours was £15.99. Was worth it.

I wonder if part drying in a spin dryer would slow down the destruction of clothes that happens in the tumble dryer? I'm sure my clothes fall to bits more quickly because of the tumble dryer.

Thanks need, it looks delicious

I meant to say earlier lonely that although the skip sounds spendy, I think you will be able to make it worth your while. And also feel better about your home. I bet you will fill it easily! We hired a skip in our old home, the neighbours were all investigating it’s contents and a few bits were re-homed by them too

Ugh never going to win a spelling award here

£9.90 on veg and fruit. £6 ish buying DH coffee and cake, it’s his birthday.

Kidstart does cashback on John Lewis

Just saying

Lonely Is there anything you could freecycle? People take the oddest things from us on freecycle.

Wow I missed a lot!
Spendy day today - I got cycling shoes for spinning class but they were 30% off....
Also £29 in local organic shop and £50 in supermarket but that included two massive things of washing powder and washing up liquid that was on offer.
Trying to replace my expensive NARS makeup with high street stuff - so far can’t see a difference. Switched from NARS sheer slow foundation to Max Factor Facefinity and honestly think that the latter is better. Also stopped buying NARS powder and have tried Maybelline (fine) and now that’s almost used up am moving on to a max factor one. The one thing I wonder if there is a dupe for is NARS orgasm blusher.
Have switched from MAC mascara to a No7 tubing one that doesn’t smudge at all.
Unfortunately my fave ever perfume is a Jo malone one... haven’t worked out a cheap alternative for that yet.
Have had great luck in charity shops lately which is a fun way to get the buzz of shopping without spending a fortune.

peonies I’m in the camp that says that perfume isn’t something you skimp on because expensive perfume lasts so you use less. It’s pretty much my go to Christmas or birthday present request

Ugh my DD is obsessed with jojo bows. It’s a first for her to be interested in a trend and I am very glad we had laid the groundwork of anything like that being what pocket money is for! She buys them when she can but I don’t care as it is her money so to speak.

Also snuggly the clothes arrived today thank you so much 💐 they are lovely! I especially love the sort of greeny turquoisey onesie, so pretty 😍😍

Peonies I also don’t skimp on perfumes, but I do use a nice shower gel or soap in place of perfume some days. Doesn’t have to be an extortionately expensive one, just something I like the smell of.

Oh no sunny the stuff going in the skip is all outside, and very trashed! I did freecycle some old bits before, but we are so very rural, it's hard to get people to pick up even free stuff. Yes love getting shot of this crap will definitely make me feel better, arriving home makes me wince it's so messy.

I just cancelled oddsmonkey (matched betting helper) will save me £15/m. I may go back to it later, but am a bit drawn to the slots, so maybe it's best to keep clear.

I have thrown my hip out like a little old lady, tripped over the tree stump in the garden carrying a big sheet of mdf with dp. I have taken to my bed!

wreck that was 3 large pizzas and a little one for ds. My 3 girls each had 1/2 large pizza and dp kind of had one to himself. I think dd3 has hollow legs. We have about 6 slices left. But better than going to Maccy's I think? Fish and chips is cheaper, but they all whine about that for some reason. Having beans on toast, baked spuds and omelettes this week to compensate for such an expensive meal!

YY perfume lasts longer than its copy imo

Pleased you like them Cag. I love baby clothes. I have to avoid that section in shops as we have more than we need already.

Sunny I'm certain that the dryer ruins clothes they get tiny little holes in.
You are very calm about the rat. Do you remember how hysterical I was last year when I saw one in our garden? (Might have name-changed since then) I've never seen another thank goodness.

Been trying very hard to be more frugal. Heating had been turned down one degree as we don't notice the difference. Been working hard on survey sites and have earned £10 Amazon voucher, £5 e-mastercard and almost £20 on prolific so thanks @fridge for recommending that.
I've made a meal plan starting Monday through to the end of Feb. And have 2 orders ready for delivery on monday and 12th feb. Hopefully i will be less tempted to shop for food if I know it's all planned out. Although I have put down a Chinese for the 14th. I obviously look for any excuse