Frugal Friends Fearlessly Facing February.

[needastrongoneagain]

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

Aww, mrs you were doing so much for your mum, you must have been running on autopilot most of the time. It’s not surprising you are exhausted, I hope you get some “me” time

Been a fairly low spend half term so far. Have booked bowling for later in the week, with a 25% off code. I expect it’ll then be followed by a McD’s. But this will be the half term “treat”. DC also got given some money from family to spend, so we’ll probably spend that too in Smyths (plus a bit from their piggy banks).

The week is already going too quickly!

We’ve been trying out a new customer offer for one of the food delivery boxes. Offer ended up being 5 meal for 2 at £16.20, but I went through tcb and £17 has tracked. 1st meal was very nicely cooked by DH 😋

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding duchess, you sound very organised.

Have only caught up this short page sorry everyone.

Spends today: £2 bus fare to work and £2 bus fare back. I've been working in this job out of the house since beginning of October and not once bought lunch out or any fancy hot drinks. Granted I am only there 2 days a week, but that still feels like an achievement. A couple of times I've bought a pack of cookies from Subway or a chocolate bar from the shop, but that's less than a handful of times too. Pleased with myself and the savings! Just given DH £25 cash to pay for our valentines' takeaway meal though. We get a takeaway fortnightly which is admittedly not great but we really enjoy it as a treat just for us once the kids are in bed, and we used to do it weekly until about August or September when we halved it. So again, a lot saved there. Also, DH actually gave me that £25 cash the other day in the first place hah so we just swapped it back around again.

Hope you are all having a nice Valentines day. I'm starving, can't wait for DH to get back with our Chinese 😃yum yum.

€41.56 Aldi
€8.37 Lidl
€4.35 beano mag ds
€3.60 burger 🍔

Weight if you can afford it & enjoy it why not, if you can't maybe make it a monthly treat

Mrs you were prob running on empty and it's catching up with you now

Girlie sounds like a big restock and you got loads so all good

Thank you for the good wishes, all. I hope it will be ok. Mum offered to book an hotel for the reception but we all think a home made tea in the church hall will be nicer. We will be hosting a meal in he evening at a local pub also, but that will be for the out of towners who don’t know the area and will need somewhere to go.
Its been rather a spendy day. £60 at a cheap and cheerful pub for DP, self, Mum and sister. Just a main each and two drinks each, so reasonable.
We all got chocolate today as Valentine’s Day. My manager said she would collect mine as well as her own but did not come back with any, so I included Minstrels with my £15 Tesco shop on the way home.
Having snuggles with the cat now.
Has everybody else had a nice Valentines?

Evening.

Thank you so much for being kind about my life crap at the minute. Yep - definitely had a crappy (nearly) year with DH and DMIL. And a shed load of family politics that a few of you guys know about. And learning a business and sorting my kids and keeping a roof over our heads etc!!

@TheNewlmprovedMrsMadEvans - you are relaxing after being in 'flight' mode for so long. You've looked after everyone else but yourself. You've relaxed a bit. You're knackered and now you are allowed to be knackered and maybe get a cold etc. Take care. You deserve it so much you amazing person.

@TheDuchessofDukeStreet wow you're wedding sounds absolutely wonderful and perfect and I wish I had an invite!

Hope it went well @ememem84

@BigSkies2022 your posts always raise a smile with me, which isn't the easiest thing these days! The Toulouse sausage comment in particular 🙃

So, a frugal month so far, doing really well in terms of saving but this week a bit more spendy as it's our anniversary tomorrow (24 years married) so the £120 Sainsbury's shop included a bottle of champagne and some extras for a nice meal for when DH is home this weekend.

@Girliefriendlikespuppies veggie sausage and mash? Halloumi tagine with rice or flatbreads? Frittata? Smoked salmon risotto (I buy the off cuts for £2), lots of Parmesan? Frittata? Veggie toad in the hole? Biryanis or any description?

Sorry, meant to say veggie or seafood frittata!,

Happy anniversary need

the wedding sound great duchess, no need for super fancy hotels,

mrs you are definitely crashing after so much running about. Rest and recuperation is needed

you’ve got this girlie,

probably missed loads but not intentional my memory is shocking today

@TheDuchessofDukeStreet that sounds perfect for a wedding. I will start doing offerings to the good weather gods for you.

@TheNewlmprovedMrsMadEvans It is no wonder you are shattered. Take time to get you back on track.

@needastrongoneagain you also need to take care of yourself... <Looks sternly over her pound shop ready readers>

kookaburra just the thought of 38C is making me melt or it could be a hot flush. Either way us and the neighbours can turn the heating down for a few hours.

I was sadly excited today...forecast was 12 Deg and sunny. All the washing went out and it all came back in.... Not having dried very much at all. It is currently in the drier.

I have frugal news... DH went to the supermarket and only bought what we needed. This is a step change in his attitude. Previously he would have bought most of the aisle of doom things.

Duchess - your wedding sounds amazing!
Ememem - good luck with your appraisal!
BigSkies - Tennyson beach, it's up north of Glenelg - because of the curve of the coastline we can see Glenelg and watched the New Year's Eve fireworks they hold there from a distance - will take a photo of the beach when we go there.
Happier - your birthday celebrations sound great!
Curls - hope the tattoo removal session wasn't too painful.
MrsMadEvans - your tank is empty, it will take time to replenish. Meanwhile now that you're off the heightened alert be careful as every bug and lurgy will be aiming for you.
Time - McDs comes to over $50 here as a treat for my boys, used to do it fairly often but am putting a stop to it for a bit.
Weight - awesome willpower there! Well done.
Need - Happy anniversary!
Unescorted - today is 35, tomorrow still 38. It's not so bad as it was 29 yesterday and scheduled to be around that for the few days after that. The roads, buildings etc don't get too hot in just 2 days. It's when it's over 35 for over a week straight that it gets a bit unbearable. We have solar so I scramble around trying to get all of my electricity using jobs done.

No spend yesterday other than the $155 for school photos.

I went through my budget yesterday. I'm torn between being happy it's done and thoroughly depressed at how strict I have to be. Well, I don't HAVE to be, but if I want to get a deposit saved up then I need to be really strict with myself.

Most expensive things are:
-groceries $500 per fortnight (and that really doesn't buy THAT much here so will be tight)
-the DSs winter cricket academy $3,400 in total
-health insurance a little over $2,000 (but will probably go up by the time the bill arrives in October)
-Orthodontist - $3400 out of pocket expenses. It costs $5000 this year ($15,000 spread out over 3 years) and I'll get $1600 back from health insurance each year, this is year 2.
-And of course gas and electricity - even with solar we still pay a hell of a lot for our electricity.

I've also looked at all of the reward cards I can sign up to, to maximise freebies/discounts etc. I have one for my supermarket, just signed up for an awards credit card, and signed up for a petrol station at BP which is the closest one to me. I can get 4c off a litre at the Woolworths one, but the few times I've been there they've been more than 4c more expensive than the one near me so not worth it.

Oh, I did spend $56.70 (monthly fee) for 3 new sim only mobile agreements, that will save me nearly $70 a month when I cancel the old phone contracts.

Appraisal was good. No suprises from works side. I said my bit. I asked professionally and politely for my salary to be reviewed because I’m working at a discount.

we shall see what happens. Usually have to wait now until March payday for the “results” if you will. This is where bonuses get paid and new salaries come effective 1 April.

went out for dinner with family last night. Italian food. Yum.

Good morning everyone 😊
Discovered the fridge freezer has broken down this morning .
Have disposed of the food and cleaned it out . Not getting it fixed because it's always been an awful fridge freezer. Supposed to be frost free huh!
Water in the fridge , lots of condensation on the side, so l knew it wasn't going to last forever. It's a relief in some ways that it's happened tbh. Not a lot of good food lost either so we were lucky in that sense, unlucky in another 😊
It was difficult to decide on which new one to go for , l eventually decided on the Samsung RB38T602CWW/EU , five year parts & Labour warranty, C energy rating when Ch was why l really decided on it also it had great reviews.
Went around the price comparison sites decided on Argos , Recycling £20, delivery free, £749 , £5 off code, 749 Nectar points and £50 e-gift Sainsbury's voucher we claim in April . Took some sorting out but l have done it as frugally as possible.

Thank you all so much for the support and kindness you have all shown me ❤️. I went on the Marie Curie carers site and it explained that when there is a major change in the caring responsibility you can feel like this . It's so weird though , you would think we would be full of energy not exhausted 😌
Time thank you , yes autopilot that is what it was like .
Food delivery offer sounds great as does the bowling and McD treat, have a lovely half term 😊
Duchess a home made tea will be just lovely, your wedding sounds absolutely delightful, congratulations ❤️
Weight good for you both to have a treat , enjoy it 😊
Happier thank you so much, yes l think you are right , running on empty after nearly 6 years of caring for Mum and Dad , then Mum and Bob , now nothing, it's no wonder 😊
Need no one knows better than you how much it takes out of us, thank you sweetheart, l hope you and your DH have a wonderful weekend & am wishing you both a very happy 24th Wedding Anniversary today ❤️
Life yes, thank you sweetheart 😊 l agree with you it's not surprising really, something has to give ❤️
Unescorted thank you so much , l am taking it easy.
Well done to your DH , excellent work 😊
Shame about the washing Grrr!
OrderoftheKookaburra thank you so much .l am on high alert for every big going tbh ☺️
You seem to have everything sorted with you and l think you have done the best for you and your boys going to Australia well done lovely 👏👏👏
Em hope you get your raise , the appraisal sounded as of it went really well 😊
Hope everyone is ok 😊
I have spent enough for today tbh 🤣
Have a great day everyone 😊

We spent £130 in Lidl+Asda yesterday 😐Food+some toiletries+pregnancy vitamins and other vitamins for my husband. We didn't go too frugal (bought sushi and strawberries which aren't the cheapest now), but still too scary to pay at the till isn't it.

It’s really not surprising @TheNewlmprovedMrsMadEvans at all; you’ve been running flat out for years with hardly a break.
I managed a Carers Support organisation, we would see this time and time again when the cared-for either died or went into a care home. It takes a wee while for your brain and body to adjust. I suggest you pamper yourself for a few months, give everything time to readjust to the new ‘you’.
Sending you a big hug, a Welsh dragon 🐉(I love it!) and 💐 x

Aw thank you so much MavisFlump 🤗
Hugs right back at you, bless you ❤️

Going to be a spendy few days. I bought some theatre tickets for next year which were £££s, and then the invoice arrived for the DCs music lessons. Ahhh, but I do appreciate these are both very nice to have things.

car is also booked into the garage next week. Engine is sounding very loud! Hoping for a small bill as trying to eek out replacing the car this year, until 2nd hand cars get a bit cheaper.

Thanks all again for being kind frugal friends. An odd way to spend our anniversary but we never went overboard anyway so it doesn't feel too bad in truth.

Bought dog food today, I buy in bulk online. £110. That's for two huge bags and will last two months for both spaniels so not too bad after the initial outlay.

I'll need fuel tomorrow too and after the supermarket shop yesterday, it feels like I've spent lots, but mainly all essentials.

News here - as in its made the news. Someone I know has gone missing. He’s been missing for 4 days now. It’s not looking good.

inoften wonder how people could go missing here. It’s so small. However looking at the location he was last seen I suspect he’s fallen into the sea and has passed on.

sad.

in happier news we went out with dparents and dsis last night for the most delicious Italian meal. Yum. And then went to see some light up trees an immersive art installation in local park. So fun.

That is sad news em, the sea should never be underestimated
pretty light’s

Happier Well, we can afford it in the sense that we are not going without, and we can pay all our bills and have leisure spending. But I suppose the other side is whether it's the best use of our money or not really!

Duchess Aww, your wedding plans sound lovely! I love going to weddings! I absolutely loved my wedding too.

Need aww, congrats on your anniversary to you and DH ❤and all those recipe suggestions are yummy!!

Shame about your washing Unescorted. I don't think I will try ours out on the line for quite some time tbh.

Em Hope you get the raise you deserve! Also, so sad to hear about the person you know who has gone missing. I do hope that there is some good news in the end instead.

Spends today - £2 bus fare to work, £1.60 on chocolate at the corner shop near work on my lunch break (some of it to share with DH!), and then about £23 on groceries at Asda after work. So, not an LSD, but a fairly sensible one neverthless.

Hoping tomorrow will be an LSD. Will need at least £2 bus fare home from the children's centre but hopefully that will be all...

I’m wfh today so no money should be spent, £26 Sainsbury’s on stuff we had run out of last night

treating DH and the dc to afternoon tea at hotel today. Ds has wanted to do another “tiger tea” for a while. The radisson hotel here was doing a special kids half term valentines tea. But it was booked out all week. So we’re going somewhere else. This place does tea for kids too. So it should be yum. it’s a proper treat but also I haven’t spent much time with the kids this half term as I’ve been working.

in appraisal I asked to work from home one day a week. Essentially I want everything.

we are merging with another firm at some point hence why I’m being so pushy about my salary and my “wants” as I know I’ll need to sign a new contract at some point. I pointed out to the boss on Tuesday that I’m basically working at a discount now. And I should be being paid around 10-15k more. For my level. He was not expecting the conversation. And tried to tell me I needed to look at the whole package I was getting (I was). He suggested a couple of extra holiday days would suffice. I flatly told him that holiday days done pay the bills. Pension payments would be nice (as we currently don’t have a work pension scheme - I do have my own though). But also don’t pay the bills (now).

it’s funny as well how a lot of employers won’t tell you salary’s for jobs. I was approached by someone on LinkedIn the other day. Asked them what the salary range was for the role. Apparently that’s a second interview discussion. I said that I wasn’t interested in wasting anyone’s time to find out. So left it.