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

Evening everyone, it's a very worrying time for us all , esp those of us with loved ones in the 'danger zone'.
Have not spent a penny today , have to do Bob's shopping tomorrow , l tried to get him a delivery slot but they have all been taken
My stress levels are sky high , my eyebrows/eyelids are doing a jive from the stress! Stay safe everyone

Tiles are gorgeous sea 😍

Thanks all for lovely comments about parents evening :)

DH managed to buy some random things we needed - luckily this did not include toilet paper as there is none anywhere. And Boots are now accepting payment with points so that at least meant £20 saved

Wolf thank you I am feeling better thank God, am seriously wondering if I've had CV as have never felt that ill and it ticked all the symptoms! Which laptop did you go for? I need to get dd one really, she manages on my ancient Apple Mac but it is so slow now.

Lovely to see you seacow I have tile envy!!

Lane you're amazing, you should be so proud of yourself.

Happier I can remember thinking he sounded like a complete dick before he became your ex. It is always easier to see it from the outside though.

I've had a relatively busy day, I had a shower and got dressed (first time getting dressed since last Sat!) I managed a short dog walk and cooked dinner. Tired now though and will sleep well tonight.

Mum picked me up some more bits £20.

Dd had a lovely time in town with her friend which made me happy.

Girlie glad you are feeling more human.

Sea that is seriously lovely tiling.

Wolf yeah the CS is good at times like this. DH hasn't been able to work because he is front of house retail - Having a cough has been putting customers off (understandably) but it is not a serious issue b/c my salary covers the bills. For those that don't have that it must be seriously hard time.

Dh and I are both public sector so wages are covered, such a relief

We should both still be paid. Except if we have to look after sick DC and our work schools are open. I’ve got one day of paid dependant leave left and DP gets none paid. We have no other childcare now. I’m nervous the schools won’t shut before a DC gets a cough.

Wow, you kot have been chatty!
So lovely to see you Lane, and well done on dds parents evening, you most be so proud and you are an amazing educator!
Sea great to see you back! Lovely tiles, but you can't wait to have a soak?!

Hello to all the new people.

I have spent lots of money over the last few days.
£125 on a pair of cherry red vegan DMs
£70 on some bits for our holiday, mostly clothes for the dcs.
£17 in typo on a new tote bag, some a5 pads and a pen.
£8 in tk maxx on a bumbag, it is for work, to help me keep all my little bits on me and hopefully not lose bits of observations!
£45 haircuts for me and the two younger dcs.
£50ish on food shopping.

There has been a case of CV here (newham) and Westfield was very quiet for a Saturday.
I'm a bit worried about our holiday to Spain, but hoping we will be ok as it isn't until August, but am kicking myself as I haven't got insurance yet, stupid I know!

sea those tiles though...?! Beautiful

The bathroom guys have done an amazing job of the tiling - it’s absolutely immaculate, nothing out of line even by a millimetre. They’ve been such lovely hardworking guys too - they work 10 hr days, often without stopping for lunch so I’ve been making them cakes and bacon sarnies. I usually hate having workmen in the house but it’s not felt intrusive at all. DD (2) says ‘hello men!’ and beams every time she sees either or both of them, it’s very cute. They seem rather smitten with her too 😍

I do worry that for guys like that the work is going to dry up for a while while this virus runs its course. Wish I could do something but I will tip them well and highly recommend their services to others, not sure what else I can do.

I should get paid Through the next few months unless I have to take extra unpaid leave to cover childcare (eg if schools close but work doesn’t) - that’s the benefit of the public sector. However, I’m only on a fixed term contract till November and while they’ve recently asked me if I’d extend the contract, there’s a risk my project will now get canned if this completely decimates the trust’s finances. DH is in the private sector in a large family-owned firm (and he works directly for the family owners in the head office) . They are very loyal to their core team but in a sector that will be hit very hard by this. So who knows.

On a lighter note I have a couple of friends round for lunch tomorrow. I’m just making sticky toffee pudding now and it smells lush. Prawn cocktails to start and then slow-roast pork belly also on the menu. I’m going for the 1970s naice pub food vibe

Good morning everybody. Hopping back on.
I’m taking a break from the news for a short while as I can’t stop thinking about the current situation. Have just come off night shifts so not back to work until Tuesday. I work in a private hospital and we are waiting to hear what is required of us to support the local NHS trust. I have cancelled my plans to visit my elderly Mum on my week off the week after next. We have talked it over and agreed it’s for the best just now. I’m hoping my sister will get up to see her. I have just done a supermarket order for her.
Re positive mental health, today we are to meet my sister for a walk at a local National Trust property and I’m about to put a joint of beef in the oven to roast through the morning before we go. I will take a flask of tea and some biscuits with us. Wishing everyone a happy Sunday.

Spendy yesterday £30 on takeaways, £4.50 downtown movie. My promotion treat.

Don't forget Skype also adds 20 years. You can use phone camera.

Oddments spends today.

FCO advice has changed to no essential travel to Spain wolf. Not sure until when as just seen headline. 2 worst affected now.

It's a worry. Next week will be the teller I think. So many workers and business affected

Fabulous tiles.

Sea it is something we are aware of. Feel free to access my address book on your tilers behalf - although I don't have a lot for London. If they are good & reliable they won't have any difficulty picking up work. We are expecting sites to remain open as social distancing is quite easy on a building sites.

I think we will be given the order to wfh next week sometime - luckily we can. Infact most people won't be able to tell unless I say I am at my kitchen table. Mentally it is going to be difficult - I know from times I have been snowed in I start getting cabin fever after about 3 days.

No spends here yesterday - I will have to pop out for some milk and tea today. We are going though loads b/c we are at home. Thankfully I have plenty of coffee.

I’ve been up since 6 with ds. Ffs. ON a Sunday.

Yesterday I made hot cross buns.

Sea especially after him being sick for so long this year so far too, but I guess it shows that relationship is solid too.

Ate two course dinner & had a few drinks after for €50 each with my friend, incredible value.

Tiles are amazing

People I'm in daily contact with in my day to day life didn't see it, I guess that's how good my mask was

Em they look good
Sea can I come for lunch

Morning everyone 🤗
Hope everyone is well, l am not planning on spending anything today. My Mum has a freezer she isn't using and l am wondering if l should get it back up and running in case I can't get to her. She hasn't got anything for back up . Has the usual tins but nothing else really. I thought I could freeze milk cheese bread ready meals few cakes bit of frozen fruit. Course DH says not to bother 🙄. He is still thinking this CV is all blown up and nothing to worry about. He is washing his hands though so that is something 🙄.

Morning everyone. Sorry for my depressing post yesterday. I guess everything got on top of me and I miss having someone to share those worries with. I feel a lot better this morning. I've made a list of things to do around the house. I'm taking DD to a restaurant for lunch later. Sitting around watching the news constantly isn't good for your mental health.

Happier Dad's church has cancelled masses now, so that's one less worry. I'll phone him later.

Seacow gorgeous tiles.

I've just seen something about schools in Northern Ireland closing for 16 weeks?!!! 😱 Am hoping that's not true, would be catastrophic for a lot of kids who rely on school for meals, a safe place and their education. Not to mention working parents.

I think we'll have a longer than usual Easter break which will be manageable although I'd have to get organised with dd and find work for her to do so she doesn't just sit on her phone all day!

Woken up feeling a bit crappy again, not sure what to do about work next week. I'm still coughing, have very little energy and this morning my ears are hurting 🙁 Ugh.

girlie sounds like you should stay off work. Hope you feel better soon
Glad you're feeling brighter this morning tayto

Em good buns there love

Dh has sent me back to bed. No reason other than so I can rest a bit. Have a nice cup of earl grey and catface has hopped up for a snuggle. Dh is reading books downstairs with ds. Dd is napping.

£100 today on morrisons delivery plus £15 on ink cartridges in case of school closures and maybe needing to print things out. I imagine it wont be long until we hear schools are closing.
Its raining here so we will be having a day in and I'll be catching up on my uni assignment.
Enjoy your rest em.

Oh my printer needs ink.
Nice buns em.

Tayto it's fine be negative if it helps. Pleased it did.

£1.90 on water as they've turned the water fountains off at the pool. £2.80 greggs,

@Happierwithouthim bit of both I think!

MrsEvans I would absolutely get that freezer up and running

Girlie schools should set work for them. Out local high schools have all said children will be expected to keep to the school timetable. I know of others in the south who have said they will have email registeration at the start of lessons with work to be emailed to the teacher at the end of each lesson. This is part of my thinking behind getting a laptop - just arrived so will set it up in a bit. If anyone is thinking of doing the same remember most schools will allow your child to get Microsoft office applications for free so don't pay for those

I am feeling a lot better today so that's good.

I know what you all mean about the news. I'm getting news direct from Italy from a friend too so I think I've done peak frightened and am moving into planning mode.

Sea good tradesmen are worth their weight in gold.

Hot cross buns look lovely Em and everyone's Sunday plans and lunches sound great. We definitely won't be that fancy here today.

Loaf in the breadmaker as we have run out and Tesco's is apparently bare.