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Original poster

Spending October organising our spends - friendly frugaleers this way!

995 replies

ememem84 · 11/10/2018 21:01

New thread because old one is almost full. All welcome. fluffy can you be a doll and please post the helpful threads? X x

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Original poster
ememem84 · 22/10/2018 08:12

Day off or me today. My throat is too sore and my voice is going. So I’ve made an appointment with the dr and am heading there this morning.

I think it is the stress that’s caused this. So am run down to hell. Anyway.

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Original poster
ememem84 · 22/10/2018 08:26

lilly esd. I like that.

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Girliefriendlikesflowers · 22/10/2018 08:42

Oh dear Em hope you feel better soon, kids are a nightmare for passing on germs, thanks to dd I have had slapped cheek, noro virus (more than once) and about a million random viruses.

I hate meal planning as well Lily its def something I could improve on, I also need to make more of an effort to eat healthily. My diet is terrible atm Blush will give it some thought today...

No half term here yet, we have it next week for some reason, dd is knackered so def ready for it (as am I!)

Just checked my account which is looking better than expected tbh, thanks in part to getting Jacks insurance money back which has paid for the bulk of the christmas shopping, my Bath trip and my new boots!

Am sending some clothes back today so that should be about £40 back, I am planning on taking about £100 out to pay for the venue (my 40th birthday party) will still owe £80 on it but can pay that next month.

Pay day is end of this week.

WreckTangled · 22/10/2018 09:19

Not sure what we're doing today. Meant to be meeting with a friend but she's suggesting things that are an hours drive away and I can't afford to waste the fuel plus pay parking etc. Would rather stay close to home in my own home because I'm a recluse

Ds has swimming later that's £25.

CurlsandCurves · 22/10/2018 09:20

Oh em sounds like you’re really going through it at the moment. Get lots of rest if you can.

lilly I like the idea of an ESD. NSDs seem so hard to do, specially with 2 hungry growing boys in the house!

Original poster
ememem84 · 22/10/2018 09:21

Oh girlie it’s awful. I’m usually ok. But I guess it’s the stress of our situation that’s tipped me over the edge and got me sick. That and ds insisting on putting his fingers in my mouth.

At dr now. hopefully she’s running on time.

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Original poster
ememem84 · 22/10/2018 09:21

This visit will cost me £42. But worth it.

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CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2018 09:25

Morning everyone
We are off to Specsavers in a bit, then going over to Westfield as DS2 has grown again and needs some joggers.

Hope you feel better soon em

WreckTangled · 22/10/2018 09:28

Curvy my ds has grown again too. He's five and is up to my armpits!! Not sure when he gets it from!

kitkat6 · 22/10/2018 09:33

Morning you chatty lot. I have just caught up as I have not been on since Friday. em I hope you feel better soon, sounds like the stress is throwing your body all out of shape hopefully will feel better once you have moved. I cannot imagine living with my parents again!!

We had a spendy weekend (welll DH did) as we were at a ball on Saturday night and DC2 needed some new clothes as he has no trousers. Apart from fuel I have had a near no spend weekend.

Meal plan for this week:
Chicken kiev and greens/carrots
Sausage Pasta with blue cheese and veg
Toad in the hole and veg
Bacony cauliflower cheese
Carbonara

This was written last week and already gone wrong as the sausages I bought have all been eaten. I think we have some frozen so I can sort it. Need to cook today so that it is all cooked and portioned. DH is out yet again tonight so I can sort all that out.

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2018 09:36

Haha Wreck, mine is 13 and is taller than me, and is already in age 15-16 in some shops, so it looks likely that I will have to buy him a men's small and pay all that extra VAT!

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 22/10/2018 09:41

I looked at my dd this morning and swear she has grown over the wend 😮 she is 12yo and about 5ft 5in already!

LonelyOversharer · 22/10/2018 10:07

Morning all! Dd1 and I have been out to the big Tescos Hexham already...£43, but £10 of that was thingys to stash for christmas, and a cheapy towel bale (very sad towels here). Plus £5 on 2 costas.

Home to a beautiful day. May well strip out the veg patch later. The plaster has gone off really well, so will start to skim after tea tonight.

My dd2 (12) is 5'1" but is um built like a brick shithouse. So I'm hoping she will be tall! Dd1 has pretty much topped out at 5'6". My ds is quite squinky, and so lithe. So I am already buying adult clothes (and shoes) for my two older girls, well dd1 was in an adult size 8-10 at 10yo, she is still the same size now. Hellooo vat.

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2018 10:19

Wow, some really tall DCs! I'm only 5'1, 5'2 and my first two are 5'0 and 5'6. Their dad is only a little taller than me.
My next 2 are 5'9 (the 13 yo) and 4'6 (8 yo) but their dad is 6'2.

WereWolfcub · 22/10/2018 11:12

Ds packed off to school after opening his presents. I am left knee deep in cake making and thrilling Xbox set up. Also waiting for a lady to come and collect something she’s bought from me

Original poster
ememem84 · 22/10/2018 11:27

Ds is 73cm. And he’s 1...

I’m 5’10 dh says he’s 5’11 but he’s shorter than me so we let him say it (he’s really 5’9)

Ddad is 6’4.

I suspect ds will be a bruiser.

Back from dr. £42.50 viral throat infection and mouth ulcers. She’s given me ibruprofen (and some tablets to protect my stomach in case the ibruprofen fight with the anti depressants), some mouth ulcer tablets (which taste like ass) a throat spray and some soluble paracetamol. And signed me off for the week.

Instructions are rest. Hot drinks. Nice food. Rest. Netflix. Etc.

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WreckTangled · 22/10/2018 11:34

Hope you feel better soon em

Muffins in the oven but dd helped so they've been over mixed. Might be more like crappy fairy cakes 😁

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2018 11:44

Well Specsavers went well and we were in there for an hour, which is good for 2 appointments.
DS eyes are fine and DD doesn't need glasses anymore, she is a happy bunny.
We are just in Costa, for my sanity, before we hit the shops, wish me luck!

Cagliostro · 22/10/2018 12:21

I bought some clothes finally. Had a thrilling trip to Asda by myself. Just got a pair of skinnies (bottle green) some vest top/basic t shirt type things and a dark red tartan shirt dress. All easy to feed in and mostly cheap. Don’t have much money for more exciting stuff but CBA to choose exciting stuff anyway really. But I feel sorted enough.

I have toothache 😣 but it’s the back one that is coming out next week so not too worried.

I can’t remember how tall my kids are 😳 I know DS is in his own age stuff and DD tends to get a year up, they are both well within green BMI though as DD is really slim (did not inherit this from me). Cagletini was spot on 50th centile for weight and height at her 1yr check. Boring!

WreckTangled · 22/10/2018 12:40

I just bought a primark gift card through zeek £25 worth for £21.50 (I got £3 credit for downloading the app) went via TopCashback and assume that because I had £3 credit rather than a promo code the cash back should pay out which is £6.50.

Anyway I now have £75 in primark vouchers so will be able to get the DC's stocking fillers and the Harry Potter suitcase that dd is going to ask FC from AND should be able to get the dc some clothes as all of their trousers are too short 🙄

Also the muffins are delicious so thank you for the idea 😁😋

PlinkPlink · 22/10/2018 12:41

Hi everyone waves and brings cake

Just clicked onto the thread to say hi and see if there are any helpful ideas about. I want to do things more frugally (is that a proper sentence?). My time could be definitely spent more wisely. Money wise we're pretty strapped for cash. As a family we could stand to be a bit frugal in places.

Tried to flick through and see some frugally things but I gave up. Could someone point me in a direction? 😂

One of the things I did manage this month was sorting the online shop and getting pretty much everything we needed for the month. Meals all planned. It just needs a little adjusting but it saves us making a million small trips to the Co-op up the road and over spending because we see things we like 😂😂😂

Also contemplating the Organised Mum method. Anyone got good things/bad things to say about it?

ChristmasSeacow · 22/10/2018 12:43

Exactly the same for my DD Cag. They have so much in common! Wink

Get well soon Em.

Well, we got the train to a pretty town with nice riverside walks and a Costa. DS had his favourite toastie for lunch but then wanted to come home and got reeeeeaaaally upset when I tried to divert him. Wouldn’t even go into a sweet shop at my urging. So we’re already on the train home. That was basically a very expensive toastie, with the £18 for trains, but I think he enjoyed the trains and will have hopefully learned that the sky doesn’t cave in if we go somewhere. We only take baby steps!

On the plus side he’ll retreat into his books when he gets home to recover so I may be able to get some work done! I’ve had messages about work, it’s going to be a very late night as I need to send something in first thing.

WreckTangled · 22/10/2018 12:47

Plink welcome! We are very chatty but with the same thing in common- we like to be frugal for whatever reason.

Meal planning is definitely our top tip so sounds like you're off to a good start. Make sure you're getting the cheapest deal for utilities, insurance etc and sign up to TopCashback.

I try to have 1/2 very cheap dinners a week like pasta and sauce or jackets and beans. It makes such a difference to our food shop.

ChristmasSeacow · 22/10/2018 12:49

Cross posted - glad the muffins are good Wreck and hello Plink! There is frugal chat on here but it does tend to get a bit buried under the rest of the chat from time to time! But all are very welcome. Fluffy is our frugal queen, she may be able to point to some useful links. We are all big on meal planning though so you’re one of us already! Have you looked at your utilities and other monthly outgoings to check you are on the cheapest tariff / still need everything?

Cagliostro · 22/10/2018 12:58

They do indeed seacow :) :o meant to say also my little great niece (on DH’s side, I am of course far too young for a biological one... and am also an only child!) was born the other day. Most of the photos she’s been wearing things that were originally your DD’s!

I am going to pm you meadow as I am useless and still have things to send

Hiya plink :)