Don't Panic, December is frugal this year.

[Fluffycloudland77]

NSD = no spend day
LSD = Low spend day

I Just wanted to pop in because I know you lot will understand my glee. I am a lurker here.

This month I went into the black when I was paid (from a 5K overdraft 2 years ago) and I have paid off the credit card completely in the last six months (from a 2K debt a year ago). I have set up a saving account and have saved £150 this month and set up a standing order for this amount to build up a nest egg.

I am

Finally I am getting there.....

sporting beware of buckaroo, we bought last yr (and operation funnily enough! ) and the blanket thing doesn't sit on the donkey, we've had to sellotape ours together.

Got a frozen shepherds pie out from the freezer for dinner for a quick turnaround. ...let it defrost overnight, ppicked it up this morning and the pyrex fell to pieces. I rescued it....then had second thoughts as don't want to risk eating shards of glassy pyrex. Annoyed at money wasted and time wasted preparing it in the first place

pass that is so annoying!! I had a full hissy fit when I made a soup in a big enameled pan, poured it into tupperwares and saw loads of the enamel missing from the bottom of the pan. I felt funny about eating the soup in case it had enamel in so about 4 x 2 portions went in bin

ohhelp parking is a nightmare at our local hospital, machines are often broken so you can't pay and then they hassle you for not paying!

goldfish that is amazing, well done!

This is our first debt-free Christmas since being married. (6 years) It feels great. It's also a comfort knowing DH won't go mad on presents as he knows credit is not an option and he only has so much money. haha.

That's great goldfish!

So glad I checked eBay this morning, was going to pay £30 for a lego board game for DS but found it, still sealed, for less than half that including postage :)

Today will be spendy, I've already ordered 2 presents and hoping to get to a couple of shops as my dad is here with the car. Various gifts to look for and some bits needed for school etc

Haven't read through the thread properly yet but felt I had to add my positive spin dryer experience . We took the plunge about a month ago (wouldn't have considered it if it wasn't for fluffy). It is fab, we too get at least a pint of water a load and then things dry so quickly. Haven't resorted to the tumble dryer yet so must be saving a fortune. Think we paid £95 but it was definitely worth it.

Pass thanks for the info, the new versions of the classic games seem well a bit cheaply made compared with the originals. The new version of mousetrap for example doesn't seem to have as many bits as the original used to. Ah, well I guess things change don't they?

Well the boiler people couldn't do today after all. Of course I found out after I'd moved all furniture etc, so I am now sat here with a large heap of my possessions in my dining room at least until tomorrow .

Off to start making pizza for tea as it will be easy to eat on trays as we can't currently access dining table!

Collie sorry but just laughed out loud at 'it wasn't a flea it was a tiny freckle' so funny!! However just to warn you Frontline is becoming less and less effective, it didn't work at all on either of my cats. I use Advocate now and pay £10 a month to the vets which covers all flea, worm and booster care for the year. It def works out cheaper.

Anyho I went slightly mad in the Sainsburys TU sale have spent £115! Eek, however I got a lot for that including 4 gifts, over 10 items of clothing for dd and some much needed new clothes for me - jeans, 2 jumpers, a onesie (can't wait to get that on later ) a pair of leggings and two new tops.

So that should sort me and dd out clothes wise for a good few months......

Got to do my Morrisons shop later as well

Well done Goldfish. I bet you feel brilliant.

I put a metal bowl off the old rice cooker under our spin dryer. Things dry overnight on the clothes horse but we don't have the heating on much so in a normal house it would dry quicker.

I've got a basic white knight one. I'm glad you like yours North.

I think they're due a comeback, with the energy prices as they are the only way to fight back is to use less.

NSD- sooo long since I've said that! Had a lazy day at home.

£10 petrol.

well done goldfish that's a great achievement!

we don't have room for a spin dryer but I'm considering a heated airer because we get that horrible damp smell on clothes that take too long to dry.

On another note, we're thinking of getting a dehumidifier. condensation is not too bad - usually just upstairs windows - however to keep it to this level I air the house daily, open windows fully when cooking and leave windows ajar at night time. Surely a dehumidifier would be cheaper to run than the extra heating costs? The thing is, I've heard that you need a decent dehumidifier otherwise its a false economy. Really don't know where to start.

Dh used the aldi vouchers today 86£ worth of shopping. Unfortunately I ran the cupboards down so much they still look half empty:( ah well more food shopping Monday I suppose

I'm was confused as you sixforgold.
I have a heated airer. If I put it in the conservatory it steams up the windows and causes damp. Even with a dehumidifier on constantly.
The airer works better in the hall - since moving it there's no condensation in the conservatory.
I dehumidify the bedroom 4 hrs once a week, because the ensuite damps the bedroom.
We just had utility bill and still in credit by 2 months. I've used all the above everyday since late October.

Oh good stuff goldfish - that is such a fab achievement. You must feel brill

I have been out most of the day, but I think that I am going to sort the telephone/BB thing tomorrow as planning a day in.

Bad bad spendy day.

£60 - petrol
£35 - farm shop on meat, chicken, eggs etc. Completely stocked up for Christmas but still more than I figured.
£35 - pony feed, stirrups (Xmas pressie). Will get half back from a friend.
£35 - Sainsbury's. Only use Sainsbury's for little jars of cooking seasoning type things, umami paste, harissa paste, miso, Belazu jars etc, but bought a jumper dress and sweater. Unlikely to keep either but I really ought to have not even bought them in the first place.

Went back online and reduced my delivery from Morrisons accordingly.

On a positive, stuffed peppers with salad and made carrot and coriander soup for lunches tomorrow.

And a tenner on a new number plate for the horse box as one of the farm machines, er, drove into it!!!

fell off the wagon but I am here now [was Ohforfoxsake]
spent [wasted £40.00] over the last week because being busy/tired/too late to cook, so i am back on it big time now
£80.00
40.00 food shop got week 5 voucher Mr M's
10 elec
16 gas
10 petrol
4 kids xmas fayre cakes and bits to donate...

I haven't posted on here for a while...probably as I haven't been very frugal lately (xmas shopping).
Anyway...
£98 for a 2 week shop today in Lidl. I don't usually shop there as it is across town but I thought I would try it. Not too bad but I still need to buy a few more bits.
I managed to get a Snow Glow Elsa yesterday at the normal RRP. From THE ENTERTAINER. So, well chuffed. Crazy people paying ridiculous prices over on ebay and Amazon. I had finished DD's xmas pressie shopping but hey ho...
Going xmas shopping for adults tmrw. DH payday :-)

Looking for a holiday for the 4 of us (2 adults, DS (who will be 11 then) and DD6) for May half term. We have not had any time off as a family for a long time due to fixed hols and stupid term time rule. Anyway, all off May 1/2 term next year (DH and I are actually off the week after too).
Trying to find reasonable prices. Somewhere warm and interesting...not too bothered where.
DS and DD have SATS in May so we are hoping to go somewhere for them to have a good time afterwards as a treat (was thinking France and having a couple of days at Disney). Or, if anyone can recommend a nice island with a theme park...
Any good websites?

six our last flat was terrible for damp. We lived right next to a river in a completely detached place over parking bays, with no outside space for drying clothes. It was cold and wet all the time. Anyway, we just got the argos value dehumidifier and it was amazing. It made so much difference to our damp problem, I would really recommend it. If it can cope with our place then I don't think you would need a more expensive one to be honest.

Spent £1.80 on snacks at work today. I was tired and fed up and comfort eating. Not good. I really need to go out and do some shopping, as I have realised that my cunning plan to last until saturday isn't going to work as we are out of toilet paper, but it is cold outside and I can hear dd making a fuss about DH putting her to bed.

NSD today, will get a few things tomorrow. Will also try to cath tomorrow too.

Hope everyone is well.