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Original poster

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
ChristmasSeacow · 15/08/2019 16:09

To be fair Em at least you had a birthday reminder. Can you just get him vouchers for whichever shop he lingered in for longest?

I didn’t manage to finish my post yesterday -DD has developed a bit of a fear of the bath so bedtimes are... interesting Confused.

Anyway, lovely dog Happier! Hope you are all very happy together. How was the viewing, any nearer to selling your place? Is the market quite slow where you are?

Curvy so glad you enjoyed Teignmouth- and our family favourite of the Black Hole Wink. We’ve been to Llandudno today which was surprisingly nice. DS enjoyed the pier - they had lots of little kiddie rides and he went on quite a few. Cost me about £30 but he so rarely wants to do stuff his peers do so I don’t begrudge it, it was lovely to see him enjoying himself. DD and I also went on the teacups Grin. We took a picnic but also spent almost £10 on ice creams and a few quid on parking, DH paid that. And I bought a candy floss to share but DD refused as she said she ‘didn’t want to eat the pink cloud’ Grin

DS is currently having a bit of a random meltdown because the washing machine is on but not spinning (it’s on a gentle wool wash). Serious crying and wailing and screaming, he is inconsolable and I don’t think he will stop till the wash has finished. I’ve had to hide upstairs because it is seriously grating on my nerves right now, DH can take the strain of this one!!

We are going home on Saturday but I’m going to tidy out the car of all the beach stuff today and pack some stuff in the roof box because I don’t fancy doing it all in the pissing rain tomorrow.

My yarn from t’interweb arrived, I am very happy to be knitting again! Randomly (for August) I am knitting Christmas baubles. It’s very addictive Smile

Unescorted · 15/08/2019 18:23

Afternoon.

Cute dawg happier
Em I just ask dh what I bought him for his birthday. It works better for us. He gets what he wants & I don't have to apologise for forgetting.

Sea I would do the same in your shoes. In fact to say your tolerance is like mine is insulting to you.
Wolf that sounds scary.

DD & I had a very spendy day. £10 on breakfast, £129 in Uniqlo, £2 in the sewing shop, £3.50 parking, £12 at Macy D's, £21 in Aldi. In our defence we got 2 dresses, belt, jeans and a snuggly cardi coat, lunch for tomorrows trip, and the McDonalds was a blandishment after we went for her pre op consultation with her facial surgeon. Eating is going to be difficult for a while when she get it done.

lifelongfrugaleer · 15/08/2019 19:26

£17 boots doing the free no 7 offer, £8 b&m, £20 Sainsbury's, £80 delivery due.

Sold DH car for £900 but he bought a bike for £879.

ememem84 · 15/08/2019 19:58

That was already the plan sea well at least that’s what I’ve already told Dm and dsis to get him.

I was going to buy him a new wallet. And have it embossed with his initials. Still might do it. But need time to work out where from. May check out the saddlers and see if they have anything.

SnugglySnerd · 15/08/2019 20:21

Gosh, Wolf how awful. Did you know them?

Had a really good day today. All the dcs have been sensible(ish), helpful and got on with each other and we had a lovely afternoon out with friends. I am making the most of it. They will be back to tantrums and biting by tomorrow.

Just suddenly realised dd1 needs new clothes. She's been in shorts and t shirts for a good couple of months. Today she out on a warmer dress and it barely covered her backside. At least her growing has coincided with autumn approaching as I might as well get her some warmer stuff. Have bid on 2 dresses and a jumper on Ebay and will have a look in the shops too. I try to buy her better quality stuff now that we have another dd so it can be passed down. A lot of my previous supermarket cheapies have not lasted well but that might be because she's always climbing and ripping the knees out of things!

Wolfcub · 15/08/2019 20:25

Snuggly no I didn’t, they don’t work for us, they work for Unescorted’s side of the house according to the news accounts. We had quite staff in the building today who were understandably upset by it.

CamdenTownie · 15/08/2019 21:03

Wolf - I hope you are ok, awful news, and the worst part of working in London. I've never been a worried kind of person when it come to travelling and I'm not very security conscious etc, It wouldn't even occur to me, but I feel that London is becoming such a dangerous place, a 16 year old boy was stabbed and murdered a couple of streets away from the road I grew up on, the same age as my ds2, just waiting for his gcse results Sad

lifelongfrugaleer · 15/08/2019 21:05

They were talking about that today as our building is round the corner towards the abbey. I've worked in 2MS once

lifelongfrugaleer · 15/08/2019 21:06

Sad times

We were staying coupler is weeks ago near where the machete attack was. We walked through that square at a similar time

CamdenTownie · 15/08/2019 22:08

I'm glad I don't live there anymore @lifelongfrugaleer - Sad

Girliefriendlikescake · 15/08/2019 22:44

Snuggly I always found Boden did lovely kids clothes that lasted well and you can sell on. You can normally find offers for 25% off and it's free posting and returns. I bought dd some pjs from there when she was 7yo and she's only just outgrown them 🤣 for the first two years they were massive on her and the last two rather snug!!

I've been working today, got quite a bit done so feels productive.

LSD £1.20 on yellow sticker bread.

ememem84 · 16/08/2019 06:37

I’ve never felt unsafe in London. But with everything that’s going on recently I think I’d absolutely be more wary.

A few years ago when I went to Israel I expected to feel really on edge given the troubles there. However I felt safer In Jerusalem than I ever have in London Paris or New York. Probably something to do with the permanent armed police presence. And the fact you just don’t mess with the Israelis.

Annoyingly Dm messaged me last night. She’s bought dh a wallet for his birthday. So I better not do that. I probably told her I was thinking about getting one but can’t remember.

Was up twice with dd last night. 1230 and 330. Have just handed her over to dh and am going to try and get another couple of hours. He is under instruction not to disturb me until 830. We shall see how this goes.

CamdenTownie · 16/08/2019 06:42

Girlie & snuggly - I always got Biden stuff from eBay, new but end of line or last years patterns and prints, same with joules.

I miss my girls being small ( and wearing the clothes I chose for them!)

Friday at last, no plans for the Weekend other than catching up on the housework etc, a little bit of shopping as working long days this week has meant that we haven't stuck to the meal plan, so have most of last weeks meals left.

Anyone got any frugal tips for stinky trainers? They don't need replacing but are a bit pongy!

Wolfcub · 16/08/2019 06:45

Camden are they the sort of material that will wash. A trip round the washing machine usually happens to mine. also sprAying the insides with dettol aerosol seems to help

WreckTangled · 16/08/2019 06:57

Ds' duvet fell off at 5am so I've been awake since then. Both dc still asleep... I really need to start tucking his cover in better!

SnugglySnerd · 16/08/2019 08:37

Thanks for the Boden tips.

Camden try sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda into the trainers and leaving overnight. It's great for absorbing odours. Works on carpet too!

northender · 16/08/2019 08:49

camden I need help with ds' stinky cricket kit (pads, shoes, helmet etc). That's going to be one of my first jobs when we get back
wolf that's shocking, knife crime is such a worry.
em glad your mil's flight will be ok. Things with her seem to have changed a bit & it seems like you get on better with her than you did.
Sea Llandudno is lovely, glad ds enjoyed something "mainstream" like the pier, it makes your day easier. Hope your journey home isn't too wet, but it's raining here in Devon.

Had a lovely last couple of holiday days. The weather was great so it was mainly beach time. The ferries are running a few hours behind due to weather delays so we set off from Spain at 1am GMT yesterday & got into Plymouth at 10 last night. Arrived just in time to see most of the fireworks championship displays from the ferry which gave us an amazing view. Stayed with pil last night & will drive home tonight. It's been a great couple of weeks & feel ready for the chaos that the next 3 weeks will bring!
I haven't written a list in the 2 weeks away, so next job to do is lists for the next few days.

We've spent more than planned on holiday as we ate out for main meals apart from 2 BBQs. We've never done that before & I needed the break so it was definitely worth it. I now need a meal plan & a shopping list for tomorrow morning. I plan to post here every day as it helps keep me focussed. I need to be organised with food or we will end up with unfrugal & unhealthy takeaways & the like.

It feels strange as this was almost certainly our last holiday of this type as the 4 of us together & feels like the end of an era. We have done 10 summer hols on the ferry to France or Spain, static caravans, chalet, or apartment. They have been fantastic times, very simple and affordable and will live long in the memory.

ememem84 · 16/08/2019 11:03

notth yeah things have improved somewhat. If I’m honest she seems to be sucking up to me a bit. I’m still wary but am not dreading her visit this time.

Wolfcub · 16/08/2019 12:22

banks are being complete officious bastards today. I am trying to extricate myself from joint stuff and they are making it impossible

Peppinana · 16/08/2019 12:44

Hi all- hope you don’t mind if I join? I’m trying to be more frugal and mindful with spending as we are planning to start ttc no 3 and are wanting to finance a house move not long after that so want to blast a couple of personal loans away (taken to consolidate some cc after a particularly rubbish few years where circumstances meant we had to borrow). We are much more comfortable now but I want to be mindful and not fritter the extra we have. Frugal but still enjoying things is what I have in mind. I’ll read the thread in instalments to catch up but I hope you don’t mind having another one along on the journey?

Wolfcub · 16/08/2019 13:54

Welcome Pep

Bank account with total bastard bank closed - took 3 hours Angry we are going out for ice cream because I am Angry Angry Angry

ememem84 · 16/08/2019 15:08

Hi pep

I’m going to have to get some things from the shop later. DH went earlier but he forgot loads of things. Namely croissants juice and fruit. Wanted for breakfast with mil tomorrow. Her flights landed at Heathrow now. And she’s flying in on the 830am flight tomorrow. Figured she might like breakfast after 36 hours travel.

Wolfcub · 16/08/2019 16:28

£13.80 ice cream
£16.50 ds hair
£11 Tesco
£59 diesel

lifelongfrugaleer · 16/08/2019 16:39

3 hours. Did you have to be in his presence too.
Wankers

That's a nice thought em

Wolfcub · 16/08/2019 16:45

Life no I didn’t, I closed my account precisely on the principle that a bank should not be able to make me be in his presence