Friendly Frugaleers Festive Preparations and Financial Accountability

[Wolfcub]

New Fred

Thanks guys. It probably sounds awful but I’m fully expecting dgm to be back in hospital by the end of the week.

I know her home will provide excellent care for her but she’s a stubborn one and refuses to listen. Or do what she’s told - ie she refuses to drink anything. Apparently no one (a dr) told her to...

Anyway. We just wait and see. Dm is flappy in her own way. She’s apparently made a lot of food. Lasagne for dinner tonight three desserts.... her coping mechanism.

Subject changing. Saw an ad on fb for a local yoga studio. Have downloaded their app and am looking at whether I can fit yoga into my weekly routine once I go back to work. Studio is round the corner from the office so potentially doable.

Ah that's different then em. The home can arrange a gp visiting to have stern words with her. That's totally within their gift.

Great news on the party North.

Right need to shift my butt.

I do not want to get out of a warm bed just to have to stand in a muddy field in the rain but I have to bloody kids bloody sporting commitments

Cupcakes look fab
Sorry to hear your dgm is unwell and ye are worried for her care em
Girlie hope dds periods settle
Unescorted wow big decision regarding Christmas
This is my first year doing Christmas dinner for me and dc only, last year planned it as normal & on Christmas Eve night h said he wouldn't be there for dinner. I love turkey stuffing dinner so I'll still be making it just on a smaller scale
Wreck did upgrade cost any money upfront? Sounds like you got a great deal & the money for your old phone will help too

€30 approx on drinks Friday night bf paid for taxis & whatever else we drank
€12.50 on lunch yesterday
€12 on washing clothes
€1.80 on newspaper
€37 diesel on fuel card payable mid Dec
€25 on Milanos, rest was my Tesco boost vouchers
€9.60 on three slush puppies & 3 kinder eggs

We've got a mouse in dds room & I do suspect attic so I must set traps today
Dd joined me at some stage during the night as she spotted mouse & ds came in this morning, I had hoped for a lie in, they both had a second sleep but I didn't

Bf was calling my phone from his night out at about 3am I didn't answer but it did wake me. It was only vibrating not ringing so not a big deal.

Happier nothing upfront.

Ds has football today and I'm staying home with dd to do the housework. Going to cook a roast later too.

happier thanks. It’s difficult because we’re not there and cant get there quickly. Although I’m more worried for Dm if I’m honest. She always feels guilty when this sort of thing happens. But at least the flights only an hour.

In theory she could get there same day if needed - it’d cost a fortune but for things like this money doesn’t matter.

When we went to see dgm in March I felt happy she was in the best place. So I don’t doubt the home will take great care of her. I think from their perspective they’d have preferred more time to get prepared but they’ve said they can deal so they obviously can.

From what DMs said one of the staff slept in dgms place last night - she has a small studio apartment set up so has her own privacy and not just a room iyswim. So someone was with her to help her if she needed anything.

Dh has gone off to yoga class. Dd is sleeping ds is on the couch with me. We’re having morning coffee (coffee for me and hot milk for ds) in “big boy” cups and lemon cake. Also watching peppa pig.

That's fantastic wreck
*
Em* that sounds good about your dgm's care

Hope everyone has had a good Sunday! I've just done a sort out of fridge and cupboards... would really like not to get a main shop this week. Meal plan will look something like this:
M: soup and crusty rolls
T: sausage and butternut squash tray bake with broccoli
W: risotto (chicken carcass stock and some bnut squash)
T: freezer tapas
F: pasta bolognaise (from freezer)
S: curry (from freezer)

Sunday I've booked a delivery and it will be 1st of December 😱!
S: curry

em, sorry to hear about your dgm, but it sounds like a good plan is in place.

Yesterday was a bit spendy
Hair cuts for me and dd2 £48.90
Primark £10
Lunch £7.20
Lush £7
Superdrug £28.24
Wilkos £7.25
But it was all things that I needed only a couple of wants!

NSD today

€19.75 in local centra shop on a very varied shop 4 mouse traps, 3 chicken fillets, 2 packs of gel pens & pack of colouring pencils

£103 in garden centre. Ffs. I only went in to collect my membership card and to get dh some vouchers. So £50 vouchers.

The rest was Christmas cups, stars for the tree, napkins, some owls and something hedgehogs.

I took ds with me. This explains the additional spend. Must remember not to take an excitable two year old to the shiny glittery Christmas section.... especially as I need no excuses to buy decorations....

Hey Everyone! 👋

I've been awol for a while, been so,so busy, can't really say what with but just life 🤷🏻‍♀️

We've found a lovely builder and he's really helping us with the work that we need completed, we've now got windows and electricians and chippies on site. Money is so tight and we are trying to eek out every penny in order to get as much work finished as possible. After months of living on a building site it's such a relief that things are now moving again.

Christmas plans are in full swing, almost all
Gifts are purchased and dd1 is helping me with the food planning and wrapping so that's a bonus, trying not to go crazy with food this year, so the children have chose a Chocolate dessert from m&s and a cheesecake. Dd1 and I do some baking on Christmas Eve and it's a time we really enjoy.

January I will be fully embracing frugality as ds2 will be turning 17 and starting driving lessons, which will cost a fortune but really help me out with pick ups and drops for both dds once he has his licence.

Sorry to hear of anyone having a hard time right now, and everyone with poorly relatives.

Sorry to hear about your grandma em I think they generally try and get the elderly back home asap as generally they're safer there than in hospital!!

We've had a nice but busy day, there was a Christmas fair on in town so went to that. Bought a couple of Christmas presents and dd had a go on a couple of rides £30.

Went to Aldi this afternoon £38

Cooked a roast dinner tonight and baked some banana bead, got enough chicken for a couple more meals.

Dd is doing better today, Ystd she was very tired and grumpy bless her. Lap is your dd on iron tablets? I'm wondering if I should get dd some.

I did wonder that girlie sad that that could be the case though!

Anyway. Tomorrow is a new week. So hopefully things are better.

I’ve made a list of things which need doing. And have allocated myself time to do some quick wins tomorrow. Or to start the process on some things. Dropping dh in to work tomorrow morning then ds with dparents. While there I’ll ask Dm or Df to give Dd her bottle and will settle in and do some quick emails.

Some are scary “spend money to save money” emails. Ie energy efficiency audit on house. We get a grant of £200 towards this. But have to pay the rest. Then any works which we decide to have done.

She is yes girlie she was prescribed them and they’ve made a huge difference. She was so run down and miserable. And her periods are now normal.

I did start giving her a supplement before she had the blood test but then I heard that having too much iron can be pretty bad too so we stopped until we found out she was definitely anaemic. Maybe ask for a test? And otherwise maybe a multivitamin with iron rather than a higher separate dose?

I’ve been buying Kpop merchandise on eBay. Christmas is easy for DD this year :o assuming it all gets here on time that is. It’ll keep for her birthday though if not.

Hi Camden! Good to see you and so happy to hear your building work is finally getting sorted. I know you've had a really rough time with it.

Morning all.

Back to the big city today. I am sooo fed up of travel and hotels

Em that sounds like a good plan

Camden great news that the building work is underway hopefully you will be watertight and airtight soon

Hi Camden, that is great news!

Morning all. Monday again!

I was woken up by catface at 530. A big meow and a face pat. Nice.

Both dc are still sleeping (for now).

Morning
£54 Matalan yesterday
£30 physio today.
Holding for black Friday for oven, TV and now DD wants an I pad. It's the only thing she has asked for so that's ok. Bye bye savings

£5 selling a back pack,

Great news on the house progress Camden, that must be a huge relief and takes so much pressure off you and DH.

Yesterday I tried to deep clean the bedroom and found the vacuum cleaner has no suction whatsoever. Bag was completely full and I suspect the cleaner has been using it like that for a while so it might be knackered. I’ve changed the filters and it’s still not working.

Tumble dryer also not working. It’s a really crap one though so I’m not sure it’s worth trying to fix, might just be time to bite the bullet and get a new one. I am going to try and get the Miele vacuum fixed though. Grrr! So much expense at the moment, I can feel my savings trickle away rapidly!

North yes it is Art.
Madden what do you include in your freezer tapas?
Sea Look for a local repair person - we have an amazing guy here who Keeps all sorts going, way beyond their designed life. He is really cheap too - £10 to get my Kenward back working. He suggested the total defrost of the fridge freezer - free. The washing machine was un repairable due to all the sand / mud in the motor - but he came out and had a look for nothing.

Quick check in... no one has interrupted my lunch break... yet

Great news camden on things progressing. Is your DH doing better now things are getting there, I recall he was struggling?

Our freezer may be on it’s way out. Emptied the food we wanted to eat into the inside freezer, and left the rest. Currently avoiding going to see if it is properly done. We’ve had it 10 years and second hand so it’s done us well.

My frugal (ish) win of the weekend was buying the DC’s their kindles from Argos rather than Amazon for Christmas. I paid in full with nectar points (took about 2 years to collect them though). I now have 64p of nectar points left.

Love that was great going
Camden Great news that ye have work progressing must be a relief.

On lunch in middle of a very busy teaching day.
Meal plan for this week:

Pasta with salmon and broccoli and cream cheese
Veggie burgers, salad, sweet potato wedges
Spicy rice with aubergine, courgette and veggie sausages
Baked aubergines with yoghurt and couscous
Frozen pizza and salad
Mushroom “orzo” Risotto with salad
Hmm quite carb heavy

We are loving shopping in Lidl, their veg etc seems very good quality and lasts well. We found Aldi a bit hit and miss.

I have joined Team RH which is an online fitness and health programme recommended on a different thread and I’m having to track all my food which is an eye opener!! I realised my meals are actually very healthy and have good macros but snacking and booze are my absolute downfall. So I am working on those and on getting my steps up in a new, more sedentary job.
Hospital on thursday, not long now.