Friendship and Falling Leaves, Frugal Autumn Continued

[Wolfcub]

New fred

Morning all,

Wet and wild here today. Got the tumble dryer on for all the little bits as usual. We should really stop this but I don't have time / headspace to hang up a thousand socks pants wipes nappies etc. Have taken a meter reading and will take again after cycle to try to work out how much tumble dryer costs, no other electrical things are on at the moment apart from fridge freezer.

Should be a nsd today. Toddler and I both shattered so a gentle cosy home day is in order. Might do some baking. Lots of stories on the couch with blankets too I think!

collie can you ring the energy people? Is there not an emergency credit bit you can go into like an overdraft? Hope you get it sorted, how long would £5 last?

kessie sorry your job is stressful, the house plans sound lovely. I'd love a log burner! We have fireplaces but don't use them as wouldn't be safe with DC so they are blocked off but the wind rattles through them. The joys of an old house 🤣

Who was asking about cheese scones? I love making cheese scones Lovely with lots of butter!

@Decafflatteplease they aren't open until 9am. They've taken all the failed payments too (DH just checked the bank!) even though the app says "we won't charge you until payment has been confirmed"

The app fails before you get to the stage where it says "payment confirmed"

I'm so angry!!

Decaffe a homey day (as my Mam calls it) sounds lovely. We are also in an old house with an open fire in the living room which we don't really use as the chimney is not lined so this make me anxious, no heating on the stairs and drafts galore! That's why I'll just close that room off for the winter - it was blissfully cool in the heat wave 🤣 We have a small extension at the back with the log burner, it's v messy but lovely and snug!

Collie that's shocking. Hopefully sorted quickly!

Laska sounds a really lovely break and yes I agree what the fck is going on, worrying times have got worse! Its forecast to be very wet here this afternoon plus I can't be bothered so I've delayed my washing by one day! Good luck with the spreadsheet.

Payday here too!

And I’m waiting on around £100 in clothes I’ve returned when I panic bought last weekend. Not going to add to savings as I put away a huge chunk last month on the back of a bumper month at work and also working for my dad. October is going to be a flat month shift wise so I’m going to try and be extra frugal so I’ve funds to carry over. DS2 needs a winter coat and new clothes too.

@collie hope the energy app gets sorted soon.
@decaff a slow cozy day sounds just what you need, enjoy!

Hope everyone is OK, I haven't been keeping up. I got really down about money in September. The car repair, the flat tyre, school expenses for GS not to mention all the cost of living stuff and I couldn't bear to think about, and fail miserably, at being frugal. GS must be going through some sort of growth spurt or something as he is starving all the time so food isn't lasing the week and we have his 18th in October so that is something I have to try and budget for.

Well September is nearly over so I am going to try again and hope I do better in October than I've managed in September. I can't imagine how I can do worse but then again I can't be sure.

I'm going to go and have a catch up on what everyone has been up to.

Gran easy to do, I felt myself slipping that way last weekend too. Hope you feel a bit better this month. I have one 16 year old DS but sometimes am feeding four of them here, with his friends - not cheap. He also eats through the night 😳

I have the other GC this weekend but they are smaller ones so not quite the same. He's sport mad and with matches and training he is doing it 4 days a week and of course kick abouts at school. I feel like tying him to a chair so he doesn't work up quite such an appetite.

Nothing feels very positive at the moment, I'm waiting for my test results and I'm in pain, DH is disabled so I can't just take to my bed. I feel like running away and joining the circus but they probably wouldn't want me.

I have just submitted my meter readings, thanks for the reminder !
If anyone is on So Energy, they have a 'helpful' meter reading box on their home page after you have signed in ,(apparently because they are expecting lots of traffic today with people submitting readings ) .. It doesn't work! I had to go into my main account page and do it from there.. (which worked first time )

I added a few units also because ill be baking later...

Glad you had a nice time Laska. My fave beach is up near Morar. White sand, turquoise sea and mountains on the horizon. Its so beautiful its almost dreamlike

Scottish Power are being utter shits. 🤣

I just had my interview and it turned into me accepting the role on a self employed contract. Which means I'm a fully fledging freelancer and I'm now getting my head around taxes as I am £20 over the tweekly threshold (I don't earn much!!)

Does that make me some type of business owner? I'm scared.... 😭 but I'm also loving the independence and proud of myself.

I am FREEZING

Tweekly!! sounds like a weekly Twerking magazine 🤣

That's a really good price @CollieWobble22 . I've just done the mse calculator and ours is just under £4000 😱

That’s great news for you collie. Two job offers in two days, that’s such a boost for you.

I am very glad it is Friday. I didn’t have anything more left in me today. DC are both feeling under the weather.

I plan to do three loads of washing tonight, I really hope I can get them dry on the line tomorrow.

Very wet here this evening. I’ve dug out the winter duvets to put on the beds tonight.

Excellent news re the job collie, No, it doesn't make you a business owner, unless you decide to become a limited company etc. I advise you not to do so, it's beyond hard work and stressful!! Any news re Scottish Power?

Glad you had a great time laska, we love Scotland. Try Vinted for your clothes, you'll never look back for buying and selling! I agree, what the frig is going on, it's quite frankly terrifying.

Enjoy the relaxed day decaff.

Hey Gran, I hear you. August was THAT month for us, get back on your frugal horse and we will be here for you too. Just keep plodding, this too will pass. Any circus would want you, I'll come too, we can be a double act x

Tanking down here. Just having a cuppa and then cracking on.

£1 on a packet of wipes for DH.

Totally forgot until this morning that we were having a photo shoot at work. Got my best office gladrags on and spent the next few hours posing for various photo opportunities around the building trying to look official and like an executive. It's for our marketing, socials and website. Never felt like such a twat🤣🤣

Thanks everyone! Scottish Power had an awful day judging by their Twitter. I'll get refunded for all the failed payments within 72hours and I had to go to the post office with a migraine to top up the meter. With a magical barcode that they emailed me. Still a bunch of turds. They haven't even told me what my new tariff is yet!!

Re: the self employment malarkey. I have been advised to set up a limited company due to insurance reasons (I think!) But I really don't want to!! So I won't be doing that.

I feel very tense and anxious today. I turned down the other job and I felt so so so bad / guilty!! I hate letting people down 😢

And breeeeaaaaaaaathe.

£79 Lidl and Asda. Included fakeaway food and chocolate for tonight, lots of store cupboard items, toiletries and household items. So I'm okay with that.

Other than the grocery shop, nothing. Used the leisure club for a circuits work out and the sauna. Monthly fee I'm loathe to give up as the winter approaches but must use it more!

Pleased you got sorted collie. Eventually! Good news on the new role!

Ah gran that sounds hard at the moment. All at once too. The thought of a circus is great, sure they would take you!

I am reading but not posting for a bit

congratulations collie

@kessiebird did you find out what cleaning products are included on the Lidl offer thing please?

@Decafflatteplease I did. It's a W5 cleaning and household product. Not the washing detergent range Formil. Includes the all in one dishwasher tablets that we use (£4 ish?) plus the list mentions candles and car cleaning products. Will be back within 7 days to check it all out!

Congratulations collie
sorry you are feeling down gran I feel the same it’s all doom and gloom in the news and I am just generally fed up at the moment so am tempted to also run away although i would prefer a desert island to myself than a circus

Morning all.
Congratulations re job @CollieWobble22.
I felt like joining the circus too this week @ancientgran but I reckon if I did I'd end up selling tickets or cleaning elephant poo if I did. You know, a sensible, reliable job....

DD had Covid again and was not great with it so have been buying her treats to make her feel better, including new Percy Pig pyjamas and chocolate snouts. I recommend both - £22 in total but totally worth it as it did cheer her up.

So, it will be a cheap weekend chez Warthog as none of us will really be going out. I'll make it to the swimming pool at some point (£4.80 a swim, plus £3 for a hot chocolate) but that will be about it.

DH bought a slow cooker so we could cook enough for a few days at a time and it's been brilliant - we've had goulash and chicken curry so far and it heats you up while the weather's got so much colder.

Thank you :)

Has anyone done any Christmas crafts? I found some red felt and tiny tartan bows in the attic. I need to think of something to make.

It is doom and gloom. Pinterest is saving me

Today I need to find good quality cat food that isn't too pricey. Mid range. As our cat is refusing felix shreds and Iams.

Morning.

Hope you're okay @lifelongfrugaleer.

Should be a NSD. Maybe a coffee for DH. Planning on getting bedding on the line at least but need to do one tumble dry of millions of socks, smalls, etc.

Done a meal plan. Will use some of the following. Some staples and then used Ottolenghi recipe books as my weekly delve.

Aubergine and prawn curry (prawns in freezer).
Gnocchi and roasted veg.
Spiced mushroom pilaff
Veggie sausage and mash
Coconut and turmeric omelette
Halloumi and veggie wraps
Herby potato and butter bean stew.
Tandori chickpeas
Tomato and courgette loaf
Super soft courgettes with harissa and lemon.

Jobs morning.

Have a good day folk.

Confession I wanted to wait until October to turn the OFCH on but I did it thurs for about twenty minutes and again last night.
Immersion won't be needed anymore so hopefully that's ok.

In our budget (Ireland) we're getting an extra child benefit payment in October, and two more €200 electricity bill credits so I'm going to buy oil with that money