Friendly frugaleers as the leaves fall our bank balances will rise, hopefully!

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Couldn't see one so took the liberty of starting a new thread.

I'm not a rugby watcher but am watching BBC news with trepidation.

Sea I'm intrigued on my eldest dd's behalf what it's like to be the older sibling of twins? You seem very close to your sisters - I hope that happens with my girls! They are close and play well (and fight well!), but I imagine a twin bond is quite hard to compete with? Also there's a 4.5 year age gap. We mainly surround eldest dd with her friends so she has the bond there that the dts will presumably have with each other.

If I watched the news I think I’d explode Madden. At least with the rugby all my yelling at the telly is for positive reasons

I’m getting a folding bike today so I can cycle into work but have the option of getting bus home, also can leave the bike in my office folded up during the day.
Local farm shop does 10 frozen croissants for £4 so we got a bag of those, they are v nice (though DP didn’t read the packet, you’re supposed to leave them out the night before to defrost and rise, so they were a little flat today )
Meal planning for week from freezer and leftovers. I’ve been taking a bagel on the train to work but wondering if I could bring porridge in a little tub.

@WreckTangled parcel posted on 48 hours service

Thanks life let me know how much I owe you.

I'm a bit annoyed as I've just had a letter from the jury service and it says they won't reimburse parking. The car park within walking distance is £10/8 hours. I literally can't afford that I don't know what I'm going to do. There's a train station nearby but my nearest train station is 15 minutes drive away and only season holder parking before 9:30am (even then there's no spaces and it's £8/day). There's a park and ride but I can't drop the children at school before 7:45 so wouldn't get there in time (and even that's pushing it to be in court at 9am). I think I'll phone the court and see what they suggest, maybe they'll make an exception?

I reckon you could get excused Jury Duty if you write in and explain the situation, wreck I did this when I was called in as a graduate student and couldn’t afford travel into the court and they just said that’s fine and took me off the list. You shouldn’t be out of pocket for it.

That seems very unfair Wreck, I hope they can be flexible.

Madden that’s a coincidence! I am 4.5 years older then my DSises too. Are yours all girls? We are just the three girls, no other siblings, and we are very close. Growing up I loved the novelty of having twin sisters (it wasn’t as common back then and also they are identical) and because of the age gap I was quite motherly towards them - I babysat for them from quite an early age, made them play schools when they were really just toddlers and taught them to read and write very early... I was a proper bossy sister and they really looked up to me! I wouldn’t say we were especially close then, just got on like normal siblings with that gap - fine most of the time with the odd flare up . I did find them a bit annoying when they were young and they copied me /messed with my stuff - standard older sibling stuff! And I sometimes felt the odd one out eg on holiday when they would want to do something for 5 year olds and at 10, I didn’t. They were, and are, very close. The gap seemed biggest when I was at secondary and they were still at primary but once they went to university the gap didn’t really matter any more. One thing that really changed things was that I lived with one of them for a while- she was doing a PhD in London so moved into my flat (temporarily then stayed for 2 years ). The other was studying in Edinburgh at the time. That broke the pattern of me having a relationship with the two of them in parallel and meant that I got to know Sis 1 really well (she’s the quieter one). Later she moved away from London and Sis2 started working here and lived near me. So I saw much more of her for a while. That’s really helped.

One thing though is that through the years I’ve always kept the mother hen role (I still mostly pay for things when we are out, which harks back to me having a job first, I nagged DSis2 about writing her thesis /jobs and I host family meals, Christmas etc). But they are brilliant aunties and truly adore my children, and I am so glad to have them. I think it helps that we are all quite similar, not in temperament but in outlook and also interests (we are all crafters). So that helps. Sisters are the best!

Sorry to bore you all, that was for Madden

I didn’t resist the avocado toast - there wasn’t much in the house for breakfast as Ocado comes later today. Ballet was cute. Brunch with friend was fun and our DDs were well behaved. So far so good. I have a grotty cold though - thanks DH 🙄

50p pumping tyres up which reminds me that at this time of year I like to nag everyone to check tyre pressures, screen wash, snow shovel/blanket etc in the car

I’ve just turned ewfl on. OMFG!!!! I have no words

Same wolf I vaguely saw it last night while the Caglets watched in horror but properly watched this morning, and OMG. Just wow.

I made a fucking huge to do list for the next few days. Been avoiding all responsibilities for too long!

Defo write to them wreck. That's huge amounts on parking.
And you owe me nothing. Just hope they are ok when they arrive.

Spendy shop but got stash stuff but still around usual. £110 with Sainsbury's to go.

I watched ewfl up to the end of the first shop. Dear me but good on them for going on the program.

Thanks life that's really kind

No worries lovely.

£x posting wrecks parcel, £2.56 at the bakers, £5 DS hair cut.

Evening all. Been having a quiet day at home. Had a nice evening watching Strictly and treating myself to some white wine, bread and brie.

I keep forgetting to watch EWFL and unfortunately I can't access BBC Player here. I gather Wednesday's episode was about a diabetic couple with a sugar addiction. Did you get a sense that they'll change their ways? I've set the TV to series record it, so I won't miss out in future.

Seacow that's a pain about the freezer, especially when you had expensive things like salmon in it. Fingers crossed someone left the door open and it's not something more serious. It was interesting to read about your relationship with your sisters - not boring at all.

Plancina welcome aboard. Sorry to hear about your DP's job. Must have been a big shock for him, especially when he's worked in the same place for so long. Fingers crossed for his interview.

Love that's great about work paying for half of your course.

Happier I love the idea of the modesty panel made from Penneys knickers

Haven’t read back. But. WENT TO then party. Babysitter came through. Nice time. Dh had a go at me two days ago for not caring about his family etc.

I’ve taken about a gazillion photos tonight of his family. Some stages. Some not. Blah blah blah. If I didn’t think it was important would I have done that?! No.

I’m not going for brekkie tomorrow. I honestly cba. I’ve had an evening of “oooh you’re not getting any of the inheritance” “you’re only with him for the money” talk.

Dh is going to work early on Monday. I’m dealing with it.

I’ve had theee glasses of wine and am happily tipsy. Nsd.

NSD today was treated to breakfast out & some taco fries on the way home.

I also do not have access to EWFL, I hope to get saorview connect in next house but maybe might stretch to dodgy box will see.

Wreck that's awful about parking but at least you can prove to court you've explored all options.

Sea loved reading about your childhood

Wolf I haven't had galaxy dark milk but Cadbury's one is good

Em good on you & tonight's more important than the breakfast

happier i know. And I organised a family photo thing. I mean I took the pics. And wasn’t in any but still.

Home now. And dh is super drunk. As in thrown up twice drunk. He blames his half sister for buying him tequila shots. I’ve pointed out twice he didn’t have to drink them. I had 3 wines. I’m tipsy. But ok (unable to technically drive) but ok.

Me and catface are in/on bed. Both my babies are asleep.

I’ve sent dh downstairs to deal with his drunk hiccups throwing uo etc. Ducking immature gross.

However. He’ll be lessmsixk more hungover tomorrow. And will need to for breakfast. .

I'm glad you went em. Relationships shouldn't really be about point scoring but lets face it they frequently sometimes are and you've definitely scored some points tonight. Well done.

Your FIL sounds like an arsehole if that's the way he talks to you Does your dh actually expect you to care about someone who treats you like that?? He probably thinks that he cares about your family so you should care about his but fails to see that your family are decent people who treat him well so his job in the caring for your in laws is much easier than yours.

born that’s exactly it. I’ve told dh a million times I would say something if my mum or dad treated him the way certain members of his family treated me. His view is that they (his family) are t going to change so I need too. I’ve pointed out that by distancing myself I am changing and looking after myself. But that never makes sense to him.

I’ve just this second realised he’ll be way over the limit for driving for breakfast. So I’ll have to go. Despite me telling him I wasn’t. Ffs.

I wouldn’t go to the breakfast. Surely your dh will be dying with a hangover, so maybe he will want to cancel. You are not going to feel 100% yourself today with being up late and then up through the night, mixed with some wine that’s a good enough reason not to go

Em I'm pleased you had a few wines your dh's family sounds like twats. And dh isn't behaving much better.

Yesterday spent £1 on a Christmas candle. Today I'm going to watch ds play football. I have about five loads of washing to fold. I hate it so much but will have to do it.

We all slept in until 8.

Em he can get a bloody taxi. You shouldn’t have to go.

Ds’s birthday treat today so will be spendy

I am tired sad and fed up at the moment. Living on your own is great except when you are having a tough time and then it’s just bloody lonely

I feel sad for you that whatever you do is not good enough em. Has he slept through breakfast?

Big hugs wolf

Your sister sound fab christmas, in fact you all do in your family

Spendy yesterday
£10 Sainsbury’s on Lego
£40 M&S boots and dress for DD2 (20% off)
£40 Asda on a bit of food, and various clothes for the DC and joggers for DP

My DP has taken up jogging. It’s obviously good for him but I find it secretly hilarious for such a couch potato. It’ll be so good for him if he continues

My spending has been out of control the last few days as had to buy MIL new pyjamas and toiletries for the hospital. It’s been a busy few days so we’ve had a couple of takeaways too. Need to make sure I cook dinner before we visit today as can’t face it when we come back.

Wolf sorry you’re feeling so low Hopefully ds will enjoy his day today and that might make you feel a little brighter.