Frugal Summer shenanigans, sunburnt silliness, ice cream indulgence, paddling pool chaos, picnic pandemonium, bank holiday bonkersness, sunshine mischief and all the rest of it.

[DirtyGertiefromno30]

Welcome to our lovely, friendly,frugal thread everyone 🤗

Hattie is a brilliant name for your car @Frugal25 😁 ours have been Betsy , Gladys and Daphne, funnily enough this one hasn't got one l think we have grown up 😂
That cheese and proper bread sounded absolutely delicious, definitely a lovely Friday night tea 😋 £16 for Moana isn’t bad either. Fingers crossed the rest of your day stays nice and frugal too. Three trays of cakes out the freezer should certainly make some room and feed the 5000 lucky lucky ppl wat l wouldn't give for a slab of gluten filled home made cakes 🤤😋. Hope you have a lovely time at the party later!

I'm not sure what to name my car now! 😆 Shall have to have a think about it.

A costly day 😆

£17 on clothes in Tesco. My DD fell in love with a sequin number and that little face ... So I found a £4 off £20 spend in the app and they've also got 25% off too so brought a couple of other bits to be able to use the double voucher.

£13 at my friend funding the local Starbucks.

£25 in Aldi. On what feels like nothing.

This is the first six weeks holidays of my parenting career 😆 I'm realising I might need a second savings pot for next summer as being off work even with good intentions does cost, thinking £20 a month I wouldn't notice but would make a difference next summer. Might need to dig into my savings pot this month but that's why we save money isn't it.

£1.43 in Aldi. £2.10 in Asda. I need to find some strolls that do not go past shops.

I missed Hattie @Frugal25. That’s a wonderful name for a car. I am picturing you very prim and proper in driving gloves and a headscarf in a very dainty motor vehicle. Hope you enjoyed your party.

I know what you mean about £25 buying what feels like nothing @Ovoemconserva. Very good voucher use.

Did some housework today. Worked a bit on an application. Am expecting a dreadful week so am oscillating between trying to ignore it and bracing myself. Am fending off buying a shirt. I love it but know I’ll never wear it.

Not too sure why but I think I'm going with Sally.

NSD today but yesterday had a meal deal, lottery scratch card and newspaper for work - £9.20 so a reasonably low spend.
Need to shop after work tomorrow to prepare for our weekend away with DD, SonIL and GCs. We have menu planned for the first night away plus picnic bits for day trip out on Saturday - Airbnb booked for two nights - so need to pack too or at least write a list so we just gather it all together on Friday Morning.
Other meals will be adhoc - that is find the nearest supermarket - with the freedom to opt for a meal out or pizza delivery - looking forward to it - just need to get through this week and we will be on our way!! 😎
Never thought to name any of our cars - but might discuss that with DH when we are on the road later this week 😆
Been doing no spend things in the garden this week with the GCs including a day spent painting/Arts and crafts/baking/sleepovers!! Could do without the early mornings though!! 😴Oh and the eclipse too!!

Evening everyone 😊
I think Sally is a fabulous name @Ovoemconserva😁👏.
Sally ,Sally , pride of our alley 😁.
Love that song ❤️
Anyway back to messages you did brilliantly with that Tesco shop ! Well done 👍 👏👏. Good idea re saving for next summer hols l think . It will make a big difference to your Summer coffers for entertainment.
I do hope this week in work isn't as bad as you dread @RumBananaSundae bless you sweetheart 😘
NSD for me , Mum was tickety boo and DH happy watching the Footy and the cricket what's not to like 😁
Hope everyone is having a lovely evening ☺️

I nearly missed your message @Rainbow1901we cross posted😁.
£9.20 yesterday isn’t bad at all, especially with a newspaper and scratch card! 😁 Your weekend away sounds lovely 😊 . Just get through this week and you’ll be off! 😎

I went with Hattie for my car as the reg plate has HT in it. Yes. I'm that much if a genius. My last car was Geoff as it had GF in it. Again. My brains astound everyone not just me.
Must get some driving gloves ....

The party was lovely. We stayed 3 hours as DD was tired by then. But it was fun. Hair was sprayed blue, we had glow sticks and a BBQ with music and a smoke machine. Whoop.

Sally is a great name for a car @Ovoemconserva! What provided the inspiration? I'm the same. I have a savings account maturing in December that I'm going to use to fund Christmas and summer next year. It adds up so fast. My savings have been burnt this year sadly.

Love Betsy, Gladys and Daphne!! @DirtyGertiefromno30and bless your madam mum getting fed up with you. Like she or anyone else could. Did you get some of the sauces? How was your friend? Did you manage to cheer her up?

Oh @RumBananaSundae ignore the dread for now. I've wasted many Sundays worrying about work and it's done absolutely nothing but waste a day (s). Time off will be pottering about for a week doing days out and then off to where I wish I lived full time, Somerset. I arrived and I can actually feel my shoulders relax and my heart sing.
I get asked by OH where I want to go every year. The whole world is on offer. And my answer is always the same. Somerset.

How was Dublin @Lockin26 I've never been but it's on my list. Looks stunning.

Met my cousin today for a catch up. Haven't seen her for 2 years and she has never met OH (only been together 13 years) so we went for a walk and had a cuppa and DD played in the playground. £3.90 for all day parking and £7 on coffee for all and a cake for DD. We only lasted 2 hours as DD flagged in the heat but we have promised to meet up in 3 months again so I'm happy. That side of the family tend to not meet us anymore (it was weekly back in the day) so keen to meet my cousin more.
Went to a shopping mall on the way back home and nearly got make up remover but I gave up as the shop was confusing.

Hattie and Geoff 😂 ❤️. Your car naming logic is genius @Frugal25!
You definitely need the driving gloves now to complete the look. 🤣
The party sounded brilliant , blue hair, glow sticks, BBQ, music and a smoke machine! 👏😁
I love that Somerset is always your holiday answer. Sounds like it really is your happy place if you can feel your shoulders relax as soon as you arrive.
I feel the same when we go to Tenby, it's just home from home ❤️.
Lovely that you caught up with your cousin after two years, especially as she’d never met OH. £10.90 for parking, coffees and cake is brilliant! Yay!
You are too kind re my Mum telling me to go , she's like the queen dismissing her servants l don't mind, it means she's on top form 😁

I'm really not sure I just had it pop into my head I haven't driven her this weekend so I'll have a chat tomorrow morning and see if she's feeling Sally.

Afternoon everyone 🤗
Been for lunch with my friend, £12.25. l bought a gf strawberry roulade and we shared it and it was gorgeous😋
Aldi spend for Mum and Dd1and DH
£15 . Weather is cloudy ATM but 26C but warm ,close and humid so we needs damn good thunderstorm here . Hope everyone is well and having a good day 🤗.

5.00 coffee
10.00 primark/m&s socks
5.00 m&s mini pickie bit s to take to the library. But got loads left and it was for two so that's a bargain really.

£15 for a flat bed sheet for DD
£19 for bits in superdrug that I needed.
Hoping that's it.

Very warm here today.

Ohh yummy picky bits @Ovoemconserva 😁😋.
Very warm here too @Frugal25 🥵 very close and humid we really need a thunderstorm badly ⛈️.

Afternoon everyone 😊
Been to the market , spent £8 on the cake man in the market most of it for my Mum . Nothing else today so far .
Weather lovely 22C blue skies sunny on times and nice breeze .
Hope everyone is ok and has a lovely day 😊

A total of £5.34 today and yesterday in Sainsbury’s and Aldi on mints, jam tarts, milk and cheese.

Have a lovely time away @Rainbow1901.

Love the rationale on the car naming @Frugal25. You’re right about weekends. I spend Saturdays worrying about the past week and Sunday worrying about the coming week.

Glad your mum is doing OK @DirtyGertiefromno30? How are you doing? We need a thunderstorm here too. Thought there was going to be one today with the smell, rather grey sky, wind and humidity but no luck. It is much cooler. Can’t believe it was 38 last week.

Had a lovely day today with my friend. We went on a boat trip and she covered lunch. Feeling a bit sad as I won’t see her again until September. Work will be pants tomorrow. It’s an expected pants so I can brace myself and practice my best poker face. Am icing my leg. It’s not happy. A friend mentioned colouring books and alcohol markers so guess what I’ve been looking at on amazon?

@DirtyGertiefromno30 I'm pleased the nice weather has come your way.

It's been 17 here today and breezy - got some washing dried at least.

Had a walk down to the river where we plan to spread my DMs ashes. We had another major family bereavement two weeks ago. So stressful and devastating I couldn't really speak about it. But now one of my Dsis has really lost the plot. There was a huge incident over an item that they (Dsis x 2 and BIL) said was for charity, so I took it to charity, then they said it wasn't for charity. It's been brewing all summer. Trying my best but not sure I'm even going to be included in the spreading of the ashes..

Anyway on a positive note, the place my DM wanted her ashes spread gave me a real sense of calm and strength today. Ironically I'm more worried about Dsis than anything.

Somehow I've managed to be quite frugal and healthy this week..

Today was £17.86 Lidl..also spends in Asda but this was on a gift card I got earlier in the month 😇
Yesterday much more spendy £105 Costco (ouch), £63 on a trip in Dublin next weekend and £43 hold on an airport taxi.

Thanks to those that asked about Dublin, it's this weekend which is also my birthday - DC are going to a concert on Saturday night and me and DH now going to the Guiness Storehouse - finally something he wants to do 😂

Ps. All sorted and okay with the ashes. We're all a little fragile at the moment.

Also sorry I didn't see anyone's updates. But will try to keep up better - I have enjoyed reading about summer activities.

Oh @Lockin26 so glad it's sorted. I read your first post and my heart ached for you. So sorry for your loss and sending huge love. Families go a little sensitive with grief and money. And politics too I find. But I'm glad the place gives you a sense of calm.
Ooohhh happy birthday for this weekend my darling. What a brilliant line up you have too!!!

Have the jam tarts lasted or did you do a me and eat in one sitting with a cuppa @RumBananaSundae? Boat trip sounds so much fun. And work, yuk, remember to count down the hours and maybe have something fun at the end. Like a jam tart. What is an alcohol marker? Off I go to search Amazon.
We had rain here for 2 days now. Only in bits but it helps. Meant to rain all night tonight too. Yippee.

Love a market that sells cake @DirtyGertiefromno30 so glad your lovely mum was ok :)

Went to a national trust today £7 on drinks and ice cream and OH bought lunch. Then £17 on bits from corner shop.
Neighbours move tomorrow so have spent time with them saying goodbye and giving them gifts. Have another gift ready for the new owner tomorrow. A lady my age so that will be fun I hope. Sold an item on vinted, only £1 but it's out of my way. So sent that off too. Been a busy day.
Not going to yoga tonight. I should but I'm in holiday mode.

Sorry about the bereavement @Lockin26. I’m with frugal it does strange things to families. I hope you are OK. And have an awesome birthday.

They have been eaten @Frugal25. I feel sick thinking about tomorrow. Can’t find anything to distract myself. Hope the new neighbours are lovely.

Good evening. I have enjoyed reading all about your frugal doings. I should like to join in if i may?

Evening everyone 🤗
Sounds like you had a lovely day with your friend @RumBananaSundae, though it’s sad for you that you won’t see her until September. Hope your leg settles with the icing and tomorrow’s pants day isn’t too awful bless you sweetheart ❤️ .Poker face at the ready!
Ah thank you re my Mum and l , Mum was fine today thankfully and l am ok as long as my Mum is ❤️

Join in @Twogingercats the more the merrier 😁👍🤗

Ooh more jam tarts @RumBananaSundae sorry tomorrow sounds like it could be shoddy. Will be wishing you a bearable day 🙏

Thanks you @RumBananaSundae and @Frugal25 re the rough summer I'm having. Things seems a little better now, just me and 2x Dsis are going to spread the ashes then have food afterwards. Middle Dsis looks so tired and she's got muddled up, not her fault at all. I've going with the flow.

Hi @Twogingercats welcome to the thread

Oh bless you @Lockin26you’ve really had so much to deal with, especially with another close family bereavement. ❤️ I’m so sorry this has happened again so soon after losing your darling Mum ❤️ . I am so glad your Mum's ashes are scattered now though, and that walk by the river sounds like it did you the world of good sweetheart. Sometimes you just need somewhere peaceful to breathe and gather yourself. ❤️ Hopefully all the family stuff will settle down now too 🤗.
Happy birthday for the weekend too! 🎂🥳 Dublin is fabulous you will love it p am sure , and l had to lol 😂 at your DH finally choosing something he actually wants to do 🤣! The Guinness Storehouse should be a good laugh though. Hope you both have a brilliant time while your DC are at the concert.
Well done on the frugal and healthy week too! Although £105 at Costco is definitely an OUCH 😂. I always spent over £100 in there but l treat it more as a day out than food shopping tbh we really enjoy going . And honestly, don’t worry about catching up with everyone’s updates, you just take care of yourself ❤️