Countdown to a Frugal Christmas, The Friendly Frugaleers still knitting,nattering and money saving!

[QuiteFabULousDahling]

New Fred

We drove home on the “inner” road but I could see the waves throwing themselves and a ton of debris onto the other road. Crazy wicked awesome stormy. 😮

It sound horrendous out there. The wind is awful plus I can hear planes coming in so glad I’m not flying tonight

I’m in bed. Ds fell asleep in the car on the way back from dparents. He stayed asleep until I started changing him into his jammies. Then cried and cried. He’s getting a new toof. I can see it. That coupled with only an hour nap today plus vaccinations equals one grumpy ass baby. So I’m up here. He’s sleeping now but he was sniffling etc in his sleep. Poor babboo. Hopefully he’ll be right tomorrow. And will sleep until 730! #wishfulthinkinghellbeawakeat6

One of the out worker ladies gave me a sparks coupon, a friends & family one, which was really nice of her. Our m&s is geared for age 60+ people, but with my parents b-days next week will venture in. I badly need a new bra (I have one that fits, and one that will do at a push), but the replacement for my fitting one is now £40 in debenhams .

Nsd today. We survived the vets with better time management. Tomorrow will be spendy, must buy presents, and do a food shop.

It's still chucking it down here and sounds pretty rough out there!

Discovered that I like quinoa! It's really easy to cook as well which is a bonus. I'm trying to be very healthy at the moment to try and sort this gastritis out and avoid a gastroscopy!!

Yesterday was not great spending-wise, but with £42 I got food for several days and nice chocolate for gifts for 5 people. So that was good.

Today was £1.90 for the bus since I didn't fancy another 1.5 miles home in the wind and rain especially since ds wasn't enjoying the weather either and wanted carried.

It is grim here too but not as bad some. I got to meet the new boyfriend b/c he didn't want to walk home. The advantage of mumtax services. He couldn't get out of he car fast enough ... I didn't think I was so terrifying. 👹

I've not caught up & probably won't until tomorrow some time I may post my spends just to keep myself on straight & narrow though

Thurs - €36.90 on chippy tea for 6, ds birthday yesterday & he was having dinner with his dad then. €50.42 on diesel for au pairs car. €50 on gymnastics for dd up to Christmas.

Fri - €5 on lunch, €50 on diesel for my car, €89.49 Dunnes used €15 discount vouchers also got dc Christmas pjs €20 stuff for Ds Birthday party €5.74 so grocery spend was €63.74. It included some treats we wouldn't usually get - weekend special for €5 vienetta, branded stuff crust pizza & garlic dough balls. Dd loves them, parents for dinner today so vienetta for dessert, pizza for dc next Friday. 12 pack popcorn, 24 pack own brand crisps. I was short €3.75 to reach voucher spend so hurriedly grabbed firelighters, fabric conditioner & a marvellous creations bar for me. I've firelighters until Christmas now

I'm still trying to find my way with grocery budget since h moved out used to be €150, it seems to be averaging out at about €100 now. When I get time I'm going to list out the things we prefer/best price at different supermarkets so that I visit at most 2 each week. Going to Lidl today & will aim to spend less than €35 - need cat food, 4% fat mince, sliced Cajun chicken for dc lunches, sundried tomatoes & when I get up I'll see what else because I'd no list when I went shopping yesterday and I was hungry but I shopped well despite that
€40 on ds birthday cake

Sat planned spends
€75 Christmas photo session for dc
€50 share of bouncing castle cost
€60 share of birthday party cost
€1.60 newspaper

Dc awake now gotta go

Massively stormy overnight. Clear now.
Spendy week and weekend.

Morning all. Mammy I hope ds has a great bit weekend.

Ds has a very busy weekend so the mum-taxi is in full swing as usual. Hoping to use down time for ironing. Will need to spend a bit later at Xmas lights switch on

mammy we do a cheats Cajun chicken slices.... Slice chicken breast and dry rub a pack of taco/ fajita seasoning into it. Leave to marinate overnight and then cook. Works out about a quarter or less of the price of the ready made.

Do any of you know a good free online yoga class? I have seen a few via Google but there is no way to tell if they are bobbins or not.

Unescorted try jessamyn Stanley. Also Adrienne

I’d do the same as unescorted, pre prepared chicken is so expensive.

Painting today 😭

I love the word bobbins. I don't use it enough!

Just need to shower and then get dd1 up, before heading off to shop.

Good morning. I've had a hectic few weeks but it's all over now and I'm enjoying my spare time and trying to ignore the fact that the madness of Christmas is almost upon us.

I was hoping for a quiet weekend but I forgot that I'd booked tickets for the Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo for tonight. I'm meeting friends there. Oh well, it will be nice to meet up with everyone and I paid for the tickets weeks ago so no extra expense.

We had really awful weather yesterday. Very strong winds and heavy rain. My bus home was delayed by an hour because it got stuck in heavy traffic. I hadn't seen the forecast so I was wearing my warm but not waterproof coat. I was soaked by the time I got to the bus stop and then I had to wait an hour. I managed to squeeze under the bus shelter - it could have been worse. To top it all off, the strap on my handbag broke and it landed in a big puddle. So I'll have to buy a new handbag too.

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? I have most off DD's present but that's about all. I usually get my Dad a small present from DD and had decided on the Noel Fitzpatrick/Supervet book. Then I discovered that Dad went out and bought it for himself during the week. Thanks Dad!

DH and DD both have coughs so a trip to the doc during the week might be on the cards. I can hear them coughing as I type. So that will be €100 + maybe antibiotics.

I've been talking for what seems like forever about getting the toy room converted into a teenage den for DD. But we need to get the room insulated because it's a really cold room (garage conversion). Anyway, we have the money put aside for this so we need to clear out the room. DH has a week off work and I'm taking a day off too (too busy to take the full week off), so we can get stuck in. I could do without the upheaval so close to Christmas but I'll be glad when it's all done. The guy doing the insulation work is a neighbour and he has a very good reputation, so I trust him to do the work in the required time frame.

Sorry I'm not commenting on your news but I've lots of laundry and cleaning to do before I head out later.

Fil is here again. Helping dh with stuff. He’s been here since 8... the man doesn’t sleep.

Dh is annoyed with me because I’ve pointed out to fil twice now that it’s my house as well. Twice he’s told me I’m lucky that dh has bought the house. “We”. “We bought the house” “it’s our house not just dh’s”

He did it while we had the apartment. He owned his house and mil just lived there. He thinks dh is stupid joint owning. Because if we get divorced....(he’s a twice divorcee).

Anyway. Ds is napping. Im cleaning. Dh is doing something to the garage door. Washing is outside. It’s windy as hell but sunny.

I also attempted to put a lampshade up this morning. Our room doesn’t have one at present as it was ugly and dh threw it away... he ordered one off amazon. It’s cool looking but doesn’t fit.

Mentioned to dh (annoyingly in ear shot of fil) that it looked great but didn’t fit. Fil piped up with “what was I putting that up for? I’ve obviously done it wrong” I have it to him and asked him to show me how I was doing it wrong. It absolutely does not fit. He’s annoyed. More annoyed that I was right

£35 in Aldi and a couple of stocking fillers. They have some good toys st the moment Orchard games and that sort of thing.
Yesterday was NSD but very wet!

em not good.

Thanks for the yoga suggestions... I tried a beginner session. Just how to sit straight and feel stretches..... Who knew I was doing lopsided. I feel so much better after an hour that I am definitely going to keep it up. Yoga, gym, bike and stand up..... I think it is a mid life crisis in action. Or the kids are now of an age where I can come first.

£1.50 coffee as ds’s morning activity
50p for something ds wanted to buy
£16 ordering Xmas gifts for scout leaders

Em he sounds very annoying.

Have just fallen out with dd trying to help her with maths homework, i honestly don't know how you do it Cag as if i try and help or show dd anything she starts rolling her eyes and getting arsey with me. She has got most of the homework wrong as would rather get it wrong than accept my help arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

And breathe.

Still pretty crap weather here, need to venture into town which I am not looking forward to as it will be busy.

Girlie I remember the anguish of maths homework. It always led to tears in our house.

I’ve given up trying to help ds with maths Girlie. It wasn’t worth the anguish. Frankly he’s better at it that I am too.

My biggest row ever with my ddad was over physics homework. I sulked in my room for about 2 days.

I’d be so annoyed if my PILs made comments about ‘DH’s house’. I paid more towards it than he has. But it's Natwest’s ours.

We’ve had a bit of rain and wind but escaped the exciting weather you all seem to have had. I’ve had a lovely morning painting Christmas baubles with DS while DD screamed (because she wanted me, DH wasn’t good enough apparently). She’s so clingy at the mo! She has started shouting at ‘Rexa’ (Alexa). This morning it was ‘Rexa music bobbin dance, dance!’ Rexa does answer to her new name but cannot always work out that DD wants ‘wind the bobbin up’. Even though that’s what she always wants.

I use the word ‘bobbin’ a lot at the moment, Lonely!

Girlie we had exactly that homework trouble with maths, so I totally know what you mean. Independence was so important to me at that age.

If she's struggling, is there someone else that would help? She might enjoy time with another adult, which would make her feel that she is being independent by going to that person, and it would still solve the maths problem.

I dropped maths in the end even though I got over 90% in my last exam, because the battles were too much. In fairness, I have never regretted it.

We did cubs archery today. It was great. I got lots of strikes.

The weather seems to have arrived with us now. Lots of rain outside.

Maths is not my forte. I can do the basics. But am no whizz. Although in my accountancy modules for my co sec and law qualifications I scored highest in these. I think because it was a right or wrong answer scenario.

I do try and avoid at all costs though.

£30 riding today. Was good fun until I almost fell off whilst in canter. Leaning too far forwards then rounded the corner and leaned to the side. We were stirrupless today so when I leaned over I instinctively put all my weight in my foot expecting stirrup to be there...recovered it though.

Have just got back from taking ds swimming. He fell asleep in the car. I dunked him under too. He spluttered a bit but was fine. Splashed loads and scareeched with laughter the whole time. Yay. First time I’ve done that on my own too. #mummyforthewin. Swimming was free for ds and I have my gym membership so is already paid for. Yay.

Re fil. He means well. I think. I also think he’s scared of women. he was married to mil anyway... he’s fixed our garage door today, has measured the loft and has said he’ll buy the stuff and insulate it for us this week, helped dh put the tumble dryer on the washing machine (ds has a stacker) and has done so much in the garden. He’s proper chivvied dh on today to get shit done. So I am grateful.

Nsd. I have painted the bathroom. Dh edged.

Tayto Do you have to insulate the ceiling?