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The Lockdown Saving and Spending Continues! May Frugaleers continued

999 replies

LaneBoy · 12/05/2020 08:46

New thread!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
56
ememem84 · 09/06/2020 13:32

Might do that happier

They were fine. Dd reached out for her key worked and waved bye bye to me (brutal...!!) ds was a bit hesitant but once he saw his best mate he was fine.

I’m getting so so much work done!

Happierwithouthim · 09/06/2020 14:19

On the thread not in!!

Wolfcub · 09/06/2020 17:40

Happier the bread looks great your structure and air bubbles are fab.

Em yay to nursery. I am not enjoying the comments in the media about high schools not opening in September

lifelongfrugaleer · 09/06/2020 18:06

What!! What fresh hell is schools not opening. Nnnoooooo. I'm moving to where they are opening. Don't care if it's exteme.

DS is going in Friday in a key worker place. Just trying it for him and my sanity.

lifelongfrugaleer · 09/06/2020 18:06

Oo good dough composition happier.

northender · 09/06/2020 18:12

Sorry I've not posted for a few days but have tried to keep up.
unescorted hope your dad is recovering and well done to you for having helped dd2 when she needed it
Dr sounds like you've had a stressful time. Teens are hit hard at the moment.
Em glad the dc are back in nursery
Love unfortunately there are always people out there ready to take advantage of situations like this

Feels like we've been busy here. I've been sewing and persevering with the sourdough. Sewing is going well and the sourdough yesterday was much more like bread and not doing as much of a frisbee impression! Yours looks good Happier.
Went to the dentist today as I lost a filling/piece of tooth at the weekend. Everything was really well set up but surreal. Managed to get ds in to see the hygienist for a descale around his brace. I've been worried as he hasn't had a brace check at the hospital since November with no news on when that might be.
We managed to shop more frugally at the weekend and treated ourselves to more delivery beer/cider from the pub which was lovely. Totally agree with wolf and what you said about being in a privileged position with a secure salary, your afternoon tea sounds lovely.
Work has been okay for me. Dh is under huge pressure & fed up of being at home. He hasn't heard anything back yet from the job he applied for, keeping fingers crossed. On a cheery note dh & ds are celebrating as their football team has been promoted today.....GREEN ARMY! I know you'll appreciate that seacow.
Need to give myself a kick and get tea sorted.

Wolfcub · 09/06/2020 19:11

Frugal win I got a load of washing dried on the line despite the weather being iffy today

northender · 09/06/2020 19:31

Sourdough & sewing....

The Lockdown Saving and Spending Continues! May Frugaleers continued
The Lockdown Saving and Spending Continues! May Frugaleers continued
ememem84 · 09/06/2020 19:39

Dh made sourdough today. Apparently we’re doing a loaf a day. 🙄

Wolfcub · 09/06/2020 19:53

North they both look amazing.

Em interesting use of we. Surely dh is making a loaf a day

Unescorted · 09/06/2020 21:24

North he is back home - I am not sure he is overly well, but he tested clear for COVID.

DD2 appears to be ok at home - her Step Mum is fighting her corner. I think she is safe and happy for now.

Wolf it was a surprisingly drying day - I managed 4 loads on the line. This housework superhero shite generates a lot of washing. The vacuum cleaner and dishwasher remains in use mind.

ememem84 · 09/06/2020 21:56

wolf I also questioned the we. However I do know how to do it. But still. He’s doing it. Unless I’m specifically asked.

He’s done one this evening. It looks ace show off

He’s going into the office tomorrow and Thursday so I have two whole days by my self. He’ll do nursery drop off and pick ups too.

Alarm is set for 530 tomorrow so I can get up and go for a run before work and before the crazy getting kids ready starts.

Boring question. What tog duvet do you all have on beds for summer? We currently have a 4.5 tog and both dh and I think it’s too thin.

SnugglySnerd · 09/06/2020 22:25

I still have the winter duvet on Em, I hate a thin duvet. I like to be wrapped up to my chin in a cosy duvet regardless of the temperature!

Lovely sewing and bread.

It's been a long day today. Glad to get to bed time!

ChristmasSeacow · 10/06/2020 00:13

I’ve not posted for a bit - I was exceedingly grumpy over the weekend and couldn’t face speaking to anyone, even virtually. I’m marginally perkier now... just marginally.

Just wanted to say hi to North, I’m so touched you thought of my DDad. I said to DH that it’s such a shame DDad isn’t here to see this great day, and he (gooner) said ‘well, on the plus side he won’t see them relegated next season either’. Charming Grin. I reeeeeeeaaaaallkly love that quilt too - the pattern and the colours. I think it’s your best yet.

I’ve not quite kept up but Dr, I’m so sorry to hear about your DD. I can’t imagine how stressful your situation would be. Physical illness is so much easier to deal with in many ways. I hope things are calmer soon.

Soooo tired, will try to catch up more tomorrow xx

maddenlightfoot · 10/06/2020 07:20

Morning all! Sorry I haven't been keeping up. I'm back at school and kids school and nursery so it's been a bit manic.

Brrrr 🥶 at the idea of a summer duvet. I'm with snuggly, thick whatever the weather. You can always stick a foot out to cool down. Plus it's raining and grey here so I'm enjoying a last bit of cosy before getting going!
Throughout lockdown I stopped spending on anything other than food but in the last few days I've had a real urge to splurge. Have bought a gorgeous print that will also need framing and have been listing after gorgeous dresses for a wedding I'm going to ... in November Confused

lifelongfrugaleer · 10/06/2020 07:24

Sorry to hear you are grumpy and not in a good place sea. Doesn't matter if you are a grouchbag is still good to hear from you.

Ah yes the royal we. Won't help your waist line though em. Love fresh bread.

Pleased DD 2 is doing ok unescorted.

I put our summer 4.5 on in the hot weather but I also have blankets on top at the minute

£85.50 trombone lesson yesterday, £50 Sainsbury's, £25 Argos on new land line. Today £20 riding school

SnugglySnerd · 10/06/2020 07:41

Glad it's not just me with the warm duvet!

Sorry to hear your are having a rough time Sea. Feel free to vent here if you need to.

Wolfcub · 10/06/2020 07:46

Lovely to see you Sea, sorry you're not feeling wonderful. If there is anything we can do just shout

Unescorted glad dd2 is doing ok and dsm is looking out for her

Same duvet all year here. I think it's either 10 or 12.5 tog. Extra blanket in winter

ememem84 · 10/06/2020 08:43

We are buying a new duvet (when I can be arsed to go to dunelm and look at them) it’s funny how previously before covid I would have jumped at the chance to shop. But now it’s too complicated sterile and I can’t be arsed.

ChristmasSeacow · 10/06/2020 10:19

I’ve just booked a cottage in Northumberland for next May half term. It’s a flexible booking so we’d be able to cancel at no cost (up to a month before) if we couldn’t travel. I’m not usually so organised but really need something to look forward to - puffins!!!

ChristmasSeacow · 10/06/2020 10:27

Will be about £980 total, just paid half.

I am sitting on my hands trying not to buy any clothes. Lots of offers on at the mo and I feel really fed up with my current options because I am too fat for my wardrobe

SnugglySnerd · 10/06/2020 11:07

Booking for next year is a great idea but I strongly suspect my school will ask us to run holiday catch up lessons for year 11 next year so I'm reluctant to book anything.

Em my mum bought us a lovely duvet for xmas a few years ago. It's Linea I think. It has a summer one and a winter one that clip together with poppers when it is extra cold. It is too warm even for me with the joined together. Dh usually persuades me to put the summer one and then I complain about it until Sept. So far this year I'm winning the argument to keep the lovely thick winter one on.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 10/06/2020 12:28

Booking for next year is a great idea but I strongly suspect my school will ask us to run holiday catch up lessons for year 11 next year so I'm reluctant to book anything.

Even more of a reason to book something now before you are asked to give up any more of your holiday time to do it!

£280 today on scaffolding.

£880 to pay on Monday for the house painter.

It hasn't been done in 25 years so if it lasts anywhere near that long I'll be too old to care (or possibly even see) if it looks like it needs doing again. :)

Expensive year.

DH agreed initially to £8k for new windows and doors. Then cancelled when a local good firm would do them for £5.5k. They've done a good job. And we decided to still spend the other £2.5k on the house.

So far we've had
New bedroom carpet, bed and wallpaper in our room.
The doors and windows.
Garage roof repaired.
Repainted cupboards and walls in the kitchen.
And a patio down by the summer house.

Most of which we've done ourselves.

Scaffolding all round house if we wanted to do it ourselves would have been £750. Paint etc £100 nearly. And our roofline goes to a very high peak on the front, so it would be three storeys high for reaching the very top.

Scaffolding just over garage and the painter coming with all the stuff and doing it all himself inc painting the built in concrete guttering and the cast iron down pipes is coming in at £1160.

It's worth the £400 to not have to do it myself and to have it done professionally. DH can't do ladders well as his false leg falls off if he tries!

ememem84 · 10/06/2020 13:35

Absolutely worth the cost.

We’ve been in our place now for almost 2 years. We’ve bought curtains x 2 for the living room (floor to ceiling ones) £1400; wardrobe for our room £3500 fitted loads of storage; ottoman bed £1600; new front door and window £2250, and need to order:

Decking
Slabs
Grass
Fence
Garage window (this has seen better days and is only single glazed. We’re looking about maybe sectioning it off and having half garage as an office so want a secure sturdy window)

We will also have a lawyers bill to pay soon. The development which was under planning has now been given the go ahead despite our appeal. So annoying. But hey ho. So I instructed a lawyer to alflrmally confirm the boundaries and then we can put a fence up to mark it off. The developed seriously misrepresented the boundary line in their plans. Naughty.

We have on the other side of our back fence at least another 4m of land which consists of a path which runs parallel to our garden and allows access to all the other houses gardens. The path then slopes down on one side and meets the developers land. So well put a fence up right on the edge of ours. They then can’t build on our land and the 7 houses will need to be at least another foot and a half away (maintenance foot) so we can maintain the fence. Cost is to be shared with neighbours as they all have same boundary.

Wolfcub · 10/06/2020 13:36

Sea where in Northumberland are you going? It's one of my fave places