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.

They all get there Mammy, just giving us different stresses to deal with. Dealing with a sensitive child is probably hard to deal with for your DH if his personality is naturally not so sensitive maybe? Sorry, I didn't mean to come over as a knowitall or relate to my own kids, just give a bit of hope for you that (with help sometimes) they find ways to deal with stuff and it's lovely to see that emerge after all the worry.

Slept for 10 hours. Yay! But still have sore throats and have lost my voice .

Tea and rest will fix it. No plans today other than empty and clean out wardrobe. And sort things for eBay. And make a list of things I need to buy before no spend q1 2017 commences.

I bought myself a new watch yesterday. Best watch ever apart from the Minnie Mouse one i had up until 6 years ago when it broke and dh replaced it with a proper grown ups one Minnie's hands twirled round to indicate the time

Need you most certainly didn't come across as a know it all, just a parent who has been through it yourself!

I've also registered dd for junior parkrun too thought it might help as we could do it together & she wouldn't be competing with anyone, it clashes with swimming class so wouldn't be a regular occurrence.

I admired that very same watch on living social em dss bought me this one

Wreck I also live in sticks with bad roads

Em I love it!

To be honest mammy we need to stop buying run cars! We just haven't got to a place where we can afford a decent one yet. Hopefully once we've paid this one off we will be in a better position....

Right second loads of washing on, first hung up and yesterday's and the day before' all folded. Might have a coffee before I put it all away and get dressed.

£37 in sainsburys would have been more but I dithered over bedding and didn't get it.

My two are like chalk and cheese dd is the thinker and ds the charge straight inner. Lots of hugs and reassuring needed for both in different ways.

Nice watches.

I love the cat watch!

Just getting ready for family party this afternoon. Have removed all toys with small parts from main room in readiness for arrival of nearly 1yo nephew and made some salady things. Trying to make a cake but have had to send DH and DD out to buy more flour so I'm using it as an excuse to sit down for a few mins.
We seem to have a lot of leftover gravy this year. Probably about litre each of turkey gravy and veggie gravy. Have frozen it all in small portions to have on roasts in the new year. Festive frugality!

My watch 😍 I asked DH for a cheap watch for xmas (I have a lovely special occasion one he got me years ago but wanted one for every day especially when I'm teaching) and he went and got the one I'd been wanting for ages but had never mentioned to him ❤️ (Totoro is an anime character) I am a big kid really! I may build my Lego later 😂

He knows you so well cag
Our water is not working typically everyone else was showered except me so I washed my hair with ice cold mains water

Dh has stayed home from our lunch to try fix it, we've established that it's an internal problem.

Creme If you do need to get to Ireland more cheaply there is also the option of the train to Holyhead and the boat. My DH really enjoys that journey. I've never tried it, but it's much much cheaper.

My ds dealt really well with all the anticipation of Christmas and I was pleasantly surprised. Christmas Eve was very quiet almost as if we were all bird-watching. Then we were up early on Christmas Day and earlier still on Boxing Day, but really, so far, so good.

They're watching Gilbert and Sullivan videos now while I potter about.

Thanks for the reminders not to get taken in by sales. I keep thinking I ought to be looking for bargains, but I'd rather just have a holiday.

I was given four bird boxes for Christmas, which I'm quite excited about. A nest to watch would be lovely.

That's lovely CRT I love birds. We have a bird box on our tree and we also got a window feeding box - it's a clear perspex thing with suckers to attach it to windows. It's taken a long time for birds to feed from it, but it's so lovely when they do as they are really close to us! :)

I've been spending time whittling down my wishlists more. Seeing the crowds when we went to the mall yesterday really made me think. I know I'm quite an acquisitive person really - it's just that I have less opportunity to act on it because the things I like don't tend to be on the high street (e.g. I don't like clothes shopping but love weird board games that you can't get in toy shops!). But that doesn't make it ok, I feel like it's quite unhealthy especially when we have neither the space nor the money for it. I need to be more sensible and selective, especially when it comes to the Caglets - I love finding things for them especially since they've become home educated and that's opened up a whole load of opportunities for more educational stuff, but I worry that they are getting spoiled, and they are easily overwhelmed because of their needs.

I did that journey a few times, Cath, when I lived in London. I'm not sure how much longer it would take from Newcastle though and I think if I do have to go, speed will be of the essence. But thanks for thinking of me, which goes for all of the lovely Frugaleers.

Another NSD. I've vacuumed and mopped downstairs and cleaned the bathroom, 2 loads of laundry and I need to put clean bedding on, after an early dinner of more leftovers.

Love the watches, btw, Em and Cag.

Another nsd here. Three in a row!

My uncle listened to our car and thought it sounded ok. He knows his stuff.

Got some lively crystal wine glasses from my sister and bil plus more money and some lovey smellies from my aunt. My grandparents gave us some nice food bits. Had a lovely day all in all. Have to work tomorrow not particularly looking forward to it as it'll probably be really busy!

Have also just found out my friend can't have the dc on the inset day on Tuesday which is a bit annoying (not her fault at all) not sure what to do with them!

DP asleep in the chair, DD DBiL and 2 DGCs just left to go home.
Just finished picking up everything from the floor.
I don't know where I went wrong. DD doesn't seem to know about drawers or wardrobes, or the fact that kitchen cupboards can close again once opened. Coats on floor, cups everywhere, jars open....oh well
I love them to bits and they are so generous. Just untidy. Very untidy.
All quiet now. Going to sit and read.
Love the watches Em, Cag and Mammy.
Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves,
Might try the sales tomorrow.

Trying, has your electric DD gone out? Mine hasn't.

Went to town today. Was meant to tidy wardrobe. That can wait till tomorrow.

I bought:
3x bras £113 (but used gift voucher dh bought me - they're nothin special exactly the same style as my other ones. One black. One white. One hot pink).

Pair of skinnies and some pants in m&s £36.

Skirt and a top in oasis £29.

New wax jacket. £60 fatface. Reduced from £140.

Have come home and feel exhausted. Have put things away and have had a bit of a tidy up. Now on bed with a cup of tea.

Trying what do you look for in the sales?

I got rice half price in Tesco, but it's not very glam.

Sounds like a lovely trip to the shops em
I'd €490 earmarked for my credit cards,well our water stopped working today & will cost €350 + labour to replace. Oh well I'm already owed €300 from joint account which I was planning on taking when children's allowance comes in.

I said to dh it could be worse it could be adding to debt.

We were out meeting friends for lunch €27.85 as dh wA meeting plumber, €7.50 in dealz, €3.90 in Tesco on coffee for dhs coffee machine, €16 on dominos as it's buy one get one free on med/large pizzas, we are going to watch a movie & and eat pizza as dh goes back to work tomo. It's our end of holiday treat.

Trying dss' wife can't close a door or turn off a light & it's a skill she's passed on to both her children they're gone off to her parents for a few days now. It's nice I have our house to ourselves tonight.

Argh I feel like an idiot. I'm always so organised but we are going to Disney on ice Thursday and the parking has sold out as has every single restaurant for lunch 😡😭

My MiL loves birds Cath. In fact, for Christmas I bought her a whole array of bird seed for all the varieties of birds that visit her garden and packed it all in a hamper for her.

Nice shopping haul Em.

I think we also get less tolerant of mess once the DC leave home Trying and we get used to our own routines again.

I have a £100 gift card for Runners Need that I am trying to use up with sale items.

cathode

Winter sales, towels, bedding, thermals, bras, coats for next year or scarves etc Christmas cards and wrap for next year.

If it's M&S wait until the price goes to 99p at the end, it's unlikely to go lower. John Lewis will price match within 28 days for their stuff.

The best sale bargains won't be for another fortnight.

I saw a woman in sains buying four turkeys in the sale.

Wreck I'm glad your uncle gave positive feedback about the car, I know only too well what it's like always having old, less reliable cars

Trying to keep well away from the sales. Can't really afford to buy anything in January.

I've had an NSD so far today as I ended up working again. A colleague has apparently been ill since Saturday but decided not to let anyone know until today that she couldn't work her shift . We didn't have any plans and so I said I would do a few hours to help out. I'm hoping to take the time back on Thursday. From a frugal pov it's good as I'll get the enhancement for working a bank holiday as well as the extra for working Christmas Day and New Years Day which I had volunteered for already. Also I checked the blood results etc of the patient who I had to admit to hospital on Christmas Day and they were dreadful so my decision to admit him was totally vindicated....phew!

I've got a Jamie Oliver leftovers pie in the oven at the moment & still more leftovers to use up. We've got my cousin and her family coming over tomorrow evening so turkey fajitas are looking likely!! She is bringing a pudding so should be able to manage from existing supplies. My parents have invited us round on Thursday so that will be another low spend day.

Cath I've bought towels from JL in the sale. As Fluffy says, they may go lower, but I was after a specific colour and they were 50% off. Plus duvets and pillows, 50% off in the M&S early access sale for account holders. Specific items I designated money for and knew we needed, rather than 'oohh that's a bargain!' spending.

Fluffy, no my dd hadn't gone out and I emailed co op energy and they sent me a link and said to set it up again. I will do it in the next few days.

Cath, I hate shopping with a passion but need some towels for my bathrooms. Last time I bought towels was about 1997 or maybe 2000 and they are a bit threadbare.
And I would love a nice gilet. DP said he would buy me one for Christmas but he is in a grump now. So will see.