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

Hi Camden! Nice to hear from you but sorry to hear about your job 😕. It’s good you can manage on one salary for a bit at least, though I know you were saving to get the house done.

The kids are driving me a bit crazy today, fighting over the same toys and winding each other up. At least it’s been sunny so we’ve mostly been in the garden. However, DD tripped over and whacked her forehead against a wooden sleeper at the edge of the patio. She’s going to have a mighty bruise tomorrow but at least she missed her eye

I knitted this cuddly toy yesterday for DD and she’s really pleased with it! I’m hoping my chunky yarn gets delivered in the next couple of days so I can make the bigger one for the window too.

Salmon and tomato curry for dinner, and we’re eating early with the kids so they can turn their noses up at it 🙄.

Almost an nsd but I had to order another magnifying glass off Amazon to stop WW3. £2.49 well spent and counting the hours till delivery

Another lockdown arty crafty idea

Got my first payslip with covid payment and I'm up €40 because covid payment isn't taxable, work will review again after two weeks.

Fuel bill went out yesterday but because I'm not going anywhere I still have half a tank so I'll probably miss a two week cycle of fuel card bill.

Going to buy dc some new books or games with this months children's allowance as realistically they'll be at home for quite a while yet.

Walked to post office to post tv license renewal, emailed them & they posted form & sae to me. For March/April I was paying license on old house & didn't buy one for rental so I'm above board again now.

Rainbow toy & drawing are lovely guys

Afternoon
NSD for me again today
My BFF sent me some flowers completely out of the blue bless her heart
Have been to Mum & Bob's have a day off tomorrow, the excitment is killing what shall l do ? Probably more cooking & eating
had a bit of a moment earlier , snarled at DD2 and Dh but order resumed now
Hope everyone is ok, no more shopping slots to be had l am trolling the grocery sites l do not want to go shopping l am too scared

I have unblocked the sink!!! I covered the overflow and plunged it and it seems to be ok now. As someone who considers themself quite incompetent at household tasks I am quite proud of myself.
We also made a rocket and launched it using fizzy vitamins like Maddie and Greg did today. That was a lot of fun!

Well done snuggly

Loving all the crafting, fabulous everyone

Camden so sorry to hear about your job and I agree with Life, just come and chat

Snuggly well done on getting the sink sorted

Long arse day here.

Ocado shopping arrived so that was £150, some slightly irritating substitutes but not sending anything back as I can still make use and I can't bide anything going to waste. I could do with making a little more room in the freezer so I can move some things from the fridge in there.

Does anyone have any good recipes for chicory? I have some in the veg box and I'm not a huge fan

Ah well done snuggly.

We made Mary Berry's coffee and walnut cake today. It didn't turn out so well. I picked up some cake tins in the supermarket but they were wider than the ones recommended. Also, I couldn't get coffee essence anywhere so I had to make do with instant coffee. We ended up with a flat, crispy cake . I'll try it again but only when I can get the right size tins.

I hit the supermarket today but I got some Easter eggs for the family from Dad, so he'll pay me back. I also got some pizza base tins so I can try Snuggly's pizza.

Well done snuggly :)

I’m feeling rather chuffed today as I did a decent job of cutting DS’ hair. I’d wimped out the last couple of times. He has it “Beiber style” though so it’s fairly forgiving.

Just had breakfast for dinner including fried bread. And DH made halloumi fries coated with flour etc. Yummmm.

Family friend sent us some Easter money 💕 keeping most for family spends, but will give the older two a tenner each to spend too. Wondering what to get for Cagletini around that price that would have the most versatility 🤔 given that otherwise we aren’t buying Stuff. I’m trying to make some toys (like when I find the hole punch I’ll make her some lacing cards, and I’m making her some matching games etc) so something different from those. Thoughts please? :) She is 2y5m

Seacow that rainbow is just adorable!

I ordered a hairdressing scissors today also - €23.27 including postage. There were cheaper ones but they had a much longer delivery date and I'd probably resemble Grizzly Adams by the time they'd get here.

sea I love that rainbow. Look forward to seeing the one for your window
snuggly well done on the DIY sink unblocking
Work today, first day back in the office (actually holed myself up in an unused clinic room so it wasn't so bad). Felt glad to be back but a bit nervous as I am "vulnerable" but not very high risk. Just being careful and hoping for the best.
No baking here today, but made a nice tea from leftovers after doing a gym class and having a walk with dh. Life is different but in some ways I like it.
Ds has rigged up a cricket ball in a sock which is hanging from the washing line & he is hitting it repeatedly for batting practice. He also has dug out a catching practice net from the garage & the table football which was also consigned to the garage. Dd has been doing online fitness classes and continuing with the quilt she is making simultaneously with my mum. Both of them helped me with the jigsaw I was doing, all things that we wouldn't usually have the time or inclination for.

Good to see you Camden
Impressed with hairdressing ventures, we are just going hairy!
Mrs fresh flowers are lovely to have
How are you feeling Life?

wolf it makes really good soup, raosted or the pea recipe that normally uses lettuce. I love endive, and no one in the family eats it. It goes really well with smoked fish or duck b/c it cuts through the oiliness.

Camden that is rubbish re the job.

Snuggly good effort with the sink unblocking.

Sea cute knitted goods. I have to knit a yak..... I have the pattern just been too busy with work.

Tayto I don't use coffee essence, just instant made as strong as possible. Table spoon of Coffee in 3 - 4 tablespoons of water. The equal weight method works really well for C&W and you can scale to make up for having bigger tins. weigh 2 - 4 eggs in their shell and then use equal qants of flour, sugar & butter and 1/2 tsp of baking powder per egg. Cream the butter & sugar, add eggs one at a time, sift in flour mix it and flavours in (if using cocoa reduce the flour amount by the amount of cocoa 50-75g)- adding enough liquid to get dropping consistency. Split between 2 x tins. cook at 160C for 20 -35 min depending on size of cake tin. If you are wanting a really flat top - make a sleeve out of foil wrapped around wet kitchen paper to keep the sides of the tin cooler until the middle comes up to temperature. I use 2 x 9 inch tins & 3 eggs for 2 tier, same tins and 4 eggs for 4 tier. I watch way tooooo much you tube.

CoronoLOCKdown Silver lining..... I now have a garden wall. it has only taken 5 years. I am happy. Now to source some plants / seeds.

At times like this I am glad we have always done "Hair by Daddy" - DD, DS and DH are all trimmed & happy. He even does dye jobs. Mine can wait a year between trims / hacks.

Tayto did you see Jake Carter cut Nathan Carter's hair on Claire Byrne live last night?

I bought colour wow dream filter before coronavirus came & my hair colour is done a full month so I used it Sunday, all brassiness gone

In other hair situations ahem I think I'll be putting immac on my shopping list. I've had my underarms lasered but I've some sparse very long hairs now, would usually have them waxed when getting bikini line done

€15.59 on Easter egg for bf- he likes frys and I never saw one of their eggs before, and dc got sweets, they've a build up of pocket money owing to them plus a large share bar of Cadbury's whole nut for me and au pair

Dd got a second reply to her letters to her school pals, she's the only one of us upset by lockdown restrictions, rest of us are loving the freedom of not clock watching & getting out in the fresh air.

Made oven baked risotto today with end of chorizo, end of two peppers, end of a chilli, end of arborio rice, tinned tomatoes, and some onion, 3 chicken tenders & stock. It made enough for two servings & was delicious

Hi does anyone own this brand of trainers? Wondering about comfort?

Anyone know if Rocket Dog trainers are comfy? They've boots too which I could use for next winter season at work.

Got €24 Dunnes vouchers today so can offset them against cost

Morning all.

Up early today watching dinosaur train with ds. 🙄

Set to be a lovely sunny day today.

I’m going to dye my hair I think (if I can get into boots and get dye). Neon pink semi permanent.

I’m glad I have long hair. Am using this time to experiment with different hair styles and am just going to let it grow. Hair is currently boob length.

I think my friend at work had rocket dog. I will ask her.

Still cannot shake the stuffed head and headache but on the mend otherwise. Still tired on a night and can't face the gym so still not fully better. Still no sense of taste or smell

I'm also desperate for a hair cut as is DS. I have a mushroom head

My DS is starting to look a bit ‘Gallagher brother c 1995’. He has incredibly thick hair so I’m a little apprehensive about cutting it but it will need to be done. Probably this week. I presume YouTube can provide instructions. Luckily I have hairdressing scissors from cutting his toddler hair (it wasn’t the thick pelt it is now though)

I last had my hair cut in November. I have medium length curly hair but it has lost shape completely and looks awful. I had an appointment for last weekend but will just have to tie it up!

I'm pleased that I have long hair too! Dh does his own with the clippers anyway. Dd1 has long hair, dd2 has long hair (for a 3 yo!) and a fringe which I think we could just clip out of the way. Ds is worrying me. He has a lot of hair. It takes the barber a while to scissor cut it all as he is scared of the clippers and he has to sit on my lap. Not sure what we're going to do with him but he's already looking a bit wild!

Love the knitted rainbow btw.

Lane I also thought of making lacing cards but also need to find the hole punch!

DD will be happy. The parcel from Ex arrived this morning. As did her modelling clay. I think I'm about to lose my chopping board (to be fair, I've more than one). She's offered to pay for a replacement.

It's a gorgeous sunny day. I might suggest to DD that we play tennis today for a bit. Just on the road immediately outside the house. We live in a quiet cul de sac and it's even quieter atm.

Happier I didn't see that but I did see Alan Hughes cutting his own hair live on Ireland AM www.fm104.ie/news/buzz/watch-ireland-ams-alan-suffers-live-tv-blunder-attempting-hair-cut/

Good Morning guys!

Thanks for all of the supportive messages yesterday, I really appreciate them.

Good news is that I'll be employed until The end of the year, and then see what happens, I think this is in case there's another lockdown in the winter and we go through this again, it's not the best outcome but far from the worst as it gives me time to look for something else.

I'm finding being at home a bit stressful- like most people I guess, I'm grateful for the posts here which give a little break from it.

I need to go shopping at some point, not sure I can face it, luckily DH was in John Lewis the day it closed and he managed to pick up Easter Eggs, they were all reduced right down in price too, Hotel Chocolate and Holdsworth, Kids will be happy! What does everyone else usually do over Easter?? Walk of witness won't be happening on Friday, and no egg hunts etc, we used to do Easter crafts when the kids were small. I'm hoping to cook a nice roast dinner for everyone!

Kids are all still in bed, Dh is working and FIL is doing some work in the garden breaking up branches but he's out of my way which is good! Right now it's just me and the dog spending the morning together!