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

Ooh, NSD!

Great news about the rice.
Something isn't quite right with DS here wolf. He had a face like my arse yesterday. He's either being the lurgy or missing his pals. He's a social being.

£5 on Uno yesterday as can't find ours, £40 milk bill.

Morning. Miserable day here today - the kind of day you’d normally want to stay indoors 😬

Lane I did a bit of baking yesterday and was shocked that I had terrible chest tightness and pain after it. I think the recovery from this virus for some people is a good few weeks. Take it easy and rest when you need to.

My ds is not doing much schoolwork at all. When I feel more like myself I’ll need to start nagging him to do more. In fairness his school haven’t really set things up that well.

Mrs I have a Tesco delivery slot for today 🎉 I spent an hour on the phone with my dm last night editing my basket for stuff for her and my aunt, which will probably all be substitutes when it comes. Next week I will need to venture out into the real world for shopping it’s going to be a shock to the system.

Sea I hate, hate, hate looking at myself on FaceTime I look hideous. DH’s family want to set up a zoom night and I’m dreading it 🙈

We did a zoom pub quiz on Tuesday with family and friends, it was good fun (and we came 2nd 😁)

I still can't get my dd to eat rice 😕 she'll occasionally eat a tiny mouthful but that's it, so annoying as I really like rice and curry dishes.

My dd is being surprisingly upbeat about the lock down although maybe not that surprising as she finds school so difficult. The only thing I've noticed is that for the first time ever she's struggling to get to sleep, I'm guessing she's just not physically tired enough. Also she is sleeping in late so that puts everything out.

I'm working today, we now have face masks to wear for all patient contacts. I'm not completely convinced they will do any good tbh but hey ho.

born and lane dh is the same. It's over 2 weeks since he started with symptoms and although he is back to work now he is still so tired. He probably wouldn't be working if it wasn't end of financial year so crucial time. Apparently everything needs to be sorted by end of play tomorrow.
I reckon dd and I may have had the virus but a very mild form. Last week I had a strange cough for a few days and felt a little bit under the weather.

Ds has got tonsillitis again. GP was fab and gave 10 days of antibiotics with a telephone consult. We are going to ask for an ENT referral when this is all over. He doesn't meet the NHS criteria for having tonsils out, but I'm going to argue that it affects him so much more because of the chronic fatigue. Worth a try. On a positive note, he had a phone call from his progress tutor at college yesterday. He was really positive and reassuring about his potential grades which is good. This will hopefully end up having been a blessing for him as I'm honestly not sure how we'd have got him through the exams. How is dd feeling unescorted? Friends of ours had a ds doing A levels and a dd doing GCSEs this year, it's so hard.
sea great news about the rice. One of our top store cupboard meals is to fry onion, red pepper and chorizo, add cooked rice, a tin of tomato soup, peas and sweetcorn. Enjoy your day today.

We are out of isolation today which will be good. I'm going to make sure I get a walk in and get some shopping. Last night after work I did an online circuits session, then yoga, tea and then the virtual pub quiz, no spare time!

wolf I think it's really hard for teens at the moment. Dd is struggling. We're trying to avoid the news as much as possible as she gets really quite anxious. All the online work is quite an ask and difficult to motivate themselves for I think and they are too old to have an enforced timetable at home.

Should give dd's culinary experiments a mention. Home made pasta and cinder toffee have gone down well so far. Not sure what will be next.....

Ooh cinder toffee - I’ve never actually made that but always wanted to - maybe lockdown is my opportunity!

Born I hate looking at myself too so I just don’t. The laptop was on a table and the thumbnail of us was small, I just pretended it wasn’t there. My friends know what I look like double chins anyway

Firmie what was the quiz, if I may ask? We are looking for one for Saturday night. Ideally an online thingy so we can all participate, otherwise DH will be quiz master. But that means if i can’t be on a team with him my friends will realise I actually don’t know very much at all

Now, I am seriously considering giving couch to 5k a go. I need some exercise. I don’t normally do any but I do easily over 10k steps a day in my normal Life. Currently about 3k. It’s not enough and with lockdown baking the pounds are piling on already!

I need trainers though. Mine are so old they don’t actually fit, as I’ve gone up a shoe size since having DD. I don’t want to spend loads but having had plantar fasciitis I don’t want to get rubbish and hurt my feet. Any suggestions? It’s annoying not being able to go to a shop to try things on but to be fair, as a fat Middle Aged woman I’d feel very self-conscious buying trainers in person anyway!

Girlie that should say, re quiz. I was distracted by DD...

Argh just lost a post.

North hope they listen to you re tonsillectomy. The fatigue caused by illnesses like that is insane!

We have now had ABs prescribed by phone too - DS’ eczema got infected somehow, he had little yellow spots come up under the skin on his hands (where the eczema is). He’s had this once before, when he was three and the eczema was all over his body, and got unwell pretty quickly as it spread so much they couldn’t even get a cannula in at a&e. So luckily it’s just his hands now! Apparently it could be impetigo and that would make sense as it can lie dormant until it’s triggered again when really run down - and of course he is, since the Mystery Virus really knocked him for six.

Tesco order arrived and amazingly most of it was there, not many subs either (unsalted butter though. Ugh. 🤬😂).

DH has gone off to Boots to collect meds and hopefully find some food/essentials in Poundland. I’m just supervising DS doing a bit of maths. Cagletini threw a strop “I want MY maths in a book!” so I found an old workbook we aren’t using for her and she’s sitting next to him “working” :o I could print some stuff for her but I don’t really want to use our page limit (we have instant ink).

Great news about the rice Sea!

Sorry to hear about poorly people and poorly children. Pleased you are still able to get ABs though.

Ds is being particularly whiney today. He has a snaggy toenail and wants something done about it but won't let us near it to trim it off. He has been whining and squealing on and off for an hour now. It could be a long day. I'm tempted to try and snip it off while he naps!

Currently on day 4 of trying to get my work IT issue fixed 😂

Great news on the rice sea

Didn’t sleep well last night. Got a bit of the fear of actually getting cv.

Hope all the poorly people are on the mend or taking it easy

Home schooling is so hard! Almost the Easter holidays when we will stop thankfully and I’ve not been put on the rota to go into work so feeling very thankful

We've had no wifi since yesterday afternoon. I can still access the internet by phone but I can't connect to anything on my laptop. Really bad timing!

We finished our first Harry Potter Lego set today (Hagrid's Hut). We'll start on the Hogwarts Express set next week. We've kind of got into a daily routine:-

Mornings and afternoons - grocery shopping, housework and laundry (me)/school work (DD).

An hour of Lego at lunchtime. We do one bag every day.

TV each evening. A DVD, TV/Netflix series, Disney movie etc. A lot of thought goes into our TV viewing.

DD does some exercising to 'Just Dance' and I go for walks (DD isn't very keen on walking). We can only exercise within 2 km of home, so that rules out my usual scenic spots. Although I understand the reason for that.

Apparently Ex has ordered some stuff for DD also, to keep her entertained. I'm guessing it's arts and crafts stuff of some description.

I'm not sure if the teachers will be setting much work over the Easter holidays which start on Monday. I have some jobs lined up for DD to keep her occupied. And an emergency jigsaw I got for Christmas and never opened.

Stay safe and healthy everyone. For those of you who are or have been unwell, take it easy . Sounds like it takes a while to leave your system.

Hi guys!

Completely uneventful few days here, as expected, we are all well though so things are good

FIL has locked himself away, he's only been popping out once or twice a day because he's worried about Coronavirus, Dh takes meals into him, we are all following guidelines and staying home other than a daily dog walk (5 of us here not including fil - so pooch is getting a lot of exercise).

Trying to use up all the bits and bobs in the cupboards and freezer, having All day Breakfast today at Dd1 request. Trying to move away from eating potatoes at every meal, so meal planning using what we currently have is interesting!

Hope everyone is coping well with homeschooling and or WFH and anyone under the weather is recovering quickly.

Tayto, dd just got Hagrid's Hut for her birthday and also got The Great Hall (yet to be built). Thinking of getting her to do some stop animation when they're done. Also just noticed that JK Rowling has just launched 'Harry Potter at Home' with some quizzes etc.

Love I'm rota'd in for the week after the holidays but that's it for the foreseeable. The feedback has been that the kids who are attending are having a great time and it's a bit of normality for the adults so il look forward to it when it comes but will make sure to take all precautions, change of clothes, shower when I get home etc.

Snuggly, have you solved the nail issue? My dts shout 'I've got a claw!!!' anytime they have a snaggly nail.

Made Jack Monroe soda bread earlier on. It was palatable smothered with butter and jam but definitely had a distinct taste of bicarb!

No Madden the nail is still there and he hasn't napped but he has stopped complaining for now at least!
We've been out for a walk. It's much warmer today thank goodness. Nice weather forecast for the weekend. Shame we can't go anywhere!

Dsis just dropped off a bag of chocolate. And a mini bottle of prosecco. I’m struggling today.

With concentrating at work. With not seeing anyone else. With dh insisting we’re going to be eating healthily and refusing to have any sugar in the house. (Sucker I’m not sharing!)

Debt free today

I HAVE WIFI!

I had to ring Ex and he talked me through it. I hate asking him for help but I had to swallow my pride. This is not the time to be without Wifi. Apparently he's ordered a Harry Potter jigsaw for DD and some other jigsaw that combines a jigsaw and puzzle. As you make the jigsaw, you find clues and then solve a puzzle.

madden DD got the Great Hall for Christmas 2018. I'll check out that 'Harry Potter at Home' page.

em this is NOT the time for healthy eating. Chocolate is keeping me sane right now.

So, one of my 'To Do' jobs is to sort out DCats' registration. They're chipped but I need to change their names and contact details etc. You can do this online. So I went onto the website and entered in the chip barcode and all my details etc. Couldn't register as the chip barcode is already registered. That's fair enough. After a lot of searching on the website, I discovered you can edit a registration. Only thing is, you have to enter the e-mail address and password that the chip was registered under. Except I don't know those details because the cat rescue registered the chip.

Woo hoo happier.

My DC never got the Lego thing but thanks for the Harry potter.

Good no em. Chocolate and alcohol is what is required here and now.

Sometimes tayto it's gotta be done. At least he helped you.

Good it's Easter holiday from next week. Totally forgot.
Still feeling bleurgh here. But yy to finding time to cook all the aspirational I have the ingredients for in my cupboard forever but have no time usually meals

Em I'm also struggling. I need to stop reading the news.
NSD as still nowhere to go. X

Happier well done 🎉 Must be a great feeling

em this situation can be totally overwhelming. You defo need sugar! What a star your sister is bringing you chocolate 🌟 Are you working from home now? It must be hard with little ones.

Life I hope you feel better soon.

born yep. Working from home for the second week now. It’s exhausting. Dh is still relying on me for most things. He’s not working at present. But is on full pay. He’s waiting to get set up to work from home.

Spoke to the boss today about a client matter and he asked how things were going. I told him how frustrating I was finding everything. He said they have a letter for me which states that I’m essential employee so can go into the office if I need too. So grateful for that. I won’t use it but it’s nice to know.

happier wowweee!!!!

Absolutely alcohol and sugar are needed. I’m trying to eat healthily as know it’s better for me physically and mentally. But. Sometimes. Chocolate buttons. Galaxy and digestives!

I should add I’m grateful to be able to wfh. And so grateful that the littlies don’t understand what’s going on. Ds thinks we’re on holidays. But because he doesn’t understand that mummy needs to work he wants to play all the time. And I feel guilty for not playing all the time.

Life I made risotto for my lunch today can't remember when I last took the time to do that.

Tayto I had to with ex to fix boiler in January because it would've cost me a lot of money otherwise

Lane melt it & add salt

Christmas ASICS Kayano I think is the one for plantar fasciitis, the dearest ones

We were advised on national tv to treat everyone as if they have it or act like you have it yourself & that'll ensure appropriate distancing

Snuggly wow about airport
Life sorry to hear you're unwell