March Frugaleers continued. In which we report spends, share money saving advice, chat about pretty much everything and post pet pics.

[Cagliostro]

Welcome one and all! Newbies and lurkers always welcome 💐

Sorry to hear about all the scares unescorted. We’re all here if you need to vent

Sorry I've been awol again. Work's been busy and I've been putting in some extra days. More about that later.

Meadow sorry to hear that the staff aren't all that friendly where you work. It's totally ludicrous that they pay you less than the NLW when the position requires a law degree. I'm sure you're counting down the days to maternity leave. Have you long to go now?

need well done to your DD. You should be very proud of her. I know what you mean about people putting you down if you post anything positive about your DC or they accuse you of boasting . As we say in Ireland, feck the begrudgers! All of the frugaleer kids sound fab and I'm happy to celebrate their achievements - big or small.

Sunny glad to hear you took a day out for yourself. We don't look after ourselves enough.

Welcme back Creme. I missed your posts. I hope you find a permanent job soon.

Seacow that's brilliant that the Natural History Museum do special sessions for ASD children. I hope your DS enjoyed it. Would you consider staying in a hotel room next time so you don't have to endure such an early start. But maybe DS wouldn't cope well with a strange hotel and hotel room?

em sorry to hear about your DH's godfather. Can't believe the sale has hit another snag! Also, a bit of a worry that the apartment block doesn't have a fire certificate, irrespective of whether the sale goes ahead or not. Did you find out why?

Work has been very busy lately. I did overtime for a few Saturday mornings but that's finished up now. There's been a lot of extra meetings in work so I've gone in on some of my days off. I've built up a bit of Time in Lieu so I'm looking forward to some extra time off when things calm down a bit.

I've had a bit of a cold for the past 10 days or so. It's not a bad cold (slight sore throat on and off and a runny nose) but I've been feeling very tired and weak. I'm starting to think it might be time to see a doctor and get an antibiotic. Maybe I need a tonic too.

I brought DD to the shops earlier (she was a bit furtive and insisted on going to the chemist by herself so I think she was buying me a Mother's Day present). I'm back in bed now. Dinner will might be a take away. We used up all our freezer surplus during the snow. DH is away until tomorrow so he's not around to cook dinner.

Some frugal fails lately. I left my scarf on the bus. It's my favorite scarf and I've had it about 15 years now. It's fleecy and really warm and comfy. Also, I took off my jeans the other night and discovered a big hole in them . If the hole was any higher I'd have been flashing my knickers at everyone. I'll have to replace them 'cos they're an integral part of my wardrobe.

Oh and Unescorted I really hope your scare turns out to be nothing more serious than a scare. Keeping everything crossed for you.

Just having a cocktail in the cinema..

Quite .. if your Dd doesn't wantit and you are looking for a home for the JoMalone LBM .. I'd love to buy it off you, was going to get some next time i went through an airport

tayto the fire cert is not as much of a worry as you’d think. A law was introduced here in 2013 I think stating all hotels public buildings had to have the cert. in 2015 it was pushed to apartment blocks. After he grenfell tower incident things have stepped up.

There are criteria which apartment blocks must meet to get certificate. One of which is the amount of people living in the building. If more than 40 people live in the building it’s a requirement. If more than 2/3 of apartments are rented vs owner occupied it’s a legal requirement.

We do not have more than 40 people in our building. We know this. So in this case we don’t need one.

We needed one because the ratio of owner occupied to rented apartments tipped over. Not a problem really until someone tried to sell. It’s the banks who won’t lend unless a cert is held. Well they will. But require at least a 65% deposit.

After much fussing faffing and arguing with other residents, the application went in early Feb. There’s a backlog of 10 months apparently but the fire service have said we’ll hear something in 6 weeks. Which is almost here.

They have to come and inspect each apartment, tell us what modifications we have to make (fire doors fire alarm systems etc) and then we have to get quotes etc for the work to be done.

We are ok. In the sense we have fire doors which allow for the two door containment that the fire service require (dads an ex fire officer so he checked everything for us). He’s suggested we may need a fire door on our “laundry” cupboard where our tumbly lives, so we’ve estimated around £500 for the door. We have self closing front door. So that’s another thing ticked.

We can’t do anything about it because we don’t know exactly what is required. I’m going to try and see if I can jump the queue a bit (or ask dad to see if he can pull some strings).

The buyers bank is also our bank so we’re getting our lawyer to mention this. The bank already lends on our apartment without fire cert so there’s no new risk iyswim.

It may delay things. But hopefully won’t stop it completely. It’s fristratinng but im calm. And hopeful.

Unescorted fingers crossed for you !

I am mostly a black coffee drinker (it has to be rea lcoffee though) but like a Darjeeling first thing in the morning ( has to be weak and black though) ,I also like peppermint tea and one of the Pukka teas called 'cleanse' which is a silly name , but it is mint fennel and nettle i think.. I have one of those right now
I used to drink builders tea but stopped having milk in tea some years ago now.. mainly because i was only buying milk for me and it would go off. DH doesn't drink it in tea or coffee ..

Has anybody else seen the thread on what people spend on their holidays?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3190103-To-wonder-who-can-afford-this-What-do-you-spend-on-your-holidays?trending=1

These people seem to be routinely spending more on their annual holiday than I spent on my whole wedding.

I should say "our" wedding. That sounded weird.

I think I am odd... I rather stay at home & cosy up than go on holiday.

I saw that. Mind boggling but they obviously have the cash to do it. Still mind boggling though.

£7.50 top up shop.

The Sainsburys mother’s day flowers have a lot of cellophane on them, I suspect when their unwrapped they will look a lot less impressive. Last turkey in the shop time stylee.

unescorted fingers crossed, sorry to hear you've been having a tough time

Spendy day today
Aldi £75
Takeaway £15

Need to improve organisation/meal planning. Supermarkets and their 'deals' are so very hard to ignore

Holidays, we have a pretty good income compared to national average but I cringe at spending more than 1k , might explain why we only seem to holiday in Wales. We also love the cosiness of home

We did used to go further aboard on more expensive holidays pre children, the majority of money was on flights then, not sure how much we spent. I'd like to do some more long haul holidays but I don't think we could justify them annually, perhaps every few years instead.

We've just started holidaying abroad a couple of years ago. It's a lot of money as it's school holidays. I work hard and can save for it which make me fortunate I know. I hate not getting value for money and the holiday price hikes annoy me.

£12 ds bowling with his pals. £40 sainsbury

Haha sunny I do that “my” wedding. Haha it drives dh crazy. He was there too obvs.

I haven’t read the holiday thread but am going for a nosey.

Our next holiday will probably cost around £500. Ferry tickets to France and spends as well stay with Dm and df in their house.

The one after that will probably be more (flights and air bnb for the three of us in Dubrovnik for my cousins wedding in 2019) and the one after that probably super spendy (in comparison) - either to Aussie to see Bil, or to somewhere “in the middle” like Bali so the family (Bil sil and Bil sil and dnephew - who are in Aussie/nz can meet ds).

Evening.

Long day here, drove to Lancaster for a post offer under graduate day with DS. It's his first choice uni so felt it important to go. It was interesting and we got the same vibe as previously so that's good. He can confirm his ucas choices now and get the grades!!

unescorted. I'm sorry about your scare and your Dm, mine has form too. Keep positive if you can. It's incredibly draining, the whole waiting thing. Fingers crossed and love and good thoughts to you. X

tayto love your saying feck the beggars, ha! Sounds like your dp is being a star.

Love the photo wrecked and the cocktail. What did you or watch? There's a few I fancy seeing at the minute.

We spend a lot on holidays on alternate years. This is more important as the dc get to the stage where they won't come. We've the money, it's our choice, we all spend on different things I guess. My friend that had breast cancer has basically bloomin travelled the world with her family since being diagnosed. Just back from Costa Rica!! One of the girls at the open day today lost her dad 2 months ago. Life is short, enjoy it and live it to the full would be the motto I guess.

That said, a NSD here, and making pizza for tea. Didn't really need that after a 200 mile round trip but hey ho.

DH is in a mental trough and has been for weeks, I've been shouted at and ignored within half an hour of getting home. That's usual at the moment. I hope he picks up soon. DS said in the car today he wonders how I remain such a positive person, I wonder too at times

Menu plan, slightly skewed as had a name on it.

*begrudgers - autocorrect....

Ahh you know he’ll pick up again, in the end. It’s not nice though, in the meantime there’s always wine.

Dh has just given me a proper character assassination and is wondering why I’m so upset

What’s his beef fluffy?

Sorry your are having such a right time need and fluffy

Hope you are OK unescorted. That is very stressful.

Being a Brummie I'm a proper tea addict! Supermarket own brand is fine so long as it's the posher sort not budget which seems to be the sweepings off the tea factory floor. I drink it really strong too.

Had a lovely day with my mum today. I see her a lot but rarely without the kids so it was nice to have an uninterrupted conversation with her today.

Thanks, doesn't stop me wanting to tell him to fuck off though

Yours doesn't have form though, what's his issue?

And I'm having a Desperado 😂

We go to Greece most years and yes spend a lot ,but its a lovely house in its own bay that sleeps 6 and there is only us two.... , BUT this probably will be the last year we rent that place now we are retiring!..

Motorhome planfrom now on as you all know!

I think I get confused about the holiday thing because I lived abroad and got dragged all over europe on every holiday when I was aged 5-8 and just ever so much wanted to just stay home for a while. I suppose for people who live in one place all the time though, it's probably nice to travel and see different places though. I still just want to stay in my own garden though, all the time, forever. With tea.