Had a Spendy Summer? Join the Friendly Frugaleers as we Segue Smoothly into a Sensible September

[LivingInLaputa]

All welcome. Couldn’t see another thread!

Hey meadow

NSF planned today except for usual childcare.
Tired this morning but soon be the weekend when....... It's still just as busy.....

Life 🤣 that is exactly how I feel atm!!

Haha me too but the weekends are mostly enjoyable busy whereas the weekdays not so much! Though I count Friday as part of my weekend as I don't work Fridays. I mean, DD is work and although more tiring and more difficult, less boring and more enjoyable when she's pleasant lol. On bus to work so spent my £2.30 bus fare. Hopefully no other spends today ..

Only if they gave him more hours doing the charity side of things, he has 4h a week for that (it’s same company) and can do it from home as it’s a lot of online and phone stuff. He’s ace at it too with best results.

He can’t do anything else atm it’s constant pain and that’s not looking like it’ll change as it’s inoperable

Morning!

Early start there, em, but sleeping for a 5 hour stretch is great going. DS2 had 5-5.30 as his wake up time until he dropped a nap at a year old. Knackering but at least he slept through till then.

NSD yesterday, that hasn’t happened in a very long time. Apart from a loaf of bread it’ll be another one today hopefully. Need to keep this up.

FFS lost my second post 🙄🤬

Anyway, there is also the fact I would not manage at all right now if he was out at work, which is humiliating to admit. Haven’t even told my parents about the hospital either. It’s a moot point anyway since the specialists have all said no working (bet ESA still disagree at first though 🙄). He can’t even move half the time, keeps getting stuck, numbness in his limbs etc as well as the pain. So much worse than last time when it was “just” the prolapsed disc. We are basically tag teaming with one of us resting at a time.

Really just pinning all my hopes on the assessment and getting medication that might magically turn me into a functioning adult. 🤦‍♀️ I could at least then maybe cope with the tutoring that I’ve been putting off for about 18 months, I used to love it but it feels impossible now. But I need to get over myself and do it to get some money in. Someone I used to vaguely know was coming for a play date this morning and to discuss me tutoring one of her children but I cancelled as I can’t handle it today.

Oh lap I really feel for you. It’s not humiliating to admit you need help. Probably one of the strongest things a person can do in my mind. Admit that they need help and support.

One day at a time. Slowly slowly. This too shall pass.

Ds dropped at nursery. He was brutal this morning. Say him down at the table for breakfast, he handed me his dummy pointed to his peg, said “Mummy bubba bag bye bye” and waved. I put the dummy (his bubba) in his bag went back to say bye and he said “no mummy. Bye bye mummy” and turned away and ate his breakfast.

Sorry to be all me me me but an offer of full asking price made and accepted on our house today can finally move on with the rest of my life

DS and I have done a happy dance for you happier

Lap it's not a weakness and you or your family are not weak. One day at a time.

Thanks lovelies.
Ah amazing news happier that’s epic! ❤️ Fresh start for you and your awesome kids ❤️

Ooh that’s fab Happier! I don’t know what the system is where you are but hope it’s got a good chance of completing. 🤞🏻

Lap that all sucks. So difficult for both of you at the mo. I hope the tide turns for you soon

That’s brilliant news happier

Used our season tickets at a local place this morning. DD1 is getting a bit old for what is on offer there so will let them expire at the end of October. Home for lunch then off for DC haircuts.

Wahooo happier

Finally the charity shop wardrobe is in ds’ room. I had to bullying dh to sort out the garage. And it needed moving. He was just going to put it on the driveway and then put it back in the garage...

It doesn’t have its doors on at the moment but I don’t care. I can finally start sorting things out for ds!!

Also cancelled my SO to the joint account so I can work out what I can afford to put in. Will set it up again once I know. And have reduced SO’s to savings.

Worked out that work are underpaying me for mat leave. I’m being paid based on 18 weeks (2 fully paid, 10 at 90% 6 unpaid). I should be getting paid based on 26 weeks (law changed last sept - so 6 weeks full pay 14 at 90% and the remainder at nil). I happened to be checking my letter and thought it looked odd. Have emailed our payroll lady to investigate. She’ll get on it on Monday.

Top teeth are before. Bottom is right now. 😃😁

Think this is probably my first post of this thread so thanks for new thread @LivingInLaputa. I'm sorry to hear things are so hard for you and your family right now, I hope they improve soon.

I haven't been well so haven't been thinking about frugality but also haven't been spending much.

Spent stupidly today.

The dog harness for the car snapped as we were on our way out so detour to pet shop and £27 for a new one!

£11 lunch because I’m disorganised and getting dog, child, scooter and all related crap in the car was as good as I got!

£7 bottle of wine on the way home.... because I’m worth it.

National trust entry free! Well membership but cancelling in March as we don’t use it enough.

Em - the difference in your teeth is amazing, how long did it take? Ds has had braces(train track type) on his teeth for over 3 years and they don't look Like they'll be coming off any time soon, initially the orthodontist kept really telling him off and saying it was because he wasn't wearing the bands, but he saw a random guy and he said that actually they weren't on properly

Both dds will need braces (dd1 before the end of the year) and I'm pretty sure they won't be covered by the nhs as it's classes as cosmetic, so I might look into Invisalign.

Another spends day, but on our way home tomorrow, stopping halfway and spending the night before heading back home on Saturday morning- diet starts Sunday! Not looking forward to returning to the building site we call home.

to everyone having a hard time at the moment, the crap always seems to come at the same time.

Evening lovely people.

Love so sorry to hear about the dementia diagnosis for your dad. It is really hard, but there is help out there (Alzheimer Society, Mind, Age Uk) are all really good. Also the Stirling University has some really good information. Take care of your mum as well - she will be going through a huge amount of stress. If you want I will see if I can tap up some contacts to see what is available and how best to cope as a family.

Lap you and (my)DH have inspired me to become one of our work's MH first aiders. Thank you!

Wolf enjoy your tipi trip... if you love it let me know & I will lend you ours for your next trip. It has a cute wood burner, camp beds, rugs, camp kitchen ….. all the mod cons. Just practice your maiden in distress look to get it put up for you.

Happier knock me down with a feather …. let.me.get.this.straight.....he, without quibble stood up and was human. Well fuck me sideways... wonders will never cease. Awesome! Oh and the house is good news too.

sea ouch!
em great teeth. It is amazing what can be done. I had 4.5 years of rail tracks, 13 teeth pulled and 4 years of plates..... they are straight now and look awesome. (if I may say so myself).

In the news... at 14 years old DS is officially the youngest race finisher of the Tour Divide Mountain Bike race. 32 days Banff to the Mexico boarder. I am so proud... but we will have to be super frugal to pay for it.

camden I had them fitted Feb 2018. And have had to wear 40 sets of the aligners. Changing every 2 weeks.

It set me back around £4k but worth every penny. And worth every second of the uncomfortableness.

I started looking at our joint ac spends earlier to get some idea of a budget.

Outgoings:

Mortgage £1574 fixed for 5 years.
Electricity £197
Water £33
Phones (inc broadband and line rental) £81.59
Tv licence £12
Pet insurance £10
Car insurance £30
Car park space £170
Nursery £997
Life insurance £34
Home insurance £25
Netflix £8.99
Food £150
Nappies and formula £50
Parish rates £35
Heritage membership £4.80

We can’t change electric provider as we have one here and that’s it. We are trying to make our house more eco friendly and warmer by insulating and replacing things. Eg had someone round today to give us a quote for a new front door and porch window (double glazed) and to check all our double glazing seals.

Am also using washing line as much as possible. Dh has put matting on the concrete garage floor and tomorrow is insulating the roof.

Phones - Were both on sim only contracts. Mine is £23 a month. Dhs is 18. Then there’s the broadband and line rental. I need to look into a cheaper tariff. I get a discounted rate via work if I switch providers. I just need to check coverage for phone with new provider. Worked out if we make the switch we will save £27 a month. So it’s worth doing.

Pet insurance. Necessary now catface is going outside. Might be able to switch providers (currently petplan) but need to make sure I get the same cover. Could look to put it in Dhs name though...he’d be a new customer so we could get a cheaper deal. Will look into this.

House insurance. Could switch. But we use a local company who are very very responsive.

Car insurance - dh is looking to switch providers.

Nursery - Fee’s will drop to £916 once ds is 2 (so from end of sept)

Parish rates - non negotiable. Have to pay. Sort of like council tax.

Petrol and food. Can get these lower.

Baby stuff - nappies etc. Currently using boots own brand nappies for both ds and Dd. Ds is still showing signs of wanting to be potty trained so hopefully we won’t need to do this for much longer. Formula is the same price wherever.

Car park space - could ditch this. But it’s secure. Under cover. In the car park under meath nursery. So is worth the expense.

Heritage membership. Think like a national trust membership. We rarely visit the sites. So should get rid.

Netflix. Need to keep this. I wouldn’t survive without it

Yeah nothing would tear me from Netflix now em! It’s outrageously cheap for what it is.

Unescorted wow amazing achievement for DS! What does a MH first aider do?

We keep an eye out for people who look stressed in the work place (we get training to do this appropriately). If people want a chat about anything we are there - and can prioritise our work to accommodate this. So is someone wants to go for a walk for a day we just book it in. Also we can sign post to other people / service & "prescribe" actions for managers (including retraining in management) and HR.

They have recognised that it costsm ore to have someone leave and recruit & train a new person than it does to give people space & support in the first place.

@Unescorted that’s amazing. I’m a mental health nurse. We need this for staff at work!

All work places need it.

That sounds amazing and very worthwhile unescorted

Choc do you have to do regular nurse training to become a psych nurse?

My DS turns TEN tomorrow 😱 he’s so excited. I just remembered I have to sneak his Lego into his room now so he can build it if he wakes early.
I’ve also written a note in a card for him to read once we are all up. Managed to get on a home ed group trip to legoland, we have never been able to go because it is so expensive and hard without a car but on the group booking it’s £30.50 for me and the big two! Getting a lift with friends. He’s going to flip, Lego is like oxygen to him and he always thought we’d never be able to go.