Frugal Friends Fearlessly Facing February.

[needastrongoneagain]

Thought I'd start the new thread. Been ages since I started a thread!

Oh no, hoping your day goes fast, so before you notice it's evening and you can catch some sleep

@northender - I was so happy when DS stopped playing rugby at school. I remember him saying "I didn't let go of his legs at all mum!" As i looked at him with this massive shoe stud scrape down his face.... 😳

@Happierwithouthim - hope your DD is feeling better soon, and that you don't catch the bug.

@CurlsandCurves - sleep deprivation is a form of torture, hope you get a better night's sleep tonight!

$33.83 emergency grocery run for some bread this morning, and bought some leeks, cream, margarine and grapes - avoiding a proper shop as long as possible and raising the freezer etc. $102.27 for a full tank of petrol.
$100 out in cash to pay for school photos for tomorrow.

Found some wild irises on Facebook market place for free, just had to dig them out - which was really hard work as they were very overgrown. Only took about a quarter of what they had. But just one decent sized one is around $12 at Bunnings (similar to B&Q) and I got over 100 of them so I'm very pleased with that!

This is what they will hopefully look like when they flower!

She went to her room almost as soon as she came home yesterday because the two of them couldn't get along sitting on a 4 seater couch together, so I didn't have much interaction with her so I'm hoping I'll escape.

Hope the irises will flower for you. I planted bulbs in autumn and now have mini daffodils and a crocus making an appearance under my hedge I'm not green fingered.

Oh no life that’s a worry on the DH job front. Has he got any interviews lined up?

Hope your DD feels better soon happier

Didn’t sleep well either. Looks like we might only have 18 months of our current childcare left realistically. But unfortunately there isn’t many options around here. Breakfast club won’t get me to work on time and I think that’ll be non negotiable. DH thinks we could get the Year 9 child (very young for her year) to take the year 5 child (oldish for her year) to school each day if we are desperate and have no other option. They’d leave 20 mins after me in the morning, and a 30 minute walk. I’m not so sure. I need to stop stressing about it though, as 18 months is a long time and who knows where life might be?!

Yes 18 months is a long time but never too soon to put feelers out imo

he has some stuff in the pipeline but I’m frankly in denial

Life that is a worry. Does he get a redundancy package or is notice he is working?
Em love the tat. I think you did right going with the monotone.
kookaburra they are so pretty. 😍

How did we get to Monday so quickly?

Sorry should have said he has e to the end of his services stint so will get a pension of sorts

I’m still in denial

We went to Lyme Regis today, I've got the week off for half term anc this is the only day out we're going to do.

£7 parking
£7 Costa (!) that was two hot drinks and a piece of cake 🤯
£15 a gift for a friends dds 18th bday (it was half price in a sale.)

Hi everyone,

DD is away for two weeks, so I'm saving a small fortune on my shopping. It's not just food, but I'm using less loo rolls, detergent etc. Everything is lasting longer. My house is much tidier also. I just need to get rid of DCats now - just kidding .

I had to pay a small fine (approx. €6) because I forgot to pay a motorway toll. I'm usually so careful and pay as soon as I get home. Oh well. It's paid now.

Time childcare is always a worry but at least you've time on your side.

Welcome Kookaburra and Duchess. I live in Ireland. I'm separated. It's hard paying for everything on my own (Disclaimer - Ex pays child maintenance) but in some respects, its easier, because I only have to keep track of my own spending.

How old are your teens Kookaburra? I found the teenage years just flew by. One day I was buying DD uniform for secondary school and in the blink of an eye, I was attending her school graduation! So stick with watching the matches because in a few short years your DSs will probably be driving themselves everywhere and won't want you hanging around, cramping their style. DD never played sport but I remember dropping her to her dance classes and to Scouts. Seems like a lifetime ago. Now I'm more likely to be dropping her to the pub and to/from work.

I can't believe Girlie's DD is 17 and Happier's is almost 13.

Happier Happy 40th birthday. Belated birthday greetings to you also Half. Your birthday night sounded lovely. Then again, I am far too old for noisy pubs and discos.

Congrats. on your pregnancy xo - when are you due?

Duchess you must be so excited about your wedding! Have you much left to organize?

Curls hope you catch up on sleep tonight.

Weight I'm annoyed on your behalf about the socks at the activity centre! I know it's only £2 but still......

Girlie your holiday sounds reasonable for four nights away.

need sorry to hear about your MIL.

em that was a nice find (the card with NZ$200)

Hi to anyone else I've missed. I'm off to make a cuppa and watch Michael Portillo's Railway Journeys. I'm not especially into trains but I like to see the places he visits and I can dream about stepping off a train and sitting at an outdoor restaurant in the sun. Maybe I should buy a lotto ticket.......

I daydream about train travel across Europe, tayto. Not really possible with Ddog in tow, though.

One of the beneficial side effects of the sofa collapse (we have put the legs back on, and the sofa now looks normal, but very much isn't - but at least our sitting room looks less like the set of The Young Ones) is that DH was agreeable to my proposal for a mini-financial summit. I showed him my spreadsheet, my cash flow for the year, set out my savings and debt repayment goals, told him when various payments on holidays were due, and how I was meeting my end of the process, and where I simply had no wriggle-room to - for example - pay for a new sofa. I talked about investments, what I had, what I wanted to do, and when. I shared some worries, like some work in the house that needs doing, and how we needed to think how to pay for this, like, you know, TOGETHER. And in general, how I found it difficult and perplexing that we discuss money so little as a couple, beyond the most basic day-to-day, when we would really strengthen our position if we could plan together and share more. A lot came out of the requirement to buy a new sofa forcing itself upon us!

Oof. Anyway, I have been enjoying frugal ways - not much spending on food, reading (have tracked down a book on an interlibrary loan which would have been expensive to buy), tidying the garden, and doing a couple of nice new yoga workouts which leave my hamstrings and hips feeling awesome. Ddog is on shorter rations because weight gain, but was beside himself to have a bit of Toulouse sausage tonight.

@Taytocrisps - I agree 100% it's easier without my ex in my life. I know how much money is coming in and I can budget what goes out. I earn less than he used to and yet I have so much more financial stability.

He's still in the UK so doesn't see the boys, doesn't pay a cent/penny in child support (yet, that will change!!). He was the one who said I should move to Australia in case anyone wonders. Glad he did because I would have been living in poverty in the UK. Here I am saving money, and hopefully with you lot keeping me on the straight and narrow I will save even more.

It's only 8.30 am and I have already spent $155 on school photos which are today. DSs have been warned to give me a decent smile...!!!!!!! (Cash in envelope given to photographer in the session).

Ooh, Thursday is expected to be 38 degrees. I might get some frozen battered fish and chips to cook up in the air fryer for a tea time picnic on the beach! If it stays that hot they'll probably cancel cricket training (38 degrees is the cut off for juniors).

its exciting and scary at the same time, Taytocrisps. I have booked the Church and the hall for the reception , flowers are ordered and deposit paid. We are catering the reception ourselves, afternoon tea and I have engaged waiting staff to serve it. My sister and I will do the baking.and we will order trays of sandwiches etc. Oh, and my lovely manager is to take the photos, she is a keen amateur photographer. I have a pretty afternoon dress to wear, just need shoes and undies, etc. My sister and best friend are to be bridesmaids and I have asked them to wear their favourite dress.
I still need to contact the lady who is to ice the wedding cakes.
Book register office to sort legalities as we are to marry out of county.
it will have to be a dry reception as those are the church rules but we will have lots of tea, cake, scones, jam, cream etc for people to enjoy. And I’m setting up a bar in my mum’s sun lounge. My mum doesn’t know this yet.
im getting to the stage where I can’t move forward without knowing numbers so invitations are going out this week.

Will catch up properly later but hope everyone is doing ok.

big big day for me today. Today is the day I put my big girl pants on and ask for my salary to be brought up to market rate. I’m being underpaid by around £15k. It’s appraisal day for me. So I have a LOT to say.

a colleague (albeit in a different company) told me to view an appraisal as a job interview. And really sell yourself. Which to be honest I don’t do in my current role. I assume that everyone knows how amazing I am. If I was interviewing for a new job I’d go for it and be pushy etc. so that’s the mindset for the appraisal. Get the correct level of pay for my level. Or if not think about moving on. Which I don’t really want to do. But I’m not putting up with being underpaid.

it’s gloriously bright and cold here at the moment. My favourite of all the winter days. Sunny. Crisp. Cold. The sunsets and sunrises we’ve had are truely magnificent.

wnjoying a cup of tea while the rest of the house sleeps. DH is off with the kids this week for half term.

@TheDuchessofDukeStreet congrats.

ooh I paid £20 to tip up my bus card over the weekend. I’m on the bus this week because DH is off and we only have one car.

im also looking at booking us a hotel stay for the Easter hols. Local hotel with crazy good swimming pool for the kids. Family room (which is essentially a suite ) £197 for the night including breakfast. We’d just stay the one night. Breakfast is amazing There.

@ememem84 sending you good luck for the appraisal! Hope it goes well and you get a huge pay rise..... they are lucky to have you!!!

Your wedding sounds lovely duchess. I will definitely do an afternoon tea at my next one! (joke...DH is lovely, if somewhat non-communicative at times).

Good luck on the appraisal em.

Which beach are you headed to, kookaburra?. I know Brighton and Glenelg for the 'city' beaches and I've visited a couple further out, towards the departure point for Kangaroo Island.

Bit zonked this morning. For the second night running Ddog has come in at about 4am and woken me up to get into bed. Then I've been unable to get back to sleep while he snores happily. Still, lovely clear morning, will do more gardening tidying today, - have filled the wheelie bin pretty much.

@Captainladder They ARE lucky to have me. And if it doesn’t work out I’m only on 1 months notice (when it should be a minimum of 3….) and I’m superbly employable.

Thanks for birthday wishes tayto ssh though I'm still 39, it's not for another 13 days Have some nice plans coming up for it, spa day with two work friends, massage & prosecco & lunch for €115, then we're going to a cocktail bar and after meeting the boys for drinks. Then in April when my family could co-ordinate our schedules we're going for a meal, hoping bf and dc will be with me that weekend. And then the June bank holiday I've a couple of houses rented in Co Clare with a group of friends too €135 pp for 3 nights which is great value.

em best of luck with appraisal, they're not expecting revved up em to be there!

tayto & kookaburra I definitely found such a change when I separated with ex as the only person spending household finances was me. I'm actually better off now because he's contributing maintenance, and he didn't contribute 50/50 when we were together. When au pair finished up though the savings were incredible things like you mention toilet roll/kitchen roll/bread etc, now other than treats the food I buy doesn't disappear unknownst to me

Yesterday was a NSD
I do need to buy gas but I've a pot for that in ynab, I just put a euro a week into it. It's not gone yet though so I'm eeking out the last of it
I guess I should buy a Valentines card too, kinda at the deadline for it.

@BigSkies2022 well done on the financial summit, sounds like it went well.

@TheDuchessofDukeStreet wedding plans sound lovely!

@ememem84 good luck for today, not that you’ll need it. I’m sure they know how valuable you are to their business.

Today should be a NSD after yesterdays weekly shop. Tomorrow will be £30 for my next tattoo removal session. And probably a bread and milk top up.

Good luck Em!

I've been single a long time and although I am generally poorer I like the fact that I am in control of my finances.

I love the sound of a cream tea wedding, sounds like how all weddings should be!

Has anyone got any cheap meal plan ideas? I'm lacking inspiration and need to go to Aldi. Needs to be pescatarian for dd and high calorie for dd as well ideally.

So far I have;
Veggie chilli con carni (made with soya mince) with rice and fresh bread.

Chickpea curry

Veggie burgers and fries

Jacket potatoes, beans and cheese

@Taytocrisps
"I just need to get rid of DCats now - just kidding."

I'm outraged on behalf of your cats! 😂

Yesterday £6.2 for husband's gluten free bread x2
Today we're going grocery shopping and husband is taking me out for sushi yay

Hope the appraisal went well em

I spent £117 in Aldi 😳 got loads for that though.

I have £30 until payday on the 27th, £20 of that will go on fuel.

Should be fine as the cupboards and freezer are full, I just need to avoid shops.

Must apologise for being MIA l have been so exhausted , I don't even know why because my Mum is now in the care home and we are free apart from visiting every other day which is a huge difference to the care we were giving, first hours everyday and then visiting everyday to a place a long way away.

Spends today Tesco £114 big shop which l needed then a top up of toilet paper and toletries of £16 in Aldi's .
Hope everyone is ok