The Friendly Frugaleers; joyfully saving through July

[Wolfcub]

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Morning everyone,

curls kids get so excited picking their own sweets don't they? I'm quite partial to the natural co. Jelly snakes myself.

cag enjoy your new home - it sounds lovely and exciting and exhausting!

em I'd love to study but I don't know what, so I say go for it. Another string to your bow and all that and I reckon research and essay writing should be manageable.

Spends yesterday 1.99 watering can reduced from 4.99 and very much needed.

Off to google grapeseed oil.

I did keep my cool because the day was pushing on and we needed somewhere to stay. I didn't tolerate his amateur dramatics. When he locked his phone there were several swear words. He knows where pin is written at home his son in law can get it for him, he hasn't made contact yet though with him.

So today I'm out with friends & he has dc, a map and no method on contacting me I'm free

Woah mammy what a nightmare!! Sounds like a laugh or cry situation I would be furious.

Mammy that sounds very stressful. Hope you can still enjoy your holiday. Is it a week your away for - have you got lots of things planned?

Cag delighted for you. Soon you’ll look back on your own house and wonder how you managed for so long.

Blimey mammy that sounds very stressful and you handled it so well! I've been in my new house over two years now 😮 I can't quite believe that either!!

cag congratulations on your new house!! I'm so pleased and happy for you, you're a lovely family and I feel quite emotional about the difference this will make for you all 😘

We went out last night to this band and bbq do, was good fun, reckon spent about £20. Have also decided I will give dd £20 to last her the summer hols, she has spent £5 of that already!!

Am still in bed, slowly considering getting up!!

Woohoo cag.

Mammy sounds stressful, week done you for sorting it. Enjoy your freedom.

I've sorted through and have 6 pairs long trousers, 4 pair shorts and 4 royal blue jumpers. They are a bit faded but if you are not bothered about that in happy to post on. They are all age 7-8
Also 5 age 10-11 blue gingham dresses.

Will take to work in the week if no one wants them.

Also some age 10 fitness leggings hardly worn in grey.
For got to say trousers and shorts are boys in grey.
Also some t shirts. Plain ones never worn

T-shirts

Onsie age 7-8

mammy you are hols with DH?
Have I missed something?back together ?
I felt dizzy reading that !
Thanks for the suggestions-I have Superfacialist Oil which I use in the winter plus Ultrabland (balm) which I use with a hot flannel. Both really suit my skin so no need to change.
Lasts for ages.
I did try Micellar water but couldnt really see what all the fuss was about - the Bioderma one .
I have a face like an oil slick in this heat and then its dry and flaky in the winter so oil works in the winter but I just want a simple lotion (not Simple though its awful)
Baby lotion gives me spots.
Maybe Ill stick with the Lush 9-5
£10.50 bottle was purchased in May and half used so 6 months ? Its that perfect balance of whisking make up but not greasy or drying.
I sadly had to give up the Lush Shampoo bars due to a return of hideous hairline dermatitis.

Thanks Snuggly. I think I almost know enough to do it, and I get the impression that I just need to know it well enough to pass the exam and then I can go back to working with all the books open in front of me like a normal human. I would really really like to have a music exam certificate. I never got any as a kid. I must keep thinking about it. I'm having to learn all the stuff to help ds anyway, so I may as well benefit from it myself too.

Lonely and Life I do the hanging about thing a lot too. I'm not sure I have nailed the business of looking nonchalant yet because dh often says "Turn off your laser stare".

Girlie no way 2 years how did that happen?

I'm meeting two friends for afternoon tea today we've never met in person before, they have but I haven't. One of them posted a photo of her garden last night and for first time ever I've got garden goals, no offence to anyone here ye have lovely gardens but I've neither the interest or inclination, hers looks simple but achievable. Will edit photo later before posting

Quite we'd it booked & paid for in full before we separated and it was non refundable. Separate rooms I'm with ds he's with dd.

Aaah ok sorry !
Hope it goes ok

mammy what an utter nightmare. I've never used booking.com and never will after hearing all that.

Hope you manage to get some rest and put the debacle behind you (for now) so you can enjoy your holiday.

Quite I second the recommendation for Superdrug’s hot cloth cleanser it’s lovely. Aldi’s Lacura range did bring out one too, which was just gorgeous. But it was a limited edition thing, I only got one lot and not seen it since.

Mammy I’m exhausted just reading all that! What a nightmare. Hope you can enjoy the rest of your holiday as best you can.

No plans here today, we are all still in jim jams, except for DH who is working (again). He’s had a really tough few weeks, he’s exhausted. Best make sure there’s a couple of cold beers in the fridge for him tonight!

The body shop chamomile range is lovely. I use the oil all year round and never pay full price for it.

Waiting on dh to come back then a tip trip and b&m on the way back.

Looking at hiring a fence post remover too, save me digging 6 concrete in posts out. Might have a go at the first one first

YY o to superdrugs too. Vitamin e or radiance. I have similar skin to you though and the oil is fine in the summertime

Morning, sleeping late here! The house is just about up, and we're off out in an hour.

cag so pleased for you. Once the keys for your old place are back you can truly settle in.

em the extra qualifications sound like a really good idea.

mammy thats just a bonkers day. You sound so calm, but I bet you were stressed! Wtf is your ex doing with a pin lock if he can't remember numbers?? Ffs, it's like he's being deliberately goady. Tell him to get a sony, and behave like a grown up mine uses my finger print to unlock it! In fact most new phones have choices for locking things.

Spends today will be stuff for the cinema (x6 of us!), tea (leaning towards costco), and market place in Ikea (ds wants a shark toy to go with his bedding), he slept for nearly 9 hours in his own bed last night, so I think this isn't unreasonable! And probably loads of other bits and bobs.

Thanks all for your positive thoughts on my plan. I’m going to broach the subject with work on Tuesday.

I could do it and submit first assignment in October but that’s pushing it a bit. I want to give it my best shot.

If work say no they owe me £900 as a retainer for me coming back to work after mat leave anyway. So I’ll use that to pay for it.

If I’m honest they’d be playing a dangerous game if they said no. They know I only have to stay a year after mat leave and I don’t owe them anything. And I could easily go elsewhere and fine myself a cushy part time number (probably for the same amount of money as I’m on now...). However. I don’t want to leave.

Have also just paid £800 off my credit card. Dh agreed there’s no point in me having savings and credit card balance. So once my direct debits go out tomorrow I’ll assess the situation and should be able to pay off the remaining £200.

Absolutely loved your post about your new house, Cag.💖 Your happiness shines through. I was amazed at how much furniture this house could take, as it looked so tiny when we viewed it.

OMG, Mammy! It just goes to show what can be achieved by staying calm though, doesn't it?

Oh my goodness. I missed mammy's post and Cag's.

Mammy what a time you've had. You really did brilliantly handling that. I hope the family that you are sharing with turn out to be nice. That's a different sort of a holiday certainly. Yikes!

Cag I'm so thrilled that your house is so homely for you already. It sounds brilliant. Mind and take care of yourself there with all that cleaning going on. xx

I'm on epic house cleaning again here. Also much music practising. I'm really enjoying the music stuff. It feels like an inexpensive way to keep myself busy while I'm at home and I really feel as though I'm achieving something, which helps a lot. I wish I could get sheet music for ABRSM exams from the library. That doesn't seem to be an option. I might ring the council and ask.

Another one happy for you here Cag. You sound so excited. I'm pleased everything has worked out.

Sunny I did a music exam as an adult (Grade 6 piano). I enjoyed it much more than the ones I did as a child. I think because it was my choice to do it instead of it sort of being an expectation. I also saw it as a bit of an escape from work etc so I did loads practice.

Spendy day yesterday because I had to pick up some bits for DD for her Scout jamboree. I had to get her Scout uniform trousers and sanitary towels (just in case) and insect repellent etc. and the Peter Rabbit DVD for me

Spends today €10.20 for breakfast ingredients. Is there anything nicer than a sausage and white pudding sandwich washed down with a big mug of coffee? And I've leftovers for tomorrow.

There's a festival day on here today but I think we'll give it a miss. DD's gone too old for things like face painting and bouncy castles. She would have loved it a few years ago . I'd probably just get stung for ice creams or something from a food stall.

I need to catch up on some washing today and nag DD to start packing her rucksack. Or at least, get her to assemble her things prior to packing.

Oh, I seem to remember raving about a dress a few weeks ago. You'll be glad to know that I resisted . Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow. I did buy a pair of cropped trousers though and I'll get a lot more wear out of them. I only had two pairs and badly needed a third pair, especially with the heatwave we've had this summer.

It's very muggy today - cloudy but warm.

We've been watching the second series of 'Anne with an E' on Netflix. We're enjoying it but it's a million miles removed from the book.

Laska welcome back. Did you have a nice holiday?

Seacow hope you have a good holiday. I hate holiday packing too. Trying to remember everything and trying to unearth things you haven't used since last summer (like swimsuits). I can also relate to the panic buying - everything from shower cream to a beach bag to batteries for the camera. If you didn't need a holiday beforehand, you definitely need one by the time you've rushed around trying to pick up everything and then packed! Packing to come home is generally much easier - just bung everything into the case. First world problems though. I know there are a lot of families out there who can't afford a summer holiday.

Curls that games festival sounded good

em your study plan sounds like a good idea and it's not too expensive, even if work don't pay for it.

Wreck is the Hogwarts thing a wall plaque or a swing? I couldn't quite make it out. DD would love it although she probably has enough Harry Potter stuff in her room.

life this sentence made me smile - "Trying to stay nearby without cramping his 8yr old style."

Lonely the new bedding sounds great. I love the pillow cases you picked out for the kids .

Cag delighted to hear you survived the move. Also happy that the rooms are working out bigger than you anticipated. Wishing you every happiness in your new home. xx

Oh mammy what a nightmare start to your holiday! Hope the rest of the holiday is better and you can enjoy it a bit, even allowing for the presence of DH. How long are you staying in Edinburgh?