Managing Money Mindfully in March with the Friendly Frugaleers

[Happierwithouthim]

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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

I know Snuggly, it’s ridiculous!

I haven’t taken the kids out of the house since last Thursday, when we got told off by an overzealous police woman for walking on the flats near us (huge green open space). We didn’t go anywhere near the benches (I’m not daft!) but apparently we were not exercising ‘purposefully’ enough, ie walking quickly. Across a wide open empty space. There was hardly anyone there. The ground is quite uneven and we were walking as fast as DD (2) could manage . Anyway, I’m more worried about taking them round the streets near home as DS touches all the street signs. So we stay in.

Mrs I’m sorry you are finding the whole situation so stressful, with family and all. You can only do your best. They all have to take some responsibility.

I haven’t been redeployed yet and am wfh so things are relatively calm - as calm as trying to work with two kids needing educating entertaining can be. It’s very hard being confined to barracks but we are lucky to have a garden and jobs. That’s as good as it gets at the moment. Oh, and we have pasta - we’re millionaires!

The kids are getting a bit stir crazy though. I’m meant to be on AL next week so assuming it doesn’t get cancelled, I will be potty training very reluctant DD. I am sure she is ready but she’s adamant she doesn’t want to. It’s going to be a battle. It was very different with DS so I feel as though I am a newbie to this! Any tips for a bright, nearly 3-yr old who seems very scared of the potty /loo?

Also, I am concerned that non-essential deliveries will be stopped soon, it’s DD’s birthday in June and I’m Thinking of ordering her gifts and some balloons now. Is that a bit OTT or wise? Just need to think what to get her - she has all DS’s old stuff so I’m not flush with ideas!

I bought some planters last night for tomatoes. They are meant to even out the watering and improve the crop. I am hopeful we will get a useful harvest this year - DS eats a LOT of cherry tomatoes, it costs us a fortune! Going to try planting courgette seeds too.

Sea that’s ridiculous 😮 it would almost be funny if it wasn’t so serious. I would absolutely order dds birthday now it won’t do any harm and will stop you having to think about it. Good luck with the potty training.

It’s so stupid about the not purposeful thing! They are little kids of course they dawdle 🤦‍♀️ I’m thinking of swapping round who goes without Cagletini each day as I realised that DS isn’t actually getting to walk fast at all other than when she’s in the buggy for the first bit. I’ve only made it out the house once so far but once I’m strong enough to go further it’ll be a lot easier! At the moment I’d need a rest, which could only really be done if we could use the playground, which of course we can’t. So grateful for the lovely park by our house though, there’s a duck pond with Egyptian geese too - gorgeous! Cagletini keeps asking to go and see “Tapi and Tepi” (DH named them 🤷‍♀️)

I am definitely improving daily - managed to play a few piano pieces yesterday. :)

Sea I absolutely would order birthday stuff now. We’ve been able to pick up random bits like balloons in the supermarket (massive Asda here) when DH was doing a normal food shop, but in terms of presents I would absolutely order now in case of delays. I should really consider what to do for DD1 (June too) - her 13th!

No advice on potty training though as Cagletini is the same. Physically ready, completely aware - we ran out of nappies the other week and she held on for two hours! But terrified of letting go in the potty 🤦‍♀️

No idea about potty training either as we've been doing it with dd since Christmas and she still holds it in until we physically grapple her onto the potty! She refuses to drink more than a few sips though so I think she doesn't get the proper feeling in her bladder. We have set her a drink challenge this week with a wall chart and stickers every time she manages 3 whole cups.
Ds on the other hand just decided he wanted to use the potty one day and hasn't looked back. He was the one I thought would be tricky!

Went to the shop. Managed to get milk, fruit and veg and some chicken for the carnivores and a loaf of bread. They didn't have any flour and I forgot to look for yoghurt which I'm now annoyed about but we're not going to starve yet which is the important thing!

We wiped it all before putting it away and then I got straight in the shower. It seemed like a lot of effort for a small amount of groceries!

I did hotspot wolf.

Em aren't you classed as a key worker too. Yy to what wolf said.

Not walking purposefully enough with a toddler. Fuck off.. Jobs worth.

Order the stuff then there is no stress of it takes longer to come. ..

No idea about potty training sorry.

Thank heaven for pay day. Need to log on and juggle stuff too. Just in a q for the chemist

life technically my job is in financial services so according to the U.K. gov list and our gov list I am essential key staff. However. We’ve interpreted it to mean bank staff as in payments processing etc. And I don’t do that.

My job is high net worth private client trust and estate management. So not really essential. I’m just sitting here at my dining table working from home making the rich richer.....

Hhmm I know what you mean. Similar here. Depends how stroppy the air line get

£12.99 pharmacy prescription and paracetamol.

Apologies I was a bit harsh about the person doing their job. I'm sure they were just applying interpretation of the guidelines

Sea I seem to remember with my dd that she hated the potty but liked the padded mini toilet seat you put over the normal loo seat. Otherwise I think you bribe encourage them with stickers and chocolate. Def order presents now as everything is out of stock online.

I'm working, have finally been given some face masks to wear for symptomatic patients 🤨

Self isolating appears to be very frugal. No food is making it’s way to the bin and using it all up. Daily check of the fridge to ensure all the fresh stuff is used. I suspect next week will be less nice once the fresh stuff is gone.

No one has offered to get us anything even though fil made a big deal of helping each other, so we are going to see if we can make it with what we have got. Might run out of milk.

We’ll compile a list for what is needed for next time. We must replace our broken (2nd) freezer as soon as they become available again.

Currently drinking tea using fortnum and mason loose tea leaves. It’s out of date and came in a hamper ages ago. Can’t say I particularly like it, too posh for my tastes

I’m currently waiting for a password reset that I requested 3 hours ago. It’s to do my only real piece of work for the week. Very frustrating!

Love, are any independents doing fresh deliveries?

Hi guys 👋

How's everyone coping? I'm eating so much out of boredom, this is not going to end well!! On the plus side teenage dcs are being forced to spend time together/with us and it's really nice.

My mum has been informed that she has to stay home for 12 weeks due to her health, which is hard for dd1 & dd2 as they spend weekends with her fairly regularly, I ordered her a Morrison's food box last week and it was great, really helped her get through the week with the anxiety of worrying about food shopping, she is generally a regular online shopper but hasn't been able to get a slot, I've just ordered her another box to be delivered Saturday. If anyone is housebound take a look at the website www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/boxes

Hi 👋🏼 How’s everyone doing?

@Lovemaltesers I know what you mean about not letting anything go to waste, it’s amazed me how non frugal I actually was before all this.

@ememem84 well done on the running. Ignore the haters. My friend went out at 6.30am the other day and 2 people shouted at her for being out unnecessarily. The first one caught her off guard but the second guy she said I am running. Alone. And why are you out? Apparently he was walking to the shops for essential items. At 6.30 am #yeahright.

My kids are doing really well so far. I’m not putting any pressure on them, and they’re getting their online work done in their own time. DS1 is keeping fit, doing weights in the garage and taking himself off for a walk every day. DS2 is 10 and lazy, but his football coach has sent through a couple of skills challenges to do and he likes practising tricks on his scooter on the driveway, so that’s something.

DH is still working for now. He’s a plumber and the main changes is he now brings his own flask of tea so that the customer doesn’t have him using their cups, and the customers are staying well away from the room he’s working in. Which means he gets on with things a lot quicker as there’s no chatting! It’s a friend he’s working for, huge house renovation project and we are really grateful for it.

Yes Camden, eating disgusting amounts here too! I am actually regretting having stores of chocolate. Not to mention the baking... also I’m not sure I commented last time but I’m glad you’ve got a roof now, even if the inside chaos is hard to live with like FIL . Such a shame progress had to stop

The Morrison’s box looks good thanks. I might send one to my mum as I’d rather she didn’t go out (she’s 68 so doesn’t qualify for any of the vulnerable person schemes - but clearly nothing magical happens at 70 and she is pretty vulnerable!)

I’m going to order balloons etc today, so DD definitely has enough stuff for a ‘party’. I’ll also have to make her a ridiculous birthday cake, even if we’re the only ones who can eat it, as she’s been talking about her birthday cake for months . I’m racking my brains for present ideas too so I can get that sorted. Also crafty things to amuse them both. DS has been doing a sticker mosaic thing today and has really enjoyed it so I’m after stuff like that. He’s 7 but probably doing stuff around 4-5 yo, if anyone has any ideas, also for nearly 3 yo.

I’ve put Gertie the giraffe in our front window to amuse the joggers

Afternoon all.

I managed to delegate potty training for both of ours... DH is a toddler whisperer and did it all. I opted to work long hours until it was safe to come back. Good luck!

sea love the giraffe :)

Hairshirt brigades have been out here too. You can only go out if it is for the exact same reason as any one of them, so for a walk but only in prescribed places and for a set amount of time or to go shopping once a week but only enough to feed a single person and only if you are over 70. You are strictly forbidden to buy alcohol, ice cream or any other "party" food. Music is also forbidden along with laughing or talking to friends on the phone / PC. It is also a well known fact that riding a bicycle will cause the world to end unless you are known to the Joy Sucker.

Is anyone else having an excessive amount of clothes washing to do whilst everyone is at home?? My DP put the contents of his floor-wardrobe to be washed.

Local milkman isn’t taking new customers. Ocado haven’t given me the option to get a slot yet. Tesco have nothing online.

We will be fine though. I’ll just be sad if I can’t drink tea. We have one UHT carton which I’ll open for us and the DC can have the last of the usual stuff. I just hope we can restock it for the future especially if we are properly ill next time.

No more laundry that usual love although we are streaming through it. Benefit of being home I guess!!

We’re currently trying to get DD2 to go nappy free overnight. Mainly because we are home to put the sheets on the line!

I have realised how little real work I have to do when things are shut. My day job is basically reacting to day to day stuff. It’s really making me question what I’m doing!

I've been to town and done all my jobs for foreseeable.
€13.50 rubbish
€6 on postage bag to send my nieces birthday card, Easter egg & birthday present, new service from an post includes postage up to 1kg

€95.87 in Dunnes stores €26 on birthday card & present €10 on school supplies & remainder on big top up shop. Having three home cooked meals per day rather than lunchbox adds up

€3.70 on a dozen eggs

I've been to town and done all my jobs for foreseeable.
€13.50 rubbish
€6 on postage bag to send my nieces birthday card, Easter egg & birthday present, new service from an post includes postage up to 1kg

€95.87 in Dunnes stores €26 on birthday card & present €10 on school supplies & remainder on big top up shop. Having three home cooked meals per day rather than lunchbox adds up

€3.70 on a dozen eggs

Collected my post delivered to work from post office, my hoover & vitamins have arrived, was down to last 4 days of supplement & I really depend on it so glad I have it

Evening everyone 😀
'Green shoots' oh my there were never such welcome words.
Have been to Bob's , sorted Mum out, did his rubbish bins & washing . Told Mum we wouldn't be up untill Thursday morning.
Bob is a diamond , he's so caring. Mum is so lucky.
Not spent anything today , going to have a cook up tomorrow 😄
Banana Bread and butter pudding ,Coconut cake , beef casserole and dumplings 😋
Have you seen the Himalayan goats taking over the town of Llandudno , so funny 😂
Take call everyone 😀

We pulled out an old frugal recipe for home economics today - weetabix fruitcake. I used to make this every week when we were really really skint. I couldn't find the original old style MSE recipe I used to use though so I used the one on the weetabix website. I'm sure the recipe I used didn't have milk in as I'm sure I used to use tea

We've definitely been cooking frugally so that we make our food last.
We are also saving money because dh isn't commuting into work so has cancelled the direct debit for his railcard for the time being. That's almost £70 a month saved and we have barely used the car. Also I suppose no days out over the Easter hols will save money but I'd prefer to have the lovely days out really.

The goats are so funny.

It is weird how patchy it is. Here - all the shops are full. Except flour, paracetamol, liquid soap and loo roll. We have been eating v. well. Too well according to the scales. It possibly helps being out in the country - we have several egg, milk, vege and meat suppliers who are either from the gate or restaurant suppliers in normal times.

I am seeing more people out while on my early morning run - we are all going to be very fit by the end of this. I guess a lot of people will have been going to the gym.

MrsM I am sceptical about green shoots - we had the highest number of deaths, and they are still not testing large numbers of people. Which means they have no idea really. If they had had a reduction in the numbers of new positive cases based on large numbers of testing over a few days I would have more faith. The cynic in me thinks it is to make people stay in - it is an easier ask if people think there is an end to it.

Still no news on how they are going to assess GCSE and & A levels. The poor kids must be in knots, yet they seem really stoical. We could learn a bit from them.

Have a look at this
twitter.com/davidschneider/status/1244939562910089217?s=20

Unescorted didn't think about that tell you the truth ,very interesting point. l just had a thought that some of the beds they are making in Wales may be used for the overspill of English patients & possibly vice versa. I don't know though but when l was working they used to ship patients off to all over the country because there were never any ITU beds. The need for these beds has been severely neglected for many years imho.