Frugal Friends, planning, saving and considerate spending through July and August

[Wolfcubisthefemalenominal]

New Fred frugal friends

Yaaaaaaaay! Congratulations Em, lovely name too

Spends today.
Asda £51.64, but that did include a new iron and DD2s school blouses.
Primark £17.50 on pants and swimming trunks for DS2
£3 eyebrows
And £35 on new trainers for me, but my Mum gave me the money for those.

Em just came on to check on baby news congratulations 

@Taytocrisps I'm pretty sure I've a copy of Romeo & Juliet home tomo I'll check it out for you

Weekend away with my bf. total spends for me hotel sat night €80 hotel tonight €150 & two rounds of drink & subway for us both £10, we had ferry twice dinner twice breakfast twice drinks & everything else all on him

Urgh big city. In tights! And two boards in two days. Urgh

Em hope you are doing ok this morning and got some rest

Happier sounds like a good trip away

Life have an amazing holiday

In view of the horrendous weather forecast today and tomorrow I'm heading off to Hobbycraft this morning. We need stuff to do!

Hope you had a good first night em

Life enjoy your holiday.

Finally able to downgrade my phone today. Going from >£40 a month to £14! Phone keeps freezing but will just live with it.

Delurking to say congratulations em !!! A good day to be born on, my eldest turned 14 yesterday.

Got to get a grip. Recent months have been really expensive. School trips, scout camps, holiday clothing, etc. And I’ve a sneaky suspicion my tax credits are going to go down, so need to tighten our belts.

One awesome thing that has happened is after many years of saving we finally have a new bathroom! DH worked so hard evenings and weekends doing the lot. New ceiling, lights, plastering, tiling, building the units, everything. It’s sooooo nice. And now he’s started ripping out the en-suite to work on next. Which while it’s a smaller room will be a big job as we are moving doors and walls around to accommodate a huge shower.

What has not been nice is last weekend when the bill from the plumbers merchants came and we had to pay for everything. DH asked how much was in the savings, I told him, asked how much was needed. He said all of it 🙄

Ah well, it’ll be a challenge to build up a new savings pot for whatever else we need in future.

Hi Curls! New bathroom sounds lovely. Nice to see you.

Home. So relieved to be home. Have had a cry. Mostly down to exhaustion (have had 2 hours sleep in the last 24+).

But also feel like my entire body has been hit by a bus. I forgot that would happen.

Dd is in her basket next to our bed. I’m in bed and am going to have a nap. Ds is at nursery.

Apparently catface stayed out all night last night and didn’t come back in until 9 this morning. 😱 dh only just told me this. I’d have been devastated if I’d come home and not seen her.

She’s a bit off with me - probably because I wasn’t here last night for bed snuggles. And probably because we’ve brought another littlie into the house.

Have left her some treats.

Also (my butt hurts) alight year from yesterday and the stitches are good holding everything together. But ooooh. Stingy.

Nothing like that feeling of being kicked between the legs by a horse. Hopefully you'll have a speedy recovery. Hope you enjoy your well deserved nap, nothing like your own bed! Also make sure you're having lots of iron still.

Welcome home, Em. Enjoy your own bed.

Oooooo…. the kick in the foo feeling. It is as well we forget these things or otherwise there would be a lot more only children.

Curls good news on the bathroom ...and welcome back. It is lovely to see you again.

I have had a quick trip to Gateshead today - My colleagues think I am odd. I filled my flask before heading back to the proper side of the Pennines & caught the bus instead of a taxi.... I know I can claim the expenses but it is the principle of the thing.

Em stay in bed keep resting. My doula friend says this is very important just chill with baby for as long as you can. And with ds of course.

Unescorted I am impressed by your frugality

London is wet. Or at least the bit I am in is wet. Need to venture out to get dinner soon (just landed in hotel and if I stay in Too long I won’t leave). Going to google frugal voucher options first before mindlessly heading out for the usual!

Curls nice to see you again.

Wolf do you have cssc? Tastecard has offers.
Where are you? We are Euston way.

It's pouring here.
Harry potter studio is awesome ££££££ thought.

Eye tomorrow, then dungeon and maybe Shrek.
Somehow need to fit natural history and tower before 1500 Friday too

It's going to be better weather tomorrow.

Life if going to natural history museum then check out the knot churros 😋 not healthy.

Shrek is meant to be awesome! If you're on o2 for your phone priority usually have some deals on dd and I got bogof iced drinks in Nero.

I love London.

£1.90 parking for work. Otherwise nothing so lsd.

Nap was wonderful.

Catface has met her “sister” - she had a look in the basket and meowed at me as if to say “who’s that?” They wondered off. She’s now back on bed lying on Dhs side next to the basket. Protective much.

I am absolutely going to rest. Have been told (in front of dh) that the first three days are important for resting. Dh is off for the next 2 weeks (or he gets 10 working days off so will take the rest of this week, and will maybe split his time next week and the week after 2.5 days a week if I’m feeling up to solo parenting!)

Ive told him that I’m absolutely going to need help (with things for me as well as dd) things like initially stepping in and out the shower (over bath shower) due to the placement of my stitches lifting legs is a bit tender at present!!), and getting dressed, and whatnot.

I also cannot fault the staff who were there for me and dh yesterday and this morning. So kind. So caring. So lovely. When we left today my midwife said she’s see us back in a couple of years for round 3. I told her I hope to never set foot in the maternity ward again. Other than to visit people.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't want a third, Em

Defo rest up em .

Loving tastecard. Saved £30 last night and £24 tonight on food. Especially as we have 4 adult meals now as DS (9 3/4) out eats me

£9 dinner. £10 coop. The £9 is reclaimable. Most of the £10 isn’t as I needed wine! Trust me it’s been a hell of a week so far work wise and tomorrow is going to be a (insert swear word of your choice).

Not a cssc member Life. H was for us and I’ve not got around to joining

Hope tomorrow improves wolf. Stay safe it's stormy out there

It was grim in London today - I had to walk 20 mins between work sites and my shoes were squelching for the rest of the day

You must have been near my workplace Wolf - maybe another time we should have a cheeky drink? .

Had a nice night out tonight with a couple of friends - one turned 50 today so we went for a few G&Ts. £17ish for a round. I only had 2 drinks as I am a bit slow but I still feel quite fuzzy around the edges 😂

One more day of work and then signing off for 2.5 weeks -yay!

Whoops! Just got home from a 🥳💃💰!

Gotta love the holidays!

Em feel like you may be more rested than me come tomorrow 🙊

Ahh madden but who had more fun...?! I think you probably!!

Feeding round two. I’ve had a three hour sleep and madam woke up. Which makes a nice change from yesterday when she fed constantly.

Nsd yesterday. Yippee.

Possibly one today too. Dm has been an absolute legend and sent dh home on Monday night with food. Some mystery things from her freezer some stuff she’d bought at M&S.

My godmother has been super lovely and sent vouchers for Cook so we can get some freezer meals.

That's such a great gift from your godmother Em. I still remember sil bringing round a huge beef casserole a few days after ds was born. Different from all the baby things, but so welcome.
Madden sounds like a good time, squinting to read the emojis on my iPad though!
I don't envy any of you trying to keep little ones entertained in such rubbish weather.

£40 on groceries yesterday. Dh managed to bring the PC back to life, how long it'll last is anyone's guess.
Ds was seen by the optician today who has referred him straight to the hospital & he has an appointment there on Friday (rather than the end of October which was the result of the urgent GP referral). He has blood vessels growing into his right cornea so no wonder his eye is such a dreadful mess. She wasn't really able to tell us much more, but I'm feeling worried. We go on holiday Friday morning (without ds) so my aunty is on standby to go with him if I can't bring the appointment forward to tomorrow. Don't feel at all prepared for the holiday & wish we weren't going without ds now. He's joining us next week, but still.....