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.

Look what dh got me

I'm a bit obsessed with trainers/converse

Glad people have had a good Christmas. Hope any feeling under the weather, feel better soon

We had a lovely day but I need to get fully into leftover mode as I seem to have massively over catered. Never mind, nothing will be wasted, festive bubble & squeak today.

The most played with presents the dc received were sets of magnetic beads from aliexpress as recommended on the MN bargain thread. They cost about £6 each and have created hours of fun! Will find a link if I can

I'm in Lancashire and I swear it has rained non stop for 24 hours now and still it goes on. The 7 severe flood warnings are all within 10 miles of us, it's heart breaking for people. All the areas affected by those warnings have already been flooded in the past couple of weeks. I am from this area, have lived here most of my life and have never ever known weather like this over such a prolonged period of weeks. Feeling very fortunate to be in our own home, warm and dry, just wish we could get out for a walk........oh well, pass the chocolate!

North my step brother lives in Appleby. They're down here atm though and just thankful to be safe.

notth stay in and stay warm. Enjoy the chocolate.

Dh has just treated me to scrambled eggs on a croissant for breakfast in bed. And has bought me a bucket of tea, some vitamins and paracetamol. And is suggesting going out for a walk. The sun is shining here. It looks lovely.

I've been looking at online sales. And have finally finished my book. Gone girl if anyone's interested. Thought it was good up until the end. Bit of an anti climax.

Need to do a massive clear up/throw away today. Bins are overflowing ick will get on that after lovely hot shower.

Spotty, I got up at 12.45. That's a lie-in!

North, just heard the red warnings for rain in Lancashire and West Yorkshire on the radio news. Absolutely devastating. Stay safe. X

Just had a homemade egg muffin for breakfast and put all the recycling out and chilling with a cuppa and some biscuits now, before getting dressed and tackling laundry. Then chilling again for the rest of the day. Expecting my 3rd NSD in a row.

Bed changed. Bathroom towels changed. Two loads of washing done. Floors hoovered. And presents put away.

Looking forward to second nsd in a row.

Nsd.

And there I was thinking we'd had a good lie-in because DD slept until 7!
We have been very lucky with Xmas money this year, think we're going to put it towards some decorating or towards a roof box for camping. Either way it will not be frittered away!

Hello all hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas!

I'm staying at my mums but have just nipped home to sort my cats out, had a lovely day ystd even with working in the afternoon. My mum has bought me a really nice camera which is amazing and I got some lovely bits. Will have a look in the sales at some point....

Today went on a Boxing day walk on the beach and in typical Somerset coastline style dd got stuck in some mud, lost a welly (which thankfully I was able to retrieve) and cried all the way back to the car

Have managed 2 NSDs and am thinking of some frugal new year resolutions....

Spotty they are seriously lush - I still have some birthday money left and new boots are top of the list for things I would like!

North thats not good re the rain, hope you are all o.kay.

Today has been a very average day - DH working so it's just like a regular Saturday really. Christmas was great, and tomorrow my DSCs and DSS' GF are coming so we can do it all over again! Need to sort out food though. Can't wait as it's always a crazy house of fun when they all visit - lots of games to be played including some that were presents.

NSD for me (unlike yesterday - had to buy milk on the way home!) but DH is getting some cash out for DSCs' main present - I planned a while back to get them Prime membership (they have and love Netflix) - I asked them in advance and they loved the idea. They have a few token bits to open but we're giving them £100 so they can spend it on whichever membership they want (it's a bit confusing, there's TV specific ones, or DSS might be able to get a student one, and then there's the fire stick thingy) and they can spend the rest on a takeaway or something :).

Spotty I got shoes too! Really wasn't expecting it, but it was all DD's idea. Black Converse-style ones with the logo from an anime film that I love :)

Nsd. Woo.

Spent most of the day on the couch wrapped in blanket with hot water bottle. Think I might have some sort of sinus thing as my teeth are really sore. And my ears hurt.

Dh has made soup.

We've watched home alone 2. And some qi. And doctor who.

Looking forward to Agatha Christie later (if I can stay awake).

at soup! I'm feeling festively full and we still have more turkey to eat. Frugal halo for making bubble and squeak and stripping the turkey down to the bone

Girlie our Boxing Day walk culminated in DD whining all the way back to the car as her feet got wet after jumping in puddles - it added to the atmosphere!

I managed all the way to Central London without spending a penny. Smug. Then gone back home and my DD managed to shatter her iphone case. So popped into Tesco for a cover. And they had toothbrushes (electric) reduced from £50 to £25. Given that I last bought one 13 years ago, I pushed the boat and treated myself.
I also checked my t ticket and I won £25!!! I have never won anything like that! And I don't play the lotto either, it was a one line for christmas sort of treat.
I bought one more line out of those £25, I'll put the rest in my savings for good luck :)

Nice one AllGuns

Three nsd so far. Sales are rubbish.

£10 on a mezalluna (sp) thing for chopping herbs, half price in Boots. Had looked before Christmas when it was on a 3 for 2 offer but didn't need anything else. DH spent £60 on a previously £270 briefcase and DD1 got a free handbag because it was BOGOF. Then he spent £50 on a waterproof jacket that DD2 is willing to be seen in, that was 60% off. His idea to get them waterproof coats, not their's

Boots look lovely Spotty

DDs always buy me coffee beans and chocolate for Christmas. I won't need to buy either for quite some time

Hope anyone in the north is safe.

DD1's free handbag started off at £150 I'm counting that as a mega frugal win

Well done on your frugal wins Allguns

I spent £32.49 yesterday on Amazon. £21 was on a lunch bag and boxes for ds (I asked bil to get one but he didn't ) and ds needs it for the beginning of term

Dh is really grumpy because he's been up loads with ds last night. I can neither confirm or deny this as I slept all night

Christmas Day number two today.

Two nsds for me, loving sounds of your bargains adora. I've time without children today & tues to check out the shops so will see how I go. My mother has promised me new boots as my Christmas present so I've been contentedly browsing them.

Ds's dummy got lost on Christmas morning so it will remain lost he's managing without it!

I'm not going to get any child free time until 11 January so no sales for me, which is probably for the best

Morning All - glad you liked the joke.

Ipsos I haven't forgotten the recipes - I am off to London for 4 days so will do it when I get home. I won't have any internet. . Do you think this will be a good defence for when I do damage to my family?

North having seen the devestation in Cumbria my heart goes out to you. I hope you get the help you need if you get flooded. I will email colleagues so we can spread good practice methodology for flood response in our sector to the on the ground practitioners as quickly as possible.

Uurrgh, been awake loads in the night (often happens after overindulging) I've been passing the time by planning healthy frugal soups! And also calculating how to spend more time at home next Christmas.

I have a frugal aibu - I feel like my mum bought way too many presents for DD. I know this sounds massively ungrateful but it's annoyed me for a few reasons 1) me and dh have consciously chosen to not go ott so that DD doesn't become 'spoilt' (she's only 3 ffs!!) 2) we did a lovely stocking, two main presents and some essentials (pants, vests, socks etc) but compared to my mum's two massive sackfuls it looked a bit paltry! 3) we don't want the day to be just about presents and ended up saving half of them for yesterday as we wanted time to play games and go for a walk etc. I will speak to my mum about it in the new year but I feel bad as I know she gets a lot of joy from choosing/buying things through the year.

Hmm tricky. What sorts of things did she buy her?

Hoping for another nsd today. I'm shopping list planning. And am pinteresting soups and exciting salads for lunches when I'm back at work.

Was supposed to be going out riding today but my face still hurts. So cancelled yesterday and am staying in.

Dh is convinced we're inviting people round for a party tonight. But I'm holding off. Still feeling utterly rubbish and can't sneak off to bed if we have people over. Trying to persuade him to go out instead.