Join Money-saving May with the fantastic Frugaleers.

[northender]

Lots of support and advice here for frugaleers old and new.

Afternoon everyone.

Unescorted, I know it's bonkers with the tax credits, but because universal credit is grouping lots of benefits together, I had to wait, silly really because, yes he left, but my income from work hasn't changed.
It was a bit difficult because I was used to getting the child tax credit weekly, even though it wasn't much, so had to use my overdraft more than I wanted to. Will now just get universal credit monthly, but I will get use to that.
Also well done on the C2C.

North, sounds like a wonderful trip!

Em, that afternoon tea looks great.

Wolf, happy birthday .
Aww thank you for your kind words.
Sorry that your car is going to cost that much. I know what you mean, when trying to plan for everything. I have different money pots now, and I'm trying to put into them every month, but at the moment that has to be put on hold. I'm hoping that once this and next month are over, I can start putting money away.

Happier, I'm glad it got sorted quickly for you, here they just like to drag it out, well it seems that way!

So shopping today, in 4 different shops came to a grand total of £29.96! I'm very pleased.
I did have some food in and have just got what we needed to make meals for the whole week.
Meal plan (all veggie/vegan)
M- shepherd's pie with grated courgette, (so its hidden) mushrooms and carrots
T- burgers, hm chips and salad
W- chicken korma, rice, poppadoms
T- hm tomato pasta
F- chicken wraps with med veg and salad
S- pizza
S- hm toad in the hole, roast potatoes, mixed veg

I've also had some good news, my lovely mum and sister have paid for me and the younger two to go on holiday with them in August. We will be going to Devon, I've never been so can't wait!
Plus we haven't had a proper holiday for a few years, it is so generous of them!

Happy birthday wolf

Your descriptions of food always make me so hungry em

Sounds like a fab trip north. Can we come too?

We’re starting to think about next year’s holidays. As we both have 11 weeks of school holidays at the moment, we figure now is the time to travel a bit now DD2 is getting older. Any recommendations beyond beach holidays or Disneyland that is child friendly? (We’re going to Disney in Paris this year)

Spendy day yesterday
£40 on tickets to a children’s concert with Chris from CBeebies presenting. It was fab!
£30 dinner

Today
Trip to open farm day- free
Almost got ice cream but the queue wasn’t moving so came home and had some from the freezer
£25 deposit for DD1’s residential trip next year

Lovely treat curvy 👍

Unescorted great advice and I'm convinced 👰🏽😬! Dress is lovely but is being returned tomorrow.
Also a NSD!

madden stick to your guns & return the dress. Maybe treat yourself to a new piece of jewellery to wear with it?
curvy whereabouts in Devon are you going? That is a lovely thing for your family to do.
Happier hope your dc enjoyed their mountain climb!
Em the afternoon tea sounds & looks delish.

Dh has been very busy this weekend. All the hedges cut & lawn mowed today as we've finally had a dry, sunny day. Yesterday when it was wet, he prepped the kitchen radiator & applied 3 primer coats. Honestly even without the top coats it looks like brand new. The bathroom radiator is next & I will do before & after pics.
I've done lots of cricket teas so spent nothing & enjoyed myself. Dd has had rehearsals for her drama show today, ds was playing cricket.

Quick late sign on, had a nice wend and not too spendy, Ystd spent £11 on drinks out as made the most of being child free for the evening. Today went to a plant sale and spent £10 on some lovely new plants!

Rest of the day spent gardening or watching Netflix 😁

For some reason one side of my mouth is hurting 😩 so might need to see a dentist if it doesn't improve.

love re holidays what are the must haves? Abroad or U.K.? City trip or resort trip? Travel time from home?

Some places which spring to mind (but only if flying) are: Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Mallorca. Croatia (diss went to Poula (sp?) last year and had a fab time).

We went to Turkey a few years ago. Flew into Dalaman and stayed near Fethiye (sp) at the Montana Pine resort. It was lovely. Hotel had nice pool, food was good, bus into the town for the beaches which were ace. It had a boat for sailing trips. Etc.

Hello, popping back after going awol! I have been reading intermittently but am swamped with work and life (things with DS are also pretty difficult atm) so I fell off for a bit! Frugal isn’t going well either (nor the diet) so I need to come back and focus.

I’ll try to keep up. Hope everyone is okay. North I was really sorry to read about your SIL. I remember how longed for her DC1 was and I know (from experience) that having a DC doesn’t make secondary infertility less heartbreaking. I hope she is doing okay.

Spend alert. With all the rain today, water is now pouring into my leaky conservatory. FFS. I don’t even know what the problem is. I’ve had it ‘fixed’ several times.

More spend... It’s DD’s birthday in a couple of weeks and I’ve spent a fortune already on cake stuff to make her a Peppa Pig cake, and some bits for her party (we are having 6-8 of her little friends around. I’ve never done a party for either DC as DS wouldn’t have coped so I am far more excited than I should be, and going a little OTT ). Still have to get DD a birthday present though. I can’t quite decide whether to take a chance and get her a bike of some sort, though there’s a risk she won’t be interested... DS never took to one and is attached to his scooter instead but I’d love the kids to cycle DH can’t ride a bike .

I’ve also realised its Father’s Day on Sunday! I may have to scale back my chores and gardening plans for DH’s weekend . I may also make some Millionaire’s shortbread. Does anyone have a foolproof recipe? I feel I need @LonelyOversharer here.... still miss her, too.

I hope you are all staying dry!

Sooo my dad has also said he will cover two therapy sessions. So I have 4 to play with which gives me a couple of months to save up. Will be £90 a month after. Ouch but worth it.

I know students are a good idea. So I’m just defending my decision to not do that. Partly because I don’t want the stress of trying to find someone (this one has been specifically recommended by autistic adults locally) and also because I have a lot of issues with PTSD, was in a psychiatric ward as a teen (self harm etc) and all that stuff is bubbling up again so in all honesty I think someone with a lot of experience will probably be the safer option. :(

I have a millionaire shortbread saved I will dig it out. Cag fair enough lovely. You have some very specific needs so see the best for you. Fab dad paying for some for you
£40 physio

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/millionaires-shortbread?utm_source=app
Try this one

Defo agree about experience Cag. I’d only risk a student if specifically recommended by an experienced therapist with knowledge of their work. Btw I saw your comment about private health insurance. That defo won’t be cheaper unfortunately - most PMI will be very expensive with pre-existing conditions and in any case it is not designed for MH or chronic conditions and will fund the bare minimum for acute situations (or even nothing, depending on the policy) before pinging you back to the nhs.

Ta Life - that looks basically the same ratios as another recipe I found with decent reviews so hopefully a good bet. DH loves the stuff and for some reason, in 13 years together I’ve never made it for him!

North we are going to Dawlish Warren, Teighbridge.
I've been to Exeter Cathedral before, about 18 years ago, (was holidaying in Weymouth) and would love to go again.
I know where we are going it is just caravaning sites, and there will be entertainment on site, but we will definitely do some exploring!

Hi Sea!

Cag, that is kind of your parents and it sounds like you have a plan in place, hope it all goes according to plan for you

Hi Curvy! 👋🏻

Dawlish is lovely curvy! I love Devon.

Yay seacow you have been missed! Good to have you back 😊

I've had a bit of a rubbish day as my tooth ache has been ongoing 😩 I saw a dentist this morning who couldn't see much wrong but has given me antibiotics anyway. To me it feels like severe nerve pain, eating makes it much worse so will be good for the waist line if nothing else.

The dentist clearly felt a bit sorry for me as he didn't charge for the appointment! £11 on a px and painkillers though.

I have been able to work from home though which is quite nice.

🙌🙌🙌 second NSD in a row - this is unheard of!

Oh no girlie. My dh had to have a dead nerve removed from his tooth and I know it was agony 😩

£2 on chip butty in the work canteen

Do you recommend any places to visit, Girlie? And sorry to hear about your tooth, it is the worst pain!

£100 food shop

Hi Sea

I love millionaires shortbread.... It is like cakecocaine in my house. I daren't make any. I may as well stretch my stretch marks.

Curvy the Dawlish Ice cream place.... it was a while ago but I still remember it. I also loved the Crediton Embisols.... which are red and stain the sheep. The geology of Devon is amazing.

I adore millionaire shortbread. A colleague makes it and it is the most delicious thing in the world. She always gives me a special tub with a few bits to bring home. I took a whole entire cake tin full of it over to London once to drop off for her oldest “baby” (her ds1 who is 26) who works at a stockbrokers. Dropped it off in reception. Receptionist opened the tin to see what it was (security purposes). Her son came to collect it. Let receptionist have a piece.

I was so good because that tin had probably 20/30 pieces in. And I didn’t even eat one.

Spends today £11 on lunch for dh and I.

£16 coop on things for dinner and stuff for lunches.

Made chicken salad for lunches tomorrow. Ore packed bbq flavoured chicken (I know.....)

Also £52 in booze shop on a bottle of Malfy gin for ddad for father’s day and a new seedlings for me as mines running low.

Ds has I’ve ordered dh a subscription to craft gin box for father’s day. Every other month he’ll get a box with a new gin some treats and tonics. Wooo.

Nsd today
Yesterday approx €30 on 3 kylie sheets for ds's bed & €12.30 at McDonald's

Millionaires shortbread/biscuit cake/rocky road all irresistible

Seacow good to 'see' you

Thanks Unescorted, I'm making a list of all the places we want to visit as a group, there are 9 of us altogether, but I would love to explore a bit on my own. I'm sure I could manage a couple of child free hours though.

I'll have a think curvy tbh you can't go far wrong with south Devon, it's beautiful!

I'm fed up with the weather, feels like autumn, dark and chucking it down with rain! I put my little oil heater on earlier which is ridiculous in June.