Advancing into April - Frugal Friends still being, er, Frugal.

[needastrongoneagain]

New thread.

All welcome.

Thanks for the new thread Need.

Thanks for the new thread need love the title. Not stuck in February any more, let's hope the weather perks up too, its been so cold and wet in March here ☔❄️

£11 ice-skating lesson. 40p for two cups at the cafe as I forgot ours for our hot choc flask. Better than £7 for two hot chocolates I suppose!

Will try not to spend much else today, payday Thursday and not much bought for Easter yet. 🤔

Thanks for the new thread @needastrongoneagain

Agree with you re the weather @kessiebird Spring needs to, well, spring now!

Had a lovely lie in, the boys are still in bed. Not surprised as DS1 whatsapped DH at 4am to show he’d got into a club somewhere 🙄.

Brunch time I think.

New month, new thread! thanks need.

HRT pre-pay certificate sorted, can brandish it triumphantly in the pharmacy tomorrow and get my stuff cut-price.

To those who have asked, DH would be horrified if he thought I was going short because of money. I'm not going short - I've been on HRT for years, feel perfectly well, and am actually considering coming off it - I am slowly reducing the dose and so was happy to eke out supplies over March while waiting for the 1 April pre-pay cert for HRT to come into effect.

More generally, our financial relationship is not absolutely straightforward as some MNetters who put absolutely everything into one pot and end up with equal spending money, or something along those lines. We met in midlife, I was a single mother to a three year old, not earning a huge amount, but with healthy assets, some of which I was able to put to work for me. I've put assets and income into our marriage, he's put more income, and he's always earned more, nowadays earns about 3 times as much. I've been able to use the extra financial security his higher income provides to have more freedom to work less, he lives in a much nicer house and neighbourhood than he could otherwise have had and has a great family life and freedom to work more as a result of my contribution. We do share a lot, but we also retain a fair bit of autonomy, financially. I do struggle to ask for extra, although I have done so, and am strongly of the view that I need to manage my own expenditure, but that's not because of him, that's my odd quirk.

Day to day, year to year, it feels very fair, and we do talk more about money these days and share plans. I think where we have missed a trick, strategically, is in not being more focused together on longer term investments and picturing longer term goals together. But we both know we have decent pension arrangements, and we'll basically be fine. But we probably won't have a holiday home in France!

Apologies for the long explanation, but really want to lay to rest any idea of financial unfairness!

Thanks for the new thread hope everyone is well
we’ve not been having a great time recently dm is still waiting on her new kitchen so still taking it in turns to have her round for tea tbh i don’t think that will change when the new kitchen is fitted as her mobility and health isn’t good and I don’t think she can be bothered cooking
we lost dh brother suddenly on Monday he had a heart attack on the Friday and it caused brain damage and his organs to fail so they switched off his life support on Monday as there was nothing more they could do. Also on the Monday a family friend passed away he had a brain tumour both were only 60 ish dbil turned 60 2 weeks before and got his army pension in the day of his heart attack

it’s dm 83 birthday tomorrow I have bought her a new watch need to get her some flowers and chocolates today but other than that not planning on spending anything else

have a good day everyone

Glad you got it sorted out @BigSkies2022 .
There was a bit in the press last night that the website was down but they would backdate the certs for anyone who asked.

Personally scrimping around with a few pounds for myself whilst my DH had 3 x my income wouldn't work for me or him .

If working less meant he benefitted from doing less domestic tasks/ life admin/ house maintenance then I would want a 50/50 split but each to their own!

Alfie I am so sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself and your family. Xxx

Need ta for the new thread.

What an awful time alfie so sorry to hear of your recent losses. Early 60s is no age.

Thanks everyone dh is going back to work tonight which is difficult for him as he and his db worked together. I think everyone at work knows as it was put on the chat but dh does want to talk about it as it’s such a shock

I won't hold it against you for not liking my bedding & thank you for the new thread Need
Thank you Em re the duvet love , l think your FIL GF has a screw loose . either that or she is as MN would say a CF
I loved the GP one you posted , so sweet
So glad the Wm is sorted and you are having a new one , hope it comes soon My linen cupboard is huge l also have two big ottomans with bedding in , l keep it organised by putting the duvet cover and spare pillowcase into the one pillowcase , l have been doing this now for years Thank you for looking out the linen presses for me too
Kessie thank you re the duvet cover love
That Bubble tea sounds lovely as did the Mexican lunch yummy
Unescorted glad you are happy with your fridge/freezer it sounds excellent
Hope you are having a lovely weekend too
Weight hope Ds was fine last night bless him it's all part of growing up & it's horrible sometimes
Tayto you know me so well lol , yes Asda is George , l did get a lot for my money tbf l was very on the ball getting the things l wanted , l had money off because they had 25% off certain clothing so l took advantage
Hope Dcat 1 is better , poor thing
You have some lovely plans for your Easter especially being altogether that will be so lovely for you all
LIfe thank you re the duvet cover love l just couldn't resist it
Hope your cold gets better soon
Shame about the buttercream and chocolate going wrong but am sure the baking was delicious , you can't beat home bakes
Wolf l agree it is never ending trying to budget every week , l find food is really bad atm. Petrol not so bad it's 139.9 per litre here atm.
Curls Your Ds1 whatsapping your Dh at 4am to say he'd got into a club made me laugh, my Dd2 is exactly the same ! She stays out till 4 and goes for food after so she doesn't get in 6am lol ! Here's to being young, free and single and enjoying life , good for them l say
BigSkies glad you got your pre pay cert it make a big difference. TBH l didn't even give your financial arrangements a thought . l know that we are all different and have money pots and dealings that work for us and wouldn't for others. You don't have to explain lovely
Alfie OMG l am so sorry to hear that your Mum is not well bless her , so good of you and yours to have her round for tea everyday & l so
hope she has a wonderful birthday with you tomorrow
That is so sad about your poor Bil your poor Dh he must be bereft bless him . Also the loss of your family friend that is so devastating for you all , take some time out for you to have a breather lovely it is a lot for you to process and you also have to support your Dh , your Mum and your Friends bless you

alfie nice to hear from you again but so sorry it’s with such sad news.
I am posting with very non frugal spends…just splashed £3100 on holiday flights and accommodation yesterday. To Croatia for 5 of us (DC will be 19 17 and 15 so not cheap). We are all so excited - we’ve never actually been abroad together as a family. We’ve been to France before with family when the kids were all small (very kindly my parents paid) so this is the first time we’ve funded a holiday by ourselves! I have £2200 in savings and will have paid off the costs by the time we go, then be able to ‘borrow’ spending money from another savings pot and repay by the end of the year. Don’t think we’ll be able to go again for a while as any spare money will (hopefully) be going on DC uni costs for the next little while. It’s nice cos the DC are all excited and appreciative, they do understand the value of money I think.

went to Aldi yesterday, £140 so not much better than Tesco. However I think I just need to face it…your vice is duvet covers mrs, mine is food shopping. I could do it cheaper but I don’t.

em what a saga about the washing machine, good for you seeing the funny side, I think I’d be raging! Our machine is in pretty constant use and is key to my well-being, I find washing very therapeutic so any interruption to this would not be good!!

lovely and sunny here, hope it is for everyone else. Just going into town for a card for DS1, he is 17 next week so driving lessons…more money 😳

Forgot my spends, £20 in Marks for a £12 meal deal and a 3 for £8 deli offer
& went back in for flowers for 2 birthdays . Another £20. They have gorgeous Emma Bridgewater tin plant pots with Tete a Tete in for £3 instead of £4 l bought one for Mum's bedroom in the home , l bught the one underneath , l could pnly find this picture of it but they had about 4 different ones all gorgeous l like her to have flowers in there
£145 for a new 1000mm base cupboards to go in our kitchen . Saved £12 on the delivery and joined the B & Q app which saved another £5 , so it's worth going to a little bit of trouble because it was £17 off the cost of the cupboard . It would have been £162 otherwise . We had hinges and a plinth here from our old kitchen so we were very frugal

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1389591886/new-2023-emma-bridgewater-love-birds?click_key=170b56b167ccf800bb7440fdbfa596c809ab34c1%3A1389591886&click_sum=c8a82cdb&ref=sold_out-8&sts=1

Oh Martha that is such lovely news and so exciting l am sure you will have the most wonderful time l am excited FOR YOU!
Yes my vice is duvet covers , l can't resist them lol, l am embracing it atm lol. My Dd bought me that beautiful Primark one for Christmas and it's my birthday soon so l am unashamedly going to ask her to get me the Coronation teapot one from her l know l am being ridiculous , l get such joy from them , l don't know why l fixate on them it's just me

Hi All

Just to clarify I wasn't demanding an explanation just concerned about a fellow poster who frequently posts about having only a few pounds to last a month.

Sorry if I've offended anyone.

Finally catching up money wise. With Xmas, car bills and four birthdays since it's depressing. Only one birthday in April thank god

Thanks for the new thread need

sorry to hear about the news alfie, 60 is just too young 🙁

I do love to see your “latest” duvet cover mrs. I love a new duvet cover ours are washed to oblivion.

I feel very excited about your holiday for you and your DC martha. Fun times ahead!

Easter holidays have arrived! I’ve booked tickets to see Matilda the musical at the cinema as this weeks treat. Cost £10.35 for three as it’s one of the kids club showings.

Can’t post spends as there have been a few too many 😆

Thanks need

sorry to hear the sad news alfie

£60 filling the car, £10 stables, £20 dd wages for helping me. Gonna be spending this week as dd needs a new body protector and we are going to ikea.

Joining in as I went part time in March so the last pay day was my first substantially reduced.

In April I'm.lucky in that we have a week's holiday AI already fully paid for and some currency left from previous holidays, so I'm hoping that week won't cost much in April cash, so to speak.

Last week I dug out my holiday clothes and thought a few new white tops would be nice - the old.ones aren't perfectly white anymore and my underwear is a bit ratty. So we popped to the shops and I started by looking at charity shops. Blimey, some are expensive! I managed to find a lovely per una top and t shirt both for a reduced £1, so happy with that and then new underwear from M and S but nothing fancy. We treated ourselves to lunch out at £33 but then had toast for tea. I think with parking etc we spent £70. Today we have been for a walk and are living from freezer to delay shopping for a few more days as this week the start of the month bills go out.

Any idea how to get the funny colour out of my white holiday tops. I suspect its from previous sun lotions? High temperature wash or just give in and throw them into the rags recycling?

Alfie I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

Em washing machines are one of those appliances I think it's rarely worth fixing and I can't live without so I tend to just get a new one.

Big skies if you're always short of money you need to have that conversation with your dh, it has to be fair otherwise what's the point?

I can't remember who asked but someone asked if my mum had a nice holiday, she did thank you! She did the euro inter rail and got the train to Paris and then onto Venice. She went with two friends and they had a wonderful time.

Have managed a NSD, my dad treated us to lunch which was lovely.

Alfie what an awful shock with your DBil. I'm sorry about your mum as well. Would stocking up her fridge/freezer with decent quality ready meals/oven-ready items like the Charlie Bigham sort of thing help her? She can add her own veg/salad sides but it takes the planning and grunt work out of cooking. I am introducing these things to my own parents' shopping increasingly.

Move - I've had good results on stain removal from white tops with a paste of bicarb of soda and cleaning grade white vinegar. Scrub it on with an old toothbrush or similar, leave it for a good while, rinse, do it again, then hot wash. Worth a try before giving up and buying new - COS has a lot of nice looking spring and summer stuff in their collection right now!

Thank you all for the lovely wishes!
not gonna I can’t speak for big obviously but I read your intentions as kind.
better to ask and be wrong, than not ask and miss someone who’s in trouble - that’s my view?

mrs please please can you post us a pic of your duvet cover storage arrangements 😂

Hello - I hope you don’t mind me joining in.

I’m needing to go back to being frugal and would love some company and solidarity.

Today was a light spend day. Two cheese bakes from Aldi at £2.99 each and some chocolate milk and yellow stickered potatoes from Waitrose.

This week might be more expensive than I would like. Physio, dental hygienist, boiler service, commute to the office and an old university friend visiting. Hoping to cupboard eat and not get distracted by too much.

's all good, I don't mind the question, and I'm not in trouble. I agree, it wouldn't work if I were struggling while DH was lavishing luxuries upon himself, but that's not how it is. And I would genuinely rather scrimp where I can to pay (and pay quite big, by many people's standards) on the stuff I really want - like the posh, squishy sofa I'm saving for, or the holidays where we treat DS and his GF as well as ourselves, or the short breaks away where I pay for nice dinners, and sparkly socks.

I do get obsessive about details, and pour them out, and that might give an unbalanced impression. This year I've set myself some big targets on finances, and rabbiting on here helps keep me motivated.

@Alfiemoon1 so sorry. 60 is nothing.