The Friendly Frugaleers - Furtively planning Christmas, as August arrives

[StoogingOn]

Welcome one and all!

lonely woo hoo re bank and great service regarding your other accounts plus happy birthday my darling

Great news lonely and happy birthday 🎂 too

Three more boxes packed. This is a massive achievement as I’ve also had to entertain ds as dh was napping.

We packed up his next size up clothes, spare bedding ready to take to grandmas.

And then we played with tape and bubble wrap while I packed up some glass jars and vases etc.

He’s just started to get grumpy again so I’ve put him down for a nap. He is reluctant. But very obviously tired.

He’s not napping. Instead he’s found the spring doorstop thing. The “twanger”. He’s twanged it. It makes a funny noise. He thinks this is hilarious.

It was funny the first time.....

Happy Birthday Lonely that must be the best present ever ( the loan not the perfume 😉) well done. The old expression “if you don’t ask you don’t get” is so true.

Em my dh's upstairs neighbour's kid used to do that. It's quite a nice noise I think, but it goes through the walls to all the neighbours. It might be an idea to discourage him.

We've arrived at our holiday destination, I feel like I'm on brownie camp as it's a big old youth hostel! We're sleeping in bunk beds 😂 weather diabolical atm so really hoping it cheers up pronto.

Spent 80p on milk so lsd.

I'm totally knackered, honestly getting too old for this going out lark 😉

Happy birthday lonely. That is excellent news about the bank.

Em it is as well you are moving if it reverberates through the building.😀

I have just made some spelt crackers for cheese. I think they will be paired with some yellow stickered cheese and pate for a while dinner cooks snackage. I love Aldi randoms it inspires me to try making something new.

Fancies kebab so dh made some homemade with homemade pitta horray for private chef... And saved not having to get a take away.
Tomorrow is last day at the 2nd hand kids store,.sold so fare for 201 £ so really pleased.

Dh wants a stand up to Christmas as well. Im just insecure about if ppl are buying 2nd hand stuff for Christmas gifts? Would you guys do that?

I couldn't buy second hand gifts for Christmas unless it was for my dc and then I think it's absolutely fine.

My dh is being a twat. He text me just after 5 (as I was cashing up bearing in mind I've been working all day and he's been home) asking what's on my meal plan for dinner tonight as the dc are hungry so he wants to start cooking. I said I hadn't really thought about it. I get home and on my plate is three chicken goujons and a few potato lattices. He's about to add coleslaw but I said not to bother I would do some veg. I also put on some more goujons to which he said 'you could have got another meal out of them' (no we couldn't that's why I got two packs!). Also dd is still in her pyjamas so they've obviously not had any fresh air or anything today and he said to me 'what's wrong with you tonight you've come home in a really bad mood' because I sat in the chair he'd been sitting in

Rant over

Just as well we’re moving then really breathe

We’ve been out for a walk. We were lucky enough to be near a field when the farmer let the cows out for milking. We had to wait behind a rope while they crossed the lane. Farmer had two calf’s on lead reins and he brought them really close to us so ds could have a good look. So nice.

Ds was ridiculously interested. Not at all scared.

So far the only thing that terrifies him is sellotape.

Ha em, my DS used to do that twang thing too, you'll be gone by next week

Fabulous news lonely, that's really great. And, Happy Birthday!!

Happy holidays girlie.

I've done my usual 'do everything in one day' today and am a bit knackered now. But gives a free day tomorrow. And I'm not great at leaving stuff if it needs doing.

Spends
£20 feed shop. Feed, sawdust, some cleaner for the coops.
£2.50 Tesco for DH, who wanted car shampoo. I got the value stuff, not sure he was massively impressed.

Sorry, there was a question about hummus that I neglected. It's dead easy if you have the ingredients which are - olive oil, chickpeas, lemon juice, bit of garlic, touch of salt, tahini (this is the most expensive ingredient but you don't need to buy the posh stuff, I buy Sainsbury's own brand for £2 and that would make 4/5 big portions of hummus). Whizz in a blender. Add anything you fancy to flavour the basic recipe - sun dried tomatoes from Aldi or Lidl, roasted peppers, harissa to make it spicy, roasted onions etc. I also sometimes use the chick pea water and reduce the oil, that works fine too.

I like kids that are not scared of stuff em, they get a most of their reactions from their parents when tiny I sometimes think. Obviously we are rural and have close ties with farming, so it's easier, but it's lovely that your DS isn't anything other than curious. I've a friend with an incredibly anxious daughter. I've watched them over the years. Most of it comes from her. I'd never say a thing, not one word of course but it's interesting and a bit of a shame.

Not that I'm suggesting you for DH are scared of sellotape

*or

I want chocolate but being frugal I've made chocolate brownies instead. We have no eggs or butter so, a la fluffy, it's vegan brownies. I had the wrong oil, sugar and cocoa powder but I'm sure they'll be ok

Hmm not sure Jam it's a nature Vs nurture argument isn't it? I think it's a bit of both. Maybe I just want to think that because dd can be awfully anxious

Scandi If kids are very young then second hand toys or clothes is ok, I don't think you'd get away with it.

Jam I tried hummus but it didn't work. Do you use extra virgin oil and raw garlic? I think the raw garlic spoilt mine.

Your hummus recipe reminds me I need a new food processor. Mine has started jamming after 33 years of daily use. You have to love Kenwood products. I got it as a special buy because the box was damaged. £23 reduced from £45 - I am going to tear up.

I've got my grandmas Kenwood up in the loft for sentimental reasons.

Yeah - raw garlic and olive oil. It's a trail and error thing though with liquid amounts, chickpeas etc. Couple of batches were too thick, todays is slightly too thin (which DD prefers).

Ah wrecked this is extreme, I didn't post too much detail. Think lifting her onto a sun lounger to avoid all the nasty sand getting stuck on her and wondering why she hates dirt or a speck of dust. Or not letting her do rock pooling in case she slips on the rocks then wondering why she worries about injuring herself.

Ah ok. I'm too lazy to be that sort of parent even if I wanted to

Same

Brilliant news Lonely. What a great birthday present! Well done for going to the bank and sorting it.

Sooo tired. Going to reheat takeaway leftovers and open a beer in a minute. MIL treated us to takeaway yesterday. It was well needed and very much appreciated.

You guys are obviously aware of the Christmas thread I assume?

It's there and up and running anyway and especially good for folk with younger DC to buy for.