O come all ye festive frugaleers, gather round for festive chat and frugaleering

[northender]

Haven't been on the old thread for a few days so thought I'd start a new thread as it's nearly full.

[needastrongone]

[lilacclery]

Hi

[SpottyTeacakes]

I'm wrapping presents. Last year my best friend bought me some Cath kidston mugs and they were in this tissue paper. I've saved it and it's coming in very handy thanks for the new thread!

[CremeEggThief]

Thanks North.

Very festive, Spotty.

NSD.

[Whataboutreindeer]

Hello from children's ward. Frugal day - Gabriel is going on prescription formula so £10 a week saved! Hoping now they've decided he has CMPA they'll let us go. I've promised to observe him and bring him back is any changes in his condition.

[ipsos]

Oh Gosh what, that's great that they've worked that out.

Spotty I did wonder if it was a gift but it seems to be a "tips and tricks" book that goes with an obscure computer football game simulator that I've never heard of. I think they may have sent it to me by mistake.

[Colliejollychristmas]

Thanks so much north

I love the stars spotty!

Miserable day here but had friends over. Tea & mince pies. Naice!

LSS as I need milk and tampons. And chocolate

[ipsos]

Possibly no need to itemise sanitary products. :-)

[needastrongone]

It's cheered up here.

I don't know what that is what, I will Google, but glad it's sorted. Are you back at work then?

DS has just had his mock results published on the school Eportal. He's got 4 x A*, 4 x A and a D in German!! Good job he's not planning on being a linguist

Work night out tonight, I am only going for the meal with DH being away. Am driving too so will only cost parking.

[ipsos]

Well done need. Fantastic work.

[babsmam]

[ipsos]

Need I googled and it's cow's milk protein allergy that What's baby has.

[SpottyTeacakes]

My niece has CMPI or at least she did. She can now eat butter and cheese and anything cooked.

Hope you're out soon what.

Need that's fantastic

[fuzzpig]

Signing in!

Love that tissue paper.

DH dug out the wrapping paper today, I always buy in the Boots sale in January but I'd forgotten where we left it all

I'm truly in the swing of Christmas Shopping. And twitching. A bit. Not as much as in previous years. I think.

[Girlfriend36]

Hello found you all

Wow Needa you must be super proud - what a brain box!

Whata not good re the allergy but good that you haven't got to pay for the milk anymore.

Nearly managed a NSD but a Father Christmas float went round earlier collecting for charity so gave then £1!

I checked my account last night and am doing really well for this point in the month, normally by now I am running really low and waiting for the tax credits to go in to see me to the end of the month. Working 30 hours a week really has made a big difference to my finances, its more tiring and I am time poor but so far the pros out weigh the cons!

Had a thought today that it maybe possible to end the month not only in credit but with some money left over

[Lovetoknit]

Thank you north
Looking good spotty and frugal too
Well done need for your ds
Curry tonight with leftover chicken from Sunday roast and also made lemon drizzle cake with dd to use the rest of the lemons after I had to throw one in the bin this morning how it went off so quickly since they all looked fine yesterday
Does anybody have a tried and tested recipe for fresh fennel? It came in the veg box last week and I don't really know what to do with it.

[colliepirate]

Collie here. Had an account issue so had to reregister.

Spent £3 in Sainsbury's

[Pointlessfan]

Found you all! Spendier day than I expected but got a bargain from Book People - set of 10 Julia Donaldson books for £10. DD already has about 3 of them but thought she could have a few and I can save the rest to give as kids' presents next year. Also went out for dinner with colleagues, £15.
Bad news about the allergy what but good you have it sorted.

[Ememem84]

Oooh good. Found you.

[needastrongone]

Fennel is nice roasted in the oven with balsamic vinegar. Or, in curries.

Thank you ipsos, for the info about allergies. Now I know, I didn't before.

Glad you are feeling more comfortable financially girlie. The longer you work 30 hours, the more I suspect you will get used to it.

Yes indeed DS is highly academic. HOWEVER, I came home tonight after my meal out to find he had not fed the dogs, or put the chickens away as asked and then, tried to make rice in the rice cooker WITHOUT putting the bowl in first, so basically tipped the rice and water onto the element. And nearly blew up the kitchen, until DD came home and rescued him. DD, who maybe won't be up there with DS academically, but who has more common sense in her little finger than he does in total

DS is the perfect example of having all the brains in the world but no common sense at all. I have long maintained he belongs in a lab.

Not even parking to pay tonight, as the restaurant stamped our tickets for the multi storey.

[ipsos]

need I was just like your ds. I got all As in everything except Bs in languages. When I first left home I stayed with a lady as a lodger and one day she left me to supervise her dog, with the one rule that he wasn't to be allowed in the living room. When she came home he was in the living room and the door was wedged shut from the outside. I had no idea how it happened. I ended up in a lab. :-) Tbh though, being in a lab wants quite a lot of common sense too. How is he with computers?

[MrsSimonNeil]

Found you all,

What, bad news about the allergy, but good that it is now sorted. I like reading about your little Ds as he has the same name as my Ds. Such a gorgeous name.

Need at Ds nearly blowing up the kitchen! Well done to dd for coming to his rescue

Girlie, well done for being so frugal! Especially at this time of year. It will be a great start to the year if you can make it to Jan with money left over.

A nice frugal day for me, I took dd ice skating which was already paid for, met my parents there and they gave me some money to treat myself which was very unexpected and very much appreciated. It will be nice to look around the shops and not feel guilty for spending

[lilacclery]

what ds was considered for cmpa when he was about 8 months & we would've been looking at cost of formula quadrupling if he was, turns out he isn't just that formula in general didn't suit him. Glad to hear you'll get yours foc.

I discovered a cashback site for Ireland today, must get up to €50 before it pays out. Will look into more next year, they give €5 credit its cashbackireland for any Irish lurkers. Fat cheese has got the same items pending cashback for at least 12 months.

Due tax back can't remember how much I filed for.

[ipsos]

I just paid my carpenter's bill. Maybe better not spend any money until January now.

I really like the colour of the bare plaster walls, and plain paint just doesn't seem the same. I wonder if it's done to just leave it bare?