Festive frugaleering - Merry Christmas, and a happy 2019 to you all.

[AutumnLeaves12]

Welcome to the new thread!

Is it not on All 4 still?

North that’s really cheeky. I’d tell him to shove his mattress. It’s not frugal to pay for something you don’t really want

Tayto I work from home for at least 50% of my working week, sometimes 75%. I always have a hot water bottle and always wrap up warm. I got an Irish knitted Aran wrap/scarf thing for Christmas which I’m hoping will help a bit

Theatre was ace, even better for being reduced. I also managed to get 51% off dinner at one of our favourites so £27 for dinner including good tip, £5.10 drinks at theatre £5.00 ice cream £6 parking

Laska I know a lovely dark skies site in Northumberland that’d be lovely in a camper van (enabling)

Sneaky gws

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and frugal 2019 with lots of joy and laughter.

I really hope my red infected eye feels better tomorrow and that no-one else catches it.

If the 2 cake tin hasn't been claimed yet, I could use it next month for ds and then pass it along to someone else afterwards.

Moi it is yours!

I really like one of the new Boden dresses. I am absolutely not spending £95 on it

Also (in addition to saving for a house down payment and hopefully finding a new job where we'd like to live long-term since DH's family is there), we're each going to try the 52-week challenge (saving £1 this week, £2 next week, and so on) towards a car if we end up staying where we are. For the environment we know it's better that we don't have one, but the logistics where we are now are tough sometimes. So we'll see.

Oh cheers Unescorted I'll pm you.

Tell me about the bloody dark skies in Northumberland!!! I took the dogs for a donder for my last 2k steps...turns out the 650 lumen light I had on me was absolutely flat. Ffs. Okay, so the path is v straight and flat as it's a disused railway line. But very creepy in the pitch black. Like not a single light heading west. Had to rely on Clays new light collar, it was like being at a dodgy rave, it's like a necklace glo stick but a green led. An he does not stay on the path!

My wellies give me a blister under my heel, so instead of buying new posh walking shoes straight away, I've dug out my too big Asics to wear instead. I'll see how long I go before I buckle and buy the Merrells I have picked out.

Have cleared and sorted about 1/8 of my bedroom. Found a brand new unworn pair of Clarks Funny Dreams and I have a feeling I might come across a navy pair too

Just petrol yesterday. I spend a lot on petrol. Elderly parent visiting idea a tank about every 10 days.
Fluffy i always smile when you but petrol at £10 and it seems to last you aged
Em you still have pound notes. I didn't know that
Did a freezer inventory. Reckon there are the main ingredients for about 70 meals. So that's a challenge
Today should be N SD

I've had an idea that I could make a little bit of money by buying musical instruments on ebay, fixing them up and selling them on. I made £150 on the one I did last year. I'm going to ponder it a bit.

The music shop says my clarinet is barely passing its MOT, so I'm trying to work out how to save for a new one, before I get to playing well enough that the instrument is the limiting factor rather than me.

Seems like both of these activities would keep me usefully occupied at home while I recover from whatever it is.

Just realised I will need to do a 2 cake soon. Or 2X2 cakes. I might just do a 4

Welcome back Nobuts.
I hope your day is better today Wreck.

Plan for today is to put any Xmas jumpers, pj's, socks etc that will still fit someone next Xmas into the loft and tackle the mildew in the bathroom. Fun! Then I really need to start getting ready for the new term and plan some lessons etc.

Have woken up with dsis cold. Hoorah.

But oh well. Off we go for another day. I’ll see how I go today and will make sure I get an early night tonight.

Washing has just finished. 😉

Ds is awake and singing. 😂

Back to work for me today. Quite looking forward to being out of the house. Dh and I are meant to be having a day out tomorrow but looks like I'll be going without him (the car is going for a service and we were taking the opportunity to have a day together).

How is your dh's job going Wreck? It always sounds as though his boss is a bit tough on him, especially with giving him no pension.

He's had two weeks off over Christmas but did a couple of days as overtime

I actually don't know if I can get past this. It's the second time he's done it in a month. It's one thing screaming at me like that but another doing in front of the dc. Plus he's shown no remorse. My mum used to argue a lot with my first step dad and eventually he hit her in front of us. Even before that happened I remember how awful the arguing was and that was when I was aged 3-6 I think.

Oh dear. That's not good. I'm sorry that you went through that and that you're dealing with this now.

Does your husband have a strong mentor in his life that you could go to, to get help with it?

Norththat s so mean,, they didnt even pay for it, you dont profit from family..I'd give it back, even if you have to drive all the way with it..

We are lucky to have dark skies here also Lonely wolf and unescorted (on the park of the island we live ) Looking forward to being able to go somewhere really north , like Norway.. We actually might get a van this year !!
unescorted..now I am partially retired , I have foud that the housing stress has faded so much... quite strange since its been myn career for so long ..in fact I am hardly bothered about work things work at all anymore

So id did buy some things in the Hush sale and spent £135 , but they wont all be kept.. I think I was v frugal not buying one v expensive pair (£200 but well reduced even so ) pair of leather leggings I would have liked but then also remembered that I am 61 and do need to diet again

I am off to mainland today we are slowly clearing out DMs stuff but its a sad business..

Wreck

I think my eye is getting better? Just showered and cleaned it that hurt like a motherfucker and have taken tablet one of five for today.

wreck sorry to hear about your DH troubles. my exh was like that, sadly it got to the stage where i just felt I was walking on eggshells all the time.. I hope you ( and he) can get some help

rightwayup yes petrol, when i was visiting DM all the time we were using so much more petrol and we got through a book of 40 car ferry tickets (we live IOW) in no time.. I hope your elderly parent is not doing so badly and you also..its a very hard and stressful time supporting them.

Wrecked, just remember that you DON'T HAVE to accept the behaviour. That's really important. That applies to people that suffer with MH issues too. I rarely go to the GP, but I did offload once, when DH was at his worst. She told me that even factoring outside influences in - bad behaviour is simply this. It's a hugely important this to remember - you do not have to accept anything that makes you or your dc unhappy.

Waves at Laska. Not even looking at Hush.

North - you are paying someone £150 for something they received freely and that you do not want. That's the fact of the matter. Really cheeky.

£60 coming from Ocado. £10 of this is milk for work.

That will be it for the day, operation clean the house post Christmas is on.

Hi jam yes dont look. Bad idea.
I agree wreck ,my ex had Mh issues but was also a v angry person and a bully.. It took me a (far too) long- time to realise that he was also abusive and used his depression as an emotional tool .. You dont have to put up with bad behaviour..

Wreck I've been thinking in the last 6 months or so that you seem to be having an incredibly hard time financially. Is that right? Is it possible that the stress is getting hard for your dh?

I agree with jam about not tolerating bad behaviour. I find that if I put my foot down about bad behaviour like that there is usually some huge worry going on underneath, that can then be addressed.

I could really see how that could be after the year that you've had, if I've be understanding your situation rightly.

Sorry if I am misunderstanding.

We're fine financially really. We can afford day to day bills. The thing is otherwise he's fine obviously we have our issues but I feel like I'm overreacting really as he's not usually like it

Morning all

Sneaky glad you are starting to improve

I haven’t watched last night’s Luther yet so may do double-bubble tonight and scare myself to death

We need to go and buy replacement school shoes. This really pisses me off as I only ever buy good/perfectly fitting (and therefore expensive because ds has my weird feet) school shoes and some child has the other shoe whether accidentally on purpose. There is nothing actually wrong with them so really I am just spending money I shouldn’t have to

Wreck go and do something nice for yourself tomorrow because you deserve to have a nice day.

Rightway that’s an awful lot of petrol spend! I used to do that when I commutes over the hills every day for two years. I think I did a tank a week at least (capacity 600miles)