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!

[Mum2Fergus]

Email just in from Bank...all approved and with Sols for the legal bit...woohoo!

[AdoraJingleBells]

NSD here, fingers crossed for your mortgage aplicación Mum2Fergus

[roguepixie]

Congrats Mum2Fergus. 2013 is going to be a good one for you .

[Mum2Fergus]

Aiming for NSD here apart from Ebay parcels which are already accounted for..DP a parent helper at nursery today...all off to Cinderella panto...oh yes they are!! Lol, so some quiet time for me plan to clear 1-2 kitchen cupboards...how exciting lol

[2Old2BeAChristmasElf]

Great news Mum2Fergus

[roguepixie]

Final Christmas food delivered this morning ... just need to collect turkey on Saturday. DMum orders from the same butcher so I shall take her with me.

Must do the wrapping today. DS home from school now so will have to find some distraction to keep him away from the wrapping. Silly silly me - I should have wrapped them yesterday when he was at school ... every year I do this and every year I promise to wrap early the following Christmas ... when will I learn .

Found a lovely recipe on the 'All About You' website (linked to Good Housekeeping) - it looks and sounds delicious. Here's a link for those wanting something Christmassy but different:

www.allaboutyou.com/food/recipefinder/mont-blanc-recipe-41116

[roguepixie]

Oh, Helena, told DH about the free trip to Kew and he was very impressed. Thank you again for the heads up.

[AdoraJingleBells]

Oh congrats Mum2Fergus, I missed that last night, sorry.

Rogue I didn't get my wrapping done either, I'm going to do after DDs go to bed tonight, definitely this time.

[Fluffycloudland77]

£1.37 for a ristorante pizza (which I will get a refund on from them as it's on a love me or get me free promo)

£4 for frozen chicken breasts for the cat with a runny tummy who has been told off 3 times since I got home so is clearly feeling better.

[roguepixie]

Adora . I shall be taking a glass of up there with me so who knows what I'll end up wrapping

[economymode]

Oh yeah, there's wrapping to be done, isn't there? Damn.

£2 yesterday on hospital parking for an appointment I had. It would have been more expensive to take the bus, even taking petrol into account.

£1.45 on a selection of books from the charity shop for EconomyBoy.

50p so far today for playgroup. Need to do a fruit top-up at some point, too.

[Fluffycloudland77]

£20 for dry cleaning a dress
£11 in asda for cat litter and bits and pieces like soya custard and smart price brown sauce that aldi dont sell

£1 in farm shop for 2 packs of sugared dates.

The search for chick crumb continues.

[roguepixie]

Well, didn't get the wrapping done last night ... can't even blame as I didn't have any!!! Have managed to get all the wrapping done today though ... DS not feeling well so propped him in front of a film and disappeared upstairs for an hour or so. Why does wrapping take so long?????

DS meant to be going to a party tonight but have had to phone and say he probably won't be there. He's been feeling a bit under the weather but vomited about an hour ago so it probably wouldn't go down well if I took him and he managed to pass it on ... not a popular parent. We still have the Ripper tour tomorrow, if he feels a bit better.

Collecting turkey tomorrow morning, with DMum, then I can relax that all is done.

I hope everyone is on track and, may I say, glad to see you Economy and fluffy ... I thought the Mayans may have been right for a moment there this morning .

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'm working out my costs for heating using the fire V central heating and different levels on the boiler.

If the mayan prophecy doesnt finish us off reading that will!.

The fun never stops at chez fluffy.

[roguepixie]

[frgin] fluffy. DH has just pulled the old fireplace out in the living room. He is talking about putting in a wood burning fire. Apparently it cuts heating bills etc etc etc. Yes, yes, I say, that's fine but I know, I just know, he will think it's a fine idea to send me out to Hampstead Heath in the middle of the night to gather firewood!!!!!

[roguepixie]

meant , of course ... need wine ...

[Fluffycloudland77]

I would love a wood burner, I would forage for free wood any day. I think local forests do licences for this kind of thing or ask tree surgeons for wood or landscape gardeners....

We spent £60 on gas in the last 4 weeks. I am hoping to get that down.

Costco do woodburners at costo.co.uk

[AdoraJingleBells]

I managed to wrap 2 presents, and the Mayans didn't get me.

Yesterday I tried and failed to take DDs to the cinema, film had ended and nothing else suitable on, so I decided to finish the Christmas grocery shop, other than the turkey, so as not to waste a trip into town. That was another £80 in the supermarket, £6 on a snack, and £2 on the cheap old roads.

Today I'm having afternoon tea with a friend, taking DD1 along. Number 2 has a free afternoon out with a friend, not a free activity but friend as insisted on treating her. Tomorrow DD1 has a genuinely free afternoon with her best mate. Friend's parent's firm is paying for a family & friends day out at one of the amusement parks. They can't take hundreds of friend's along, I think it's 1 per child.

Rogue I hope DS feels better very soon.

[roguepixie]

fluffy, I will look into that licence once the wood burner goes in. I would love one but I know he's going to think it a wonderful idea for me to go and collect it all . Thanks for the link to Costco - we are members there so will have a look.

Adora, sorry the cinema was a blow out. DS is distraught as he was due to go to a party tonight and really wanted to go. Also cancelled the Ripper tour - just too much to try and do with a sick child. Thankfully the others involved are all ok with moving it to another date. I hope your DD enjoys her day tomorrow - it sounds great fun.

[roguepixie]

Everything is wrapped, some presents delivered and turkey got. Now looking at what needs to be baked/prepped beforehand. Having lots of as it is a cold and miserable day here.

[Fluffycloudland77]

NSD.

Christmas shop tm.

[AdoraJingleBells]

Well, tea with my friend didn't work out, she was stuck at work, so we had coffee this morning. She wouldn't let me contribute, my turn next time. Just spent 1.60 taking DD1 to a friend's, 25 on petrol and 9 on a gift I'd over looked. Yesterday I spent 10 on the afternoon tea as DD1 and I were already there when friend cancelled. Shouldn't need to spend anymore today but I do still need to get a turkey.

rogue is DS feeling any better? well done on the present wrapping, I still have a couple to do.

[roguepixie]

Adora, thank you for asking. He is feeling a bit better, I think. He is a bit perkier. but then he has spent the day lounging in my bed!!! What is it about a double bed that just feels wonderful when you are young? No more vomiting though so that's good.

[roguepixie]

Oh, and good luck with getting the turkey. Glad you had a nice time with your friend.

[economymode]

£11 at Sainsbo's yesterday:

• suede cleaner for my boots
  
• cheapo wellies for EconomyBoy after I left one of his old pair somewhere
  
• top up fruit and milk
  

Then that was it. It'll be a NSD today and hopefully for the next few days too!

Hope Rogue Jnr is on the mend.

My parents have two wood burners, fluffy and rogue - they don't have gas but it saves them loads on the cost of oil. And they warm the house brilliantly.