Making changes…

There have been many changes for us…..

Bear has changed, he no longer has allergies…..he is now well over 2, so no longer my little baby, but instead my little toddler instead.

My life is changing too, as will soon have no job. As our income will drastically reduce, we have started to make some big changes to the way we live.

With this in mind, I have decided to change the nature of the blog from allergies (a journey that I can no longer share with you all) to frugal living…..something that I am learning to do and wish to document my new adventure.

So, a few of my favourite frugal tips….

1. don’t forget cashback sites. I prefer Quidco personally, but there are several out there. you can earn cashback on lots of online purchases, from generating insurance quotes, when you take out new online insurance policies, doing surveys and lots of other ways. Heres the link if you wanted to have a look, if you sign up through the link we both get a pound or so as a reward. http://www.quidco.com/user/4763630/2199207/
2. Receipt apps: there’s several that I use, firstly there is clicksnap…..it is linked to Quidco, it only rewards you with 1p every time you submit a receipt and will only accept certain supermarkets (although, if you buy certain products you get bonus money!) it soon builds up with all the other cashback you get. Secondly, is receipt hog….this one is ok, takes a while to get enough coins to cashout but its better than nothing, using the referral code frul6483 will give both of us free spins on their bonus machine. Thirdly, saving the best to last, is shopprize. Sadly is an android app only but is by far the best at paying out…..I get £5 amazon voucher every 3 weeks or so. Referral code is a0n4g (0 is a number is this not a letter!) you guys wont get anything if you use it, but if you do then add your referral codes to the comments as I can only use it 5 times so yours can be used by others!! Im saving all my amazon vouchers to use to buy bear some amazing Christmas presents.
3. My favourite ‘hobby’ if you will is a well timed trip to the supermarket. Hitting it just right means you get some great deals on reduced items…..coupled with a large freezer, you will be smiling for weeks. A few weeks ago I went to my local co-op at just gone 4 on a Saturday afternoon, managed to pick up 2 ‘salt&pepper pork joints’ for 99p each, will make 2 lovely dinners with enough meat for lunches the next day. Also got 3 packs of 4 breaded fish pieces, for £1.15 each, these have been separated into 4 portions for the 3 of us for dinner. Also got 2 different packs of sausages (one Richmond 8 pack in a ready to roast tin and one 6 pack of bbq pulled pork sausages, both for 69p each!) Thats 8 meals for less than £7 so I am very happy!!! Also remember that lots of reduced stuff can be frozen, not just meat….cakes, bread, etc. We have a little drawer freezer and a chest freezer which are getting nicely full of reduced sticker items now.
4. Another little tip is to freeze any veg that you are not likely to be able to use before they start to go off……I peel/chop/etc them and place in freezer bags so can quickly grab them to add to a stew mix or to boil up for a quick meal in the week. time saver and a money saver.
5. One trick I tried to see if my family noticed was to bulk out a chilli. I used one packet of mince and cooked it with a couple of onions, kidney beans, 2 peppers, 2 tins of tomatoes and lots of seasonings. Cooked enough for a decent portion for dinner that night, with some added rice, and the same meal again a week or so later from the freezer…..tinned tomatoes, kidney beans and onions are all really cheap but bulk out a basic meal to get 2 for the price of one.

 

So, here’s my little introduction to frugal living, will let you know how I get on over the next few weeks….future posts to include photos of my bargain buys too!!

 

Would love to hear some feedback from you guys about my new topic. thank you.

CMPA – The final stage has begun!!

So, last night we began the final stage of challenging Bear’s CMPA!

Although Bear has been having yoghurts and cheese for a few weeks now, he has been a little under the weather so we didnt want to give him the added stress of testing the most dairy-est of items….COWS MILK!!

Last night we started by adding 1 oz to 7oz of his formula and he seemed to drink it without a fuss (we were unsure of how he would cope with the taste as well as any possible reaction!) We will up it again slightly in a few days, thinking it may be up to 2 or 3 weeks to switch from his formula to totally cows milk!!

We are keeping everything crossed that Bear can complete this final stage so we can officially remove his CMPA from allergen lists (which will make life easier for his childminder, who has to still check everything and worry about him joining in with baking, etc as he has the allergy, even if I say not to worry!! Also, easier for us as he will be able to join in like ‘normal’ children!!)

Please also remember that November is CMPA awareness month, even if we are CMPA free by then, we will still be trying to spread the awareness to remember the 19 month battle we have faced and to make sure that more people are aware of it so people no longer say the dreaded ‘a little wont harm’ that so many CMPA mummies and daddies hear from people who do not understand the condition properly!!

CMPA Happy!

After reading some posts on the facebook support pages I have to come a conclusion…..I am confident when dealing with CMPA and am totally happy I am doing the right thing! We have only had 1 slip up (& 1 failed trial) since receiving Bears official diagnosis, almost 12 months ago now!! He is fully weaned, enjoying a warm milk during his ‘bedtime routine’ and not fussed about it at other times of the day, instead enjoys a snack. He loves food, enjoying fish or anything made of mince the best (meatballs, ragu, cottage pie) and he is a healthy, happy little boy! We have even found a bubble bath he can use….thank you Child’s Farm for your wonderful products and simple baby. I am so happy with Bears allergies now that I have not requested any further dietitian appointments (kept us on the books in case we have any future problems getting his formula) and have cancelled his paediatric appointment too, thought we may as well give it to someone who needs it!

I feel that I am able to offer others helpful advice and look at the panicked, worried parents, thinking ‘that was me not too long ago’

This is somewhat of a pointless post really, only really to say that I am happy with my CMPA son and I wouldn’t change him for the world 🙂