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.

I want abs of steel, unfortunately I need to sort out my jelly pelvic floor first.
Well done need, you girl.
Lunch was lovely. £11 in the range and £48 in the range

Dd is ill. Sore throat, headache and temperature this morning which has quickly progressed to wheezing, sore throat and fever this afternoon. She's been asleep for an hour now. If I listen to her chest I can here creps in the lower lungs. On the plus side I've got loads of housework done!

Girlie, the charm will turn up, I promise. It will just turn up when you least expect it and are not looking for it.

Hope your DD is ok wrecked.

Brilliant news about the babies Snuggly

I can't get into herbal tea Bertie, I wish I could. Love my coffee, but do drink shed loads of water.

Thanks, Life.

Just been out for a 3 miles walk with the dogs. Having a cuppa, then going training with DD and the pony. Will be back about 10 pm. Full of cold but ignoring it and carrying on with Lemsip as my BFF.

House is chock full of food, Ocado have delivered. January will be about reducing the stockpile.

Lovely news, Snerd.

Just been out for a 2 mile walk to get some fresh air, as I've been in the house since 7 p.m. on Tuesday and I feel LOADS better for it. It's amazing how something as simple as a half hour walk can boost your mood so much!

I'm with you there Creme, fresh air and gentle exercise. Amazing how these things contribute to our well being so much.

And so the argument about who will stay home tomorrow to look after dd begins... My mum (understandably) doesn't want to

Oh no wreck, hope dd gets better soon.
I'm on ab after going to dr yesterday. £16.80 lighter, chest infection.

Looking at new washers as ours is on its last legs. £400 ish. Will hang on for sales next week.

Oh yes, I remember those arguments discussions well Wrecked. One big advantage of taking a break from work.

If I have abs they are very well hidden. And likely to remain so for a long time.

Good news about the babies Snuggly. Do you know what gender they are? Are they identical or fraternal twins?

I have been faffing around making lasagne from scratch for DH and myself (a joyless cheese-free one as DH is totally unreasonable about cheese - I will drown my bit in cheese later) and also little ones for DS for tonight and the freezer. I made way too much bol sauce so will have to freeze some. DS has just looked at his and said 'I don't like lasagne'. I said it is just pasta and sauce (pretty much the only thing he eats)... ' I don't like pasta and sauce'. GRRR YES YOU DO! Someone is going to be hungry .

I resisted eating his dinner as well as my own later

My dd is like that sea. She doesn't like lasange so I spoon out some bolognaise before I make it up and give her the exact thing we have with spaghetti.

Good news about the scan

I find that I read books now I have the kindle app on my iPhone. I've just downloaded the new Ian Mcewan.

Spendy day. Next sale and i am about to go and get my hair cut. Trying to grown out a pixie cut and it looks awful.

DD is like that too Seacow, she says she doesn't like something that she ate happily the day before!
They are fraternal twins, we don't know the sexes. Have another scan in 2 weeks, I think 2017 will see a lot of spending on parking at the hospital!

Mummy i love that you can read on app & then pick up kindle next time and carry on where you left off!!

Girlie is bracelet missing since house move or more recently?

Wreck bet your dh thinks his work is more important

Yes, hospital parking. I will need to go a lot for monitoring because I am old and also a bit fat . Annoyingly they don't take bloods at my community hospital anymore, I have to go to the proper maternity unit. £2.50 for 10 mins parking every time, grr.

DS did eat a bit of the pasta after carefully removing any hint of mince or vegetable that might have been adhering to it

Of course he does mammy! They're just always so busy and it's only him and his boss and he did the last sick day (true). But work is something I love and it keeps me sane. I only get to go in a couple of times a week and I actually look forward to it!

Oh no Wreck.

Need so jealous of your abs. I have been for a winter walk today.

Girlie have you asked at the police station? Someone may have handed it in?

£60 food shop, inc £20 on a massive cooked ham. Just need to collect the turkey tomorrow and we're good for Christmas!

I use the Goodreads app too. My goal was 24 this year which I have met.

need I'm jealous of abs. I have an ab. One giant ab. I dream of having defined abs. I'm sure they're under the layer of cake and biscuits though. 2017 - gym more.

snuggly great news

I made it for lunch phew and have just tumbled home. Three glasses of wine and 4 g&ts. Dh made me cheese toasties and has packed me off to bed with a huge glass of water.

We started at 2. So I did pace myself. I'm expecting to feel rough tomorrow though.

And work paid for everything. The drinks after lunch I paid for but can claim those back on expenses.

Hope so Need have now looked through my bedroom, dds bedroom, the living room, the kitchen and under the stairs! Dd thinks she can def remember looking at it in her new bedroom I honestly can't remember the last time I saw it. Am annoyed with myself for not being more careful with it and am annoyed with my mum for giving it to dd! At the time I thought it was too valuable to give a 10yo responsibility for.

Oh well, will keep looking, some boxes of stuff got put in the loft so might have a look up there.... am also wondering about contacting the charity shop we donate to incase it accidentally got donated. Wilderness I'm hoping its lost in the house somewhere!

Sorry to here your dd is poorly Wreck not great before a long bank holiday wend!

Great news that the babies are doing well snuggly so exciting! Is fraternal non identical? I can never remember!

We had a nice afternoon (in-between looking for the sodding bracelet) mostly watching telly and eating chocolate to lesson my parent guilt at way too much screen time and sugar we played battleships as well and I got a puzzle out to do tomorrow

How are all the frugaleers? Just one day left in work - roll on 3 p.m. tomorrow! I think I'll come home tomorrow and just crash.

DH has gone to do the big grocery shop and I'm waiting for him to come home so I can help unpack it all. All of the presents are bought now except for a box of choccies for DH. Most of the presents are wrapped and sitting under the tree and it all looks very exciting - even though I've wrapped them all and I know what's in all the gift bags .

Spends today -

€10 for 6 gift bags at a city centre market stall

€30 gift card for godson

€10 gift card for nephew (part of his present)

€30 for a Judy Blume book set for DD. It should have been more but the shop assistant couldn't find a euro price sticker on it, just the sterling price (£30). She consulted with someone else and they agreed to sell it for the same price in euros (€30).

I also got some hair bits in Claire's Accessories but I can't remember how much and I'm too lazy to go looking for the receipt. They had a special offer so I got 6 items for the price of 3 items.

A spendy day all in. Good thing it's pay day.

Frugal win - DH won €200 in a draw at work!

I'd better go empty the fridge in anticipation of filling it when DH comes back. Let's hope there are no mouldy bits of veg lurking in the depths of the veg compartments.

I'll come back tomorrow or Saturday for a proper catch up with all you lovely ladies before the big day.

at Em and her one ab and even more at the wine and gin. I can relate so much. Good call of your DH, water and food and sleep. Enjoy your child free days Em!

Am very full of cold and ignoring it probably won't last much longer.

Girlie You are a good parent, I promise!

at abs of steel. I miss my steel core from Pilates.

Mammy hope you got that tooth sorted.

great news about the babies snuggly

Girlie I'm sure it turn up as need says.

Teddy is home again but going in again tomorrow for dressing change. They did it today without sedation but tomorrow they will also try to do something where the bone us exposed so will use full anasthetic. Then he might go onto redressing every 48 hours, depending.

I'm coming down with a cold. Tomorrow I am collecting the turkey from Sainsbo's, plus a couple of odd bits.

Sorry to hear about the lurgy Wrecked. Sending healing vibes.

Wow! Christmas that is a lot for ten minutes parking. Presumably it doesn't go up to £5 for twenty minutes does it?

We're pottering along nicely here. Ds has a bit of a cold starting, but we have been out for long walks in the sunshine on both of the last two days. I had cheap toys to play with, to keep him busy - a magic drawing slate, and a cardboard construction to make. It's all lead to a very peaceful time so far, which is very nice. Hoping the next two are the same.

Tooth sorted had to wait for anaesthetic to fully wear off to see if that was the issue and it was.

In true frugaleer style I'm saving fuel today. Need to collect au pairs car in town later, this would mean leaving my car at work until tomo. Instead I'm driving to our local village & getting a lift with a work colleague instead. This will be more convenient & means 4 miles instead of 18

Tayto I'm also working until about 3 today can't come quickly enough! Off until Jan 3rd.

Adora that's great news about teddy

We seem to have acquired a second cat! Will ask around as she/he is well cared for. Currently dining with our Tom anyhow.

Wreck who's staying home?

I twitched and bought dh a rugby top online last night, it might not be delivered to store today, cut off is 7pm I ordered at 7.15pm, status is released for delivery, if it isn't I will purchase another & return this one when it arrives. I will keep it to see if he has twitched also & if he hasn't it will be a Father's Day gift

Need to buy 7up for mixers
I'm eating supper out tonight with my bff at work, we're the only female employees
We will eat out tomo as a family
We're hosting dss his wife & two children & other dss for Christmas Day
Dsd has invited us all for buffet dinner on Boxing Day.
On 27th we're meeting friends at garden centre for lunch approx cost €50 (was €48.20 there on Sunday)
28th dinner at home & 29th going to visit my parents for a few days

Foreman at work gave me one of our company branded regatta gilet yesterday that he ordered in specially for me, it's fab.

Contractors gave me €50 SuperValu voucher, €50 restaurant voucher, box of ferrero rocher, bottle of brandy, whiskey, 1 red & 1 white wine & €300 cash. People are incredibly generous as I'm the one who shares out the workload. I pride myself on being fair & the guy who gives me no gift at all will get similar amount of work as the guy who gave me €250.

Hate paying hospital parking, I think you should pay going in but once you have an appointment then be refunded & only people using car park for visiting then would pay

Just about to head off to do the Xmas food shop. Our list is longer than I expected due to suddenly deciding to host a big family party on the 27th. Wish me luck!

I do not envy you Snuggly

CRT ha no it isn't £5 for 20 mins but £2.50 for up to 2 hours. No shorter and cheaper ticket available. Of course phlebotomy could take 2hours which is why I get there the minute they open 😉

My to-do list is massive - cleaning, lots of cooking and a small shop locally for fruit etc (Ocado is coming this morning but I always buy fruit on my local high st). Not sure how I am going to get it all done as I am really tired these days.

Today: clean fridge, bathrooms and vacuum whole house. Make fudge, fish pie and Yule log. Shop. Iron napkins and giant tablecloth which has been in the ironing basket since new year

DH will be home by 4ish so that will help. Even more cooking tomorrow.... ug.