From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

EssexHebridean

Loving that it was a good day! I too aren't always in the mood for Hot Chocolate - I frequently enjoy the first half of the cup but then it just gets far too sweet for me. We have now found a brand with a far lower sweetness level (and a far higher price tag, but hey-ho, roundabouts and swings!) and I'm happy to have that occasionally now. I might add cream to my shopping list with a view to do hot choccies on Sunday, now I come to think of it! 

Greying_Pilgrim

I'm all behind with my updating today.  

I have been shopping, and then I went out to lunch.  I was treated - my chum wouldn't take no for an answer, even though when we hook up (which is about once or twice a year) they always seem to pick up the bill.  We were at a community cafe that fundraises for a local hospice.  My lunch was superb.  Honestly,  so nice, not any more than you'd pay in a commercial cafe, and just so nice, such good value for money and such an interesting veggie salad.  Do you know when sometimes you feel treated, and the treat was layer upon layer of treatyness?  That.

They have also sent gifts for LG. Truly spoilt.  They are great company too.

I am very blessed with the people in my life.

I spent in the region of £38 on food today (will dig out the receipt just now), and something in the order of £10 on non-food.  I'll definitely dig out the accurate figures and update my siggie.

I put on a wash this morning.  I normally wouldn't have done for 3 items, but it is DH's workwear, and although I was sort of up to date, this week is an itty-bitty not working/working affair and when it comes to Monday morning, we might struggle to get clean clothes in the right colour combination 🙄and given the weather forecast for the weekend is making laundry seem like a non-starter, I thought I had better get ahead.  The items did dry in the few hours they were out - and I'm glad I remembered to get them in off the line before I went out, so they had an hour in front of the dehu whilst I was out, and I've just popped it on for another hour.  I'm slightly cringing at the cost - I don't think clothes mode is super cheap 😬 but then they should carry on drying naturally and DH will have a uniform set in hand, at least.  So the pluses outweigh the negatives, I think.

I did get a couple of YS'd things in MrL today - 400g of mushrooms for 59p and 6 white rolls (good to go with soup), for 24p.  There were no £1.50 boxes on offer.  

I see the TV mag has gone up thruppence.  Gosh, beanie - do you remember when it was something like 20p, and you suggested I switch because the times of the radio listing was getting so expensive......

The carpark of hB was busy, but it didn't translate in the shop for some reason, so I was able to whizz round, gather a few bits, pay and exit the store in minutes.  I don't know if this was the lull before the storm (literally), or whether folks have 'done' shopping this year.  Naturally, I want people to get what they need, but there is no way I miss the 'frenzy' that appears to descend every Christmas.  Having said that, I didn't need to go into MrS today, so perhaps that was busier.

Right, best gird my loins to brave the school run, and then back out for activity tonight.  

Ta for popping in.  Greying X

peb

Gosh, well gone.  I've had sleet so no washing here.

So pleased you had a lovely lunch. It's difficult to get really nice  meals out 

Cherryfudge

I think the cheapest way to get the TV listings is online. I think a lot of people, including my husband, still get the Christmas edition because it's family tradition or something. For all I know it may be a better way to look things up: I'm not much of a TV watcher but I seem to remember putting rings round things I didn't want to miss...

Just a thought with the laundry, and I know I may be wide of the mark, but I feel I've noticed a few mentions recently of work clothes getting washed. Are you ablet to claim the tax back for laundering at home? Free uniform tax refund: reclaim £100s - MoneySavingExpert Also, would it be worth investing in more work clothes, so you don't have to run the washer so often? Or would that be a problem in itself for drying, storage, etc?

Greying_Pilgrim

Cherryfudge - thank you.  I think the allowance is peanuts, £20 odd pounds a year???? IIRC.  DH did try to sign up for it online and kept on getting zoned out of the govdotuk website, so he gave up. This was several years ago at the rental house, when things got really tight financially.

You're right, £20 in his pocket is better than not (although I'd probably forget to check the pocket and it'd go through a 40 degree wash....), but it really is a pittance for what it costs to launder clothes in dirty trades or professions. 

A long time ago we used to use the launderette to dry all our clothes and there was a guy who worked on a road mending team, so his hi-vis orange stuff was covered in mud and tarmac all the time.  He used to spend well over £10 a week washing and then drying his stuff then, and that was well over 5 years ago 🙁

Previous employers have either used commercial laundry firms or had washing facilities on-site.  You've just reminded me actually, of DH's former work colleague at a previous employer, who laundered everything at the firm and claimed their allowance from HMRC........  They were always spent up to the nines/in debt too. 

Edit: sorry, missed the bit about buying more clothes - DH has to wear a specific uniform supplied by the firm, but they only supply the absolute minimum, so if stuff gets dirty the only option is to wash it.  The bosses have cracked down on employees wearing 'the wrong clothes' on-site, and have reluctantly agreed to consider supplying a couple of extra logo'd pieces.  These clothes have yet to materialise......  This is the trouble when folks in heated corner offices are designing policy for others who do a different type of job in a wholly different environment....... 

I will, however, nudge DH to apply again, as he is eligible to receive the benefit.  Thank you 😁

Greying X

cafelady

Hi Greying

i think you can back date the claim for four years so worth a look. 

rtandon27

oh yes - definitely worth it if you can back date as well - after all a penny in your pocket is a penny not in theirs!  - and they take enough of our pennies that we can't claw back!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

We're still here 😁  It's been an "interesting" weekend tho 😲 so am currently discombobulated to start the second of the 'busy weeks' at the end of term.  Roll on the 20th - end of term and onwards to our family solstice dinner on the 21st, which I'm really looking forward to.  

Anyhoo, I've got a not quite 'last minute' but 'unexpected' invite out for coffee this morning, so I'm racing round, doing the wash (supposed to be breezy-ish today) and getting LG  out the door on time with the half-ton of stuff they need to take into school, and then turn round to get myself out of the door.  But it will be nice to see my chum and have a catch up.

Yesterday I managed to do a wash of LG's stuff and get caught up.  The pegs were strong enough to keep the clothes on the line (thankfully) and the stuff came in pretty dry.  An hour in front of the dehu and overnight on the airer and the stuff is good to go again.  So grateful.  Trying to get up to date with DH's stuff today, and mine tomorrow, as the weather is forecast to change again, so make hay and all that.

LG announced this morning that the are considering writing their Christmas list..... 😬  I did point out it takes 4.5 weeks for post to get to the North Pole, but they said it was to go under the tree on Christmas Eve 😬 Here's hoping Santa is in the right ball park..........

The item of clothing I got last week in a bit of a hurry has proved to be 'just the job' and I asked LG this morning if they could use another - and they said yes, so I need to get onto that, as I will probably have to order.  Don't suppose M&$ have restocked sizes as they sell........

Right, gotta go.  Today's Advent activity is 'posting all the cards', so best shift a tail feather and load up the charabanc.

See you later.  Greying X

Cherryfudge

I was a bit concerned not to see any posts here for a couple of days GP, I hope 'interesting' doesn't involve anything too horrendous? Things do get a bit crazy in the run up to Christmas even without stormy weather.

Love LG's take on Christmas lists...!  Two of my (grown up) children still haven't said where they will be for Christmas dinner so I don't know who I'm catering for!

LadyWithAPlan

I mistakenly pushed for early Xmas lists and my DN is at the TikTok age - last year and now this years list is full of ridiculously expensive branded stuff that are TikTok promoted so they often also sold out !