The Friendly Frugaleers; joyfully saving through July

[Wolfcub]

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I hate my legs. I have fat knees and a whole cm in different in the circumference of my calves. I also have foot drop and a high gait (sound attractive don't I 🤣) but more recently I just think fuck it. I'm happily married and I want my dc to see me getting on with things not worrying about how I look.

Spends today.

£7 parking.

£3.45 lunch

£19 boots - nappy rash cream, snackies for ds, deodorant and tissues

£11 M&S fruit.

And £5 new watch battery. I only noticed my watch had stopped this morning when I told my boss it was 9.35. When it was actually 10.15 and he was late for a 10am meeting.:..no idea when the battery ran out!

Wreck I think you're quite right just to get on and enjoy it. Definitely the way to live. I'm too chubby to wear short shorts out at the moment, but I'm quite relieved about that because I've been struggling to put weight on for 4 years, so this is something of a victory for me.

Cag could I ask you an ASD question? I just told my GP on the phone that I got my ASD diagnosis, and he said "So what happens next?" and I realised that I have no idea.

I just wondered if anything happened for you after you diagnosis or do they just fling you back out of the door to get on with life? I'm wondering about genetic tests and so on.

I've a feeling that I may be signed up by the Autism Research Centre here, but what they actually do may depend on what research projects they have running at the time. I'd be glad to hear if you had any notions of what the next step is.

Flyover was A. Maze. Ing. Cloud didn’t matter because they were so incredibly low! They flew almost directly overhead, it was awesome seeing the formations.

I’m a bit thrilled.

I bet you’re not fat at all, Sunny.
And you are right Wreck it’s so important for our children to see us getting on with things. I just can’t relax when the thighs are on show though - also hate my upper arms

Not really, Christmas, no. I do have the distinct suggestion of wobbly bits on my legs though, which is a great relief as I need that to tide me over when I get gastro viruses, as in this current week.

I went 5 days without eating this week, and I now triumphantly find that I still have wobbly bits on my legs. That's quite a step up for me.

I was basically shoved out the door, yes. I did have a follow up appt with the specialist though, and that was great, as it was after a few months and just gave me a chance to chat through how I was dealing with it all. When the Caglets were diagnosed they were sent for genetic testing but no markers came up.

Off to buy a few house bits and then will take them up to the house. Just going for cheap and cheerful for now but it’s the kind of thing we may swap for nicer versions later, like laundry baskets.

Thanks Cag. Did you find that having had the test let you see how you think a bit more clearly? I noticed from the meeting that I have a tendency to think of things in black and white, and to live life by rules. Since then I've been noticing that I could be much less strict about things and that then life would be easier.

You never get men hating their bodies do you?.

£15 wilko. Paint tester pot, food bags, foil, water bottle, miracle gro plant sprayer. If it stops dh bemoaning the state of the lawn it's £9 fucking well spent.
£2 Morrisons. Pitta, fruit, tomatoes.

Where is cheapest to buy seeds/young plants? I want a cottage garden next year but don't want to spend a fortune. I don't care if it makes me look 80yo I like cottage gardens.

I think they do Fluffy. I hear men worrying about their shape a lot. Oddly, I think they worry about not being muscly enough up top, which is different from us. They usually all look fine to me.

Yes, I know a man who won’t swim on holidays with us (his usual group of friends). Also men who are conscious of having moobs. I just think they are much less likely to admit it’s why they don’t do x,y,z. They’d never say it’s why they won’t swim etc, or talk about their insecurities. But I’m sure many men have them!

My children are being vile this evening

Really spendy but I'm trying to be conscious, wondering if it's too early to start frugaleering with our house move!

£75 Horse Wormers
£6 Arcade with DD & Coffee we are in wales!
£32 In Morrison's last night
£2.60 Costa last night

I've been through my outgoings and direct debits etc and I've cancelled Homeserve as never used it, checked in on the best tarrif for sky and BT and sorted home move out...

Put note in diary to change energy supplier and BT Tarriff in September.

Ebay fluffy seeds are dirt cheap anyway. I buy from 'premier seeds direct' on ebay, mostly veg seeds for me. Plants try b&q, aldi, that sort of place.

Am awol atm. Spending minimal. Ex still not paid money in. I'm at a loss. I want to weep. Just as I get full time hours, I will still be nett down once the tax credits regig. It's like someone is waiting for something positive for me them right royally kicks me down again.

I'm very blue.

That really sounds hard Lonely. I'm sorry things are so difficult at the moment. Hugs to you.

Lonely that's horrible for you just when things were starting to go right for you.

News on husky isn't good, vet said it's like she's given up not eating or drinking but no temperature or infection. He's keeping here for a day or two.

A friend owes me money which she said she'd give back to me last Thursday or Friday. I must word a text now looking for it back. I want it for my weekend to with my friends.

Actually yes you're right, dh complains about his shoulders

Lonely Can you imagine how bad it would be if you had no job though?. He's taking full advantage of being an ex pat isn't he?.

Nofilter It is never too soon to start frugalling it's just that moving costs are so high.

I like cottage gardens too, Fluffy. And wildflower meadows. I have so much to do in my house first, that my yard is not even on my radar this year. And possibly next.

Lonely, I know that feeling, if it's any consolation. You're not alone. X

Positive vibes for your husky, Mammy.

Sunny, it sounds a bit silly, but I like to challenge my anxieties and sensory issues in lots of little ways. I can't always cope with the changes, but at least I try. Even something as simple as having a coffee at a time you always have tea, for example; or buying kitchen roll with a pattern instead of plain, every once in a while.

Spends today: £5.40 post office; £5.38 Aldi; £2 Asda. Total: £12.78.

Creme It's funny you say that, but that's just what I've been thinking since having that assessment. I might push the boat out just a tiny bit in the coming weeks and see what comes of it.

I've had a little step forward here too. I'm struggling with my stupidly difficult to play clarinet, and the thought of having to structure my efforts by working towards grade exams just kills the fun entirely.

Anyway, I had an idea of writing the clarinet line to go with ds's piano pieces and that's quite hard because I have transpose the notes up one tone. But I tried it and I managed it, so I'm feeling pretty chuffed with myself tonight.

This is what I wrote.

lonely that's rubbish 🍷 why are (some) men such dicks.

Cottage garden is what I've gone for as well fluffy morrisons are great for plants, wilkos for seeds, the range are also good as are aldi/lidl for plants. It is worth keeping an eye at local garden centres as mine did an offer of 3 plants for £10 all plants that will self seed and hopefully come back year on year. You want foxgloves, lupins, roses, hardy geraniums, hollyhocks....

I think having some self awareness around the anxiety and sensory issues sunny can only be a good thing. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone will also be good for your confidence.

Have had an okay day, work is busy but not manic.

Spent £5 putting money in for a work colleagues card and gift.
£8 spending money to dd for a school trip.
95p paracetamol

I love a cottage garden Fluffy
I got some tiny lavender plugs from one of the seed companies-20 for £1.99 as an add on.
What a bargain,they are still in the cold frame and nice and sturdy.
Will plant out in the autumnwhen the ground isnt concrete
Chatting up gardeners is a great way to get cuttings,if you know anyone they are usually happy to swap .
I save Poppy seeds and Aquilegia -Im happy to send some to you if you pm me.
Country fair type events/fetes and stalls outside houses always have somethin interesting if you dont mind something that needs a bit of tlc before it goes in.

I think those of us with dds need to be really careful about being negative about our bodies. I'm very conscious that I talk about my body positively, dd has already said a few things about her body and I really don't want to encourage it. We have to role model a bit of self love 💜 (being perfect is way over rated 😉) I love my body as it gets me from A to B, it works for me and it's strong.

Couldn’t agree more Girlie. I am determined to lose some weight by making a few important changes to my relationship with food. No yo-yo dieting. I doubt I’ll ever be thin but comfortable and strong is fine. I don’t want the D word to be used in our house. I want dd to eat normally and be a sensible weight without even really thinking about it. It’s that wish that’s spurring me on to make sustainable changes. As for non-weight body issues, I can’t predict how she will feel about her nose, hair, whatever, but I can only tell her that she’s gorgeous but that it’s actually more important to me that she’s honest and kind. It’s so tricky with girls, I remember being conscious of what was expected of me even back when I was a pre-teen but the pressure is much worse these days.

Lonely that is so crap

Back later, I’m trying to make dinner while DSis gets DS to bed

Nsd today

That's shit lonely, he's a twat.

YY to positive body image. I do rh with Mammy so my kids see me weight food and look at the labels so we talk about making healthy choices and not over eating. They know I go to the gym to stay healthy too.
Luckily we are an outdoor family so it's not too hard and live a stone's throw from country.

Being perfect is way over rated. I have my own body hang ups. It may suprise you that I did not want to be photographed i. My bikini at the weekend.

But. I let dsis do it. I’ve been working hard at the gym. I feel better mentally for it. It’s given me more of my self confidence back which I lost after having ds - constant doubt and guilt - am I doing this right, am I doing that right, what will other people think etc...

Then I realised that I don’t care what “everyone” thinks. I care what some people think. Ie dh dparents dsis and my friends.

I wear what I want. I like my body. I’ve got wobbly bits. But we all have. So what does it matter?! I’ve done an amazing thing in the last year. I grew a whole person. So fuck it. I wore the bloody bikini. I got my bikini body out. I have a body. I have a bikini. I just bloody wore it. And I felt fabulous. id feel more fabulous now if I hadn’t sunburned my shoulders

Was beasted at the gym this evening. More squats weighted walking lunges and plank. How I hate plank.

Fuck you plank but I can hold it for 90 seconds before falling over and couldn’t do that at the start

Evening all. I haven’t managed to read everything but just wanted to check in. Sea I’m the same both on shorts and panic holiday shopping. I’ve just bought some walking sandals and a selfie stick because no one will be able to take photos of ds and I on holiday so I needed a solution to that. I still need Birkenstocks and bras.

I saw the fly past from out office 15 miles away. Not quite as spectacular but still great to see

Mammy I’m sorry to hear huskydog is still so poorly

Yy to cottage gardens that what I’m aspiring to