Money Saving Marches on....frugal living, friendly chat, no judgment

[ememem84]

Hello. Took the liberty of starting a new thread...

I only do one but if it's something I know they don't like then can have toast. I don't understand why what they like changes so frequently

Nofilter
Contigo flask/mugs are the best.
Bit pricey but absolutely no leaks and coffee stays piping hot.
Likewise Chilly drinks bottles -£ but dont leak and keep water ice cold.(and no twiddly plastic bits to harbour germs that you can never clean )
Im out tomorrow-lunch already made plus flask /water bottle ready😇

Just lost my post. Hate that. Welcome newbies and I'll catch up tomorrow, night all!

Fluffy yep DD1 is still worried, less so since we saw the doctor but was super clingy, which really got my hackles up TBH as I just felt really touched out by it all. But I know she was worried and it’s not her fault. Thankfully it’s getting better now as baby seems to be getting over it. I think need was right that she’s like a first time mum herself bless her, it does make me wonder what she’ll be like as a mum one day when she’s had this experience. I’d never held a baby or anything when I had her!

The news headlines nearly made me snort in an undignified manner earlier (the newer buses have screens with scrolling news) - they said “spring has been postponed”. You don’t say :o

Ok. Invisalign are in. And it is uncomfortable. But I’ll get used to it. No excruciating pain. Just feels odd

cag this is the raccoon jumper. From Morrison’s I believe. Dm bought it as a joke really. Dh and I blame “that damm raccoon” whenever we run out of treat food. I think it started years ago when I ate all of the sea salt and black pepper cashews I’d bougt for dh. He asked where they went and I just told him “there was this raccoon that snuck in,,,,”

I would have got a pic of ds in it but I’d already taken it off of him.

Here he is rolling over. Sort of. Though.

Ha ha, PTA quiz champions again!

Back home to teething crying DD... my superstar moment is over

Well done seacow!

We're almost out of milk (I got 8 pints Tuesday evening...) and ds has a party to go to today but I need a card. When should I start panic buying for the snow?? Baring in mind if it does actually snow we won't be able to get anywhere...

Cag This will probably put her off for years. It is quite distressing to see poorly babies though. You'll have to keep reminding her you've successfully got her and her brother through babyhood. You have your baby rearing badge.

Bandit you did well there. Our charity shops are rubbish. It's all new look and primark. It's a well off area too

Well done Sea

Quite is the chilly bottle easy to wash by hand? We have no DW. I share your hate of fiddly unwashable bits ugh. Also do you think it changes the taste of the water? I imagine it tastes quite ‘cold’ and clean as it’s steel isn’t it? Having ASD I am really sensitive to change in taste and I absolutely hate the usual drinking bottles like Sistema etc, as I find the water tastes of it no matter what brand, even BPA free ones, I’ve tried so many. The only one that lasted a while was the filter one. At the moment I’m just getting packs of Tesco water and refilling the bottles a few times before recycling, but while fairly frugal it is hideous for the environment. #endofconfession 😳😖

Good point wreck maybe I should get more tinned stuff 🤔 no point stuffing the freezer as it’s a bit dodgy. I don’t fancy pushing the buggy down an icy hill to get to the Coop!

Cute jumper 😍😍 I love trash pandas. And even cuter DS, yay for nearly rolling! I need to put Cagletini on her mat more TBH and let her try to sit unaided (she’s really trying hard with that one on our laps, I think she has good tummy muscles like her sister 😂 definitely not like me 😳) but whenever I put her down the Caglets scoop her up again 😂 this was handy when she was wanting to be held all the time but she’s growing up now 😭😭 and we need to give her more opportunity to do stuff on her own.

Excellent win seacow what a team! 👊

I think I’m sold on the washing powder. An egg thing instead is a step too far I think especially given the epic leaks from Cagletini! I like the sound of the dryer egg though, ours is pretty efficient but anything that cuts down the time even further has to be a win.

I really need to get my head around meal planning. I just have such a huge mental block about it. I’m getting better at using up what we have, definitely wasting less. But it’s very hard to find the balance between convenience/ease (not just due to baby but if I’m having a pain flare etc) and nice healthy food. It’s tempting to just think fuck it until we move, since that could be in the next couple of months and as soon as we get the keys we can order the massive fridge freezer. I have grand plans for batch cooking. 😆 In the meantime too much convenience food makes me feel worse I think.

I need to get a Tupperware container for soup, the soup maker does 2 portions so I’ve been freezing the other in a bag but it’d be better to store it in the fridge to bung straight in the microwave the next day.

Fluffy You're right, and she doesn't even have the sleep deprivation to wipe her memory. This is part of the reason why I have one.

Any of your dc go to to Rugbytots? It's a new franchise that's starting in our nearest town. Dh played rugby my brothers did, one still does. Think ds would love it! It's an outlay of €78 but full refund after two sessions if he doesn't like it. This will be his first paid activity if dh agrees to it. And it's sat am so he could take him sometimes.

Cag could you store soup in a bowl with a plate over it, old school style for now?
I know exactly what you mean about water bottles but I got one in Penney's (primark) with a straw through middle of cap, bpa free and no altered taste. I drive to work though, it wouldn't do in a handbag as it's never sealed.

Sea well done

Must ynab today, was too busy and tired to do it at work past couple of days.
Electricity bill just in. I've been putting €20 a week against it, we will just owe 23.43 when direct debit comes out. Our account was in credit though from switching bonus so I'll increase what I put away towards it.

Fuel bill also in, think I've money in my ynab categories for it, there's another pay before it comes out anyhow.

My friend treated me to lunch yesterday for my birthday and tonight myself & dh go to dinner. It's by the credit union I volunteer for so only spends will be drinks AF for me.

Spends since I last posted
€6 on cinema ticket, taking half day next tues for my birthday & get a laser treatment done on my underarms going out for lunch alone, and going to cinema alone BLISS

€10 on saving stamps for dc holiday money
€1.95 on cooking oil
€5.70 on topup shop, ketchup and a baked roll for ds
€42 in pharmacy, steroid cream and anti fungal powder for ds, baby shampoo for my coloured hair, tonic for dc
€8.51 on carnations for visiting a neighbour and apples

We don't usually do topup shops however
Owe df €30 for dog food

€15.47 on battery for house alarm, last one was in it since it was installed 9 years ago
Paid €20 off my spin dryer too

Em sorry house selling has stalled but seems you're content with it, ds is a fabulous baby, not chunky at all

On the washing front I'm gone back to capsules, that way I know how much everyone else uses only fairy non bio on offer

Must buy a birthday present for a 2 year old tomo but we missed her sisters birthday in December so think I'll get a voucher to cover both €30.

Wreck could be interesting frugal meals if you're snowed in, my cupboards always have way more stuff in them than my brother & his wife but similar amount to my parents, 2 adults in each of those houses, 3 adults and 2 dc in mine. We could probably survive for a couple of weeks

Wolf I did wonder what dead mans leg was

Fluffy I bought thermals reduced in Penney's a couple of weeks ago they're life changing girlie invest, I bought size small men's for €2 each I'm size 12

Welcome to new people

Sorry for long post,
I talk out a lot of things here & probably bore some of you to tears

Annwithnoe are you still reading?

Aw, cute raccoon top :) & story to go with it.

I was going to order a chillys bottle but found one similar in Aldi for £4.99 - I'm sure it's exaclty the same thing tbh! It even has a nice black marble design. It's kept on my desk at work & love how cold it keeps the water. Would like another one at home but Aldi don't have them any more unfortunately.

Ordered some bits on superdrug that were needed today: my usual concealer & mascara (got a free eyeliner with them) 2 boxes tissues BOGOF, garnier bb cream (on offer) some texturing spray (on offer) & dry shampoo. About £25.

Hoping for no other spends today. Will be going to the gym but get a free membership so that costs nothing. & will make dinner with what we've got :)

Let’s hope we don’t get snowed in as the cupboards are looking a bit sad here. Taking ds to his volunteering this morning if he ever gets organised enough to get dressed then I have a haircut at lunchtime. Feel a bit sad that it’s the end of half term really even though he’s been doing my head in for the past few days. I definitely feel less ill than I have been doing hopefully that lasts after the return to work.

So, today is finish the skip day. It is 2/3 full, and a lot more to go in yet. I will get my moneys worth with it! Been out with warm water for the ferrets and chickens, fed all the animals, and back in bed!!

Yesterday dp finished fitting a new loo for my mum's ensuite (my dad never uses it, married 47 years and they use different toilets!), they could not get a plumber to do this simple job. So we saved them money I guess as the toilet was £110, and they gave us £50. I am using this to hire my digger.

I had to go back out to drop off some work she asked for, so took dd3's shorts back to Sainsbury's. £48 later...ffs. But, birthday stuff for nephews, bit of birthday for dd3, and decadantly nail hardener for me and dd2, both of us have peeling nails just now.

£8 top up in lidl, went to make flapjack to find about 30g of oats left! Its good that dd1is making herself a smoothie to take to school, but she could have told me we had a mouthful of oats left! I made 3 trays of flapjack in the evening. I had some crushed digestives left over, so hoyed them in too. I have made thick peanut butter hobnobs! Quite crumbly (too many oats) as well.

Odd style and beauty question... can you get purple mascara? Does is look purple on? Only my new glasses have grey/pink frames (think 1980's mink bathroom suite), and my eyes are grey sludge colour. They look small and piggy in them. I so rarely care, but thought some funky mascara might help?

I'm going to try to knit a tiny dachshund today.

Mammy I quite like the challenge of making meals with what you've already got in!

£28 top up shop.

We are off out to buy paint.. knows how to live. Then jobs for the wekend are clearing out the lounge to start decorating.. Ill leave the painting to Himself as apparently I dont paint well enough!.

so it gender stereotype roles this weekend.. I will be making marmalade as managed to get some sevilles this week (surprisingly as I thought i'd left it too late this year) Didn't get a curry last night so probably will tonight.

I have a few days off now. so hoping the bright sunny weather lasts !

lonely I think you can get burgundy mascara em has mentioned this before.

H/M hob nobs sound nice.. ( sadly doing Low carb thoughits working so pleased about that)

oh looking back i can see that i posted the same yesterday when i had a migraine.. well at least you know its all true then

£14 on two sled type things it's amazon prime though so if it doesn't snow next week I can send them back!

Lonely you are officially a bad influence. I now have flapjacks in the oven. I was going to make Soupy’s flapjack but realised we had no condensed milk after I’d started melting the butter and I wasn’t about to go back to the shop as I’d only just been to get butter

I didn't know it was due to snow anywhere, it's beaming bright sunlight here today! Which makes a change as where I live is notoriously grey all the time, the worst thing about here and very depressing. When the sun is beaming like this it fills up our entire flat, our living/kitchen area is a large open plan semi-circle with windows all around the curved side so it's lovely atm, don't need the heating on for once as it warms up the flat lovely. The guinea pigs do a spot of sun bathing too sometimes but I think it might be a bit hot in the sunny bits now as they're both in the covered part of their cage in the shade having a snooze. I am waiting for them to realise it's their lunch time and wake up and start shrieking at me .

Today should be an NSD, we are just resting at home and doing chores and things. I have sorted out one of our storage cupboards which we mostly use as a larder. When I was ill for months with the HG, DH did all our food shopping and just hoarded tons of stuff. He has hoarding tendencies which he has got from his family. We've only been buying bits of fresh stuff really for the last month or so since I took back over the food shopping and I'm just busy working my way through all the packets, freezer, tinned stuff etc he's accumulated! He gets really defensive when I've tried to talk to him about it as well.

Cag I've been on this thread ages now and still don't meal plan and atm is probably the least takeaways/eating out we've ever done. We keep well-stocked (see above - too well stocked !), so there's always meals I can make, especially quick and easy stuff for when I'm not feeling well and we're both tired/cba. I know meal planning works really well for lots of people on this thread but with my fatigue and things I find it too much pressure in case I 'fail'. But tbh DH does like 75% of the cooking now as he's home before me on weekdays and he's got no confidence at all so usually just does easy freezer stuff for us. I got him to try a recipe from one of our cookbooks the other day, a really easy one and he did it and was made up so I'm trying to get him more confident with cooking.

That was such a long, pointless post sorry .

Meadow have you not been watching the news/weather? I'm not sure where you are but all of the east and south east are expecting snow.

Spent an hour moving what can only be described as revolting crap into the skip. My hands went numb so came in for coffee. It's a beautiful day here, but so, so cold!