Morning all, I've been keeping up with the thread just about but busy with work etc so haven't been replying. There have been lots of Christmas spends here, we save throughout the year but there always seem to be bits that come up which aren't really planned for. Spent about £100 in Tesco over the last week somehow, secret Santa presents, a few boxes of nice chocolates for some distant family who I always forget to budget for, chocolates for DS' nursery staff, wrapping paper as I didn't have any left from last year, it all adds up! We're doing okay though and today is payday so yippee. If we can get through to the next January payday in budget I'll be very pleased. Christmas presents are all done now so it's just a few outings, we're visiting Santa next week which is already paid for but might grab fish and chips on the way home as it's late for DS' dinner. Then the next day we have the pantomime which again is already paid for but deciding whether or not to push the boat out and go for dinner after, it's the afternoon show so again trying to get home to cook after will be very late dinner for DS. So would be nice to go somewhere, I do have a few Clubcard vouchers so maybe a discounted pizza express.
DH has said he'd like to host his family for a buffet between Christmas and new year, I've added a load of party food to our Aldi click and collect for next week and it has come to £50 which I think for 15 people is quite good. But again another unexpected expense as we hadn't planned to do it. It will be nice though and they are hosting us for various get togethers over the next couple of weeks.
We were meant to have DS' swimming lesson this morning but got in the car to find the handbrake is stuck on so we couldn't go. Made waffles to cheer DS up as he was very disappointed. Used my work breakdown cover which I've never used before, called at 9.30 and they were here by 10.30! Looked at the car and said it needs to go to the garage so they've towed it to the local garage who hope to squeeze it in today or tomorrow. An inconvenience but very impressed with the service, frugal win as I was looking at calling out a local mechanic before I remembered the breakdown cover. Fingers crossed it's not an expensive fix.
Visiting my parents this weekend to exchange Christmas presents etc, should be lovely, think we're doing something Christmassy one day and it should be a low spend weekend for us apart from fuel there and back. Then a little Christmas party at DH's SIL when we're home on Sunday afternoon.