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

[Laska5772]

...and here we go !
Welcome all!

Sunny I'd like to be able to do things like that. Everything's too long on me. Trousers are ok, tops always sit too low and look wrong.

Cag Get the implant, I'm only on every two months now. Dh says my pmt has gone on my off month.

I need safety razors & navy blue dye to complete my trench coat project. Also, money.

I bought a tartan jacket for £1 today, changed the buttons from hold to green and cream, i love it for the summer. All these posts on refashioning clothes are great....

Fluffy Someone explained to me how to do do it. The trick is to get one top that fits and take it to pieces, so that it is then like a perfect pattern for your shape. Then you can buy overly large tops, and take them apart, cut the pieces to the size of your patterns pieces, and then sew the adjusted pieces back together. It works a treat. The tricky thing I found is that with modern stretch fabric you really need an overlocker to finish the seams properly but it does work okay with a regular sewing machine as long as it can manage a zigzag stitch.

My thing yesterday worked well partly because the working pattern was just the smaller size of the thing that I was adjusting so all I had to do was bring the sides in a bit.

I bet you'd be really good at it. I've to hear if you try. It sounds as though you're working wonders on that coat.

I'd need a top that fits properly first, I could see the local seamstress and get one top done by her. I've done it with dresses before.

Polly It's always nice to save something from the bin. I'm using white vinegar in the week to refresh a shirt with a yellowed silk decoration & dying a beige top black. I don't even suit beige do what the hell I thought I was playing at buying beige . I've got a Ralph Lauren tennis white/navy top I need to make interesting too.

I think soaps better at getting sunblock off clothes than washing up liquid. I have a few tops to test it on.

Homebargains do Dylon black machine dye cheaper than everywhere else.

Fluffy that sounds great. Having one good top to work from would really open up a lot of fun to be had.

Just catching up with the thread. Love and Cag we sound quite similar I’ve been in a work course today, long drive and totally exhausting day from an introvert point of view. I feel washed out. Mexican bake/enchilada casserole just going in the oven containing the sad pepper and sad tomato from the fridge. Shop coming tomorrow night but it’s my long London day tomorrow so lots of travel and inevitable spending, assuming I actually get any time for breakfast or lunch. Off to catch up you chatty lot, I’ll be back....

Have an interview for the promotion! Am so nervous as I haven’t had an interview in 6 years (been in my place that long) and it’s also a big step up, although in a less posh school. Need interview tips! I get to stay with my best friend whom I almost never see because she lives in the same town as the school, so that will be lovely.
I need to weigh up pros and cons: I do really love so much about my current job but the hours are insane, I only have one free evening this week, and work every Saturday.

The unit is almost sorted. My sister (having trouble with her newly exh) came and helped, she did one hell of a shift and we got a lot done. I also put the pram and the car seat in the tip. The buggy had mildew, and the frame was battered and the wheels so worn it wasn't worth handing on. The car seat made me wibble though. We brought ds home in it. I wanted to get it back out, so went and sat on my hands in the car.

Silly really, as I'm so unlikely to have another baby, more chance of me climbing Everest really!

Baked spuds for tea, but we had no tuna, so I popped to nearest shop, and spend £12. I had a veggie korma (just some bits from the fridge and 1/2 a jar of 55p sainsburys sauce) so tasty. Why have I never done this before? Everyone else had tuna mayo. Ds had pizza. Made a crumble from frozen scrumped apples, sad crinkly eating apples, and frozen berries. Glad I borhered, it was very yum.

Well done for asking for a bit of help catface it makes all the difference, babies are all consuming.

Well done cag too on getting the tax return done. It's such a relief when it's done, so why do we all wait until the last minute getting anxious?

Hope everyone got through their tough days. Networking, teambuilding, yuk, ugk, cringe. It's also the reason I'll never marry. The thought of being the center of attention makes me want to puke. I can't even sit in the hairdressers looking at myself ffs.

Wow MissA that's exciting. Is it far away? Would you have to move? Can't remember what your dh does.

Lonely well done on sorting the unit. My hair dressers has a seat without a mirror for people who hate looking at themselves.

Survived my day. But urgh.

lonely i’m right that tomorrow is the last day at the unit? It costs you quite a bit of petrol to get there each time? That is going to be such a relief to have it gone!!

catface getting your parents to start looking after DS now more regularly will really help with going back to work too. You have such a lot on, you need this time . It will also help your parents prepare for doing regular childcare so really you are doing them a favour Said non-seriously but kind of true too.

Only three more days of dry January to go. Wow, I need a drink!

Well done missA on the interview

Moanranger , yes it was partly the events that attracted us, we've attended a couple in the past and enjoyed them. We noticed a bus Wreck that I think runs from Chichester to Midhurst, even on a Sunday.

I like Petworth. DP has never been round it properly so it's on the agenda for this year. He wants to see the art, but I like the servants quarters best. Not sure re, is it William Blake exhibition? know little about him.

Yes duchess it's every half an hour midhurst to chi or every hour on a Sunday (or used to be in my youth ). Not sure about the exhibition I've seen it advertised. If you go to petworth you need to go to the hungry guest. Not frugal but delicious!

Dd has to take a packed lunch and tea tomorrow as she's going on a school trip. The train doesn't get back until 10:55 and the station is 15 mins from where we live. She's going to be exhausted! Anyway I'm doing normal lunch stuff and am doing cold pizza, chocolate coins, fruit for tea. It has to all be in throw away packaging apparently but that won't be the case for us as I can't do that with strawberries or humous

The bake looks lovely wolf.

Ah lonely, that must have been a strange feeling. I keep trying to figure how I would feel.

MissA well done on the interview, that's great news!!

Good for you for asking for help em, I'm dreadful at asking too. But you've got a lot on and your Dparents will enjoy looking after DS. You can get some breathing space.

Black bean burgers for tea, with home made potato wedges and reduced bread! Cheap and easy. Used up some carrots making hummus and the old sweet potatoes making soup.

I'm actually off for the rest of the week now, that feels really strange! Had some extra leave to take.

Quick check in. I've been busy meal planning. NSD.

Nsd as planned. Cooked lots of chicken breast into pieces we can now freeze. Finally got round to booking some driving lessons. I'm determined to pass by August after starting to learn 4 years ago and never completing.
Tesco coming tomorrow with two weeks worth of meals not including top ups.

@Wolf that bake looks lovely. I love Mexican food.
@MissA well don't on the interview and good luck even if you decide to stay where you are currently
@Need I love your creativity with meals!

ds starts nursery 17 April. Eeep. Confirmed by email today. Eeeep.

My baby is growing up 😪😪😭😭

Home after dinner with dparents. They’re having him tomorrow morning so I can house view and then on Friday night so dh and I can go for dinner. Yay!

catface glad you have asked for help. It is easy to fall into the trap of talking responsibility for it all and trying to make it look effortless. There are a lot of people and companies that rely on the myth that it is necessary for us to be perfect. In the greater scheme of things most of the lifestyle messages being pedaled are there to seperate us from our money and don't add a huge amount of value to our lives.

MissA well done and good luck with the interview.

Cag good effort with the tax return.

It has been a NSD today for me...dh decided we needed wine at home for the first time in months. I think he is trying to sabotage my first 5:2 survive on fresh air day. Dick.

Blimey you lot are chatty!! I've bought tickets for shows dd is in tonight, cost about £20 I think. Having a dd who is in drama, singing and dancing groups is expensive for all the shows to watch 😁

It looks like Paloma Faith is going to be playing locally this summer, much excitement amongst me and my friends! ! Tickets go on sale Fri so will get some, will probably take dd as well.

I booked dds party at a local trampoline park today, my friend said you get better deals if you ring up so I did and somehow got 5 girls bouncing for 2 hours with food for less than £40!!! So that has come in totally under budget.

em I found having a baby really messed with my head for a long time, becoming a mother and all the different emotions that involves is hard to process. I actually found going back to work helped as I felt like that was my me time iykwim.

Frugal fail today. £28on lunch out. DH’s Uncle passed away overnight and he needed to be out of the house.

Will catch up tomorrow.

Wreck do you mean 10.55pm?!? 😱

Sorry for your loss adora 💐

I feel like today is a total fail. I didn’t even remember to use my discount card in Coop FFS. Or to take a bag. Living room a tip. Totally unprepared for tomorrow and DH is working extra hours. And Cagletini has been dozing all evening so may not sleep tonight. FMFFFFFL 😭😂

adora I am sorry to hear that.

The carrot houmous looks so tasty needastrongone! I love houmous, but would never think of making it with carrot.

I thought today was payday, but it’s actailly tomorrow. Spent £8 on milk, bread and some bits and pieces for dinner. Will do the big shop tomorrow.

We’re going on holiday in June. The balance is due in March, so I’ve set up a standing order going into an empty bank account. Only two more payments to go!