O come all ye festive frugaleers, gather round for festive chat and frugaleering

[northender]

Haven't been on the old thread for a few days so thought I'd start a new thread as it's nearly full.

luxy great energy saving!

Today I am getting my hair coloured cut and put up for Christmas party later.

Need to do a load of housework this morning.

Saw Star Wars yesterday. Amazing!! Barely did any work yesterday afternoon I was so excited!

Collie I'm doing Aldi, supermarket and town this morning. We'll be fine won't we? Everyone eill assume it's too busy and stay home, yes?

Sorry Ipsos I was hoping that there were some easily available GF cornflakes! I know Kelloggs aren't, but I was sure Tesco brand used to be ok at least. I'll have a look when I do the shopping and let you know.

Ipsos I often buy GF cornflakes for my mum. I have only found them readily available at Morrisons. Brand is 'whole Earth'

groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Whole-Earth-Organic-Corn-Flakes/212287011?from=search&tags=%7C105651&param=Cornflakes&parentContainer=SEARCHCornflakes

what everyone else will have done their shop weeks ago.

I need to go too. But am going on Monday. Before work I think. Co-op will deliver home for me but I have to shop for it myself.

I've just it back from tesco. I only went for a few bits but ended up spending £50 I got the last few presents though so I am done! I noticed tesco had gluten free cornflakes in the free from aisle ipsos

what it was fiiiine! Not as busy as it was last weekend. Our Sainsbury's had LOTS of out of date fruit, veg and meat stuff though. It was really tricky to dig around to find a similar product with a decent date. Most of it was out of date 2 days ago...

We spent £87 in total. Still need meat of some sort for the special day. It was all sold out or out of date in Sainsbury's. I'm going to email them. Loads of people won't be checking dates today.

Aldi wasnt busy either! We popped in but they didn't sell what was in their Christmas food catalogue :(

We redeemed all of our Nectar Points again. So that was £20 worth. Really pleased. So our shop was actually £67.

All in all - happy as we did a 2 week shop.

So. Presents have arrived at our house this morning from mil in NZ. For dh. I have been left out and dh is fuming. He's Skypeing her now.

There is a history to this. Last year while in NZ for Christmas mil told me she didn't consider me to be family any more. She ignored my birthday.

This is a bit of a slap in the face for dh. But tbh I expected it. So am not fussed.

He's opened the gift as he thought maybe it was a sharing one. And only addressed to him iyswim. But no. It's a lovely jumper. We can't both wear it.

£72.25 food shopping we will still need bread and milk. Luckily I work right next to a tesco and we have our own car park it's always manic the week before Christmas we can see the car park from our window

Em
How on earth can someone just decide your not family anymore?!? That is strange and mean. Must be very hurtful for you both.

Oh em what the hell is wrong with some people?! Ffs.

Em, that's extremely hurtful and unnecessary. I am glad your DH is so upset too. Poor you.

Luxy I've read your thread. I am so sorry for your daughter. I suffered this too as a child, she is being remarkably resilient. My mother did nothing, you are being fantastic, I promise, even though you feel helpless, the fact you are trying to make this right for your daughter will make a vast difference.

I am sat in the hospital while DH has his procedure. You can tell it's private, there's wifi and the nurse keeps bringing me cappuccino

Yesterday was manic. I went to town at 9.30, got back at 4pm, then went to MIL's as she's going to SIL's for Christmas.

Big spend in town. All done now.

£114 in Primark (PJ's, socks, clothes, two massive bags for DC)
£20 in Lush, pressie for DN.
£87 - Jack Wills, 'best' clothes for DC, rather than Primark stuff for everyday.
£25 Garden Centre vouchers.
£40 planters for DM and MIL.

Ouch!

Dh is really angry and upset. I'm over it if I'm being honest. Have had a year to deal with it. I was very angry with her earlier in the year and ended up going to speak to someone about it. Ive learnt to let it go. And have tried to be the bigger person. I'm upset for dh though.

When she was here in August. She took over - all of her plans involved dh and her. Not me. I pre-empted this by making myself busy. All of my friends suddenly had emergencies they needed me for.

I haven't sent anything for Christmas this year. Dh hasn't either I don't think. I asked him to deal with his side and I'd do mine. Much easier. except I don't think he's done it

She doesn't think she's done anything wrong.

I posted on the relationships board a while back and they suggested books to read - I've just pulled them out again and left them lying around for dh to find fall over

On a more positive note I've recieved a pair of hand made socks from my god mother in the post. They're a bit misshapen. But so toasty warm. the sun is also shining and I had toasted muffins and home made jam for breakfast.

need No Danish pastry . Private health care is fab isn't it? . I hope the op goes well.

luxy That bully hasn't actually got the guts to do anything overt has she? Your dd will have a fabulous education at grammar school & hopefully a very well paid job at the end of it all. Bully knows this. Keep on, I know it's exhausting but you have to keep at the ht. You have to be her biggest problem every single morning. She has to dread your phonecall at 9am.

Em She's a delight isn't she?.

Em how horrible. Her loss definitely.

Aldi was fine, ours did have the food I'd seen and wanted in the catalogue. I have my fancy turkey, lamb for New Year's Day and beef for tonight as well as the salted caramel ham and lots of other lovely bits and two bottles of Malbec. £143. Oops. But I think I did ok.

Em what a witch. Need I hope all goes well. Yay for own car parking and not havjng to fight the tesco lot! And waves at everyone else :-))

need hope dh is ok. Let us know if they bring you food....
luxy I read your other thread. I hope everything goes ok. Your poor dd. I second advice on there and suggest writing everything down and presenting t at a meeting.

I was bullied to during school and it was awful. But thankfully looking back it didn't last long (although a whole term is long enough when you're 14...) my situation was dealt with fairly swiftly once the bully's mother was brought in and the school had all of us bullees (those who were bullied) tell the mother what her precious princess had done. For me it was "just" name calling. But for others much worst.

Oh Em what a twunt she is. In the words of Mr T "I pity the fool!" She needs pity for her pathetic behaviour.

Lux when I was at Primary School a girl forced me to take my beautiful new Clarks shoes off and she put them in the bin. She called me names for years. Mum didn't care at all.

Her sisters were also bullies and they are now primary school teachers themselves. Ugh!

That's harsh em, she sounds like a right misery.
My family have cancelled on us this afternoon so not sure what to do for the rest of the day.

134 flaming pounds on 5 pairs of shoes. Both dc have grown. £30 in sainsburys
Panto this afternoon so a fiver parking and a tenner on tat

Oh em your poor dh and you. This crap but twee as it sounds her loss

Thanks for the ideas on gf cornflakes. I'll have a go at those. :-)

Sorry to hear about the batty MIL Em. What a delightful person to have as a relative. Glad to hear that you've found ways round it. Glad she's in New Zealand too. Sometimes a good big ocean is just what you need to keep a problem relationship under control

Need Glad to hear that your DH is having his hand seen to. All fingers crossed here (Also eyes, legs etc...).

ds is on holiday here and I'm trying to keep up while also trying to rest up. Tricky combination.

I just noticed these fortified gf cornflakes too.

www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=285451830

ipsos Abel and Cole sent me some 'Nature's Path' cereal flakes last week and a surprise gift, which are pretty tasty. They are organic, gluten and wheat free.

Thanks all. We are home. Op went well, but the growth and increased significantly in size in just 2 weeks, so poor DH has had a huge chunk taken from his hand. We wait now for the biopsy. He's to rest and keep the hand elevated for a few days and take things steady. This will be hard for DH

I used the time well and edited my Morrisons Christmas order to use my points, which totalled £60, so chuffed with this. Also I have put £20 into our Naked Wine account for 6 months now (in anticipation of Christmas) and have just bought our festive wine for 'free' iyswim? My M&S vouchers will cover the food I ordered, so the food aspect of our Christmas will be at least reasonably frugal but good quality.

DH has had a good idea too about New Year. We are having a party. He's going to bring home the gazebo from work and fire up the BBQ, and we will do Hotdogs, so I really only need to buy bread and sausages. Folk are bringing their own booze and I will text and ask them to bring nibbles too. I suspect numbers are reaching 60, so that will be fun!!

Trying to catch up.

Em sounds like my MIL. Glad your DH is on your side.

Pointless tell DH you meant were the trains late, or whichever transport he was using.

Luxy hope you get that bullying sorted.

Need glad DH is getting sorted.

Amazon have confirmed refund on my returned item. I had a moment of weakness last night and ordered Domino's, £30. Won't do it again as their GF pizza was like cardboard.

Also spent £6 on an outside doormat and plug hole clearer.

Have to take DD2 into town for birthday party and the plan was for me and DD1 to eat out while that's going on.