Marching into May, packed lunches all the way ! Join the frugaleers for frugal tips and friendly chat .

[QuiteCleanBandit]

New thread

Snuggly a month on Monday. It’s the second longest month of my life right after ds’s arrival and Nicu/scbu time.

Okay. So I have been massivley spendy. We decided at 6pm to go to Ikea. We tried to get to costco for tea, they shut at 7, and had no food left when we got there at 1845.

So, from the list, kallax and 12 boxes, malm 6 draw chest, and a shoe closet thing. Off list...a huge lion, a huge shark, a dog, a cushion, a large saucepan, a bin for dd1, and some storage boxes to go into a malm draw. Total £291. Phew. I will transfer back from my isa (£460 in there). But NOT ON CREDIT.

Then £18 in kfc as the dc were hangry. I had no idea what to order as we never go. The chap was nice and treated me like a village idiot, explaining to me what they I had. "Some chicken please" wasn't enough!

Home now and sleep is calling. It was a bit of a jigsaw to get the big boxes into the car with all the dc. I do love that car, however the exhaust is no longer joined to the engine outlet. Gone through at a weld. We have one on order for £117. Pick up on monday, dp will fit it.

Happy 8th birthday to your DS, Sunny. It sounds like you had a lovely day.

Spends:; £24.46 Aldi and £1.20 bus home.

Hope your dad is comfortable seacow. I'm sure that if things are less than satisfactory you will know the right things to say to get things moving. Anyway hopefully it won't come to that and they will have found him a side room.

I have been really unwell with a chest/throat infection which you would think would mean less spends but actually has meant more as we have had a few takeaways as can't face cooking. I take my hat off to the people with multiply allergies- it must be a nightmare. I have been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen for last few days trying to keep my temp down. I can only imagine how miserable I'd have been without them.

Sunny enjoy your night of freedom when it comes.

Thanks Bornlazy. I'm tempted to get really over-dressed and make a night of it just in case I don't go out for another 8 years. But I'd probably better not.

Do you want to borrow my wedding tiara Sunny?

Dad was in a very bad way yesterday, he didn’t know who I was. I am expecting bad news within the next couple of days. My sisters are going today, I’ll probably go tomorrow. We’re going to keep going daily now between us to support mum. I’ve cancelled my lunch with friends today, just going to have a quiet day with my family.

It must have been a long month Wolf. Sorry I typed out a better response last night then lost it as my phone is playing up. Hope ds is ok after contact yesterday and you can enjoy the rest of the long weekend together.

Another beautiful day! The dts were talking to each other in their cots this morning and giggling. It was super cute! Conversation along the lines of "Da! Bla! Ba! Da!" Then laughter. They are both in their dungashorts (word I learnt here!) today too. So sweet.

After yesterday's weeding marathon there are now gaps to fill in the garden so going plant shopping today.

Plant shopping is my favourite kind of shopping snuggly your twins chatting sounds adorable.

Sending you lots of kind thoughts seacow

Happy birthday to your ds for Ystd sunny can't believe he is 8!! Think he'd just started school when you first joined the thread! Well done on taking a few steps to independence, it's very easy to get lost in motherhood and lose sight of us as a person in our own right (my deep thought for the day 😉)

I'm off to work in a min 😐 Ystd spent £4 at a plant stall and £9 on 3 hanging plant buckets that hang over my fence. Decided that my budget for plants for May was clearly ridiculous as May is the main month for gardening! ! Still need to do my hanging baskets...

Morning! Love dungashorts snuggly!

Dh stayed away last night as taxis are too expensive round here but he was home by 7:30 this morning with a pain au chocolat for me. We need to do weeding today and the dc can play argue outside.

Sea I think cancelling lunch was a good idea hopefully you can enjoy a day at home.

Born sorry you've been unwell I think it's a good excuse to not cook!

Lonely I love kfc!! Popcorn chicken and gravy please mmmm you'll feel much better once all your storage is up and everything is put away. Is it all stuff you need or can you get rid of some?

Morning all!
Seacow sorry to hear that about your dad, good idea to have a quiet family today.
fluffy tonsillitis is horrible but when it's that bad definitely needs antibiotics or at least a doc to take a look. Take care.
Have been awol for a couple of days. Cricket season in full swing, it's our annual beer festival at the cricket club so, as social secretary, I've been a bit busy. Helped by the weather it's been a huge success so far. Today there's a T20 game, ds is playing (his second game for the first team, great for a 16yo) and dd is scoring for it, so earning money. Dh is going to watch as I'm going to football. My team are in with a shout of the play offs so should be a great atmosphere. So a sport filled day here.

Thank goodness we have a quiet day tomorrow, am hoping to get out into the garden

Happy birthday a Unescorted

Have a good day at work Girlfriend

Sea I hope you have a peaceful day with your family

I’m just having a cuppa in bed before I get up and face the day, I have a nice patch of sunburn from being out in the garden yesterday. Silly really as I burn when it’s cloudy but never think to put suncream on
Will try and get some more washing done today and some ironing and I think I will try and persuade ds that we should go for a picnic

€15.20 was my total spend last night - one round of drinks because I'm abstaining from alcohol & was able to drive people home I had most of my soda waters & lime purchased for me! One guy insisted on buying me a proper drink, a brandy, I told him not to and it got left on table for entire night. Idiot!

How are Fluffy's tonsils today? Hope you are starting to feel better.

I have woken up with a sore throat. Hopefully just hayfever or something.

Morning all... Happy belated birthday sunnyds sorry I dashed through the thread yesterday.

Sea cancelling lunch sounds a wise thing to do.

It was a busy one ... I cleaned the oven. This is a blue moon occurrence. Weeded, went for a walk that turned out a balloon and snare trap collection trip. 2traps, 3 balloons ( if anyone wonders where they end up when they are released - that is a couple of days worth) 12 tissues, similar number of sweet wrappers and a glove. I ended the day drinking a very frugal beer.....it is called wolfcub

Wolf - glad you made it through the contact. If you want company during the wait let me know and I can pop over.

Morning all. Quiet day here I think. Dh is again not feeling well and is, if I’m honest, milking it. I’m meant to go to yoga in a bit but may give it a miss as came off pony yesterday (new pony, we jumped and then he put the brakes on upon landing and dropped his shoulder to get me off) and Am a bit stiff.

Dh is complaining about feeling achey and a bit light headed and full of cold. Now I know he had a cold. We all have. But he just seems to want to stop and has no regard for the rest of us.

Today’s idea from him is that the three of us go to the beach. Which ordinarily would be nice. However. I know for a fact he’ll take ages to get ready leaving me to organise everything, then when we get there he’ll fall asleep. Leaving me to have to entertain ds.

So Dh will be rested and again I won’t be “allowed” to.

I may just take ds on my own for an hour or so. Easier to do solo parenting when you know you have to iyswim.

Dh is being told to stay home. Quietly. And essentially get well. He’ll hate that.

Parking before I loose you all☀️

Hope you have a peaceful family day Sea, I'll be thinking of you today.

I'm at work today (boo) but as my job is outside at least I get to soak up some sun while I'm here. DS and DH are out and about doing god only knows today so I imagine they'll have a spendy one as DH will 100% buy food while he's out.
We went to local attraction yesterday where we have membership so I thought we'd have a non-spendy day but DH insisted on buying chips and bits for lunch so about £10 there and then DS was truly difficult as he's cutting a massive molar so we treated ourselved to a pub tea - about £45 in the end! At least going to the park after was free!

Em I totally get what you mean about solo parenting, if the expectation is that you're doing it on your own it's much easier. DH will quite happily sleep a day away while I parent without a moment's thought.

rosie it’s frustrating. It’s almost as though Dh has forgotten we have ds. I know he hasn’t obviously but I’ve been awake with him since 630. I barely slept last night. I’m sick too (thanks ds) I started back at work this week the house is a mess and dh recognises none of that. Because he’s sick.

So it’s tough love today. I’m getting on with things. Dh is confined to bedroom. He’s not allowed to infect the rest of the house. I’ve changed the WiFi password. So tv is out unless it’s freeview. And ds and I are going for a walk.

My granny passed away this morning. I am quite worried about my mum. She’s been by dad’s bed since yesterday lunchtime and now this 😢

Oh seacow I’m so very sorry 😰 your poor mum must be devastated. There is never a “good” time for this to happen of course, but the timing is just horrific for you all. Big hugs and lots of love to your family. 💐

Seacow I'm so sorry to hear this news your mum must be so torn

What a fab morning. I've just been for a long walk at a nearby castle and along the river. It was early but there were lots of people out walking dogs or just walking by themselves. Relaxing now with a cuppa.

I've been reading but enjoying the sun too much for a proper catch up.

Seacow my thoughts are with you and your Dad. Sending you hugs from this side of the Irish sea.

Oh Seacow I somehow missed the post about your Granny. I'm so sorry to hear this news. Your poor, poor mum!

Oh seacow I’m so sorry xxx

Seacow I'm really sorry to read that