Festive Frugaleering

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[[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/4340188-Savvy-savers-sashaying-through-September old thread]

Opppppps - we nearly filled the old one

Back to work today, urgh. Banged in two lazy Jon applications, not tailored at all I just lopped 250 words off the application I did before Xmas but just interested to get some feedback on new application mechanism and figured I had nothing to lose.

Moved an amount into my penny saver and ticked off my bingo card

Ham and pea risotto for tea, ham and leftover Christmas cheese sandwich for lunch with Christmas leftover crumble slice for elevenses.

Sofa throws washed and dried.

£70 vets

£47 petrol, first time I've filled up for weeks and weeks.
Work was ok. Lots off with covid (pupils and staff). Feel like it will be a long term with a lot of disruption. Going to look at holiday lets to cheer myself up!

Nsd. DH at Pilates. Dc in bed. Watching around the world in 80 days.

Frugal fail, DH fed the dogs. Didn’t put them out to the garden. Sat down to eat dinner and one of them poohed in the kitchen.Put me right off my food so that’s in food waste I’m now eating biscuits with wine 🤦‍♀️

Well I was going to claim I’d had a NSD…but actually just remembered I spent £463 on car insurance. But for me that was a competitive quote and I had the money set by.
Also my budgeting notebook arrived and I’ve started writing daily spends.
Back to work, WFH today, wasn’t too bad.

NSD for me yay!

Hi everyone,

we did a trip to IKEA yesterday to look for shelves for DD's bedroom. She picked out a set and paid for them herself. I paid for four box inserts for them. Then we went to 'Wild Lights' at Dublin Zoo last night - we bought the tickets before Christmas. It was the last trip/event of the holidays, as DD is back at school tomorrow and I'm back at work. I've just realized that I've made it sound like we had a hectic, eventful Christmas break. Other than meeting up with family in our homes, I didn't go anywhere over the holidays. Well, unless you count the G.P.'s surgery for my booster. DD met up with friends on two separate occasions - once for shopping and ice skating and once for the cinema.

There's a lot of speculation about whether schools will re-open tomorrow as planned, due to the record level of cases and high numbers of people isolating. The Minister for Education and other government ministers are insisting that the schools will all open. But people are wondering if there will be enough teachers to ennable this to happen. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

I need to phone the orthodontist and make an appointment to get DD's bar put back on properly.

My bauble box arrived today, so I'm going to take down the tree and clear all the ornaments off my mantlepiece and cabinet and give the sitting room a good dusting and hoovering.

We know lots of people who are close contacts of Covid cases (but haven't tested positive yet), so I feel like we're playing Russian Roulette. Surely it's only a matter of time before we test positive ourselves? I tried buying some antigen tests today but they're sold out in Centra and the pharmacy. I'll try again tomorrow.

I've assembled all my medical receipts and I'm going to sit down on Saturday and put in a claim for the tax on them. My car is due for NCT (equivalent of MOT) this year, so no doubt I'll have to get some work done on the car. Whatever I can claim back from Revenue, I'll put aside for that.

Superdrug £14 today. Didn’t have a bought breakfast but traded in my free drink, £3 milk cub at work

I love my bauble box Tayto it's made Christmas simpler and tidier

Online shop arrived today £65 but missing important items so will need top up. £20 moved into interim savings to represent the saving against this week's shopping allowance. If I don't need it before the end of the month it'll go into the isa

£30 for dnephew birthday

Have put loaf of bread in breadmaker - aiming to use ingredients up rather than buy bread until ingredients are done

£90 refund coming for theatre

Moved an amount into my penny saver and ticked off my bingo card

Good luck with the job applications wolf gotta be in it to win it. Also impressed with your bingo savings card, keep at it
Tayto I wouldn't want to be a head teacher at the moment, trying their best against the odds to keep things running, what a nightmare. Sounds like you've had fun with dd.
Serious frugal win here tonight. Our Virgin package has been on a 12 month fix at £94. That was due to end next week and was going up to £116. Then we got a letter yesterday saying there would be another increase of £8.50 a month from April, so £125 altogether from £94. I rang them to see what they could offer as we're not prepared to pay that & without any negotiating was offered £91 a month for 18 months (no other increase and improved BB speed). Scandalous really that that is possible, but I am chuffed. Btw it is pricey for us because of having the sports channels, which in this family is considered essential!
Stunned the men of the house with veggie cottage pie last night! It was bloody lovely if I do say so myself. Tonight was back to the meat with chicken and chorizo fajitas (added coriander from the bottom of the fridge which went down well)
£70 on a tank of diesel today.

I need to google bauble boxes!

Tayto they had the bauble boxes on Stephs lunch and Ed Balls was on there playing around with it lol , they look brilliant tbf ! I love Ikea there has been a lot of noise about them putting up their prices latelybut l still think it is a good price there
You & your Dd had a lovely Christmas from the sound of it
Great saving North well done !
Wolf well done on the frugal penny saver and bingo
I have spent £40 on cards and presents for 2 birthdays
Also 32 on nightdresses from Marks , 2 for my DD1 for her birthday and the other 2 for my Bff 60th , have sent her an Orchid from Marks as well
www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-printed-short-nightdress/p/clp60523552?color=NAVYMIX
www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-zebra-nightdress/p/clp60523702?color=ANTIQUEROSE#intid=carousel_FUNH_AT_PHOENIX-SIMILAR_END_PDP_16_0:8146bbf1-87ff-4147-9334-8e0122b33937
for my Dd1
and www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-floral-short-nightdress/p/clp60523575?color=GREYBLUE#intid=carousel_FUNH_AT_PHOENIX-SIMILAR_END_PDP_16_2:01990223-9e83-4743-ae1a-7c65df8b5d85
www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-star-nightdress-flatpack/p/clp60523574?color=OATMEAL#intid=carousel_FUNH_AT_PHOENIX-SIMILAR_END_PDP_16_0:177d96b4-858b-4485-b7c4-cdae1bf89c36
for my Bf birthday
I thought they were very good for the price 8 pounds each .

Mrs in my sleepy state I read that as you bought 32 night dresses!

Paid off big chunk of credit card today, thought I should while I have the money in my account otherwise I'll spend it! January needs to be a lean month!!

@HumbugWhale

Mrs in my sleepy state I read that as you bought 32 night dresses!

Paid off big chunk of credit card today, thought I should while I have the money in my account otherwise I'll spend it! January needs to be a lean month!!

Sort of thing l would think Humbug Well done on the CC payoff

I also read 32 nightdresses. That’s practically one a day. 😂

Ds is a direct contact of a positive case at nursery. The kid in question is asymptomatic. And both her parents have also been struck down with what we’re terming the “super cold” aka not covid. So they’re laid up wanting to rest and trying to keep a small person in isolation. I’ve wished good luck and might send alcohol.

I want a bauble box. Nearly bought one but it wouldn’t have arrived in time. A next Christmas purchase.

@ememem84

I also read 32 nightdresses. That’s practically one a day. 😂

Ds is a direct contact of a positive case at nursery. The kid in question is asymptomatic. And both her parents have also been struck down with what we’re terming the “super cold” aka not covid. So they’re laid up wanting to rest and trying to keep a small person in isolation. I’ve wished good luck and might send alcohol.

I want a bauble box. Nearly bought one but it wouldn’t have arrived in time. A next Christmas purchase.

The bauble boxes are fab

sing some good charity shop bargains there
wolf sounds very cosy and organised in your house
floating hope you are ok after booster
adora good bargains, I’m staying away from sales sadly!
granny I hope the funeral planning is going ok
north good news on the mortgage, 6 years isn’t long! Your increase to ft will be paying off
mrs glad you had a lovely day out
em weather has been grim here too
humbug- I hope you are ok, it must be so tiring coping with all the Covid sickness and changes
My frugal contribution is two new bank accounts. A switch to nationwide (recommended by money saving expert) with bonus of £100 which will pay for family meal out this weekend with DPs family. Cost £13 a month but includes mobile insurance for all of us, travel insurance and breakdown cover. Also a new account with Tesco which I’m going to use just for food and petrol shop. No overdraft so if I overspend I’ll have to transfer money from savings to cover, I’m hoping that makes me more mindful.

Thank you Martha, I think we have all just decided to roll with the punches this term and be kind to ourselves and not worry if some things don't get done!

Mrs if you did have 32 nighties you would save on washing powder

Thank you Martha 😊
You sound in great control well done!
Did a little shop in Tesco , 7 pounds . Then bought a new table runner and 4 place mats from Marks for next Christmas, also 4 Christmas eggs cups for 5. So 11 in all . I needed new egg cups and a table runner and placemats but l will use them all year round , plain red lacy pattern 😊
Humbug l absolutely agree with you re the letting it all roll with the punches . I am keeping my Christmas decs and tree up until l feel like taking them down 😂 l would be sufficiently clothed with nightwear if l bought the 32 lol l wonder if my nightwear would outlive me lol 😂😂😂

Nsd. Yay

Am tired today though. It’s been a long week.

Nursery sent email today saying they might have to run at shorter hours next week re covid cases amongst staff. 6 off so far. Eek.

I’ve also put in holidays for this year. I get 24 days. (Pro rated because 4 days a week). Have booked oct half term. The last week of august. The first day of school. And that’s it so far. Have also thought more sensibly and have bought 10 days extra. So I won’t need to panic if I need more time off re Christmas or whatever.

Will buy extra for next year too.

Tax forms completedProbate sent off, eulogy written & discussed with Minister, life assurance claimed and all pensions notified. The hardest thing was choosing the music

NSD for us but £££s for funeral, death cert fees and probate fees

Need to dig out something smart to wear. Have lived in leggings/joggers since retirement

So in my sandwich experiment the ham joint was £4.50 in the 50% off post Christmas sale. It's done two main meals for two. Two days of sandwiches for two and one day of sandwiches for 1, omlette for 1. I don't think that's bad at that price.

Moved an amount into my penny saver. Moved my theatre refund into my isa. Did a good deal of 8 chicken thighs exchanged for 6 eggs with df

Kitchen floor swept and washed and two loads of washing done

Need to try and take my rings for insurance valuation tomorrow before the good jewellers in town shuts down

Contributed £10 to a colleagues collection so that was an unplanned spend

Next weeks sandwich experiment is chicken breasts

Well done granny that can't have been easy
Martha we have that bank account. The insurance benefits are good
Wolf that's a great success with the ham, well worth doing.
Em well done on getting the leave sorted

Nothing so spectacular as last night's Virgin win, but only £15 top up shop. Our cleaner (who is a friend) has just had an op and is awaiting another so we decided to do some home cooking /baking for her. So it's lentil soup, fresh bread rolls and brownies. I'll take them round tomorrow.
Bolognese from freezer tonight for tea, spare brownies for pud.
I'm looking at Hello Fresh for the next 2 weeks (3 meals each week I think). I've got an offer which will work out at £10 a meal inc delivery. I'm going to be up to my neck in study for the next fortnight so it seems like good timing.
We can only reserve our new mortgage deal 90 days in advance, so 24 days to go or pay an early repayment charge of £670. Playing a waiting game at the moment.

The bauble box is brilliant. Only thing is, the lid just sits on top of it - it doesn't fasten onto the box at all. Not an issue for me 'cos I'm just putting the box under my bed. But it wouldn't work if I was trying to lift it up into the attic. The lid would slip off and the baubles would all come tumbling out. So be careful if you're buying one and read the reviews.

Next year I'm buying the reels for the Christmas tree lights .

Back at work today (working from home) but it was very quiet. I'd say it will be Monday before we're really back in the swing of things. We've new staff starting soon. This is the first time we've had new staff since before Covid. I'm not sure how that will go - it will be a challenge for their team leaders to train them in and mentor them. Also, we've a rota system and we're in and out on different days. It will be difficult for the new staff to meet everyone and get to know us - and vice versa, of course.

The weather is really awful here today and there's a weather warning for snow and ice for tonight. DD usually walks home from school with her friends. I only collect her if it's raining (and if I'm at home). Just as school was ending, the sky got really dark and it started lashing. I jumped in the car and drove down quickly. She'd started walking but didn't have to walk too far before I reached her. DD said there were lots of pupils missing due to Covid and some teachers also.

Managed to buy some antigen tests in the pharmacy. They're still sold out in Centra.

I've made an appointment with DD for the orthodontist for tomorrow. Still need to arrange a booster for her.

Dinner was real comfort food - mash, sausages and sweetcorn. Smothered in gravy.

I ordered a gratitude journal the other day. You write down three things you're grateful for each day. I'm going to leave it beside my bed every night. At the risk of sounding like Pollyanna, I thought it might be good to end each day on a positive note. Today's three things I'm grateful for:-

a roof over my head to keep me dry
home heating oil to keep me warm
lots of food
bauble box

I think 32 nightdresses should be the name of the next thread .