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

[needastrongoneagain]

New thread.

All welcome.

Payday. Thank goodness.

I’ve fallen off here a bit. But will catch up.

had a nightmare this week with BA. Am travelling again for work in a couple of weeks. Up to the West Midlands. Flying to Heathrow and driving up with the boss as direct flights from here aren’t great time wise. booked my flights using the ba website. “We’re sorry your booking cannot be completed at this time” so I used the app on my phone to get it done. All good.

until I got 2 booking references. Ffs. So had to cancel one lot of flights. Luckily I’ve got a full refund as was in the time window. But aaaaaah

todays spends:

£50 nails. That’s it. Dd suggested watermelon nails this time (last time it was unicorn) so I need to see how my nail lady interprets this as 😂

dd decided last week to no longer wear pull ups at night time. She’s been 6/7 nights dry which is amazing.

need to go feed catface. She’s sat on my pillow looking at me and waiting very patiently.

Morning,

Payday is a week on Friday for me and having had such a good paypacket last month, I might, might finally treat myself to some AirPods. Been toying with the idea for ages but I think I’m going to go for it. I watch a lot of stuff on my iPad so it makes sense.

Existing tenant moves out tomorrow, then there’s a week before the new one moves in. Gives us a chance to give it a good clean, the bannisters need a lick of paint as it’s chipped in places where she’s got her furniture upstairs. DH wants to do the ceiling in the living room again as he reckons it’s patchy.

We are up and running with our new broadband provider. It’s literally ten times faster than our old Sky. So this morning I’m going in to battle to get everything cancelled with them. Although DH has heard they’re not trying quite so hard to get you to stay as they used to, maybe due to COL. Which would be good, I don’t want to have to explain myself or hear about what deals they could do. We just want to leave, please!

Morning all, I've got a day off today, I packed dd off to collect this morning (it's the last week before summer break so they're not doing an awful lot) and am enjoying the peace.

I've just moved £200 over from my savings to main account as the outstanding balance on a mini Devon trip is coming out this week.

In theory at the end of this month I should get a really decent payday as we're getting our 5% pay increase back paid for a year. In theory that will be over a grand which will really help my dwindling savings pot.

Im also going to ear mark some of the money for self care for me (a hair cut and highlights!) and some for household stuff (clean the oven and start planning decorating a couple of rooms.)

Have done okay this week, only essential spends, using food we've got and avoiding shops!!

Mrs my dad would be like that, what's annoying is he panics over health stuff that's okay but when he's actually having s heart attack he ignores all the signs 🙄

Martha good luck with your dds exams, I can remember the relief to get to the end of them last year!

Em that sounds stressful re the flights.

Happier what happened with your Ds and the bus in the end?

I spoke to the driver last week and he said I'm ok to book him in for next year, then bus owner never collected my children or neighbours children on Monday, he forgot to get out of bed, never answered my call or rang me back to apologise. And I'm in the position that I can't complain & risk next years arrangement
I must text owner to get price for one child for next year & confirm his place.

Good morning everyone ☺️
DH slept last night thankfully 🙄
I hope he's finally happier about his eyes now🤞
Thank you Happier re DH 🤗
Hope you have been able to get glasses to suit you 💐
Hope you get that bus sorted out too it would be bugging me , damn driver 🙄
Girlie l think it's the same with my DH as your Dad , anything that is really important like his B/P or his Atrial fib he's quite blase about 🙄
Fingers crossed for your payday 🤞👏👏👏☺️
Martha good luck to your Dd soon be over and it's such a relief 💐
EM glad you managed to cancel the duplicate flights phew!
Spends today just £3 Tesco for Mum's mag and paper just off to see her now ☺️
Have a lovely day everyone 😊

I love my AirPods. Just remember to hook them up to “find my devices”

I use Jabra Elite 3 for my airpods, Curls. I find them more comfortable than the Apple ones. No idea how price compares, as DH bought them for me for my birthday (he's generally responsible for the purchase of all tech in the house, aside from lighting and electrical sockets/switches, which is very much my domain).

Afternoon.

That's tough for you @TheNewlmprovedMrsMadEvans. DH has health anxiety post stroke, and it's understandable, but also wearing too trying to reassure.

That's crap @Happierwithouthim re the bus....😡

Sounds like a good plan re some self care @Girliefriendlikespuppies

Think there's some deals on AirPods @CurlsandCurves

Great news re the debt @BigSkies2022

Love a list @Taytocrisps!

Thanks for the advice re butchers. I got some pork belly yesterday and made kimchi and pork belly stew, was delicious but I'm ready for veggie food again!

We had a productive meeting with the financial advisor yesterday. We are in a decent position money-wise, but he's going to draft various scenarios for me re the pension etc, certain incomes, etc so I can have an idea how long the funds will last in different circumstances and assuming future growth. We are going to utilise some of the tax free allowance DH has and pay off most of the mortgage given the rates currently and that investment returns are solid and long term so a good chance to replenish anyway (albeit taxable). He's a gem, even if he goes into a little too much detail about minute fund switches etc even for someone that used to work in FS like me.

Been back at the hospital today to help with a psychological focus group they wanted to review. DH walked onto the ward and the staff had a wee cry, as did we!

Spends
£65 dog groomers (budgeted for)
£7 Amazon (presents, budgeted for)
£610 dentist DH (savings used, some due to long stay in hospital and some medication related I think😢)
£9 coffee and cake with the psychologist in the hospital post meeting.

And £23 yesterday in Boots on essential toiletries. We are all having a 'buy only essentials' year, so this was shampoo, deodorant, conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste etc.

Bravo need DH

Tremendous work with the FA, need! And that is marvellous about your DH - is he only recently walking? That's amazing.

You certainly know when you've eaten pork belly, 'tis true! I have a nice piece in the freezer, and might cook it this weekend.

Roof guy is quoting £850, all in. Think we'll go with it, as efforts to get other quotes just getting nowhere, and this chap comes well-recommended. Need a mini-summit with DH about which particular pot this is going to come from, and to remind him about holiday payment schedule.

Dinner tonight - Nigel Slater way with new potatoes - steam, slice, fry with salt and serve with cucumber, rocket and dill (mine will be with basil). Was going to do broad beans, radishes and parmesan, but cannot find the first two ingredients in Sainsbury's. Seems I have to go to the posh greengrocers to find such exotic items these days.

Tomorrow is busy - collect parents, take them to lunch, take dad to clinic for bloods, take them home, hair 'consultation' ('give me the hair I had 15 years ago, please') and first real-life ballet class in the evening!

Had a lovely break. I’m counting it as no spend as all the spending was prepaid. I didn’t spend as much as I had planned for so might change the left over currency back.

Back at work today - busy time approaching so spent most of today organising. Channeled Tayto and am writing lists for life admin. Had another council tax bill. Have no idea what is going on so will have to email them. Nothing from the court or solicitor so will have to do something I think.

BigSkies enjoy your ballet class.

Today’s spending: £1.50 on some chocolate milk, £4.90 on cottage cheese and toilet cleaner and about £12 on some bubble wrap (£2.99 for a teeeeeny roll) and posting two packages. Hoping to use just the cash in my purse for the rest of the month.

Was meant to be going to an exhibition preview tomorrow but managed to misplace the tickets. I don’t feel too bad about it as I rather fancy a quiet day and I’ll save on the train fare.

Yesterday's spends were £31.50 at a funfair, £20.47 Lidl, £7.74 Home Bargains, £8.72 coop.

big enjoy your ballet class.
Mrs sorry to hear about the eye situation. I spent yesterday trying to talk my DM into getting a cateract looked at as she clearly can't see. She wants an eye patch instead.
Pleased you had a nice break rum
That's lovely re your DH need and the belly pork stew sounds 😋

Headed to my gym class this morning which is 20 cardio and 20 strength which is really making a difference to my arms and legs. Trying to juggle work and life this week has been hard, pleased it's nearly Friday!

Morning.

Glad you had a good break @RumBananaSundae. Can understand you fancying a quiet day.

Nice one on the early class @kessiebird, sets you up for the day.

That dinner sounds lovely @BigSkies2022, I note your love of Nigel Slater! Good luck for todays busy day.

Thanks re DH, relatively recent yes, re walking, previously more of a shuffle and drag to get small distances, more of a 'correct' walk now, due to expensive and specialist rehab. Hence my long discussions with financial advisor! A balance between desperately wanting the best outcome and also understanding what's realistically affordable.

Spends - £50 shopping. DH has rehab, but I'm totting this up in a separate 'pot' at present.

DS passed his driving theory test, so pleased for him as its been a few attempts (plus £££). Starts his lessons tomorrow but I've got that saved up.

£6.40 two iced frappes to celebrate on the way home.

Well done kessie ds

That's great for DS kessie. Not sure when my DS will ever get his license - he's had lessons, one theory test (not passed), then went away to university and all momentum has been lost.

Feeling it this morning after trial ballet class! Will sign up for the half term, and not mind that I feel dumb as soup at not being able to follow very well yet.

Spendy morning:
£33 Tesco, on not a lot
£48 on 2 sets of replacement birth/marriage certificates for my mum

Had to admit defeat finding them and order the certificates. Need them to hopefully get Dmum a small amount of dad’s pension as his widow. Will be impressive if she gets some, as Dad had his pension for 35 years so he got his money’s worth!

I also found today Ddad’s divorce paperwork, and have the name of half sibling I’ve never met. Took a photo of it and will file this in the not sure pile. I did know of the existence of them, but not their name. Ddad wasn’t in contact after the divorce. Hmmm.

@needastrongoneagain and @kessiebird climbing Mont Blanc is now on my to do list. Hopefully I’ll draw positive influence from your gym visit Kessie and congratulations to your son. Need that is good about your husband but I know how much work must have gone into all the progress that has been made.

Time I’m in the same position re an unmet (and mentioned once in my entire life) half sibling. I don’t have their name though just the name of the other parent.

Yesterdays spending was 60p on a postcard to my friend and £60 on a T-shirt. It was the T-shirt I didn’t buy before my holiday but it’s now half price. Will skip the Sophia Webster sample sale next month to make up for it.

Today I got a gas/electricity bill for April -June (£86) so I paid that. I was expecting it in July. Also spent £2.75 on some mango lassi to go with my planned freezer curry this weekend.

Did get some life admin done yesterday and will try and tick one more thing off this weekend. Need (I think) to file for a chargeback with my credit card so will look into that.

Thanks for the good wishes for DS. It was an uphill battle, fourth time he'd taken it. Had his first lesson today, that seemed to go well.

£18 Primark. I've got a lot more face to face work and my work wardrobe needed perking up. So I got two stripy basic tees to go with a couple of pairs of smarter trousers I dug out, and one baggy t-shirt for casual days. Plus school tights for DD.

£5.42 Lidl.

The ballet class sounds so much fun Bigskies
I'd have mixed feelings about a half sibling I'd never met time and rum. Definitely one to file away for thought.
I also need to do some life admin, DC need passports. We are not having a holiday this year, which is fine, but feel like they need the passports just in case we get an unexpected windfall. 😊

I quite fancy making beef stroganoff tomorrow. Does anyone have a good recipe?

Afternoon.

I don't think I've ever made stroganoff, sorry. @BigSkies2022 is someone that might be able to help, she looks pretty darn capable in the kitchen from the delicious culinary delight she mentions.

I'd be another putting a half sibling into a mental box somewhere too. A lot to reflect upon I'd think.

Hooray for the test pass @kessiebird. Glad DS enjoyed the lesson. You can't go wrong with a stripy T.

Another one doing life admin here @RumBananaSundae.

We've been paid, so money has been allocated to various pots and the budget done.

It's been a spendy couple of days
£140 weekly shop
£2 Diet Coke for DH from a petrol station. Daylight robbery but he was parched coming back from therapy.
£18 window cleaner, but he doesn't show up that often 😁
£75 2 x Wallaroo sun hats for presents (hardly spent a thing so far this year on presents, now there's lots of birthdays, I have a budget)
£28 knife sharpener for my very expensive kitchen knife set, I've needed the sharpener for probably 2/3 years in truth.
Agreed to get the bathroom done.
Will be getting a takeaway tonight for DD's birthday treat.

Need to be careful for the next few weeks!

Menu plan to do but hopefully lots of stocks in and spending in this regard a bit less than normal.

Very expensive day as the balance from our little holiday to Devon came out £264 and I had to take the dog to the vets as he has very fishy guts £100.

The vets is always around £100 these days 😕 they think he's drunk some dodgy water so he has medicine for the vomiting, medicine for diarrhoea and antibiotics 🙈 just about covered all bases!!

I've taken from savings to cover it and my account balance is now £0!!

Roll on payday next Tuesday....

My sister called in this afternoon and was all excited about a weekend away she's planning. She wanted me to go too but I told her I have too many commitments this year and would have to decline. She offered to pay (I knew she would). I stood my ground. Then she got all upset and tearful. As she was going, she asked me to think about it. FFS! I have enough on my mind without this shit. I might add that there are other people going too - it wouldn't be just the two of us.

Aw, shucks, need, you're too kind. I don't cook a lot with red meat these days, but I did make beef stroganoff successfully a few months back, using the good old BBC Good Food recipe. I whacked a bit of white wine in there, and - in my view - soured cream is a bit better than creme fraiche, but the latter is perfectly fine. If you're serving it with pasta, make it a bit wetter, so you get more sauce. Yum!

I treated us to fruit and veg from the posh greengrocer today, so £22 spent on mangoes, broad beans, fancy tomatoes, peaches, radishes. Going to roast a chicken tonight, despite the heat, and have it barely warm with a broad bean salad and what remains of the homemade rocket mayo.

Second ballet class today, it is so good! I am, obviously, crap, but don't care. The hour flies by, I sweat like a horse, and I feel great afterwards.