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.

Hi juggling. A frugaleer is for life not just for Christmas [santa]

(or some such as it can get addictive)

I loved llanhydroch collie even in the pouring rain. Bit too far for us though.
Taking the kids climbing and trampoline this afternoon

Welcome Juggler. Use the thread how you like.

Em That's really generous, I don't know what to be more jealous of, the wine or the money.

I'm 20 points away from a £5 nectar voucher on erewards, very annoying.

i am only kidding Juggling - welcome aboard however you want or need us

I'm so relieved to have got all the Christmas spending out of the way now. Haven't had to buy anything for a wee while now.

The next weird thing I'm finding is that since I got the hallway sorted out, I've kind of got on a roll of house improvement and keep trying to fix other things, which could really add up quite quickly. Must reign it in again. The Christmas season really is tricky for frugaleering isn't it?

I'm glad we're staying at home and having a quiet Christmas. Dh and I are having a quiet time and doing frugal activities with ds, which is nice. The weather is decent too, so we're trying to get out in the garden every day.

need How is your dh today?

Today's jobs are cleaning shopping and washing. Dh stupidly volunteered to go to the shops. The Sunday before Christmas. idiot lovely dh.

I'm washing clothes, cleaning and am trying to get some order into our lives before Christmas so I have less to do in January.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone

Feel much more mellow about Christmas after my lovely morning seeing friends at Quaker Meeting. And I put two pounds in box and ended up getting given half a delicious coffee cake to take home for the children. Also a nice event I can take them to there on Tuesday afternoon which will be free and Christmassy.

Have just had a nice bowl of porridge with banana and honey for brunch (as per Quaker stereotype!) - my new frugal breakfast as I now buy a largeish bag of oats and it makes a cheap but substantial and warming brekkie.

DS has gone out bird-watching with DH, so I only have DD around to help with any Christmas cards. But I'm glad the boys are making the most of this lovely, bright and mild day.

It's mild and wet here

Yes I did consider that em so I messaged him to let him know!

Welcome Juggling.

Spotty, someone on my Facebook had a warning up that air quality in the UK will be low for a few days, due to winds from the Sahara, and asmathics are advised to keep inhalers close at all times. Could that be what's up with your DD?

Need, I hope your DH feels a little more comfortable today.

Em, any jobs going at your work?

NSD. I don't plan on going anywhere today.

creme trainee bookkeeper do?

need how's dh doing?

Oh em I could do that!

Creme it's probably not helping but she's had this cough for a wee and also has a temperature and is currently asleep (not normal in the day obv as she's five). She gets chest infections every winter but we've avoided it so far, presumably due to the mild weather?

Not long until Christmas now! We did have plans for tomorrow but I don't think my friend would be impressed if dd passed her germs onto her newborn so had to cancel. Dd cried so I will have to try and find something fun for her to do.

Sorry your dd isn't feeling well today Spotty - hope she's a bit better tomorrow and you can think of some other nice activity instead of seeing your friend and baby. I'm sure it's just a postponed visit?
The rain has got to our side of the country now too but was really lovely here earlier - has definitely lifted my spirits.
Was considering going out to a carol concert this evening but now it's rainy I think I'll just be happy with my one outing today and stay in this evening nice and cosy - Sofa and telly is always good for frugaleering

Yes we will go out to lunch with them New Year's Day I only saw her last week but who can resist new baby cuddles?! I might go to the garden centre we all like it there. They sell those old polystyrene planes for 49p, they don't last long but the dc love them.

I got dh an iPod for his birthday. He's a technophobe and it's so painful watching him try to set it up

HaHa - I'm a technophobe too, only dimly aware of what an iPod might be and still haven't got the hang of a mobile because of the charging and crediting hassle. Maybe one day as I'm sure they'd be handy for keeping track of wandering teenagers. It's amazing I ever found MN really. And last night I used my SatNav to find the way to a party for DD and one for myself and then back to pick up DD and home! Very proud of myself

I've written in my cards and DD promises to add appropriate doodles and pics later to make them more interesting. Might think about doing the addresses now, and then the boys just have to sign them when they get back. When I went to the box for a nice slice of cake I found the boys had found that OK before they went out - just about left a crumbly slice for me

Gosh, you lot have been busy. I have been busy in other ways so have only just sat down.

Thanks all for asking about DH. The consultant specifically said just paracetamol. I think the pain he is in is absolutely normal though, they had to make a massive incision in his hand as the growth had grown a lot and it's one of those parts of your body it's hard not to move iyswim? They did warn him it would hurt.

Welcome juggling, join us long term, short term, any term!

spotty Poor DD. The autumn term is so long, I think it's hard for the poor kids not to suffer.

I got my Next VIP slot, but it was much more useful when the DC were the ages of most of your DC's I must admit. I used to love it then and really stock up. My teens don't really like their stuff but I might look at the homeware myself.

ipsos I forgot that you enjoy gardening too. A nice day to tidy up if nothing else. I know what you mean about the home improvements, we have a massive spurt then get fed up and leave it a while, then go again, rinse and repeat. Thank you for the link, I've tried to read the relevant parts about squamous cell and skin cancer. I think I am trying to understand how they figure out whether it's spread or not? Is that by examining the surrounding cells for normality? If that's daft, sorry, I am a layman! It all sounds very interesting what you did, do you miss it?

Em You know what? Employers like that will reap dividends I think, they inspire loyalty and good feeling within their work force. Brill prizes, well done Did your DH ever speak to his DM about the lack for present for you? Don't answer that if you don't want to.

I am busy and tired!! I am popping down to see my DM soon as I haven't this week. Beef in SC, 4 loads of washing, tidying, 2 x dog walking, flapjack made, floors mopped, chickens cleaned out.

Will admit to having a moan to DH about how he is never here, works all the time, lets me do everything and hasn't contributed to Christmas at all.

Money wise, I spent £3 at the shop on shampoo, toothpaste and paracetamol. I also ordered a steamer from Amazon for £20, which may or may not be the cheapest I could find, but I need it for Christmas and this is Prime.

need yes he did. hes still angry with her and has told her She needs to stop.

Aside from that I'm not sure there's anything he can do. It's a bit rubbish really.

Hi need. I just had a look at how they know if cancer has spread. It seems as if there isn't a definitive blood test, which is frustrating. They just have to hunt around and see if any of the cells are moving away from the tumour in the local area. This is a helpful explanation:

www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancer-can-spread#how

I'm a bit confused about that as I know that testicular cancer can be detected by a blood test. It may be that different types have different methods of detection.

I don't really miss bench science because it was very competitive and needed me to move city every three years, with very little chance of ever getting a long term contract. I miss the fun of being in a workplace with people to talk to though. After bench science I moved into computers and that was better in lots of ways. :-) I now do freelance volunteer stuff from home which is nice as I get to choose what I do. I'm getting a new camera flash fro Christmas, which is very exciting as I have a photo planned that needs it. Yay!

Need I told my dh to fuck off earlier. Most unlike me. He was too shocked to be offended.

spotty Poor little thing, dh has just finished ab for one. Has she finished school now?.

£8.49 on vacuum bags.

Spent £36 on special beers - 5 each for DH and me, we chose them to give to ourselves as a "surprise". The rest were presents for dad, FIL and BIL.
Doing Xmas food shop tomorrow except meat which DH is collecting from butcher on Weds.

Yes, thankfully. Her temp has spiked and he breathing isn't great. I suppose I should try and get her to gp tomorrow but I was going to hold out until Wednesday in case it sorts itself out.

I withdrew money for hospital parking as Im seeing an endocrinologist tomorrow. But I spent it feck!

Also popped into Sainsbury's for £2 wrapping paper and ended up spending £21 on crap. I can't remember what we bought

I've fallen off the wagon..

£60 on lunch with friends. It was nice but I hadn't planned on it and I was quite shocked by the bill!

Hair cut tomorrow so that's another £50 dropped. Tuesday we are off to Thomas land so will need to budget for food there. Not the weather for a picnic.

Collie I can't even see the wagon any more, if it helps any. Hoping January brings me back to my senses.

collie It's really hard to stay frugal this time of year, I want to buy chambord to go with the Wednesday lunch. But will anyone appreciate it but me?

Just remembered, I flipped dh the bird too while I was reversing the car because he was in the road indicating left hand down and I was using the camera to park and didn't need help.

What I used to live in Tamworth. Which junction of the m42 are you coming off at? Do you have a tastecard trial? It's valid at Drayton manors onsite hotel.