Frugal Friends Fearlessly Facing February.

[needastrongoneagain]

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

Got woken up by ds calling me, when I got to his room it was to tell me there's no school today, then ddog sensed movement in the house so she started barking to be let out, so I did that now I'm back in my cosy bed & going to try snooze again.

Yesterday I had a nap too like kessiebird & managed to run out of time for dinner before heading to bingo in aid of the school. €30 spent there & then €9 on a burger for me & chips for dd on the way home.

Ds joined Gaelic football on Thurs which I'm thrilled with as basketball has finished up & he has no other hobbies. Match today in local pitch & must get some shopping & passport photos for dc.
Dd looked for a lazy day today & I'm happy to oblige

In ROI public transport is fairly limited so collecting dc is fairly normal, at least where I am, is it same with you tayto?

Fri night went out for dinner with bf €71.80, we went out for food on 4 occasions last weekend & he paid for 3 of them.
Sat he bought me a scone in the morning & we ate lunch at home then I met my friend & she suggested lunch so she ate lunch & I'd an eclair & a can of Fanta she paid.
€4.55 on newspaper & half sliced pan local shop
Thurs
€2 football
€10 dc pocket money
€25 repairs to my ring
€10 piece for repairing toilet
€100 solicitor for my will
60c parking
€8.50 lunch out
Had financial review that I won & I'm on the right track with my short term & long term savings only medium term to get started, I was planning on that when I'm finished paying for dds braces & finished paying for childcare for dd also. I was really happy with that review.

£48 for highlights and a haircut seem really reasonable need I am getting so much grey now but the last time I had half a head of highlights done I think it was over a hundred quid so I've never had it done again! Maybe I need to look for a new hairdressers.

We binge watched s new series on Netflix last night called Night Watch, thought it was really good (nonsense but a good watch 😁) and are only just surfacing now. I need to do some housework this morning 😒 and planning a nice dog walk later.

Hi all, love the weekend vibe with all your updates. It’s raining here today so time to
hunker down, I quite like that!

Big shop this week, £185. Last week’s was only about £100 though, and this week we have DM staying for a few days and are making naicer meals, also doing some batch cooking. And I’m. Baking for the school staff, which really adds up. Being a feeder is expensive! 😂 On that note, anyone got any good vegan (and nut free) cake recipes?

I had a good day at the kitchen showroom on Friday. It was a long round trip in a day but definitely worth going to get a better idea of what I want. I was knackered after a couple of very late nights in a row and DS night waking (he’s had a bad few days with anxiety) so I snoozed on the train instead of enjoying the reading /podcast time, but still lovely. I love trains. I’d booked the train in advance, about £65, and I walked one way from the station and got a £5 taxi back. £15 on picnic breakfast and lunch stuff and a coffee for the train. All very worth it, given how much we’ll be spending on a kitchen!

Yesterday I took DD to ballet and then our regular cafe visit, £14, and then DH and I went into London to meet friends for dinner. Tube fare plus a round of drinks (Dh paid) plus about £130 for the meal between us, but it was extremely good Thai food and great company. And DH and I get very few chances to go out together - probably only 2-3 times a year? - so we don’t mind pushing the boat out a bit.

Today I’ve made pancakes for everyone and a huge batch of cheese scones to freeze for the DC lunches (neither likes sandwiches much 🙄). Next up I’m going to make some M&M cookies for DC (DD is going on a school trip tomorrow and has put in her ‘special packed lunch’ requests, also including hard boiled quail’s eggs 😂), two trays of millionaire’s shortbread for school and a crumble for pudding. And something vegan. A day in the kitchen - such a treat! Easy fajitas for dinner though.

i would like time to pick up my crochet but I have to do some more school governor stuff tonight. After this week I can ease off on that stress though, which will be a big relief. I’m on AL for the second week of the Easter hols and counting down now!

DD’s ballets and tap class invoice has come through for the summer term - it’s getting on for £280 😭

Been a bit absent, it's been manic here, trying to find somewhere to move but it's so hard as we have a very limited area (dd1 is starting her GCSEs and dd2 is starting secondary in September so need to stay local) right now we can all walk to work/school but if we need public transport that's an extra £200+ a month for all of us 😬

Selling everything possible on vinted and majorly decluttering as its very likely we will need to either move to a flat or 2 bed which means the girls will need to share again. So far in the last 10 days I've sold £419 worth of stuff! And still lots to go. Amazing how much crap we have.

Been cancelling everything possible, contact lenses, Spotify, Netflix and charity donations. My phone contract is up for renewal next month so that will be a £25 saving as going onto sim only.

Last night took dd1 to a fall out boy & my chemical romance tribute band night. They are 2 of her favourite bands but I can't afford their arena tours. It was amazing, only spent £11 for train Fare and a drink each. She was well chuffed to have been given the set list and guitar pick. The tickets were bought a few months ago (cost £28 for both of us!) There's a green day and Linkin Park one coming up which we are hoping to book as it was so much fun!

Got to buy some cat food for the fussy gits later, the 240 pouches of whiskas I bulk bought when they loved it at one point is now no longer good enough. They like the purina one so need to find it on offer. Also need to get flea treatment as I noticed one cat scratching and it's been a few months since the last treatment. We eat cheap so the cats can eat well 🤣

Loving the updates on the fussy water cats! I used to be a cat owner, but DS is allergic so we never got another when ours was PTS. Such characters 🐱

So far today £8 for breakfast with a friend. Need to head out for more food soon. Doom.

*fussy eater cats that should say 🙈😻

You seem to have been super busy Half! My DD would eat cheese or egg sandwiches for every meal forever if she could probably! (She is a bad eater otherwise!) Never had quail's eggs before but always wanted to try them, what are they like?

Soot Good work with the money made off selling stuff! I also myself am a FOB and MCR fan! I never go to gigs anymore though, as you say it's just too far too expensive.

NSD so far today for me. Took a load of the free saved sandwiches and bread over to DPs so we had that for lunch and they froze the extra bread (we'd ran out of space in ours but they have a huge full-size freezer). I checked one of my bank account's yesterday and have been paid in job 3. I get paid from jobs 1 and 2 into my other account though but I had a mind blank and forgot the security pin and then it's locked me out saying I need to reset it which is a pain.

kessie my cats are unbelievably fussy, drives me up the wall. Didnt clean my litter fast enough, I will protest and poo in the bath instead of the fresh litter. Water bowl too full, let's just splash it about and make wet paw prints on Everything!!! Arseholes the pair of them 🤣

weight my 2 would eat supernoodles or pizza forever if I let them 🤣 if you get chance to see fell out boy or the black charade, honestly they were amazing. The energy and stage presence was intense! I saw fall out boy last year as part of the hella mega tour with green day. It was fantastic but at nearly £100 for the ticket, plus the travel costs and extortionate drink prices it was expensive. It was a belated 30th birthday celebration with my 2 friends so a one off. Definitely sticking to tribute and small bands as arena prices are crazy!!

My DD2s favourite food is a cheese roll. She probably eats one 6 days out of seven

DC have had the lurgy this week, I came down with it late Friday afternoon, spent yesterday in bed dosed up on lemsip. Feel a bit better today, just in time for work tomorrow. Yay 😁

Kids hobbies are expensive half. I’ve just agreed for a trip for both DC and it’s £110 for the two. And then next month subs and music lesson fees are due again. It never ends! But I am grateful that there is space in the budget still (helped really by DH’s new job). I’m hoping to do some overtime in the next few weeks as well.

I really need to get some more hours now, I’m a bit embarrassed by my lack of salary now compared to DH.

Hi all.

I’ve been out with work today. One of our own is retiring after almost 50 years service. I’m dreading the upcoming week as that is her last week with us. It’s going to be incredibly emotional. But the event we put on for her was wonderful, we had so many people that have worked with her over the years and she absolutely loved it.

Feeling very tired now. I think it’s all got to me a bit. I’m really going to miss her. Even though I know she’ll be popping in all the time to keep an eye on us!

First bbq (at home) of the year today! DH soatchcocked a chicken and then marinaded it in massaman curry paste. Grilled it on the bbq. Such a glorious day. Served with cold rice salad and hot baguettes.

did the majority of my laundry today. Hand washed jumpers (in the bath….) and took three loads to dsis’ place. DH took all of his clothes to fils. He was “allowed” to do one load on a 15 minute speed wash. No tumble dryer.

so everything has been on the line/aiders/tumbled. I have one bag to go to the laundrette tomorrow.

such a faff. but DH is wfh tomorrow and will call someone to fix the machine. Yay.

threw away some of the dcs undies and socks which were just too dirty to be washed. And have bought them more socks £30 next online

made bagels today. Yum.

also soent £56 in coop. On- a barbie for the birthday girl at party ds went to today, a bottle of bubbly and some flowers for dsis as a thank you, some nice(r) coffee for Bil (when I did laundry there yesterday he made me coffee then moaned about how gross the coffee was - it was….!) and some hot cross buns.

chicken and salad for lunch tomorrow. The dc have bagels for lunchboxes.

€10.55 on drinks & snacks for 3 of us following ds's football game.
€36.65 in Aldi which included their Easter eggs
€56.16 in Tesco

€0 on passport photos as I failed to find anywhere to do them on a Sunday afternoon

Can you do passport online on roi happier. You can here, including your own photos

i e read back but my brain isn’t functioning today sorry

hugs to all who need it

Morning

50 years is some service @CurlsandCurves!

BBQ sounds good @ememem84

Should be a NSD today.

£20 yesterday on some nice ales but DH's friend brought lots round anyway so now we've a lovely supply of pale ales!

Yes life but they're very specific about the photo so I think easier to get taken and upload the code then.

I forgot bananas for dd's lunch when shopping yesterday, in my defence she went off to Claire's while I was getting grocery shopping

Aargh, post vanished! So, will say, morning all, and em well done on negotiating - we're always told to do so, rarely do, and I am crossing my fingers they will meet you somewhere good.

need your home city is a cracker! Visit to Leeds was brilliant, crammed in museums, shops, galleries, nice restaurants, a book shop on a barge, a water taxi ride, things I can't do when Ddog is in tow. DS in great form. Lots of free stuff on the agenda and I did stay in a very good value room in Hinsley Hall, but inevitably spendy as well. So, travel and gift pots raided, and personal spending now has to be zero - no bus fares, nowt! - between now and April 11. Curse the Easter weekend!

Dmum back in hospital for a scan tomorrow, I'm taking her. She's convinced it's cancer, of course, and takes no comfort from the fact that 90% of these referrals do NOT result in a cancer diagnosis. Need you said your DH suffered from health anxiety - has he had any support on that specific point? I have tried to discuss CBT/meds with Dmum, but she won't have it. But Dbrother wants to try and tackle it again, if the current crisis is resolved in a non-cancer outcome. Dmum is really miserable and is making Ddad the same.

That bbq sounds 😋 em, how olds the washing machine? Is it worth fixing? I've not found a WM that lasts more than 5 years yet.

Spendy morning, £100 to the plumber and £68 at the vets as the dog has conjunctivitis. He is looking seriously sorry for himself and his eyes are clearly driving him mad poor boy.

Getting my smart meter later 😬 I'm wondering if I'll get a bit obsessed with looking at it?!

Pay day!! Have written down all incoming and outgoing, in theory should be fine but that was before I said yes to the Devon hol! Next month should be a good lump sum as have done loads of overtime and will get my work increment so money should go up.

I need to ring up re a life insurance policy I took out years ago, the plan was for £15 a month and if I don't die (!) after 15 years I get all the money back. I reckon it must be nearly 15 years now....

Girlie I got a letter about my smart meter being installed soon too
That would be lovely if life insurance policy paid out.

So glad you enjoyed Leeds @BigSkies2022! I didn't know we had a book shop on a barge, sounds fab😁. We are lucky to be circa half way between Leeds and York, which is ideal and the best of both worlds.

DH was always a bit of a 'glass half empty' person re health, but the stroke has amplified it to anxiety, particularly round the toilet. The psychologist at the hospital did work extensively with him, including distraction techniques, diaries etc. but we haven't managed to break it. It's very wearing, I can understand your brother wanting to give it another crack at tackling, it can bring the partner or loved ones down after a period.

A frugal win in that my £7 charity dress for the funeral is much nicer than the £48 John Lewis one so that's a saving of sorts.

Also, our company figures for February are far better than I'd expected (feb is a short trading month and there's half term too and traditionally a tough month) One more month until year end, a year with me in charge and we are no where near as badly affected as I thought without DH. Means decent bonuses and pay rises for our staff and a dividend for us. Even if I'm knackered 🤣

I have been to Leeds recently a couple of times for work, and oh my word the trains to/from there and where I am (North West) - absolutely horrendous at the moment, the trains.

NSD for me. Reset my online banking for one of my accounts, can see I've been paid in job 1, just put the whole lot on the mortgage as an overpayment. That's what I've started doing last month, this job is basically an 'extra' one for us and we don't rely on the wages. Hopefully will be paid in job 2 tomorrow but had so many problems with them that I'm never confident about it.

Not feeling very well, had a fever since yesterday afternoon. However had this problem a lot of the past few months so not sure if it's an infection or just whatever that is. Have had to tell the insurance broker to sack me off and just look at sorting insurance for DH and kids because realistically I should go back to the GP and I don't want to delay things for everyone, rather at least get him and kids covered for now. Can always add me to the policies later all being well. DS also had a fever this evening. So not sure what on earth to do about work tomorrow. DH was off with him last week so really it should be me, but I was off with him the week before, and I'm worried about my job tbh for various reasons. Already in a dispute with HR about the last carers absence I took and I haven't even passed my probation yet, and have also already had one sickness absence too.

Happier I struggle with health anxiety to some extent too tbh, but both of my DPs too so I'm not surprised that I also have it. I had CBT just for general anxiety and we did address that as part of the course and it was helpful, I just often slip back into old habits and have to catch myself to stop it.

I've got half a smart meter 🙄 the man could attach it to the gas as the box has too much water in it. I've got to do some sorting out around it as my plants probably aren't helping.

Anyway I don't think gas it too much of an issue as I'm not putting the heating on at the moment! So it's only the hot water and the jobs that would use it. I have my hot water on all the time but I'm wondering if it is better to set a timer?

My thinking is if you let the water cool off by turning it off then you'd use more gas to get it heated up again? I'm not sure what is more efficient?

Anyway since having the electric meter on I've realised the electric oven is very expensive to use, that was around 40p for half an hour and it costs 8p to boil the kettle!

£50 topping up my bus card.

£350 final builders bills (from last year….they had some final bits to deal with post sign off).

having a chat with the boss today re pay rises. I spoke to recruitment consultant last week who told me what I should be expecting and he emailed me yesterday noting that he had about 6 places who would be interested in meeting with me for an informal chat. So. If I don’t get reasonable good news today I’m going to give him a call and set things up. I think.

Do you spend money every day? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4773119-do-you-spend-money-every-day

Amusing thread

So far NSD but dds friend's birthday last week seeing her today so better get birthday present & dc need cereal for childminders & I'm collecting from guides so money will probably get spent somewhere

I didn't spend on lunch even though I left some of it at home this morning I went home to eat it instead. I've 30 mins for lunch 8 min commute but I'm tired today so it gave me a much needed break from being sociable

Spends today just £2 bus fare to work. I was so tired this morning I accidentally got on the wrong bus and only noticed when it was coming right up to the closest stop to my work. Meant a walk in the rain to work rather than my usual bus which stops right outside. Oops! DH picked me up so saved my return fare.

Still in a dispute with HR about the leave I had to take the other week when DD was ill. Still refusing to let me have it as AL and forcing me to have it unpaid. Have sent yet another email arguing and have asked if there is any way to escalate it further short of a formal grievance. Am also waiting for my union rep to call me to discuss. I know they're not doing anything illegal or anything but I don't think I am being treated fairly.