Frugal fun in February - the one with the Spring spring

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New thread continued from this one

All are welcome - just dive in.

Market £5 on cakes and biscuits 😋 Savers 6 for condensation mould traps 🙄
Watching Pieces of Her Netflix absolutely brilliant, stars Toni Collette what else would it be!
Em excellent one down one to go 👏👏👏

My phone was due for an upgrade but I resisted it and went for a sim only deal. Now I’m down from £37 a month to £8 with unlimited calls and texts and 2gb of data. We’re on a family plan with 4 devices and it takes it down to around £45pm. One of the devices has unlimited data so we just share it around so no probs with only having 2gb. Have bought a £10 data roaming pack for my son’s trip to America this month. A small price to pay to save potentially loads! No other spends today.

Spent a lot today , 40 in Aldis, 10 in Shaws , petrol 77 🙄 , Morrisons 32, 40 in Asda , Waitrose 10 for a birthday cake , so we should be ok for food for the week.
Minty Well done on resisting the upgrade 👏👏

Had a request from British Gas to submit my meter readings. Did so and they say I’ll get a revised bill within the next 2 days. I almost feel sick thinking about what the new direct debit will be.

DS2 needs new trainers. He may be only 12 but he’s an adult size 10.5/11, so no cheap deals to be had. His school is non uniform so he wears them every day. I did order some but they’re not right. So he’s going to go shopping with DH on Sunday while I’m at work. That means he will buy them and not me, ha ha, result!

Approximately £75 on groceries delivery today. Also £25, DH paid, on a screen cover for my phone and a case for his. Got £5 off because DH has bought covers and protectors there for DD’s numerous phones.

Well done on the phone Minty 👍

Fab news on the negative test em, 🤞 for the next one.

Great news on the negative test em
Spends £15 on dog food and shampoo £35 in sainsburys as needed a few bits. I need to work on meal planning as I go in for 1 thing and end up spending loads might go back to online shopping as there isn’t a shortage of slots now but sometimes I do a massive shop and don’t look at shelf life and things get wasted I need to be more organised. Getting fed up with dh and ds asking for things like fruit or fresh stuff and them not eating it
2 loads of washing dried outside on the line today was so cold this morning but it dried am trying to only use drier now in emergencies so have been using the airer and radiator but it is so nice to dry it outside finally

Hey everyone,

It's a nice day here, sun is shining although it's still a bit chilly, dh and I were away at the weekend, yesterday I made use of all the bits and bobs we already had in and cooked sausage and mash with cauliflower cheese and veg, actually felt quite frugal!

Every so often I have this feeling that we'd be so much happier without tons of stuff, I'd love to live in a minimalist home but that's just not going to happen, I've written a list and am going to start decluttering, yesterday I went into the loft and got rid of a load of cardboard boxes - no idea why we were holding on to them anyway. I'm also going to tackle kitchen utensils, crockery and cookware, bed linen & towels - basically the airing cupboard and eventually the spare room which we use as a dressing room/walk in wardrobe. Mostly I need to stop buying stuff.

Alfie I'm exactly the same with food shopping and not checking dates, I threw away a pack of salmon fillets last week that I'd got on the Friday and the use by was Saturday- I wasn't gonna risk it! I'm also really looking forward to getting washing on the line
Mrs a petrol station nearby is charging £186.6 for diesel, at this rate it's actually going to be so expensive to get to work for people.
North sounds like you had a lovely time in Devon - isn't it nice to have a break?

Hi everyone.

Really hoping for a nsd today as it's been a while...

Yesterday was ds's 19th birthday its bizarre to think this is his last teenage year. I actually find this stage every bit as difficult as when they were young. It's so hard letting them make their own way in life, mistakes and all. He hates his job (don't we all?) so that makes me worry constantly.

Camden I know what you mean about too much stuff. I often think I'd be much happier without half of it.
We had got into a good habit, when we were doing more online shopping, of writing the dates of fresh produce on the kitchen calendar as we were unpacking it. It meant we could meal plan more efficiently and freeze things if they weren't going to be used in time.

I haven't heard what my gas and electricity bill is going up to but we were already high so absolutely dreading it. I have started turning the heating down a bit as we do tend to have it toasty warm. It's such a worry, especially for people who were already really struggling. If need be I can cut out non essential spends but what happens if you have nothing left to cut back on?

@Bornlazy

Hi everyone.

Really hoping for a nsd today as it's been a while...

Yesterday was ds's 19th birthday its bizarre to think this is his last teenage year. I actually find this stage every bit as difficult as when they were young. It's so hard letting them make their own way in life, mistakes and all. He hates his job (don't we all?) so that makes me worry constantly.

Camden I know what you mean about too much stuff. I often think I'd be much happier without half of it.
We had got into a good habit, when we were doing more online shopping, of writing the dates of fresh produce on the kitchen calendar as we were unpacking it. It meant we could meal plan more efficiently and freeze things if they weren't going to be used in time.

I haven't heard what my gas and electricity bill is going up to but we were already high so absolutely dreading it. I have started turning the heating down a bit as we do tend to have it toasty warm. It's such a worry, especially for people who were already really struggling. If need be I can cut out non essential spends but what happens if you have nothing left to cut back on?

Not sure it helps much but ds2 was 19 last month, he has hated every job he's had, he's starting a new job tomorrow - really hoping this one lasts, all of his friends have gone on to Uni and he's at home not really doing much constantly bored and skint.

Both DH and I are in the same mindset - we really want him to be happy but like you we are trying to get him to understand he has to stand on his own two feet and make his way in the world, it's a different kind of struggle isn't it?

Regular here, I’ve had to NC.

Everything written previously was poetic licence anyway? Aha. Will have to be less “me” now

Camden that does help. Thank you. I feel like everyone's children are much more focused than mine, doing well at university etc and much as I wish it was better for both of us its nice to know I'm not alone.

Time I'm always paranoid that I'll be outed- not that I have anything remotely exciting to be outed for. Hope your new name works for you.

Well I won’t know who you are I’m rubbish at the name change game

Spendy day here, £12 on Vitamin D tablets and £12.48 on storage boxes.

Oh time I’m crap at name change game.

Having a fairly good week spends wise.
Ds had an interview today for a paid sandwich year placement. It's his first ever interview & sounds like it went well. He knows it's competitive but is very relaxed about it. I hope he gets it as the year away would do him good. He has 3 other applications in.

Sounds great north

Our broadband due to end the introductory offer in April so have switched to a different provider - currently pay £29 for broadband and TV but got a deal for £19, need to call my current provider to tell them I have arranged to leave them and see if they will match it - if not, we are off!
I need new shoes and clothes for work, I have nothing for warmer weather that fits, need some smart flats and a couple of jackets. Has any one had much luck on Vinted?

Camden that is extortionate , we paid 146.9 per litre for petrol .l do think some garages and franchises are making the most of this and profiteering though otherwise why are some still able to be so much lower tha others. We always check the petrol prices before we fill up because it can be as much as a fiver less ie 10p less a litre in some garages, when we fill right up . Over a year that is £260 just for checking, yet if it is 20p or 30p more then it really racks up !
Born l hope your DS had a wonderful birthday yesterday
Time hope you are ok. l am useless at knowing ppl's writing styles too sorry you had to NC
Gen have a look at Marks they have some lovely things in also Zara do lovely suits & River Island . They have lovely clothes in.
Well done on the broadband every little helps
North good luck to your DS
Born my Dds have done 2 degrees , one for Midwifery and one for Teaching , they both hated their chosen careers mainly because of terrible bullying, which affected their mental health & the fact they had very little support after qualifying . My DD1 has also done an English lit degree which although she loved it, is not being used. I have supported them both in their decisions because it is their life & l fully believe you have to be happy in your job because you spend so much time doing it . Atm my DD1 is a carer and my Dd2 works for the Welsh Rugby Union in Cardiff, they both love what they are doing but the pay isn't half what they could be earning, l don't give a jot as long as they are happy
What does upset me is the fact that they could be using their qualifications in their chosen career if only they had been supported correctly & not subjected to bullying , honestly the NHS & NUT should be supporting these youngsters so much more, l think bullying is rife in the workplace & it needs stamping out . So good luck to your Ds l say as long as he is happy in his job that he does get , then that is a hell of a lot to be thankful for
NSD for me yesterday & today yay!

£11 in local shop topping up bread, milk etc

Mrs thank you. You have done so well for your dds. You've given me a bit of a reality check.
He's doing an apprenticeship which he's always said he was doing just to appease us as he didn't want to go to college. The building trade is pretty brutal and he's had some terrible experiences that are unfortunately not uncommon but he's reasonably resilient so copes ok. He just constantly looks miserable and when you ask him why, he says it's because he hates his job. I think I need to support him more to get another job and hope that makes him happier.

£31 sushi bar with colleague for lunch. Yum.

OH Born l am so sorry to hear how unhappy he is , bless him . l so hope your Ds is able to find a job he is happy in, they suffer so much at the hands of ppl who are not capable of any compassion or even kindness and patience . I wouldn't treat anyone the way my Dds have been treated it seems there are some ppl who enjoy being bullies and making our childrens lives a misery. I came under a lot of pressure from my Parents and my siblings to make them work in their chosen careers but l knew my Daughters and having worked for the NHS for 38 years & experiencing bullying myself while l was training, l knew l had to support them. Everything will work out for the best l am sure

Camden & born I so hope your boys find their way & I'm sure they will eventually. In the light of their struggles, I feel a bit uncomfortable sharing my news which is that ds was successful in his interview yesterday and so has been offered a sandwich year placement with EDF in Somerset. After nearly 5 years of multiple health problems & setbacks this feels like a real breakthrough & I have cried lots of happy tears today. He is chuffed to bits & looking forward to a year away from home.

It’s brilliant north. Ds and you all have faced so many issues over the years that we have held your hand for absolutely share how far he’s come. Hurrah ds well done

Interesting reading the if you are comfortable what are you cutting thread. Some people sheesh. However it’s thought provoking imo

North it's wonderful to see the youngsters doing well and being happy. Your Ds happiness gives us hope for our DC too ☺️
Congratulations to your darling son am so pleased for you all 💐