Festive frugaleers saving through to the new year!

[SnugglySnerd]

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

Thinking of taking dc to animal sanctuary this morning to get some furry hugs might go to mass instead though we'll see

Sneaky I am too uncultured to get the reference . I am in the north too, north west. Merseyside. We can be fwends.

Seacow Hope you feel better soon! My whole family are ill, the only people who have escaped {so far??) are me and DSis. I know Xmas is especially tough after a loss. It's first Xmas without DH's granddad so he is a bit sad about that and I know his grandma is really struggling atm . I need to buy some new clothes in the sales too but not sure where to start. I want dresses that I can dress up or down, that also don't need to be ironed, as I have no time for ironing...any suggestions?? And a few tops the same. As cheap as possible too . I also want plain vests. And a black pencil skirt that isn't see-through or horrifically clingy as mine is a bit ripped and I don't have time or energy to mend it. It's quite old so don't feel too bad about replacing. Em you're usually good with clothes stuff too, help?!

Snuggly You are a trooper with the early morning! I was fuming cos DD woke us up at 5.50am today . She slept less than usual last night as she didn't sleep in the evening for more than 30minutes and screamed hysterically for an hour or so so she wasn't asleep til 9.30pm and then woke up at 5.50am which is earlier than usual, so she's had significantly less sleep than usual, so will probs be even grumpier and more screamy than usual today, sigh. We are going to visit DH's family for an Xmas get-together as well at one of his relatives house so not sure how long we will be able to stay as she'll probs cry all the time and not nap with all the noise. It's al pissing it down so wouldn't be easy to go for a walk round by theirs to get her asleep either.

Hey wise ones, does anyone with little ones have any reocmmendations for a light-weight buggy that would be good for short trips and/or travelling? We are going to Spain for a week at the end of Feb so was thinking of taking a light-weight, foldy stroller instead of the pram?

And also thinking of buying DD some kind of bouncy chair like the Baby Bjorn one that she can use as she's bigger? She's not far growing out of her current one and I know the Baby Bjorn does one that they can stay in as a seat til toddlerhood but it's really expensive, any thoughts?

meadow re clothes I’d start by suggesting either get someone to look after dd for the day and actually take yourself shopping so you have time to try stuff on uninterrupted or just do it online.

My go to’s for pencil skirts are oasis and warehouse. The sales are good there too. Plain vests I tend to buy from primary ((of I know someone who’s going I ask them to grab me 6 (2x each of white black and grey)) or for more “dressy” ones I’m favouring the v neck high back ones from oasis at present. Have 2 white, a black a burgundy a khaki and a navy. Great for work and every day (although I’m starting to inflate around the boobage area now...so they’re a bit 😳 haha!)

Dresses...I’d say oasis and warehouse would be your best shot. Or maybe somewhere like Zara? I love Zara but we don’t have one here.

Or charity shops. If I remember correctly you’re in a city/on outskirts so assume there would be some good charity shops/vintage places near you? Maybe have a rummmage?

Or failing that...eBay. I’ve picked up some great things there.

Meadowhay it’s been a while since I’ve needed a stroller, but my McLaren Techno XT lasted 2 kids and a lot of walking, school runs, being flung on aircraft for holidays etc. I’d have passed it on, but I put it in the garage roof so it got damp. Chicco are also meant to be good and a bit cheaper.

Autumn good luck with the food shop! I nipped out at about 6 last night and my local Morrison’s was empty! Might be worth talking a gamble and waiting...

Everything’s done here. Just got to collect my beef from the butchers tomorrow. DH is working right up until the last minute and probably between Christmas and new year. Got to because he starts on a new job on jan 2, so he needs to get this finished. He’s doing all the plumbing for a complete house renovation. I’m taking him up some sandwiches later and making his fave dinner tonight to show our appreciation for all the hard work he does.

Dparents have a fold up pram they use for ds. I think it’s a Mothercare own brand one and it’s fine. Folds up and has a little bag it can go in. I think it was around £60. They use it twice a week with ds so has been worth the money. Maybe try there? Or Facebook selling pages

It's ok meadow I didn't get the reference either, and Google was not my friend either.

Meadow it’s worth seeing whether there are any factory shops near you. We have a mamas and papas factory shop and I managed to get two absolute bargain lightweight strollers for ds from there one for our house and one for dms

meadow primark do some really good basics and some nice skirts and dresses, New Look as well. I'd wait a few days and have a look round the sales, Next sometimes have some good sales bargains.

I've survived an Aldi shop, was busy but not horrendous. Got loads for £35 so happy with that, nearly bought a keyboard for £15 reduced from £70 but we haven't really got space for it and I can only play chariots of fire with one hand 😉😂

Is Buxton up north somewhere, that's the only water place I can think of!

Dd has been playing for about two hours with her sulvainians, not sure that's totally typical for a nearly 13yo but she's happy so

happier kids are more resilient than we give them credit for, I wouldn't hold off on moving personally.

Oh and we had a maclaren buggy meadow just a basic one, dd loved it and so did I as was so easy and lightweight.

It's a town that's also a brand of bottled water.

Now, do I go to Morrisons today? Or wait til tomorrow when I have to go anyway to pick up a parcel?

Meadow I think it also matters how tall you are. I had to get the tallest McLaren one but if you are not super tall you could get a much lighter one.

Your shopping list for clothes sounds great. I think if it was me I would order a bunch of things online, try then on at home so I could take my time and send the ones back that weren't needed.

Bath is done, and dh has got the Christmas food in. Yay!

Oh god I’d wait Sneaky. It’s murder out there.

£3 sains, if I’d bought a bag it would have been 50p 🤬cos I could have use a nectar voucher but I didn’t think of it. Got Norfolk black whole turkey, Lanson black label champagne, malt whisky, two cards, Mayo for me and deep conditioner for that.

£6 on tights cos I forgot the receipt to return the others so I’ll get £5 nectar vouchers back when I return the others Boxing Day 🤦🏻‍♀️
£1 Poundland dolmio 750g.
£6 bacon, eggs, veg, cat litter, frozen peas Aldi.

Depends on your georgraphy really. Buxton is Derbyshire which is middle ish

Fluffy fair enough!

I. Went. To. The. Shop.

Dh regrets guilting me into going now (“it’s something we can do as a family....” etc) £120 later on a lot that wasn’t on his list (Heineken no alcohol beers, crisps, snacks, cherryade (yum!) and loads of other bits..).he reckons without me he’d have spent £65.

It’s not an issue it’ll all get used and we’ll enjoy it and it’s christmas and we’re feeding 8 (7 adults plus ds) but still.

Shop was surprisingly calm. I guess lunchtime shopping is the way forwards.

Off to dparents now for a passive aggressive pre Christmas Christmas. Dm is cooking turkey. We are not having turkey on Christmas. Hence the PA!!

£200 next year panto. £123 sea salt sale...oops.
£46 diesel.
Waiting for Sainsbury's

Passive aggressive turkey

Ooh she likes to be the only one cooking turkey doesn’t she em.

Ooo what did you buy in the sale Life?

I got a new sailor top as io shrank mine in the dryer.
A cotton jumper. Love the navy and red oatmeal ones but can't wear wool.
A tunic and leggings. Will post links in a bit

Think I've cropped off my name and address. These wolf

I've ground to a halt, have packed suitcases, made lunch, cleared up lunch, tidied upstairs, sorted food to take and cleared the car ready to load it with stuff. Bit tired now 😴

Seasalt stuff lasts really well Life. After falling into Boden I don’t dare even look...

Meadow I also had a Maclaren XT. Very sturdy and now on second DC. We bought it for a holiday but got that rather than a cheaper one as we were doing quite a bit of walking on trails and it has bigger wheels than the next model down. But any Mackaren is a good bet. I also think the Mothercare ones look good for the price (much cheaper) but I think it depends how much you will use it. We ended up using ours a lot because we had to have a folding buggy for nursery, so we got something sturdy to last. Also check what features it has that you want - for me I wanted one that would lie flat for naps, had a hood that would come down quite far (for naps /shade) and a foot rest that you can put up to keep their legs up horizontally for naps. Also a decent sized basket.

Cooking today. Am halfway through bloody expensive fish pie (for tomorrow - worth it though as it’s my favourite christnas meal). Also made cookie dough, Jamie’s get Ahead gravy, stuffing and pastry for my pecan pie. Still have to make Boulangere and caulk cheese to go with tonight’s dinner. And make my mums bed and put a load of stuff in the loft. I’m quite tired but Day Nurse is helping!

Love the tunic Life and you can’t go wrong with a sailor top, I love mine. Leggings and I do not mix I am too thick of thigh