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.

ipsos that made me laugh about the car park!
girlie we have also been abandoned by friends NYE but it looks like we'll be taking it in turns to sit up with DD anyway. Last night was slightly better in so much as there was no hysterical screaming but she was still up a lot. I went and slept on her floor at 4.30. She seems fine so long as she knows we are there.
I am sufficiently tired to be allowing her to watch Bing Fucking Bunny which gets right on my nerves!
Should be NSD today and tomorrow certainly will be

Jokes by Skye Christmas offering

Q: Where did the Christmas Cake go?
A: It was Stollen.

DD is unseasonably pleased with herself for making that one up.

Need to pop to a shop for tomatoes and ground almonds. It's like a plague of locusts in this house at the minute.
NORAD doesn't appear to be working it's just showing a cartoon of Santa or am I too early

unescorted that made me laugh. I love it!

Babs - ground almonds was our reason for leaving the house today too. Cake no.2 is in progress. Shops were empty at 9am.

Our co op was ridiculous staff can't cope at the best of times.

Just back from getting last XMas essentials (our Co-op wasn't too bad) .... wrapping paper, tea-bags, loo-rolls, juice and Christmassy nibbles to take round to a friend's this afternoon, and port for the last of the wrapping later!
We almost sound organised! HaHa!

Just getting ready to go to Mum's.

Have a fabulous Christmas Frugaleers!

I bumped into a neighbour and I was just thinking "This lady lives alone, I wonder if she is having an okay Christmas?" and then I asked her and she says she's spending Christmas having a cancerous lump thing removed and that she feels like garbage. That's really not so great is it? I wasn't sure what to say or do to help. I wish I knew what a person is meant to say in that place in the conversation.

We had a nice walk and got wet very far up the trouser legs by walking in puddles.

Hello all, had a lovely morning ice skating - dd loved it! My friend bought us all tea and cakes which was lovely of her, I spent £2 in the gift shop on some reduced Christmas decorations. Was thinking to look out for some reduced cards for next year...

Have a bad headache so having some quiet time now, hopefully going out again later to a Crib service at a local church.

My mum is away with friends over NYE Needa its fine, may invite a friend over or will think of something to do I am sure!

Have a lovely Christmas frugaleers

Ah your poor neighbour. Ipsos. Sometime just talking helps, mostly even if you say the wrong thing they appreciate not feeling abandoned. Could you stretch to inviting her to yours at some point? Maybe even tomorrow

Baking cakes with Dd, christingle in a bit then full on stealth elf and party preps so will not be about much.

Happy Christmas to you all and your loved ones X
See you in the other side where the new frugal year begins and I won't have bankrupted us in the sales

Babs My equivalent would be to invite her to the Christmas service at our church which is at the end of the street but I don't think she's Churchy. Oh well. I'll keep smiling and chatting every time I see her. Maybe that will help.

Very spendy. Couldn't give a fuck .

Merry Christmas

Ahh poor neighbour ipsos, never easy to know what to say. I would have her at mine, my elderly godmother is with us every year as I can't stand the thought of anyone being alone at Christmas, but not everyone is comfortable with that, we can make small talk with a statue, it's not easy always though. Could you possibly pop round with a tiny gift, or could DS make her a card that you could give her on Christmas day maybe?

girlie You and your DD do loads, she will have a bash at anything won't she?

at unescorted joke!

Aldi was dead, I popped in after joining the work folk for a drink, it was spookily quiet, staff said it had been manic very early but dead since 10am.

What did you spend on collie?

Happy Christmas to you too babs

Well done Collie. Merry Christmas!

I am liking the making a card idea ipsos, even if it was my own!! Seems personal, but not too intrusive on your behalf, get your DS on it right now

Merry Christmas to all my Frugaleering friends. I hope Santa's good to all.

NSD.

Merry Christmas Eve y'all!!

In home alone with a prosecco. Dh is out. Drinking with his mates. Someone's going to have a hangover tomorrow not me

Busy day! Quite spendy. Merry Christmas everyone my first year hosting tomorrow but I'm planning on getting merry with me sister

From a frugal point of view I have spent £100 on food for tomorrow (6 adults four dc) and anything else has gone into the weekly food shop (which has been below budget each week for ages) and any alcohol is what's been gifted to us so I'm quite pleased with that. Hopefully we will have leftovers for Boxing Day because we don't have any other food in!

£100 for 6 is really good spotty, I paid more than that 5 years ago for 6 & they all fucked off early. Which is why I don't host Xmas anymore.

Nsd despite scouring the John Lewis sale. Hotel lovely though.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Oh yes enjoy your hotel stay fluffy!

Yes it would have been cheaper if I hadn't bought the main bits from m&s but I need a day off too and didn't want to spent it all in the kitchen dc in bed early and fast asleep

NSD, DD asleep (for now) it's a Christmas miracle!
Happy Christmas frugaleers!