Festive Frugaleers gather round the (best value and carefully researched) Christmas Tree for support, advice and chat. All welcome.

[needastrongone]

New thread.

@MoNigheanDonn I have a current account just for d/ds. I put the exact amount in to cover all bills. All other money is in 'spends' account.

Love you reminded me to go and change my username too!

I read that as ‘Little Dorito’. Love a festive tortilla, me

Seacow I’m sure I saw Christmas tree shaped tortilla chips one year but maybe it’s wishful thinking.

Just did the Christmas food order although it’s arriving tomorrow so may need fresh things. Spent a fortune and it’s not everything. DH is getting the meat (nothing big) and a few chocolate coins etc (can’t risk stocking fillers arriving with Tesco) tomorrow as he gets double discount. Will also get despicable me 3 dvd for Christmas Eve although he won’t be here to watch it with us, he finishes at 9.

Wreck I’m not entirely sure, I think it might be because it can become less effective as it builds up? It was really quite staggering how much difference it made, and she is on the minimum dose.

Town again tomorrow if my dad is able to visit. Need a birthday present and might go to rhyme time. Cagletini - also known as the little madam who won’t go in her basket this evening - needs a new snowsuit too I think as hers are getting snug. Saw the cutest one in Morrisons but only had 3-6m which would swamp her. Finally dug out the 0-3m clothes yesterday when she turned 8 weeks old :o she’s still diddy although she feels massive to me now. She’s become super gurgly and smiley the last few days, she is actually turning into a little person with her own character. I am so in love. Even when she won’t bloody sleep. :)

Cag I have a 0-3 month snowsuit that I bought as a present and then didn't see the mum in time to give it to her. You are welcome to it if you want it.

Spent from 6.30-11pm at hairdressers last night, my hair colour wouldn't take eventually we got sorted I'm exhausted now & must get up still last day of work for two whole weeks

€18 on rad weld for my car
€22 on spray conditioner for dds curly head
€8 to hairdresser because colour was fixing up what didn't work on sat

Today's spends will be lunch at deli paid for with my market research gift card and savings stamps for dc

So far in gifts from work I've a side of smoked salmon bottle of Baileys two bottles of wine big box of Ferrero rocher tin of Cadbury biscuits €50 for my favourite restaurant & €630

I'm so lucky at Christmas there
Money will pay for fixing my car, wedding gift for my friend & go against credit card debt

Eugh ds got me up really early this morning.

Today I'm collecting Tesco order approx £75 and will get the car washed c£5. Then we're going to have a lazy day of Christmas films I think. Just realised I didn't get anything specifically for lunch though. Might whizz into Sainsbury's.

I'll look into another account, thank you.

Just downloaded the 'spending tracker' app as was starting to get anxious about checking bank, have barely used card since payday but balance very depleted argh. I like how it looks already.

Is this fair guys my YNAB subscription is due 26 Dec, I use it to manage both personal acc and joint acc, we do finances semi separately, is it fair to take half from joint acc and half from personal acc?

@Fluffycloudland77 I think dd has a callous. This isn't a verruca is it? It's hard skin all around it. Will a podiatrist (nhs) see her given her cmt?

Callus even

I think it's fair to take half from both for ynab.
Dh car had a flat so he had taken mine. I will change it when it's light and go get another tyre. £50 I reckon.
Have to do last minute changes to food shop and get a pudding for tomorrow buffet. I'm out of ideas tbh

Have been watching but need to saved some money to pay for the extra cost of having a rescue cat .. All D/D come out day after payday ..cash withdraw to cover food £80 per WK and £40 me spending and£25 son.Then it only emergency cash .. Its 3 adults boys 17&22. ...Taking things easier as signed off as youngest is recovering from a hospital stay due to viral mengitis...so Buses visit 3 times a day ..

Another one just checking in, but should be okay to keep up now.

Christmas has obviously been expensive, but managed to save the usual. No more though.

Lonely DH bought the sparkly docs for DD, I remained firm

Could be just callus but she's very young to have calloused feet and she does swim....I need a better pic in daylight really. Am I right in thinking she has a lower limb condition? If it is a verruca you can treat at home as effectively as we do in clinic with over the counter acids, avoid the home cryotherapy in a child so young though. They can easily damage the dermis in pre-pubescent skin.

Verrucas are nothing to worry about though. It's just one of the human papilloma viruses.

Checking in. Went for drinks with work last night. Three g&t’s and caught up with clients and colleagues.

Unexpected presents from clients which was lovely. Couple of bottles of champagne, some lovely stationary (personalised moleskine notebook oooh!)

Today dan and I are heading into town to meet a friend for coffee. There will be no shopping. Absolutely no shopping.

Cookie I've got a cat, I've heard B&M do branded food cheap so I'm going to have a look next week. You can register with survey sites & use them to pay for food.

Fluffy she won't walk on it saying she's in agony. Yes she swims but I can't find any black dot or anything. She has motor and sensory neuropathy affecting the muscles and nerves in the extremities.

They don't hurt so I'd discount verruca. The area looks a bit swollen.

Does she usually get pain from her neuropathy?

I don't think so but I think the muscle pain overrides anything at this stage. I don't have any feeling in my feet but when I have a callus it's agony. The dr said he will take a look later this morning it's handy working in the same building as the drs surgery!

I am meeting a friend locally for toastie and cake lunch later with our dcs (both boys have ASD so this might be interesting!). It’s just an excuse to get out of the house really, and because Costa is DS’s favourite treat! Afterwards I want to pop into Jojo Maman Bebe and see if I can get DS to choose a present for baby DD. I am not sure he will really understand the concept but we can try! So a bit £ but not too bad. I’ve not spent very much this year on eating out at all - one of the silver linings of not working and having a child that finds busy places difficult. I do have a bit of cabin fever though...

I have dressed DD in a ridiculous Christmas tree outfit. She’s exactly 6 months old today so I’ll be taking photos for posterity later

wreck you must have to take very good care of your feet if you can't feel them. My circulation is just shit and my feet are always white and/or purple if I've been sitting on them, always hurting, stupid ugly things!

Currently dealing with a large (it went from teeny to big vv quick) verucca on dd3's foot after swimming lessons with school (not a naice pool!) I'm using an old bottle of prescription poison, but it makes me heave (the smell, not the verucca).

I'm twitching and am going to go shopping in a moment I think. It's the big food shop, but I had a dream that the shelves were empty and woke up very panicky! I know this is pathetic. Still going early though.

need excellent! I bet she loves them.

B&M do have a lot if branded pet stuff. I mostly buy american sweets in there.

I have decided not to wait for the new year, and reign it back properly from tomorrow. It's going to be a big shop today, so I'm going to try to just quit shopping for the rest of the year, honestly there is nothing we need.

I was going to rein it in before the car tyre. I want some more naice Christmas decs too.

Is it best to treat a verruca? Dd and I both have one but I've left them as they don't bother us?