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Festive Frugaleers - Chatting and saving through Christmas.

981 replies

CathodeRayTube · 09/12/2016 11:35

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread grin

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

www.quidco.com/home/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
Girliefriendlikesflowers · 16/12/2016 17:44

Hey everyone, nice to see you 8 that amount of work sounds very knackering!! I have finished today for a week and am so glad, these last few days have been a slog tbh, am ready to catch up on some sleep and have some time with dd.

Cag glad the appointment went well and well done on the bargain clothes.

LSD £2 on sweets and a local paper.

Tryingtosaveup · 16/12/2016 17:58

Just had to go out. Didn't need anything but couldn't stay in.
Water off as plumber installing shower. So heating off
Electric off as electrician installing lights.
Had plumber, electrician and builder here banging, drilling and generally knocking about. With front door open and windows in bathroom and ensuite open to keep dust down.
Had to go out.
So went to Waterstones and now have a lot less money.
So went into pound land and bought chocolate.

CathodeRayTube · 16/12/2016 18:19

Gosh that's a tricky one Trying. How long until they are finished?

OP posts:
Cagliostro · 16/12/2016 18:30

Yippee I finally found a dinosaur tshirt in DD's size 😍

mammymammyIRL · 16/12/2016 19:05

Bertie going by prices you're paying for things I'm guessing you're in Ireland? Some gas companies last year were paying for your tank to be installed worth checking out, it seems to be instant heat.

I went to an expensive garden centre cafe today for lunch with friends & picked up some great bargain fleeces for presents & for dc for Christmas down from €28 each to 2 for €21, bought four.
Brought ds's lunch home as he didn't touch it in the cafe.

Been out all day, will catch up with everyone tonight. I had today off I work about 48 hours every week.
Today was so lovely and took half day last Friday too & have decided to take a half day every six weeks next year for myself & appointments & having lunches out or reading a book in a cafe just for me Smile it's 3.5 days out of 23 holidays.

ememem84 · 16/12/2016 19:09

Yippee £3.05 cashback is payable!!!

£11 eyebrow wax ouch
£10 poinsettia for dm as a thanks for feeding me this evening.

Tryingtosaveup · 16/12/2016 20:11

CRT they tell me they will finish the ensuite on Tuesday then it will need tiling which they will start next week
Bathroom just needs a cupboard in which is on order.
Then will just need decorating.
Cloakroom is finished except for decorating.
Ensuite will be in January.
At least I will have a functioning bathroom for Christmas.
.And I am not decorating til it's all finished. No point.
Bloody good job I have been saving though.

CremeEggThief · 16/12/2016 20:12

NSD. Busy day, as I had a lot of admin, paperwork and phone calls (my pet hate) to make, so hope to start the new year more organised. I've also wrapped all of our presents; placed our Christmas food order with Sainsburys, coming on the 23rd; done 3 loads of laundry, including DS's stinky blazer; and worked out finances until January.

Trying, you deserve those books and that chocolate, for putting up with all those tradesmen at once, in this chilly weather. Hope they get finished quickly.

Mammy, great idea to book those half days in. You won't know yourself!

Everyone at work do, enjoy yourselves.Wine

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 16/12/2016 20:15

Managed to completely embarrass myself by taking the bins out tonight, got it into my head it was collection day tomorrow. Its not, Monday is collection day.

Said hello to my neighbour and wondered why he looked at me like this Hmm I think tiredness is getting to me so safest place for me is bed Grin

mammymammyIRL · 16/12/2016 20:37

Delighted with my frugaleering, last year in easons sale I bought school Christmas card set with 30 cards for children plus a teacher one for €1/€1.50 down from €2.99 just pulled it out tonight when dh was talking about purchasing a few packs of cards for dd!

Also reporting that the copy Starbucks lemon loaf recipe from 12 Tomatoes is fabulous, having never had the Starbucks version I can't comment on how it compares. All cheap ingredients too.

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2016 21:53

£10 cat meds
£1 work stuff
£20 whisky
£2 lunch.

mammymammyIRL · 16/12/2016 22:06

Oh girlie Blush
Wow creme you weren't idle!! I did two washes but waiting until tomo to hang out as it was dark when we were home. Was thinking about finances a bit while driving today. Think ynab averages & known expenses are how I'm going to budget for next year. I started in mid April so that should give me a good budget to work with.

I have delivery booked for Dec 21st but haven't order done yet.

Trying wow that's a lot of stuff going on today, definitely chocolate was deserved
Em waxing always hurts more at tom Angry
8 welcome back, interesting about Ocado working out better for you. At this time of year I always contemplate switching to a monthly shop.

Everyone enjoy works dos tonight & this weekend. I'm currently cozied up in bed mumsnetting & expect to be asleep by 10.30 another busy day planned tomorrow Smile

Cagliostro · 16/12/2016 23:12

Small fortune spent on Tesco delivery for Sunday. Got DSCs coming later in the week so with DSS' GF that's 4 extra hungry adults to feed! Can't wait though. Tree is up now - I played carols on the piano while DH and the Caglets did it. Feeling properly festive now!

ChristmasSeacow · 16/12/2016 23:43

That sounds so lovely Cag. I'd love to be able to play the piano. Must dig out my carols CD, I much prefer it to most of the Christmas pop. Probably because it takes me right back and gives me the chance to murder the descant

It sounds as though a lot of people are feeling the fatigue now - it's a relief to get to the end of term and for the madness of Christmas prep to be nearly over. I really don't envy you Trying for living in a dusty building site at the time of year - we had major garden works underway this time last year, but wth all access through the house and it was horrible. Permanently filthy and freezing. I am sure I will envy the finished product though Wink

I've been reading but not posting for a few days - just getting over my cold and trying to get on top of various chores. I am feeling much better now and also think my vague pregnancy queasiness is subsiding. I am still much more fussy about food than normal though - just not fancying the stuff I would normally eat and not interested enough to think of anything else. Right now I could live off crunchy nut cornflakes for 3 meals a day (odd as I am usually not a fan of cereal and find those in particular too sweet). I hope the fatigue lifts next and then I can get some stuff done for a few months before I get too huge and lumbering to be useful.

I have mostly finished with the presents and the Christmas food ordering now, apart from some stuff I will try to pick up fresh next week, like avocados. That's a huge relief as I was really getting a bit stressed about it! I had a big wrapping session yesterday and broke the back of it, one more long evening should mostly finish it off. I am not quite sure what to do for the nursery staff though. DS has a 1:1 helper for 5 hours each day and that is such an important relationship, and she is lovely. I therefore feel I should get her something decent so DS made her a card and I bought her a bottle of champagne (I don't know her on a personal level but figure everyone can use champagne at Christmas, even if just to take to a get-together). But then I feel his key worker shouldn't get a lesser gift because she also goes out of her way for him and I don't want her to feel that I don't recognise that just because he has a 1:1. So will probably do that for both of them. A bit extravagant but their support is making a big difference.

I have lost all sight of spend this week and would be too embarrassed to confess even if I did know - least said soonest mended! After Christmas I will start properly monitoring my spends.

WreckTangled · 16/12/2016 23:50

Back from Christmas works do. Didn't spend a penny Xmas Smile the urology team from the local hospital was there too and OMG they are a crazy bunch. Especially one of the top consultants. Younger than I imagined and off his face rather lively. I drive so only had one small glass of wine with my meal.

ememem84 · 17/12/2016 00:03

Good work wreck. I've just picked dh up from his. He's merry. But not too much.

He's made cheese on toast. And we're in bed eating it with tea. Best midnight snacks.

Cagliostro · 17/12/2016 01:08

Oh I love a descant Seacow it's the most festive thing! I'm an alto though sadly.

It's living the dream though, carols on the piano with people singing. There always has to be at least one silly version that DH improvises, it's become a tradition in itself. Xmas Grin We didn't do very well with 12 Days this time either, I'm sure there were about a million Maids a Milking. Always fun trying to keep up though!

Wreck :o :o :o at not spending a penny and meeting urologists

I was supposed to be wrapping presents tonight but I'm quite worn out after wandering around town. Oops. Concert tomorrow, very exciting!

Oh and I have two new pupils starting in new year :) yay!

WreckTangled · 17/12/2016 06:21

It's funny Cag because I read letters from consultants all the time so it's nice to put a face to the name. They're wild though.

Not much sleep here but food shopping is being delivered so that's good.

CathodeRayTube · 17/12/2016 06:40

Trying well done for putting up with all that. I'm sure it will be wonderful when it's finished.

I'm being a bit brave and trying a new food that isn't in my exclusion diet today. Very exciting indeed as it's fortified and it would so excellent if it worked. I have my fingers crossed.

John lewis are sending more gift wrap, but apparently now sending two lots instead of just the one they owe me. This is so much fun.

Wreck that's hilarious to know that consultants are wild. I had no idea. Smile

OP posts:
lifelongfrugaleer · 17/12/2016 07:11

Shopping coming today £80 ish.
£10 football as there is a raffle.
Dd and ds both had joint sleepover, first one at our house and so far so good. Spendy yesterday though getting bits for it and mcd for supper.
Friends coming for lunch so more spends there. Doing a big chilli.

SnugglySnerd · 17/12/2016 08:17

Cag I was banned from the piano a few Christmases ago after my mum and I had one too many sherries and murdered all the carols before attempting a difficult arrangement of Rudolph. I think the neighbours were unimpressed! I can play The Snowman really well though so maybe I should just stick to that!!
£15 last night on end of term takeaway. Also £45 on cc for DH's gift. He wanted new trainers as his are falling apart. He'd have bought them anyway so it's not really like spending any extra money! Hoping for NSD today, I don't think we have any plans to go anywhere or buy anything!

ememem84 · 17/12/2016 08:24

I've just got up to feed catface an hour late,she was not happy and opened curtains. It is ridiculously foggy here.

£25 riding today then it's my works do tonight.

WreckTangled · 17/12/2016 08:29

Foggy here too. I'm knackered can't cope on five hours sleep Xmas Blush

ememem84 · 17/12/2016 09:36

Cheese toast at midnight would have fixed you wreck remember that next time. Xmas Wink

Unescorted · 17/12/2016 10:10

It is foggy here too.
I have no energy to do anything this weekend, but I need to get some food to take us up to 23rd (did I tell you we are going away Grin) and some for when we get back. I also need to clean the midden of a house.

It is sods law - the first time I have been overseas in 6 years and there is a check in staff and bagage handlers strike planned. Any tips for passing time in an airport is greatfully recieved.

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