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Managing Money Mindfully in March with the Friendly Frugaleers

999 replies

Happierwithouthim · 09/03/2020 16:46

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 Grin

OP posts:
Thread gallery
48
Mrsmadevans · 13/03/2020 07:46

Morning everyone 😀
Going to Mum's soon, have stopped her visitors, just her and Bob going to meet . He lives in a tiny village in the country , he has no visitors ever so it would be safer for her to go to him really. She's not moving in with him but going to him every day.
Spends yesterday was petrol 56 . Dd2 has viral tonsillitis, have dosed her up and she's gone to work. Her throat & tonsils are yellow , if she's no better she will go to the pharmacist she said. She doesn't want to go to the out of hours in case she catches it 🙄 😁 , damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Happier Lane l hope you are feeling less emotionally mauled , l get you , take care to look after yourselves 🤗💐

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 13/03/2020 09:42

Hi lane sorry to hear things haven't been great.

I'm still feeling rotten day 6 now 😪 temp is down but cough worse and have had a terrible headache all night. Feeling very sorry for myself. Wish they would test people so at least I'd know if this was it or not!

As I've only been able to do the bare minimum the house is starting to look pretty gross now. This is when being single is really shit, there's no one to help keep on top of stuff.

Sorry that was a pity post!!

On the plus side I have lost half a stone so that's good 😁

SnugglySnerd · 13/03/2020 10:12

I wish I could give you some inside info about school closures but we know as much as anyone else. We have been asked to prepare work to set online and we've been making sure students have the relevant log in details but that's about it.
I don't know how I feel about school closures. I'd be the first one celebrating a snow day or day off because the heating packed up or something but this doesn't feel like that.
Probably an nsd today, yesterday too.

Happierwithouthim · 13/03/2020 11:50

Ups and downs here - solicitor sent on deed of separation yesterday, turns out we can't divorce as he didn't move out until Sept, I'll get my mortgage with this so I'm content with that for now. Included in it is a paragraph "Neither the husband nor the wife shall visit or be or stay in any place in which the other for the time being resides, save at the express invitation of the other"

Our schools are closed. I've au pair, and now dd is running a temp. She's been crying wolf for about a week.

An event I was going to has been cancelled, myself and friend will continue with hotel booking but be careful to keep our distance from others. I think this will be my last social outing for a while. Bf and I will not meet until the threat has passed.

€4.20 on milk/yogurt
€8.25 on treats
Dd spent the €3 that art class refunded her when she was the only one to show up on treats

OP posts:
Wolfcub · 13/03/2020 14:23

I'm wondering whether I should buy ds a laptop if they are likely to have to do school work to school timetable at home for a while

AnUnlikelyWorldofInvisibleShad · 13/03/2020 14:36

I'm seriously considering keeping my kids at home next week. We have vulnerable close relatives and the whole situation is starting to feel a bit out of hand. Surely its only a matter of time until schools close anyway?
Hope those of you that are poorly feel better soon.

Happierwithouthim · 13/03/2020 15:42

€4.30 on 12 local eggs, lunch was paid by a giftcard Grin
I seem to spending a lot in small shops since moving to new house, so I've put a topup shop category into my ynab to track it. Fridge/Freezer is much smaller where we're renting and this is partly to blame.

OP posts:
Happierwithouthim · 13/03/2020 15:43

wolf probably not a bad idea, would it have been something that you'd have been doing in the near future anyhow?

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Lovemaltesers · 13/03/2020 18:35

No special info here either snuggly but we’re getting more prepared to close. All trips anywhere cancelled and parents evening too. A teacher whooped with joy when we told her! We reckon one more week to go.

ememem84 · 13/03/2020 20:18

Work have split the office into half and half home working half in office for the next 2 weeks. I’m in office #gutted but all those with kids of primary school age are in office. Thinking being that if schools close the others can come in to cover.

Lovely day here. £7 in costa on hot chocolate apple juice brownie and gingerbread man for ds and I. We also went to the library. He loves the library. We got 6 books. All his choices. Going to enjoy reading these he was also ace at swimming.

I’m feeling more positive today.

ememem84 · 13/03/2020 20:19

Official govt info here is:

Holidays can continue
No lockdown
Carry on as normal
Protect the economy

Most businesses are thinking about locking down. We have one hospital for 140k people. I’m suprised that the govt haven’t started locking down.

lifelongfrugaleer · 13/03/2020 21:22

Carry on as normal here and at work. WFH if you want. Obv following advice
Looks like Spain is off at Easter.
£200 food shop. Honestly I did buy a bit more but in sick of trailing round shops to buy stuff. My Sainsbury's driver says is worse than Christmas. Knowing my DC it will last about a week.
11 cleaning stuff for scouts but will get that back

3.50 greggs.

Unescorted · 13/03/2020 21:58

Crawls back onto the thread..... I have started volunteering at a food bank in the stores which is taking up a lot of time while we get it sorted out. I think we are nearly there.

happier he is a penis. On the flip side I can remember when you first started posting & were blaming yourself for his shit behaviours. You should be really proud of yourself. You have come such a long way.

wolf & Em and other snufflers hope you all start to feel better soon.

Waves at new people ….

My word Aldi & Morrisons were absolute bedlam today. The Corona Locusts had been & gone. I am quite surprised what people feel is absolutely essential in a Zombie Apocalypse. Apparently to survive you need tea, pasta cornflakes, chickpeas, strong bread flour, passata, pesto mince beef, cheese caster sugar, pate, wine and bog roll. You don't need coffee, rice (too Chinese?), rice crispies (almost Chinese), fresh fruit or vegetables, tinned tomatoes, washing powder, corona beer, biscuits, crisps, actual bread or yeast, any other meat than mince...…

I am back on monthly shops so had to run the gauntlet of ….look at her panic buying comments.

Other than that it looks as if our offices will close next week - we are already stopped from travelling to other offices and holding external meetings in person. It has been recommended that we create virtual banks of desks by having video conferences open between small groups of colleagues. That way it feels as if we are in the office. I am loving my 30 second commute to the kitchen table.....

Yogawoogie · 13/03/2020 22:17

Please may I join? I’ve been on other threads but possibly with other names.

My main downfall is usually going into my overdraft and not saving.

Last month I ended up in my overdraft by £800 and nothing added to savings.

This month I currently have £132 in the bank, £28 worth of bills to go out plus food and fuel.

I have put £30 to savings. Not a lot but it’s something.

I have a £20 Tesco voucher and I’m hoping that I can get by on the diesel that I have (3/4 of a tank) until the end of the month.

I am really hoping to stay out of my overdraft. I’m going to try to do some overtime to create a buffer. Four overtime shifts should be around £560 which I would then use as an ‘overdraft’/buffer.

Accidentalaccountant · 14/03/2020 06:07

About to fly to Japan. May be some time.....

SnugglySnerd · 14/03/2020 07:24

Welcome Yoga!

I also went to the supermarket yesterday and I was surprised at what was running out too. The squash and biscuit aisles had been decimated! White bread running out but plenty of wholemeal. Loads of fresh fruit and veg left. Obviously in a crisis people like to eat white carbs and sugar!

ememem84 · 14/03/2020 07:37

Our govt here have done a u turn on their advice. Essential travel only. Over 65’s to distance themselves from crowds.
Schools still open.

Riding today £32. Then I’m meant to be making a curry for dinner.

northender · 14/03/2020 07:47

Girlie I don't really understand the lack of testing either. My work is in a team managing chronic lung disease patients at home. Testing would help us to differentiate. Hope you start to pick up soon.
unescorted the food bank sounds full on, but is likely to be even more necessary over the coming months.
snuggly ds has had all that prep from college for online work. We were due his last ever parents evening on Thursday so now that is being done via telephone.
My mum is in the vulnerable category, we're taking sensible precautions but not stopping her going out & socialising (avoiding crowds, bigger groups etc). Ds and I are also vulnerable so it's a worry but trying to stay grounded. My work involves encouraging people to cough & clear their chests so not ideal at the moment, hopefully we will move to phone & video consultations next week.

Not being particularly frugal this week although pil are here and are paying their way in terms of some food shopping and a couple of meals out. Going pottery painting this afternoon with dd, dmum and mil.

Unescorted · 14/03/2020 09:13

Snuggly it is true - white carbs and sugar are known preventatives for COVID 19.

North we are putting in place ways of working safely. My fellow stores person works for a well known sporting team and we have been taking advice from them and the H&S laboratory ( I have several friends who work there) on bio hazard processes. We don't want to ruin the career of several well known sports people. Also most of our delivery volunteers are retired so are at risk if they become infected. Fortunately the sports team has donated a lot of hand sanitizer and surface wipes.... We are lucky that we have an operating model that means that we can control infection more easily than a traditional person in need turns up and collects food bank.

DD is in the middle of her exam period... they get Art questions at the end of Feb and final date for handing in is beginning of May. She has brought her main Fine Art piece home and her graphics is mainly digital based but her 3D one is not for travelling - so I don't know what will happen if she is prevented from going into school.

I am hoping social distancing will reduce bills - no going to the pub or popping to a café, but it is going to do my nut in.

Taytocrisps · 14/03/2020 09:13

Greetings from lockdown Ireland. The schools here are closed as are all sports clubs, cultural institutions, youth organisations such as Scouts, dance groups etc. Businesses have been asked to let their staff work from home as much as possible.

I don't have the option of working from home but I'm off for the long weekend anyway (it's St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday). We were supposed to go to the west of Ireland for a weekend away but we cancelled - Dad was due to go with us and given his age (he'll be 80 this year), we didn't want to risk it. Mind you, he's still going to mass every day . Some dioceses have cancelled their masses, so I'm hoping his follows their example.

I spent a small fortune on shopping yesterday and I didn't even do much stockpiling. Although I'm saving money on the weekend away - we would have been eating out and buying drinks etc. And I guess I won't have to pay for Scouts for the next few weeks.

DD has a bit of a runny nose and a slight cough but I'm trying not to panic. It's probably the same thing she had a few weeks back (I brought her to the doc and he said she had an upper respiratory infection/septic throat).

Dad also has a slight cold but again, I'm trying not to panic. Thing is, it's the time of year for coughs and colds.

Off to cook a full Irish. I'll come back again and catch up on your news after breakfast.

LaneBoy · 14/03/2020 09:24

It’s tricky isn’t it as everyone seems run down lately anyway. Having had virtually no illnesses last year I am on my second cold already (not a bad one luckily as I used steam to help), DS and DD2 as well. DD1 is really under the weather - achy and lethargic and not at all herself, with a painful throat. Apparently a couple of friends have been off with (presumably viral) tonsillitis so I’m suspecting that, but we need to check her temperature when she gets up as of course we will need to isolate her if she has a fever. Terrible timing due to 3 dance rehearsals (already missed last night’s ballet) and her first ever football match all in the next few days! But rules are rules.

We are fairly well stocked but I do feel we should get another delivery soon... if there are any available that is.

Unescorted · 14/03/2020 09:51

Lane hope she feels better soon. It is the not knowing that I find difficult - the boys are coughing, so we are staying in. In reality it is unlikely that they have COVID19, but just in case they do we are staying home.

Best of luck getting a delivery slot.

Wolfcub · 14/03/2020 09:51

We will have to organise an MN frugaleer Skype/face time knit and natter group if we all go stir crazy staying inside. It's my entire life being on my own anyway but I think it's the thought of being unable to go out and see people that's disturbing

I'm suffering with nobby ex h syndrome this morning and getting highly irritated by it

Still feeling rotten but not as bad as last night so hopefully things will start t improve from now

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 14/03/2020 09:51

I never considered that I am someone who is really well stocked/prepared but having been out of action this week I think I am to an extent! I always bulk buy loo rolls so didn't have to worry about that, cupboards and freezer are also quite well topped up. I've still got tons of pasta and tins from my brexit stash! That said if we do go into lock down we wouldn't last more than a couple of weeks 😬

I've got a hideous cough but am generally feeling much better thank God. Can't remember the last time I felt that ill 🤒

Dd is going to unto town this morning to meet a friend which she's looking forward to, I'll give her £10 for lunch and told her if she wants to buy clothes or crap she needs to get her own money out.

Hoping I can work from home next week, patients aren't going to want to see me if I'm coughing all over them anyway.

LaneBoy · 14/03/2020 09:55

I’m not really sure how getting food works on a lockdown? I’d read something about shops in Italy being one in one out etc so still open but heavily monitored/crowd controlled?

We are very near a small Tesco and a huge Asda so while I got plenty of tins etc delivered DH has still been able to get the day to day stuff although the shelves have been very thinly stocked. Must try and use our four remaining healthy start vouchers up by the end of the month too while we can still get fresh stuff

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