Frugal fun in February - the one with the Spring spring

[Unescorted]

New thread continued from this one

All are welcome - just dive in.

tayto that’s exactly what this weekend has been about for me. Escape from reality a bit. I had so much fun yesterday.

Brunch was yum. Life drawing was hilarious - we thought it would in in a art studio type place. But no. It was in a bar. With karaoke. It was insane. Almost wet myself laughing. Shopping - spent a lot in primary/penny’s on the kids because we don’t have one at home. No idea how it’s going to fit in my case….then dinner and dancing in one of the bars along temple bar. I forgot how much I love live music. And Guinness. I had my first Guinness. Because when in Rome….

Sounds like a great time em! A break from reality is often just what is needed.

It’s tricky with the saving money though tayto, if we don’t do nice things then that is other peoples jobs being effected eg. Hospitality, self employed. So spending wisely/sensibly on the nice things is worthwhile if affordable.

Who needs bouquets of flowers from the shop when you can just pick flowers from your garden? I'm definitely planting lots of daffodil and tulip bulbs in the autumn I say this every year. Wouldn't it be lovely to fill vases of daffodils and tulips for free next spring?

em sounds like you're re-discovering your true fun self - the person who gets lost sometimes under the.weight of parenting and working responsibilities. Glad you're having a good time. Just a shame that you've lost a lot of your weekend because of having to bus it to/from Belfast.

Busy day so far - catching up on housework. Also de-scaled the kettle. I live in a really hard water area. Nice to be able to enjoy my cuppa without gagging on the lime sediment at the bottom of my mug.

I may have made a new friend . I joined a local book group but had to cancel two meetings 'cos (1) DD got Covid the week of my first meeting and (2) the next meeting clashes with my night away. I was feeling a bit guilty that the group would think I was being flaky or too lazy to buy/read the books. Anyway, I messaged the organizer on both occasions and assured her that I had read the books and we chatted about the books and we have arranged to meet for coffee over the Easter holiday.

Do you remember my friend who ghosted me abruptly in 2020? She lives in the town and I bump into her occasionally on the main street or in Centra. We just say 'Hello' politely and keep going. It's a bit awkward though.

It's a beautiful, sunny day and I'd love to hit the garden centre and/or do some work in the garden. But the house comes first I guess. . I need to win the lotto so I can give up work and devote myself 90% to the garden between April and September (maybe 10% to the house). Well, may as well dream here as in bed.

Right, I'd better go take in my clothes and make a start on dinner. Nice chatting to you all today.

Good afternoon old pals. How are we all? It's been a while... feel I should probably get back to it now we're all going to be extra poor

Welcome back wreck

I cancelled another tv subscription today. A few weeks ago we had three subscriptions 🤭 DC was excitedly looking through our dvd collection this weekend and saying they’d never watched some of the films!

Our energy DD is going up to £200 per month from May. We use more electric than gas though.

I have had a very idle day. I had quite a bit to do but didn't fancy doing any of it.

Hi Wreck

Spendy day here 🤦‍♀️ £20 in Sainsbury’s, that includes £8 on an Easter egg, then just under £10 in coffee shop with DH. DD2 will be home this evening, DD1 in a few days. That’s going to bump up the electric use.

Frugal fail, I’ve lost 4 tomato plants and a basil to the frost despite my efforts to protect them. I have more seeds from last year so I’ve started again. First shoots of beetroot coming through. I’ve got seed pots on the kitchen table as we have a distinct lack of window sills in this house.

Also, because we went out late, lunchtime, I was too late doing laundry, so it’s in the dryer as I type. Our DD for electric is about £250 per month 😱 we have no gas. I’ve already cancelled Netflix and Amazon Prime, did that a year ago.

I’ve put a second duvet on DD’s beds. DD2 used to use the shower to warm up after laying on her bed with the door closed 🤦‍♀️ Now we don’t have solar panels we can’t afford to fill the bath, or 30 minute showers instead of extra layers 😡

Rang over.

Hope you enjoy the book club Tayto

Hey wreck, welcome back

Saddle club opening day at the stables so as well as time effort and baking cost me £5

Sounds fab em. Safe trip home
What’s wrong with straw. All houses used to be straw and mud? Sheeps wool insulated wood instead ?

I've spent a fair bit today:

£90 holiday club for ds
£21 parking for when I take dd to see Harry styles

That's it actually. Yesterday I bought a heated throw from Lakeland it was £99 but I used a 20% off voucher which stacked with my NHS discount.

Our electricity is fixed until June thankfully and I think that was a two year deal. Dreading it. But, July should be our last month of paying off our loan as we're currently overpaying by £200 a month to clear it and my car payment finishes then too.

Also dh went self employed a few weeks ago. I'm currently working and at uni so get student discount on council tax which is amazing as it takes it down to £135 a month.

Well done on the Council tax wreck

We’re disputing ours, new building a new rural development with no street lights and much less amenities and they’ve put us in band H. Everyone is disputing so hopefully it will be changed. It’s £4,000. And we downsized.

And I’m home.

Phew. Had a nap on the plane. That last bit was tedious.

Kids and DH met me at the airport. Kids so excited to see me which was lovely.

Things we noted. No drinks on the plane - because brexit. No cigarettes at the airport - not allowed to sell because brexit (I don’t smoke but had been asked to mule some back - sadly couldn’t).

Spent £40 duty free - bottle of Bombay sapphire for DH (necessary for him) and overpriced sweets for the kids.

Idleness has resulted in a NSD.... although I will have to go to the more expensive village shop for eggs tomorrow.

Wreck good to see you again.

Life they have a particular vernacular which does not fit in with faux Tudor/ Georgian / Victorian so beloved of the volume builders and some LPA think big bad wolves will blow them down. They are the ultimate in whole life zero carbon construction mind. It is just the lime plaster, window glass, concrete slab floor, metal ties sanitary ware, wiring, sockets, piping and transport of materials to site that are carbon positive. I will be using recycled tyres and green roof for the roof tiles which will carbon capture. Not that I have given this a lot of thought.....

I should probably go fill in the Census form. What will I write in the time capsule bit? Something about the war I guess and maybe Covid as well.

Its ridiculous unescorted. Blooming planning peeps.

Really no duty free em. That’s interesting I was hoping for some Easter bargains

Ns few d planned

Life might just be the airline - we flew blue islands. So maybe just them and their brexit licensing issues.

There was duty free available at the airports. Just not on the plane (which is usually cheaper). Also no cigarettes in belfast airport. Which as a non smoker doesn’t bother me. But I know some people
Will be bothered.

Hi Wreck , good to see you lovely 😀
Adorabel omg that is a sock to the jaw 😱
Unescorted am so impressed by you and your planning/carbon neutral footprint really l am , you are such a good egg .
Although l have heard in the media that Council tax is being reviewed for everyone , l don't ours will change it's bad enough as it is band F 😱
Tayto that's so interesting to joins book club l would love to do that 😀
Em glad you are home safe and sound 😊
We are thinking of replacing our gas guzzling but wonderful 4 year old Hyundai Tuscan , dabbling in electric but know nothing. Also the electricity it costs l have no idea 😱
Time we got rid of Sky , turns out we don't miss it 🤣
NSD for me yesterday and hopefully today 😀
Hope everyone is ok have a lovely day everyone 😊

Won £25 on my premium bonds. I won’t quite give up my job yet though

Well done Time 😁

Yep Mrs

£83 today on grocery delivery.

DH is freaking out about the costs of the building work and everything else. Yet is taking about spending thousands litera thousands on flights to nz for Christmas. It’s insane

First world
Problems

It's five years ago since we went to New Zealand still can't believe how cheaply we got the flights.

Yesterday was a nsd. Today I will probably by a drink at uni but that's it as I'll take lunch with me.

Totally em

em it is the rules about building work.....one of you has to freak out about the costs.

Mrs My straw bale house has been in the planning for a hundred years. Well 25 really.... ever since I first saw one at the Center for Alternative Technology. They are amazing.... breathable but super insulated so they stay warm / cool but don't get sweaty. There is also a community that helps people build their shells - you put people up for a few weeks (think mini festival.... I will rope DD in to run the arts and DS the adventuring) and then when they need help you go and help them build theirs.

I should never have bought the replacement washing line - I have jinxed the weather. Sorry people

@WreckTangled

It's five years ago since we went to New Zealand still can't believe how cheaply we got the flights.

Yesterday was a nsd. Today I will probably by a drink at uni but that's it as I'll take lunch with me.

Wow! Is it really? Abs iirc you flew via Thailand?

Also welcome back!!!! I was thinking about you the other day (randomly hope that’s not wierd…!)

Ds threw up last night. So now we are in the “does he go to pre school dilemma. DH thinks he just ate too much. It was one sick. (Helpfully over his bed so need to get new bedding from the housekeeping team - still in rented accommodation….) so I’m leaning towards sending him. But the other “follow the rules side” says no it’s a 48 hour rule for a reason. However. I don’t want to stay home. Abs neither does DH.