Frugal Friends Finding Financial Freedom In February

[Wolfcub]

New Fred

Stressful day here. Both dc sent home from nursery. Dh picked them up and dropped them with dparents. Nursery said a tummy thing. I disagree as no symptoms of a bug and didn’t see the nappies. Yick. Luckily I’m off anyway tomorrow and they’re not back at nursery until tues.

But it’s be nice to not have to worry about bugs.

No swimming tomorrow for ds as if it is/was a bug not sensible.

Em I would think loose poo in nappies wouldn't necessarily be a bug, more likely they've eaten too much fruit or are teething. Dd was always having horrible nappies, she was never ill with it though.

Works been busy, feel like I never get enough done even though I'm working at least an hour over my contracted hours every day 😩

It's been another NSD though.

Happy valentines all. Out with a friend later. Expect the supermarkets will be full of half prices flowers tomorrow.

How sniffly is too sniffly for nursery? If no obvious things like fever/dodgy bum/vomiting

Spends -
Wednesday
Breakfast £1.69
Lunch £9.59
Primark £32 (some essentials for me, jammies for DD1 - she needed some anyway but they had stranger things ones and we’ve just started watching it together)
Claire’s £10 (big set of earrings including plain studs for school, she’s been wearing DSD’s since starting in December)
I was really stressed that day, it’s funny how that makes it much easier to spend money :o

Thursday
Coop £8.18 (including easy dinner)
Wilko £5.50 (toiletries)
Lunch £12.37

Still spending too much on food when out, I’ve been out and about a lot more as I’m on a couple of courses etc, but takeaways have reduced hugely since last year so things are definitely improving!

I really love how the bank app shows pending card purchases instantly now, rather than them only showing when they came out. Can’t remember when it changed but it’s so much easier to keep track now.

Hope you all have a nice day whether celebrating Valentines or not. Unsure whether we will be able to go anywhere (we still haven’t had our planned date for DH’s birthday a few weeks ago) but DH did get me some chocolates that I love :)

lane my view (and I prepare to be flamed/corrected) is that a sniffle is ok. If temperature with sniffle and not themselves/off food then I’d maybe keep home But depending on how long dc have been at nursery I’d suspect nursery gave them the big. So I’d send in.

girlie I’m thinking weaning has caused the dodgy nappies for Dd. And ds maybe too much fruit or whatnot. But rules is rules 🙄

I agree with Em and our nursery is fine with sniffles if no temp or rash.

Morning everyone 😀
Hope your DC are much better this morning @ememem84 💐
Storm Dennis is targeting us this weekend SE Wales by the look 🙄
Hoping for a NSD today 🤞
Have a good day everyone 😀

Thanks for the thoughts. She grumpy-cried and then fell back to sleep on me by 8am so I guess that answers it for today! I’ll remember in future though.

Suppose that saves the cost of our possible breakfast date anyway.

@Mrsmadevans both dc fine thank you! Not much wrong with either of them. I’m both annoyed at nursery for sending them home unnecessarily but grateful that they did.

Other nursery annoyance - not allowed to use either sudocream or metanium cream anymore. Apparently these are now classed as medicines. We’re also not allowed any nappy creams which contain nut oil. So I’m on the hunt for ones which don’t contain it.

Oh that is red tape going too far 🙄 they are all otc ointments 🙄
Glad the DC are ok 👍😊
Happy Valentines day to everyone ♥️😀👏

I know. I’m tempted to say that the dc are allergic to anything other Than one of the nut oil creams. Just to see what happens.

Apparently there is a kid with a severe nut allergy in nursery. I’m sympathetic. But is it taking it too far?!

Doesn’t actually sound very sympathetic actually does it...?

em I have linked this to let you see what is says about almond oil. Click on product details.

em coconut oil is great for the bums
€55 on dinner last night ds had 3 courses, dd had two, I'd one and shared dessert with dm who had a portion of chips as she'd already eaten out earlier.

Dm paid for postage to dsis and extra chocolate and df paid for part for my boiler so all good

Those with older DC who get pocket money. Do you supplement in school holidays when they’re going out more? We can’t afford a general monthly increase that she can save up from, but she’s out and about all half term. Thinking of giving extra chores (like over and above what she is already expected to do in the interest of contributing to family life) but we’ve never linked money to chores before. She doesn’t ask for much TBH (Eg she happily said to her friends she couldn’t afford the cinema without even asking us) but I don’t want to get into the habit of just handing over money every time she goes out. Any thoughts/tips?

Thanks for that born bepanthan is on the not allowed because of allergy list. I’ll send little f in with some and see what they say.

@tayto just thought of you there
I input my details for when I'm renting into medical card.ie and turns out I'm eligible for gp visit card for myself and dc, it didn't ask for maintenance received but also I couldn't put in au pair costs so I think that evens out

I think that's why I ended up using childminders over nursery's, cms tended to be much more flexible and would only send dd home if she was properly poorly. Sending them home because of a messy nappy would really annoy me and don't get me started on the creams 🤣

£10 to the dog walker
£35.50 on Bluetones/Sleeper tickets for next Sept!! Me and two friends are going to go and relive our youth 😁
£2 to dd for non uniform day.
£36 petrol
£12 Morrison's on a prescription and a few bits

Glad to get to the wend, off for a few days now. Going to see some friends for a couple of nights.

13.10 in what will be 'corner shop' when I move to house I've bought on 2 hot chocs, sweets, jar of jam, pack of hot lips for me & pack of Monterey Jack cheese. This is quite good value for a local shop.

Agreed on division of proceeds plus maintenance today after only a few days of discussion debate disagreements

I've come down with a head cold so we'll all be going to bed shortly

@LaneBoy tonight mine came home early after an impromptu after school get together. Because they were all ordering a deliveroo and she didn’t have any money. Broke my heart she’s missing out and she didn’t even ask me!!!! She said don’t worry, it wasn’t just me, there was one other friend who left 😢.
Normally she goes to her dad’s at Feb half term, but when she’s on hols with me, I do give her a bit more. This time she changed her mind and won’t go to his until Monday. I work on Sunday the whole day, so I’ll give her a tenner to go into town for a coffee/lunch with her mates.

£16 in Tesco’s tonight on a fakeaway for us both.

Half term has arrived!

Dare I say that is good news on the financials happier assuming you are happy with it

I need to start finish my final assignment this week. We’ve got a night away mid week. That’s our only plans . Maybe do some jobs around the house.

Yesterday was £5.10 on a cheesecake and milk. I also bought a kindle book with some amazon credit I had. And £110 for a Brownies trip.

My youngest DD made her Rainbow promise at Rainbows yesterday. She spoke clearly and loudly, I was so proud. This being our child who at parents evening we were told won’t speak in group settings in school.

Morning all.

I’m going to have a chat with nursery next week about it all. I fully appreciate their sickness policy. If a kids not well then they’re not well and it’s foolish to keep them in nursery. So we agree on that.

However. Dd hasnt has runny nappies with us. What I think has been happening is she poops then pees in it making it look messier than it is. And I think on Thursday when they said she had 2 in a short space of time, I think maybe they caught her mid poop. Because she was fine the rest of the day.

I can’t keep taking time off work. And can’t keep relying on dparents.

The cream thing is annoying. But I’m going to ask what cream they recommend and just get that.

Love it is, and probably more than I would get if I went to court too. Good to have it sorted & we can now proceed with divorce & I can buy the house I want to buy
It must depend on the group surrounding her love
H has agreed to continue paying for the activities they do on evening with him & I'll do the others as I've been doing too.

Just finished reading Room by Emma Donoghue, it was really good.

Em there was never any issues like this when C started there, has there been a change in staff?

Need to buy another part for boiler & ex will fit it tomorrow, that'll be ten full days without heating, the only positive I can take from that is I won't have to buy more fuel for it

Counting down the lasts in family home, dc are on midterm so thurs & fri were their last of those days on the school bus. This is their last full weekend here because next weekend they're at their dads on sat night.

Gave & received a valentines card, glad that bf is not one for presents for it. Last year we had only started dating he got me a card but I didn't get him one. Funnily when I had his ready to give to him, he had also brought his one in to give to me, great minds think alike, it wasn't our first time seeing each other.

Probably should get diesel too

EM it must be so annoying and stressful for you because you can't trust them to be able to go to work. I can't believe how nit picking they are. I am sure l read the govt site says to use ointments without allergens in them, as if you can use the ointments freely but of course it could be just the nursery policy which l understand but it does seem pedantic 🙄. I will look to see if l can find the piece🤗
Planning a NSD today
Hope everyone has a good day 🤗

'Managing nappies
Children in nappies must have a designated changing area, away from play facilities and from any area where food or drink is prepared or consumed. Hand washing facilities must be available in the room so that staff can wash and dry their hands after every nappy change, before handling another child or leaving the nappy changing room. Soiled nappies should be wrapped in a plastic bag before disposal in the general school waste.

Clean children’s skin with a disposable wipe. Flannels should not be used to clean bottoms. Label nappy creams and lotions with the child’s name and do not share with others.

Wipe changing mats with soapy water or a baby wipe after each use. Mats should be cleaned thoroughly with hot soapy water if visibly soiled and at the end of each day. Check weekly for tears and discard if the cover is damaged.

A designated sink for cleaning potties (not a hand wash basin) should be located in the area where potties are used. Wear household rubber gloves to flush contents down the toilet. The potty should be washed in hot soapy water, dried and stored upside down.

The rubber gloves should be washed whilst wearing them and then wash and dry hands after taking them off.'
So even the govt realise nappy creams are used 🙄
Smacks of can't be bothered to me and afraid of trusting the staff checking the cream for allergens. I know how serious allergies are l just think their policy is ridiculous 🙄

That’s so frustrating em :(

Happier awww what an emotional time for you all. So excited to hear of your new home but allow yourself plenty of emotional space as you say goodbye to this one ❤️

I absolutely loved Room btw, need to watch the film at some point. She wrote a historical novel I liked too, the sealed letter, I couldn’t believe it was so different in style.

Can I ask some advice for low budget hair care? I am generally a sling it up in a messy bun person. But the front is getting frizzier and frizzier and it’s making me so self conscious! I tried DSD’s straighteners (with a protecting mist thing) last night and that did help but I don’t really want to do it long term, even blow drying really takes it out of me (arm/hand issues). My hair is naturally wavy which I like but the front is driving me mad with little frizzy wispy bits ugh. Any thoughts please? Products/methods etc?