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

[Wolfcubisthefemalenominal]

New Fred frugal friends

unescorted my dc are the same ages as yours and very close too.
life I saw Shrek a few years ago with dd, it was really good fun.

North your poor ds that's such a worry. I hope you can move the appointment.

North that’s very worrying but great that the optician is being so proactive

Sea definitely

Payday, paid myself first

Morning from WreckCat

Hope you can get the appointment moved north. No wonder you are worried.

London eye and dungeon today £££££££

And from catface!!!

Awake since 230 here. Dd is feeding like a demon. Which is great. Not so good for poor right boob though. I think it’s cracked. Luckily midwife is coming today so I’m going to mention it to her.

Sending dh to boots (or may toddle off there myself) for formula more pads and nipple cream.

Dd is finally asleep though. Phew.

Fil is coming round today to meet Dd. Mil “met” her this morning via FaceTime. Dh heard me crying at 530 (painful boobs) and tried to see if he could help. He took Dd downstairs and FaceTimed mil. She was apparently super emosh to see dd. She’s the first girl to be born into the family for a very long time. Mil is one of 7 (6 brothers and her) she had 3 boys. Bil and sil have two boys. Dd will be spoiled rotten. Mil has said she’s paid for excess baggage when she comes over and has stuffed it full of kids clothes for ds and Dd. (She spoils everyone equally...) then will probably spend hundreds here in jojo next etc on clothes for dnephews.

Sounds promising from mil em. Ouch sore Boobs. Lansino nipple cream. Not sure I've spelled it right but it used to be in a lilac / purple box and tube

Ah em those first few days can be hell on the boobs 😭 it was agony with Cagletini. Always worth having a MW check your latch though!

I did a scary thing yesterday and started a blog about autism/mental health. I stopped a previous (home ed) one after the whole bullying thing blew up and have shied away from anything like that since. But then I posted something on a group about a particular ASD issue and lots of people said it was insightful so I thought fine I’ll give it a go. Eeeeek.

Dh went to boots and got me lanisoh cream. And booby compresses (and fanny ones).

Yep, Lasinoh after every feed, even if your nips feel fine. Glad to hear the feeding is going well, keep on resting as much as you can xx

My suspicions were right, my tax credits have taken a drop. The joys of being self employed, you never know where you are from one year to the next. But it’ll be ok. No kids at home this afternoon so I’m going to go through our accounts with a fine tooth comb and see where we can make savings.

It’s really focussed me. Just took a pair of shorts backas too small for DS. And managed to resist the temptation of buying nice deli food from M and S foodhall. My everyday sandals are on their last legs and I found a pair for £14 but thought no, it’s only a few more weeks till we will be back in shoes and boots, so I left it.

Just spent £7 on socks for DH and the kids which I needed to get. And £8 on bread, ham and a bottle of wine

Quick sign in from sunny Cornwall, having a nice time. Weather has finally brightened up and we're planning a bbq tonight.

Massive congratulations em dd is beautiful! Hope your sore bits feel better soon bless you.

Holiday is spendy as always but am not stressing too much.

Midwife came. I spoke to her about feeding. And she asked a bunch of questions. She suspected it was her latch. But asked whether I was planning on continuing to bf. I said probably not. So she asked why I’m worrying about it. And did I know it’s ok not to enjoy it and want to make the switch to formula.

I think I had that in my head anyway. But it was nice for someone to actually tell me it’s ok. Might have had a cry with midwife. She is lovely. I’ve seen her all the way through. So she knew I wasn’t a fan of breastfeeding anyway from last time.

Have spent the day resting. Watching suits and elementary with dh.

I’ve driven out to M&S and have bought a sports bra. So we can make the switch to formula. I feel happier about this because it will enable me to sleep a bit better.

Dd took a bottle from dh.

Dh ran off upstairs earlier and came back with a box. the jewellery sizes box I saw in his drawer a very shiny pair of diamond stud earrings. Because he’s proud and amazed at everything I’ve done to complete our family. So I cried again. Ffs.

😭

Also picked up some ridiculous leopard print knickers in M&S 3 for £10.

Avoided the cherry bakewells which were near the pay point.

I’ve said to dh I need to look at my diet now. Healthy snacks only. No buying crisps sweets cake biscuits etc (unless we have people over - he bought stuff today because we’re expecting visitors...) no fizzy drinks (Except sparkling water, champagne, Prosecco and tonic water!) more protein based food. Etc.

My final preggo weight was 82kg. Today it’s 72kg. Normally around the 65-70kg. Not trying to lose weight but do need to curb snacking.

Em, I'm so pleased you have a supportive midwife. Bottle, breast, mixed feeding, whatever women choose to do, I think we need to remember that a fed baby is best

It's cool em. You've given her the most important early day stuff. Fed is best. Much as I think that's a trite phrase it's true.
Everyone fed, no one dead in our house. :)

That was my thinking too. They don’t care whether it’s breast or bottle as long as baby is happy heathy and fed.

Ds came home from nursery with dparents. He showed them Dd and told them to “ssssssh” so lovely. Dparents bought gifts for Dd. And for Ds. And for me. And for dh.

Ds unwrapped DD’s gift (a Steif best and out it in her basket with her). Ds unwrapped his gift (a bitey crocodile hand puppet!). Dh was given a bottle of single malt and they gave me a beautiful silver bangle. Stupidly generous they are.

Klaxon. Shop well for less on now

Wooooooo!!! SWFL!!! (And then inside the factory on iplayer because cherry bakewells...!)

Enjoying SWFL.

Pleased you are being spoilt, Em. I got Lidl croissants from dh after having the dts!!

Em fed is best here too.
North I have things in one of my eyes - like the mole's you see on your skin. You will be pleased to know we are within easy distance of 2 of the best eye hospitals in the UK ( L'pool & Sheffield). Both are world class - my consultant is back & forth to the US to treat some of their more challenging patients. What they can do with eye's is amazing. He will be in good hands.

I am trying not to sulk about all the people with lovely weather.... our village is flooding. It has not stopped raining since Friday. Getting to work tomorrow will be challenging.

Em what lovely gifts and yup fed is best

Unescorted can you work at home. Weather is horrid we’ve been on a flood warning since Saturday but no flooding yet so very lucky

I’m watching the beat restaurants thing. Love it. They’ve been making baguettes. Yum

Didn’t get time to get dinner before I got on the train. I was starving when I got home but I have been good and made pasta with a cream and paprika sauce. I used one of my brexit stash Italian uht cream pots, very good

Did something I don’t like at work today and survived so yay me!

I think I may be working from home. Normally I don't bring my lap top home but I have had so many days out of the office it is the only way to keep up. It is raining again. I just want it to stop. The Env. Agency flood alerts are a pile of poo... not even a yellow alert, but water is pouring through houses. Thankfully not ours.

It’s been much cooler here recently. 22 degrees today. Much more manageable.

I’ve just had a proper g&t. My god it was delicious!!! 😀👍🏻

Dh has sent me to bed. He’s doing the next feed (midwife said for the moment wake Dd up every 4 hours for a feed) so dh has set an alarm. My alarms set for 530/6. I’ll do the early morning one. I was happy to do the next one but he thinks I need a fairly decently sleep. He’s not wrong and I’m not going to argue!

I do not want to get up. I do not want to go to work. I have a crick in my neck and a throat like a bag of razors

unescorted sorry to hear you're in the midst of the flooding, stay safe, and dry. I'm surprised there hasn't been any here, given how wet it has been over the past few days. Interesting about the eye hospitals in Liverpool & Sheffield & reassuring. They couldn't bring the appointment forward, but my wonderful aunty has rearranged her work, is taking a couple of hours time owing & is going with him. She is down to earth, calm & practical so will be great to be with ds, whatever the outcome.
life sounds like you're having a good, if spendy, week. Girlie whereabouts in Cornwall have you ended up going?
Em it's always a relief when you're given permission to make decisions like that about feeding. Not that you need permission, but it helps! Sounds like you've got things sorted at the moment & that mil is behaving.

Work was a nightmare yesterday. I should be on leave now, but instead I'm going in this morning to get more stuff done. We are setting off at 5 in the morning to try to avoid the traffic. Ferry from Portsmouth is 5pm. Need to plan food & drink for the ferry crossing to save unnecessary spends. Ds is looking forward to a bit of independence being home alone for a few days, but now wishing he was coming with us from the start rather than joining us next week.
Busy day ahead.

snuggly croissants though...?!! Yum. Could go a croissant now!!!

I’m in bed with sports bra on. My boobs are ginormous. And rock solid. 🍈🍈

We had a bit of an issue last night. In that while Dd would take a bottle from me she wouldn’t settle (could smell milk I suspect). Dh fed her at midnight/1 ish and then brought her back in to me fast asleep. After half hour or so she woke up. And could I get her to settle?! Then Ds woke up because he could hear things going on and he wanted a cuddle. So dh dealt with dd and I had ds. Who seemed hell Bent on punching my boobs.