August Always Adds Pocket Pressure, Frugal Friends Thrive Thriftily

[Wolfcub]

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Love annoying isn't it. If the consultation doesn't change the plan then your years after the change in pension will revert to the old scheme. In 2022 you can make a decision to lock into the old scheme, or the new on for those years but take the risk of your decision being based on assumptions about your situation when you do retire. Or, and I can't see any reason why someone wouldn't choose this option, you wait until you are ready to take your pension and you then get to pick which is the best of the two schemes for you - with no penalty.

Yes, choosing nearer retirement which scheme to put those years into seems a no-brainer!

Ok I'm back. My lovely boiler man sorted my boiler and I have a nice snug house tonight. The weather has been atrocious here and the poor man had to traipse back and forward between the house and his car about a million times. I'm hoping he didn't catch pneumonia.

After leaving five messages for the person dealing with my mortgage application at the bank, she finally phoned me back today. The bad news is that my request to take on the mortgage was turned down. The good news (sort of) is that I was turned down on a technicality which is due to a misunderstanding on the part of the bank. I explained the position at length and pointed out that the supposed issue is really a non-issue. The staff member will speak to the person who turned me down and get back to me by the end of the week. Le sigh. I'm going to phone my solicitor tomorrow and fill her in. Maybe a letter from her might move things on a bit?

Anyway, enough about me.

Wolf I'm sorry to hear your shopping trip/lunch outing was spoilt by DS's behaviour. Is he due back to school soon? Do you think the routine and interaction with others will help? Did you get a new job? I may have missed a post somewhere along the way. Or (equally possible) you told us already and I've forgotten.

Happier that was a super saving on the dress! Take a bow. What colour is it? Good news re: the reduced childcare costs also. I haven't ordered 'Room' yet. If your DM can spare one of her copies, that would be great. Will I pm my address?

Orange always nice to get an unexpected payment. Sorry the gym didn't work out but I guess it's a saving for you.

howl belated Happy Birthday

em sounds like zoo glamping was a big hit. That tampax ad was banned here www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0818/1159848-tampax-not-seeking-review-of-decision-to-ban-ad/

Seacow glad you had a good time in Wales even allowing for the difficulties posed by Covid-19. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the microwave was very old and near the end of its life, and the owner tells you that it was due to be replaced anyway. Poor DD. The booby face mask made me laugh!

north sounds like a lovely celebration for your DM's birthday.

Big hugs Girlie. We're all just winging it and anyone of us could be in your shoes. You sound like a lovely mum so don't go blaming yourself - it's just one of those things. Hope the book gives you some insights and tips.

Love glad the wedding plans are coming together. I never considered that the bride and her Dad mightn't be able to walk down the aisle together!

Born what are you buying for the house?

Unescorted I never knew you grew up in Oz.

I have to clean out the little food compost bin that I keep in the utility room. It's a bit smelly. Why do I always leave the worst jobs until last? Then I'm going to have an early night.

Ooh I can't wait to do a bit of decluttering on my day off while dd1 is at school. She will not throw away anything, even if it is broken!

I’ve made several now. I’m distributing them around my booby friends

Fell off for a couple of days and a hundred messages later
Have been looking at JL christmas decs , OMG they are gorgeous . I espesh love the ART NOUVEAU ones absolutely gorgeous !
Tayto glad your boiler is sorted and good luck with the mortgage.
My Dd2 has been waiting to buy her house since 31st Jan when we had a mortgage application agreed, the offer on the house accepted (new build) since then she had to get another application okayed last week because the offer wasn't valid any more. The offer she first had didn't have a fee but when she went for the renewal they asked her for a small fee of 1k , since when has 1k been a small fee! 'Oh you can add it to the mortgage borrowing' . By the time you added it to the total amount the new mortgage it cost 1.5 k after interest Crooks !
Wolf ahhh bless you lovely
Happier great news re the childcare costs
Em fab decluttering of the garage ! Well done!
Sea love the scarf too
NSD today
I better get to bed have a good night everyone

Hi all thanks for the birthday wishes. We’re having a great time but unfortunately I dropped my phone and it’s smashed to pieces. I’m currently on DH’s phone awaiting a replacement but will be back when I get it

Awake for hours, started to feel shocking yesterday evening and it seems to have continued. Going to start work early as there's no point staying in bed and lots to do.

Wolf take care.

Sea can you send the pattern across for your masks. I prefer those ones to the ones I am getting here. With ds having to wear them in school I am wanting to make his as nice as possible so he is comfortable and concentrating on his work not an ill fitting mask.

@lonelyoversharer are you OK?

I have got up this morning to the aftermath of a planning session. There are marked up maps and scribbled notes everywhere. I suspect it is the next Great Trip is being plotted for next summer.

Head down for the next 10 hours.... the assessment of these bids is a bag of spanners. How difficult is it to fill in a spreadsheet where the expected values are defined. It is looking so bad I may have to cancel my holiday next week.

Good morning everyone 😄
Howl happy belated birthday 🎂🎉🎁👏💐
Wind has dropped overnight and it looks quite a nice morning out now.
Sorry to hear you had such a horrible night sleep Wolf hope you are ok in work today love 💐
Unescorted I hope you are able to go on your holiday next week & I hope you get through all of the work you've got to do , it sounds yuk, good luck 💐
Off to Mum's soon same old same old nevermind, day off on Friday.

Please may I have the pattern

Dh has been in the loft (I darent go up there because spiders) and dragged down the dcs clothes I was storing.

I’ve sorted them into 5 piles:

• keep - stuff off ds’ which will work for Dd.
• give to dfriend who’s due in December - neutral vests and baby grows etc
• spares for nursery - sleep suits etc
• charity shop
• bin

I’m dealing with charity shop and nursery today.

Take care Wolf, hope you feel better soon.

I have made the mistake of sitting down after lunch, it will be 5 x harder to make myself do anything this afternoon now...

NSD

DH has given me his phone and said I can check MN once a day. Phone for me is sorted and should be there by the time I get home. I hope you don’t mind if I only catch up from today there’s so many posts!

wolf sorry to hear you aren’t feeling too good, I hope you feel well soon ❤️

unescorted I hope you can still go on your holiday, lovely.

Thank you mrs wind was terrible here too (we’re in wales and I think that’s where you’re from but I know we aren’t near you). I hope you had a good time at your DM’s.

Great sorting em!

Quick question for you all, what are/were your 5 year olds like?. Jude will be 5 next month and I’m really worried that he’s still quite young. He’ll be one of the oldest in his class but he just doesn’t really like playing with people other than his brothers, won’t really play on his own and is still quite sensitive (always wants cuddles etc). He’s great and so confident with the people he knows but when he doesn’t know people he’s shy. I’m just worried he’s going to seem really young compared to others when he goes to school, but also this is my first 5 year old so I’m not sure if this is just what they’re like.

There’s 4 days left of holiday and we’re soaking it up. It’s been lovely having dh around. We’re having beans on toast now and then off for a walk by the beach for sunset. Have attached a few pics of our set up.

snuggly I made the mistake of not getting up for lunch. It was 5 x harder.

I have made very fulsome notes Howl / Mrs so when they decide what they are doing and when someone else can do it. I will go on holiday.

You must take your holiday Unescorted

Sorry Howl, can’t help you as my oldest DC is autistic so not very typical! However, there‘s a massive spectrum of ‘normal‘ and being sensitive isn’t necessarily a bad thing in life. He sounds like a sweetie! He might need a bit more encouragement from staff to join in but a good teacher will clock that and gently steer and support him. I’d try not to worry for now, you might find he really opens up when he finds his feet.

Hope you’re alright Lonely

I’ve been into the office today, so horrible tube, bleurgh. I did go out for lunch with a couple of my team as we wanted to catch up and also rude not to take advantage of EOTHO . We had 3 very decent sourdough artisan pizzas and 2 tiramisus between us for £16! I paid. And it was lovely to hang out a bit even if we were catching up on work.

Life, Unescorted, I’ll try to send the mask pattern tomorrow. A friend sent it to me and I think it’s a really good pattern - I find it well fitting and simple to make. Once I’ve cut the fabric out (which I tend to do in batches) I can do all the sewing in under 15 mins now for each one. But I seem to recall that when my friend sent the pattern to me originally I couldn’t get the google doc link to work so she ended up emailing it to me. If I can’t can’t send a working link I might need an email address to send the pdf. Let me look tomorrow, I’m afraid I’m too knackered to wrestle with files tonight!

No mask making tonight and though I picked my knitting up I’m too tired for that too! I’m getting DD’s cold... bit snuffly, scratchy throat 🙄. To bed now.

Thanks sea. I'm fine with you having my email address.

Y take some leave unescorted.

Feeling meh yesterday and today. Got quite upset at some work news which isn't like me. Hormones. Nsd yesterday but did book a couple of house viewing and valuation for mine. Got some jobs left to do but that's fine

Hi all, plodding on here. It's not really getting any easier with dd and I need to try and speak to a dr today to see if I can get signed off.

Haven't spent much though and today is payday.

Lovely work colleagues sent me some beautiful flowers Ystd 😊

Girlie do you think it will ease tensions a bit when DD goes back to school ? Not that the issues will magically go away but that a bit of routine might help both of you and stop food being the only thing she has to think about. Though I guess it might be hard for you not to be able to watch her all the time.

Do you know whether any of her friends share her eating concerns?

I’m working today, DH has a day off with the Dc. But we’ve had to separate them as they were both kicking off about something and winding each other up so I’m currently in the bathroom with DD while she sits on the potty...

9 bags in the car for the charity shop. Will drive them there tomorrow. This includes some of the dcs toys.

Dds room is nice and tidy and new furniture in its place. Dh needs to take bags back to the loft. 6 bags out three back in.

Off to lunch with dsis in a bit. Lunch and wine. Day drinking! Hoorah!

unescorted absolutely get your holiday
Girlie lovely flowers. Good to know they are thinking about you.
Sea I'll PM you about the quilting. The Roald Dahl fabrics sound lovely. I don't have a long arm machine & manage fine.
Howl love the tent bunting. I think 5 year old boys come in a range of guises & I wouldn't worry, but my experience seems like eons ago!
Em I've got charity shop bags ready to go too. Need to find out when they are open.

Been in the office this morning, WFH this afternoon. Payday was yesterday, Friday for DH. Will catch up properly later

Thank you both (will catch up properly later), I think because he’s the oldest and he’s so tall I expect a lot more off him than I would if he was my youngest or my only.

I too would hope the return to school helps a bit girlie obv the different situation has its own issues but having the focus shifted away from food with all the lessons and teachers etc will hopefully help a lot 💐

Frugal win, DH went to switch broadband but BT came back with a waaaay better deal. So saving the hassle too. I’m glad he’s on the ball with that stuff as I am not!

I’ve also taken a first step towards more general help with getting back to work/training/volunteering etc - a charity that helps autistic people with these things. Someone will phone me late next week to discuss a plan.

(I did look further into that job BTW and the travel really would be prohibitive - places with no public transport etc. Gutted but it’s prompted me to make further investigations so not all bad!)

Evening everyone
Sing well done to Dh
Girlie beautiful flowers what lovely work mates
Em well done on the charity donations
Life ahh bless you love, sometimes it all gets a bit much
Howl Thank you re Mum's , off tomorrow , phew ! What a smashing tent and the beans cooking in the tin that is so clever or l am just thick as
Sea Hope your cold isn't too bad
I have been so busy it's not true, Mum fell yesterday , she's ok but we needed to rearrange the bed and the dining room to stop her from falling again and give it a good clean afterwards, so we have been doing that today for 6 hours . Me , Dh & Bobbo getting in the way of us two
Consequently we are knackered , l came home and had a hot bath in lavender Epsom salts . I could feel the stress lifting from me as l lay in the water it was gorgeous
NSD today Yay!