August Frugaleers Part II

[PeoniesforMissAnnersley]

Thought I would start a new one since the old one is full!

I have nailed the family Xmas pressies thing - I make a Christmas cake for each family ie SIL, BIL,MIL etc. It works out quite cheap and easy - I buy all the fruit, fondant, marzipan etc when Sainsburys have it on 3 for 2, usually a few weeks before Xmas. I then make 2 cakes at a time so they can both be in the oven at once. I also have a whole afternoon of doing sugar decorations which keep for ages so just before Xmas I ice and decorate them and then give them to people as and when we see them. It sounds like a lot of effort but it's actually less bother than traipsing round the shops trying to choose things for people within a budget and they go down really well. I'm thinking of just putting almonds on top this year which will be easier/cheaper than marzipan and icing.
It doesn't actually stop them all from buying me a lot of clutter though!!

Oh, lots of good Christmas present ideas .

I hate getting presents that I don't like , I would much rather get some cosy socks or a small Kindle voucher.

We do kids presents only at Christmas, but adults and kids at birthdays. I think it's a good compromise.

Not bad today £4 but it was for charity

That's me officially poor until Tuesday

It's the day of the year we call Summer in Scotland it's been very nice strange to see the DC in shorts and Tshirts.

We have a very small family to buy for at Xmas we buy for SIL and then for my brother and SIL, they never buy us anything but we have 4 DC they have one so don't mind. So four adults (only have my Dad to buy for) 2 grown up neices and two littlies.

Low spend day, £5.00 on Nytol, ham and fly tape!
£2 to DS for washing my car.

Friend has kindly taken DD roller skating this afternoon so nice and peaceful

£2.20 on lunch as couldn't be bothered to make it. My DS1 has done well in his AS levels today, thank goodness.

Nsd yay

Made cakes this morning and had friends round this afternoon.

Need to check my account but am too scared

I only buy for immediate family re Christmas and put a £10 limit on adults!!

The girl I get my waxing done by has just sent out her new treatment listed.

Snail Trail £3 WTAF??????

Peppa - whats a snail trail? I have threading done in the middle of the shopping centre, I used to be so embarrassed but I'm over that now

Have just texted my waxer demanding an immediate answer ????

Apparently it's the hairline between belly button and groin - what a beautiful term!

Peppa round here that's known as a "crab ladder"! I think your waxer perhaps has more taste

Right, time to get back into posting.
£4.15 Costcutter.
£3.25 Sainsburys.
£3.45 fruit and veg from the greengrocer.
£5 lunch out, followed by £1.80 on an ice cream and £1 funicular (day out with a pal).
Total: £18.65.

Ipsos, You and your dh are proper boffins.

NSD.

If you need a frugal christams youre all going to have to toughen up. There is no shame in not being rich or needing to cut back.

Is it really worth the stress?. Dont forget the christmas thread on here, it is brilliant for cheap christmas presents that look like you've remortgaged and sold a kidney.

I agree fluffy. Our families are really good and wouldn't bat an eyelid if we didn't get them a present.

I've just realised why they call it a snail trail. Bit gross.

FFS 93 posts already?!?! :o

Re: Christmas, I am quite glad we have a small family! We just buy for each other and the DCs and DSCs, that's basically it apart from a token thing for my parents. As it is I'm hoping to cut back this year but I do love shopping for their presents... I don't do 'tat' beyond a silly stocking filler or two, other than that I buy to see them through til their summer birthdays, but I could get away with less I think. Slightly different for DSCs as they are adult/late teen, they never ever ask for labels/gadgets and whatnot, they are very down to earth :) stuff like geeky t-shirts and board games go down well, but this year the main shared gift (all living with their mum so easy to share) will be Amazon Prime, if they don't get it themselves first!

Anyway, this year on an iPod memo I am noting EVERY SINGLE SPEND related to Christmas, starting when I stocked up on half price wrapping paper in the Boots January Sales! (It's an annual tradition - started when DH worked for them, but we carried on because I really love their giftwrap for quality and design.) I honestly have no idea how much I spend, so this will at least give me an idea so I can aim to reduce it by a sensible amount in 2016.

On my DH I call that bit the Happy Trail :o

I'm dreading Christmas now we are back here, ILs are master hoarders and cannot understand why anyone wouldn't what millions dozens of bits of tat ornaments. Peppa remind the adults, do it now in a 'normal conversation" kinda way.

Spendy day, DH spent nearly £500 on bedroom furniture for DD2 and I spent £5 on a travel Monopoly, £5 on chocolate for the car journey. And £18 in Boots.

Hello! Last post before we disappear to Disney tomorrow.

Was going to be an nsd then there was some random bloke knocking on the door saying he was some kid recently released from the pen and is selling these things to make some money. Argh. Parted with £8. If it's not true then that will be my charity contribution.

Christmas will be bad this year as we are flying back to my country. Kids will be thoroughly spoilt but it also means I have a ton of nephews, nieces and non married cousins to get for! Argh. I think I will stock up now at the last bits of summer sale since it's summer all year round there... No point getting wooly socks or jumpers.

Wish me luck and a frugal time at Disney. Somehow I doubt that but if I can get away with anything that will be a start.

spent 26 in Morrison on fruit and £3 on a step class but that's it.

i am on the Christmas thread as its useful for birthdays too