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

[BestFootForwardAndThenSome]

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

Welcome to nearly-August.

Well that didn't last long

Just found EWFL

Lonely that is great news .
I call it Debt not Credit as it changes how I view it -as not being available to spend.
£110 is a reasonable food budget.
I could go less but I prefer to eat good quality meat/fish instead.
Watching EWFL

we had rumbles of thunder and black clouds. I got the washing in ( all lovely and dry) and watered the green house and thought great that's it .. , but it just rumbled on by.. Its lovely and cool here though.

Dcat has been driving me mad most of the day for food. girlie , we are only 1 day in with insulin, and hes been used to ' on demand 'feeding so I am hoping he will get used to 12hr feeding so soon.
He has also taken to lying in his water bowl and then dripping all over the house as he follows me around plaintively meowing..

I have resorted to white this evening for solace . but am looking forward to it getting dark as i have experimentally strung up some garden solar lights that i got (150 lights for a fiver) .. Am hoping they will work.

I am too ashamed to say how much I spent to day , but lets just say a Fossil handbag was involved not a mega expensive one (but i have just received my pension pay out from work ). oh,and some denim shorts which may go back.. however i am venturing into new territory as the diet is going really well - 2st off since January ( except for the unplanned this evening )and Id like to lose another one if possible . Its so great that i can now get into my summer clothes ( in fact a fair few are too big now)

So sorry about the job unescorted I had a bit of an email whinge(explaining that i was all hot and bothered anyway so probably a bit over-ratty ) to someone in our contact office about their ruddy locked-cell excel proformas today - they were lovely ..but ultimately nothing can change to make the process less tiresome it seems

lonely.. well done for setting out your plan. But I know you can do it.. it was so great when i finally paid my CC off .

I expect em has been whisked away by the international jet set . she'll be ruined for frugaleering now ! Oui?

Sorry about the job Unescorted, you sound philosophical though.

Lonely your plan sounds tough but so worthwhile. 5 years will probably go very quickly and then you’ll be free and it will be amazing. (I’ve realised I’ve been paying my mortgage for 9, just 16 to go, though hopefully we’ll overpay when I go back to work. That time has flown by!). Does the budget allow for unexpected spends like washer breaking down? And are you assuming your ex will pay maintenance, or nothing? I expect most of us will still be here once you’re all finished, we can be cheering you on!

Lovely to hear from you Meadow. The first weeks are so tough, especially with colic or similar (I had reflux babies, I sympathise ). It does gradually get better... I realised a few months back that we had reached a lovely even keel with DD, who was sleeping through, eating okay... it was brilliant while it lasted but now the naughtiness has started! She’s suddenly got a very big personality and is quite naughty... it’s funny at times but also more challenging. DS was never this much of a mischief.

Wolf we are still in Hudds, here till Saturday. The sculpture park was fantastic today, we really enjoyed it. Annoyingly my phone battery died and I hadn’t taken my SLR - so we’ll have to go back another time, if we get up this way again. Tomorrow we’re probably going to see the Standedge tunnel. Nerdy excitement

Was an LSD, just £11 parking, until I got to the gift shop and bought DH’s main Christmas present. Oops.

Oh ..laska send me a copy of the one causing problem. Look up the community led prospectus on the usual website. I am the NW contact.

The job would have been amazing but it needs the very best they can get. I am pleased they have got a good one.

The sculpture park is amazing. Take a picnic and it costs parking only.

EWFL... Learn to cook. How can people not know the basics. I keep want to throw the TV out of the window when I watch people cutting onions....and how can they achieve a fine even dice if they have the knife skills of someone with 3 fingers.

Sea you are getting closer and closer.😁

FFS this summer is going to be expensive. Mil is to unwell for looking after the DC. Can't be helped but it means I need to find childcare that isn't full. £70 a day is worst case scenario.
Bigger

It's raining again too

life that is unfortunate. Could you send them to an activity club type of thing.

Yes I can,. The issue I have is they don't want to go do it will be difficult getting them there

Bonjour tous les mondes! Ca va?

Well. That was a terrible day.

Terrible flights lies Awful weather lies
Disgusting lunch lies gross scenery lies horrible people lies

In all seriousness. I love my job. I work hard so I can enjoy the perks like this. Private jet is the way forwards travel wise yo!! Quick (1.25 minutes to the alps direct), no stress, comfortable and the pilot let me sit up front for a bit and hold the steering wheel thingy. So technically I was flying the plane.

Le lunch was le delicious. Smoked chicken and lentil salad. Seared tuna with lime corriandat and mango salsa and chips, ice cream parfait. Glass of bubbly. Glass of white. Cafe au lait.

Meeting went well. Have a ton of paperwork to take in tomorrow and a shit load of notes to type up and minutes to write.

Stopped at Mac Donald’s on the way back to the plane. Big Macs and Fries all round.

It was beautiful. So so beautiful. Snow on the very tippy tops of the mountains. In the town we visited though it was stifling. Unbelievably sweaty hot. Ick. I checked with le boss yesterday and wore shorts he was so I did. (navy chino Bermuda shorts - knee length), leopard print skinny belly, white shirt (sleeves rolled, collar popped up, messy tuck in) espadrilles (bright orange) and aviators. No one was expecting dressy dress. 33 degrees. No wind and no air con in the office. Ick.

Spends today £13 taxi home (which I’ll claim back)
€25 on milka chocolate for dh.
€8 macdonalds.

Glass of bubbly on the plane back. Flight back we hit the storm coming in here. So the end of the flight was a bit bumpdebump. But all in all horrendous day.

This is why I work hard and give the best work me I can to the clients. For the perks!

Back to frugality reality tomorrow! I’ve seen how the other half live. Would I want it? No lies

I chop onions in the food processer.

*belt. Leopard print skinny belt.

*it was not a horrendous day.

em that sounds horrific. My heart bleeds for you. Enduring such hardship. Thanks for taking one for the team. 😉

Life would a roll of gaffa tape move them past their reluctance.?

unescorted thanks for the sympathy. It was truest such a stressful day 😂😉

Life That's not good. It cant be helped though. The cost is just crippling.

There's a youtube documentary on Gianni Agnelli, worth watching. Extraordinary lifestyle.

Em you total team player you. I don't wish that lifestyle anyway lies

Gaffa tape, what to gag them? There's a thought. Or I could seal them in a cupboard a la Harry potter.

You guys. You are so welcome. I put myself through total hardship so no one else had to. Selfless act really

I refined my alcohol rule. Instead of no booze unless planned until we sell our apartment. No booze at home. Or at my parents.

I imagine you need a nap now after such a hard day em. You got me with the envy once you mentioned the McDonald's on the way back

That is frustrating life and spendy too. Could you do some childcare swops with friends?

Sounds dreadful Em!

Lovely to hear from you Meadow. Hang on in there, babies are hard work and you are doing brilliantly!

Just watching c5 programme about the heatwave. I reckon food prices will be going up.

Made it to the end of the month with £213 left! Hooray! Have put 100 in savings for Xmas and put the rest into childcare account ready for Sept. Trying to build it up a bit over the holidays.

life, yes. remember to do the fingers as well so they can't dial social services. Bribe ensuing silence with a trip to McDonalds including a milkshake and sundae. Worked for us.

Em no booze unless someone else buys it is my rule. Fortunately my parents have good wine rack.

Feel free to throw something at me life as I'm sure that was a completely obvious stupid thing to suggest....

love I so wish we had the foresight to do that. Not throw cushions....have. as it was everyone used up their holiday allowance without a proper family holiday together.... although this could be why I am still married

em no booze except under cat stress or really, really shit days like the one you have just had is a good rule .

You poor dear , just make sure Dh does the DS night time getty-up routine if needed.

I once went on a yacht ..a posh yacht , with posh people and posh food .. . 2 out of the 3 were nice!! ..(proper 1930s J class sailing boat ! )

You all know about the meercat 2 for 1 meal deals with various chain restaurant's if you buy a cheap one day travel insurance?

It was in the moneysaving expert newsletter.

Cag Wilkos durable matt paint is on offer, half price. Good colours for kids bedrooms and you can scrub it.