Frugaleer Festive Fun

[Unescorted]

I went to post and realised we had nearly run out of room.

old thread here

Bring the sparkle on....

Same here Unescorted - I've never been a fan of New Year's Eve. There's something a bit depressing about it. I quite like New Year's Day though. There's something new and fresh about it - a clean slate.
I like sitting down at the start of the year and looking at my calendar for the year ahead and planning holidays and events etc. Perhaps not so much this year though........

Anyway, can't really celebrate New Year's Eve even if I wanted to. No mixing with other households so it will just be me and DD. We'll have a nice dinner and a glass or two of wine (not DD obviously) and watch one of the end of year shows, but that will be the height of it.

Ditto Unescorted. I will be in bed at the normal time trying to ignore the fireworks

unescorted same here. I’ve never been a fan. Dh always wants to “do something special” but doesn’t see it’s just another night out. So if we go out we get charged to visit places which are usually free same music as normal same people....

Anyway. Takeaway tonight with the kids. And normal bedtime I think.

We were supposed to have my best friend over who is single and lives alone but because of tier 4 he can’t now. We aren’t his bubble.
DH is making a special French dinner including scallops in a butter sauce for starter and I’m making brownies with pistachio and almond brittle. Last day of drinking before dry Jan too - so we have some bubbles and I’ll ask DH to make me a negroni.
I’ve worked out a meal plan which will avoid a “big shop” until 10th Jan which I’m really pleased about. We will need a couple of fresh bits and bread but am sticking firmly to the list!!
DH is not sure what is happening at work (he is a teacher) as the government announcement was so confusing. He’s quite stressed now.
I teach at university and there’s been no announcement whatsoever it would be nice to know if we are going online only for the entire term or not.

gen ooooh scallops. yum.

i've got a bottle of bubbly in the fridge, and that'll be me until Feb as we're doing dry veganuary.

dh has done a food shop just now, and i'm venturing to iceland at lunchtime to grab the bits he couldn't (mostly frozen fruit - as their selection is better than coop and cheaper).

just had a chat with the boss. apparently we're all pretending to work today. so must get back to being fake busy....

gen there is a letter from the Minister for Universities here - it is asking unis not to bring kids back until w/c 25th. Online teaching until then unless they are medical students.

I didn't know you have a Minister for Universities - it sounds like a character from a Harry Potter book .

have spent the morning not working, but monitoring emails whilst doing some chores. have sorted DDS clothes, and need to buy her pj's i think.

listening to the thursday murder club currently which is rather good.

tayto this govt has a Minister for Paint Drying.

Afternoon everyone
Just want tp wish everyone a very Happy New Year
We are not doing anything this year either , seems to be the way most of us are going
Have bought some lovely food for tonight though , Katsu chicken , Chicken balls in batter , popcorn chicken & various dips , nibbles & crudites
My Dd2 told me to tell you we are having a beige buffet whatever that is
Unescorted l was flattered you thought l was a teacher
Gen sorry your plans have been dashed , your food sounds delicious though
We have been to Mumbobs, then shopping and petrol, £65 in Lidl's , watched Midsomer murders & now The Poseiden Adventure which we have not seen for many years so Dh is really content scoffing nuts and watching it
Wolf so sorry to hear about your Dm having problems l completely understand you feeling drained
Life am full of admiration for you doing a freezer audit and a meal plan excellent work just can't get the motivation to do it yet but l will
Em the Thursday murder club is excellent, totally agree with you
Snuggly my Dd2 is already thinking she doesn't want to go back to work on Monday but l am sure a very quiet NYE & NYD followed by a lockdown weekend and she will be only too glad to go back to work

Didn't do the freezer audit yet as had a big piece of work to do. Will do tomorrow before shopping Saturday

@ememem84

have spent the morning not working, but monitoring emails whilst doing some chores. have sorted DDS clothes, and need to buy her pj's i think.

listening to the thursday murder club currently which is rather good.

Ooh is it Em, I bought the kindle book last week but haven't started it yet.

Also heen doing chores. Got up in the mood for some spring cleaning, have cleaned all the downstairs windows and frames, done thr cooker, kitchen sink and microwave and 2 loads of washing but best of all, I have finally cleared out the Cupboard of Doom! Found a forgotten gift card, one of those that works in lots of shops inc Halfords so will use it to replace dd's bike tyre which is punctured.

Another NYE avoider here, I have never liked it. We are going to cook a nice meal and have a couple of fancy beers we got for Christmas, Sewing Bee and then probably bed. Rock n roll!

I have lost any cooking/assembling mojo I had for this evening. I cannot be arsed

Finished my book. I think that's either 3 or 4 read since Xmas day

Decorations all down and tree away. Need to put decorations in the attic cupboard on Sunday

Wellies put in new boot bags for the car as I'm sick of muddy carrier bags

Have checked what it will cost me to cancel holiday. It's between 80 and 120 depending on whether I rebook before June or not which is unlikely. Not great but better than paying the balance and then being unable to go, I think the fco advice at the moment is really unhelpful as it provides holiday makers with no option for refund or insurance claims but strongly discourages travel

Boiler is definitely leaking, I've topped it up and need to book British Gas to come back out. I told the service guy I thought it was leaking three weeks ago. He said not. Clearly he missed the massive puddle right under the feckin boiler so that'll cost me at least £50 as the call out fee plus whatever else. Grr

Wolf I sometimes feel that puddles under boilers can only be seen by women.

I need to get up and make a cottage pie.

Same dilemma here wolf. Pay and hope or lose £240. Or change to October 21. Bloody boiler.

Only time I like nye was late teens in my home town where it was a good night out. Bed early tonight as rubbish sleep yesterday

@ememem84 I’m listening to Thursday Murder Club too! On chapter 70 at the moment. DH likes it too.

I’ve made the brownie and pistachio brittle topping. It has date caramel sauce I’ll make nearer the time as it’s supposed to be served warm.
Tidied away a laundry mountain and now in the bath. After trying on lots of dresses which used to fit and found them all too tight am wearing black jeans, heels and a pretty kimono. Big earrings, red lippy. By this time next year I hope I’m back to my usual weight unless I get pregnant

gen here is hoping to you being as broad a brood mare.

Gen new year, new baby 😜! Also I'm in awe that you're dressing up. I'm in pjs and slippers!

Somehow spent £70 in Tesco's earlier after popping in to buy some emergency logs and cider for mulling tomorrow. Money and food diet to start asap (although because I'm a teacher I never start New Years resolutions until the first day of term - I'm still on holiday!!!)

I’ve put a glittery dress on and done my legs 😂 I expect I’ll be snuggled under a blanket soon as it’s cold Drawn the line at doing anything with my hair though.

Thanks for all the love guys. I’ve had various emails from my mum today about my dad, but hoping he’s in bed now so I can have a drink tonight. We’ll see what the new year brings.

2020 has been fairly kind to us. DH had covid mildly (so feel really lucky there), we got married and we survived lockdown.

We’re meant to be going to France in may half term. Not sure if we can rearrange again, whether to pay the balance £150 or just forgo what has already been spent. Even if we can go, there is the risk of quarantine still once we get back

I have everything crossed for you gen, that this new year will bring joy for you

gen fingers crossed for you xx

I’m in bed.

Happy new year everyone.

Happy new year

Happy New Year frugaleers 🥳!!

New Years resolutions for me:
• starting with RED January which will hopefully lead to more regular exercise
• read more books, less time on phone
• plan ahead for weekends to incorporate lots of free/low cost family activities
• cut out top up shops

Today we're off for a walk (haha - no surprise there!) then a bit of house-sorting and relaxing later.