Festive Frugaleers - Chatting and saving through Christmas.

[CathodeRayTube]

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.

Have been chatting to dh this morning. And next years financial resolutions are:

• account to be overdrawn no more than twice in the year. (Ideally no times...)
• save more for Christmas 2017
• keep 3 months salary savings aside/3 months worth of mortgage payments aside
• no unnecessary spending
• buy new house....

£55 lidl (including nice desserts for tomorrow and some cheese and crackers for Christmas)
£13 wilko on two more Christmas presents, some Christmas cards and shampoo and conditioner.

Only one more present to get and I know what I'm getting just need the money!

That's what I love about scheduled transactions in ynab em no surprises like that!

We have saved for Christmas every year for about six years now & it's great. Great you can tally what you've spent this year it will guide you to how much you need to put away.

mammy I was annoyed as totally forgot about payments I'd made on my card. Aah.

Never mind. It's all sorted and I have an overdraft facility so no charges. But still.

Off riding now. £25. Then to the post office to collect a load of parcels. I'm hoping that's all the Christmas presents.

We're getting our tree either tomorrow or Monday. Today will be spent tidying and cleaning and making sure I've got everything for Christmas and making lists for new year.

Great financial goals Em. I like your planning. I suspect you would be lost without a list, nothing beats a good list imho.

10 miles run, definitely good for the soul run Cath. One of those 'at one with nature' running through woods and fields etc.

Something went ping in my leg, hamstring I suspect so I've had ibuprofen and stretching like mad and will monitor. But I will do what most runners do and keep running

I'm tidying and cleaning now too. Tomorrow is 'Christmas Day' in that I will write all cards, wrap presents, check table decorations/crockery and the like and do a general recce of things.

Oh, DS driving lesson will be £40

Morning all. Just having some milky porridge with honey and tea for my hangover cure breakfast. I had a great time last night, but way too much to drink. We shared 2 bottles of wine between 3 of us and I had a large glass and a small glass on top of that, so I must have drunk well over a bottle. 3 glasses is usually my absolute max. Your turn tonight, Need.

Mammy, sorry to hear you're not going to the wedding after all. Hope you're okay.

I need some fresh air today, so going to head out soon.

I kind of know what you mean about running need, because when I gave up my job to have ds I was bursting to get out and walk a lot. In the end I walked with him for 4.5 hours a day for most of the first year because that was how he slept. This town is quite good for walking as it is very small and mostly pedestrianized. These days I'm glad to sit because I walked myself right out in the early years.

Did the pain killers for your back pain do the job nicely then? You must be doing well on them if you're enjoying the running so much.

Hello you lot, blimey I don't post for one day and you're 3 pages into a new thread

Hope poorly people are feeling better

Cag I would split the money so you can be sensible with some of it (savings) but keep some and use towards something you really want. Good luck with the housing stuff.

Em I forget where i have parked the car all the time at work, the amount of times I stand there scratching my head looking at the line of cars is embarrassing I blame it on the fact that we are in and out of the office so much so the car can be parked in various places!!

I am knackered today as it was the work do last night and last week was incredibly busy. Had a good time it was a 5 course meal I managed 4!! Always nice to have a dance and laugh with the girls away from the stress of work as well.

Only spent £2.40 on a lemonade! Did consider having an alcoholic drink (which would have been the first one this year!) but couldn't be bothered in the end.

Taken dd riding this morning, mum paid. Stopped on the way and bought a big box of chocolates for the teacher and helpers, also picked up some snacks and stamps (how much??) came to about £14!! Found out that the lessons will go up in the new year dds lesson will be £17 for 45 mins which is quite a big jump really. She is offering a 10% discount if we book 6 lessons for next year before Christmas so might do that as would be worth it I think.

Dd is watching a show this afternoon and I will wander around town picking up a few more bits until she comes out. She is going with her drama group, will prob get tea out afterwards as I a suspect I will be seriously flagging by then!!

Riding done.

Post office done. I am now the proud owner of the following: 2 2017 calendars (one for home one for work) a self help book (52 small changes) a dressage whip (arrived in the worlds biggest box) ottolenghis cook book (for dad for Christmas) prof Brian cox's ew book (for dh) a voucher for the restaurant I went to last week and the overcharged me....and some washing powder.

Dh is making toasted wraps.

I feel I need lists. I feel like I've accomplished something if I've ticked something off.

Two loads of washing have been done. Presents packed away. Must get wrapping paper. Cards written and in bag for posting on Monday. Clean laundry to be put away and hoovering to be done. Phew.

girlie good idea to book blocks of lessons. Wish my instructor did that. Mine are £25 for the hour and £30 if I have a half hour one to one lesson.

I sometimes get a freebie if I arrive early and help out or stay to help out with a led lesson.

NSD.

You're on a roll there Mammy

Spent a bleeding fortune today but more out of the Christmas budget too.
£117 aldi but that included 10 bottles of prosecco for my team. I've only been there 6 weeks by Christmas so it's just a token but then had doubts that the blokes won't want prosecco. Should I take some back and get beer??
£26 ice land, £82 sainsburys, £1 poundland, £16.99 Waterstones but only 6.99 cash, walked away from cosmetic offers in boots and body shop, £20. Hmv, £4 football but ds won played of the tournament so he's made up.
Tomorrow need to make cakes for school party. The letter said buy, I refuse to buy 6 cakes. Also sausage rolls for ds's as he's eaten his. Going to see ballet live at the cinema so £30 ish. £10 take out tonight.
Can you tell it's pay week?

Lots of present wrapping done here today. I enjoy it :)

How are you feeling CRT you mentioned a bug the other day?

life no don't take the prosecco back and get beer. It's a token gift like you said.

I'm getting a bottle of prosecco for my team each too.

Good deed today. I went to the shop before my riding lesson for milk. I queued up and the guy in front of me who had loads let me cut in front. I said thanks and was surprised he actually let me in front.

Anyhoo. The lady at the till asked me if I wanted to buy a Christmas lottery ticket. So I did. I scratched the ticket there (because she was interested...) and won £2 (which equals a new ticket). I gave it to the lady to get another and handed new ticket to the guy behind me. And wished him merry Christmas. Dh thinks im crazy (jackpot so far is over £1 million) - what if he wins??!!

I'm working on it Cag, thanks for asking. It's one of these silly not-eating bugs which might be a virus and might just be whatever it is that goes wrong with me. I'm now back to half eating, which is good. I'm taking Em's advice and lying still with a duvet and hot water bottle. Can't think how many years it is since I did that.

How are you getting on? and how are the Caglets?

I'm having a very spendy week. This is my first Christmas since ds was born that I've done on cash money instead of Tesco tokens. Definitely makes more of a dent in the budget.

Life, a lot of schools now have a silly rule of only shop bought or packaged stuff for parties, etc. It's to do with allergy and or hygiene reasons, apparently. Just wanted to warn you to watch out for it. Enjoy the ballet.

I went out to the coast for a walk along the seafront and lunch. I'm feeling much better for it. Cash spends: £24.29 and card spends: £31.something. Lots of Christmas stuff for that.

I tried to change my nose stud. It didn't work and now I can't get it back in had the worst day all round really

@ Creme and all that wine. Doesn't harm every so often I am sure. You sound like you had a brilliant time so that's the main thing. Porridge and honey sounds delicious. I am having a pint of water and a paracetamol as soon as I get in, in order to ward off ill effects.

It just slips away at this time of year doesn't it Life, all the money? I've done most of ours now, but this week felt a bit stressful, despite having the money there...

Cath. My friends first DC only slept during that day if they were walking. So she did a couple of hours am and pm for months. Funny, DS was a creature of routine too. You get your second and they just have to fit in, DD slept where she was put down, because she had to. At least al the walking got you out and about and I imagine that you socialised with a lot of folk where you live as you walked, which is always uplifting with a cute little baby to break the ice!

Thank you for asking. Yes, the back is fine, touch wood. I had/have a leaky disc, but other than than, all is totally fine. I therefore take Gabapentin for nerve pain. It's fine to take this long term I am assured by my very good friends, one of whom is a GP, the other a CD.

Twinging hamstring type muscle has settled too.

Bit more spends as I tried to do all my stuff today so I can stay in tomorrow.
£20 feed shop.
£18 M&S (fruit, indulgence really as all exotic types that are yummy).

DD has asked for Tolkeins other books for Christmas, other than LOTR. Damn, I used to have them.

for wrecked, hope you are okay.

Fair point crème. Might buy anyway. I was going to send the ingredients list in as I know there are some kids with allergies school. I shall see

Evening all...
em your car story remiunds me of my ex boss. She couldn't find her car where she haad parked, rang her PA to get her to report it stolen to the police. Then get onto the train to her next meeeting. Does meeting catches train back , gets into car and drive off..... only to be pulled over by the police for driving a stolen car.

cag let me know if you need more names / numbers. Hopefully your housing gets sorted soon. It is such a strain having uncertainty over where you are living.
need I did that runners thing too.... which I hadn't my knee is still knackered 4 years later. It is fine for a bit but then goes again. I have had to go from racing to bimble.
I found out yesterday that I have been slotted into my job.... I feel sorry for people whoi haven't. Sodding austerity cuts......

I feel the pain unescorted of being unable to do something that you love, 6 years for me. I'm a different person now mentally. Good news about the job for you at least.

Why is it always just before Christmas that people lose jobs?

Back from town am so tired its ridiculous!

Anyhow dd enjoyed the show and I had a couple of child free hours to wander around town.

Spends;
Wilkos £7 on hair dye (so many greys ) and a few other bits
Primark £33 got 3 pairs of pjs for that plus 8 metres of wrapping paper and some slipper socks. Thought would be nice to have new pjs for Christmas eve and the 3rd pair are a gift.
£7 MacDs for tea.