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

1000 replies

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 05/02/2026 18:07

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

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14
ArmDimples · 31/03/2026 23:18

Ooh Frugal, I forgot to say (re. Postal museum) there is also a play area there for under 8s where they get to play at post things. My kids are too old for it but I am told it’s great and perfect for your DD age. Right. I’ll stop enthusing about that now.

I took DD and her friend to see the Magic Faraway Tree today. A great favourite of mine as a child so I wasn’t sure I would approve of their interpretation but it was framed quite differently to the original books, and the cast was great, so overall it was quite fun. The girls loved it, I kept sneaking a look at their rapt faces 😍

That wasn’t so expensive but the cinema is near Waitrose, so… 💸💸💸

I am going to make ice cream this week. We have had a tradition for the last few years of having warm toasted hot cross buns with ginger ice cream on Easter Sunday, from a recipe in Olive mag. I highly recommend it!

https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/baking-and-desserts/gelupos-ginger-gelato-and-hot-cross-bun-sandwich/

If I am feeling energetic I might even make the hot cross buns. What ice creams are others making?

Ice cream sandwiched between hot cross bun

Gelupo's ginger gelato and hot cross bun sandwich

Scoop one or two scoops of stem ginger gelato into a sliced hot cross bun and serve over the Easter weekend. Toast the buns first if you want an extra satisfying treat

https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/baking-and-desserts/gelupos-ginger-gelato-and-hot-cross-bun-sandwich/

lifelongfrugaleer · 01/04/2026 08:03

I’m in the NE locked and we break up Thursday

lifelongfrugaleer · 01/04/2026 08:04

Oo I’ve never made ice cream but that sounds lovely arm
I’m not sure about that movie either. I’ll watch on streaming as mine are too old

BigSkies2022 · 01/04/2026 09:07

I have never made ice cream before and I want to try making one based on a custard . I think I will make a vanilla (and buy a posh sauce for those who want to pimp their bowl a bit) and I love ginger as does DH, so I might try that too.

more weeding and jet washing today. Lovely neighbour saw me working yesterday and borrowed the washer. I set it up for him and left him to it. He was thrilled, happy as a sand boy!

have been enjoying The other Bennet Sister if anyone is looking for a good drop of telly of an evening.

Rainbow1901 · 01/04/2026 10:33

The monthly shuffle has been done and funds are where they need to be to cover outgoing payments.
Spent £24 yesterday taking the GCs out to play Adventure golf but it got us out for a few hours otherwise they kept themselves busy with activities rather than watching the TV. Only have one GC today who will sleep over tonight but one of the other GP's will take them for their usual swimming lessons. I need to pick up some snacks/drinks for a farm day out tomorrow with a friend and her GCs and out with family to a theme park on Sunday so the next few days will be spendy but hoping to keep costs down.
Sold a couple of items on Vinted so will send that off today. Also paid a man and his van to move a piece of family heirloom furniture this morning which has helped with the decluttering despite the hit on my pocket. Just waiting to hear from my cousin when it has been delivered. I now have the space that has been vacated but have two boxes of stationery, crayons etc to sort and find a new home for which were stored in the furniture. SonIL's mum works in a school so may see if she can make use of it as schools are usually begging for things which are out of their budget limits.
More clothes have gone in the charity bag and some of DHs' shirts which were frayed on the collars or had holes in have been ditched - he won't miss them!!
A tip run is on the cards which has been put off because of the recent weather.
Also, I was shocked at how much difference the petrol price increase has made I usually only fill up when needed so every 4-6 weeks so it really hit home with a £5-6 increase just on fuel! 😩Also paid for Xmas Panto tickets - yeah! already!!
In general, though looking at my spreadsheet some things have increased but others have gone down and the car insurance is due this month I am living in hope that the pension increases will be be enough to absorb these costs. But it is obviously a worry for everyone given how much costs have risen.
@BigSkies2022 I binged watch The Other Bennet sister episodes 1-5 now the others have been released will look forward to watching them. Going to make a coffee and get on with the day!!

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 01/04/2026 14:29

Afternoon everyone 😊
Been to see Mum who was ok there , then shopping in a very busy Aldi £55
Swede, carrots ,onions, parsnips all 4p to 8p in Aldi's .
Weather ok here, not sunny but dry 14C.
Getting the monthly shuffle done is a great feeling all sorted 😁
Adventure golf was well worth it, kept the GCs busy ,🤗. Lovely plans ahead too, even if a bit spendy @Rainbow1901
Well done on decluttering and Vinted sales, and good idea passing things to a school.
Fuel jump is awful 🙄 hope the pension increase helps 🤞.

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 01/04/2026 14:36

@BigSkies2022 l have read the book and loved it and just binge watched the 10 episode of the other Bennet sister . We have absolutely loved it ❤️
I have bought 3 packs of hot cross buns , chocolate, normal and cheese l don't know who is going to stress eat them all 🤣

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 01/04/2026 14:41

Love this 😄 you’ve got the balance just right
Hot cross buns and an Easter egg wouldn’t last here 🤣
Great with the spending too, small top up, then a proper NSD and a free Starbucks coffee is a win @chimichangaz
That £30 voucher is brilliant for an hour, and the holiday pay too yay! Perfect for your garden umbrella
Library of Things would be amazing but none anywhere near us here 🙄
That sounds like a lovely night out @MuddlingLong, you are so lucky having a free Library of Things where you are 🤗

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 01/04/2026 14:45

Oh you are lucky having a good handyman @Lockin26 l am well jel 🤣
Omg @ArmDimples that ice cream and hot cross buns sounds absolutely delicious 😋 well done to you ! 😋🤤👏

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Frugal25 · 01/04/2026 15:38

Afternoon all,

A spendy one as I topped up my car just in case anything happens. I don't normally panic buy but I only had 1/4 tank and with DD I like to know I can drive if I need to if she is unwell.
£69 on petrol (and a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar) properly binged last night. My weight has gone up a bit and I was sulking. Back to eating like a healthy rabbit today in a bid to attack it.
£10.55 on a swimming session next week, booked early as Easter gets booked up fast.

I made a gorgeous Christmas pudding ice cream at Christmas. Even OH couldn't say no (he doesn't do ice cream) and ate the most bless him.
That ginger one looks amazing.

A chilled day today at home for me and DD. Playing with her toys and doing some gardening. Also cleaned out the food cupboards in the kitchen. Didn't throw too much away but a good way to remind me what I have.
Did throw away two lettuce and a bunch of beetroot from when I was "I'm going to eat salad every day and be skinny" and then ate crisps instead.

RumBananaSundae · 01/04/2026 16:23

I think I made up for yesterday’s no spend today. I handed £19 to eBay, about £9 to Amazon and I’m not sure how much to various grocery shops. My purse is now very light.

Your handyman is a bargain @Lockin26.

Snap @DirtyGertiefromno30 I was in Aldi for carrots and garlic. I’m planning a Lidl trip for spring onions. I’ve just finished my carrots so they came at the perfect time.

Decided I’d like to try my hand at making halva over the weekend. With the amount I’ve spent on ingredients and a tin/dish (today’s Amazon and grocery spending) I could have flown over and bought some. Have logged off work and am settling in for a quiet evening. Am at the office tomorrow. Mainly as I want to pop into a shop nearby so probably more spending. Have put the Chris Hemsworth film on Amazon on my watchlist for the weekend.

MuddlingLong · 01/04/2026 19:00

@ArmDimples I saw the magic faraway tree at the weekend and really liked it! Thought it was very sweet. The cast was very good.

@RumBananaSundae I love halva, never made it myself, let me know how you got on with it! I try not to buy it because I just keep sneaking a slice here and there every time I go in the kitchen!

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 01/04/2026 19:51

Fuel was sensible, peace of mind for DD. Crisps and chocolate happen 😄
Last night was a blip, you reset today and that’s what matters.
Great getting swimming booked early.
Ice cream sounds amazing, no wonder OH had some @Frugal25

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 01/04/2026 19:53

Love the Aldi/Lidl mission and perfect carrot timing 🥕 good luck with the halva, even if it costs more it’ll be worth a go and it will taste absolutely divine.
Enjoy a cosy night and that Chris Hemsworth film later @RumBananaSundae😊

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Frugal25 · 01/04/2026 21:10

Ooohhh I am so tempted by the far away tree. I have the books pride of place in my living room. I was tentative over the plot being ruined but shall give a go after the comments here.

What is halva? Do I need this in my life?? I'm thinking yes.

OH has added Chris to our watchlist too for the weekend, looking forward to it although I prefer Evans myself.

Frugal25 · 02/04/2026 09:53

£130 in lidl reduced to £115 with vouchers. Got quite a few yellow stickers so pleased with that. A high amount this week as got flowers and Easter eggs for family and I'm making a nice dinner for DD and OH on Sunday so needed bits for that. Also got compost. Finally found my tomato seeds so need to plant those. A bit late but hopefully they will still grow...

Off to lunch with a friend but it's at her house and she is providing sandwiches so I shall take a few small cakes from my freezer with me.

Gymnastics later but that's already paid for.

Hope everyone is ok and looking forward to Easter xx

needastrongone · 02/04/2026 10:55

Missed a few days myself.

@BigSkies2022 - DD is about 25/30 minutes drive away - good train and bus connections for herself and her BF where she is, and way less costly than hugely expensive York, where they’ve both studied and now work (both Masters and DD is doing her PHD there at the Uni). Lockdown was financially beneficial for both DD and DS, if a rather dreadful university experience otherwise as they both had to be home for large parts of the epidemic. Our deal for them both was we would pay accommodation costs, they live on their loans - we paid for a years empty halls and student house essentially. She’s lived at home and commuted post Masters, and gets a stipend - she’s always been aware the stipend finishes 6 months prior to PHD completion, so has been pretty good re saving around that, although I’ve charged board. The rental is rolling, as she definitely have to relocate in a year to get a Post Doc. She’s nearly 25. DS will be home a long time, as he helps with DH and won’t hear of not doing so, despite my protestations otherwise.

In other news, DF’s Probate has been granted is an unbelievable 4 days from application, so I’m on with the final admin re settling his estate.

Spends have been relatively low - although I am agog at food price rises already…
£35 speciality beers for DH - he enjoys the occasional IPA.
£16 Easter eggs and chocolate milk (best long run recovery sustenance there is!)
£20 Amazon.
£20 DH hair cut and me having my roots done (I wash it off at home)

Other than that, and trying not to watch the stock market rise and fall with The Orange Ones every utterance, we are plodding on here. I am trying to get ahead with having folk over for Easter and have decided to do a range of curries, to suit all tastes and dietary preferences. One guest has some recently diagnosed restrictions, so I am just about to attempt a Vegan chocolate cake. I am not a baker - I might need help from Marks and Spencer if this doesn’t work!!

needastrongone · 02/04/2026 10:56

And The Faraway Tree books were my absolute favourite books when young!

Lockin26 · 02/04/2026 12:27

We've been topping the cars up, we get through 50 litres per week for work and general trips. DH bought a SUV for his 60th, it's diesel! Costco not far from here and they seem to be keeping the cost of diesel down although it's jumped to 175.9p today. Bus to work today as I'm in the city centre and it's only £2.50 each way and faster than driving in. Harder on days like yesterday when it would take 1.5 hours on two buses, as opposed to 20 mins drive.

I am also trying not to think about the stock market, our IFA is ready to make an investment plan and I think we will have to do it or risk regretting this in retirement. My v small DC pension from a 10 month temp contract stint in 2008 is (or was) doing really well. I remember some advice on this thread not to listen to the news during turbulent stock markets, think this is one of the times! Sure there will be wiser than me though!

£7.30 lunch. My favourite Pan Asian fast food place near where I work for a treat.

Need Morrisons later for baking things I couldn't get in Lidl last night.

lifelongfrugaleer · 02/04/2026 15:45

Painting is finished as is bathroom

went to a new plant centre and got dmam some plants for her birthday

RumBananaSundae · 02/04/2026 18:05

Spendy day today am about £100 down after buying some travel books. Amazon got another £9.

That’s good news on the probate @needastrongone. Four days is rather good. Glad you can get on with the admin now.

The halva plans have taken a knock as the thermometer I bought didn’t work so I’ve ordered another one. It should arrive tomorrow.

Heard from the solicitor and they are suggesting I make an offer to try and get things moving. Given the refusal of the other party to come to the table I’m tempted to drop my previous offer but I imagine that is me being childish.

Am considering a TGTG grocery bag from Marks and Spencer as I need supper tomorrow but I’m not sure I can drag myself off the sofa.

I also was a Magic Faraway Tree fan. And the Five Find Outers.

Lockin26 · 02/04/2026 20:18

@RumBananaSundae love travel books, my passion and money well spent! Also I'd be there for a M&S TGTG bag!

@needastrongone probate is another step in the whole process, four days is good.

Spent another £1 on a wispa bar. DD didn't want to do her activity tonight. £12 saved but I also didn't do the rest of the shopping. The sofa was calling.

lifelongfrugaleer · 03/04/2026 08:24

Probate in 4 days must be a record and testament to your dads organisation

lots of stuff coming from Amazon we seem to be running it at the same time
£100 Sainsbury tomorrow
£31 Nando’s end of term treat but got DS free with rewards saved £19

lifelongfrugaleer · 03/04/2026 08:24

Happy Easter weekend everyone

MuddlingLong · 03/04/2026 12:42

Happy Easter weekend!

Weve got the nephews staying with us, so we’re off to see Mario at the cinema shortly. (Kill me now! The first one was dreadful) Grandma gave us £20 for cinema ice creams and we’ll take our own popcorn and snacks and drinks.

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