Festive frugaleers saving through to the new year!

[SnugglySnerd]

New thread! Tried to post on the old one and it was full. Newcomers welcome!

Em I went down to 3 days after having dcs and I don't regret it. At the time I earned more than dh but teaching is an easier job to get part time hours and then to increase them again at a later date but I never intend to work full time again uneeds I have to. I do however know 3 other couples with dcs who have each dropped a day to do 4 days each which seems fair.

Not an NSD. I've done the big Xmas food shop online. It's combined with our usual weekly shop that includes things like nappies and dishwasher tablets so it is £££. There will be 6 of us on Xmas day and potentially 15 on Boxing Day so I've ordered a lot of food!

Sneaky that's not all men that I'm talking about. The men that surround me are definitely of the strutting variety. But I also know lots of quiet normal fellas who are very self-effacing and probably do know how to wash dishes.

You can say straight men

£35 on the very last 2 Christmas presents.
51p to see Santa as that's all I had. It's the round table thing they do every year. Santa's sleigh is pulled around town by a white van. Tis great for a change donation.

Posted last Christmas cards today and edited ocado order again which seems to be getting more not less expensive.

But do you really do part time snuggly you teachers have it tough. Teachers here are going on strike soon (next term) because their pay is appalling. Better than uk but still awful for what they have to do. Dsis is a teacher and I’m in full support. She works bloody hard.

I. Other news I managed to almost knock myself out with the washing line today. It’s a whirly one. Dh thinks we should take it indoors (garage) after every use so as such it’s notnup permanently. I put it up today (heavy and awkward) and as I went to lift it open one of the arms clocked me on the eyebrow. Bastard. I’ve got a bit of a tender spot there now and will probably bruise up tomorrow. Aaaaah

Nsd today.

Honestly, any strutting around a bloke has to do smacks more to me of controlling tendencies than qualities to be admired imho. Bit simplistic but it would certainly send alarm bells off for me.

I don't know how you lot keep up with this thread at present!

I'll start spends from today and keep up hopefully.

£80 fuel. Will be glad to downgrade this car as we don't need a large one that can cope with towing and muddy farms now.

DS is home, therefore my cupboards are emptying quickly. Spoiling him rotten for a few days but, to be honest, being away has given him an appreciation for fending for himself so he's emptying dishwashers, swapping washing over, vacuuming, dog walking etc without being reminded.

Tomorrow I just need to buy some gift tokens, and do some wrapping - ended up working when I am supposed to have finished but hey ho.

Went to see my dd3's school production tonight. I was stunned. She was singing solo, had one of the lead parts, was full on acting... I had no idea she did not practice at home at all. Amazing, so proud of my funny ditsy little girl.

Spent £14 on a chippy tea (eaten in car ferrying dc), and £27 posting etsy stuff (all paid by buyers).

So, here's the mini nativity set, I don't think I ever posted a pic of it finished. It all fitted into a standard Ferrero Rocher box. Tracked and signed to Germany.

seacow my tiny cats. Will find a pic and flood the thread!

em he's being a tit again. Whenever anything slightly rocks his world he turns into a tit. I think you should maybe both investigate going 4 days? Might smooth dh out a little.

Sorry, but strutting guys?? Seriously?? Not on my watch.

Lonely I want a knitivity! Remind me when you start doing them next year and I am highly likely to buy one

Jam glad ds is home, free dog walking in the cold sounds like a good exchange for feeding him to me

Em I only ever bring mine in in the absolute depths of winter. It’s still out as I’m hoping for a dry day this week to dry the sheets. It does have a cover though

Fabulous news about your Dd lonely. We are just back from awards evening where DD picked up two subject awards so equally proud here too.

Your figures are fabulous btw, you are truly talented.

Thanks Em. I think a lot of people think we go home at half 3 and we're done for the day. I still do a lot of work at either end of day (probably 3 hours per day) and usually an hour each evening Sun-Thurs. Often a couple of hours of marking during their nap on my days off. I could and probably should do a lot more but it's impossible to work on Sunday afternoon now with the dcs around and I'm just too tired to put in late nights. That seems like plenty for 3 days' pay though! This week I'm not doing much. I have presents to wrap and I'm bloody knackered!

The colour in that pic is awful. Here, try this one

em ffs. If it is a big brabantia, simply put, no! If dh wants it taken in and put out, he does it. Simple. No lecturing you, or telling you how easy it is...blah blah. He can do it. If it hit you, and you fell and landed badly...he can hang the laundry out if it bugs him so much. If the line isn't out, use the tumbler.

#nostrutting At all. Ever.

Oh well done to your DDs lonely and jam #proundmummymoments

Thanks wolf, he's changed so much, but in a good way - he's matured. He needed to leave probably to do so, no bad thing.

Yep he’s being a tit. No strutting though. It appears to be his stress reaction. Become dh-titface.

He came home late from work and ds greeted him at the door with “titty” instead of “daddy” (I think he was trying to say kitty as he saw catface but titty was apt...!)

He is wrestling the dishwasher as we speak. I loaded it and all he had to do wasn’t pop the last plates in. He’s unloaded it. Reloaded. And now it won’t close. 😂

He’ll get over it. I’ve allocated jobs out now. He’s to buy the food for Christmas. I’ve written the list.

Hes to buy the Christmas booze. I’ve put “bloody nice bottle of bubbly for your long suffering wife” on the list.

I’m to finish presents. He will help wrap. He will clean downstairs. I will clean upstairs. Downstairs gets messier.

I will do all the laundry. He will put washing line up for me as I am not risking a line beating again.

These are the jobs before Christmas. After Christmas we will regroup and divide jobs again.

I’m not feeling even the remotest bit Christmassy. Will work on that.

Though I think at this time of year every year I’m feeling the same. Exhausted run down stressed etc. And that’s without the added stress of a suprise preggo.

lonely it is one of those. To be fair I decided to take advantage of the nice weather. Dh was at work so it was me or no one. Lesson learned for next time though.

Ive still not remembered to buy plastic gloves for catfaces litter tray. Oops. Only another 7 months (maybe) of forgetting to buy these.....!!!

I think my frugal goal for 2019 is to get more cash saved in the bank.

We've been talking about whether we should move closer to our work. The nicer area we would be looking at £100k more for an equivalent house. I would love a smaller garden as we are rubbish gardeners and ours is 70ft long. We may have to stay put though!

Also maybe put the DC3 idea to rest one way or the other. I decide one way, and then change my mind. em is making me broody right now 😂

Although em DH being an idiot is helping sway me the other way!

Love would new house preclude new baby or not?

It might make a difference to what size house would need to be bought. I think both new house and another DC may just be a dream though

lonely love that nativity! How much do you sell them for? ! I want one! Well done to your dd 🌟

Bet you love having ds home jam

I liked working 3 days a week, found that to be a good balance.

I've finally started wrapping a few presents, still got tons left to do though. Just watched long lost families at Christmas and was sobbing by the end 😢

Dds clarinet exam tomos - eek!

I've just dyed some yarn, needed some "tabby" so did tortioshell and dalmation as well. But, I think I have made "spaniel" as the black spots have a lot of grey round them, was a bit keen with the powder.

Quick Q. We have an old Dolce Gusto machine. Not been used for probably 3 years. I thought I'd take it into work. So, it was a bit fusty, very dried out and possibly a bit dusty mouldy I pushed three tanks of scalding water (it boils the water anyway) through it (clouds of steam ensued). Dishwashed all the bits I could remove and thoroughly wiped the rest. I'm not going to give anyone legionaires or botchilism am I?? She asks as she has a thai chi latte...

Wow this thread moves fast! I've done some wrapping and most local gifts are ready, but need to buy some for U.S. family. Also need to decide what to do about Christmas dinner - usually we do nut roast, but I'm not sure if ds really likes it. Tbh he'd be happy with beans, rice and broccoli.

I like the idea of frugal new year's resolutions. Will consider. One thing that'd be nice is to get our previous security deposit back one of these days from the rubbish estate agent without having to pursue legal options...

I think it would be OK Lonely. All the appliances in our staff room are old and they never get cleaned and we all survive although I use my own mug and cutlery and bring them home you put in the dishwasher!

I was up with DD for about 5 mins an hour ago and now I can't get back to sleep.