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.

snuggly I only Have naice clothes in the house now.

I've just cooked. Cooked food I wanted to eat. Cooked the first dinner I've made for about a month. Pasta with chicken and spinach garlic tomato red wine sauce. Yum.

I think, cath, it's just like anything else. Why see a GP (who happens to be male) who specialises in cardiology when you could see a GP (who happens to be a female) who specialises in gynae? Not all of our female GP's specialise in gynae but some do and none of the men do our gp's also work in teams so when one is off there is always the same other one looking after their patients. I wish you lived closer as our surgery really is awesome. I also wish people appreciated it more

I've got a really nasty ulcer on my tongue, it's not even circular it's just long and weird and painful. Humph.

I could see that seeing just one GP is a good thing. They get a chance to really get to know the patient and their character, if they go regularly of course. My GP friend loves that her patients are HER patients iyswim?

Dinner sounds good Em. I've been frugal in that we've had Jamie's risotto with fennel and smoked salmon (bought for Christmas day) and both items really needed using. You simmer a chilli and some garlic and some cherry tomatoes in the stock before adding the stock to the risotto rice and other ingredients. Lovely kick.

I'm using mutton tomorrow, in the SC, should be interesting.

I'm now in my fluffy PJ's, doing the exercises the PT gave me to strengthen my lower abs, a contributory factor to the back injury.

You are most welcome too Life but you will eat what you get given and no complaints young lady.

Welcome newbies and old returners, some of whom were here before me.
My GPs surgery asks what's the matter and I have realised it is so they can book me in with the most appropriate GP. I was worried about some moles and saw the skin doctor.
I thought they were just being nosey asking but now I know why.
Girlie, when you have a minute can you tell me which books are good for a girl's confidence building please?
Cag, head over to Money Saving Expert website. All is explained there. It is great.

Trying this is one of the books how to be fearless I also got her the one by Malala which look looks awesome.

She will be 11yo and her bday is the first week of Feb.

Agree with making a bit of an effort improves how you feel generally although slobby days are o.kay sometimes to

ps - Said GP friend is the one that has been ill this year. She went back to work in September and the response from her patients has been incredible and quite overwhelming. Said some of her consultations have been more about her than them. I think that must mean she's a good GP.

Girlie my parents got dd this is Malala for Christmas. She's a bit young but I really want her to read it.

The cat misses me when I go out

And, Life, her and family are not complaining about pie and peas for NYE,

girlie we had a mobile beautition come in for dd one year. It was about £100. We did home catering so worked out quite cheap. If your DD has a 2 in her age you are welcome to the tin. Or anyone else for that matter.
Also you can make your own bath bombs and soap really easily - you tube is your friend

Im not sure dd would go for that unescorted she isn't very girlie (unlike her mother ) plus our house is only small so not keen on hosting a party here tbh. I had a look on a local leisure centre website and they do trampolining parties so might go and get some more info on that.

I may have just spent another £20 on Amazon I am now on a self imposed Amazon ban!! Have bought www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ELG397Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1this for dd and another jewellery piece that was £5.99 discounted from £54 in a lightening deal

What about laser tag type things Girlie? Although trampolining would make a fab party!

Lightning deals are dangerous :o that does look nice though :)

Updated spends:

€10 in Lidl

€41 on Asos; I could have bought the item more cheaply from another website but would have had to pay for delivery; then if I return it I wouldn't get the delivery charge back whereas I will get a full refund from Asos; it's an item that may well go back so I think I made the right decision.

Ooh I've been looking at ASOS a lot! (Might need to delete the app)! The returns policy is amazing.

We've booked a party for dd's birthday in February, including an entertainer we've done home parties up until now so I'm not beyond a few games of statues but really wanted to outsource the hassle/headspace this year.

£7.30 on hot drinks at the end of a frosty winter walk. £32 in Aldi. Made ratatouille lastnight with left-over veg - so yummy, especially with aubergine which made it seem meaty and substantial. Also used leftover parsnips in a soup. Didn't have curry power so used Thai green curry paste and it's a success!

Well it was worth an ask need, shy bains and all that . I'll stop here and watch Jules Holland in my PJs either with or without dh whose at work/ on call.

Our doctors are very good, then again I'm not easily embarrassed.

Nsd planned today, unless I get bored at lunch and pop to the range

It's only fricking payday. Gerrin

That's interesting that you and Em dress up when you're under the weather need. I understand your attitudes to clothes and beauty stuff much better now.

Under the same circumstances I read more current affairs news and do more science stuff - making sure that I have intelligent things to think and say even though things are a bit tricky. The other day when I was in need of a fixing up I went away and quietly read through a copy of the Economist. That worked out really well for me.

Dh is currently restoring himself by wiring up a PC oscilloscope.

We each have 6 sets of identical clothes which we wear each day without any variation, ever.

Isn't it just the best thing ever about frugaleers that you get to understand how other people work?

Yesterday was;

£27 Aldi
£3 sains food
£4.69 sains anti histamine syrup.

btw need, sorry, that wasn't meant to sound cheeky or anything. I know that you and Em also are probably really interested in current affairs and stuff, and I do also take care over my appearance. I just find it interesting that people have specific priorities that they look after really carefully even when under fire.

That's cool too Cath. Lots of variety works well on the thread.

I was only referring to Em, btw. I know we are similar in this regard, so I figured I'd just mention it to her, while she was feeling a bit crap.She can disregard as required.

Intelligence comes in many guises and forms doesn't it? I guess yours is 'classic' intelligence, for want of a better word or phrase, that I can't think of right now (too many beauty magazines ). Then there's business acumen like Alan Sugar, clearly a clever bloke, no qualifications. Robbie Williams, told he was a no-hoper at school. David Beckham. Stella McCartney - making money out of beauty and clothes!

And tons and tons of lesser known folk too, doing brilliant stuff.

Variety is the spice of life.

I'm off for a 10 miles run now anyway.

Then off to get my hair coloured (which is actually true!!). And sounds so shallow but I have roots.

Cross-post Cath with my reply, which again was written with good intent.

But off for a run. Definitely written with good intent though.

Sorry,Em I forget most people are not as scruffy as me!!! I am actually really looking forward to getting out of maternity clothes and buying some new clobber and I'm going to try and buy a few quality items that will last and look smart. I have saved birthday money and vouchers and also Christmas money so I have about £200 to spend. Luckily most people didn't know I was pregnant when it was my birthday so I still got a couple of good vouchers for shops like Oasis.
Just been to Asda. If we hadn't have had to buy cat litter the food shop would have been under £40 although I'm planning to get back to my usual Wednesday weekly shop next week. Got a pack of small Xmas cards for 25p, they will be great to send to DD's friends at nursery. Also bought a few treats for NYE since we are not going out anywhere.
Keep getting emails about JoJo sale, trying very hard to resist their adorable baby clothes!

Need You're absolutely right, and it's really got me thinking.

One of my great problems in life is that my FIL doesn't find me very interesting at all and it's because he's really into the Arts (novels, theatre, poetry and music) and expects that I should be able to Discuss this stuff at the dining table.

I find it so dispiriting, because I work so hard at keeping up my knowledge of politics and finance, which are the things that are valued by the men in my family. Suddenly finding that someone thinks I'm crap because I haven't read all the novels shortlisted three weeks ago for the Booker prize, just seems kind of unfair.

I suppose, to some extent, I walk a tightrope between my own priorities, the priorities espoused by the media and society, and the priorities of the individuals who are powerful in my own family and community.

Then I also walk a tightrope between the one extreme of carefully following other people's priorities, and the other extreme of completely rejecting other people's priorities and perhaps pretending that they don't matter to me (e.g. refusing to wear make-up).

I do find this really helpful to think about, because tbh, I don't really know any more what actually matters to me and what doesn't, and I wish I could work it out. The GP says that if I could work that out then it would really help get my general health on an even keel.

Thanks for discussing this. It's fantastically helpful.

snuggly today's outfit so far - old scruffy jack wills joggers, one of dh's hoodys over pjs and uggs. I had to go to the shop for milk.

I'll probably have a shower and get dressed properly in a bit. Back in bed. Fog has lifted. Sun is out. Must do something today.

snuggly oh jojo baby stuff is super cute.

Also oasis have a great sale at present. I got a couple of super nice tops the other day.

Must buy cat litter today too. The box is running empty.

Have just had to get out of bed because catface has batted all her jingly balls under the bedroom dresser. All 6 of them. One went so she went to the box and got another (I kid you not. She fishes toys from her toy box). And repeat. Now she's meowing because she can't reach them. Idiot. This I suppose is my cue to shower.

I think its good to have a nice outfit to wear around the house and do the school run, and the have going out outfits too. I think its good that people are different.
cag if you switch to a 0% cc usually they have a period of time where new purchases (say new beds from Argos etc) will be 0% also. I think sainsburys cc has a very long 0% period for balance transfers.
I'm off out to lunch today with friends so it will be spendy.