February Frugaleers United in Saving Money, Swapping Recipes & Supporting each other in finance, friendship & family life : )

[mammymammyIRL]

And so we continue ....

I bought dh a card which says “[dhs name] I’ve done a fart in this card and it proper stinks. Happy Valentine’s Day”

As with need romance is not dead here....

Dh has just called to say he’ll be home in a few hours. I’m so disappointed. But hey ho.

In good undisappointing news SS rolled over today. Twice. And peed on me on command. Dm popped in and while I was changing ds she said “hey ds pee on Mummy. That’ll be funny won’t it?” Little bugger did too!!! And laughed. #itsluckyhescute

Not too spendy since back. Did buy hat gloves and scarf as so cold. Also eating everything in site again as so cold. But also bought some plants. Feel spring is just around the corner. I hope.

I got dh this

Loving the Valentine's cards / mugs. I got a text mid morning which was the first I remembered.... neither of us was put out which is as well.

I have finally got a placement for a homelessness guy I see everyday on my way to and from work. It has taken since before Christmas. I had to invoke workplace seniority in the end and stand by him while the crisis team wandered over from their office. It is so difficult to access services even with my contacts... it is impossible for people sleeping out. And breathe.

if anyone wants to get some presents in. the Malone 'grab it' game is on again . Its a £30 spend though one you have your prize I just got a £45 cologne as the 'prize' and bought the body wash.. will be a good gift ( you get the gift wrapping also ).. also its on all week . Last year they had different things to win each day

Good work unescorted

Jo Malone that is ...

Oooh laksa which scent did you get?

I’ve just finished a grapefruit perfume. It’s lovely. But I’m partial to the pomegranate noir too.

The woodspice and salt one is lovely. Super “coastal” and fresh.

English Oak and Redcurrant have never tried it but it sounds nice.. but they seem to be offering only two scents today that and English oak and hazelnut..they do have pomegranate noir bath stuff
Anyway there will be more tomorrow..Have you had a go em?

I did get a candle earlier but rejected it (and now cant get another) ill have another go tomorrow ) .

if you look on the S&B thread you'll see what people have picked up.. ( sadly my cologne wasnt the big one!)

NSD today. DPs visited and took us out for pizza for lunch. DCs were very good and cute, though DS did wet himself while walking home (he knew he needed to go but is really scared of public toilets). No biggie, but I hope he gets over it soon as it is a bit of a constraint.

We swap cards but nothing more exciting. I got one from DS though (via DH of course). He actually wrote his name in it instead of ‘bucket’ which is what he usually writes in cards.

Dd had me up at 5.30 am today after a 1.30am feed so I’m off to bed now (early for me).

I love painting Girlie. Enjoy!

Cag agree you have seemed much happier and stronger since having dd2. Amazing how that works because I, on the other hand, feel completely knackered!

We are taking the dcs to the zoo tomorrow, DH is off work. Hoping the traffic isn’t too bad, we are heading away from London rather than into Regent’s Park.

I just had another go and got a candle this time! . same scent English oak and redcurrant ...it had better be nice....it sounds nice
and bought the wood sage and salt shower gel.. on your recommend..
.. em Bed now..

I seem to have NSDs only when I don’t leave the house, which was today. Still nursing cold, which is somewhat improved, but have awful sore muscles right below rib cage from hacking cough
Yesterday spent £24, mostly on Valentine’s stuff, about £6 on actual food, at Asda, which I must say is awfully good value, but not close to me.
Frugaleers, I need some advice- I would like to find cheaper home insurance, but mine includes a Homeserve type emergency cover, which I have found mighty handy. Home ins (inc said cover) is just under £400 a year. I just got a quote for stand alone plumbing emergency cover of £18 a month.
Does anyone have this? Or know of cheap home insurance that includes this? Thanks in advance!

Not yet laksa I need to find out if they deliver here. Pointless if they don’t.

Quick check in, in an attempt to keep up!
Drove back from Devon today, our spends were pasties to go in the freezer (£12) and a big treat, lunch for the 3 of us at Gloucester services (£30). It was amazing and meant we only needed a snack tonight (and pancakes as we didn't have any yesterday).
Ds is having a fantastic time in Tobago, feeling fine and playing really well apparently, proud mum!

Back to work tomorrow

Not sure if the weather or insomnia woke me m&s 20% off with code YESPLEASE dh & I admired a beautiful 3 in 1 Mac for girls in our nearest tiny outlet & ds needs a jacket, boys one is not near as cute also a boys pramsuit but none of the unisex ones are as nice and don't know which db & dsil are having

Might stock up on school uniform supplies though, will see on pc at work tomo

Morning all. Hoping for a NSD today. Working at home so that should, theoretically, make it easier

Moan Are you using cashback sites for this? Home serve are on them so you should be able to get the cover you need. There's probably other providers there too.

Partial retirement sounds a great option for you laska. When you finally have enough then you still retire

There was a lot of yesterday fluffy, followed by “but of course I will be so sad to leave”. Hoping to go in and do a couple days at my new job next week as they need the help whilst i’m still in my notice period. I can work out how casual the dress code is. I may have to resurrect my —hated— fleece! Job is in an office attached to an industrial unit.

Thank you all for your good wishes and putting up with my work whinges

They are meant to be giving out free breakfast on the train in a bit. I’m starving and was considering a hot drink at my connection so £s saves there

I have another cold now. Lemsip will need to be bought today.

We ended up meeting in the middle salary wise laska. I’m going to work an extra half hour per day which will help too and there was no reason not to. But really I just wanted to leave for an easier life. The amount of personal admin I have already had to do to leave CS is mind boggling!

Hi
Nice leggings wreck, you are welcome
Good news on the job/ notice
Those I know who have done partial retirement love it but it took shared services and mycsp ages to finally sort it out.

Have spent everyday this week on s lunch. Have to stop this habit again.

Have read back I promise.
Sorry about dh's having to work on days off

Ds getting his hair cut today then they both have a party to go to then swimming for ds.

We have no money until dh gets paid Tuesday. We both have fuel and have plenty of food so fingers crossed....

Dh got home last night at 8. Sigh.

I told him how upset I was and that I was beginning to feel like work took priority (given that the last 3 times he’s promised me a day off/rest day he’s had to go into work so it hasn’t happened). He assures me it’s not but can see why I’d think that. He says there’s nothing he can do. Which is sad.

Turns out though that he wasn’t actually “doing” yesterday he was waiting for someone else to “do” so he could check it. And they didn’t. So its got to be done today.

My point last night was that if he had stayed home he’d be in the same position anyway.

It does sound as though his work is pretty shit at present but he says it comes with expectations for long hours etc. And any other place would be the same. I’ve disagreed with this. My old work was very much long hours, paid overtime or you won’t get noticed. New (three years there now!) place is long hours and you’re inefficient, no overtime pay. Work gets done between working hours then we go home. I’ve suggested that it’s expected he go in on his “staycation annual leave days” because he has offered to and has done in the past. This is the mistake. I asked whether he’s call colleague in (wife’s just had a baby as well and he’s taking annual leave to spend with them) he said no as he’s enjoying time with his new family....

Anyway. Hopefully he’ll sort this out. He cannot go on with things in work the way they are. Sadly he can’t leave yet as this will affect new mortgage. I have said if leaving is what he wants to do I’m happy to pull the sale of our apartment. And want until he’s found new job and passed probation period. But that’ll be at least another year - 4 month notice period, generally a 3 month probation period etc. He says no. Get house sorted.

Focusing on today. Should hopefully be nsd. Have a few bits to collect from post office and I am going to start organising ourselves. I’m going to start packing unused things up. And must speak to the removals people today to get them booked in.

Oh Em that’s very frustrating. Can he not work from home in those circumstances so he only has to log on once the thing is there to approve or even come home and go back to the office later. I confess I had a patch like your dh, working 60-90 hour weeks for no pay. Refusing to leave the office etc. Now ds is 11 and I’ve learned that isn’t normal for most workplaces I regret it intensely.

wolf he says no he can’t work from home, he’s not allowed apparently, but also doesn’t want to. He prefers leaving work at work. Which I understand. I don’t like working from here but sometimes do it. If I have a cold or something and just don’t feel up to going in.

Hopefully things will get better for him.

Ive never heard of anyone taking a leave day and being expected to go in em
Fielding emails in extreme circumstances possibly but it doesnt make sense to take leave and then go in
Its a changing culture in my workplace -staying late had to be approved and there is no automatic TOIL.
I dod rack up a couple of days recently but was asked to cover in an emergency