Don't Panic, December is frugal this year.

[Fluffycloudland77]

NSD = no spend day
LSD = Low spend day

Spent a bit on laundry powder and other odd bits we needed. Nothing too extreme though.
lilac I still get pain most days but it's much better than before the surgery - am forcing myself to assuming that it is just post-op healing pain and trying not to worry.
It's just over 3 weeks since the operation so not that long really. I wish I could have a bath but have been told not until wound is healed

£5 Christmas tree
£5 costa tea

peonies will you be having a post op check up?,

£70 haircuts for 4 of us yesterday and £80 Aldi weekly food plus extra Christmas drink.

13/12
£4.20 bus
£19.94 Lego research institute! Back in stock! But when I excitedly told DH, it turned out he'd actually got it for me when it was first released! I knew he had got me some lego as that's what I asked for :o but no idea he'd managed to get his hands on that set. So now we are trying to decide between cancelling it (can't seem to do this on iPod and laptop not working), giving it to DD as I'd planned, or keeping it to sell after Xmas
£4.37 breakfast (fail)
£21.52 Dinner with friends

Completely fell off the frugality wagon yesterday - we spent £££££ on food and drink for our Christmas party. I'm feeling a bit sick and disgusted with myself now. (It's a big party, and the money included booze, but still...) Party is tonight and need to go out and get a star for the top of the Christmas tree.

Another one off the frugal wagon. ....I keep finding more and more people to buy for. ..argh, roll on the 25th (and the sales lol)

In frugal news just washed my car instead of taking to the car wash, every little helps eh!

NSD so far and hoping it stays that way, especially as I spent over £100 yesterday!

Yep, frugal wagon is wobbly here too. I will need to do internet bank check to know fully but, a bit too much. I must plan better.

I actually feel guilt towards you guys for spending

collie parties cost a fortune, we had a New Year one this year, although people brought so much booze we didn't buy anything until about June!!

NSD today as I went nowhere, just made Christmas things with DS. He's written all his cards for school. Now just doing not much. Tomorrow should be LSD and most of the week too...

Nsd. Was meant to go to the zoo to see Father Christmas but I'm feeling crap. No idea what's wrong. Humph.

Lsd although had to give dd £10 to buy my Christmas present with other than that £2.94 on milk and cheese for my mum.

Am going to check my account in a min and see what the damage is...

Was talking to a mum at school who is a single mum of 5 children and trying to survive on benefits, she hasn't been able to afford to buy the kids any presents mentioned it to a friend who has links to a local church and they stumped up £100 I actually felt quite tearful, so nice of them. Going to go with the mum and let her choose some presents next week.

That's so lovely girlie! It must be a really difficult time of year for her hopefully she will be able to enjoy it more now. That reminds me I've got an unopened peppa pig snakes and ladders (duplicate gift) that I keep meaning to donate but they're all miles away from here.

Yes it puts things in perspective, I am by no means rich but my dd will have lots of presents on top of the heap she already has to open. I just feel so sorry for my friend, 2 of her children have additional needs and the current Government have managed to push them further into poverty I would like to see David Cameron come and live her life for a day or two.

Anyway feels great that I can do something nice for them

Very spendy weekend indeed. Spent £50 at butchers but got what they call the 'Christmas order' for 8-10 people as we have friends over next weekend. That included turkey crown, beef joint, huge gammon, pigs in blankets, and proper sausage meat!

£2 at pound shop for a Christmas hat for his work dinner last night and a Christmas plate. £5 in markets for veg, and some other things.

Today, Aldi was £96.

That sounds pretty good to me NK. I love using sausage meat for stuffing yum! I don't do a posh one though just literally mix it with paxo

Thanks spotty! don't think I'll be doing that stuffing with sausage this weekend. Literally won't have time. Any ideas what to do with proper sausage meat?!! (Silly question probably!!).

Can't wait for Friday.. I'm so done with work....

No you can do it! Literally get your sausage meat and a pack of paxo then mix it all together (no water, v important) fashion into a domed slab, cover in foil and cook for forty minutes. Keeps in the fridge for a few days mmm slice it up and have in Christmas sandwiches too.

Or you could make meatballs with it?

Oh spotty that sounds yum! Will put Paxo on shopping list. Any idea how much meat??

Another thing, for red cabbage I'm using this recipe that calls for cider vinegar. I however, only have red wine vinegar and white wine vinegar (and malted vinegar). Can I substitute? Or so you guys have a simpler red cabbage recipe??

Oh and turkey crown.. Any ideas out the for a recipe? Have never cooked a crown before!! Thanks!

How much does yours weigh? I usually do about 200g (half a pack) for a small pack of stuffing.

I use red wine vinegar in red cabbage. Mmm I do loads and freeze it.

Great thanks!! I believe the reason I bought the red wine vinegar was for red cabbage last year!!