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 remember that MissA, I recall you doing loads of work on your laptop in hospital.

Scarecrow I keep meaning to ask, is cooking a passion of yours? You seem to do a lot and the things you make sound incredible, so I wondered. I love it too, although I am not brilliant with deserts at all.

Just had porridge, made with coconut water, a teaspoon of cocoa powder and fresh mango on top for breakfast. Yum.

Em, eating really well and drinking lots of water will help too. xx

Oh I'm gutted I just lost a massive post catching up with all of you because ds climbed on top of me in bed in bed. It took me 30 mins I'll aim to do it again later

Nye decision made. I cross texted with a friend. She's bringing food and drinks and has a cold so will be in her pjs on nye. Do I mind?

I told her nope. Told her I'm not feeling up to a huge party. We're having cheese and meat and a little wine. She'll stay over with her husband breakfast and they'll be gone by 11 on nyd.

Thanks for all your sympathies and feel betters.

I think this time I'm feeling worse because I've been so stressed recently. And I am sure it'll all settle down (it bloody better!) it's not even been a year and I was on the pill for almost 10. So there's bound to be some adjusting. kinda expected to be over all that by now though

Dh is sulking today. He's annoyed that none of his friends have got in touch over Christmas. I asked whether he'd contacted them. Answer was no. Surprise surprise.

Today's must dos:

Wash bedding in spare room for guests on Saturday.
Take clothes to charity shop
Walk
Drink lots of water and take vitamins
Eat some fruit
Buy veggies
Finish book.

Am still in bed. Catface just hopped up on the bedroom windowsill. As far as I'm aware she's never done that before. She also pulled my phone (plugged in) off the nightstand at 730 this morning. While meowing at me to get up and feed her.

That sounds like a nice cosy NYE, Em. Low-key, perhaps you could play games or something. One of my best new years ever was playing Pictionary at a friends' house, it was hilarious after a few drinks!
We are just staying in, cooking something nice and probably going to bed early!

That is the kind of NYE we are having :) we've not bothered even staying up for a few years but we were invited to a friend's, the kids all adore each other so they can play and we will take loads of board games. Can't wait :)

We're having a sleepover at our friends nye too.

Am sitting in the o2 now. Made it up in good time and managed to park in the cheap car park for cinema goers

Peonies that's great that you're fixed. I remember you too. I've been on the group for 18 months. I think you would have known me as a permutation of the Ipsos Mori market research company back then.

Em Is it possible that you're getting gradually worse because your stress levels are creeping up as you approach the visit to your MIL, and that it's showing at the time of your period and ovulation just because there is also a hormone peak then that makes it worse? I may be entirely misunderstanding, but your situation sounds so like mine, it's quite eerie, and also weirdly reassuring in a way.

I've been doing bus pass maths again. Since the discount card scheme for kids is stopping on NYE, it's becoming even more expensive to pay cash. I did invest in a quarterly earlier this year but didn't have the money to replace it after (and it was around the time I was losing my job etc). However since dad gave me a big cheque for my birthday I have the money for it. It will be £304 for myself and the two Caglets (DH walks most of the time anyway) for 13 weeks. I did consider annual but at over £1k I can't manage it right now - well I could but it would mean going into savings, which may mean we don't have the money for moving costs and furniture etc if that happens, and I also worked out the extra money saved would amount to 3 months interest on the credit card so surely it would be more sensible to use some to pay off more of that? Does that sound right?

Sounds sensible cag

2 loads of washing done.

6 bags of stuff for charity shop.

Waiting for dh to go to town so I can have the tv all to myself.

Catface has taken up residence on the sunny windowsill. She looks really annoyed every time we walk past the bedroom or dare to walk in. Clearly it's her room now.

Sounds very sensible Cag.

Thanks both :o I feel better now I've done the maths and convinced myself of the savings. It's a scary amount to spend upfront but it definitely will be worth it.

I will try and find some proper leatherish bus pass holders as we usually get the cheap ones in HMV etc but they break really quickly with heavy use.

Great clear out there em! I am trying to follow suit today, as we reorganised the bit cupboard in the hallway and I had to drag out the stuff I need to sell. I'm kicking myself that I didn't manage to sell it before xmas (being mostly toys it would've gone well I think) but worth a shot anyway. If not my teacher friend did say a while ago that she might buy some off me for her reception classroom. I wish I could just give her the stuff and I usually do when it's smaller but she does understand that stuff like this (wooden railway etc) does need to make some money.

I have also put aside a bag for stuff I will send to charity. DD goes back to dancing on the 7th do DH will drop it off at the neighbouring charity shop then.

I do need to work out how much to pay off the CC though. It's difficult to find the balance (no pun intended) between saving interest but also having enough money in the accounts to not need to then use the CC again! We have agreed not to use it in the new year. Can't remember exactly how much is on there (linked to DH's account not mine) definitely under £4K though and I saw on a recent bill the interest was over £50. That really hammered it home.

But what I meant was I don't know how much to pay off when there will still be lots of interest anyway? How do I make the decision

Thanks cag I feel like I've done such a good job. Have set aside clothes for mending. And have sorted outfits for all next week for work. loser

Dh isn't going into town. Gah. I've commandeered the tv anyway.

this is what I hate about credit cards. It shouldn't be this confusing.

I paid a £500 chunk off on 21/12 when I got paid.

I usually just pay a chunk at a time. You're right there will always be interest. But the more you pay off the less interest.

Hope everyone has been enjoying the festive season.

Spends today:
€16 on cleaning products in €2 shop
€32 in Tesco on reduced chocolate (), wrapping paper and sleepsuits.

Today has been spendy €226 on local property tax - must be paid by 31st to avoid fines. I've decided to populate the category in ynab weekly in 2017 but leave it in our bank account as a buffer until this time next year. why should the government have use of my money before it's due

€450 to plumber for replacement pump(€399) & labour.

Need to give my db €60 for my share of parents Christmas gift

Cag is there any possibility of switching to a 0% interest cc?

That's a brilliant clearout Em. Well done.

I'm trying to be sensible today, drying clothes in the airing cupboard so that I don't freeze the house by putting the dryer vent out of the window.

Also resting and enjoying looking out of the window at the garden and planning what I will do with the garden this summer. We have a lot of birds pottering around out there, and one snowdrop, which is exciting.

Cag Is there any chance that you can switch to a 0% CC while you pay off the balance?

Hi all, MissA I thought thats who you were! Yes it sounded awful at the time and I'm so glad you are all fine now.

Welcome returnees and newbies

Have had a day off which has been spendy...

£34 Next online, got some clothes in the sales for dd and some new school polo shirts for her, I got her cheap Asda ones before which have not done well at all, hoping slightly more expensive ones will last better.
£4.50 Greggs lunch.
£16 in the Body Shop on nice smellies for mums bday, treated myself to a nice body wash as well.
£6 in Oxfam on half price Christmas cards to put away for next year and some nice Faith in Nature stuff they had in the sale.
£40 in Morrisons, needed a fair bit of fresh stuff, won't be getting to a supermarket again for over a week.
£5.50 on putting my car through the carwash, its come out looking like a different car

Quiet afternoon at home now, dd is enjoying playing with her new lego and toys.

Have started thinking about her bday now which is beginning of Feb, not sure what sort of party to go for. Popped into Lush as they do kids parties but its £15 or £20 per child for an hour the minimum amount of kids you can have is 8-10!! Think thats def out, waaaaaaaay to expensive. Any other ideas Frugaleers??

Congrats on 10 years Wreck

Bertie I could've given you any amount of chocolate

I've steered clear of the shops completely.
€11 on meat for dh for the two nights we're away-lamb chops(which I hate!) and steak as compensation for us being away & quick dinners for him

NSD. We've booked a table for nye, DH and IL ishoos.

Cag even paying a fiver over the mimimum each month will bring the cc down quickly if you can't get on a zero % card.

Going to send dd to Relax Kids for 6 weeks of one hour sessions for €50 as the leader came back to me yesterday & sent me a lovely long reply explaining what they do. This showed me she is dedicated & caring,
It will be on a sat afternoon in town so I'm going to use the hour for a run if ds stays home with dh and for trip to Aldi if he doesn't

Gah just spent £89 on Amazon, got 11 items for dds bday!! Oh well, thats a big chunk of what she will be getting and includes 3 dvds I know she wants plus 4 books which are all related to encouraging confidence in girls.

Will look for some 'cheap' ish heelies from Sports Direct or a new Scooter and that should be dd done bday wise.

Will also be spending £35 later on a Willow sculpture course which will be my mums main bday present.

My poor bank balance!!