Countdown to a Frugal Christmas, The Friendly Frugaleers still knitting,nattering and money saving!

[QuiteFabULousDahling]

New Fred

Oh Cag, really sorry to hear things are so hard . We may only be internet friends on this group but I believe we are real friends (speaking for myself at least - after alll, you even know my real name!) so you must count on us if you need us. You’ve been through so much upheaval this last year or so, especially given your health conditions, and you’ve done brilliantly just to keep trucking. You haven’t failed if you need to stop and ask for help

Sorry about the job Curvy. Am I right I’m thinking you work in childcare? Hopefully you will land on your feet soon - committed sensible staff are worth their weight in gold, and I bet someone will snap you up.

Jam more shit you do not need. Totally fair enough to be pissed off with the world for a bit.

I am still busy but have broken the back of this never ending paper and so I am now able to work ‘normally’ for a bit and it feels so good! Am eating my packed lunch today but need to go and buy some ferrero rocher for a numbers guy at work who checked something for me. Has to be Ferrero rocher (In joke).

Spell check just autocorrected Ferrero to ferrets. Not as appealing.

Ooh, we caught a mouse last night! Hope that’s it but we’ll keep the traps out for a while.

DD was hysterical this morning while I was getting ready for work. She was fine after I’d gone. She’s making me feel awful about going to work, the little minx!

Oh cag 💐💐 Im so glad you asked for help though. Xxx

Did cagletinis parcel arrive?

I'm really sorry to hear that things are so hard for so many people at the moment.

My mind is quite boggled at Jam's friend being set upon when running. That's just so extremely wrong, on so many levels.

I am quite good at the moment, which feels kind of weird after so many years of being a bit of a shambles.

Cag I hope you feel better soon, and that you are being well looked after there. You have so much on at the moment. Take care there.

My exam result is due out soon and I alternately reloading the page and reminding myself that it doesn't matter. it does

we've had lots of bad news on the thread of late so I said I'd come here first when I got a bit of good news. Entered competition from pack of bagels and won a new york bagel limited edition bagel tin, there's 500 to be won every week so I guess it's just a case of getting in early in the week with the code on inside of pack to win but I'm still [happy]

Nice work Mammy!

My ds is tickled pink with his orchestral score too. He's been due some good luck since he was born tbh so I'm really chuffed for him.

Errr I just realised “nearly took myself to hospital” could be misconstrued as a euphemism for something even worse, please don’t freak out as I didn’t (quite) mean that bad, more that I was considering sitting in the urgent treatment centre as I couldn’t get an appt on the weekend. But was desperate not to put the Caglets through that (DH at work on Sunday) so held on till yesterday morning. Receptionist was so nice about it and put me at the top of the triage list (even though I was 39th on the call queue when lines opened!). Doctor was fab too, he even asked about what support the Caglets get for their ASD etc, definitely one of these lovely “see the whole picture” types rather than just treating the immediate symptom 💐 and the first person to get the picture that it’s anxiety rather than depression, and he’s sent me for a fuckton of blood tests too.

Aargh sorry em just realised I forgot to message you about those, yes they arrived just before things went a bit crazy here and I meant to PM you 😳 also hoped to post a pic of her with them (she especially loves the pumpkin) but she never stays still for photos anymore 😰🤦‍♀️

Better news again - rebate from raising my tax band equates to almost €800 and with the application of single parents tax credit I'm getting almost €2k extra in my payslip this week! leaving my Christmas club alone now to pay for my wood pellets credit card bill when it arrives

Phew. Glad they arrived!

mammy good work on the tin. I love New York bagels. They’re the only ones I’ll buy. Dh hates bagels (fool).

I want a tin. Am going to buy a pack and enter. Yay! My last “free” tin was one for ryvita. It’s ace.

I love decorative tins em I've a wall of them in our house just for decoration outs me to anyone who knows me really well

Nice tin!

Sorry to hear it's so hard at the moment Cag. Hope the tablets help. Please talk through things here is you want/need to. We've all "known" each other for a long time now!

It was an NSD after all. My mum picked up what we needed for us.
DD came home from school crying. She said she was hungry. Sure enough after a couple of crumpets she was fine. I wonder if she's eating enough lunch. She's the sort who would rather leave half her lunch than miss out on playing with her friends if they finished first and she does eat slowly so I bet that's what's happening.

Mammy that’s good news on a number of fronts well done. I hope you will use at least a tiny part of the rebate for something for yourself.

I’ve been at a conference thing today too Em. Sadly no goodies but it was nice to take a bit of a break from the laptop.

Sea I’m glad you’ve broken the back of your work task and I’m a real fan of little thank yous for people who’ve helped you out.

Autumn I hope you get the exam result you want.

Cag I echo others we are here for you if you need and want us. Don’t feel any pressure to share but know that we definitely are friends and will listen if you would welcome that.

Curls so sorry to hear about the job. I know you are looking at the positives and tackling it head on. Fingers crossed you find the perfect thing for you very soon.

Cag This will pass. You’ve done the hardest bit.

Mammy Really pleased for you.

Nsd.

Took a painkiller earlier and it knocked me out for about an hour so will need to be careful not to take them if I need to be alert. I am living in the hope that this will vanish and not become one of those chronic problems. I already have neck and shoulder problems so to add a back problem into the mix might tip me over the edge 😩

Cag I am so glad you have asked for help. You have such a lot on your plate and I don’t think you fully realise how much harder it is for you than it is for others. Most parents when their kids are on holiday are glad to see the back of them when it’s time to go back to school as it’s hard enough to keep them entertained let alone actually thinking up lessons for them. You do a great job!!

mammy well done on the tin and great news about the tax.

Autumn hope you get the result you want

Wolf take care of yourself, you too have a lot to juggle.

My good news is that I have £25 in Amazon vouchers from doing surveys 🎉🎉 Works out about 2p an hour but better than nothing 😂

Hi all

cag oh bless you, sending lots of love. I've been there with anxiety and it is frankly terrifying. I really hope the meds help 😘

seacow glad work has eased a bit, kids are pros at pulling the guilt strings 😉

snuggly sounds like she isn't eating enough lunch either that or a growth spurt?!

jam yep it's fine to feel pissed off, you've had more than your fair share of crap to deal with.

born I'm the same, nursing wrecks your body! I have back, neck and shoulder problems 😣 have you tried pilates? I restarted ystd and think it does help.

mammy great news on the money.

All fine here, works been busy but day off tomorrow. Pilates cost £36 for 6 classes, today is a nsd.

Aww guys I feel so loved 💕
Yes sea, I work in a nursery, age range 2-5.
But until the government realise it is better to retain people, this is the way it will be.
And glad to hear the work is getting a bit better for you now.

mammy brilliant news on the money.

Mammy I know you must be pleased about the money but you do seem a smidge more excited about the tin 😂

Such a lovely Welcome from DD when I got home! Just put her to bed, having beef stifado from the freezer for dinner so hardly any effort. No need to work this evening so I might even get my knitting out, Cleaner has been so house looks decent.... it’s the little things!

I also have some of the new malteser truffles to try, courtesy of DM. Malteser anything is a massive winner in my book

Ooo Sea I need to find those. Love malteasers and especially malteaster bunnies

Hi! I wonder whether I'll ever be able to keep up with this thread again?? Maybe when DD is like 5?? -wistful expression-...

Cag I only started reading on this page so I dunno what's going on but clearly you're not feeling well so I hope you are feeling better soon if only slightly and I hope that you're getting good health & social care, and support from loved ones. You are fab and you will feel better.

Mammy Yay for the win, love the tin!

DD is nearly 5 months old and the last few weeks seem to have been a real turning point. She's not some amazing smiley calm baby all the time or anything but the horrendous screaming of 2+hrs seems to have finally finished, and the crying is just generally reducing and reducing in intensity too. I am finally able to get out a bit more and enjoy a little bit of my time with her. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. Probably by the time I go back to work she will be great and I won't want to return (not an option as DH is a student so only my crap income as it is)!

Spent about £20 today on wipes, nappy sacks etc for her but got 10% off as had a voucher. Also went to the local library and activated my card and got a few books out for DD. We have started reading her a story before bed now.

Also, yes to malteasers! One of my fave chocs, DH is always teasing me whenever we get them share bags cos I basically snaffle them all before he gets a chance .

cag, wreck, jam, wolf, born, life take care of yourselves. We need to look after and value ourselves. If we don't then why would anyone else. I am of the firm belief that we are an amazing bunch of people (that goes for occasional and lapsed posters too) who work really hard to make he best of what we have to give the people we care about a bit more. Without exception we are caring people...and caring people don't grow on trees.

Long day to Sheffield. 715 out and back at 1935.
DC both much better today. Was a better day today.
Love the tin mammy. Great news on the rebate too.
The meds may make you feel wobbly cag but hopefully it will pass soon.
Hope your pain killers work even if they do make you drowsy born.
Pleased work has eased a bit sea.
Bad news on the tumbly cag
Hey everyone else

Hey meadow. Just keep popping in.
Thanks unescorted. Ditto

Aw, that's really sweet Unescorted.

Has there ever been a frugaleer meet up btw? I have completely lost track of whereabouts most people are from, are we all really far from each other? I'm in the North West and I don't think anyone else is?

meadow I flit in and out. One handed typing... The only skill teenaged boys and new mothers have in common. When my fleas were really young I don't think I appreciated them enough. I found the first few months really isolating and hard work. When I went back to work I found it easier because I got to have a change in the day from mum to worker and back. Now the kids are older I just let them get on with it & I can be me again. The hard bit passes I promise.

Me, wolf, Lonely and north are all North / Northwestish. Jam Too I think. We have a strong Irish contingent. Laska (where is she btw) sw- ish. Sea and Em glamour pusses from London and CI. Cag more south than here. We also have some Danes, Italians and French posters / lurkers.

We are a cosmopolitan lot 😀