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

[needastrongone]

New thread.

Had a busy day out, went to local beach for a walk which was lovely spent £5 on two hot chocs, went onto a national Trust place spent another £4 on drinks and £10 in the shop on stuff in the sales. We took food so saved there is guess...

Spent £3 on wrapping paper on way home.

Lovely day but am knackered now and have lots to do, oh well still got tomos...

Hello. I’ve been a bit awol last few days. Trying to use phone less.

Today’s spends £27 Riding - jumped higher than I’ve done previously yay!

£8 in shop on bottle of prosecco for instructor.

No other spends.

We are (I think) Christmas ready. Hoorah.

Ds is 3 months old tomorrow.

Pantomime today, was very funny but very expensive. £4.50 on drinks, more on sweets, £12 on tat and dd got it stuck in her hair so it got left as had to break it to get her hair out

Ooh that sounds lovely pink and simple enough that I can do it. Unfortunately I have no bayleaf, cream, nutmeg or cloves and would have to dismantle the Peppermill in order to get peppercorns :o (planning to build up stuff like that when we move and have a bigger kitchen). So for this year since I was going to town anyway £3 on the m&s tub of it seemed the more lazy
attractive option :o

😂 cag so the only ingredient you do have is milk?!

The day/hangover improved with a fry up, and then a whopper at the services on the way home.

£18 at Burger King

DP is off to collect the turkey. I have sent him out with £20 gift vouchers to cover the balance but I expect he will spend more.

I still need to do the veg etc shop tomorrow too but just realised they haven't increased Sunday trading hours tomorrow so can’t go out early. I think it is good that the supermarkets can’t stay open late though.

I am determined to save up lots of vouchers this year next year now to pay for the nice stuff next Christmas

I'm sorry I'm probably going to be kicked off in a moment- what's the point of bread sauce?

fluffy the Sainsbury's credit card is working for me really well. Just wondering if it's worth you getting if only for the petrol?

pig, the shops were so mental today, even at 8am. I think you will be okay tomorrow. Hopefully for you anyway.

DH might have bought me a new painting for Christmas, as the lady from the gallery has called in with a huge package wrapped in a bow

life I've chucked mine out the last 2 years, I've not bothered making or buying this year. No one eats it here!

I've never tried bread sauce. It looks gross. I have mint sauce with everything instead

BLOOdy love bread sauce. Mmm.

I never had it until two years ago when we were at a friend's and they served it. Hooked from then on, spicy creamy goodness YUM. I do love sauces though.

OMFG just had an amazing risotto. DH makes good ones anyway but this... Roasted tomato carrot courgette and tenderstem. Seabass fillet on top (frozen from Tesco, first time we have tried it). Holy crap. I am in a food coma.

TBF love we also have... bread :o

NSD today and should be another tomorrow. Trying to stay away from the shops as I don't need anything and they are outrageously busy.

I'm also going to try and resist the sales as every year I buy things to put past for presents and then end up giving them early so it really doesn't save me anything.

Not very Christmassy here - I am in A&E with baby DD who seems quite unwell. she’s been crying a lot today (unusually for her; when she’s tired or grumpy she usually yodels) so I gave her calpol at 3pm thinking it was teeth. At 5pm she had a temperature of almost 40 C and very rapid shallow breathing, so here we are. We’ve had the fun of collecting a urine sample and she’s now stripped down to her nappy and fast asleep on my shoulder. She’s had more calpol and ibuprofen since we arrived and she feels a bit less hot so I am hoping it’s nothing serious. Poor little thing though, she was really distressed when we arrived. And poor DH - I think it’s worse worrying about them from home than being with them.

Oh no seacow big hugs xxx

Oh Christmas that's a worry. Sounds like the meds have helped her.

Oh dear! So sorry to hear that Christmas. I really hope things get better quickly for her, and for all of you.

I have a much less exciting medical thing. My finger tip has started throbbing dangerously as if there is a skelf under my nail. I have cut the nail right back and put all-the-savlon on it. Willing it to get better now.

Oh no seacow they go downhill so quickly at that age. Hopefully the temp is lowering and you'll be home soon enough

Sea Oh no the poor girl. Do they know the cause?.

Need I will investigate the cc.

Hope she's better soon Seacow.

seacow sending love and hugs to dd. I do hope she perks up. There is nothing more scary. Ever.

Got the wrapping done, picked up dd2. Am ready bar some baking that I must get done. Frankly cba tonight (am knitting myself a hat instead, as you do), and know the time pressure will spur me on tomorrow.

Spends £11 coop. Scratchcard and lottery ticket included. I am not buying a scratchcard in 2018 (huff).

She’s woken up and definitely rallied - her temperature has dropped a fair bit (double meds and being stripped down) and her pulse rate is down. Respiration still high and she’s not feeding much though. They want us to stay for an hour or so while they keep watching her temperature. Likely to be viral, just hoping they let us go home tonight (assuming she stays better). I will probably be watching her like a hawk all night, either way!

So much for the posh fish pie and Chablis languishing in the fridge! DH has caved in and had beans on toast. Can we freeze fish pie, even with cream in the sauce?

Hi. Posted a while ago but then did nothing. Definitely part time from 1 Jan so reduced income. Today petrol plus milk. OK. And pain au chocolate. Still okish. And wine. That I know where I am going wrong! Seacow hope all OK. X

They sell frozen fish pies so I'd assume so Sea, hopefully she'll carry on improving.

Wrong Don't worry your not the first. New Years are for new starts.