Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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
Cagliostro · 26/12/2016 18:04

Excellent news re: Teddy :)

Nice chilled evening here watching the DVD DS got yesterday.

I've decided to pare down my Amazon wishlists as it's frankly ridiculous how much I add to it.

mammymammyIRL · 26/12/2016 18:07

Just caught up with you guys I've had three NSD's now. Tomorrow we are venturing out to meet friends for lunch approx €50 spends.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/12/2016 18:54

Excellent sale bargains need & life.

Adora I'm so relieved Teddy bear is improving.

creme Your poor cousin. People do pull through, it's so scary though.

lifelongfrugaleer · 26/12/2016 19:57

Good news about teddy
Crème sorry to hear about your cousin

Excellent service from smiggle. 2 things from them don't work if I can't get to a shop they will post me out replacement of the same or higher value. No quibble. Also didn't expect a response today either as I messaged yesterday e when I had time

northender · 26/12/2016 19:58

Merry Christmas everyone!

Sorry I've been awol for a few days as home & work life have been so hectic. Will try to read back properly later.

Had a lovely quiet Christmas Day here. I worked 0800-1600 so I spent Xmas Eve preparing food that could be reheated for Xmas dinner. The dc were delighted with their presents and I got a good selection too.

CremeEggThief · 26/12/2016 19:58

Thanks all. They have put her on life support, so hopefully that will do the hard work while her body gets a bit stronger. Her blood pressure is starting to stabilise, so that's good. Iwas looking at flights to Ireland last night, in case of the worst happening, and they are SO expensive. The cheapest I could find were nearly £300 + plus I'd need money for the coach or train from Dublin to my home town and public transport or even taxis here, to fit in with reduced public transport and flight times. I'd probably have to borrow the money from Mum, as I don't have it...

WreckTangled · 26/12/2016 20:04

Creme that seems so expensive I hope you don't suddenly need to go over there and she continues to improve.

So tired have eaten way too much! The roses are calling me though...

Third and final day of Christmas tomorrow. Going to my aunts along with my nan and grandad (who are the best) and my sister and bil, looking forward to seeing them all.

So two nsd in a row need to book parking at the o2 for Thursday, might do that now actually...

ememem84 · 26/12/2016 20:06

Just back from dinner with parents. Yum. I drove so no booze for me. In bed now. New pjs hot water bottle and book. Yay!

Have a sore throat Sad which I'm hoping is because I'm due on my period later this week and not an illness sore throat. I'm wiped out though.

Nsd.

Needastrongone · 26/12/2016 20:54

Flowers Creme for your poor friend.

God, I've just got over that Em, hope it's not an illness. I have new fluffy and not at all attractive pyjamas on, but DH knows I love a fluffy pyjama.

Good news re Teddy Adora.

Early night for me.

Cagliostro · 26/12/2016 21:15

Thanks Creme sending positive thoughts

SnugglySnerd · 26/12/2016 22:02

That sounds scary, Creme, hope you are ok.

Tryingtosaveup · 26/12/2016 23:03

Creme, glad your cousin is getting good treatment. Hope she recovers soon.
DD and family are here. Compared to them DP is tidy. They do not seem to realise that the lids of jars, bottles and tins are replaceable and that my lights switch off as well as on. They just leave everything out and open....milk, butter etc
Grrrrr!
Love them to bits when they are at their house!

northender · 26/12/2016 23:46

creme I hope your cousin makes a quick recovery, she's in good hands.
adora glad to hear positive news re Teddy
Em hope your sore throat settles quickly

Had a lazy night here, will sleep well tonight and hopefully have a lie in in the morning. Back to work on Wednesday, boo!

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:09

Creme sorry to hear the news about your cousin, hope she continues to improve.

Am very worried about dd6. She spilled some toys at her sisters yesterday & was hysterical crying over it & inconsolable, culminating with her saying she didn't deserve to be part of this family. Her confidence seems to be at rock bottom at times and she gets upset very easily. Her playschool teacher told me she met her at the shop one day & she told her she's not good at anything reading writing colouring Sad she's striving for perfection in everything she does.

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:11

Going to check out play therapy & follow up with her occupational therapist who was meant to review her in autumn and hasn't. And will speak to her teacher too.

lifelongfrugaleer · 27/12/2016 08:33

Oh mammy that does sound worrying. Bless her.
Going to sainsburys in a bit for half a dozen things. Cba to go out to the pub this afternoon as back at work tomorrow.

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:35

Dh is also back to work tomo lifelong holidays go too fast don't they!

Needastrongone · 27/12/2016 08:39

Mammy, don't forget this time of year kids are extremely tired and emotional, Christmas is overwhelming at 6. A sensitive child will find that all the more difficult to deal with. DS finds not being able to do stuff first time insufferably frustrating but at 17, can manage his emotions around this aspect of his character far better as he is better equipped to do so.

In fact, it's one of the best things about having older DC, seeing how their personality traits have developed and they have learned to deal with their emotions and different facets of their personality.

Good to chase up other opinion though too. x

I need fuel today if I use the car, otherwise NSD.

WreckTangled · 27/12/2016 08:40

Oh mammy that's so sad! I hope you manage to get something sorted to help her.

I'm back at work tomorrow too. Not really looking forward to it!

Car is making funny noises so there goes our Christmas money Sad

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:49

Need that is part of what happened yesterday, she's been sharing a room & bed with her niece who's 9 & she basically just spends the night revolving in the bed! So she's a bit more tired & our house has twice as many people in it as usual. But it's the underlying lack of self confidence that I find worrying, she's an emotional child when she's tired at the best of times.

I've sent messages to Relax Kids & Expressive Play this morning, see can we build up her confidence. Think dh has realised also that he has handled her wrongly too, he is a bit more harsh than me when she doesn't something wrong & last night shook him too.

Oh no wreck that's not good, you only got that car this year didn't you?

I want new pjs and a new dressing gown that I saw in penneys, wants not needs, my pjs are functional as is my dressing gown.

If post office is open I'm going to pay our property tax €226.

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:51

Great to hear that your ds has learned to manage this. Dsd is a mine of information knowitall on this kind of thing & managed to bring dds episode around to her childhood too last night. I just filtered it out and took the information part of what she was saying away.

Needastrongone · 27/12/2016 08:52

ps - Mammy DS's had a few meltdowns of his own at that age around Christmas. DD didn't as she has a different personality entirely. DS is now channeling this aspect into working hard to get great A Levels and finds dealing with the pressure of exams incredibly easy, DD now stresses!! It's so hard at 6. BrewFlowers

Might be nothing hopefully Wrecked.

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:57

Mine are like chalk & cheese too, ds3 is dealing with the extra people & excitement by forgetting to go to toilet & wetting his pants regularly.

He just barrels through life, she timidly steps her way through!

mammymammyIRL · 27/12/2016 08:59

I've asked cleaner to come while we're away visiting my parents later in the week.

That'll require a bit of effort from me in next couple of days too.
Once dss, his wife & family have taken away their things today I'll get to see how much of the mess is ours!!

WreckTangled · 27/12/2016 09:03

Yep. We have the worst luck with cars. Mainly because we live in the sticks where the roads are shit.