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Frugaleers chatting and saving in the April sunshine.

999 replies

SunnyLikeThursday · 25/03/2018 17:43

Welcome to the new thread. This is a support thread for chatting and discussion of family budgeting.

OP posts:
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20
ChristmasSeacow · 31/03/2018 20:24

Wig that should have said credit to gamble. Accidental posting so not checked! BlushGrin

CremeEggThief · 31/03/2018 20:43

Beautiful baby pictures, Cag and Em. So cute!Easter Smile

It sounds like a good day on the whole, Laska. Maybe the better weather will lift her spirits again?

Gosh, Wig, I don't really know what to say. You must be very hurt and angry about it all. At least all cards are on the table now.

£20 Dominos order, as a planned treat.

MrsOH2004 · 31/03/2018 21:00

We have been getting our Pizzas from Pizza Time, they do 50% off if you spend £40 and they are lovely Pizzas.

Nsd in the end, I'm shattered and enjoying some wine.

Cag and ememem gorgeous babies Grin

ememem84 · 31/03/2018 21:21

Thanks. Trouble is C knows he’s a cutie....

Wigwigeconomist · 31/03/2018 21:23

Yes he is genuinely apologetic: he does have the potential to earn it back with more work and I think we will try release the money from bitcoin too (just over 50% remaining as it stands)
we will get there
As creme says all cards on the table
Keeping positive mindset -or trying to-

laska glad you had a nice day with your DM, although sad to hear she is not terribly well too

MrsOH2004 · 31/03/2018 21:23

They always do Grin

Wigwigeconomist · 31/03/2018 21:25

Thanks for advice adora

Fluffycloudland77 · 31/03/2018 21:28

Bitcoins devalued a lot recently, if it’s 50% down it’s not looking good for him.

Robbie Burns books are good, he runs a blog too.

My hairdresser has a client who is always trying to get him to buy into bitcoin. Mark Carney has strong views on it.

ememem84 · 31/03/2018 21:59

A friend of ours allegedly made millions with bitcoin. Although we don’t know this for sure. Just local gossip.

I made £10 today. I had a free £5 bet on betfair (it’s great. They send me free stuff when I don’t use the app for a while...so I bet it and then pocket the winnings). Have also bet on the boxing. £5 for not Anthony Joshua to win. Dh has the same free bet. So he bet for him to win. So either way...

Dsis is off to the Caribbean today. Barbados, Grenada St Lucia st Thomas (us Virgin Islands) puerto rico, Antigua.... on a cruise. It’s her big birthday soon. She’s gone with a friend of hers who’s just celebrated their big birthday. I’ve organised (fingers crossed) for an upgrade on the plane for them to business (We have a household BA gold card and a ton of avios so called BA and explained situation and they’d put a note on for checkin) and have ordered them bubbly for the plane. Woop. And a bubbly in their room on the boat. #bestsister

MrsOH2004 · 31/03/2018 22:09

ememem You definitely win best sister award, how lovely of you to do that x

LonelyOversharer · 31/03/2018 22:21

Have been awol for a bit, sorry. Just getting on with things, been very wound up about money, we need so much stuff, but I cannot buy it as I have no cash. For the last few years I have simply been putting these purchases on credit, but I cannot do that now, as I am maxxed out. So I feel super poor, but in reality I'm just not buying on credit anymore.

So anyway, spendy, but from my current account, D of E things for dd1 (expedition looming) school shoes, easter eggs plants

So, a real food budget for us/month is roughly £550. £400 was way too optimistic, and we basically ran out of everything with a week left to go in the month. Again, feeling blue as no snacks in the house, no treats for lunch bags, that sort of thing. I have pulled myself together.

seacow enjoy the time left you have with your dad. It's a beyond shit situation, the only thing you can do is keep on keeping on.

Such cute babies! How they are growing. We (me and my mum) have had many of the ikea high chairs. You can get little inserts for them if you have a dinky-do too. We could never fault them, and lots of pubs and cafes have them too, as they are so easy to keep super clean (even for me).

I've dramatically upped the amount of work I'm doing. It's a lot more hours (painting, while watching Amazon prime), but coming up for double the money. Plus, rather than ordering more yarn I fished out the blanket squares for dd2 I started last year and am getting on with them. It will be a huge blanket. I need to build a contraption to block the squares with.

Up to date, I've really missed you all this week. Happy Easter Easter Smile

Cagliostro · 31/03/2018 22:46

Nice to see you lonely sorry about the stress though.

I’m finally getting to bed having finished my last minute Easter egg hunt. This year’s clues include times tables, Roman numerals, Greek mythology and Tudors :o

Will catch up properly tomorrow. Happy Easter everyone!

bonnyshide · 31/03/2018 22:51

Grace Jones and you can call your son Tom Jones

ChristmasSeacow · 01/04/2018 07:44

Happy Easter everyone Easter Smile

Nice to hear from you Lonely, sorry you are stressed about money.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 01/04/2018 07:50

Happy easter everyone 🐰🐰🐇🐣🐣 Dd was up late last night and then awake at 7 am this morning so am expecting a sugar and tiredness fuelled meltdown before lunchtime!!

I've snuck back to bed for more sleep. ..

Wolfcub · 01/04/2018 07:59

Happy Easter frugaleers 🐣🐥

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/04/2018 08:35

Happy Easter 🐰🍫

Lonely Hope your not shouldering the burden alone.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 01/04/2018 08:52

Hi! I was on a few previous threads but fell off the frugal wagon a bit... wedding, illness and stress all contributing factors!

But new month so back to it properly! I have one if those gift list apps which I log all my spends on broken down into sections. So clothes for each of us, homewear purchases, gifts throughout year. Then monthly food/household bits, going out, takeaways/eating out, clubs.

I average about £300 on food per month - Would like to cut this down to £250. I need to get better at taking tea out with me as spend lots on tea when I'm out. And I need some control - me and the girls don't need anymore clothes the wardrobes are busting at the seams!!

I'm trying to declutter and make some money - sold a couple bits on schpock this morning and getting stuff ready for a baby/child sale on Saturday. Trying to decide what will be the best sellers as can't take it all!! Also need to wash my old pram covers and list for sale... dd2 is nearly 6 and hasn't used in over 3 years 😂

Sorry that was a bit long and waffly 😂

ememem84 · 01/04/2018 08:56

Hey nobuts welcome back!

I’m decluttering here too. It’s tough! But I’ve had to be ruthless. I’m not following “anyone” in particular - I did have a flip through Marie kondo but thought the whole “keep it if it brings you joy” stuff is a crock of.... if I only kept joyous things I’d be left with a few pairs of shoes and ds.

I have been going a drawer/cupboard at a time instead of room by room. Makes things MUCH easier.

Today’s plans: breakfast then maybe a walk. Then late lunch with dparents.

Wrongwayup · 01/04/2018 09:09

Planning a LSD. Was just going to be orange juice but now need to buy oh an egg as he bought me an easter present. 12 years and never done easter presents. Oh well.

SnugglySnerd · 01/04/2018 09:24

Happy Easter frugaleers! Dd1 got up early to hunt for eggs and dh was still up with DS who had woken inthe night and fallen asleep on him downstairs! I sent him back to bed for a bit.
Ds is now asleep and DD2 is supposed to be asleep but she seems to be singing to herself.

Cag I have Ikea antilop highchairs. DD1 had one and so I bought a second when we had the dts. They are so easy to clean and to take with you if you visit friends, go on holiday etc. Without the tray they go right up to the table. I noticed Asda do a similar version now too.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 01/04/2018 09:30

I'm not following any declutter thing either just trying to find homes for everything. Last week I threw out 2 bin liners of paperwork, school letters/random colouring pages and catalogues that had accumulated in my lounge 😰

I've taken a few things to charity shop but not driving it's a pain as I can't take it all at once. Currently got 2 bin liners to take this week. Will load up the trolley one day on our way out.

My main aim though is to stop it coming into the house. Letters are being sorted as they arrive either being filed or binned.

And it's dd2 bday in June I'm determined to make better gift choices rather than random bargains that don't get played with! I have already got some things I bought off eBay that she will love and I had as a child - pound puppies campervan set, 2 Polly pocket sets, puppy in my pocket bundle of mum's and babies. I'm on the look out for the Peter rabbit busy book we saw the film yesterday and she loved it. It's £12 on eBay compared to usual £5 but the shops near me don't seem to be stocking many any more 😣 and she fell in love with a big fru fru dress in tkmaxx - she is so different to me and dd1 who live in character t-shirts and leggings!!

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 01/04/2018 09:34

With dd2 I used one of those boosters that clip to a normal chair rather than a big high chair to save space. The one I had had a tray on it too. And I had a lightweight fold up one to take to people's houses and cafes.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/04/2018 09:49

You can go online to request a form to stop Royal Mail giving you those unaddressed mail shots, then the mail preference service and finally contact any companies who’ve bought your address & started sending you mail shots.

I’ve updated my preferences on my banking so they stop sending me those “would you like some more debt?” Letters. I was getting one a week and it’s such a waste of paper.

I need to get Dh to contact next, he bought one belt (which fell apart) and now we get the next directory 🙄.

If I get an unwanted letter with a pre-paid return envelope I stuff everything inside it and send it back to them. They get the meassage pretty quickly then.

Em Did she get the champagne?.

LonelyOversharer · 01/04/2018 09:58

Just handed out eggs, and egg cups found in aldi last week. We didn't have enough and the dd's love boiled eggs. Ds was a bit grumbly about it (boiled eggs are not on his list of allowed foods), but was reminded about the new mario game he got last week. So he shrugged and said he prefers chocolate eggs anyway.

It's rather stupidly snowing here. My tender sweet peas and new clematis are in the bath, just in case they got frosted.

Keeping things that only bring you joy is all very well. Yarn brings me joy. What about the needles, patterns, stuffing, etc etc. Marie Kondo is cluttering my bookshelf. She does not bring me joy. Do I sling her? Except my dsis wrote inside it how it would change my life. Full names and dates. So either tear out the page or keep. She ensures regifting or charity shopping is not an option yet regifts herself !

Today is special, as I am having a Sunday lunch that I am not cooking ...bliss. Round to dparents for lunch. Egg hunt was done on friday.