Don't Panic, December is frugal this year.

[Fluffycloudland77]

NSD = no spend day
LSD = Low spend day

Thanks fuzzpig and confused I am feeling lots better, it just hurts if I sneeze, cough, laugh, walk or move. Haha. No it's fine, just getting used to being weak and finding it hard to get up from sitting/lying down, also finding it hard to walk even shortish distances, but am a very active and restless person so I hate that. I've been eating constantly, am worried I'm pushing it as bowel has been through so much in the past 3 months but I am so hungry and so so glad to be able to eat I just can't restrain myself!

I have done most of my shopping online, I get it delivered to work (which I love next door to!) so there's always someone there, so I have been ordering like mad over the past week since I got out of hospital.

missA did you like Frozen? I don't think I've actually seen it all the way through. The dc have it on and I get jobs done so just catch snippets. Maybe I'll watch it properly over Christmas.

Thanks to you lot I've spent £36 on a pair of jeans from River Island I hate the ones I'm currently wearing so I'm giving your recommendation a try. I used to wear Sainsbury's £15 ones but they don't seem to do them anymore in short, chunky thigh style!

I'm done Christmas shopping. I need to get wrapping paper now. I've checked the account and barring any disasters we can make it to the end of the month (week on Friday), just. That gives me December's pay for Christmas food, although I already have few bits, yay!

Nsd.

Dd's still poorly I thought the antibiotics might have kicked in by now.

Had a shit day at work. Got shouted at by one of the doctors for asking him to do an extra visit as per duty doctors request. All my fault you see

Yes I loved it! not sure I could take multiple re-watches though.

Oh yes MissA I forgot about your cinema trip!

Dd knows all the words and ds (of few words) just shouts 'Gooooo!!!! Goooooo!!' Through the whole thing!

£2 on junk food and £12 on a onesie for ds for xmas. I want one too. ...but not sure how I'd feel about opening the door to the postman in it? Read today that we're in for the harshest winter for a decade, which at this point in time seems doubtful, but I might want the onesie if true

Day off tomorrow as my 40th (gasp). Have no plans or company. .. what would you lovely ladies do?

I would go shopping all on my own then come home, put my pyjamas on and have a nap then I would have a take away for dinner.

I spent £3-20 on a baked potato with cheese and beans today did our December budget yesterday so I felt quite financially empowered. And couldn't face my usual humous wrap in this cold.

This December is extremely frugal for us, as dh is out of work and I'm self employed and it's gone rather quiet at the moment.

Would anyone like to share their thoughts for a frugal Christmas, e.g. food and booze?

We're not bothered about having turkey really. We'll be 6 adults and one teen for the whole day. We don't normally do much in the way of breakfast, maybe warmed up croissants or a bacon sarnie usually.

If you're not bothered about Turkey I'd do a huge pot of beef bourginon, the jools Oliver one is fab! Crusty bread or Yorkshire puds & roasties with it. If you've a slow cooker French toast/bread & butter pudding would make a tasty breakfast.

Self saucing pudding would be cheaper as chips for dessert.

As for booze - lidl or aldi are your best mates for vino or spirits. make cocktails to stretch alcohol if things are very frugal.

£1 on bed and £3.20 on bus fares to the G.P., as DS had an appointment.

Hope all the poorly little ones start feeling better soon.

Bed? Bread!

I was wondering.

I do French toast in the frying pan. With sugar (with cinnamon mixed in if you have it) and chopped fruit.

Ask each person/couple to supply a dish or contribute in some way e.g. 'We just adore your sherry trifle (hint, hint) Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it!'

Don't go overboard on stocking up...in most places shops will be closed only for Christmas Day. My local shop stays open on the day itself and last year my dad popped out for a couple of bottles of wine as and when they ran out!

Mindless spending today...£3.85 in Aldi (loo roll, crumpets, chocolate) before work then £2.69 in sph after nursery on a sandwich and drink for dd as was going straight to a meeting. I should have been more organised but am feeling a bit bleurgh!

I had a little read through last december's thread last night to see how far I've come in a year. I'd only just joined the thread so was very gung-ho at the time! On reflection I'm mega-proud that frugal habits have continued for so long!

Thanks How do you make French toast/bread and butter pudding in the slow cooker? Sounds great! I would love bread and butter pudding for breakfast!

Yes bouef bourgninon with Yorkshires and roasties sounds great.

Aldi is definitely my friend, do all my shopping there now. I'll look at the booze. Dm will be bringing trifle and Christmas cake and Christmas pudding which be a great help

Another crazy busy day, just sat down for what feels like the first time!

Had to pick my mums cat up from the vets after work and paid up front (he is now nutless ) but mum will obv repay, the vets is in Pets at Home so ended up getting more cat biscuits they were on 3 for 2 offer though but that was £30.

Dd still full of cold and very teary tonight bless her, more calpol and milk which came to £4 ish.

Have to pay the remainder of the balance for the Christmas do which is £20 by Friday.

Need to motivate myself to do my millage tonight as that will be very useful at the end of Dec!!

Hmm, well today was spendy (got the oven cleaned professionally) but on the plus side had budgeted and saved for it out of last month's cash so it's not so bad. I know I should have just got oven pride and done it myself but it's so, so sparkly clean and he does the cooker hood too. Also spent a fiver on takeaway rolls because the kitchen was out of action at lunch time - bad planning...

Sorry to hear about all the other unwell children, hope better soon and collie hope you are OK now! Pass - happy birthday for tomorrow!

imalostcause I'm looking at a frugal Christmas dinner too. I'm feeding 6. Definitely doing a turkey crown rather than whole bird. Veg soup for starter, trifle for pud (a family tradition although I will probably have to get a weeny xmas pudding to keep dh happy). Not buying special goose fat or chestnuts or anything.

We are hosting Christmas dinner on the 20/12 for 2 sets of friends. 4 of us plus 6 of them, so 10. Help. Turkey crown I presume is easier and cheaper I presume? Sprouts, carrots, roast potatoes... Anything else? I don't remember much of Christmas past!

Then heading up north for Christmas.

Opened the cc bill no 1 today and it was half that of last month!! Result. The sis fins will go towards the mot bill yesterday. Not much Christmas shopping has been done though.. Well, I did some on Saturday and most of it has been accounted for.

Where does one get frozen dolls??

Spent £2.75 on some lunch today and dh spent a bit on food bits. Haven't done any Christmas shopping at all! We have also never seen even a bit of frozen. I might secretly get it for dd so I can see what all the fuss is about, dh went all eye rolling and disapproving when I mentioned it as he doesn't approve of Disney

Managed £7.13 at the market and got courgettes, cabbage, peppers, potatoes, ginger, broccoli and sprouts. Tried to calculate in my head what I saved by not going to the supermarket, and I don't think it's much more than a quid. Does look much nicer though.

Blimey Collie what did you buy?! Was it additional Christmas things? It is very easy to get caught up in the Christmas madness!!

Remembered tonight i need to get the childminder and teacher a small Christmas gift, I think Superdrug had some good offers on nice toiletry sets so will have a look in there I think.

I am hoping the Christmas wrapping paper I picked up very cheaply in January will be alright!!