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Original poster

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

999 replies

Laska5772 · 23/01/2018 22:52

...and here we go !
Welcome all!

OP posts:
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31
ememem84 · 31/01/2018 21:32

GREAT idea need. I’m on it for Feb.

I need to start watching the pennies more now. I’m doing ok but from now on it’s no payday until May. Eep. I’m hoping that I’ll get some sort of bonus in March and a pay rise effective April 1. Will need to do my appraisal form though. So hopefully the boss will be in touch for that.

I must go into town at some point this week. Need to get a present for my friends little girls birthday.

Am slowly decluttering. Mostly by using things up. I’ve started wearing my nice clothes too. Today being the exception where I wore yesterday’s plum skinnies a tshirt and one of dh’s grey hoodies.

Tomorrow I’ll be a bit smarter. Nice clothes. Make up. More positive Ems. Have told dh I now have a routine. I do bedtime at 9. And want to be left alone from 9. For at least an hour. Every day. This is non negotiable (if it’s just us at home). So far so good.

Tomorrow’s jobs include house hunting, taking things to charity shop, making dhal for dinnner, continuing laundry. And having a sort through my make up drawer. I also want to sort through my “work” box. I brought everything from my desk home. So need to see what I have, what needs replacing, what can go back, what to ditch.

Oh and call storage facility to see if they have availability for end of Feb/early March.

Unescorted · 31/01/2018 21:32

I am soo tired. Work is overwhelming at the moment but only another 2 months to year end and then we can all catch up with ourselves. Fortunately Dad is home and looking less grey, although still in pain. It does mean I have no time or energy to spend.... Except for £3.95 on a ball of wool (sanity project for my train home) and 99p for toothpaste a (I don't want to be that person).

Top saving tip to save on food bills Do a 5:2 lunch savings 40%, alcohol savings, food savings and by avoiding shops at lunchtime all sorts of savings in the random shops around town. Final saving will hopefully be to get back into clothes that should have gone to the charity shop.

Sea calpol is the thing that saved me at that age.

needastrongone · 31/01/2018 21:43

That's the positive em we know and love! Easy words for me to write and harder for you to enact but yes, all the things you mention are important to you and make you feel better. That's what counts.

Do you work in accounts unescorted, or some financial area?

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 31/01/2018 21:45

Evening all, i'm also knackered here work is busy, I don't like doing four days straight!!

Dd pointed out that Tesco keep texting her, on investigation it seems she has used up all her phone data and then some Shock am really fed up as didn't realise she had turned on the mobile roaming thing (I had turned it off Hmm) will be having words in the morning. Honestly kids and mobiles are a nightmare. I can't even think when she is going on it out of the house, it must be at school Confused life was so much simpler when I was 11yo.

Think have managed a NSD at least.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 31/01/2018 21:50

Em i can remember bringing dds bedtime back to 7pm and it was like I had won the lottery Grin it was amazing to get my evenings back, think dd was about 3-4 months when I got her into that routine. She managed to stick to sleeping 7-7 until she was about 8yo, its annoying now as her bedtime seems to be about 9pm which is too late for my liking Wink

AuditAngel · 31/01/2018 21:51

Tuesday £6.19 on lunch, today £10 on karate.

Need to fill the car tomorrow. Working in London do train fare and parking, but all to reclaim

Unescorted · 31/01/2018 22:03

need I am a civil servant. Housing delivery... You know the 300,000 houses pa? That is me and my colleagues.

ememem84 · 31/01/2018 22:05

absolutely need. I need to put my happy face on and get on with things. I’ll feel miles better. Having said that, no make up indoors day today did me the world of good.

I’m succeeding in the drink morenwater change of 52 small changes. Next weeks is either sleep or vitamins. I forget which.

Wolfcub · 31/01/2018 22:06

Unescorted what’s it like as a department? I’m job hunting and thinking of jumping from my dept but want to go somewhere with good culture. A lot of colleagues who went over into a particular ogd are miserable and I’m keen to avoid that.

Unescorted · 31/01/2018 22:10

em sleep is better than vitamins. Or you could do both.... Put your vitamins next to your tea making stuff or toothbrush before you go to bed. Set your alarm a bit later knowing that you don't have to find the vitamins.

LonelyOversharer · 31/01/2018 22:14

All my dc are still up Confused dd3 is ready for bed, dd2 is doing online maths homework Hmm and dd1 and ds sleep late as a rule. Flipping chaos here.

I shall take my quiet time while they are in school!

Mine turn on mobile data in fear of a right telling off! They all have a bundle, so once it's gone it's gone (until I top them up). --I have run out too, none until the

Is feb a council tax free month?

Unescorted · 31/01/2018 22:16

Wolf I love it because it is not in the Department.... It is Homes England the delivery agency for MHCLG. You can just crack on. We are looking for new staff - check out our Website page on gov.uk. In the next couple of weeks there should be loads released.... We have a huge budget and are doing some really exciting things.

QuiteCleanBandit · 31/01/2018 22:18

Just popping in .
Love all the chat but skimming as tired.
Lonely yay thats fab -bet thats a relief .

Whats a Mule account Confused

em love the sound of your bedroom
Have you seen the Holly Willoughby bed linen in Dunelm ?
She is very annoying but her bedlinen is gorgeous .
Soft greys and pinks and beautifully crisp.

Money - budget on target.DS owes me £40.
Have saved £1200 since Christmas Smile
Just put it away and tried to forget about it !
Frugal win-soup in Tesco 11p a tin as a bit bashed.DS will take this week for lunches.
Did I mention its cold ?🐧

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 31/01/2018 22:18

Yeah Lonely dd will be getting told off about this tomos, God knows how she has managed it but she must be playing some sort of online game which is a worry.... Gah!!! There is a £2.50 buffer in place which she has also used up Angry

Right I am now off to bed, night night lovely frugaleers.

Wolfcub · 01/02/2018 06:16

Unescorted, thank you I shall have a look.

Hope all the fru babies slept well last night

lifelongfrugaleer · 01/02/2018 06:26

Oh I'm going to have a look too unescorted.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/02/2018 06:38

Lonely Feb & March.

Mule account, a dummy account with two DD going out that you use to switch banks for the switch incentive.

You don't have to set one up but some prefer to, if you've got incentives on your account and don't want to lose them for example.

ememem84 · 01/02/2018 08:05

quite ooooh lovely bedding. Will check it out once we move.

Morning y’all. Have just woken up. Slept for ages. Dh is making breakfast.

Busy morning here. House viewings etc.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/02/2018 08:46

There's free pancake mix on topcashback. Plus sugar, lemon juice etc.

WreckTangled · 01/02/2018 08:57

Have sorted the washing and hung up/put in tumble. Have also put dinner in the slow cooker but because of that haven't got time to make my lunch. Will have to buy something but have grabbed as much as a can to limit spending.

Original poster
Laska5772 · 01/02/2018 09:06

Unescorted we are indeed twins!Grin same business only I am in an LA!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Laska5772 · 01/02/2018 09:07

We might actually know each other! are you in an agency that has recently changed its name?

OP posts:
Original poster
Laska5772 · 01/02/2018 09:16

Wolf it is indeed an exciting business . but sadly where I live our local councillors seem determined to stop new affordable housing at all costs so its also really frustrating and can take years for something to come to fruition .. But what i ; love is actually going round looking at some of the stuff i have been involved in and seeing people living there and making lives .. its worth all the hassle .

I'm at the end of my career now (or want to be) .. but reckon the HA would be a great job ..

OP posts:
Moanranger · 01/02/2018 11:07

Unescorted useful saving ideas upthread. I am at the opposite end of the housing chain - work as a consultant to evil developers that actually build them. Laska you do not work in Bromley, perchance? They have delivered a grand total of 25 affordable units in 5 years - tha’s 5 units a year! Just finished a PI there.
Back to topic: I am trying for 2NSDs per week. Have done 1 so far; avoiding shop today, could use a few things but I am thawing meat from freezer which will go in slow cooker later, and there is enough broccoli/spinach to tick the veg box. So today will be NSD in shops, tho choir tonight will cost £4.
Sciatica is playing up today Sad

ememem84 · 01/02/2018 12:28

Massive fail. Thought I had a viewing first thing so got Ds ready and got to the property. Waited 10 minutes for the agents before checking my calendar. It’s tomorrow. Ffs.

But have dropped stuff off at charity shop and taken recycling to the recycling place. So that’s something I otherwise wouldn’t have done.

Waiting outside dh’s work now to pick him up for next viewing. Ds is napping.

Dsis flat should go through court tomorrow so once this happens she’ll be sole owner. Ex Bil has taken himself off everything - she had to do all the paperwork and just make him sign. But hopefully it’ll all be done tomorrow.