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.

Didn’t get my 2nd bus of the day as I was going to have to wait an hour. So walked 40 minutes towards home and then DP picked me up halfway more like a quarter home. My feet now kill as had stuff to carry and a lot of it was uphill. Kinda frugal to do free exercise though.

£1.80 on a hot chocolate

LSD £4 poundshop, on some healthier breakfast bars, lotus biscuits and squash.

Was going to say NSD but it was only a no cash spend day, I spent €200 on car tax for au pairs car.

Sea I can heartily recommend kudos shower screens and trays, they are Yorkshire made too

Sorry have literally skim read between work, clubs run and dinner... I've only retained one piece of information...

Hotel buffet breakfast 😋!! Oh my goodness, they are the best! Eldest dd loves an overnight stay in any kind of chain hotel that has a moderately sized pool and buffet for breakfast. Alas I was looking at some hotels last night, near London which would help with a visit we're doing in Dec, but have decided to just do the driving in one day to save on costs. Plus being a family of 5 restricts lots of hotel options, even some family rooms.

Dh is back from the shop. £91. All vegan food (did I mention I was going vegan? Apparently a big part of veganism is to tell everyone that you’re vegan....😛)

Anyway. He basically bought every variety of fruit and veg available at coop. Plus tofu, tahini, tamarind, hot sauce (because everything’s better with hot sauce) soy milk, peanut butter, crackers, nuts, pulses, seeds....

This is going to be tough. But probably a mind changer.

I had accupuncture yesterday and the lady suggested my hand pain could be being exacerbated by a high sugar diet. So no biscuits. No sweets. Natural sugars only. (I bought dried strawberries at Holland and barrat today. These are lush!!!!)

Our plan is only to do the vegan thing for a week. Initially. And to see if we can get more healthy eating ideas and more variety in our diets. To be fair Dh is leading this. He wants to do it. I’m just along for the ride and am lazy so will just go along with it.

One of the hotels here does a buffet breakfast when they do conferences. I always go to these ones. Breakfast is immense. They have a seperate room for the food.

Glad the breakfast buffet is getting some appreciation!! I'll add a pic of ystds breakfast.

Been out tonight to this posh do, was a bit weird getting all dolled up on a Tuesday evening and other then the sponsor I didn't know anyone but I had a good time. Everyone was friendly so left knowing lots of new people, wasn't that keen on the dinner but it was all paid for so I can't complain!!

Home tomorrow, have loved the trip and learnt lots but missed dd and the puppy!!

😋 yum! Hope you get a bit of a lie in and another breakfast today!

I started this term with renewed enthusiasm for early alarms in a bid to be more productive in the mornings. Mon and Tues I jumped out of bed, got dressed, did my housework etc. This morning I've managed to reach out for my phone and am willing myself to get up. By Friday I think il be ignoring the snooze button 💤!

Annoyingly I've started term feeling unwell. The kids have all had the lurgy over half term (typical!) and I've now got a cough, sore throat etc. Not enough to take any time off - it never is though is it? I think the last time I took time to just recover and sit in bed drinking lemsip was c.2008 😂 (always reminds me of that old Boots advert where two women full of cold are rushing around getting Christmas shopping, running errands, to-do list as long as their arm talking about getting home to help their husbands who have a bit of a sniffle 😂)

Good girlie I’m glad you had the proper breakfast. I have a friend who always has just fruit at a breakfast buffet. That in my opinion is not doing it right. 😂

Neither ds or dd woke up last night. Both are still sleeping. I had a terrible sleep. Was paranoid that Dd would wake up so I kept waking up too. 😴

Staying in bed for as long as possible today. And then having a chilled out day. If the weather holds I might take Dd out for a walk.

Nsd planned.

Oh my such a bad day already- serious delays on the central line got me into work almost an hour late AF is here and sitting in the same position for so long has led to a leakage and I locked myself out of the office by forgetting to take my access pass to the toilet!

No leftovers last night so had to buy lunch, £3 on a sandwich, apple juice and banana from Waitrose.

Wish I'd had a breakfast buffet! That one looks delicious 😋

Today is going to be a long one!

Hope everyone else has an enjoyable day.

I’ve just just out washing outside. It rained. So have brought it back in.

Dd just cried. But I’ve found if i leave her for a couple of minutes she nods off again. So fingers crossed as (selfishly) ive got s hot coffee and an apple and is really like to enjoy in peace #selfcarenotbadparenting

The pram is al ready to go. She has outgrown the bassinet so she’s going in the normal seat. Dug our the raincover too so we are going walking. Round the lanes then to the coop - for batteries for ds’ elephant nightlight and to get some more “free” glasses/tableware. I say “free” as you need 20 stickers for a freebee and need to spend £10 for a sticker. So....not technically free.

Em :o :o at telling everyone you’re vegan.

Well it’s been quite a day. My ADHD diagnosis is now official. And I have a prescription for medication (like Ritalin but different brand). Holy crap.

Then had jobcentre interview thing. I also have to attend a work coach thing in a couple of weeks so that’s not so fun.

Then got called back to have Cagletini’s foot re-x-rayed as the specialist thought they saw a fracture from last week (she’d gone over on her toes when she jumped off the sofa ) so had a fun few hours getting that done. Luckily no fracture though.

Exhausted. Fuck frugality, I am buying ALL THE CHOCOLATE. :o

Woah busy day lap sending very un-mumsnetty hugs your way xxx

Currrently snacking on dried papaya mango sultanas and peanuts. Far cry from my usual chocolate biscuit.... fuck you vegan food

Oreos, most bourbons, chocolate chip hobnobs are all vegan. I haven't had a biscuit since July. Or crisps, bread, potato. Anything nice really.

Cag what a busy day for you glad dds foot isn't broken.

Sea be careful you don't work yourself into the ground I'm pleased ds had a good parents eve.

I'm on the train, somewhere near Cheltenham I think, cant wait to get home, so tired!!

Have spent £5 in a cab to the station from the hotel and about £7 on cups of tea and chocolate on the train!! Overall it's been a cheap few days so don't feel too bad on buying a few overpriced bits.

I really enjoyed my last cooked breakfast this morning 🤣

Also lots of dark chocolate. Oh and have you tried the chocolate orange pulsin bars? I used to really like them when I was eating carbs. So tasty but healthy too. Also my sister swears by nutritional yeast sprinkled on her pasta in place of cheese 🤷🏽‍♀️

NSD

Sea don't overdo it with the working

Camden I hope your day improved

Em letting dd settle herself is a good thing. Self care for you good skills for her.

Peanut butter and marmite toast for breakfast. I was in a hotel yesterday but only had tomatoes on toast (totally outs self if you know me) as their breakfast is minging.

What a morning you had camden

Big hugs to lap

Spends today
My car repairs and tyres- £600
DPs mot, break repairs and tyres- £800
DPs road tax-£20
And £15.99 in KFC

Urgh.

£23 to school for some ticket
£15 to school for some trip
£20 to school for some other trip

Awaiting email requesting money for theatre trip next month x 2. Eugh.

Love cars are the worst. Mine costs me a fortune but at least there are no unplanned costs. You deserved the kfc 😋

Haven’t quite managed to catch up with posts yet, so back later. Quickly though I’m after ideas for a meal that is gluten free and dairy free and either low carb or can be made low carb (eg with cauliflower rice). Meat and fish is fine. Would like something special enough for a guest and not curry as I did that last time! Any ideas?

Sea that's a big ask cottage pie with cauliflower mash (check stock is gluten free, no Worcestershire sauce, dairy free butter), chilli with rice, cauliflower rice or nachos (make cheese nachos out of Edam for low carb and omit beans depending on how low carb they are) ummm I think dairy free is the toughest I have cheese with everything... you could do a roast dinner or pork chops with some lovely veg. Chicken and veg skewers with a nice salad and couscous (can make a couscous type thing with cauliflower rice), a nice teriyaki chicken type thing with swoodles (can buy in Tesco) or courgetti...

Salmon baked with sweet chilli sauce soy sauce & garlic marinade in little foil parcels delicious & simple seacow

€50 laser treatment turns out my last treatment was 12 months ago so I guess I'm in maintenance mode now

€4.50 on a southern fried chicken burger just because I felt like it

H has asked what the cost of ds's party is & agreed to split cost of Santa, it remains to be seen if he will or not