Festive Frugaleers - Chatting and saving through Christmas.

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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.

Em I wasn't even drinking! Apparently a lot of them were still going at 2am this morning

I love airports but not when you're delayed...what time is the flight? How far are you from the airport and who are you flying with? Also who is striking? Our usual when flying is to check the bags in the day before then when we get to the airport on the day of he flight we can just go straight to security then to a restaurant for breakfast/lunch/dinner. Depending on if it's long or short haul sometimes we don't have time for much more!

£67.99 food shopping. That included some bits for Christmas though (ready made red cabbage, crackers, wine, kids cereal as a treat, Yule log, smoked cheese, posh ready made gravy, ice cream, sausage meat and packet stuffing). Meal plan:

S: pizza
S: out in London
M: pasta bolognese
T: butter chicken with popadoms
W: open chicken fajitas
T: tuna pasta bake
F: real chicken nuggets and chips

So I think I did quite well

Spendy morning here so far
€10 DS haircut
€23 Aldi
€45 DS shoes
€24 deli on pork and apple burgers for dinner and some bits to bring when paying Christmas visits today.

Yes, you're spot on with location mammy; that's very interesting re gas tanks, I think the problem is that the gas itself is very expensive, more expensive than electrical heating I read yesterday, but I think some of what I found online may be out of date so will keep researching

John lewis got my order right! Woohoo. That's it all done now and I have enough wrapping paper to get finished before ds finishes school. That's a pretty good outcome I think.

Frugaleer result today! Bought ds boots last week & the laces gave after a day, called into to pick up an online order & mentioned it & got a new pair of boots to the value of last pair plus got to keep them so just need to get new laces & he has three pairs of footwear for €30!!

No builders today. YAY.
Cold and miserable here although I am told it is officially mild. Doesn't feel mild to me.
Going to go out and buy a Christmas tree. A real planted one.
Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Unescorted hope strike is sorted before you travel

Frugal win, town was so busy that there was no parking so I only picked up cushions €350
Went to dunnes & bought dhs three sister in laws gifts €60

Means tomorrow is going to be busy finishing off & going to dds show.

One of my nails chipped quite badly so off to get repair work done on that & possibly get diesel too

Wreck I think you can be hungover with tiredness too. Can you come to eat in your house this week, sounds yummy.

Riding done.

The fog has gotten worse. Was in the sand school and could see if rolling in. By the time the lesson had finished I couldn't see to the other end. Ridiculous.

No flights in it out today. No newspapers. No post.

Hi all, I quite like the fog em gives everything a slightly spooky look!

Have ended up looking after my 7yo nephew today, his brother is ill so am helping out as he was going stir crazy at home! Ended up taking them to a paint your own pottery place which they enjoyed and have made some Christmas presents, cost £20.

Braved it and went round Morrisons, was a bit of a nightmare with both of them and my nephew is a 'runner' so ended up dashing around and chucking bits in the trolley, not very frugal! Spent £38 which includes a big box of washing powder and some cleaning bits, will need to check what food we have and see if it will eek out till next wend.

Home now, they are watching Peter Pan and I am having a will wrap some presents this arvo I think.........

Oh and spent £82 this morning on 6 riding lessons for dd, used the money my mum gave me and it works out at just over £13 a lesson so worth doing.

My account is looking so sorry for itself though have about £30 to last until Christmas eve!

Have you everything & everyone sorted out for Christmas now girlie
I'm going to be wrapping today & tonight too. Think dh has an outdoor job for us though

I think so manmy!! This week should be fairly cheap, not planning on doing anything expensive anyway!!

The airport is about 14 miles. Apparently it is bagage handlers, check in and cargo handlers with Unite union. It is a faff, but it is important that people have the right to withdraw labour. I can't imagine how awful it would get for people if that was taken away.

I don't know how I have managed it, but I have spent £106 in Aldi. That is a lot more than normal, but I noticed things like meat, vegetables sugar, butter and bread have started creeping up in price. Some luxury things might have jumped in the trolley too..... and it was bonkers full so I just threw stuff in without keeping a tally.

Can you travel with hand baggage only? Is quite close so you can leave nearer the departure time and if you do et help up you won't feel like you're hanging around so long.

Oh thanks mammy I struggle to think of things this time of year for meals plus we get so busy we need quick things really!

Unfortunately not - the bikes are coming too and although it is 14 miles it can take an hour and a half because of the traffic. We will just take books, drawing things and a pack up dinner. The kids can watch the places take off. With a bit of luck it won't happen - they are going to ACAS to see if it can be resolved.

Sorry for the 'pop in' rather than the full read, it's certainly 'that time of year', folks.

Just alerting you guys to the fact that the Boden sale starts tomorrow. I know it's expensive stuff, but I also know that you guys like the odd nice piece of childrens clothing too.

Hopefully acas will be able to find a solution, it's actually quite mean of them to do this to people at Christmas.

£16 cleanser, 8% cashback.
£3 lunch.

need it's all Boden stuff right? Not just kids?

Think so Em, from the flyer I got this morning. I've already ripped it up sadly, so can't check.

Updated spends:
€3 coffee

Hopefully the strike will be called off before you travel unescorted, I'm sure the strikers are hoping so too.

£68 the shopping came in at, got lots of freebies from sainsburys including the animation kit from the advert.
Lunch was a roaring success and it was great to see everyone. Do pleased i held out for my dinner table too as it sat 9 with room to spare.
Dc zonked now.
I need to wrap but cba tonight, will do it tomorrow

And I'm party ready. Black shirt Dress with a gazillion sequins. Black tights and heels. And have finally used eyeshadow in one of the many pallets I have. Eyes are sparkly and purply.

I had a mare with false lashes. So have thrown them away. Bloody difficult things.

Dinner/drinks tonight is free up until coffee is served. Then we are on our own. Dh doesn't want to have a late one as he was out last night so we may ditch after dinner (after the first couple to go....we don't want to be first!)

Em I can't do false lashes either, although I'm pretty lucky with mine anyway.

Dh out tonight and staying at his friends (who is female, am I the coolest wife ever?! ) so I'll probably get an early night after I've been through the mountains of washing and tidied etc. Off to London tomorrow as its his birthday. I've booked Bella italia and exchanged enough club card vouchers to give us £60 to spend in there.

I've had both dc in bed asleep since 6:30 they haven't made a peep, they only act up for Dh!

Em, enjoy the party.
I also have presents to wrap and can't be bothered. And now I have a tree to decorate.
I wasn't going to bother with a tree this year as they are so expensive but the DGCs are coming on Boxing Day, so needs must.

Best wife wreck I always think I can do lashes. Then fail.

I really should practice more. Same with hair. I'm rubbish at hair. I wanted a fancy style tonight but forgot to choose one and practice. So beachy waves. also ran out of time to wash it and the pony gave it a lick...