Frugaleer Festive Fun

[Unescorted]

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

old thread here

Bring the sparkle on....

Last minute shop before the announcement of lockdown £77, but DD1 owes me £30 as she picked up decor things for her room.

DH drove DD2 back to Liverpool today, round trip, £75 on diesel.

Groceries due on Wednesday. No idea when DD1 will return to Uni, Cardiff.

I'm in a complete state of FMLness - as I'm sure we all are! Haven't had a minute to catch up today and because I made a stupid new year rule to leave my phone charging downstairs overnight I will have to wait til tomorrow!

January:
NSDs: 1/31
Groceries: £35.90/400
Everything else: £75.80/£350 (think I've worked out our budget for incidental spends)

life well done on getting in before the stamp duty relief comes to an end. Very frugal.

Looks like Dd will be with us for a few more weeks/ months.

So hang on. All of England is now locked down until mid feb? Woah.

Here it was announced at 5pm that from tomorrow people travelling off the island by ferry must have a negative covid test result (within 72 hours of travelling). Apprently this has super out the mockers on people trying to get out tomorrow first thing.

We sure are em as of now.
Hopefully unescorted. We've said we want to complete mid March.
Nice to have DD there though.

Think of all the nsd we can have. No where to go, nothing to do.
Shit nights sleep feeling quite down.
DS school closed today while they figure out the key worker bubbles. Which DS will be in at least one day a week.
Would have thought so sing if she could go last time she can go this.

Not sure whatlk happen here but we have 330 cases. Stark difference to a couple of weeks ago. We have a gov announcement next Monday so no doubt they’ll follow suit and lockdown.... do I have faith in our illustrious leaders? No. Not really.

Had Accupuncture yesterday and my accupuncturist said she’d spent 7 hours on the phone with gov trying to remain open. They’d classified her in the same bracket as tattooists (because needles) and therefore luxury.

She had to fight to remain open and as she is there 90% for pain management and well-being not cosmetics she was allowed to remain open.

I commented yesterday when she jabbed the needles in that it did not feel at all luxurious. She popped one in my wrist and I swore blind she’d gone all the way through and pinned me to the table....!! She hadn’t. And the needles don’t go through!

Wfh today. Dh is also wfh. So this will be interesting. I’ve staked out my place at the table and am set up with audio books.

em this is very interesting as my acupuncturist has been told to close! Why can’t they bloody be consistent!

life I thought you had completed. Fingers crossed ... get the other people in the chain to all agree the date and then you can all instruct the same date. March is busy for property solicitors.

Today is the first day of our new home open plan office - studio on one side, Yr11 in the middle and me in the boss chair in the kitchen. DH has to make himself scarce. DS is annoyed that he no longer gets snow days & it is snowing.

@Gensola

em this is very interesting as my acupuncturist has been told to close! Why can’t they bloody be consistent!

Interesting. there are acupuncturists here who have been told to close - but they are also chiropractors and are governed by a different body apparently.

because mine does 90% pain management and medical referrals i think that's why she's allowed to stay open.

i feel for you guys being locked down again. and for those of you who are now wfh and homeschooling. good luck.

@lifelongfrugaleer

Crazy day. Just spent £275000 but got £170000 coming in

Woohoo life I'm following lots of budgeting pages on instagram and have downloaded a workbook for low spend year, even though I don't plan one what with buying a house and all but I'm just thinking it might highlight anything I'm buying.

Going to make a list of sinking funds, this is inspired by my car insurance renewal coming in. I won't be renewing with them! I keep my Christmas bonus to cover car insurance. I've got €500, got a quote yesterday for €411 but when I put bf/dm on it adds €80 to the policy, they brought it down last year
This reminded me that I'll have house insurance to pay this year and I thought wouldn't it be good to pay it upfront! Only saves about €15 but they all add up.

I've some goals and new categories on my ynab but need to revise for new house/new year too.

Today I got child benefit €280 and have put it into child benefit 2021 category, going to try save most if not all of it. Might put €40 each into dc clothing categories and then save remaining €200.

I can do budget but it'll be revised again once I switch from renting to home owner.
Ynab Referral Link

mrsmadevans local milk supplier are now doing home delivery, milk and free range eggs, minimum delivery €5 but can only order eggs when getting milk delivered. Don't know if my dc will appreciate me spending twice as much as local milk as supermarket milk.

No we signed the contracts but the the chain collapsed before they were exchanged.

I didn’t know non-pain/medical acupuncture was a thing?! DH tried it for back pain.

Back to lockdown school and home ed and I really CBA. Minimal stuff on the plan for DS this week

apparently so Sing. my acupuncturist also does cosmetic procedures - so will needle under eyes or on the lips instead of fillers botox etc. not many clients though of hers apparently go for this, she's mostly medical referrals. not something i'd go for though.

€42.18 on a bedwetting alarm. There are cheaper and more expensive but this one came recommended and has great reviews.

Ds slept in my bed last night with a kylie sheet under him and a mattress protector sheet over him to protect the duvet. I woke to the sound of him peeing, he was oblivious. Worth a try.

Hope the bed wetting alarm helps Happier

Fingers crossed for the house purchase contracts life

I splurged last night on low alcohol spirits. DH thinks DD1 is drinking too much. She isn’t, she’s just doing the typical teenage/student thing. She hasn’t tried any drugs and is drinking a lot less since she dumped the boyfriend. Anyway, I’ve order gin and rum with1.3 % alcohol so that DH can stop panicking 🤦‍♀️

adorabell I'm not worried, it doesn't upset him, dd also wet the bed for quite a while. However he did 15 dry nights in Sept so I know he is capable of it. And washing kylie sheets gets wearing!
Does he think those that drink at home are on the road to alcoholism? That's what my df thinks but there's nothing wrong with drinking 5/6 pints in the pub

Happier my Dd1 was a bedwetter as was l until l was about 13. My Mother was very cruel to me and l was made to sleep in the wet sheets the next night , they were never changed the same day they dried during the day on the bed. She used to hang the wet sheets out of the front windows so all the neighbours and my friends could see. It was so humiliating. I have never forgotten . My Dd1 had an alarm when she was 7 , it took 2 nights and she made the connection. Needless to say l was totally laid back about her wetting and l would never have treated anyone the way my Mum did me . I have forgiven her but l will never forget it has scarred me for life . Apparently you have to wait till the child is 7 before the nerves from the brain to the bladder are connected. I am sure your Ds will be dry very soon

Happier my milkman does so much business it is unbelievable
Life l am so glad your house is coming to completion , wonderful stuff
Tesco this morning before goign to Mumbobs , Christmas bows, Bags, tissue paper ,cheese selection down to 1.25 , Cost 8 pounds. Then went to Boots after we came home, they have hand wash, shower gels and bubble bath reduced massively Radox & Cussons brands. I bought face masks in a set of Soap & Glory & used my points .

mrsmad after this and what you posted on another thread, I feel a lot of empathy towards you in your relationship with your dm. My brother wet the bed for many years, ds asked lately 'when would he normal' and when we discussed a double bed for new house for if friends came over, he suggested a trundle so that he wouldn't wee on them so I'd like to do what I can to help him

Ah thank you Happier it's just the way she has been all my life. She never thought about her actions and the way they would affect a child. It was always about her. Today's nugget was that she had made Our Wedding cake. My Dh put our wedding pic on Fb and she saw it and said in front of Bobbo's Dd & Dsil that she had made it. She actually believes the lies she makes up. I just agree with her now because l have had enough of her BS.
As for your Ds & you wanting to help him l think the Trundle sounds a great idea , have you heard about Desmomelts? It's a medication they use for bedwetting. Very safe and used for years now.

Said wedding cake that my darling Mother made 🙄🤣
I honestly couldn't make this crap up 🙄🤣

Beautiful cake but professionally made I assume

I know an adult that takes medication but only if she's staying overnight in someone else's house, it's an option if he doesn't grow out of it. He's 7 so I wouldn't go down that route yet.

oh Mrs that sounds tough I agree with happier this combined with what you said on the other thread makes me sad.

Dm thinks that she's ok to say harsh things to me because she loves me and its meant with kindness. the last time she said something which upset me i told her it wasn't kind. not at all.

she hasn't claimed to have made our wedding cake though....

Aw thank you both ☺️
Em l don't mean to make you sad don't worry l am fine , l have the very best DH and DDS l could ever wish for ❤️
The treatment l received has made me be the complete opposite of her and l am so glad. I am not trumpet blowing but l would never ever want to be like her it's my biggest nightmare 🤗
Yes l agree Happier there is no need to go down the med route yet . He's only 7 he will grow out if it very soon l am sure of it you are doing everything right l applaud your level headedness and compassion 💐

mrs my granny is like this with the mad stories and my Dad barely talks to her now. She literally makes stuff up and then expects everyone to go along with it. She's been like it since he was a little boy so it's not just old age!

Long walk with DH in icy wind along river. Town is deserted. DH is feeling low about lockdown but I feel fine - maybe it will hit me later. I'm mainly worried IVF will be cancelled but my clinic seems to be open as normal.