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 .

That was a really fitting send off for your DDad and a choir always makes it so special @needastrongone 🤗. DB doing a 20 minute eulogy without notes is amazing, fair play to him. I’m so glad it went as well as it could.
No wonder you’re tired now, these days are utterly draining 💐.

Those scotch eggs would lure me back too @Alwaysploddingon 😄 and after a DD attitude morning I’d say ice cream is fully justified 😋. Annoying about the honey though, that would put me off as well. The nursery bills are such a pain, they always seem to creep up just when you think you’re on top of things 🙄.
That Band 7 job is a real dilemma for you. It sounds like a great fit with your course and being internal only, but I get not wanting the extra stress or the interview. Still, with so few candidates it feels like a rare opportunity for you. The interview experience will be good for you too sweetheart.

Funeral attended for my Mum and £20 donation given .
Popped into Asda and they have a super Valentine's offer for £12 . Honestly it's fantastic value. I bought 2 so spends were Asda £24 and £8.50 Primark for a thank you present for one of the carers 3 children for my Mum , she has gone above and beyond bless her .

Didn’t manage to post earlier, but glad it went as well as it could be hoped need

Job interview was a bit disappointing. The main part of the role, really isn’t what I was hoping for. I’ll accept if offered due to the poor job market, but honestly I hope they don’t offer it. Team seemed nice, but I would like a job that I could be settled in for a while. I think I would be job hunting in 6-12 months again due to boredom. My other part time role is going to be have quite boring moments, so this role needed to be a bit more interesting!

Frugal25 I need to create a list of house jobs like yours and do it. I was impressed by your completed list.

£29 in Superdrug, dry shampoo, lip balm, some facial wash for DS and some interdental brushes. Seems a ridiculous amount for not very much and pretty basic brands rather than luxe but hey ho.

Payday tomorrow and looking forward to distributing everything to respective pots and taking a good look at where things stand.

That's a shame about the job @Holidaysandchocolate 🤗. Good luck with whatever you decide to do about it lovely 🤞.
£29 for those few bits @BigSkies2022 it's getting stupid money now 🙄.

Hi all - I've been back from my 60th birthday cruise for a couple of weeks but the jet lag was awful the first week and I had no energy, and when I looked, there were over 800 posts to catch up with on the last thread.....finally read through it this afternoon (didn't want to miss any health or important life updates) and then saw there was a new thread with over 80 posts 😂

You have been busy!

My cruise was a lovely experience, lots of lovely memories and happy times with my son and his girlfriend - very spendy though due to meals at airports, upgrading wifi etc - but all worth it. Have spoken to my old boss and he's offered me some temp work for the next few weeks so that will help top up the 'holiday' pot.

I think I'm within budget on personal and shopping spends but need to catch up with the last week's receipts (my budget month currently runs from 10th of the month as that's when my main pension payment is made).

I've spent a bit of money over the last few days - using either my premium bond wins (£250 in the last couple of months) and a birthday giftcard - treated myself to an Odeon membership as it was 25% off so will make use of that. Have also seen that I can use my Clubcard (Tesco) vouchers for my railcard so that cheered me up. I also took advantage of the recent Boots Over 60's event and got a free blusher (worth about £15) and money off my shopping. I recycled some more toiletries empties too and I've now got £30 in Boots points which is mainly down to doing that a few times in the last few months! Amazing really.

Keeping on trying to mainly eat from the freezer and save groceries money.

Got another cruise coming up later in Feb with a friend which is MUCH cheaper than my January cruise!! Looking forward to that as it will be our first time holidaying together (just us) for about 35 years....

Time to relax now @needastrongone maybe a nice cuppa and a bath. Well done sweetie. A difficult day and I bet you dealt with it so well and gracefully too.

Oh no @Holidaysandchocolate may accept if offered like you say but keep an eye out for something else. Although a pain to have to go through it again so soon I know.
Oh I have a spreadsheet for my jobs. Saddo that I am.
The clock part didn't fit. Back to the drawing board.for that job.

Love your donation for the charity @DirtyGertiefromno30i hope the day went as well as it could do?

Def go for the job @Alwaysploddingon. So few candidates. You have done the training. I didn't know there was training for interviews so Def do this to give you an edge.

Spends £2.99 on a sarnie. Sigh. No NSD for me

Go for the band 7 and decide if you are offering it imo

sorry the interview wasn’t overly great. I always think these are 2 ways streets and there is an element of the candidate deciding if they like the company too. No shame in it.

Ah lovely to see you back with us @chimichangaz😊. What a lovely 60th birthday cruise 😁, shame the jet lag was rough for you 💐. No wonder it took time to catch up with so many posts.
Really nice that you had such happy time with your son and his girlfriend. It was spendy, but well worth it, and the temp work from your old boss will help top things up 😁
You’ve had some great money wins too. Premium Bond prizes, a birthday giftcard, Odeon membership at 25 percent off, Clubcard vouchers for your railcard and the Boots over 60s offers. £30 in Boots points from recycling empties is amazing. Good plan with sticking mainly to freezer meals too well done 👍
Another cruise later in Feb and much cheaper sounds great, especially going away with a friend for the first time in 35 years. That will be amazing 😍
AHH thank you for asking @Frugal25 ❤️. Yes it went well such a sad and subdued funeral though but l think it was because she was only 44 . I didn't know her personally but l represented my Mum . The charity instead of flowers was the Cats Protection League , such a good cause 🤗 Hope you enjoyed that sarnies .Needs must sweetheart you have to eat ❤️

Ah thanks for the welcome 🤗

where was the cruise to @chimichangaz? we went on one in 2024 and are going again this year - my best holidays ever so far. Dd is coeliac too so makes feeding her so easy.

weekend spend was £65 - Sainsbury’s delivery, £25 dd riding lesson and £10 for dd to go into town with a friend on Saturday. Mostly during the week by spend is 0 but I got a Starbucks to good to go bag this afternoon for ds who had to have a tooth out! Just a baby tooth so the adult one can come through but thought he might have a sandwich and a cake now if he can’t eat later!

Great idea on theTGTG bag for your Ds , @yoursweetpotatoesarebland
Aw bless him 🤗 l hope he is ok after it .

Welcome @yoursweetpotatoesarebland all welcome here 😊

Sounds a good send off @needastrongone well done to all of you, it's so difficult to organise during the initial grief and your DB did amazing. Feet up now I hope.

@DirtyGertiefromno30 I think I've ordered the same £12 deal from Asda x 2 for this weekend. I got four portions otherwise the DC will be miffed!

Love a farm shop @Alwaysploddingon

So pleased the cruise was a success @chimichangaz and another one to look forward to. I'll be coming to you for advice when we get to that point, as DH keeps mentioning cruises.

Hi to everyone else 😊

Met the IFA today and that was really helpful. I'm going to pay a % for him to manage a small growing fund for us. He manages two other family members so comes recommended and gave a mates rate for his advice and set up, so that was a bonus. Need to read the plan he's going to send me but I am happy to go with him.

Today was an accidental NSD - hadn't even planned it and just realised. Tomorrow I'm going to have a look at the £10 Boots deals as I need some night cream 🙏

Random grocery spends on gift cards. I now have a variety of tofu. Even chickpea tofu. Then £3.something in Sainsbury on a tin of blackcurrants (I’m sadly excited about it) and some yogurt.

Do you really have 726 pairs of running shoes @needastrongone? I mean I’d love to. The lady in the shop remembered me. By name. Glad today went as well as it could for you.

Good for you on the bin @Shnout. I do that but it’s true you have to look at it and who wants to look at something that they don’t like for years.

Welcome @yoursweetpotatoesarebland.

Blimey 44 is no age really is it @DirtyGertiefromno30.

Internal jobs are always awkward I think @Alwaysploddingon. Will you regret not going for it? Might you get another chance? Better the devil you know?

Sorry about the interview @Holidaysandchocolate. But see what happens.

Glad you had a good time away @chimichangaz.

Have a day off tomorrow. Might look for something to wear for a work event at the end of the month. It’s not helping that I don’t know what I’ll actually be doing.

@yoursweetpotatoesarebland it was to the western Caribbean. Weather not the best unfortunately. I’ve done quite a few cruises (usually solo) and I only did my first one in sept 22!!

The cruise sounds glorious @chimichangaz despite the weather. So glad to have you back! And you're off again so soon!!! I'm quite envious!

Was this the neighbours child @DirtyGertiefromno30? So very young. Awfully heartbreaking. Same age as me and it does hit home.

Random grocery spends are the best kind @RumBananaSundae, especially when they result in an exciting tin of blackcurrants. Honestly, I get it completely 😁. Chickpea tofu too, very adventurous 😁
And no, 44 is absolutely no age at all. Still very young , thankfully her DC were grown up as she had them very young but still a terrible shock for them all bless them ❤️ .
A day off tomorrow sounds wonderful and well deserved. Having a look for something to wear is a good plan even if the event itself is still a mystery. You can always find something that works for a few scenarios and at least feel prepared then. Hope you have a nice wander and enjoy yourself 🤗

@Lockin26 l don't blame you ordering 2 of the Asda Valentines deals they are an absolute bargain 😁.
Well done on meeting with your IFA and getting things sorted . He sounds excellent and someone you can trust 🤗
@Frugal25 yes it was my Mums neighbours daughter . Bless them all, it was so sad and so subdued , l know funerals are subdued but it was as if the ppl attending were still in shock . So many people there too . She loved animals and the flowers had cats ,dogs ,foxes and squirrels in them . They were amazing have never seen the like .
I wish l could have taken pictures but it wasn't appropriate of course .

@DirtyGertiefromno30 that is so sad - 44 is no age at all.

@chimichangaz we are off to Eastern Caribbean at Easter! Sad that the weather wasn’t great for you - though hopefully a bit better than the uk.. I heard where I live mentioned on the radio this morning as somewhere that hasn’t had a single day without rain this year 🤣

you’ll have to report back on the chickpea tofu @RumBananaSundae - am a tofu fan but never tried chickpea..

Omg Eastern Carribbean @yoursweetpotatoesarebland wow! That sounds amazing 😍.
I know it's such a young age you just don't expect it 😞.

https://www.asda.com/groceries/chilled-food/meal-deals/12-valentines-dine-in-for-two?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&PID=100045542&cjevent=7006175c060b11f18339001a0a18b8f7&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=cj

Hers the link to that Asda deal if anyone is interested

That’s a great deal, @DirtyGertiefromno30 - thanks for the heads up!

@DirtyGertiefromno30 it sounds similar to the first funeral I ever went to. If my aunt who dies suddenly in her 50, also with grown up children she had young and grandchildren. One of my cousins was close to my mum and grew closer after her mum passed. I remember sitting with my granny crying, opening cards when police interviewed my mum about it. My granny lived about 20 years longer.

That must have been very hard, especially as your first funeral @Alwaysploddingon . Your poor family ,such a shock for everyone 💐
Aw you are more than welcome @chimichangaz 🤗

Spends today £60 Aldi for not a lot 🙄.
£9 Tesco on Almond milk and fruit . I don't like Aldi fruit tbh l find it goes mouldy very quickly.
Mum was fine there thankfully, bought her more Lucozades, egg custards and the Woman's Weekly ❤️