February Frugaleers United in Saving Money, Swapping Recipes & Supporting each other in finance, friendship & family life : )

[mammymammyIRL]

And so we continue ....

[Loveabaconsandwich]

My mum just messaged to say my dad has had various tests done today and they have decided he is fine to get on with his operation. Just waiting the next date!

[Fluffycloudland77]

If it's not right then don't take it, you could be thousands better off over the course of your career.

It's not moaning, it's venting.

[Nofilter]

Some real food for thought here!

I wouldn’t know where to begin I have 6 wardrobes and DD a huge one full to the brim of clothes...

Since we are moving soon I’m tempted to sell loads of it in Ebay but then think I might not spend hat kind of money on clothes again so would I regret it?
I actually live from 1 rail of jeans and tops though!

[Nofilter]

Posted too soon...

Big meeting with the bank tomorrow at 11 to sign everything off for the new farm, yikes so much “Adult decision” stuff going on!

NSD today!

[Laska5772]

love You wont get a better pension that's for sure.. Its why I have stayed all these years in public sector jobs , - plus the good hours decent conditions, holidays . an despite the fact that i could have earned more in private sector.. .now I am 60 the fact that i have a decent (although not at all huge) pension has made all the difference to my next few years plans and means means i can retire now..

Well tomorrow is the day the next years budget proposals for where i work come out and i can find out if i have a chance of redundancy (which is I want as I will get more pension ) or not and will have to resign to retire .. Then its decision time!

Spendy today £98 in Sainsburys on food mainly store cupboard items and household/ cat stuff, and £38 diesel.. I also had lunch out with a friend which was £8.

[WreckTangled]

Nsd. Two in a row.

[lifelongfrugaleer]

There is no denying the t&c are good in the CS. They only are matched by some areas of the private sector. That is important having that flexibility with a young family during term time.
Could you apply for term time where your are?

[Fluffycloudland77]

NoFilter You could pack them up & see how you feel next year. The only thing I've kept is my wedding dress & shoes.

Need Are you resting? Resting is not doing stuff to allow your immune system to work properly.

[lifelongfrugaleer]

No filter, YY to pack them up. You might weed some out as you do ie no longer fit, damaged, don't like. You could then put into winter,, summer, holidays etc so you can rotate them. Then revieww after you moved when that season comes around

[ShoopShoop]

Just place marking . Will be back later / tomorrow morning. Knackered and still got loads of work to do

[SnugglySnerd]

Good news about your dad's op Love.

I have saved lots of baby clothes to make a memory quilt but I can't sew. In my head it's going to be a lovely project where I learn to use a sewing machine and create something beautiful. In reality I know I will either forget all about it or try and get very cross with the sewing machine and ruin all the lovely baby clothes.

[lifelongfrugaleer]

That's good he is well enough for surgery love

[Unescorted]

duchess get a jam thermometer. Otherwise you end up with either runny or solid jam.
Fluffy how do you get your wardrobe to match? I always look as if I got dressed in the dark with a blindfold on.
Life the kids call my HIIT mummy kitchen shapes...just as well I love them.
Em I have nothing useful to add about mum's..... Except you have my sympathy. Mine can be difficult at times. I love her but she drives me bonkers.
Wreck well done with your appraisal. I am putting mine off. I can feel my own attitude. I must be offensive to others.
Quilters to be take a look at the Japanese Boro quilts they are amazing..layers of family memories all stitched together.
Love the cs is very difficult to leave. I costed out my pension and potential promotion. I am on a final salary so to go into private sector would require a huge pay rise. Then there is holiday allowance, car, in service death provision, private health checks, flexi time, work from home. ....

[ememem84]

Balls. Just lost a long post.

Essentially I’m grateful for a lot of stuff including:

• new spin instructor who plays great music and is terribly easy on the eye
  
• time to myself - am in shower room at present taking make up off face mask on having just showered after spin class. Listening to music.
  
• dh thinking I speak Spanish. I was singing along to despacito (in Spanish) I don’t speak Spanish (aside from the hellos can I order food Spanish) I just learned the song. In the same vein you could say I speak Korean as I memorised the sounds for Gangnam style....that’s one of my karaeoke party tricks. That and believe by Cher. I do a great deep Cher autotuned voice. Frightens dh when I do it.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'm a uniform dresser. Summer is;

Jersey single breasted blazer
Various coloured jeggings plus indigo & black.
Various neutral tops.
Black boden hot pants
Sandals.

Navy blazer goes with turquoise, pink, red, white jeggings.
Which goes with vest in navy/white/red.

So, navy blazer, white vest, pink jeggings. Or navy blazer, red top, turquoise jeggings. Any top except navy can be put with the shorts.

Jewellery is always diamonds from when we had money. No costume jewellery.

Nothing gets bought unless it matches something else. No quirky prints, no slogan t shirts.

Winter is several thermal tops shoved under a Barbour, jeggings, boots.

When we go away I can pack a weeks clothes into an overnight bag, Dh takes a huge suitcase. Usually the pink one so people think it's mine.

It's just a style you feel comfy in, in various co-ordinating colours. Pinterest helps, I researched lots of capsule wardrobes & adapted from there.

[WreckTangled]

Em we've finished 13 reasons why, what else did you want to say? I didn't realise she was an Aussie

[mammymammyIRL]

Thanks to your last post I've deduced you are slim fluffy

[Wolfcub]

Unescorted I definitely need to look at your branch of the cs if you’re getting a car and a health check.

[ememem84]

I love Pinterest for fashion ideas fluffy it’s spurred me on to branch out of my comfort zone and try new things - hats specifically. Last year I bought a wide brimmed fedora. It’s black and when I wear it I feel FAB - U - LOUS! and a little bit like carmen sandiegoEspecially if it’s teamed with sunnies.

I may dig it out and wear tomorrow.

My work look is very Christina Hendricks/Joan from madmen - pencil skirts, blouses, killer heels

Casual is jeans, top, boots (in winter) converse/Stan smiths in spring, flip flops in summer. Jeans are replaced with shorts. And always sunnies. Either on my face, pushing my hair back or in my bag. Always. And always Raybans.

My goal for Feb is to learn a new smasual up-do. I have perfected messy bun. My hair is at peak “homeless person but stylin’ messy bun” I need something new.

I have moved on from despacito to watching the Super Bowl half time show. I fell asleep on Sunday. So missed it. Justin timberlake. Eeek

[ememem84]

wreck I didn’t realise that?!

We hated the character. Towards the end we were screaming at her to just get on with it!!! Sounds awful given what she did. But aaahhh she was soooo annoying...just get on with it love!

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's just cheaper to think about what your buying, I've impulse bought so much & it ends up being sent to the charity shop. I've wasted £1000s over the years.

It's better to buy one nice piece that lasts well than loads of stuff you have to replace every year.

Dh buys expensive stuff, wears it years & sells it on eBay for near enough what he paid. He basically rents it.

The caveat is around the house clothes, I buy supermarket stuff. Cheap as & stands up to frequent washing.

[TheDuchessofDukeStreet]

Thanks unescorted, I wasn't sure if I would need one. It will come in handy for toffee making too. Nice that that's the only thing to buy.

Thinking about dropping from branded to value things where possible. Have started with Sainsburies basics custard. 30p as opposes to £1 for ambrosia. I've been watching a YouTube video of a chap who is eating only Tesco value food for the week and while his choices would not necessarily be mine, it's interesting.

Have packed along with normal packed lunches, an iron rations one for myself in case I forget, or have no time or no money on me. Some breakfast biscuits, carton of orange juice, fruit pot, tin of soup and a packet of crisps. So that can sit in my locker at work until needed.

[Laska5772]

I am a walking advert for Hush ! Also believe in buying things to last

l wear skinnies, jeggings, tunic tops/dresses in plain colours or striped , boots (love boots!) , scoop neck tops usually plain or striped Bretons, Cashmere jumpers or cardis in lots of colours.

In the summer I like vaguely 50s flared skirts and dresses also .. or the beach hippy/ boho look .. sandals or ballet flats.

Lots of blue in my wardrobe (all shades except pale ) , but also red, green, purple and burgundy ( black and grey base layers with coloured tunics /jumpers mainly for work) . I dont wear jeans or shorts much ..

Too busty for blazers sadly . Love Hush Harems for lounging in .

[ememem84]

duchess I’ve found I prefer a lot of unbranded stuff. Dh would disagree. He swears he’s only ever eaten Heinz ketchup. This is not true. He’s been eating coop own brand for over a year now. I just decanted it jnto the Heinz bottle.

I’m brand loyal to only a few supermarket things. Instant coffee - if I buy it myself it has to be dowe egberts
Chocolate digestives. Has to be mcvities. Has to be dark chocolate.
Shreddies. No imitations.
Ditto Crunchy nut cornflakes.
Tomato soup - Heinz. Has to be. But it’s my “I’m sick and want sympathy” food. Heinz tomato soup and buttery toast. Dunked. In the sports direct mug. When I’m not well the sports direct mug comes out. This is a sign to dh.

I occasionally buy Diet Coke. Bought Waitrose own brand the other day. Cheaper and tastes more like “pub coke” which I like.

We generally buy whatever is cheapest.

I’m brand loyal to clarins though. Because I’ll only ever have one face so must take care of it. And clarins works for me. Not my wallet. But my face.

[ememem84]

laksa I’m a busty mclovely too. I just wear the blazers open.... and sometimes with sleeves rolled up - Miami vice style...

I’m a dark/strong colours. Pale colours wash me out. So pastels are a no. Lovely burgundy, greens, dark/royal blue, purples suit me best.