Managing Money Mindfully in March with the Friendly Frugaleers

[Happierwithouthim]

Last Thread

All welcome on this thread, we're a friendly bunch who like to get bang for our buck, and manage our money as well as we can.

Pet pics very welcome too

Are people really saying that about teachers? Thankfully I’ve not heard any of that nonsense.

North that’s so hard. The situation is a nightmare all round. Do you have what you need to keep bathrooms etc cleaned between uses?

Day off today. Popping to Homebase for some gardening supplies

Life has enabled a whizzy feature for sending a link to the Skype chat to people. If you want one of us to pm you the link please give us a shout

Morning everyone 😀
A great big hug for North , Curvy, Born & Sea
& anyone else feel free to join the hugathon 🤗
Excellent Carex advert love it Tic tac toe very catchy 😀
Am off to Mum's this morning, we will probably go to shop after but it will be for bird seed and pet food ready for my Mum and Bob .
So not expecting to spend anything.
Better shift take care everyone 🤗

Hi all I'm still in shock at it all. Although I expected the schools to close it was still shocking when it was announced.

I'm assuming dd will still be able to go to school at least some of the time as I'll be classed as a key worker? Will have to wait and see.

Went into town briefly Ystd, was a really weird atmosphere and very quiet. I stocked up on toiletries from Poundland and Superdrug. Spent around £30.

While we're well we're still going to see my mum, the thought of not seeing her for months on end is just unbearable and would be massively detrimental to all of our mental health. If it looks like we're going into full on lock down we might actually move into hers for the duration.

I'm working today and leaving dd with a long to do list....

Going to brave Aldi in a bit then edit my Sainsbury's order. Last for a while as still no slots. Wish me luck

Our hr department are being shortsighted and decidedly knobby at the moment and are dramatically contradicting themselves. I've spent my day putting out unnecessary fires

I'm going to have a gin tonight. I have ration it as I have very little tonic but it is much needed

Sea unfortunately it is what people on our local Facebook page are saying.

Wolf ours are bending over themselves to be really supportive. Flex as much as we like, help out the local community on work time, look after family & friends on work time, if things are getting too much just take a break. Use work laptops to keep in touch with people, book in lunch times, tea breaks..... I couldn't ask for a better employer on all of this.

life hope you made it back alive....

'While we're well we're still going to see my mum, the thought of not seeing her for months on end is just unbearable and would be massively detrimental to all of our mental health. If it looks like we're going into full on lock down we might actually move into hers for the duration.'
Girliefriend we have thought of doing this as well , l think it is a great idea. I thought if my Mum were to die l would want to be with her . At the age of 88 with many health problems she would not be a priority in hospital and l think l would rather look after her myself at home as long as l could keep her comfortable . If she went into hospital l would be kept from her and l couldn't bear it.

Head up. Just been to Aldi and the checkout girl said they will be supplying just essential stuff to try and keep up. The likes of the aisle of wonder, beer, wine, dog food etc will not be restocked for a while as they try and focus on essential food lines

Blimey - my employer, without prompting is paying each of us the maximum amount they can for additional home running costs b/c we are working from home. We all get an extra £17 pm, which is better than a hit with a stick.

Unescorted ours are the same. Nothing said about helping people but I have been anyway. There appears to be some local interpretation going on though.

Who do you work for unescorted. I wants a job

I feel the same Mrs
Wolf our management have been very slow to make decisions, but seem to be getting there now, at last. I've done much faffing today on my first day at home and not been very productive but everyone has been really understanding and loads of positive things have happened today:
-I've been inundated with offers of help for us and for mum & dad who I can't get to now.
-A friend is going to get shopping for mum & dad. I didn't have any surface cleaning spray, so by 0930 there had been one left on the doorstep with a bag of chocolate and by 11 there was a bottle of bleach too!
-The local deli delivered lunch for us & a hotpot for tomorrows tea. I have vowed to use as many small businesses as possible over the next days and weeks. We could save the money that we are not spending on sport and music and socialising, but there might not be any businesses left to spend our savings in when it's all over so best to support them now if we can.
-The dc's rooms are spotless & I haven't had to do anything. It's like some sort of miracle!
-ds was really upset at missing his last day at college, but his friends came afterwards and brought beer, chocolate & haribo! they put them on the front wall, chatted briefly at a distance and left, really good mates.
There is so much good out there.
(Dh is no better. Temp still 39.2, I'm sure its cv, probably picked up in a prison last week

On the face of it our lot were doing really well and everyone was feeling as positive as you can. They today they've said something really stupid which has thrown everyone into a panic. They showed a total lack of understanding

That's great people spirit North. If I can post anything I will.

I hope DH feels better soon north, such a worry for you all

Still awaiting the guidance for schools. It must be so complicated with who to include/exclude etc.

Ah North so glad people are rallying around but if there's anything I can usefully post to you do shout

north Likewise - also I think if my frugal geography is correct that you aren't that far from me, so if there is anything you need fetching just shout. A temperature of 39 must be so uncomfortable.

Thanks Mrs
Life how was aldi?
Unescorted, that is so good of your employer.
North what a wonderful community you live in. Hope your dh feels well soon.

So my nursery is going to stay open to our parents that are key workers plus our vulnerable families. We are in one of the most deprived areas and offer lots of help to parents who have no access to public recourse.

We will all go in tomorrow and Monday as normal, and will set up a shift pattern.
We will also become a food distribution centre, so that we can offer our vulnerable families a hot meal to take home with them.
I'm really going to miss my key children though.

Aldi was empty of a lot of fresh and tinned food, no loo roll, pasta and so forth. Still managed to spend £55 but £9 of that was a bed sheet and the only beef was big so £12.

£90 of Sainsbury's ordered, see what comes

Lots of people complaining about everything like. Schools open, schools shut, who are key workers, panic buying....

Martin Lewis doing a great session on cv finance on channel 3 now

life I hear you. I get that some people have special circumstances, but not everyone - some of us have thankfully really mundane lives. Having to eat wholewheat pasta and use 2 ply is not a problem in the circumstances.

I have been putting my tupenthworth into the poor Johhny is going to get shit grades because he didn't know he had to like actually study rather than piss about in class.... I will have to take my blood pressure pills soon. Does this put me into the vulnerable category to pick up my bog roll?

Ha ha unescorted. I don't think steam coming from the ears is a vulnerability.

DH is a key worker, I'm not

Keyworkers [[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision]]

Can't get the twatt short link to work, soz