Lockdown (almost) over and frugalling continues!

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New thread. All welcome

Our swimming rules are that we have to arrive ready (so swimmers on with shorts etc over and change poolside) similarly when we’ve finished a swim change poolside as if you were at the beach and then shower etc at home.

It’s so nice to get back and do more normal things.

That pool sounds terrificEm🤗
Lane hopefully it will be so much easier for your family when the adjustments are made. I know they're a right pain and take so long💐

I hope ur day is good mrs I met up with my best friend yday and it was luvly.

I’m thinking of joining a gym em I want my body a bit more back to how it was. Doing home exercise atm but not getting great results I’ve lost the weight but want 2 tone up.

lane I hope the new adjustments help ur family out.

Sullivan is doing rly well with his eating now. Even tho I am sad he doesn’t seem like a baby anymore :(. Hope every1 has a gud day.
£50 spent on shopping

mummy I’ve benefitted so much from being in the gym. I used to hate it but once I got over the fear of people looking at me (newsflash - they weren’t...!) I’m more confident. If you do join one and can afford the extra, try a few sessions with a trainer. Just to give you the push needed. I generally do one session every couple of weeks woth a trainer then two times a week on my own if I can. Just make sure you have the time to use the membership to its full capacity.

I was also a great “join the gym in January go twice and then never go again” person but kept the membership because I might want to go later. My thinking is now use it or lose it.

Very sad realisation yesterday that I was £300 into my overdraft first time since lockdown. So transferred some to put me back in the black, but still have things to come out this month. Arses. And we have to eat. I just loosened the reins a bit, and the money galloped away.

My co-workers think sitting at home on 80% is amazing, but none of them are at my life stage (all mid 50's, the only one younger is loaded and works for pin money) and 80% does not balance my books. Two more weeks 🤞

I did a top up shop £44 in aldi yesterday, which is now the food shop, and will have to do. Spent a little in B&Q and £35 in the pet shop. It never ends.

Did take dd3 and ds for a walk this morning, which was really nice. This is about the 5th time my boy has been outside since March. His skin is sort of see through now.

Ouch lonely

I had a realisation that next week is payday so that’s good for me. Similar here. Loosen the reins a teeny bit and the money horse gallops away.

I’m on the “what are you wearing today” thread and have been tempted today by metallic and/or sequin trainers.

Have had to shut down the websites. I do not need them. As lovely as they are I probably wouldn’t wear them.

Sequin trainers Em , l am sure they are nice but they would shed all over the damn house , bgr that for a game of soldiers. Everything glittery and sequined is binned here , even christmas cards , off they go straight in t'bin.
Lonely it happens just like that and it's so easy , l think lockdown was good for budgeting , well for me it was , it stopped all the impulse buys because the shops were all shut !

Thank you Mummy glad you enjoyed your meet with your BFF , nothing like a good old putting th ewprld to rights chat with your BFF

mrs yeeeeah I forgot about the shedding. To be fair I have a pair of glittery espadrilles and they shed a bit. still awesome though

Wasn't going to bother switching our home insurance as it's only £136, but then searched & got a policy for £112 with £26 cashback from tcb for going through moneysupermarket, so £50 saved. Frugal win.

Out home insurance renewal has come in at £760 . I need to do the comparison shopping this weekend, I ain’t paying that.

FINALLY! after several years I have called Sky and got a reduction in our tv /broadband cost. I can’t do it because the account is in DH’s name so they won’t talk to me. But I made him call them, get through security and give me the phone because I am mighty fed up of nagging him about it (it has been literally more than 5 years ) and because I NEED to upgrade the broadband if I am to work from home. Super fast broadband upgrade coming in the next few days, and still saving £25 per week on whole package.

Next frugal job: cancel my business insurance as I am currently employed.

I've been out tonight 😵 went with three friends for a meal and drinks, was so lovely! And only spent £12 as had a starter as a main and only drank lemonade.

Also spent £10 on using the dog walker, she is just coming back into business so wanted to support her plus the dog absolutely loves her!!

Most of the clothes dd bought Ystd are no good so will be going back.

em I will have a look in2 it. Hopefully when lockdowns eases a bit my family can have the boys for a few hours a week so I can get out 2 the gym. I’m glad 2 hear it’s working well 4 u.

lonely I’ve spent a lot of money in lockdown I rly need 2 start saving up a bit now tho.

mrs it was luvly can’t wait until we can all have a cuddle again!

That’s a gr8 win north

sea gud news about sky! I’m on the super fast broadband I think lol and it is rly gud.

Did u have a nice night girlie luvly 2 hear so many of u r getting out and meeting up again

Had a bit of a down day 2day. I don’t know if I told u all but I have applied 4 full custody 4 the kids due to exp’s violent behaviour/drug use etc. I was going 2 appeal 4 a hearing but ex changed his mind and is happy 4 me 2 have full custody so we sent off 2 get out consent order approved. I should hear back in the next few weeks whether the court think it’s in the boys best interest. I’m just feeling rly emotional I never thought I’d be a single mum and now I have them completely on my own it’s scary even tho I’m happy he isn’t in their life because he was so up and down it just wasn’t healthy 4 them. Just want 2 have a good cry.

xmummy have a good cry if you need to. We don't have to be brave all the time. If it's best for your boys then so be it. At least it's going through the courts properly - so it will basically be a judge agreeing with you, no arguing with that!

Drew down my Asda credit card cashback voucher as the card is reverting to the parent company (better range of cashback with it now). £30. So I' m going to buy as much 20p spaghetti and tins of tomatoes as I can with it. Should be fun.

Suppose I'd better get to sleep

Sorry to hear the books aren't balancing lonely. Did you ever get all the bike kit sold? Are you still involved with the team?

Have a cry mummy, it's very stressful.

Pleased your had a good night girlie.

Well done on sky sea.

Click and collect Sainsbury's today £119
Pizza for DC yesterday £16

lonely I love getting cash back, £30 not to be sniffed at.
Sea well done on your Sky deal. So many people clearly never ask, because in my experience there's always a deal to be done. We have a full sports package & before lockdown our discounted deal had just expired. Then because of no sport they deducted the sport charge which was good. The charge was reinstated at the end of June so I rang last week, lo & behold they gave me £22 a month off for 18 month. Definitely search for your home insurance, that sounds a lot. The policy I went for yesterday gives "unlimited" buildings and £50k contents, but no extras. Definitely worth using TCB too.
mummy it must be a real emotional roller coaster for you, but deep down you know it's the right thing for you all. Take care.

Sold ds' old sliding wardrobe doors this week via FB selling group. Had to drive a hard bargain, but got £30. Now have a pile of stuff to eBay. Don't think it'll make me rich, but it all helps.

Really good news last night, dh had an email about a job related to the one he applied for recently. He's going to have a chat with them about it, but if he wants it, it's his I think as he has already passed the interview board. It's complicated as it's a grade higher (civil service) but may be the same or slightly less pay initially (because of an allowance he currently receives). However it will quickly overtake his current job and is definitely the right move for the longer term. A big shout to life and wolf who helped him with his application. This thread is great in so many ways.

Day off. Wahooo. I love Fridays. I get a whole day with the kiddos just me and them.

Need to look into getting a membership for the zoo. We’re going on dds birthday and will go for ds’ too. I think a family membership is £120 a year which is pricey. But it’s £18 per adult to get in without. So by my calculations....we need to go three times to get our moneys worth. And if we had a membership we could just pop in whenever we felt like it (the cafe inside is great as is the play area outside plus loads of open space. And orangutan!!!!)

Girlie it's good to be doing more normal things again isn't it?

Hello, can I join please?

I'm a supply teacher so my income dropped drastically in March to less than half of what I usually earn each month. Add to that the fact that I don't earn anything over the summer holidays and that no one knows what will be happening in the autumn and winter, and I'm sure you can see my problem!

I'm lucky that my DH has carried on working (although now from home) so our bills are all covered, plus we have no mortgage.

I've had to cut right back on my personal spending. So I've canceled audible, Amazon prime, Netflix and Stitch Fix subscriptions. No more new clothes (luckily I have loads!) or expensive toiletries. No more new books (again, I have lots). No sitting in cafes drinking coffee (that's something I thought I would miss during lockdown but didn't at all, so won't be rushing back!)

I used to spend a lot of my money on things like days out in London, city breaks, going to the cinema, Theatre, art exhibitions etc. Obviously I haven't been able to do any of that and haven't really missed it. I think I will reduce how often I do these things in the future, and just save them for special treats. I also won't be renewing my V&A and Royal Academy memberships, at least not for the time being

A positive thing has been the free things that I have found to do. Such as YouTube yoga classes, duolingo language lessons, futurelearn courses etc. I've also been walking every day. I hope to keep up these new habits and not return to my old experience ones.

Wow, what an essay!

Morning

Our spending has been odd - at first we seemed to have too much money at the end of the month, but now we have developed Amazon habits. I also went to town yesterday - the Art shop and Chinese supermarket were expensive stops. I could have spent all day in the Art shop. Can I say how satisfying it is to season a new wok - time consuming but a thing of beauty when it is done.

The library was sad and difficult - I used to spend so much time there. Yesterday I just pushed my head around the door to return the books I got out months ago.

Lonely that is such a difficult position to be in - I can't imagine how stressful it is to suddenly not have enough coming in to cover the outgoings.

I leave the insurance & bills to DH - he has to do something. It also keeps him aware that the budget is finite. Because it is all on line I am not sure who our suppliers / insurers are...which when I think about it is a little worrying.

Morning everyone 😀
North smashing news for your DH job prospects 😃
Couldn't sleep last night so got up to do loads of paperwork and half four , just finished it now. It takes ages 🙄
Hugs Lonely & Mummy 💐
Welcome Saya 💐
Enjoy your DO Em 😃
Do you good to have a night out Girlie 💐
Unescorted l am not looking forward to going in my library to return my books either 😬
Well doneSea

Ds has been up all night again. I literally am getting to the point where I'm just going to collapse from stress/exhaustion soon. Ffs

Had a lovely long catch up and virtual drink with friends last night which was amazing

North lots of yays for dh that's the best news

Xmummy it's ok to cry and be upset and overwhelmed. This sounds like a good outcome though

Welcome Sayaka

OcAdo shop and veg box came yesterday. Also bought face masks and a new coat this week (waiting for it to arrive)

My boss has still not done my job paperwork so no chance of being paid at the end of July and the end of August is not looking good either right now. I'm not pleased and will have to live on savings. Luckily I have them and I wouldn't have them without frugaleering

Lonely are you entitled to any benefit whilst you're in 80%? Might be worth looking in to. Can you still take advantage of the mortgage holiday or has that passed?

Welcome say. One of my “normal” work tasks is to book supply teachers, but haven’t rung anyone since mid March. It must be so hard for you

It feels like the summer holidays have started as DC are home with me today, but I still have to work next week.

We’re haemorrhaging money here on wedding. It’s booked now! Registrar paid, notice to marry paid, deposit on venue paid. My DM has offered to pay for registrar and venue which was kind she’s still getting digs in about it not being in a church . Going to see a seamstress to get my dress adjusted next week. We’re almost sorted, right? 😂

Hoping to get rid of lots of stuff to the tip today. And tidy the house and do laundry,

That’s good news for DH north

That must be such a relief mummy if ex agrees

wolf on the pay paperwork. Is DS going to ex this weekend so you can get some sleep? and offload more house crap