Friendly Frugaleers Ambling into Autumn, watching our wallets and the weather!

[Cagliostro]

Hello! All welcome as we continue trying to use our money wisely!

Wolf I agree with Christmas. Think of it like a work project maybe. What value will it affect to you both. Also is h going to stump up some cash for it?

Busy day at work and this evening. Had a chat with my boss and feel much better. The stress isn't going to ease for a bit but it feels more manageable.

Am reading but not posting so much.

Thistime what a twat I would have been so mad!!

Wolf can you leave it a few days before deciding?

Cag we've been to the science centre. We went at a weekend obvs and unfortunately it felt like it was taking over by children who were obviously members and felt like they owned the place. It was good though.

Food shopping today. Need to try and keep it cheap.

What’s the female equivalent of a mansplainer? I work with two of those.

One who knows everything about everything (old scruffypants). And another who won’t stop at explaining something just once (broken record lady).

Sigh.

Anyway.

meadow I found some of the baby groups weren’t for me. If you can try out loads and see which is the best fit. My fave was the one where there was free cake. Haha!

Our local church (where ds was christened) runs a group on a Monday and anyone can go mums dads grandparents. Dm takes ds sometimes. Her neighbour also goes with her granddaughter so it’s a nice mix of people.

I did find though that at that age (dd is around 12 weeks? If I’ve rememberd that correctly?!) that ds was so boring. Apart from smiling he really didn’t do much. So baby groups were a bit meh. But I went for the grown up company!

Dunno em. Pain in the arse.

Meadow, meant to say. You gave it your best shot. It hurts at the time but fed it best. Long term there is little difference. I did both and my mix then just bottle fees DS is actually the better eater now. Post as much as you can, we will still be here

It's freezing here and I can't find my nice gloves

Online shop done and meal plan

Yeah agree baby groups can be hit n miss, I found a music group when dd was about 10 months that we both enjoyed but tried loads of others that were hard work!

My new hoover is being delivered today, really hoping it's good and worth the money! wreck i nearly went for a shark as have heard loads of positive things about them, my only concern was that I don't know anyone in real life with one whereas I do know people with Dysons. Also I like the guarantee you get with Dyson and the customer service.

Arm is hurting already today so off to a great start!

I like your menu plan wolf, love samphire. I wouldn't feel too bad, but I get really bad mum guilt so I could understand you feeling that way.

Tidying up before the cleaners and will sort a few bits of shopping today. I'm a bit tied to the house as the new boiler is being fitted. I'll probably bake but don't feel quite up to it yet!!

I bet the female equivalent would be 'nagging' or something similarly derogatory....

I'm always impressed by all your meal plans mine are so boring!

Every week the same more or less

Jackets spuds
Roast dinner
Spag bol
Pesto pasta
Salmon rice and veg
Something from the freezer
Something on toast

I really need to learn a few new dishes 😶

Girlie that sounds lovely. I'm tempted to print that out and try it myself.

Girlie could you share your salmon rice recipe please ?

lonely, I've just made your flapjack recipe, it's the only one it use these days!

Boiler man is here and a lovely bloke, I've got a guy measuring my upstairs and stairs for flooring.

I've also sat down and had a good think about how much I want to put into DS's account each month. I found this a bit tricky and have read about it on some other threads. Decided to let DS cover his accommodation via his loan, which it will (with a small deficit) and give a weekly amount as he would be left with zero.

He's worked a lot this summer, so does have a decent buffer too. He can work at university or at home if he wants more.

I'll review if required.

Girlie I think it's a three year warranty with the shark. It was a toss up between that and the dyson tbh but friends recommended the shark. I'm sure they're pretty much the same.

£45 Lidl
£17 wilko
£8 peacocks on two bralettes. The bonus of having small boobs.

Meal plan in no particular order:

Pasty and chips
Lentil dahl
Minestrone soup
Smoky bacon tomato spaghetti
Bacon and leek risotto
Pasta and sauce
Jacket potato and beans

Is lonely the chocolate peanut flapjack? Or did I make that up?!

NSD.

just Ask him to set the water temp to 55c or 60c. Most domestic boilers seem to come factory set at "bankruptcy".

Most life on this planet dies at 51-52c (it's called de-naturing) and the risk of Legionnaire's is very low in domestic systems. I re-set mil's and her gas bill fell. Is he allowed to work during term? some courses frown on it. I know contact time can be low but your meant to reading around the rest of the week.

The big 5l bottles of veg/sunflower oil are £3.50 in Tesco. Bargainous.

wolf I put a dollop of pesto on the salmon fillet and grated cheese, wrap in foil and bake for about 25 mins, my mum does similar but adds breadcrumbs as well as cheese. We have it with rice, broccoli and carrot.

Back from a quick coffee with a friend, feel rubbish today. My stomach has decided it wasn't getting enough attention so is also playing up 😕

On the plus side hoover has turned up and looks smart!

That is indeed the yummy Lonely flapjack em. Also the only one I make these days unless I have to make a peanut-free thing for some reason. I made some at the weekend, almost all polished off now.

Took dd to the library sing and story thing (free) then coffee with a friend, £2,50. So lsd so far but I need to order some stuff for DS’s birthday and the name labels for school, still haven’t done that! Have been scrawling in labels with biro

Peanut butter flapjack you say? Someone please share the recipe

Just listed some bits on eBay. Hopefully they sell ok it's all Joules and Boden

Downstairs (includes bathroom) is clean. I have picked up some homework bits for ds and some flowers for me and a few bits for the living room. Followed all of your excellent examples and planted some winter and spring bulbs in my rock hard soil. That was a battle. I have a small handful of spring bulbs left in blue/purple shades if a regular would like them pm me.
Waiting for ds and his friend to get home from school.
I have orders an instant pot

Here's the flapjack recipe, screen shot from here moons ago!!

fluffy, the engineer is going to turn it down for me when he's done, if it's not already.

Re DS, I think he will have the opportunity to work at the lock up next to us when he's at home. They tend to leave all their crap jobs that no one wants or do. He's been working 3 days a week over the summer doing all the said crap jobs. Doesn't pay tax or NI obviously so coming out with a decent £150 a week. He can do this during the holidays. Seems ideal to me, then he can study when he's at university.

Dogs walked, popped to Boots and spend £20 of points on shower gels and shampoos, toothpaste etc for DS.

Will post the recipe from my phone.

Recipe

We've got the class bear just to add to my stress

It'd be great if he learns all his budgeting skills now and doesn't go mad spending when he's earning like I did all those years ago. I had no budgeting skills at all just.

Wolf I think it'll suit you, you work ft and have a child to look after. You could prep meals, freeze in a Ziploc bag and defrost as needed. Tip it in and pressure cook.