From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

in_need_of_direction

I truly thought how Wales played was outstanding compared to recent performances. I’m always going to cheer for the green but part of me was sorry that Wales lost given the quality of play. 

Greying_Pilgrim

in_need_of_direction said:

I truly thought how Wales played was outstanding compared to recent performances. I’m always going to cheer for the green but part of me was sorry that Wales lost given the quality of play. 

Definitely - vastly improved performance.  And I was glad for the fans, because despite some Welsh clubs apparently having difficulty selling their ticket allocations, it was a sell-out crowd at the stadium, so the fans were treated to a good game to watch.   I'm glad to have seen the bits I did see.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

So I've taken the bull by the horns and washed some of DH's "essentials", as he hadn't told me that he'd nearly run out 🫤 I've hedged my bets and put half on the line outside and half on the airer in front of the dehu - clothes mode, 1 hr.  We have got a strong breeze, and there are gusts, but at the moment, we do not have rain, and in fact, the sun is trying very hard to shine, so the line pegged garments might get partially dried.  It's worth a punt.  

DH popped to MrT with his cc vouchers, only to find - according to MrT - that they have been 'redeemed' already 🤪  Sure, that's why he has them in his hand......  MrT have done nothing but **** up our cc and credit card accounts since we moved house.  THEY decided to split our cc vouchers account up (we had previously been linked), and issue vouchers in his name (physical, printed), and in my name (online, have to print them myself).  And yes, I have spent MY vouchers this month, but how are they they same as DH's?  The last voucher we got - mine came through whilst I had started this challenge - I will have to look back, but I am sure it was for £3.  DH's physical voucher came through the post a fortnight ago - and it was for £4.  If they are the same vouchers, why are they for differing amounts????  Anyhoo, no work socks bought as a result.  And as an aside, WHEN did socks get so expensive???????

I've sorted out the freezer meals/ingredients that we have left and allocated them a day until the end of Feb.  I have snuck one more curry plate in 🤣  I am delighted to say that whilst it does take care of the 'interesting' or easy meal components, it does not 'wipe out' our food stocks.  It will pretty much empty the freezers, which is no bad thing, but we do still have tins, packets and shelf-stable items to call upon, so we'll not starve.  IF, I can make it work, it will be a "massive" personal achievement, as it will very nearly have 'doubled' the February savings amount for the windows, thanks to DH's bonus (even though that wasn't very much - to his great disappointment).  Anyhoo, must.not.count.chucks.afore.they.be.hatched!

EDIT: Mr T has "sent" (in two differing formats) the same vouchers to us.  My printed off vouchers did indeed have the same codes as DH's printed/received through the post vouchers.  So naturally, because I have bought some of this months shopping with "my" vouchers, DH's are, by default, already redeemed 🙄  Now we know, we won't make the same mistake again, but as to why MrT split us up and sent us differently named vouchers is anyone's guess.......... 🙄

Greying X

Staffordia

I have a Mr T Credit Card, and always had vouchers in my name. I added my wife to the CC and for a couple of years the vouchers arrived addressed to both of us. However for the last couple of runs, I have been ditched and they are just sent to my wife.  The CC bill is still addressed to me though   😔 

badmemory

Clubcard points are certainly not what they were.  I once had an all inclusive week in Corfu & all it cost me was the flight & single room suppliments. That was when you got 4x the points.  Now they have even stopped doing my TV papers so there is nothing for me now except just to use them for shopping.  It has certainly made me think more carefully about what I buy from there because most places are cheaper but that is if they sell what you want.

rtandon27

Once upon a time we would eat out once or twice a month courtesy of MrT points.  This practice has gone the way of the dodo.  We no longer shop there as the veg is never up to the value or quality of what we can get elsewhere and the store atmosphere in our town is horrid and more than either of us can handle. 

Our only MrT points come from putting regular purchases on the credit card, but even that has diminished as groceries now go on the MrS card for the nectar points.  MrT points are now barely enough to eat out once a year, and MrS points are only spent on groceries. 

I think these things while lamentable come and go in waves.  I now find our most lucrative points card to be B00ts, from which I get quite a few meal deal lunches a year, comes in handy on days when taking lunch from home is not an option.

Greying_Pilgrim

I agree with you badmemory and rt.  Definitely not what they were.  We managed to get RaCee membership for a good few years on cc vouchers - mind that was when the cover was affordable and we used MrT more.  Funny you talk about MrS rt.  I just looked up what the smart shop and points 'offers' are for this week.  There is no point me doing a smart shop (however teeny) this week, as the offers are all for things that I don't need - and only very occasionally buy anyway.  

Staffordia - ouch 🤣  I have no-one to blame but myself if I don't approve of what's been bought on my cc 🤣

I made Sabrina Ghayour's Carrot, fennel seed and lentil soup for lunch, as I had plenty of carrots to 'spare'.  It made 3 large bowlfuls and we're now stuffed, so I have already changed what we'll have for tea - omlette, mash and beans & mixed veg, rather than a 'sausage' based 'roast' dinner.  

The washing was partially successful.  The garments that were outside dried relatively 'uniformly' and came in (it started to rain with greater consistency), at the same level of dampness.  The garments in front of the dehu hadn't dried with consistency, some were virtually as wet as when put on the airer, and others were drying quite well.  I though I had done the positioning quite well (part of the reason I tried the half in and half out approach too), but the drying results showed otherwise.  I only had the dehu on for 1 hr, and the garments will have to dry on their own now.  Hopefully there won't be a supply issue come Tuesday........ 😉

The rain did eventually come down heavily, so I did get the washing in, in time.  I could have gained an extra hour's drying time if I had put them out earlier though, as we didn't have the forecast downpours this morning.  

Ita vs Fra rugger match is a good un.  We're enjoying it.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

You join me playing laundry roulette, which I am currently losing.  The beebeecee weather site gave a less than 10% chance of rain this morning - and yet it's currently hammering down 🙄Three guesses who optimistically put a wash on.......  

Back to school 🫤Trying very hard not to let mine and DH's irritation at quite alot that is going on at school, influence LG.  School days should be a delight and care-free.  How that has changed with the monetisation of education 😞 The teacher has been ever so slightly annoying too, setting an awful lot of homework for half-term - which apparently is 'optional', but if the kids did it all, there would be no time for anything else.  I appreciate that not every kid went away on holiday last week (LG didn't), but why can't value be placed on doing "things other" than book work.  I think we've achieved.... maybe not balance, but a bit of variety.  LG will have done far less than some, and far more than others.  They don't have a built-in network of siblings/cousins to play with, and we don't have the finances to jet off at the drop of a hat, but we do try to do some things, getting out and about and getting in the fresh air.  

Activity tonight, so I've the fees ready for that.  Tea is going to be lentil bolognese, pasta and broccoli.  

Right, I'm away to watch the clouds like a hawk.  The computer model shows rain blowing over by 10..... the wall to wall battleship grey clouds are telling a completely different story..... 🤣

Greying X

EssexHebridean

I’m almost glad that it wasn’t just me who was scuppered by the weather forecast on Friday Greying - I got a wash on, then spent all day thinking “no sense in putting it out - it’s forecast to rain in an hour…while of course it actually didn’t rain until mid afternoon and frankly I probably could have got the load mostly dry! 

rtandon27

@Greying_Pilgrim & @EssexHebridean - you are both more daring in the game of laundry roulette than I am! - I've not even ventured out as far as the summer house to hang laundry even though it was well over 10 degrees on the weekend.  I just didn't ant to get rained on from the back door to the dry outbuilding!  OH is getting mighty tired of us having to play at winter laundry line juggling every time he needs to use the kitchen as our laundry hangs up to dry just between the kitchen and the back door in a very awkward zone.  I'm looking forward to the electric bill dropping again once we stop using the laundry setting on the dehumidifier.  Bring on spring!