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Cost of living

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

999 replies

Wolfcubisthefemalenominal · 07/07/2019 16:25

New Fred frugal friends

OP posts:
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39
ememem84 · 13/08/2019 12:50

£350 paid off credit card.

I need to do a budget at some point.

CamdenTownie · 13/08/2019 16:22

Girlie - I usually go to bed at 10pm but if I'm working until 7 I don't get home until gone 9pm so it'll be later as I need to wind down and get stuff sorted.

Well jel of anyone that gets to doze on the sofa - sounds like bliss! We are going away for a short break in a few weeks and I'm hoping for a few lie ins, although caravan beds aren't particularly comfortable...

I'm at work until 6:30 today and I've got a super noodles pot thing for dinner - tastes surprisingly nice, I haven't eaten anything like this for years! Can't remember when I got it but I know it was 50p Wink

Ememem - I'd let dh and his mum do the trips with the dc and offer to stay home and chill out!

Nothing exciting from me today, a busy day at work which makes the day go quickly!

SnugglySnerd · 13/08/2019 16:56

Yes I would also let dh and mil do the trips and potter about at home. I love the odd occasion when I get to be home alone though!

Nsd. We've been to the park, done crafts at home and had an afternoon at an NT place running round the lovely gardens.

ememem84 · 13/08/2019 17:58

Dd has been very testing today. Hasn’t napped this afternoon at all. I’m exhausted. Need a nap myself.

She’ll nap on me. But not in her basket. Everytime I try to move her she wakes up and we start the cycle again.

In other news dh had an “incident” at work today. His trousers split right up the back. 😂 so he’s had to buy new ones today.

Wolfcub · 13/08/2019 18:01

£2.70 Tesco on a huge 75p gu cheesecake and the little foil takeaway tin things I actually went in for. Stretching a pack of mince to make three two person meatloaves

Em you could hire an suv for mild visit but I agree dh’s problem

Tricky day at work. It appears fuckuppage has happened and I need to sort. I am not happy !

Bornlazy · 13/08/2019 18:38

Spent £41 in Home Bargains - bought a new laundry basket as old one was falling apart. I should really stay out of these "cheap" shops as I end up spending a fortune.

Do you work five days a week Camden? I am totally in awe of your stamina.

em could one of the seats go in the front with the airbag off would that leave more room in the back? I appreciate you might not want to do that for safety reasons.

CamdenTownie · 13/08/2019 19:24

Bornlazy (best user name ever...) yeah mon-fri I don't do much else throughout the week though, slow cooker meals are my saviour!

I'm on the tube now, on my way home. The people I work with/for really don't understand that I can't just stay at work until everyone else goes home and the building is empty - there are 1400 people approximately in the office. They do expect that I just keep going and take no interest that I have 3 children that i might even get to see that day. I left slightly early today as I'd been in since before 8am and got a phone call to ask why I'd left.

Work moan over - Wednesday tomorrow so half way through the week YAY 😀

Kids are having pizza for dinner (from the freezer) I'm going to bed lol!

ememem84 · 13/08/2019 19:29

born I hadn’t thought of that. Don’t want to do it really but it’s a last resort option I suppose.

wreck if we’re hiring a car I’m hiring a sporty convertible type car.

To be fair though I could borrow DMs car. She has a car seat for ds in it. So that’s the most practical option. But dh needs to sort it.

I’ve also asked what the plans are for when mil is here. So I know what we’re doing roughly. I have visions of us sitting around the house until 4pm then deciding to do something too late.

ememem84 · 13/08/2019 19:30

Also. I’ve opened the pink gin. Have popped some frozen berries in it. #fancy

SnugglySnerd · 13/08/2019 21:28

I once split my trousers at work, Em. Not ideal in front of 30 teenagers Blush

ememem84 · 13/08/2019 22:38

snuggly 😱😂 no not ideal at all.

Dh has done a food shop this evening.

He’s now downstairs with dd doing a late evening bottle and trying to convince her to sleep. I fear we may be going through another growth spurt. Dh is at work tomorrow but then off for the rest of the week. I’m going to ask him to do the night shift thurs and fri so I can get a bit more sleep.

RosieposiePuddingandPi · 14/08/2019 07:38

The trouser splitting stories are giving me the fear Grin I do public talks at work and absolutely dread something like that happening!

Camden your work week sounds relentless! I'm slightly in awe of how you manage it all. I moaned once about my tiny commute taking longer because of a learner lorry and DH gave me the death stare!

Yesterday was pretty boring, DD and I stayed in and napped on the sofa for a bit and I caught up on washing (so exciting).
Me and DH did both manage NSDs though which was nice.

DS got up a lot in the night so everyone's shattered this morning. Once I've dropped him at nursery I think it'll be time for a nap on the sofa! And probably more washing...

ChristmasSeacow · 14/08/2019 08:16

Welcome Rosie

Snuggly ShockGrin. I remember a teacher at school (wearing leggings) slightly wetting herself during some exercise thing for comic relief. All us teenagers were appalled at the time but now I expect half of us totally get it HmmGrin

Lovely couple of days... mostly. We had a picnic in an NT place and then took a train up Snowdon on Monday, which would have been fabulous IF DD had napped beforehand. Instead she chose that as the first day to go without a nap ever and consequently it was the longest afternoon of my life... a completely hyper adrenalin-fuelled two year old in an enclosed space was not at all fun 😬.

Yesterday we dropped DM at the station and then went to the amazing beach. DC were really happy. DS got stung by a wasp though and was very upset but got over it okay. I am not looking forward to his reaction to them next time we have a picnic though!

Food spends still totally out of control. I need to get a grip on spends and diet when I get home - both unsustainable. We are having a lovely holiday though...

Low key day planned for today as the forecast isn’t great. Home on Saturday and I will be very sad to leave. Work on Monday 😫

Girliefriendlikescake · 14/08/2019 08:17

I'm impressed as well camden I've had a week of early starts and am knackered!! I'd be on my knees doing those hours every day.

I've been up since 6.15 with the puppy, he managed to fall of the sofa this morning so am feeling bad about that! He seems fine luckily but will keep an eye on him.

Day off today so plan is to catch up on sleep!!

ememem84 · 14/08/2019 08:25

Frugal win? I’ve been sorting things in wardrobe and have ditched a few jumpers which were favourites but had gone a bit ratty.

Just had quick look on eBay and found three brand new ones (different sellers) for less than the total cost of one new in store. Jack wills so around £50 brand new. I’ve won one of them and am highest bidder on the other two.

The one I won is/was a wardrobe staple - grey cable knit. Result.

Wolfcub · 14/08/2019 10:46

Frugal win two free bags of coffee (think like a tea bag) at the tube station

CamdenTownie · 14/08/2019 11:00

Wolf - no free coffee at my tube stations this morning, I love it when they hand out the tiny cans of Coke, recently I've had green breadsticks, popcorn and a magnum! Smile

SnugglySnerd · 14/08/2019 11:46

Gosh Sea she must have been mortified!

ememem84 · 14/08/2019 13:16

Midwives have been and gone. We are discharged from them now. Dd is now 9lb4/4.32kg. Big girl.

prismWitch · 14/08/2019 13:29

What a week it has been. Every one at home including the youngest got cold. Additionally as soon as 4 months have passed, he went through sleep regression. I had a wee cry as I read on internet it can take anything from 2 to 6 weeks. Fortunately, like a champ he started to sleep and nap normally after 4 days. He would wake up as soon as I put him in the cot for 4 days and I was losing my mind.

He still doesn't sleep whole night, but hey at least he doesn't wake up every hour for cuddle.

Last vaccination done yesterday (when he is tiny), took it like a champ.

I asked my husband to stay at home with me for two days, as I was having a little bit of panic if I will manage with ds. Of course ds acted like innocent angel, but it gave me time to get better so win win.

My dh had talk with the 'happy smile' woman as I was recovering from night of doom and I am glad he was home as we found something interesting. Apparently our dd should be given protective layer on her teeth since she was 1 every half a year. Dentist didn't do it even once so I am really annoyed. I would not know this fact, as he was the one taking her for past 2 years and as a person who has problematic teeth, it really agitated me.

We got new appointment with dentist with the highlighted treatment for dd. Still annoyed.

On the bright side. Shutters came on Friday, so my husband installed them on garden doors in office and dining room. Few more rooms to go and we are finished. We save up for them, wait for a discount and then my dh puts them on windows. 5 years since we moved in and we only have few more rooms to go. I love how they look

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 14/08/2019 16:37

Hello all!
We went to Teighmouth yesterday, Sea, the black hole was lots of fun for the kids, so thank you. Unfortunately the pier was closed because it was damaged a while ago, they are hoping to raise enough money to get it fixed.
We went to a lovely cafe and the food was amazing and the locals were so friendly. We are really enjoying our time here.

WreckTangled · 14/08/2019 16:41

So pleased you're having a good time curvy

We've had a lazy day today the dc haven't moved from the sofa. I went to the post office. Frugal fail Sad listing eBay items with free post does not work and I'm £7 down. Ah well lesson learnt.

Also £13 on a boden coat for ds from eBay.

Just put dinner on we're having chicken sausages with creamy cheesy leeks and bacon and roasted new potatoes for the carb eaters Grin

ememem84 · 14/08/2019 16:48

wreck dinner sounds amaze!!!!

We’re having butternut squash and chickpea stew.

Wolfcub · 14/08/2019 18:26

Success got h off the life insurance which should cut the cost by 2/3rds will wait for first bill to see but means I don’t have to interrupt my cover
Spendy day unintentionally, had tea in a cafe in the station waiting for a work call £18 for a sandwich and a cuppa. I can reclaim 10 but that’s ridiculous

CamdenTownie · 14/08/2019 18:46

Spent almost £50 today😮😱

£18 in Lidl but I just got a Monzo card and they give you £5 back into your account when you use your card for the first time so kind of ok.

Monzo is a really good idea it's basically a bank account that allows you to have separate 'pot's' for different stuff. So you can allocate money to them as you need to.

Took ds for late lunch/ early dinner as he met me after work and I very rarely spend time with just him so that was £24 plus took £10 out of the cash point - which I've still got!

Feel like I've taken my eye off the ball so to speak with spending today, must get back on it.

London is extremely wet and miserable today ☔️