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.

em I was sick last Christmas was better for Jan 1st so I had one drink to celebrate & nothing again until Jan 31st when I'd 3 drinks. This wasn't intentional just how it happened. I tend to only drink every couple of months through lifestyle & poor sleeping habits of my ds so this is no great boast.

Interesting to read that lots of us feeling incredibly exhausted or 'broken' as ipsos put it

Being a radiographer is quite exhausting, if I went back I'd have to do similar as my hips and spine need to rest so much. Makes me sad that I'll never be physically fit enough to do it again. Bloody bodies.

Yes - broken just about describes it. I don't think I've recovered really from exams. Have just been so busy. And no holidays. Next day off is Christmas.

I'm really looking forward to Boxing Day. No plans. No family to visit. I'm going to grab some leftovers from parents (who were spending Christmas Day with) and sit in my jammies and veg out. Just be still like broccoli - like Julia Roberts said in pretty woman. Ha!

Have booked 2 days in early January just for me. To chill. Catch up on tv etc. Not telling dh which days.

Am up £13 today. Amazon payment for a dvd sale came through.

Penny sweep ac looks healthy £16 ish. And credit card is halved.

Today might be a nsd. Or I might have to pay for my colour in my hair as it didn't work on Saturday. Depends on how it goes after work.

Ive made 2 salads for work. One veg. The other fruit. So much vitamins. Am hoping it'll sort me out. No booze today. Minimal caffeine. Lots of water. my body is a temple

lilac I do find it interesting that so many people are in struggling health, and especially that many of the health problems do not show on the outside, so that friends in RL might not know. Several of my RL friends have really significant health problems like meniere's syndrome or Ms or CFS, and no one would ever know just from looking at them. The all run a house and several children, or have a big serious job or whatever. I keep wondering whether this was also the case in previous generations and we just didn't know.

ipsos lilac I think this is exactly it. We're maybe more aware of conditions now.

I complained I felt exhausted yesterday at work. Someone diagnosed me with ME. Had to point out that I didn't think it was that - more I've been pushing myself trying to do too much and it's finally caught up with me. Bit of rest and vitamins and I'll be ok.

Em Delighted to hear that you haven't got ME. That would suck.

We spent £5 last night on a bazillion Christmas tree lights as ours blew up. They were significantly reduced.

NSD today I reckon.

DH will get a £300-400 bonus in January. I'm shocked! Good shocked of course.

Was nice they tried though ipsos dr Google at its best.

Im obviously not making light of ME I get its a serious condition. I just don't have it. I'm just a bit tired.

Took a good look at my skin this morning and have braved it with no make up. Just moisturiser. Skin needs to breathe. Am also pretty sure I don't need to see clients today. So am dressed super comfy. As comfy as I can be in work clothes (stretchy skirt, boots, cute jumper). And have stashed green tea in my bag for later.

Wow collie that's great! what are you guys going to use it for save it. Save the lot!

I have to say the prospect of only one days work in two weeks is great. I'm fine health wise , except piling on weight from lack of fitness, just running about everywhere. Next week back to it from Sunday

Nice bonus collie.

Weather not so good today so probably spendy day as kids want to go trampolining

Great news collie!
I'm exhausted too, had another night of DD screaming last night, worse than the night before. She made herself sick in the end. Only way to get her to sleep was on DH's chest. He's been up all night with her. I slept from about 11.30-4.
Have no idea what's happened, she's always been a great sleeper. She almost seems frightened by something but she's too little to explain, poor thing.
Off to buy her a night light today to see if that helps.

Oh no pointless hope its a short lived phase

Great news on the bonus collie.
I've been paid today which included 2 months of mileage, some weekend extras and a few hours additional hours so very welcome.
No spending today as just resting up. Feeling a bit better again today so pretty sure I'll go in tomorrow. I only do 5 hours on a Wednesday so not too much to get through. After that I'm off until next Tuesday.

Can I face aldi today to get the Christmas vegetable at special price or suck it up and pay sainsburys prices delivered

Northender that's a nice paycheque. I also got paid today but they forgot to give me my overtime, will get it sometime next week I think.

pointless sorry to hear your dd is upset, it's so much worse by night isn't it? No kitchen building for you guys so

Hadn't heard of CFS until this thread, how is it distinguished from just being a parent and the exhaustion that goes with that.

The symptoms of ME and post-viral fatigue and CFS (not quite sure of the difference) seem to be very very dramatic in some people. I read about it online. So they might have a good day and be able to go out shopping but if they do too much that day then they might not be able to get up to answer the door the next day, or might even not be able to speak or bear to have the lights on. There's a support thread about it in the health section of mumsnet.

Nsd here.

Good news collie

I was going to do chilli or spag bol for dinner but I haven't got any tinned tomatoes oh actually I think I've got whole tinned ones maybe I will just chop them up somehow.

CFS is pretty much the new official name of ME. They changed it from ME because Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (yikes) is not an accurate description of the illness (basically it was to do with this bizarre illness that appeared in a hospital or something, but that is not the same as what is generally called ME now... I dunno I'm rubbish at explaining it sorry ). Also I think ME had a big stigma attached, the whole Yuppie Flu thing.

But lots of people REALLY REALLY REALLY hate the name CFS. Chronic Fatigue just makes it sound like you're tired, when it is SO much more than that :(

For that reason it is often referred to - even by specialists - as CFS/ME rather than one or the other.

Thanks Fuzz good to know. :-)

I'm not sure the thing I've got is called, but it's pretty clear that I got it from working 24/7 for four years caring for a little-un with obstructive apnoea. Sleep, rest, exercise and good food for me....

NSD so far BUT budget is £35 on the Next sale that starts in 55 mins. I wouldn't be too fussed but we need clothes for DS anyway so it seems stupid to miss out.

DH will save 1/2 of his bonus and spend the other half. It's purely down to how amazing he is at his job so he thoroughly deserves to splurge and treat himself. He also received a selection box which mine...... ALL MINE!

Good summary, Fuzz.

Lilac, there's such a massive range in the condition. At its best, you're able to more or less live a normal life, with careful management and organisation, apart from feeling tired and in some level of pain most or all the time; at its worst, you could be bed-bound and tube-fed for several years . Very few people in RL know I have it, which is why it's good to talk about it here sometimes. Ipsos, sounds like a good plan, but be careful with exercise. Something low impact; such as Pilates, yoga, or walking, are your best bets.

£70.10 will come out later for my Sainsburys order. They didn't have a couple of things on my list, so I'll try to get those tomorrow or Thursday, but they're not essential. £1 for milk, £5.50 for DS's haircut and £10 for my nails. It's amazing how having nice nails boosts your mood and £10 is fantastic for Shellac, so I might try to keep it up at that price.

Great news re the bonus collie, and I am sure well deserved.

creme I have just had my nails done, it's £15, it does make you feel SO much better. I have mine done all the time now, but mine does last 3 weeks, so a cheap way to feel good overall (compared with buying clothes etc) I am sat in the hairdressers now, having my hair dyed a deep red

I just live being knackered I am afraid. That's because of my lifestyle though. I eat very well though and drink lots of water, and too much wine! Like Em, there's no underlying issue.

Today's spends was £80 diesel in the horse box. So cross with an idiot that braked hard and turned into a pub right in front of me today. I have NO way of stopping quickly in a horse box with 2 ponies in it, how I didn't plough into him I don't know, or the ponies were not injured.

However, Mercedes have returned DH £600 'goodwill' for all the hassle he is having with his car, still unresolved. Which is better than a slap in the face!

Good for you, Need. Is the deep red a very different hair colour for you? My nails should last 3-4 weeks too, so at £10 or £15, it's worth it.

I am very dark brown anyway, so no, it will enhance rather than change iyswim?