Festive Frugaleers - Chatting and saving through Christmas.

[CathodeRayTube]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread grin

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

//www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

//www.quidco.com/home/ And this

//www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

//www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

//www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

//www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

[Cagliostro]

Ahoy! Thanks for the new thread. :)

[Mummyreindeerlegz]

Place marking :-)

[Cagliostro]

Hurrah, rebooked my tickets for the play for early Jan. Better seats 😁 and they assured me that if DH and DSD can't go (as they don't know work rota yet) we can still get those refunded. Although I could probably invite my parents instead :)

[mammymammyIRL]

Hi everyone

[Cagliostro]

I hope it's not ridiculously crass of me to post this on a frugaleer thread but I have to discuss it somewhere! As well as now having the very generous amount of money for the Caglets' Christmas presents (I've chosen presents on behalf of my mum, dad and grandma but the rest will be used for their club fees),
I've been given a lot more money than I have had in previous years from my family - I guess because this birthday was a milestone one. I don't know what to do with it. It's enough to get an iPad mini (which I've been saving pocket/birthday money for, it will mostly be mine but I will let the DCs and DH I guess play on it too) so will get that but have loads left. Not sure whether to leave it all in the main bank account so I won't be dipping into the overdraft, put some back in savings which we've used lately, put in DH's account/credit card (the fact they are in his name is arbitrary as all money/spending is shared), or what. I am thinking of using some to get a longer term bus pass on my electronic card and getting the same for the Caglets in the new year (once they stop accepting the child discount card scheme the council are no longer running). There's a shitload of other stuff I would gladly do with it TBH but it feels foolhardy when we don't know what's going on housing-wise. So do I just stick it in my account?! Some of it was in cash but I know that will get frittered.

[CathodeRayTube]

Good to have money Cag. So hard always to know how to spend it. Could you use it to get a professional advisor to help with your house problem?

[BertieTodd]

Spends today:

€30 cleaner

€55 Xmas present for FIL on Amazon

€57 in TK Maxx on stocking fillers, a new grobag for DS and some foodie treats (maybe for Xmas, maybe for this weekend ).

Sounds like a good idea to get checked out properly for no periods mammy. I would also suggest acupuncture for hormone issues,
I've found it really good in the past and I'm having it weekly at the moment TTC, fingers crossed it will work sometime soon.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Thank you CRT

Cag personally I'd hold back because I've found in the past that when we've had a windfall somethings come along to claim it.

Creme Well done, just getting tickets is an achievement.

I bought a cushion using vouchers today & the assistant scanned the voucher and said it was empty. I'm glad I queried it because it had £10 on it. She was about to throw it in the bin!. Massive queue behind me while she went through them to sort it out.

So NSD.

[CremeEggThief]

Thanks for the new thread, Cath.

Fluffy, I can't wait! It will probably be the last concert I go to, as I'm not bothered about gigs and concerts usually and I haven't been to any for several years. This is how much it means to me, so £349.67 is worth a once in a lifetime opportunity!

[Needastrongone]

That's brilliant Creme, definitely worth sticking on the card. A friend of mine is similarly excited to get tickets for the Stone Roses this morning. Bet you are feeling great today!

Cag I agree with Fluffy, there's always something that comes along. However, if you are going into overdraft each month, why not stick it in that account and save yourself those associated charges?

Not nice to have a smear test is it Mammy, never a good experience is it? However, good to get to the bottom of the period issue. Perhaps you might ask for a bone test too, they sent me for one due to lack of periods (Mirena coil and irregular periods pre DC).

Spends today.
£25 cleaner. New ones do an amazing job and cheaper than last, win win.
£18 nails. I clipped them short and they are jet black. Haven't had black in a while.
£80 Boots. I got 2 x Soap and Glory kits that Martin Lewis has been banging on about left right and centre, they really are a terrific saving. One for DD for Christmas, one to split for presents during the year. Plus 3 for 2 presents.
£6 M&S.

All cash.

[Needastrongone]

Sorry, thank you for the new thread, where are my manners?!

[Cagliostro]

Ohhh council have phoned back finally

[Needastrongone]

And said....... what?!!!

[Cagliostro]

DH was still talking to them when I posted :o

Ok so council said they are sending a medical form, letters not necessary just yet as we may have to pay for them and the form could be enough. They will also do an affordability check (slightly awkward timing as I'm just about to pay in birthday/Christmas money so will be in the black for once), seemed to think we have a good chance of being moved up with the combo of three factors (overcrowding, health, income) but even so may be six months or more

[Fluffycloudland77]

Could your parents look after the money for you?.

[WreckTangled]

Thanks Cath.

Nsd.

Good news about the tickets Cag.

[CremeEggThief]

Don't pay that money in, Cag. Ask your parents to hold on to it for now.

[Needastrongone]

Well, that sounds positive overall Cag, don't you think? Can I suggest you don't pay in the money then if you absolutely don't have to? Why give them anything to pick up on?

[Needastrongone]

Few cross posts saying the same thing! It's not income anyway Cag, so shouldn't need to be declared.

[Cagliostro]

Yes I was wondering about not paying it in but I'm close to my overdraft limit at the moment and only CTC and CB coming in which isn't covering bills on its own (got so used to having wages paid in) so not sure

But they shouldn't include that as regular income right?

[Cagliostro]

We also need a sofa and probably a washing machine which will eat some of it up anyway

[Cagliostro]

Hmmm maybe I should do the £400 (overdraft limit is £500) and leave the £1200?!

[Needastrongone]

Pay in up to your limit to keep the charges at bay?

[Cagliostro]

And yes definitely positive, I know I'm sounding like a whinge arse but just fretting over the money (which is ironic as for once I actually HAVE some 😂)

[Needastrongone]

You absolutely DO NOT sound like that at all. Money worries are incredibly wearing and stressful. I might not be there now, but I sure was at the start of the business evolution, I remember and sympathise fully. x