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

[Laska5772]

...and here we go !
Welcome all!

wreck I enjoyed 13 reasons why. Really good show.

Once you’ve finished it I’ll tell you something else I thought about it.

Re no heating...I know. Insane. Apparently though they were built with a back boiler so people could choose what to put in. Seemingly nothing was a choice. It had a wood burner. But nothing else. The lady who owned it said she didn’t like central heating.

Dh agreed a car. And agreed a mini. Or “whatever you want” but only wants one car and won’t drive anything other than an electric car. Or an automatic. We drive a manual now.

But I can trade ours in for a car of my choice. So I will do my research carefully. I desperately want a mini. But am aware they’re spendy. Asonaware the biggest car showroom here does a purge of stock twice a year. Plus trade ins of at least £3500 so if I can time it right I could get a shiny new car for about half price. House first though.

moan renting will potentially be problematic. Finding a decent rental with baby and pet on a rolling monthly lease is practically impossible. Am looking though.

Actually electrics a really good idea. Dh drives one at work & LOVES it after being sceptical for years.

We have a Mini Cooper with a works kit and it's brilliant. Auto is better though. It's a really good manual gearbox but I've got an auto and it's so nice not to change gears.

Moan Try snapping them in half while there in the wrapper.

Something will be out there for you em. I did forget to mention that (finances allowing) getting a packing company might be money well spent this time round? Getting sorted with a baby in tow might be a juggle.

Also, is a mini going to be big enough for all the stuff that comes with a family, perhaps if you decide to go away? Or add to the family at some point? Just a thought. We fill my 4x4 to the brim going on a self catering holiday. Add in a buggy etc etc. Suppose there's a roof rack though.

I've got up this morning and found a bottle of Tom Ford sat waiting for me in the kitchen. DH got home at 4am. It's the ££££'s bottles too rather than his £65 range. Not bloody frugal bless him.

Spends today
£30 on a massive fruit and veg delivery that lasts 2 weeks with a small fruit top up
£20 dressage test for DD.
£10 hair cut DH.

Ah emsorry about that. Go and re look at your colleagues parents house?. it looks like so much potential..and you can fence off the garden bit to start off with.. as its winter wouldn't you be able to find a s/t holiday let for a couple of months? or rent a caravan?

need packers are on my list. I’m getting quotes from removals cos for packing moving unpacking storage. And combinations of these.

laksa sadly no re winter lets. They don’t take pets and the majority are only available until end of Feb/March.

We will find somewhere. We can stay with my parents for a bit anyway so that’s all fine.

Riding today. So £27. And must head into town this morning to get a present for my friends daughter.

Spendy day today but still have vouchers from Christmas. Afternoon tea for a birthday and paying for my friend as her present £50

Enjoy your ride today em, it does sound like you've had a hell of a week.

The phone woke dp up, and so far he has yelled at 3 of us. It's going to be a fun day here! I'm not planning on going out or spending money, I've got so much to do here.

Lonely we have no plans either and dd is already moaning about it. It's meant to rain all day though and I know if I go out I'll end up spending money.

Cool em, I'll let you know when we've finished it. Apparently there's a second series.

Ds is only five and eats so much. I think I need to start a separate savings account for his food as I know it'll get worse. So far he has had a flapjack (I know, but I didn't want to get up!) two bowls of Cheerios, a kiwi fruit, a bowl of ready brek with raspberries and a rich tea (thanks dh) but apparently he's still hungry. There's nothing of him though!

My solution to those days is make cookies or watch a movie wreck

Wow he does eat a lot!

We haven't got up yet it's raining outside all morning, hunger may drive me out soon

My ds has had a bowl of ice cream so far! He fills up right before bed, eats like a sparrow all day.

The skip is going to be £276 holy moly. Thats a lot more than I thought. I have the money (some from paypal some from my teeny savings account), but crikey. I said I'd phone back on monday! Its got to be done though. My yarn finishes tonight, and is up to about £60 (10 lots) so that might help too. I think I need to clear the crap for my own sanity. But so much money. And thats the local company, the bigger national ones come in much higher than that. What I'm not going to do is put it on a credit card.

Also paid the £176 back to my asda credit card for yesterdays shopping, I rounded each reciept up to the next pound. The cash back so far this year is £17 (£4 carried over from last year). And my wages went onto my lloyds credit card. I hope the balances start to show a downward trend soon.

They recycle what you give them though don't they?. You'll feel better when it's done.

It's not like you'll have to hire one again.

Will be money well spent though lonely

Spends £17.35, really pleased as yesterday we looked in town for bus pass holders and only saw a couple in paperchase, then didn’t have time to go back. Looked on the website and there were some that the Caglets like so have sorted all three of us. And remembered to go via TCB for 8.4% yay!

£95 plumber yesterday replacing inside of cistern but landlord will be paying us back

It is alot lonely but how much does a run to the tip cost you in fuel and time? How many trips would you need v a skip hire.
There is no price on your sanity imo.

That's the thing life the nearest tip is a 13 mile round trip. The stuff is all outside, and to put it mildly, revolting. It would need double bagging (at least) to even go in the car. The sofa end would just drip it's nastiness in, as would all the shelves, wood and roofing felt. At least 15 trips I think. On balance, I'll pay for the skip!

Sound like its very needed Lonely

Fluffy How do you get onto the Nectar surveys ??
em you have 2 major life events(ds,house move )with lots of changes going on atm.
Its super stressful.
Is DH totally against the cottage -I thought it was lovely and apart from decorating to your taste was ready to go .
Last thing you need whilst raising young dc/work is a doer upper (been there, didnt get done!)
Glad you are prioritisin gym/riding .
Make sure DH does his share of drop offs etc often it falls to the "default" parent.
How is laundry gate going ?😁
Dh started doing his mountain today .

Sounds like the best option. It's twisty roads too isn't it round yours. Get the skip

Quite

Log onto the nectar website with your nectar card, click on search & search e rewards. Click on that & register.

I took dhs car to Sainsburys. Won 200, 500 & got a 500 till spit voucher. More than happy with that.

Brill thanks Fluffy

quiteclean yes, I agree re the dooer upper. I moved here nearly 10 years ago with a 3 day old dd3 (and dd's 1 and 2 of course!) and nothing is finished. Yet.

Yes life we call the road to the nearest tip "the rollercoaster road" for good reason. I moved dd1 to a further away school but in the opposite direction, as 4x daily was killing my car. It worked out for the best (accidentally) as the high school they are at now is soooo much better.

Chicken sorted for tea, chopped and sitting in buttermilk (home made kfc), all the rest of the meat is sorted and in the freezer. I did buy a hell of a lot yesterday! Dc fed lunch, and I'm going to tackle the desk in my craft room shed now.

Fluffy I will do this re dishwasher tabs, but DP is Master of the Dishwasher- you know the type, much harrumphing & re-loading of “incorrectly” loaded dishwasher, drives me potty. Will suggest splitting, but not holding my breathe!
Sainsbury’s today - result! I only buy stuff there I cannot source elsewhere & stuck to my guns. Three lots : £10.06, £10.21, and £10. Got 1000 points on the spot. 500 to collect by 18 Feb. Cashier did not bat an eyelid, must be used to cheapskates.
I must say I am starting to get into this frugal WOL, it is sort of like becoming a Buddhist or something

No heating! That is not right.

I am waiting for a friend to turn up so we can go for a walk. The ultimate frugal pastime around here. Put boots and jacket on and off up the hills.

We are off out as well.
All chores done -3 people made it super quick.
Its very muddy but there will be snowdrops

Creeps back onto thread after my longest ever gap I think.
Have only read back today, Lonely the skip will be worth it and Em the packing part of moving is absolutely worth paying for. When we moved, it was a 300 mile move, I was pregnant but had managed to negotiate a relocation package (from the NHS no less, don;t think that would happen anymore). Having the removal company pack was the best thing we did.

Not a particularly frugal time over the last couple of weeks as things have been quite stressful with ds. He is still recovering from his glandular fever. Possibly went back to school a little bit before he was ready, but it's GCSE year so it was needed. He has been back for 2 weeks now (with an odd day off as he was completely exhausted. School have been great and are giving him lots of support in catching up (he has missed a month in total, over 3 separate periods). The best news is that he is currently at cricket training which is his first physical exercise for weeks, but if he manages it okay, he will be going to Tobago a week tomorrow....phew!! We have had tears, stress, many doctors appointments, blood tests and meetings with school but I do feel we are getting there now. He has very low VitD levels and so is on an 8 week high dose course and then on supplements for life.

Back to frugal matters, we are logging all our spending for February and March to check exactly where our money is going . In April I go back to my regular hours (3 days a week) and so I wannt to make sure we are well and truly living within our budget beforehand.
Our energy switch hasd gone through now doe we are with Bulb which seems good so far.
I need to re look at our tv package soon as our current deal hasn't got long to go.
I've made 2 soups today for the weekend and hopefully enough for a couple of work lunches next week. We've got broccoli and stilton and smoked haddock chowder.
Had a lovely night out with friends last night, spent £21 and £2 bus fares.
Going out with dh tonight, shouldn't be too spendy, a pub that we are going to does amazing pizzas in a wood fired oven for £7, sorted.

Will do my very best to keep up now, it feels good to be back

north your poor ds that sounds stressful but good they have him on the vitamin d and that he is starting to feel better.

Dd had riding this morning and then we picked my nephew up, popped into tescos and spent £12 on lunch for 5 people and then popped into the hospital to see my brand new nephew!! He is very lovely 💙 £1.60 parking. I'm holding onto my older nephew as his mum is still in the hospital, will drop him back tonight.