Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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

997 replies

lifelongfrugaleer · 30/09/2019 12:48

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
ChristmasSeacow · 21/10/2019 22:28

True Thats. But even worse, our house was extended 18 years ago, before our time, and everything is coming to the end of its life at the same time 😫. 💸💸💸💸

Madden that’s the spirit! Grin

Rosiemadras · 21/10/2019 22:44

How about wetwalls ? It is panels stuck over tiles. It's quite straight forward to put in place and cheaper that refiling? Easier to clean too.

Happierwithouthim · 21/10/2019 22:57

Spends yesterday
€7 on goggles for dd as hers can't be found & she's been using ds's for lessons but all three of us were in pool yesterday.

€54.20 on Sunday lunch for the three of us including a non alcoholic cider for me Grin

€12.45 on party horns, car & mug for my Nan

€55 diesel on fuel card

Groceries today €90.65, delighted to be keeping groceries under €100 & today's included dog food & lots of meat.

ememem84 · 22/10/2019 09:00

😫 just had to bring two loads of washing in from outside. Thought I’d get away with putting jt outside. It’s just started chucking down with rain. Grrrr.
But on the plus side I got two loads of washing outside before 830...!

Oh sea I’m making a list of house renovations we want to do. Not that need doing. The plan is that in about 5 years were going to extend downstairs and do some upstairs work. We’ll have to move out for a bit probably and it’ll probably cost us a small fortune. But. We’ll get the house we want.

Dhs idea is to extend out into the garden and make the ground floor open plan, reinstate the fire in the living room, ditch the full height French doors on the front of the house and block up half so we have a “normal” window (this will mean we can utilise the space in the front garden outside the doors more too), wet room downstairs (because it’s cool and also to futureproof the house...), move the water cylinder from the airing cupboard and throw a stand up shower in there, re do bathroom, solar panels on house roof and garage roof, underfloor heating downstairs, etc.

Ds’ assessment is just after lunch. He’s gone to nursery for the morning and I’ll pick him up and we’ll go. Dm will look after Dd I think.

I filled in the assessment questionnaire last night. I don’t have any concerns so hopefully it should be fine.

Taytocrisps · 22/10/2019 09:41

We're off to the ballet tonight (Swan Lake). Really looking forward to it. I paid for the tickets around this time last year. We're meeting up with family there and then we'll stay with them tonight. Tomorrow we're skipping school and having a look around the shops in Dublin and going for lunch. We need to pick up a birthday present for Ex too (from DD obviously, not me).

DD (officially) starts her mid-term break on Thursday. She's off on her school tour on Thursday morning. She'll be away until Sunday night. We've to be at the school for 3 a.m. on Thursday morning Shock. DD intends getting up extra early to straighten her hair . She's has been saving up her own spending money all year but I'll surprise her with €20.

ememem84 · 22/10/2019 09:50

Oh tayto swan lake is my absolute favourite!!!!

ememem84 · 22/10/2019 10:43

Rightly or wrongly I’ve just raised a case with PayPal re an order I placed with joules at the end of September and still haven’t recieved. I’ve contacted joules directly who have said that my order was signed for on 12 October. By someone in Florida. So somewhere there are been a massive cock up.

Have also made myself an apt with gp after dds tomorrow to discuss my hand pain. It flared up after I had ds and has now come back again and is so painful. Finger joints and wrist joints are unbelievably stiff. Iirc the diagnosis last time was possibly a form of arthritis. But it went away after a few months. I’m going to see if they can maybe suggest some strengthening exercises (via a physio maybe) and want to see if accupuncture will help.

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2019 11:28

Hi all.
Hopefully it will be an NSD today.
Sea, youngest is 9, but ex stayed here until yesterday, he went home last night.

I've managed to make breakfast for me and the dcs this morning, washed up and done the washing, so not to bad, I guess.
I'm listening to my body and taking it slow.

Happierwithouthim · 22/10/2019 14:56

How did you find that curvy don't answer if you don't wish to.

Last week ex put dc to bed while I took au pair's car for nct and was sleeping on the couch when I came home, I found it unnerving and was glad to lock the door behind him

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2019 15:31

No, it's fine happier, it wasn't what I wanted, but with dd2 still being so young and her having epilepsy, and them still being at school, so not much choice.
That's why I wanted to get it done during half term, but that wasn't available.
There is no way I could have taken and collected her from school, the pain was just too much.
He was ok and cooked each night, conversations were pretty non existent.
When we were in town yesterday, well it just cemented why I'm not with him anymore, such entitlement!

I really don't want to build bridges with him, I just want to make it ok for the kids. But he probably thinks that he has done some good point scoring now. Twat.

Why did you ex think it was ok to go to sleep? Strange, I would find that unnerving too.

Happierwithouthim · 22/10/2019 16:45

He was getting up at 1am for work so 'would stretch out on the couch' as he put it himself. So I was expecting it but still didn't like it.

Ds would have preferred if ex did the car appointment and I was at home, but like always it's his way or no way.

He has been very amicable lately and I wondered how long he could keep it up, and last night he broke and lost his temper and was raving at me and threatening me with solicitors letters, I just stared at him until he was finished and as I closed the door silently fuming thought to myself luckily I'll be free of you before the end of this year.

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2019 17:19

Happier, I'm sorry, hope you are ok Flowers
Yes they can be amicable, but its always so they can get what they want, isn't it?

As long as my ex is nice to the dcs and I don't have to engage with him very often, it's all good.

Girliefriendlikescake · 22/10/2019 19:12

Evening all, busy day here, didn't get in from work until late and then had to rush sorting out dd as she is out tonight.

Dd was good today as she got in from school and walked and fed the puppy without any prompting which I was pleased about. She has a job volunteering at the local theatre tonight so am hoping she enjoys it.

Ystd I spent £46 in Aldi, pretty sure not had any other spends.

Sorry to hear about troubles with exes, in some ways not having any contact with dds dad is so much easier!

WreckTangled · 22/10/2019 19:22

Wow girlie that's great off dd and the theatre should be fun I hope she enjoys it. She seems to be doing really well at the moment.

I spent £27 in Sainsbury's this morning ds needed new school shorts (yep still in shorts) and socks, dd needed bras (yep she only 9) and I needed tights for my interview and treated myself to a dressing gown as I don't have one. Lots of other things I would have liked to have bought but never mind. Nothing else that was especially needed. Oh I also got a red pepper and a packet of fridge raiders as I was starving Grin the red pepper was for ds though.

Happierwithouthim · 22/10/2019 19:37

Curvy he just reaffirms for me that I made the right decision Wink I'm grand.
Girlie does your dd ever ask about him?

Dc seem happy when they spend time with ex too & that's the important part now.

Wreck I found my dressing gown yesterday hadn't seen it in months Hmm

Guy just came to fix our heating, it hasn't worked properly in a few weeks. It'll be €20 for part plus call out fee, will call & pay him tomo & must chase mechanic for bill too.

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2019 20:03

Girlie, dd is a credit to you.
Wreck, my dd2 is 9 too and she has those crop tops, said she doesn't want bras yet, they grown up so fast, don't they?
Good to hear happier, it's a shame they become better parents when they leave though. My dc also like spending time with him more now than before.

WreckTangled · 22/10/2019 20:10

Dd likes the crop tops that are bra shaped. Sainsbury's don't do them so had to get proper bras but then only difference is they have a clasp at the back so she's happy worth them. I don't think I'll be able to get her a proper bra for years as they smallest back size you can buy is a 28 and that's what I wear Confused it's stupid.

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2019 20:40

Ahh, I see wreck.
Yes it is stupid.
My dd is pretty tall for her age and has a long torso, so the crop tops she has are age 12-13, the straps are adjustable. I don't think she will be ready for bras for a while, but even then they won't fit properly, because she is so slim.
Starting from a 24 would be much better!

WreckTangled · 22/10/2019 20:55

Yes dd is skinny too and all leg. She's not as tall as your dd but is tallest of the (4!) girls in her class Grin I'm still struggling to get her to put deodorant on every morning. She's going to be a stinky teenager.

northender · 22/10/2019 21:14

Having good time away. York today which was lovely.
Getting frustrated trying to get Thomas Cook flight money back. We have insurance which I think should cover us, but they won't act unless credit card doesn't refund us. Nationwide CC say they won't do anything until we've been through Opodo who we bought the flights from. Spoke to Opodo tonight who were very non committal but wouldn't put anything in writing to me 😣. Anyone have any ideas as to what we should do next?

CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces · 22/10/2019 21:45

Wreck mines not beginning to smell yet, but greasy hair, needs washing every day, and getting spotty! But don't know where to get her stuff that will be gentle on her skin. I'm moaning at her every day to wash her face just with warm water and a flannel, she thinks that is unreasonable!
Mine is the third tallest in her class, with one boy and girl just a bit taller than her. She really likes being the second tallest girl and being taller than most of the boys!
The trainers she got yesterday are a bloody size 5!

Oh no north, sorry no advice, but that is so annoying. I can't remember who it was on the thread who got their refund?

Girliefriendlikescake · 22/10/2019 22:03

Curvy and wreck if it's any consolation dd was a soap dodger until secondary school! She is much more conscious of smelling and looking nice now 😁

Thanks for the nice comments, she has suddenly matured a little bit in a good way! Maybe getting the dog has helped a bit... will see if it lasts. She used to ask about her dad but hasn't for ages now.

She had a great time volunteering.

andrea11745 · 23/10/2019 03:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ChristmasSeacow · 23/10/2019 06:33

Reported the spam.

Never heard of that Rosie, I’ll look into it, thanks.

That’s a lot of work Em - our house was extended in 2001 before our time but I don’t think they did the best job of it and now everything needs redoing, grr. So it’s going to be a lot of work and disruption for us. I don’t think we can move out (cost but also where to) so I think we’ll have to
just live with it. It’s going to be seriously difficult for DS though, especially when we do the kitchen. He was in a bit of a state yesterday just while we were having the downstairs loo repaired Hmm.

Curvy glad your ex was at least helpful, as you defo needed the help.

I’ve got my dressing gown but mysteriously lost the belt. I hope it turns up as I’ll need a new one otherwise!

Expensive day yesterday - had to buy coffees for meetings with external people (can’t order hospitality in nhs). That and lunch - £20ish. I need to start taking lunch in as i spend too much and the diet has gone seriously pear shaped. I need to get a grip - the sugar addiction is real! So new leaf from today. I must find the frugaleers diet thread again.

Into work a bit early today too for an early meeting. Hoping I can leave a bit early and maybe order a new mattress on the way home - desperately overdue.

WreckTangled · 23/10/2019 06:51

But sea, cousin Kevin could solve all our problems! Grin

I have a clinical quality half day today. Bleurgh. And the road is shut so have a massive diversion.

Swipe left for the next trending thread