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.

We need to buy new curtains today. I've seen two I like but can't decide between the two colours. I hate my house I swear nothing could ever make it look nice. New curtains will help though

Okay. :-) I'd like to stay on the chat one please.

Ooops x post.

Yes the earlier threads were more money focused. I like the money focus but I also find the chat hugely helpful. I'd be sad to see the money focus go entirely to a new thread, as I'd then have much less in common with the people that I so much enjoy chatting with. Tricky!

Maybe we could all just make a bit more effort to discuss money again? One thing I find difficult is that this thread is about saving money, but that means that it's also a bit about spending money. If some of us are in a spending place (e.g. my house fixing) while others are in a debt-clearing mega-saving place then we can feel as if we are running against the tide. Also there are some of us on here with much larger or smaller budgets for various things.

I find that often I am biting my tongue on money issues just because I'm not too sure how to avoid putting my foot in it. Not sure if there's a way round that but I just thought I'd put it out there in case others are finding that tricky.

The curtains look lovely spotty. I like the brown ones.

I think naturally the start of the new year will bring us back into focus as we discuss are goals and things. It would be good to perhaps try a little harder to set some monthly goals for myself too, X number of no spend days, y amount left at the end of the month.

I think what is right and we will get the "old" focus back in the new year with links and stuff if required. Keep the one with both chat and goals seems to be the consensus, on the limited sample so far,

Right I will do my goals for January and any bigger year goals is week.

Ipsos we do all have different reasons for being on here, and different budgets, but don't feel you have to bite your tongue. Those differences means we can bring different perspectives to each other's money matters. I'm a tough old boot who is not easily offended anyway.

This week not is week

Sounds good babs

My monthly financial goals help me loads.

£15 in Dunelm yesterday. We frittered. And I'm a bit annoyed at ourselves for doing so.

NSD today!! It has to be. Grrrr.

Also going to take note of renewal dates etc for 2016 in January! I will not miss out on good deals and Quidco etc.

Welcome back bantam! Challenges are great and I don't think the 'credit crunch' area would suffer for them...I'm certainly going to be setting myself more mini-challenges and monthly goals in the new year.

Ipsos you've summed it up for me really well there. 2015 for me has been nothing but spending, first with my wedding, now with house renovations, however I'm still trying to do both as frugally as possible and am proud to say that so far I haven't used any credit for either (largely thanks to threads like this and watching every penny for the 3 years previous). I find it hard on a day when I've ordered a squillion pounds worth of door knobs from screw-fix to see the value of making a sandwich in the building site rather than going out to the local cafe. Knowing that you lot will give me a high-5 for doing just that is priceless

Ursula I know just what you mean. :-) I also find that the group really helps.

My frugal dilemma today is a really weird one that I would not normally mention but I will today as it shows range of questions that can be involved in frugaleering.

I've been saving for the best part of 20 years to buy camera equipment to do really great macro photography. I just got a camera flash for my Christmas that I hoped would complete the set so I could get the shot that I've wanted all these years. However, the arrival of the flash has shown me that the lens that I saved so hard for in the previous years is really not giving me enough magnification.

I'm now on an entirely different online forum elsewhere trying to work out if I should resell this expensive lens and replace it with a complex arrangement of microscope objectives and zoom lens and adapter. It's all careful pricing online and comparing specifications and a bit of guesswork about the quality of the optics. It's such a tricky one and so frustrating when I thought I was so close. It's all still frugaleering though, in spite of the large-ish price tag. I'm so grateful that ebay allows us to swap equipment like this when we realise we got something not quite right.

babs gets the prize for the best word of the day in 'shlep'.

Interesting talk last night about chat/budgeting. I like both aspects of the thread to be honest, and it seems to suit, given how fast it moves. How about as a thread New Year Resolution, we aim to steer it back a bit to financial matters?

I personally found your post above ipsos really interesting, even if I have no pointers or suggestions about what you might do. But I find people interesting too, so that shows me a side to you I didn't know. You would seem to have saved hard for the lens, which shows frugal planning, whatever the budget.

Monthly challenges and goals for me too. That will be for other stuff as well as financial. New Year is a great focussing tool.

Today I have to get my phone repaired, as the screen is completely red. This will be a business cost, as it's a business phone. I will also use the opportunity to exchange a pair of Vans for DS and 2 sweatshirts while I am there. I have a pile of spare change, so will (sort of) consider parking free and if I spend, it will be on half price wrapping paper and cards/crackers.

Someone mentioned up thread about crackers. I bought good quality ones, full price, from M&S and they were rubbish, frugal fail.

DH has said he will make turkey broth for tea. He won't, he's not up yet, and didn't get the leftover turkey out of the freezer last night. I didn't remind him, I always remind him, but sometimes he needs to see why you do have to plan!

I haven't bought anything in the sale, and don't need to, so since Christmas, we have been pretty frugal indeed, I think we bought a box of Weetabix.

bantam, I really enjoyed your contributions, so please stay.

Also, we all have different budgets, and different financial goals. I think we can all help each other because of this. I won't pretend we are on the breadline, we are not, but it doesn't stop trying to be savvy with money and find good deals. Sometimes, you guys make me realise how lucky we are, and I am grateful for that.

fluffy I did exactly the same as you last year, and exchanged 2 coats that DH got me for exactly the same coats, but half price in the sale. I talked to him before I did it, but the difference was £150 total, it was stupid not to.

Lastly, I have to read my meters today, and chase up my final bill from the previous provider. The heating has only been on when the timer clicks on, and at no other time, so I am hoping the winter months will be reasonably cheap, we have an energy efficient house, if not energy efficient teenagers.

It's a real eye opener to me need to realise that people who enter the horse of the year show have to scrimp to do so. I find it very healthy on here that I get to learn about the frugality of people who have lots of money and those who have very little.

I'm constantly surprised at friends of mine in RL who buy almost nothing for their children including almost no Christmas presents, but then send them to mega-expensive (£15k a year) private schools. People have such different priorities.

I think it's great that we learn from each other on this thread. I do know that I'm inclined to witter though. I'll try to reign it in. :-)

My goal for 2016 is to save £10 000. Proper frugal year. Works out at about £800 a month. Last year I've been able to put aside £500 by tightening the belt and keeping a beady eye on every penny, the challenge is the extra £300. Which, more likely than not, means overtime.
Oh, I'm going to be a bundle of fun, aren't I?

So: new clothes and shoes are out for a year.
No holiday this summer, well, not one paid by me, anyway. We'll do the British thing, beach, picnics and then I'll have a nervous breakdown due to lack of sun and get the first plane out of Heathrow. I've done this before. But not this time. I can do it for one year, I can!

So, an extra £300 a month, how do I get this?
I'll register with quidco, but I won't be spending, really. My credit card gives cash back as well.
I'll look at utilities.
My car insurance should be absolutely minimal in march, so a bit of saving there.
I meal plan and budget, so that's under control.

I'm kondo-ing, so rather than charity, I'll attempt to sell, even if it's for £1.

Right. January goal £800 in savings and 15 NSD (10 NSD from my account, 5 from joint account).

ipsos. Higher incomes usually mean higher outgoings, generally anyway! You have to pay for the 'honour' of competing at HOYS. There's a lot of money in the equestrian world, but far more folk doing it on a budget.

Yes, I haven't ever considered private education, but I am socialist generally by nature. I am also aware that my view is likely tainted by the fact my DC are lucky enough to be able to attend an outstanding state school. Marginally concerned that they will not be 'polished' enough to impress a red brick university, but I'll cross that bridge when we get to it, and they are lovely, well rounded kids anyway, even with strong Yorkshire accents

My goals for 2016 (financial goals) have £30k in savings by the end of the year. Both dh and I have separate savings ac. So between us it should be doable.

Need to get back on meal planning, and being a bit more frugal with shopping.

Also need to be stricter with lunch at work. Pack ups every day.

There is one benefit to dh buying ridiculous slow cooker/pressure cooker/steamer/rice cooker/7 pot wonder machine. Two slow cookers. So we can batch cook more effectively. I think.

So. No shopping for things unless I need them. Make lists. Sell more stuff on eBay. still intending to move house next year so the more stuff I can get rid of the better

I was given vouchers for stores for Christmas so can get myself new clothes (once I've worked out what I need).

Can you sell bras on eBay? And would you?

allguns no new clothes/shoes until 2017....?!

Does that mean you're stocking up between now and 2016??

don't know, but bras are the one thing I do need! So I mist buy them before January

Haha, see?!
I shouldn't need anything bar the bras. Really.

There will be loads of people coming on after new year anyway so it will have to be more factual.

I think that if one of us has an idea we ought to say so though because the others might not have thought of it and it's helpful.

My resolutions for 2016 are a bit harder to pin down. I've realised since I joined the frugaleers that I am probably naturally a total scrooge very frugal, but also really a bit of a martyr. I haven't been looking after myself and that is not working out well for my family.

So my resolution is to pace myself better every day, and spend enough on myself to feel that my workload is feasible. I also want to make sure that I am nicely turned out clothes-wise, while also being sure not to fritter money on other things (ds and gadgets).

I'm also going to keep trying to improve our house so that it is a nice place to live that supports the family cheerfulness. Fixing up our hallway this year has made a huge difference to everybody and I think the garden is probably next. (Currently a sea of mud).

One dilemma is that I cut back hard on home education materials last year and not found cheaper alternatives, so that ds spends a lot of time on his computer instead of doing proper activities with me. I need to look at that this year too.

Lump of coal anyone?

OK. I need to pay for the remaining house renevations aka decorating and a new door. Also required is a new dining suite and when DD shuffles from this mortal coil a new sofa and living room carpet. That pluss dh wants a foreign holiday which will be about 3k and the kids want to go to London. Does anyone know where I can get the best beans?

I would never do private education even if I had the money but we are fortunate to have excellent schools. I would move house intp exensive catchment over private schools.

£42 in sainsburys on a top up shop. No IKEA today kids want to.go swimming so we are waiting for the £8 family swim

Ok so £85.98 in home base on new curtains and a new bin (got a curver one after seeing you guys talk about them on here)

£38.50 in John Lewis on a wooden chopping board, new oven gloves, two oven trays (all much needed) and three Christmas decs. One is a little led light up house which was only £2! I love it and was looking at it before Christmas.