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August Always Adds Pocket Pressure, Frugal Friends Thrive Thriftily

996 replies

Wolfcub · 03/08/2020 17:44

New feed

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SnugglySnerd · 21/08/2020 09:41

Thanks for kind comments, I didn't sleep well again last night. I expect the thought of it is worse than the reality will be, it's almost like starting a new job there are so many unknowns and it's so long since I've actually stood in front if a class. After the first week or two it'll probably seem like we've never been away!

Em it sound like your dh has really struggled with lockdown and not being in work/missing social contact. How the hell can an adult not organise his own headphones and stationery though?! Surely a few quick clicks on Amazon would solve the problem?? Having said that dh told me the other day his car insurance needed renewing and then just stood there looking at me. It think he thought I would do it! Er... no, I sorted out my car insurance, I don't need to do anyone else's thank you very much!

Bornlazy · 21/08/2020 11:18

Ah em that's a shame, he does seem to like to compare your role with his. In my experience that never ends well as someone always thinks they've got the worst load. Is he worried about the security of his job if he's no longer in an important key staff role? Maybe that's making him worse.

Snuggly the fear of the unknown is horrible. I'm sure once you are actually back it will settle down. There have been a few pupils tested positive in Scotland but they are confident that there is no risk of transmission... I suppose time will tell.

Wolfcub · 21/08/2020 11:23

Em the four day working full out being resented sounds very very familiar!

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SingToTheSky · 21/08/2020 13:48

Sorry DH is being a tit em and your lashes look great!

Eek girlie no exercise?! That sounds a bit harsh compared to just being moderate with it 😕
DD1 has started getting a bit too keen to track her weight too as she auditioned for something and they have a weight limit - she’s under it and healthy BMI but she keeps saying about not being hungry. Much as Cagletini is hard work at times I honestly feel like the teen years are harder so far 😣 I hope she takes ok to the new rules xx

Wolfcub · 21/08/2020 14:23

65 hair cut plus product replacement
35 lunch out with ds as a treat

Social worker was nice. Better in person than on phone. May brave Ikea on way back from lunch

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ememem84 · 21/08/2020 14:30

He does like to compare. It’s bizarre. I think maybe because he’s not now deemed key staff it’s hit home to him. He’s also feeling isolated being at home - he’s only seeing me and the kids whereas I’m back in the office seeing peoole - and he sees the fun I have with the kids on a Friday.

He’s busy but inefficient. Eg he’ll have a meeting via phone but will have to meet with each participant individually pre meeting and then again post meeting to debrief. It’s a complete waste of time in my opinion. So no wonder he doesn’t get things done.

He’s been working until 11 every evening this week. Nightmare.

SnugglySnerd · 21/08/2020 16:51

I haven't really got going today. I didn't sleep well and it has rained on and off all day and we've ended up doing nothing. We did go out for a short walk when it stopped raining for a bit but the dcs and I have all been bored and listless all day. I feel like I've completely wasted the day now. Hopefully I'll get more sleep tonight and start fresh tomorrow.

Wolfcub · 21/08/2020 17:57

Fkin hell ds has been hard work this afternoon. If anyone was in a northern Ikea I apologise. I locked myself in the car for two minutes when we got home to give myself some space so he hammered on the windows like he was going to smash them. This is what I get for taking him out for the lunch of his choice and then to choose new furniture.

Next time I'm going alone

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ememem84 · 21/08/2020 18:01

Oh wolf

Ds is currently having a danger nap. So we’re in for a long night tonight.

Dh is making pizza. Tay

northender · 21/08/2020 18:08

Oh no wolf, definitely a case for alcohol!

Unescorted · 21/08/2020 19:27

Ohhh wolf I hope you have gin.

em I don't understand the pre meets to a pre meet and post meet debriefs. Nearly always they bookend meetings at which nothing get actioned or assigned. Can you tell we have a lot of them....

I am quite proud of myself - I have taught myself how to Index and Match in Excel, link it to a pivot table, add slicers and dynamic charts.... One of those skills that I have been wanting to know how to do for ages. I now get the chance in all the overly long meetings about meetings.... I love wfh / Teams meetings.

SnugglySnerd · 21/08/2020 19:48

Ha! unescorted DH says the same about wfh, he puts the meeting on then gets on with something else! Sadly we have to have the video on for ours otherwise I could have got on with some marking during the meetings Grin

Bloody hell Wolf, definitely gin needed.

Good luck getting dd to sleep tonight Em, I live in fear of a danger nap, especially if we go out somewhere that involves a long car journey home.

Unescorted · 21/08/2020 20:08

Snugly my terrible internet connection seems to be corelated to when the office windbag gets going.. I find the connection is less disjointed if I turn my camera off. And that is the story I am sticking to.

Wolfcub · 21/08/2020 20:11

I totally get that Unescorted. Our digital team have downgraded the quality of our video to support more people using Skype. Which is great because it means no video calls and therefore I can clear inbox etc. The downside is when you accidentally get really into the task you are doing and then someone asks you a question.

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lifelongfrugaleer · 21/08/2020 20:19

Haha that happened to me today wolf and has happened a few times. I managed to bluff it today.
Last time my friend IM'd me "busted"

£50 on my no shop shop

Wolfcub · 21/08/2020 20:29

I've just ordered myself yet more LucyLockets as it's 15% off this weekend. I am a real leggings hater and I bloody love these. They are actually really comfy for working in.

Also ordered a desk and chair for my office. Chair won't come until October and desk not until January - 20% off plus £20 off voucher.

Having discussed with my df I'm going to paint ds a length of mdf cut to size and attach legs. I'm not having a repeat of the IKEA experience

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SingToTheSky · 21/08/2020 20:34

Ooh what design this time wolf? I don’t blame you, I think they’re fab. I like the Capri length ones. Sooo comfy and I feel much more ready for the day somehow, compared to my usual mum uniform of jeggings

Wolfcub · 21/08/2020 20:45

Tropical trail this time Sing. The discount is also off sale items - code Autumngold. A reminder to some here that blue light discount of 10% is available at other times (something I wish I'd known before buying four pairs!)

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Bornlazy · 21/08/2020 20:56

Nsd - yippee!!

Spent many hours with dh fitting the vinyl in kitchen and if I do say so myself it was looking fantastic... right up until we tried to put the fridge back in place and it ripped slightly Sad We have managed to glue it down and it looks ok but so pissed off that it happened.

Totally knackered now and working the weekend so sitting with my feet up on the sofa watching Lie To Me on Netflix. Going to bed soon.

Wolf no good deed goes unpunished when it comes to teenagers - or at least that's the way it feels at times.

SnugglySnerd · 21/08/2020 21:07

@Unescorted

Snugly my terrible internet connection seems to be corelated to when the office windbag gets going.. I find the connection is less disjointed if I turn my camera off. And that is the story I am sticking to.
Grin
ememem84 · 21/08/2020 21:17

Exactly unescorted my strategy is send agenda for meeting get it agreed. Have meeting. Write notes. Send email with notes of meeting to all for agreement.

I’m back in office pretty much all the time now (well once I’m back from my annual leave). Since being home I’ve done a lot of cpd. Aside from the assignments I have to attend relevant seminars and do relevant reading etc. Seminars are all webinars now so I can put them on and listen whilst I get on with other things. Bonus.

Had accupuncture today £59. Absolutely necessary. Needles in the base of my skull and neck to release a lot of muscle tightness. It is all sorts of sore now. But looser. And more movement. Yay. I’m not quite at 360 owl vision yet but it’ll come!

howlathebees · 21/08/2020 23:45

Sorry it’s such a late one. DH has finished work for the week now and we have just been planning our trip. We’re going to the safari park tomorrow and then holiday on Sunday so my posts might be slow (might not be able to get much service on holiday). The DC have been nightmares today, we went to the country park for a walk and they kept running away from me which was just terrifying and didn’t understand why I wouldn’t allow them on the park even though they’ve understood every other time they haven’t been allowed. It’s like they just had it in for me. I’d usually let them on the park but it was the 3 of them plus 2 dogs and only 1 me so I couldn’t deal with it. I’m so looking forward to a week with actual help from someone in the day!.

DH has been brilliant lately and really helping out around the house (he’s brilliant most of the time) but I’ve been feeling a bit in a rut. It’s just like we’re going about our daily lives and are just sort of passing each other and aren’t making any real time for each other. Then just before bed (TMI warning) I got really bad constipation and he’s been sat in the toilet with me for about an hour running my back and showing me Tik Tok’s he finds funny. As gross as it is it almost feels like it’s just us two again and we have all the time in the world for each other. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts! But we’re going to start making plans for date nights once a week.

unescorted I felt like that about the name too. Whatever name you choose it’s from a man. DH and I did consider inventing our own name but every one we came up with just didn’t work!. Apple and chilli pie sounds nice!. Good news that your DC’s school has put a lot of thought into it, it makes me feel more at ease that my DS’s school has.

life it’s just clothes, we’re going to buy everything else when we get there (food etc). Trying to keep the amount in the car minimum as the 2 dogs are coming as well!

The lashes look lovely em I want to get mine done but I’m worried they’re going to look too unnatural! Enjoy your time off!

I’m sorry to hear about your DD girlie.

north DS2 and DS3 had lots of hand me downs, then we chucked everything after DS3 because we didn’t want any more DC! So I’m really grateful to have so much stuff. Enjoy your time off :)

wolf that’s my plan for the Dc. Hopefully not much more money spent on clothes now. Just the odd top up and uniform obviously but it’ll save so much! I’m glad your social worker was nice. I’m sorry your DS has been so difficult

Good luck to your DM unescorted that’s lovely of the staff to give you them clothes. There’s very few boys in our family so if we’d had a DD we’d have got loads of clothes but thankfully Daunt has a 6 month old and has put away some clothes for us!

em I’m sorry your DH is being so difficult.

Happierwithouthim · 22/08/2020 06:50

@Girliefriendlikespuppies

Hi all quick sign in, things are very tense here as dd has her Camhs appointment today. She's not happy as they've told her no exercise and she's got to eat three meals a day plus snacks...

Can see me getting signed off from work unless things get a bit easier as I feel ill with it all.

Girlie I'm sorry to hear you're feeling under so much pressure, it's hard raising children single handedly. Is dd taking ownership of this or is she still in denial?
lifelongfrugaleer · 22/08/2020 06:57

Got a busy day today but should be frugal.
Might have to look at lll but I've not worn my others yet. Saving them for public gym outings. That makes me sound like a ding.

Tried a sea salt dress on yesterday and DD was not complimentary so it might go back.

Enjoy your holiday howl.

Pesky network often "crashes" Here. I refuse video yesterday and said cos my house is a tip. End of.

Happierwithouthim · 22/08/2020 07:00

@Wolfcub

Fkin hell ds has been hard work this afternoon. If anyone was in a northern Ikea I apologise. I locked myself in the car for two minutes when we got home to give myself some space so he hammered on the windows like he was going to smash them. This is what I get for taking him out for the lunch of his choice and then to choose new furniture.

Next time I'm going alone

My ds does this kind of thing, he's 6, I'm hoping he'll grow out of it, who knows though. Wolf you are an amazing mum, he will see that in time

I had three days away with dc, in bed both nights at 8.30 with them playing happily in the room. Struggled majorly with ds first day, part of second day and some of third day. It's not fair on dd. However his life jacket was best purchase of this summer, we spent 1.5 hours each of the three days in the pool, he was a dream child in there & just had the best time.

They attended a confirmation with their dad & I got a message from their sister in law that they are both a credit to me and added so much to the day, plus she sent photos. I make a conscious effort to keep in contact with them despite the separation as I enjoy their company & our children are still each other's family.

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