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 .

Just checking in to log a £10 spend on flowers yesterday and a NSD today 🥳

@RumBananaSundae your solicitors need to give you all the information you need if they are wanting you to make a decision, eg what the options are and what the outcomes might be - can you use ChatGPT to help you work through your decision? It sounds a tough situation for you, sending you 💐

I’m fed up with the amount of time I spend scrolling, and not getting the stuff done that I need to so I’ve made a list of other stuff I can do without scrolling and will be trying to detach from my phone 😬

hello sunshine! Very nice to see you. Will be taking the dog out soon. In the meantime, £10 at butcher on a chicken for tonight. Will roast it alongside all the veg left in the fridge and then I will do a proper shop tomorrow.

Had my brow and lashes appointment this morning. Too early to say whether it’s worth the extra money, or if brow gel and mascara would achieve similar results, but it was very relaxing. Of course I spent another £29 on some ‘serum keratin mascara’, but I felt guilty about being late owing to zero parking availability.

No sunshine here sadly! £12 at subway for me and DS after specsavers, which cost me £15 for glasses he will never wear.

We have sunshine! Although I'm stuck in an office so can't see it.
£29 on grass treatment done yesterday.
£3.50 on eggs to make omlettes tonight and an anniversary card for OH. 13 years on Thursday. Blimey. He says he doesn't want anything and I don't need anything so may suggest I just get some nice food to share on Thursday instead.

I may have succumbed to peer pressure and downloaded ynab. I'll give it a go and see if it's better than my beloved spreadsheet.
Not going to yoga tonight. I could probably make it in time but it would be a rush. I don't normally work on Tuesday so normally have all the time in the world.

My boss told me I've been approved to go back full time in September. And DD has had her hours upped at pre school in readiness for big school in September.
Although between you and me, I just want to stay part time and have her at home with me forever.

Oh lovely 13 years anniversary for you and your DH @Frugal25 💍👰🎉🍾🤵‍♂️👰‍♀️
Congratulations to you both sweetheart 😘

@RumBananaSundae omg that cottage cheese sounds delicious 😋. I must get some to try 😁.Hope you have a lovely meal tonight and enjoy seeing your friend 👏🤗
Good luck with the not scrolling @chimichangaz☘️.
Beautiful day here sunny and blue skies. Dried the washing on the line so very happy about that 😁👏.
I am copying everyone who had sausages and mash last night 😁😋👏
NSD for me 😊

Happy anniversary @Frugal25 how lovely! It’s hard going back to work full time and your happy times come to an end. But you’ll live for the holidays and weekends 💖

Happy Anniversary @Frugal25 🎉

Quick check in. £5 deal on chocolate bars in Poundland (for the teenagers of course) and £5 bus fare. £6.88 toiletries from Amazon for DD. Plus £180 for a car repair - using a mix of the Monzo pot and emergency fund.

Beautiful sunshine here today although quite windy. Looks calmer and still warm tomorrow.

Happy anniversary

So....I checked my bank and small about of investments. I invested in December and it's been slowly growing, but plumted since 28th February when America bombed Iran. But I haven't lost money I put in, and it's a long game. That money is for when my 3 year old son grows up.

Also my instant access is now empty and I've used all my withdrawals for my limited ascsess (one finishes in April). So this going from 4 to 3 days at work, maybe not the most sustainable... I realised this and did pick up extra shifts last month so paycheck will be more. But there's a delay. March pay is February overtime. I have only enough in my current account to pay for the annoying Asda credit card I pay off in full before payday...and maybe not quite enough. My other credit card I pay off in full just after payday, so I've decided to use that for everyday purchases...

I've not been good, and been spending small amounts very regularly.
Today:
£40 petrol (first time since before bombing and it's not much higher 1.39 a litre.)
£7 on coffee and ice-cream on a day to a national trust place with 3 year old.
£5 on national trust password. I think my DD will love it.

My mum did keep things clean, as my sister was allergic to dust mites but I remember her being very stressed when she was part time working/not working trying to keep up with housework. Then she got a cleaner, I think when I went to university, maybe before. And she had a cleaner for a few years when we were toddlers/ my sister's allergies were diagnosed. Now she lives rural and can't find a cleaner and her house is more dusty, but not massively so. So I'm not sure she is BO, but she is more organised than me!

Love a national trust wander, hope you both enjoyed @Alwaysploddingon.
I've been up since 1am as DD was vomiting again. I had strip the beds on my to do list today so doing them at 1am just got me ahead of the game I like to think.
She did have to stay at home today though which had me in tears as it was her first school trip today and she has missed it. Also meant I couldn't crack on with my jobs whilst she was at the trip. But it's ok. Went to the very empty park for some fresh air and we have played in the garden. She has now put herself back to bed (still wearing the princess crown she put on earlier) so I'm having a cuppa and a sit.
As I was upset earlier I treated myself to a new whiteboard pen for my meal planner (I know. Exciting huh) but used my Amazon balance as they gave me a refund last week so it was free.

Ynab seems very good so far, still having a play with it.

Spending yesterday was £51 on dinner and drinks. Today was some groceries in Asda and Waitrose on gift cards for a total of about £15. I have failed in my gift cards and cash in my purse only until the end of the month.

They don’t tell me anything unless I ask @chimichangaz. I did try ChatGPT but it wasn’t helpful. Thinking of the right questions is a bit tricky and I’m generally worried about forgetting something.

Happy Anniversary @Frugal25. Did you have anything in your omelette? I do love an omelette. Hope your daughter is ok.

The cottage cheese wasn’t good @DirtyGertiefromno30. It had the most strange texture/consistency. It was more like a thick paste than cottage cheese.

Had a lovely evening with my friend yesterday. We went to a pub and I can’t believe how busy it got. Sunny day here today. Was working so missed enjoying much of it. Have two meetings I don’t want tomorrow. Thought I had escaped one but the other person responded today two weeks after the last email. Can’t say I was ecstatic when their message arrived. Current freezer/cupboard meal is chilli. Though I bought avocado and cheese.

Oh God that sounds horrible @RumBananaSundae🤢
I will give it a miss then 😊
So glad you had a lovely time with your friend last night 👏😊. Boo to having to work on a day like today . Nevermind they say Saturday is going to be lovely too 🤗
Happy 12th wedding anniversary @Frugal25❤️💍👰🎉🍾👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️ . I so hope your princess Dd is much better bless her heart ❤️.
@Alwaysploddingon sorry to hear you have had spends you didn't want . Excellent work clearing that CC well done 👍
@Lockin26 cars are just the bane of my life l empathise completely with you 🤗
NSD for me, Mum was fine there so all is well with the world ❤️

Oh I was quite boring @RumBananaSundae mushrooms sauteed with some herbs and a bit of grated cheese!

Disappointed by the cottage cheese. I had high hopes.

Me too @Frugal25 🙄
Your 13th wedding anniversary is your LACE anniversary ❤️🤵‍♂️👰‍♀️🍾🎉👰💍👏🌹. Gorgeous 😍

The founder of YNAB called Jesse Mecham and he has - of course! - a podcast. I’m going to have a listen while I potter about. Episodes are short and have titles like ‘waking up from a financial bender?

I think YNAB may be too granular for me- I think I function a bit better with broad categories (Guilt free; tax provision; resilience pot; holiday; housekeeping; etc). But my banking app allows me to tag expenses so I can get an idea what we’re spending on groceries, utilities, insurances.

Money is fairly simple in principle: live below your means, invest regularly from an early age, stay out of debt. It’s harder to stay that course year in year out!

£54 in ALDI,
£44 Sainsbury’s
£21 to hire jet washer from Library of Things. booked for 31 March.
£90 cash for window cleaner, who is coming tomorrow.

Spent a chunk of time this morning pulling together documents to apply for a license for the flat. It’s not an HMO but I still need to get a selective license. This new regulation will cost me the best part of £1000, so I am spinning out the process with lots of questions ( genuine ones - the information is far from clear) and endeavouring not to cock it up, because I am sure if I don’t get right, the council will take my money anyway, only to tell me to do it again! It’s hard to see how these costs are justified. It’s certainly not linked to the speed and professionalism of the service. Oh well. Plod on.

book group tonight, so I have prepped dinner for fam.

Oh @BigSkies2022 what new regulation is that?
Enjoy book club!

Soup tonight from the freezer. Leek and potato with nice crusty bread.

I'm thinking ynab might not be detailed enough for me. Before I had a budget I just spent spent spent. But now I like to know exactly where everything is and although the app is good, my spreadsheet is more detailed. I shall keep going in case I'm wrong.

Love lace!

Love Lace too @Frugal25❤️
Its very bridal and beautiful ❤️
@BigSkies2022 God that's a lot of money for that license . It's all enough to put ppl off renting a property out !
Enjoy book club tonight pray tell what are you reading?
I want to read Landlines but will have to wait for it from the library 🤣 patience is a virtue 🤣

£85 in Lidl. Got quite a few yellow stickers from chilled and tinned section this week. Splashed out on deluxe range food for tonight's dinner and a bottle of red for OH.
Also managed to grab the £2 veg box but when I've checked the receipt she hasn't charged me so I'll have to mention this when I go back next week.

Think it's a garden day today unless Missy wants to go back to the park. Decided no swimming as she cut her knee yesterday and it's sore so thought the chlorine/water wouldn't help.

Must roast the veg box veggies and left over veggies from last week and freeze for another day today too.

Noore spending today :)

Had a couple of NSDs but have been busy with another trip to the tip and painting the bedroom walls. The new radiator that was delivered was the wrong one 😡and although the company was made aware on Tuesday, they were quick to arrange collection yesterday but not so quick with sending the replacement which won't arrive until next Monday at the earliest. 🙄
This puts us behind as DH is re--routing pipes so they are under the floor boards but needs the radiator on the wall to ensure that they are in the right place. The carpet is due to be fitted on Thursday and I've yet to arrange for the bed to be delivered. This all having to be done around working and GC child care and school pick ups/drop offs. Although to be fair DH says he gets more done when I'm not there as he gets bored on his own!! 😅I must get out more often!! 😆
DH did spend at B&Q yesterday so no doubt I'll see that hit the bank account soon but he still forgot a couple of items that he said he needed. Told him he needs to write it down as soon as he thinks of it. I'm the same - I forget stuff if I don't make a note and have been known to go to the shops for one specific thing and get home to realise I didn't buy it!! 😖
Neighbour came in too - she had signed up to an updated package with Virgin which was costing her more money and they had sent her an unwanted o2 sim card - and she said she had struggled with the call centre operator and their difficult accent. So we sat her down with a cup of tea and got onto Virgin - gave them a hard time but she is now signed up to a new package with free Netflix, no o2 sim card, she does have more BB speed which she doesn't need and got rid of her house phone. Fair play to Virgin for reversing everything and coming up with a package which was a little over half of what she was originally paying. Her new router box arrived yesterday so DH will need to set that up for her today.
Another sunny-ish day today so I will probably cut the grass too before setting off for work when I'd rather just sit in the sun!! 😎

I was going to do a nsd but after a hectic morning, got a Greggs breakfast...I do now qualify for the next breakfast free

Just checking in from Newcastle where I am with work :-)

I have been doing something different this week I have been using a cashback app for everything possible and paying for it using my credit card for double cashback!

Funny thing I've just checked the dog app and my dog is currently in my bed snoring away in the sunshine. Lucky devil. A in trouble for not making the bed 😆.

Afternoon everyone 😊
Beautiful day here hope everyone is having a gorgeous day too 🙏🤗
Spends £87 Aldi
Been to see Mum who was ok there thankfully 😊
Dd sounds much better today @Frugal25 thankfully bless her . Have a lovely day in the garden with her 🤗
Enjoy your lovely anniversary dinner tonight both of you ❤️
Ah @Rainbow1901that was so kind of you to help your neighbour bless you .
God the times we have forgotten what we wanted when we have gone to the shops 😱. Shame about the radiator but omg you are powering through well done 👍 ✅ 👏😊.
@Alwaysploddingon free brekky next time well you just had to do it 😁

Hello everyone, the sun is finally shining here in my part of Scotland! Still freezing though but it is nice to have sunshine.

I just went for a job interview, I forgot to ask when they'd be telling the applicant so now it's just the waiting by the phone game.

£110 to have our driveway cleaned and re-sanded, he was out there for hours and is coming back tomorrow to lay the sand. Feels very grown up to spend money on things like this. I may be 40 but I don't feel it!

Glad mum is ok today @DirtyGertiefromno30. @Rainbow1901 that was nice of you to help your neighbour, they do bamboozle people on the phone.