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Original poster

The Friendly Frugaleers: Saving and chatting as the heatwave rolls on.

999 replies

BestFootForwardAndThenSome · 24/07/2018 22:26

Now that I've put that in the title, we will almost certainly get snow. LOL!

Welcome to nearly-August.

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lifelongfrugaleer · 31/07/2018 21:22

As not add. Bastard phone

ememem84 · 31/07/2018 21:24

OH and my bastarding Clarks shoes ripped the hell out of my feet. 😭

Original poster
BestFootForwardAndThenSome · 31/07/2018 21:26

Thanks Snuggly and Wolf.

I'm still having an NSD and it's 25 actual minutes after 9pm. We can't possibly run out of any critical foods groups between now and bedtime.

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Tacoyaki · 31/07/2018 21:27

Great to read people's nappy changing songs this morning! Ours is "gonna change your bum bum YEAH, gonna change your bum bum YEAH".

Trying to cut down on "going to work" expenses like lunches, hot drinks on the train and buses when I could walk instead, so tried to have an almost NSD day today by walking to station, and taking in a packed lunch and thermos for the train. I could do it every day if I could just wake up a bit earlier yawn

Orangecake123 · 31/07/2018 21:42

Sorry I just realized that I was replying to a post on the first page when I replied xD

CurlsandCurves · 31/07/2018 21:47

taco I forgot to do our song. Our kids are a bit older now, but DH always used to get them ready for their bath by singing Nellys ‘hot in here’ as he undressed them ‘it’s getting hot in here, let’s take off all your clothes’ . Quite apt as they were summer babies!

Original poster
BestFootForwardAndThenSome · 31/07/2018 21:48

Jeepers, I clearly need to learn more songs. Maybe there would be less shouting involved in getting into baths.

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SnugglySnerd · 31/07/2018 21:54

Glad we're not the only family with songs for all occasions! I need to make up a nit song...

Flappyjack · 31/07/2018 22:08

Snap snuggly. £18.80 on nit treatment, handsanitizer and hair dye. Found quite a few too, though they were tiny. Apparently we have to do it all again in three days. Oh the joy.

DH bought football shorts for DS and was nearly lulled into the old £7 for two trick. DS definitely only needs one pair because they are so quick to wash and dry anyway. I also stopped DH from taking us all to Starbucks. We were only 10 minutes from home, so I really didn't see the point.

On the plus side, DH signed a new mobile phone contract where he can 'gift' me credit. I don't use much myself so it'll save me £10 a month. He very nearly spoilt it by asking me to send him the money every month?! 🤔

I'd rather not pay for my own 'gift' but thanks 😂

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 31/07/2018 22:38

Ugh at all the nits, I found the nitty gritty comb was the best thing to use, that and being v strict on having hair tied up at nursery/school.

I was feeling a bit left out as can't think of any songs we sing and then remembered that we do play games like boi'ng the belly (run at each other and see who boi'ngs off the other person's belly the furthest 😂) mucking about is the fun bit of parenting.

Original poster
BestFootForwardAndThenSome · 31/07/2018 22:39

Snuggly I think it goes the other way. If you drop the bathing song, the kid starts to refuse to have a bath above once a month. Then the hair gets grubby, and the nits refuse to colonise it. Please don't ask how I know this.

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Original poster
BestFootForwardAndThenSome · 31/07/2018 22:42

I just got an email from a student at a film school who wants to make a proper film about the tiny sciency thing that I study. She says that their films often get nominated for Bafta awards and things like that, and now I am all excited.

Now I have to get healthy fast. I wonder how I do that...

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SneakyGremlins · 31/07/2018 23:25

Got to do housing benefit tomorrow 😓

Bornlazy · 31/07/2018 23:27

Hope you feel better soon Sunny. That is very exciting news about the possible film. What a coincidence as I live west of Glasgow. We must have grown up near to each other.

Had 3 NSDs in a row Halo but only because I was working 12 hour shifts!

Original poster
BestFootForwardAndThenSome · 31/07/2018 23:28

Oooo! BornLazy I'd better not ask for more details in case we know each other. LOL!

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ememem84 · 01/08/2018 06:35

I have a song for catface too which I only just realised is sung to the tune of “Penny Lane” it goes like this “where is my lovely catty catty cattyface (or her real name), mummy’s going to put her biscuits in the bowl” and “cattyface she is my girl she is my girl meow meow meow meow”

I clearly have issues.

ScandiLady · 01/08/2018 06:50

I have paid swimming season 40£ this morning and booked tickets for dd1 and me to see paw patrol in the cinema next week 11£ for vip seats. Hoping else for nsd. Dh is working and the girls and me are cozing at home

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/08/2018 07:41

Curls Have you considered using London & County? They always get a mention on moneysavingexpert. Some banks are offering interest rates as low as 0.97%-0.99% fee free.

Snuggly Well done. One of you might get promoted in the next three years, you never know what's going to happen.

mammynowanauntyIRL · 01/08/2018 07:46

Subscribed to a parenting alone holiday newsletter and they've a pretty good deal for hallowe'en €375 for 3 nights b&b in a good hotel, kids club, one evening meal, leisure club and a day pass to their humongous soft play place. It's not an option for us this year I don't think, especially because I don't have much annual leave left but I'm going to put it into my financial and annual leave budget for next year. Topping it up to €500 would feed myself and dc for the other meals and make for something to look forward to in the lull between summer and christmas too.

Sorry haven't been keeping up to date, work is crazy since I came back from holidays and we've started mediation too and everything's a bit chaotic.

H's birthday today and dc are really excited. Have been instructed to pick up cheesecake, so I'll do that and they're making cards and decorations. I've ordered a present, if it comes today well and good and if not he'll just have to wait for it.

mammynowanauntyIRL · 01/08/2018 08:04

Payslip in for last week's holiday pay - I do have deductions for christmas club and pension out of it - so my net pay was €488 odd, every week joint acc gets €400, my credit union loan is €70 and dd's savings €5(H does transfer for ds) so I've about €13 left! I don't have anything on this week and I've got a balance in my current account anyhow so this is fine.

WreckTangled · 01/08/2018 08:08

We're going to the beach today. I can't really afford it but it was pre arranged with a friend. £7 parking and will need food for lunch as have nothing in at all.

LonelyOversharer · 01/08/2018 08:12

mammy I'm glad you have started mediation, is this the beginning of the end then? Hope so! Crazy busy is good, ime. It will make this horrid splitting bit pass in a blur.

We have little ditties and songs too. Used less now they are older, and generally met with an eye roll now!

scandi seeing paw patrol at the cinema!! I'd rather stick pins in my eyes! Soooo glad my ds has moved on from it, for a while there we were deep into the annoying talking flying things. Ds still grumbles if I call it 'poo patrol'.

Must get dressed. I cast on and did just one row last night before having a nap mid evening! Then got on and did £20 extra work. Every little helps.

Oh, and happy August everyone.

SnugglySnerd · 01/08/2018 08:30

Wow Sunny that sounds really exciting!

Glad you think I've done the right thing Fluffy. 2 years ago we were congratulating ourselves on reducing the term of our mortgage so it feels like a backwards step in one way but reassuring to know that we can now cope with the odd emergency and maybe even have a meal out occasionally! I'm OK with it as a short term solution.

Girlie I got a nitty gritt comb. It was £10.50. Have since found out they are available on prescription. Too late for me but might vet useful for someone else to know. I can't see any on dd1 today. DD2 still has them but she wouldn't sit still long enough to be combed thoroughly. I am still itching. I did my own but am going to make dh have a go tonight as I can't see what I'm doing. I'm sure we used to be more romantic!

Aiming for NSD today. Spag bol in slow cooker for tea.

ScandiLady · 01/08/2018 08:32

wreck beach cost money? How? I thought it was a free activity.
Dds are atm playing with the lego train on the terasse and I'm sorting stuff to add price takes too.

lonely I actually quite like paw patrol GrinBlush and its an enjoyable big girl trip for dd1 and me. She loves the whole experience of choosing candy and the popcorn and juice.

Cagliostro · 01/08/2018 08:37

I would really recommend using vosene shampoo, and using the detangle spray daily before school. The only times my two have ever had nits were when I stopped using them (I got complacent and thought home ed = no risk... Wrong!), we avoided outbreaks in their classes otherwise even when at school. But girlie is right about tying hair up too.

We had the loveliest evening yesterday. Cooked some picnic food (all of us can now fit in our kitchen at once!) walked to the park ate dinner and the others played football and walked round the little lake. Came back just as the sun started to set. Super happy :) feel really lucky having that on our doorstep!