Frugal fun in February - the one with the Spring spring

[Unescorted]

New thread continued from this one

All are welcome - just dive in.

Wow interesting to hear from you all on the poverty/ inequality stuff. My story is a bit odd, we were very poor in comparison to the people around us when we were little though lived in a fairly affluent area. When I was a teenager my DDad suddenly got an extremely well paid job so we were then rich. So I feel I can see both sides somewhat.
unescorted I teach midwifery - so that theory bit to student midwives - 50% is theory and 50% practice. And like mrs have worked with a lot of families in poverty.
And interesting what people say about needing to hide it or not - another article I was reading recently was about poverty contributing to child abuse, and how much it's linked to shame. Sorry, hope that not too near the bone for people.
On a more cheerful note! having a lovely weekend at DParents. Bizarrely we all did a jigsaw together which took about 6 hours. Went to a restaurant for DMums 80th. DDad who has early dementia was paying but completely forgot his PIN number (couldn't even remember what a PIN was) then apparently shouted it out to the whole restaurant when he remembered it 🤗
Glad you are home em
Sounds busy tayto, your DD is very well provided for, I certainly agree about the cost of teenagers. My eldest two have jobs now which helps!

Sorry alfie missed your post, that sounds a nightmare. At least, if you can manage the job through that, hopefully you can manage it through anything!

Morning all ddog slept all night in his crate with dh on the air bed next to him yay he left his cone off so hopefully he hasn’t been licking his wound as although they said his wound is healing nicely I am still not sure he’s ok to be with his cone. They are both still as sleep in the lounge. So hopefully this will work next week when I am on my own with ddog as I can’t cope with no sleep like last week

May have to go and get dog food today not sure if I need to go to b & m try to avoid going unless I have to as I end up spending

Have a good day everyone

Hi just popping into say hello, hope you're all okay.

I'm alright, dds now 16 😱 not sure how that happened and is studying hard for her GCSEs which start in 4 weeks time! Mentally she's still up and down but we're plodding on and generally she's okay.

Life suddenly seems very busy again and as always expensive! So I probably do need to hang around to make myself accountable again.

I've booked a big holiday for dd and I in July, two weeks in Portugal 😊 the holidays now paid for but I need to save some spending money!

I had a little windfall as it turned out I had been overpaying on my rent (shared ownership house) since we moved in nearly 6 years ago so that was nice and has helped the holiday fund.

My gas and electric hasn't gone up yet but I'm trying to cut down on use and keep the heating off 🥶

Hi all,

Not much to report here. Doing quite well with my economy drive, aside from essentials I’ve only spent £4 on a new eyebrow pencil as my old one had finally run out

@ememem84 great to hear you’re back home, that’s gone so fast!

@Alfiemoon1 hope ddog is doing ok.

Beautiful day here, just having a leisurely breakfast in peace before I head to work later.

Laundry outside. Yay. Already done 3 loads….

Ds has a birthday party to go to today. And while that’s happening dd and I will do recycling food shop and some sorting out.

Nice and sunny here as well washing is on so will peg out when it’s finished and will probably put the bedding in as well to make the most of the drying weather although Dcat is currently snoozing on my bed

Had a nice wander around Avoca. I saw lots of lovely things but just kept telling myself, "They're trying to sell you a lifestyle. Buying that lovely bowl/plate/diffuser won't magically make your life wonderful". Also, I knew I'd have to confess it to you lot . I did buy some overpriced rice kripie cakes (€8) but that was a bribe to get DD to come with me. Going to take in my washing in a minute and then get dinner started. Having a small turkey joint for dinner with roasties, carrots and broccoli. And lots of gravy. Might watch the other Agatha Chrisie move tonight ('Death on the Nile'). I snoozed through quite a bit of last night's movie . But I read the book years ago so I knew how it ended.

Nice to see you girlie and yeah on the rent savings. Good to hear dd is still plodding on. Hope the gcse stress doesn’t get to her too much

Yeah for washing out
Been at the stables today running refreshments for an event. It’s amazing how the 50p add up

Hope you get a sofa refund em
You are right tayto you don’t need it. It might be pretty but it’s over priced

Martha I have obviously not managed very well as they haven’t signed me off training and am making me do another week as I am not where I should be. I am disappointed and worried but not going to let it spoil the weekend. Will see how it goes next week. Fortunately if they get rid of me we can afford to manage on just dh wages we have savings and my old job is recruiting so would probably have me back loads of people leave and go back then usually leave again Lol and I could request part time hours which i would prefer

Spends £35 pet shop bought a baby gate for ddog and food £15 b & m

I've just seen that people who have NHS lease cars up to 2020 should be entitled to some kind of VAT reimbursement. So will look into that, don't really understand it tbh.

Spends £56 on a 60th birthday present for my dad.

I mean i would prefer part time hours not to go back to my old job btw but it is an option if this doesn’t work out

Oops sorry alfie I misread your first post. You are right though to put it aside over the weekend. Fingers crossed for a better week for you.
life that's good about the NHS cars

I mean wreck! Blimey I'm a bit tired

Thanks ok I have no idea what it's about but people are up in arms about it on the fb pages as their trusts haven't been giving them the refund they're owed 🤷🏻‍♀️

Feckin marvellous I’ve had a stuffy nose all day presumed it was hay fever but I’ve just tested positive I might as well hand my notice in now lol

Oh no alfie. You are haveing a right run of bad luck. Don’t quit but see if they will let you consolidate some
Of your training while at home and catch up a bit

Oh no hope you feel better soon. Agree with life above, that sounds proactive if you feel well enough

£73 driver course, &26 Superdrug, £20 matalan, £20 refund primark

Think that’s it today

Nsd. Finally. Dh needs diesel but there is none to be found 🤬

NSD for me today yay!
Petrol is 154.9 here Diesel is 170.9 and there doesn't seem to be a shortage thankfully
Tayto I had the same last Easter the Eggs had all sold out so this year l bought them early
Em oh it looks lovely there you must be over the moon and l love your sofa too
Alfie l hope your dog is recovering well & hope you feel ok too lovely
Martha so glad you had a lovely weekend with your parents
Girlie that is brilliant re the overpayment an dl so hope your DD does well in her GCSE's
Waves to everyone

Evening.

Busy couple of days here. Packing moving stuff etc.

Day off work today for me to continue it.

Called m&s and they are going to look into the issue. I explained we’re happy with what’s been ordered just want the difference refunded. They need to check the order on their side and then should be able to sort it. Yay.

Sorted the dcs rooms today. And had a good crack at ours. So things are tidier.

Electrician here today and he’s done heaters and lights.
Kitchen fitter has done the plinths and extractor.
Baskets in corner cupboards tomorrow.

We’ve made a snagging list. So need to go through it.

£65 dunelm - lunchboxes for me, light bulbs, toothbrush holder (metal one - the dc have dropped 3 china ones in the last 6 months).

Sorted two huge laundry bags for charity. Being ruthless. Dd has decided she’s not sleeping in a cot anymore and demanded a big girl bed. So we’ve gone with it. Bought her big girl bedding too. So she’s super happy.

In the last 8 weeks she’s gone from baby to big girl. Potty training nailed. Only nappies at night time now. Big girl bed. Miss independent.

Ds has grown up too. He’s questioning everything. Has a understanding for things around him. I can’t quite believe that he’s starting school in sept.

Tomorrow I have to buy new pans. Have a voucher for expensive cook shop. (Around £150) and a list. And their loyalty app. So I’ll collect a shit ton of points and will get another 15% off voucher.

Also picking up my pictures from framers tomorrow. £99. But worth it. They’re so beautiful. They needed proper framing.

Morning,
DS2 had 4 friends to sleep over last night. Well I say sleep, none of that actually happened. I was fine until about 5am when I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep because I could hear them all talking downstairs.

But they’d all headed off home by 8 and they’ve tidied up after themselves which is marvellous as I’m shattered.

Send coffee. Lots of coffee.

Picked up my pictures. And spent a small fortune in cook shop. We needed all new pans etc. bought the best quality we could afford. They will be used. And used. And will last. All have 10 years if not a lifetime guarantee. So. Win. And home delivery.

NSD for me, DH bought dog food £31, coffees, about £7, and spent about £30 in Sainsbury’s.

Feel a bit better but still not 100%.