Pulling my frugal pants on.

beanielou

Blimey. That’s a big blow. 

KajiKita

Might be worth a chat with CAB? 

KK

beanielou

I would check with CAB. There are also helpful guides on line. 

ladybird1106

Thanks everyone for your advice. So contacted UC via the portal to query decision. Looked at guidelines on line and I believe that the issue was up until recently we were on CTC. Age for cut off for kids with disabilities in education is 20 on CTC. But we were moved this year to UC and age for cut off is 19. At least that is how I understand it.  After searching through portal we didn’t have a phone call from UC even though we were on it , so I’m assuming it was CTC. Hence been told it was 20. Bizarre way of doing things, but there you go.
Throws down gauntlet at life - challenge accepted to find savings and make money stretch further.So been to sm as OH forgot to tell me he had already eaten the loaf I bought Sunday 🤨. Downgraded his bread saving 41p, berries for the youngest reduced so picked up 4 packets and mince reduced by £1.12 picked up 4 packets and broccoli reduced by 47p. I had my change bag with me so used that to pay for part of it. Still came to £26.38. Called for blackberries at the plot-free.
Topped the car up with ⛽️ £50.36 ready to drive up to uni city for the eldest graduation tomorrow. Unable to cancel hotel that we booked months ago, when we hoped we would get a ticket for the youngest. We would have just got up super early. Oh well. To cut costs we are eating at home before we go and will just go for drinks instead. On our way up we are calling at ikea to take back a couple of Billy’s as they have changed the colour and no longer matches what we already have. 

Lovely morning, sat in the garden, honeysuckle is out and I have a very industrious bee next to me, buzzing away.
love 🐞

Cherryfudge

It does indeed sound a bizarre way of doing things - and I'm so sorry you've fallen foul of it.

Yay for allotment berries! And it's worth keeping a look out for frozen berries if youngest finds them acceptable. It can work out cheaper. (Mix with yogurt and freeze as lollies? I've not tried it but it could work).

I'm sure you are aware of the zillions of recipes on Old Style here - I'm currently rereading 50p a day til Christmas - healthily?! Weezl's next challenge... - Page 269 — MoneySavingExpert Forum which is a golden oldie and full of great ideas (though I doubt even Weezl could manage on 50p a day now). Oddly, when I opened the thread to send the link, they were talking about blackberry jam. Could already be friends of yours.

We had a similar issue with the Billy bookcases: we wanted to match what we already had but settled for the newer style as it's in another room. I think I prefer the old style though we added a top layer to the newer one so it holds more. It may be worth a look on Faceb00k M arketplace as they do sometimes come up there. Or could you paint both old and new Billys so they match?

I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow - congratulations to the new graduate!

ladybird1106

Thanks for the suggestions cherryfudge will have a look at the other forums. The youngest won’t entertain frozen berries because of the texture, the rest of us will though. Good idea about looking at Facebook etc for bookcases not thought about that.
 Graduation went really well, lots of sunshine, smiles and clapping. Indulged in my favourite pastime of people watching. Only negative was my bank account was a lot lighter. The day cost about £350 roughly. 2 hotel rooms, petrol, meal out, and mementos. That doesn’t include pictures but I think the eldest is buying these.
 Today the eldest and I are returning to uni city as they get keys to their rental and we are transporting some of their stuff up, as their 2nd hand fridge freezer is being delivered tomorrow (taught them well),. Hopefully today we will be able to get them a 2nd washing machine and then we are supposed to be having a picnic. Well if it stops raining. Right time to roll their mattress and get it in the car.
love 🐞

ladybird1106

Move went well, once we got through the rain and the spray. House is clean and tidy, went through the itemised list and listed faults not on said list. Thinking bond refund a year from now. Anyway found the local sm and filled her cupboards for £132.38. Should last her at least 6 weeks 🤞. We didn’t get a wm as I just run out of steam and the picnic was in her front rooms.
OH is out with friends, so another £20 spent. I suppose he could have cancelled but he’s not seen one for at least a year and the other is planning on moving out of county in the next couple of months.
love 🐞

Cherryfudge

I'm glad it went well! Sorry about the dent in the bank balance though. 

ladybird1106

It is what it is cherryfudge.
 Managed to take back the Billy’s and get a refund, before spending £245 ( saved for the youngest room) on a new clothes rail type thing. Hopefully because it is more accessible they will now be able to put their own clothes away( 🤣) . Just need to put grab rails next to it for stability . They’ve also got a couple of very sturdy trolleys for their make up and hair stuff. None of it is what I originally thought would be suitable, so glad I took them with me. They were shattered by the end of it as they were hyper focused as people especially kids don’t look where they are going sometimes, although the youngest does have ninja skills at manoeuvring their chair. I did have a moment of will I get this all in the car plus a wheelchair. It was packed to the gunnels. Did manage to get the eldest a stool as they can’t reach some of the shelves in their new kitchen.
 Today OH is driving up to uni city to take up the eldest bed, book case, dining table and chairs, along with carious bags of stuff. Filled the car again with petrol, another £60 odd . Told them to make sure they make him breakfast (bacon and egg sandwiches) as payment. Hopefully the bed will be less aggressive putting it up as it attacked him last night. I’m not going as there is no room, which means I get a day to relax. So far I’ve 🧘‍♂️, next is a walk with miss giddychops and then off to the plot to water and weed. Hopefully I will get a couple of Billy’s from the 2 2nd hand shops today🤞. 

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

No Billy’s , but I did get a  large homemade shoe rack for the eldest(will reimburse me). Also managed to get OH a new shirt, a dressing gown( both of these have been on my cs list for a couple of months ) , a dress and a dinosaur 🦕 top- £8 in total. 

 House is clean and tidy. Forgot to take the shed key to the plot, so just picked produce. Off to dad’s this morning to meet up with other family members to discuss what support he wants over the next couple of weeks. 
On a positive note the youngest appears to be starting to get the hang of budgeting, although they have bought replicas of a product they use, that is no way finished. It’s a start.

Reinstating my frugal wins as motivation 
 Frugal wins
1. charity shop finds
2. free exercise 
3. another body cream bottle scrapped and finished 
4. Used natures tumble drier and slow spin cycle on washing machine.
5. Toothpaste tube opened up to use the dregs
6. picked rhubarb, first 🍇, tomato 🍅 and beetroot.
7. free lunch today 
 Need to motivate myself and get miss giddychops out for a walk.
love 🐞