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Safely into a frugal September saving as we go...

999 replies

northender · 06/09/2020 08:30

New thread. Thought I needed to get back on track.

OP posts:
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64
anorangeaday · 14/09/2020 17:19

Hi everyone, sorry for being AWOL this weekend. We had a really nice time, the weather was great for it and I’m very disappointed to be home. Although the weather is still great and DD went to nursery in a summer dress today!. Work is finished for the day, I’ve picked the DC up from nursery, walked the dog and now we’re off to the pub for a cold squash!

We spent quite a lot over the weekend, we went out for lunch and dinner both days, which came to about £150, but DC’s dad paid for our meals. I bought doughnuts and buckets and spades etc which came to £57.

born so children under 12 don’t count? Could I technically meet up with 5 other people plus DC?

sea being a single parent has been sooo difficult in lockdown, they’re 3 and 1 (were 2 and 10 months at the beginning), so it’s just been hectic. I’m a teacher, fortunately I wasn’t in school but I was still working from home so I couldn’t spend all day with them. I’m very happy I’ve been allowed a bubble, I don’t know what I’d have done if I hadn’t.

snuggly I feel the same, DC’s are at nursery and I work in a school, I feel like if I don’t catch it it’ll be a miracle.

life I don’t think it is restricted to 2 households? I think 6 people from 6 households could meet up.

I hope you feel well soon unescorted

wolf I think it’s case by case isn’t it, everyone can assess their needs and as long as they aren’t being stupid I think a little tweaking of the rules is fine. Especially considering they’re so confusing.

sea I tried mussels for the first time when we were away, they’re so tasty. I’ve always been iffy about sea food, but I’ve decided to start trying it. It is very nice.

Good luck with your assignment em

wolf I hope your back and hip feel better and well done on doing so much with the house.

sea I really need to get started on Christmas shopping. So annoying about the masks, a few schools near me have closed. As you say, it’s going to be a long winter.

Congratulations girlie! And great to hear about your DD

Gorgeous pics em

anorangeaday · 14/09/2020 17:23

Oh sorry mrs didn’t see your post, I hope your mum feels better soon

Mrsmadevans · 14/09/2020 17:30

Ahh thank you Orange Smile she was fine after a bit of TLC and Cadbiry's chocolate not Sugar free of course!
You had a lovely time by the sound of it. l don't blame you not wanting to to end Smile

Wolfcub · 14/09/2020 18:08

Imposter syndrome here too Girlie, I completely get it.

Poor mum MrsEvans.

Codeine didn't touch pain last night so no sleep again and hand unusable today too - last week has taken its toll. Looks like b&q are going to be knobs about the joiner cost. I may take to social media, angry of run bridge wells style

Monday night roast chicken dinner in the oven, I love a roast. Just missing stuffing otherwise it'd be full mashings but I can't be arsed

ChristmasSeacow · 14/09/2020 18:45

Orange I nearly lost my mind even with DH around during lockdown - not the DC’s behaviour especially, more the pressure of trying to work and still give them a bit of the attention they deserved. Work + kids was really tough!

DD actually tried one of my mussels yesterday - she looked a bit unsure but to be fair, she ate the whole thing before politely declining another 😂

Wolf it’s way too hot here for a roast today! I actually wished I’d done something more summery yesterday but PILs love a roast at any time. 27C here today though, I do t want to out the oven on! Need some cookies for the DC but they can slum it and have something shop bought tomorrow Wink.

Mrs hasn’t your DM done that before? You are a saint Grin

Frugal win - I’ve been after some green tomatoes to make a particular jam but not been able to find any in the shops. I asked on a local fb page whether anyone knew where they could be obtained and someone offered me some from her garden. I went round today and she gave me 2kg! I promised her a jar of jam in return but am just well chuffed to have got hold of some, and even better for free!

But now I’ll need to make jam tomorrow. When it’s hot - forecast says 29C here tomorrow 🌞🔥. I also have to make the BFG out of fondant icing this week. And I’ve a lot of work on. Sigh.

Can I ask for advice? Look away if you don’t enjoy toddler poo talk... DD seems to have completely got the hang of doing wees in the potty. Occasionally she gets distracted and is a bit too slow but mostly she’s completely fine. Poos however... she just doesn’t seem to be able to make them happen on the potty, even if going regularly. She just poos her pants, sometimes several times a day. I think she tries to withhold but gets surprised. She only really goes properly when she has a nappy on last thing at night / first thing. I’m not sure whether the. Apples are confusing her but in any case she’s not dry at night and I don’t want her witholding completely either. How can I get her to poo in the potty without making it into a massive deal? It’s only a matter of time before we get a call from school during the day because she’s had an accident...

Unescorted · 14/09/2020 19:33

Evening all.

orange thanks I am feeing loads better thankfully. Just a bug I think … pre Covid bug obviously.

wolf I love a winner winner chicken dinner. With Chips and Greeeeeevy too.

Mrs I hope MumBob appreciate how much you do for them.

Sea your DD is adorable.

Wolf hope you are feeling a bit better & YaY on driving the camper..... I know a lovely place just over the Pennines that you could stay at. Cakes, wine and ragging the kids over the hills until they drop (we don't have to go with them.... that can be delegated)

DD has changed her mind on minimalist packing.... she has ordered up most of an entire IKEA store and added extras from Amazon. The postie and couriers will be busy. I am broke.

Mrsmadevans · 14/09/2020 20:24

Omg Wolf what have you done to your hand love ? I know you have been painting and doing a lot of stuff but have you injured it? I find Cocodamol usually kill most pain. Have you tried Ibuprofen gel rubbed in it ?
Thank you re Mum , she's ok tonight , MumBob slept for 3 hours this afternoon 😄 so the feel a lot better. Your dinner sounds delicious 😋

Mrsmadevans · 14/09/2020 20:31

Sea your Dd was very adventurous l don't know if I could eat them 😄😋
Yes Mum has done that ages ago but you'd think she would learn 😂
Have a feeling this is quite common with little ones , mine used to like to be very quiet and unobserved . l think if my Memory serves me right they only really 'got it' when they had a small child's seat on top of the "adult seat' in the normal toilet. Good luck with it l"m sure it will come very soon 🤗

Mrsmadevans · 14/09/2020 20:33

Unescorted they do appreciate us and they don't , depends on how poorly they were feeling when we rescued them 😄
Glad you are better. Ahhh bless you re DD going to Uni , she will live it! So exciting for you all !

lifelongfrugaleer · 14/09/2020 20:46

Lots of work stresss and house stress today.

Rest up wolf. Physical work can reek havoc on us desk wallers Grin

Oh dear mumbob.

Isn't it something to do with the falling away sensation sea. I think one of mine was a refuser but I can remember if I did anything other than wait it out. Soz

£90 survey £££ survey for new house.

SnugglySnerd · 14/09/2020 21:08

Feeling fed up with it all today. I need something nice to happen/to look forward to.

Lovemaltesers · 14/09/2020 21:40

We love a roast here sea, whatever the weather. No useful advice on toiletting, mine just eventually got the hang of it so perseverance is key.

You are very amazing mrs, we appreciate everything you do for mumbob

Sorry to hear about the hand wolf

Great news on the assignments girlie and pleased to hear DD is moving in the right direction

Got another prescription for my earache. Apparently it’s a fungal infection. It’s putting me in a rather bad mood.

Wedding has got to the rather stressful stage, mainly due to change of plans. Bride-earache-zilla is now me!

ememem84 · 14/09/2020 21:41

mrs oh dear!!! Ddad has done similar previously. With raspberry liquorice. Three whole bags of the stuff because well it is yummy. But...in his words....”wooosh”

Dh also a while back made a really nice cold drink from green tea lemons cucumber mint. I had a glass but he drank two litres (the rest of the bottle and jug) in the morning. Again woosh.

Both funny now. At the time not so much.

Spa was lovely. Full massage with pressure right on the neck and shoulders and bottom of spine (where I hold tension). The lady felt my shoulders crunch they’re that tight and an eye brightening facial.

Lunch included - quinoa salad with garlic prawns. Yum. Sea swim after - Dcs were with dparents ag the beach so joined them and took them home.

Lovemaltesers · 14/09/2020 21:42

also please don’t ask me for advice on whether your cough is a Covid cough or not

Bornlazy · 14/09/2020 21:43

Orange it's just Scotland where under 12s don't count although I think people are campaigning to get it changed in England too.

Well done Girlie

Mrs that is an unfortunate start to your day. Enjoy your day off tomorrow

So tired tonight. Going to bed.

Wolfcub · 14/09/2020 21:55

Oh no Love, hope your ear gets better soon and the wedding stress lifts

Mrs the joys of arthritis and, as Lige rightly suggests, overdoing it

I love that liquorice Em, your day sounds blissful

Mrsmadevans · 14/09/2020 23:17

Aw shucks that is so kind of you all Smile
EM that is so funny re the red liquorish Grin your poor Grandad Smile Your spa day sounds perfect Smile
Wolf you poor thing arthritis is hellish pain, they gave Mum Naproxen and she said it was like giving a donkey strawberries Hmm
Born hope you get a good nights sleep Smile
Love l can only imagine how stressful it will be for you Flowers
Life it will be gorgeous when it's finished Flowers
Am off to bed too have a good sleep everyone Smile

Mrsmadevans · 15/09/2020 08:57

Morning everyone 😀
Off to Newport for a bit of retail therapy 😁
Have a lovely day everyone 😀

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 15/09/2020 12:34

I've had a productive morning, have sorted all the boring life admin which has been accumulating for ages and I've sorted the dog insurance. Had a look on a price comparison website and have got insurance for £11 a month compared to the £18 a month I'm currently paying!!

Taking dd into town after school to sort out her bank account, she's finally got a proper account so I need to close the old savings one she's got.

ememem84 · 15/09/2020 13:13

Expensive day.

Tempur matress just purchased. £2238. (Which is a lot granted but...sleep. Sleep is so important and we haven’t changed our matress for 10 years. And this one has a 10 year guarantee).

Also £300 to book hotel stay - we’ve decided that instead of travelling we’re going to do a couple of staycations. The last one was the zoo. This one is a local hotel with wicked cool pool. The dc will love it.

anorangeaday · 15/09/2020 16:50

Well what the fook is happening with the weather? I’m happy for it to be this hot when I’m by the beach but I’m ready to settle down for winter now. I’d put the summer clothes in the loft and have had to drag them back down and buy DD some school summer dresses, it’s all very weird for mid September.

£20 for a 5 pack of school dresses, got them in a size 4 so hopefully it isn’t a waste of money and will fit her next summer, going into sept of next year. £30 petrol. £3.99 each for kids meals at pub yesterday, they had chicken nuggets, garlic bread, corn on the cob, jelly and a fruit shoot each so you can’t complain for that price can you!. I had a chicken Katsu burger £8.29 and an arctic roll £3.49 plus a jug of water.

I can’t remember if I said yesterday, but lots of schools near me have closed due to bubbles bursting. My neighbours DC’s primary school has closed, so they’re all isolating. My auntie and cousin work at a high school near me that has also shut now.

mrs Cadbury’s can cure everything! Glad to hear she’s feeling more like herself now. It was a really lovely time, I think I’ll make it an annual thing, or maybe go a few weekends a year as the DC love the sea. Enjoy your retail therapy!

Sorry to hear about your hand wolf

sea tbh I think I’d have struggled more if I was still with the ex! He was like a 3rd child. It was very difficult juggling work and kids, I can do it easily when I’m away from home, I like to stay back an hour at work to lesson plan, I really struggle to do even that at home so it was even worse in lockdown. Bless your DD, they are a funny taste aren’t they. Brilliant win with the tomatoes! What a lovely lady. DD is only just pooing on the toilet now, as mrs said, it worked here when we put the toddler toilet seat on the toilet.

Glad to hear you’re feeling better unescorted, I was hoping a few bugs would have been eradicated now as we’ve been inside so much so nobody could pass them, but if anything there seem to be more. My poor Daunt has got chicken pox!.

love I hope the meds help your ear, earache and toothache are the worst aren’t they. Hope things sort out with the wedding, it’s getting very close now isn’t it?.

em your spa and massage sounds great! I hope the mattress is good, I can’t remember the last time I got a new mattress.

born that’s great for Scotland, it makes a lot of sense really. It would be good here for those with 4+ kids, so they can still see family.

Well done on the admin girlie

Back home now from work, we’re going to take the dog around the woods. I think we will stay for longer as the weather is so nice. Tuna pasta bake for tea. Also made a start on Christmas shopping. £10 for the faraway tree collection, DD’s too little to read them herself but I will make them our bedtime reads. Just need to look for DS now, I struggle to buy for him as his only interests are characters like bing, Iggle piggle and I don’t want to buy too much character stuff in case he goes off it and it’s a waste, but I’ll just have to and hopefully be able to sell it on or donate to a charity shop when he’s done with it!.

Mrsmadevans · 15/09/2020 16:58

Sounds like a very productive day Girlie Smile
Em Tempur mattresses are the very best . My parents both had one and it was well worth the money .
Bought this for Dd2 for her house she has been wanting them for ages, they'd gone down in store to 15 ech so bought them for her Smile

images.app.goo.gl/h3Aj54VnWUkV2gbC8

images.app.goo.gl/Qn4MjkqCAgtid2hh7

Mrsmadevans · 15/09/2020 17:00

Oh bgr link not worked will rectify it now Smile

images.app.goo.gl/Qn4MjkqCAgtid2hh7
images.app.goo.gl/h3Aj54VnWUkV2gbC8

Mrsmadevans · 15/09/2020 17:03

Orange those dresses were a bargain, also the Dc will be wearing them in April /May/June /July next year , given the weather , so they shouldn't be a waste.

Happierwithouthim · 15/09/2020 17:18

They’re lovely mrsevans

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