February faffing, wig mischieving, pancake stuffing, bargain gymnastics and looking forward to Spring Shenanigans ❤️

[DirtyGertiefromno30]

Welcome to our new thread everyone 🤗. All are welcome to our supportive, kind , frugal thread .

Thanks all - @ChipshopPickledEgg cruising round the Canaries. Praying for some sun and warmth!!

We have 2 adults and 2 children. 3 boy year old who doesn't eat much, but we waste a lot with him. and 7 year old who used to eat as much as an adult but her appetite has slightly reduced, she's so tall, and we're not so I think she's finished a growth spurt for now.Average around £85 for the weekly shop. I know if spend more food shopping, I find supermarkets overwhelming. We have a bread machine so don't buy bread and buy the huge bags of pasta and rice. DH has got much more into meat, that's most of our bill I think.

Yesterday turned not to be a NSD. £30 on books for DD and a gift for a friend's husband who has kindly fixed my clock free of charge as it has been broken for 5-6 years.

Have an amazing time @chimichangaz!!!! I want stories when you're back of beautiful sunshine and glorious views.

Afternoon everyone 🤗
Beautiful day here sunny and 13C so lovely out hope everyone has this too 😍.
Tesco £73 on more fruit ,veg , stuff for Mum , Meat for tomorrow Sunday roast and 2 tubs of Quality street again for Mum 🤗

Have an amazing time @chimichangaz !

I've gone £174 over on my budget for groceries and social life. DH and I ate out yesterday on what I thought would be a cheap deal - drinks and desserts not so cheap so that was £70

Today £50 Costco and £43 Lidl. I'll try not to spend from that budget now until it resets next week.

Also £38 Primark from the Monzo clothes pot and £23 Costco from the birthday pot.

On the plus side my beauty technician cancelled my leg and bikini wax so I saved £44 there. I was desperate though so rebooked for the end of March and used a razor instead!

@Alwaysploddingon that is really good. For four of us including adult DS and teenage DD it's £800 and I think I've exceeded that. I will try again next month!

I spend the same as you.on the 4 of us @Lockin26 .
I am careful, or so l thought, l look where to buy the things l want from the store with the cheapest price but l have found it really hard this last week with the price of fruit and veg. Anyway l don't think you have done too badly in the grand scheme of things 🤗
We just bought 2x Greggs TGTG cost £5.98.
4 x Mac n cheese , 2x tomato soup , 2x mozzarella cheese bites , 2 x Chicken fillets and 2x wedges . More than enough for the 4 of us tonight 😋🤗

Hope your mum was ok today @DirtyGertiefromno30?
Was a gorgeous day. Although I stupidly used tumble dryer for everything as it's a habit at the mo. Sigh.

Went to a party for DD friend today and had a brilliant time. £7 for a balloon from the shop down our road as I promised DD a balloon after half term for being a good girl. We now have a beautiful pink helium butterfly in the lounge.

I think we spend about £300-£350 a month on food from my budget. That's the main shop although OH does bring home fruit too ups and bread occasionally. He also buys all the alcohol. So it's probably double that as I shop at Lidl and he shops at m&s.

I used to do that too @Lockin26, resort to a razor between appointments when desperate!!

Had a properly anxious dream about spending last night. It was just me tapping away with my card and buying everything I saw. Which is what I used to do.... But now it fills me with dread and the dream has stayed with me all day. Have to say I really want to take a look at bank balance to ensure it was just a dream

successful day! Integrated dishwasher disconnected successfully- no flooding and no-one was electrocuted. I did while DH took the dog out- an exercise in discovering all the compromises and bodges that the original fitter had made in order to jam a dishwasher into that corner. Took about 2 hours, and some cursing, but I got there. Bastard thing sitting outside the back door and we’ll order a new one tomorrow.

NSD so far, but a rare Saturday night out ahead! In a bar at Elephant and Cast. I haven’t been out in Elephant since the 90’s and the Ministry of Sound. We’re getting an Uber rather than the 176 - another sign of the times. And I will be drinking zero alcohol beer and home by 10.30 most likely.

AHH thank you for asking after Mum @Frugal25. She was a bit tearful when we first went but l got her to cheer up and she was ok when we left . I hate leaving her though but l can't stay there all day everyday with her, it's not fair on my family l know but it's very hard .
That party sounds brilliant and sounds like a well deserved lovely pink balloon for your DD bless her 👏🤗
That's not a bad amount in food really you know and bless your DH for buying extras 🤗
Well that sounds more like a nightmare tbh with you. I am sure you are not overspent at all when you looked some dreams/mares are so realistic though, bless you sweetheart ❤️

Well done on the D/washer @BigSkies2022!
Have a wonderful night out 🤗wish l were there with you it sounds fabulous 😍

That's a good TGTG bag @DirtyGertiefromno30 especially the mac and cheese 😋

Good news about the dishwasher @BigSkies2022 and hope you enjoyed the night out..

No more shopping needed, I hope until Tuesday. I'm going for lunch at DMs for her birthday, she's 94. She's asked for a takeaway from a local Italian so I'll pay for us.

Excellent work disconnecting the dishwasher. Hope you had a good night

DH took me out We spent about £30 charity shopping & cafe

How much do you spend on bread ingredients? We have similar age kids and seem to be constantly buying bread!

had a few NSD/LSDs lately, begrudgingly spent £60 on various bits we needed including wash in waterproofed, bur that will last us a while. Haven’t managed to do a big shop this week as I came down with some sort of bug that left me really tired and feeling sick so I couldn’t face the supermarket but it did make me use up a lot of stuff from cupboards.

Morning.

What did you get from the chazza @lifelongfrugaleer ?

Happy Birthday to your Mum @Lockin26 - what an age, and sounds like she’s independent too?

Spends
£51 takeout for ourselves and friends, 6 people in total. Our turn to pay.
£15 pack of Hip Pop Komboucha, forget to cancel an initial subscription so will do that after I’ve posted.
£16 Amazon - pumpkin seeds and oat milk (there’s a middle class outgoing if ever there was one)
£22 fruit and veg box delivery
£106 Halara - sports clothes for upcoming trip to Portugal. Never used this brand before and reviews seem mixed. I didn’t realise they are rather unethical re materials etc (totally my own fault for ordering without any thought), so probably wouldn’t use again.

Getting towards the end of the month and unlikely to spend much else (apart from the odd pint of milk etc).

Hoping to get DH out for a walk later, it’s rather Spring-like here!

Just been for a walk here. All the snowdrops are out and crocus and daffs trying.
nothing for me need. Bits for uni & DH got a book and 2 coats.
forgot £10 hardware store small teapot & sweet pea seeds
I keep seeing halara pop up need. Don’t feel bad tee the ethics it’s so easy to do these days x

@chimichangaz hope you have an amazing time away.

@DirtyGertiefromno30 those TGTG bags sound excellent, I've never got one as there's nowhere within walking distance that does them near me.

@Frugal25 I love the idea of the big butterfly balloon as a treat ❤

Spendy weekend here as it was DS3's birthday,
£90 for a meal out
£25 for a round of indoor crazy golf
£200 on presents

I have a Sainsburys shop arriving today (£47.11) that should last until the end of budget month, my budget runs 28th-27th. I may just need some milk but I have £5.76 left in the budget so that's all good.

I still have a week left on my fit note so no work this week. I will be spending the week helping my parents sort more of the paperwork etc for my brothers estate.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Sounds like your recovery is going well Life? Hope you’re feeling good.

£269 on new dishwasher, including delivery, removing (but not uninstalling !) old one, installing new one and taking away all the packaging. Coming tomorrow. Seems a good deal for the gift of clean dishes and a clear kitchen worktop and sink.

yesterday evening was nice despite not knowing anyone apart from the host who is lovely, but was obviously in demand. I managed to chat with five new people, did it all on zero alcohol and we were home by 10.30, yess! Perfect night out! Elephant is much changed since my days of clubbing in the 90s - I will go back in daylight one of these days!

Remainder of the day holds ironing, making a tarte tatin, organising chores for the week ahead, DDog off to his farm stay tomorrow, down to Kent for mum and dad on Tuesday. I don’t have to shop for food! DH and DS contributing meal plans has made the whole thing much more scaleable and efficient.

Oh that's wonderful l hope you have a wonderful meal together. Wishing your lovely Mum a very happy 94th birthday ❤️👏🎂💐🎈🎉🎁🤗

@lifelongfrugaleer that walk sounds wonderful , l am so pleased for you getting out and about and enjoying yourself .
Excellent buys from the charity shop too 😁
@BigSkies2022thats a great price for the new d/washer and sounds like you all had a lovely evening 🤗
@NursieBernard the tgtg bags from Greggs are amazing l would recommend them to anyone 😋🤗.
I hope you get some you time this week as well as helping your parents with your DBrothers estate, bless you sweetheart 💐.

Oh lovely a trip to Portugal @needastrongone👏🤗.
I have bought from Halara and didn't realise about the ethics either 🙄. Oh well we know now 🤗.
Hope you are feeling a lot better soon @EmbracingUncertainty💐.
Dd2 and DH aren't very well ATM nasty cold and sore throat. I expect l will get it hey ho 😁
Weather is gorgeous here today , l have put 2 loads of washing on the line, changed all the beds , it's unbelievable how differently good weather makes us feel 🤗

Still slow on the recovery and many ups and downs happening I’m up to 2 slow walks a day. Still waiting for oncology app but annoyingly getting seizures which need bringing into control

Happy Sunday all!
Oohhh when is Portugal @needastrongone?
Weather is gorgeous here too @DirtyGertiefromno30and snap to the washing being out out!!
Been a productive day. Bought new bulbs for all the lights that didn't work. OH paid bless him.
Charity shops looking for a cd player but couldn't find one but did buy a toy for DD £4 and a gorgeous print for her room that I would have loved at her age £3.

Fixed the "broken" tumble dryer than hasn't worked for a few weeks. The second filter was blocked. I didn't know it had a second filter....
And made more washing detergent.

OH has announced he is doing a 48 hour fast. So that's dinner tonight and tomorrow just for one... I'll still cook as planned and I'll freeze the bits I don't eat for when he decides he is eating again. 🙄🫣

I used my bread maker every week and it costs about a packet of flour a week that does normally two loaves and two pizza bases. The flour in Lidl is just over £1. The yeast I buy every few weeks. The rest of the ingredients I have already (salt and sugar if needed for that recipe) so it's really great at lowering prices if you want it for that. I'm on my third maker. I used the first two so much they gave up!

Oh l am sorry you are having seizures and still waiting for Oncology @lifelongfrugaleer.
I hope they get in touch very soon 🤗.
You have been so busy @Frugal25, got the bulbs done, tumble dryer saved by finding the secret second filter 🤣, and lovely charity shop wins for Dd well done you!
Your bread maker really pays for itself . Just over £1 of Lidl flour for two loaves and two pizza bases is such good value. No wonder you’re on your third one sweetheart.
Good luck cooking for one while DH does his 48 hour fast At least you can freeze the extras 😁.
I don't really like this fasting business, it can't be good for us surely ?
Hope everyone is having a good day. We are watching even more Rugby 🙄 🏉

Thanks @lifelongfrugaleerx

@DirtyGertiefromno30 - It’s just fast fashion really, Halara - so think synthetic materials and questionable supply chains like most of the other brands. I generally try to avoid and didn’t think really until I’d pressed the pay button, so to speak!😊

Well, re Portugal - it’s Vilamoura @Frugal25 but I guarantee most of you will think I’m mad. It’s a running training camp. I go on it annually with my coaching group, the kids are amazing and cover things at home. So think 2 runs a day, hard and lengthy sessions, gym work, talks about running, healthy food, very little alcohol etc, bed by 10pm latest. Heaven for me, but very niche. First time I went, I ran 100 miles, but I was super fit and fast then, I’m less so now so it’ll be fewer than that but a very hard week. In a good way!

@needastrongonethat sounds like Boot camp hell to me but all credit to you for doing it , well done you! I bet you get such a buzz and sense of achievement from going 👏🤗
AHH if l'd known about Halara, l wouldn't have ordered anything. I don't use Shien or Temu because of their ethics.
Also l thought that because they were more expensive than Shien or Temu they were ok but there we go .