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

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Hello all, and happy Boxing Day now!

em i think pepper has a very similar effect on strawberries as balsamic vinegar - brings out their strawberryness. But I doubt I can convert you

It sounds as though most people have had a good day. We have mostly, although I have been too busy really. Need I am not sure I would recommend doing quite so much from scratch - we had 4 possible home made puddings in the end, trying to cater to everyone's preferences and sense of what is 'essential' at Christmas. I will definitely do less next year! I do enjoy cooking usually, but not so much while pg so that has clouded my experience today. I made a massive roast and barely ate any of it, I just didn't fancy it at all after the cooking palaver. However, we had a very non-frugal Kelly Bronze turkey and I did exactly what Mr Kelly told me to do and it was amazing, I don't like turkey much but had to take back all previous insults to the species! I will enjoy the leftovers more than the main meal, I suspect.

Anyway, the clean up was epic so tomorrow it's cold cuts and mash. Silverskin onions and indigestion . End of. Time to play with DS instead. We will take him for a long walk in the local forest, until his dog phobia forces us home!

I found Christmas last year quite upsetting because DS just didn't get it at all. This year he did a bit - he had no idea what we were on about last night when putting out the carrot and mibce pie, and this morning I don't think he was expecting his stocking but he dug in when he saw it and actually opened everything in it. He couldn't move on past the Lindt bear without eating a bit though so I let him eat the head before breakfast. Possibly the pinnacle of his whole life to date . He's only opened one real present (a noisy thomas train and track thing with batteries from my DPs) and played with it all day. The other stuff is still wrapped up! Clearly still not quite 'getting' Christmas like his peers but enjoying it on his terms. He is so unworldly. I must say though, there is something very lovely about seeing a child open a present and then just play with it, without even wondering 'what else is there?'! I have cried so much over my boy but really he is wonderful and I just adore him. although this is not at the forefront of my mind when he screeches every time Thomas or Emily details, approx every 30 seconds

Wreck your Spirograph has made me very nostalgic! Sorry, your DD's Spirograph

Microscopes are ace. Try looking at hair roots. And dried blood smears (needs to be very thin on the slide). Ah, happy memories of harvesting specimens from my younger sisters.

Annoying about the lack of thanks for marble run. Surely you can't go wrong with marble run!

We did video calling with mum this morning as we couldn't actually see each other, it was really nice as the Caglets could show her their presents and thank her etc.

That's lovely Seacow!

Very excited about future slide contents BTW thanks for the ideas!

Oh no fluffy you must buy yourself another one

seacow I'm pleased your ds has enjoyed Christmas!

mammy couldn't the thanks be coming today? Maybe it was over looked? Or does she have form? I suppose as long as DGS likes it that's all that matters.

Ds up at 5:35 this morning, the dc want to go to my mums now but don't understand it's a bit early!

Happy Boxing Day!
Sounds like everyone has had some good Christmases. Our was good except that DD came down with this awful cold we've both had on Christmas eve and is off her food and not sleeping. She was excited about her presents and seeing her grandparents though.
She's been up a lot in the night coughing, Cbeebies has been on since 6! Going to have a lazy day, I think we all need it!
Hope those of you braving the sales get some good bargains!

My head hurts.

I've fed and watered catface got myself a rehydration type sports drink and am back in bed. Sleep is necessary. Had the most awful night.

Booze cheese and garlic makes for some wicked scary dreams. The kindcwhere you dream you're awake and things are happening and you can't run away....

Ooo em sleep paralysis and night terrors. I used to get them all the time when I was a teenager, you have my sympathies.

Dh and I arguing today. I'm so fed up of him being grumpy it's literally ruining my life. Wonder if anyone would want a single mum with no life prospects and two dc.

Watching trains derail here again this morning.

George Michael . 1985-86 I was all his. I used to cut all the bits about him
out of Smash Hits and put them in a special scrapbook. 53 sounds so young to die

I didn't manage a nsd yesterday but got a new washer in the sale for £200.

Loads of left over here which I will freeze as Christmas day round 2 at my mams today.

Yesterday was lovely. Dh gave me a voucher for new underwear, a voucher for a facial, some seriously good chocolate, a lovely candle from jo Malone (the blackberry one my fave) and a book about cats.

also had some lovely gifts from parents and my sister including more clarins (some detox serum...necessary today haha!), some socks pj's a book voucher, and a new notebook. Also an insert for my Filofax for 2017 yippee!!

My parents we're also very naughty and gifted us £200. Super generous of them. We'll have to have a think about what to do with it.

wreck sleep paralysis? Is that what that is? Scary. I've just googled. It sounds the same. Eeeek.

Maybe it's because I'm just exhausted. I don't know. Today is day 3 of holiday. Traditionally when on holidays this is when I feel most low/lethargic but when I start relaxing and sleeping better. I haven't slept well for the last week but have been stressed with work and trying to finish everything before I go on leave and have had a boozy drink (at least one as a minimum) every night this week and not a huge amount of water.

Today's must do's:

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
Get outside. I've just woken up again and it looks sunny blue skies. So we'll go for a walk later.
Maybe finish my book.

And it'll be nsd

Sounds like it em. It feels so real and if you try to scream nothing comes out.

Yes wreck! Exactly like that. Or as last nights went slender man was sat on the end of the bed taunting me. And I was screaming but no sound and couldn't kick him off as couldn't move.

Incidentally I shouldn't read urban legends before bedtime.... or eat a veritable fuckton of the most garlicky cheesy "dolphin" potatoes ever.

Overactive imagination combined with garlic cheese and booze. Not a good combo.

Dh has skyped mil this morning. We skyped Bil yesterday. They (Bil and sil) have been showered in gifts. I was given a mug from a tourist shop. Dh a pair of socks. I asked him last night whether mil sent him anything else As she's usually super generous to him. But she didn't. Apparently he has enough and as we aren't having a baby we don't need anything. I've sent her a note (in the post the proper way) to say thank you for our gifts. Dh is flipping between raging and being upset.

He was an absolute star yesterday. Cooked for all of us. He let my dad win a few rounds of scategories, and we all had a lovely day. He's also brought me a tea. I crawled back to bed earlier while he made tea and was asleep for a bit longer. My tea cup is empty but there was a flask next to it

Next year do not let me say anything bad about him. He is an absolute keeper and I'm super lucky have also just told him that but he's wandered off mumbling something about me still being drunk!

DP is driving me nuts. He is super generous and super good...but.
He is untidy and leaves everything lying around....like dishes, mugs, towels etc. and is glued to his iPad on Facebook.
I am very tidy and only have a small house so it is annoying. But he doesn't know he's doing it and I know he doesn't mean it. He is very untidy at his own house.
DD and family expected any minute.
Enjoy Boxing Day / St. Stephen's everyone.
Em you are very lucky. A flask of tea by the bed is the best treat in the world.

Loads of reduced turkeys & pheasants in sainsbo, £40 joints reduced to £10 etc.

£4.50 sains, two Xmas puds & a hot water bottle with a cover.
£2ish card factory
£5 Clintons.

I wasn't the only sad fucker out, they were queuing to get into card factory.

I was just about up before 11,which is early for me on Boxing Day. Especially as it was after 3 by the time I went to sleep and then Storm Conor woke me up a few times. It was very wild and windy locally.

I had some bad news about a cousin in Ireland yesterday. She's in intensive care with pneumonia . And then of course the news about poor George Michael, just before I was about to go to bed. He was my first crush. I used to kiss pictures of him in magazines when I was 6 and 7. R.I.P.

I'm going to go for a walk, once I've finished my coffee and pain au chocolats. I was going to suggest you do the same, Trying, but I see you have guests coming. It's still extremely windy, but the skies are bright.

Doesn't stop it being annoying though Trying. Sounds very similar to DH, so lovely but so messy. I lost my shit with him and the DC on Christmas Eve (I think), so they've been better but still.

Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas.

Em. DS used to suffer with full on night terrors. It's awful to watch. Hope you are okay. He never remembered a thing afterwards. I'm going to remind you re your post about your DH!

Lovely day here yesterday but extremely busy and was catering for 12. SiL was a star and helped loads but there was still a shed load of catering and clearing to do.

Had my first migraine in decades and threw up in pain most of the night (they hurt to the point where I am sick) so at least the excess calories went.

Fluffy. I've saved a bit up over the year and have bought new towels (first towels in 8 years) and goose/feather bedding for us all in the JL and M&S sale respectively. These were my specific, 'I want to get in the sale' items, so I am chuffed.

RIP George. I was a massive fan. Faith and Listen without Prejudice are brilliant albums.

A chilled out day sounds lovely Scarecrow, and perfect after yesterday. 4 deserts, wow!

need I sometimes get migraine like that. And have to make myself sick to make them go away. Eugh. Hope you're feeling better.

We got a lot of the cleaning done yesterday thank goodness. We have glasses to go back to dm today and a lot to put away buy everything cleaned at least.

I've put a wash on and we're now watching star wars.

Oh sleep paralysis sucks. I have the occasional episode still.

Moana was amazing! Caglets asked for their once a month McDonald's so that was cheap. Then got a cheap hotel chocolat Christmas pack which I'd been waiting for a discount on, and a little nice wrapping paper in Boots (although it's not nearly as nice as in previous years). The mall was absolutely heaving.

£10 cash in boots, £14 in points,£40 in next on vouchers, £8 in pound shop sale. Wanted to do sainsburys but wasn't allowed
Lovely day at dm, more pressie and another Christmas lunch

Glad everyone had a good Christmas, sorry I didn't pop in, but 🍷🍰 all round.

Teddy is more comfortable, still making good progress. We all had a pleasant. No sale shopping here, nothing needed and the only thing I want I don't have storage space for yet. I want fancy serving dishes from Villeroy and Boch. I can wait.

Good news about Teddy, Adora.
Another NSD.

My little sister loves her £3.49 hollister jumper I got in the sale ages ago have been given £120 in cash today plus some lovely presents.

Just about to be fed even more by my parents although I think I might pop!

Sorry to hear about migraines and night terrors but pleased to hear good news about Teddy.
Didn't venture to the sales, we went to the park, watched Frozen (again!) and played with DD's new toys then went for a walk to look at everyone's Xmas lights. It's been a lovely cold, clear day here.

Creme so sorry about your cousin, I was in intensive care with pneumonia and sepsis 2 1/2 yrs ago. It is a scary situation but you get absolute first class treatment in ICU - theŷ will be in very good hands.

NSD today (and obv yesterday too). Good Christmas but tired from entertaining now. I have tons of leftovers!