Dec--k--(ember) the halls with discount holly,

[economymode]

New thread, complete with tenuous title, to help us keep track of finances this month. Come be a Scrooge with me!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Dont worry Economy, I had National Trust membership at 32. I really like going too.

Think of all the entertainment you'll get for that £33, cheaper than blockbuster.

[roguepixie]

Ooooooh economy, I'm WI too . I am way on the wrong side of 30 now but not quite at the traditional WI age . I have just joined (2 months ago) and have, so far, learnt how to play poker and come first in a quiz!!! It's our Christmas get together tomorrow ... I am looking forward to it so much (it's sad really .

Helena - hope your move went well?

Well, I finished my Christmas shopping today - £231.00 in John Lewis!!! But that includes all necessary presents and a new top for me. Spent £50 in Waitrose (top-up shop and odd Christmas items). Apart from the food delivery due on 22nd I am done .

[CremeEggThief]

£2.50 on bus fares and £1.90 on milk and Mr. Kiplings cakes. Much more snow again this evening :(.

Enjoy the W.I., economy and rogue, and hope everyones' shopping trips went well.

[roguepixie]

Creme - part of me is so jealous of you for getting snow but the other part is relieved we don't have any yet ... getting DS to school becomes an exercise in futility and horror.

Additional £2.70 on bus fares today.

[CremeEggThief]

Rogue, our footpaths are ice rinks. And our walk is 1.5 miles. The council save the grit for the main roads and don't bother with the pavements, so I am counting down the days until we break up for Christmas. It's awful, wondering if you'll be on time every day...

[AdoraJingleBells]

I could kill for some snow, it's 34 bleedin degrees C here. Take care on those paths though Cremeegg . My DDs break up Friday next week, I can't wait.

I don't know if I'll ever be ready for the WI, I hope you enjoy your's though Rogue and economy

Today I topped up on loo rolls, half price, and my toothpaste (there have been times I couldn't afford it) I need Sensodyne everyday and it's about 1/3 more here than in UK. All other brands have been tried and none work on my teeth. A few snacky bits for Christmas, some chicken, new tooth brush heads for DDs and it came to £60 [fshock). Then I spent £18 on two gifts, forgot someone, and £6 on stocking fillers for DDs.

£2.40 on roads today

Yesterday, only £45 at the Dr's, but then another £30 on 2 month's worth of vitamins, need to get 1 more pack. Plus, £10 in the cafeteria because OH wanted to come with us which meant dragging DD1 out too. Another £2.40 on roads for that journey.

Tomorrow will be an NSD other than tolls on the school run.

[Mum2Fergus]

NSD today dropped into local second hand car dealer and have found a wee runner for when the tank goes on Monday! Only 1.4k so still plenty left over to bulk up house deposit...and will be much cheaper to run...Ive calculated a saving of approx £40pm with it

[roguepixie]

creme - that's the thing ... it looks lovely when you are all tucked up inside but trying to get DC's to school, get any food in or get anywhere is a nightmare ... and I worry myself sick when DH is out in the car going to and from work. It horrifies me. We live at the top of a very steep cul-de-sac and get gritted at the merest hint of snow. My DParents are less than 10 minutes walk away, live on the flat and have to navigate a skating rink if they want to leave the house when the weather turns ... they are nearly 80 so it really is scarry.

Adora - I can imagine after that heat you must want some snow. What are the winters like there?

Well done Mum2, that sounds like a good deal.

Tomorrow is NSD for me.

[AdoraJingleBells]

One of the packs of chicken I bought was on the turn when I opened it, it's use by Dec 12th, so should have been fine. Oh well, dogs will enjoy their breakfast tomorrow, I'm not doing another 60km round trip to complain about 1 packet of chicken. It's the only supermarket that refrigerates things properly, but their sister store is opening locally soon. FX they'll be reliable.

Rogue winters are cold, but short lived. Technically we have 4 seasons just like you, but 3 of those are much warmer so it feels like winter only lasts a few weeks. We get rain, altough the last few years nowhere near enough. Parts of the central region ran out of water before the end of spring this year. We don't usualy get snow where we are, nor the capital, but the surrounding hills get tons of the stuff. It looks fantastic

[Mum2Fergus]

Evening all NSD again for me today...will be a different story tomorrow though. Shopping to be done , and need insurance for new car. Anyone any recommendations?!

[Fluffycloudland77]

aviva, topcashback or quidco will be doing cb of £60-80. my car ins worked out at £157 this year, Hastings wanted £420

[Bakingnovice]

Mum2 I'm looking for home insurance. Through topcashback it's coming out cheap with RAC and fifty quid cash back. Good luck.

[Helenagrace]

I survived the move!!

Quite a few extra expenses like takeaways but I can cook from today (couldn't see the kitchen for boxes yesterday!!). We had to buy some house stuff including extra storage but most if it was cheaper at Argos so we took advantage of their voucher deal and got £20.

Won't spend much today except for a smoke alarm battery as we discovered last night that the previous tenants have removed it

[roguepixie]

Thanks Adora, it sounds lovely ... especially the snowy mountains.

Well, spent £5.00 last night on two soft drinks at the WI Christmas meal. Had a lovely time.

Will spend on Oyster today as have to get to Richmond to see my DS swim (it's the School House Gala). Another Mum may be going so might get a lift (oh, I do hope so 'cos it's soooooooo cold today).

Just watching Housewives of DC with my coffee (a seriously guilty pleasure and then the cleaning/tidying/chucking continues. Have cleaned the kitchen and done a wash since being up so not all sitting an watching . Have to be ready to go sometime around 4:30/5:00pm depending on mode of transport.

[roguepixie]

Also, glad you survived Helena .

[CremeEggThief]

That's great, Helena- apart from the smoke alarm! What an odd thing to take away!

Regarding getting around in treacherous weather - exactly, rogue! It was even worse this morning, as we had heavy rain last night :(. Even in snow boots, you still feel at risk of falling. Enjoy your son's swimming gala and I hope you get a lift.

Right, housework and then wrapping!

[AdoraJingleBells]

Helena

Well done on surviving and btw, take aways are allowed in the first few days after moving house. It's in the contract

Nothing other than roads yesterday, not even a sneaky coffee as I had a crown fitted at the dentist and she told me to avoid hot liquids. She knows I need a coffee after visiting her, it's the only way to get over the ordeal. I have to confess to being a very nervous patient, I nearly bit her hand yesterday. My total was £4

Today I need to get a birthday present, DD1's boyfriend is turning 12. Can't get him anything that would cause activity, like anything sport related as he had a sever neck injury and needs to avoid aggravating it. So I'll be shelling out far too much money on some Lego. Also need fuel again, but it's the first fill up since Sat. because of OH doing the am school run. Only 1 more week of school, yay!

Rogue it is a beautiful place, but the other things are beginning to outway the appeal of the nature/wildfile aspects. Hope you enjoy the swimming gala, and good luck to DS's House.

[economymode]

Glad it all went well, Helena.

Mum2Fergus, we have a multi car policy with admiral. It's around £300 each.

Bakingnovice, I just got our home insurance with Legal and General through Top Cash Back. I should get £50 in six months or so.

I'm on a bit of a winning roll! Yesterday I was selected to test Aldi's mince pies via Twitter and today I got an email to say I had won a year's magazine subscription through a Garnier promotion I had long forgotten about. Happy days!

[roguepixie]

Congrat's economy - that's fantastic. Can you chose which magazine? And should you need a hand tasting the mince pies ... look no further ... will sacrifice myself in the interests of such scientific endeavours

[economymode]

Haha, rogue. I think Mr Economy will be more than happy to lend a helping hand with the pies, sorry! And yep, I have a choice of mags - have gone for Red.

Yesterday I got a cot top changer on eBay for 99p as I was the only bidder. I feel a bit embarrassed about handing over less than £1, but then they should have started bidding higher.

[roguepixie]

economy, I listed a whole load of stuff for 99p - most rose in price but a couple of items sold for 99p which means the buyer has got a massive bargain. Just got to smile and say 'you win some you lose some'. I don't understand people who start bids at 99p, assuming they will go up and then withdraw item or complain that Ebay 'isn't what it was'. Be happy you got a great bargain - you did good [frgrin].

Btw, most upset about the mince pies , I hope Mr Economy realises how lucky he is

[roguepixie]

Just got an email ... free listing weekend on Ebay this weekend (8-9th December) - last before Christmas (apparently). 100 listings of £1.00 or over.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Thanks rogue, I have stuff to list.

Just made laundry gloop (without borax) and it's setting hidden out of sight of DH who will disapprove. Cunningly hidden in the utility room under an old hoover.

NSD yesterday, need cat food today.

[2Old2BeAChristmasElf]

Hi all, well Thursday I spent £2 on car parking had to run into town to close my work bank account as I didn't want to start paying an account fee. I also called the local womens refuge who took all my unwanted baby bits for a lady who is due in two weeks and has nothing that's, my Christmas Charity Donation this year.

Friday I spent £7 on playgroup and homemade fudge.

Today was the annual family meet up so we drove from Cambridgeshire to Warwickshire and all had a meal £45 for the for of us including drinks. DS2 screamed and hit/kicked me most of the time so I couldn't even enjoy it!

Oh well onwards and upwards, food shopping tomorrow!

[AdoraJingleBells]

Today I spent £20 on Lego set, birthday gift, and £15 on veg and fruit juice. OH surprised us by suggesting taking DDs to the cinema, £20, they loved it. Roads were £2.40

Yesterday was just roads and a coffee on the school run. Had to pick DD1 up after a party so that doubled the road costs, £5 in total and £2.50 on a large coffee.

Tomorrow will be a spendy day, dropping both DDs at the party then OH and I will shop for gifts from the ILs. It's far easier and cheaper for us to shop here rather than them sent gifts, which may not arrive.

Congrats on those mince pies and the magazine economy