Frugal the flip to make the festivities fun

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Wasn’t going to be flip but decided to be polite
46 days or so

don’t panic frugaleers

Sorry to hear about all the poorly DC and people in general, get well soon! Pleased your DS was back in school today Em good it's not Covid but hope you feel better soon Curls.

Socathe sometimes only a takeaway will do the job.

Yesterday was £4.45 Tesco for lunch at work. So sick of WFH in the winter months, I've got access to a warm office with free parking and am headed back there tomorrow. I do use fuel but likely saving that on central heating as we are all up and out by 8am. Was so cold today even though I ran the heating for two hours. Total first world problem, but I can't concentrate.

Spent on Christmas last night £60 (in budget)

Today DH spent £38 on new work trousers plus £5 and £4 at Aldi and Coop. He's been on a day off so spends a bit more.

Being rude and not caught up quick post for my spends today was £2 bus fare to work and £2 bus fare home. So a good LSD and the only spends were unavoidable.

DD back at nursery today without issue, both her ears are infected but DH thinks it's viral and she wasnt complaining of pain and no temp so phew. And good news, my DM was discharged from hospital today phew.

I spent on a few Christmas presents yesterday much
need to do a Matalan order as 20% off everything for Black Friday
that’s it, no other spends planned

good to hear Mam is home and boo Covid

£2.10 bus to work. Bag is packed with coffee breakfast and snacks for the day. Only in until 2 today. Then may catch up with some work at home once the kids are settled.

I have three weeks left until our trip and so so much work to do!

today I’m channeling 90’s vibes with my outfit. Silk wrap dress. Tights. Boots. And a black chunky roll neck jumper on top. Comfy. Cosy. 90’s

Thought I’d be clever and get mine and the kiddos visas done for nz and Australia. Brought their passports in and everything.

turns out I need to have photos of the kids. Sigh. So whilst I can do mine via the app and save about £20. I can’t do the kids this way… bugger. Plan foiled. Curses.

£2.85 flat white I. Coffee shop.

Morning all

Catching up after a few days break now the anesthetist brain fog has finally gone.

I'm getting a bit better each day although have a slight infection so I have antibiotics. Getting into a routine now of once DC are at school I get myself ready aka put fresh pyjamas on 🤣 and have one task to achieve in the morning then lunch then naptime for.me before DC come home! I'm managing to do a bit more every day. Still no results though. I'm thinking they may be delayed due to the Postal strikes this week and next week maybe.

Will try to tag people apologies if I miss anyone i can't scroll back without losing place.

weight sorry to hear about your DM. Is she in hospital still. I was worried about the state of the NHS when I was in for my op. Everyone was so friendly but completely short staffed they were having to get care home staff to help with elderly people.

I was sent home 15 hours post op I literally couldn't stand on my own and was sobbing saying I didn't feel ready to leave but they needed the bed. They tried to send me home the day of the surgery but the surgeon put her foot down and said I was to stay!

gen hope your mum is ok too

socathe takeaway on a Monday sounds wonderful you are lucky, all takeaways round here are close on a Monday except bank holiday Monday

Uurgh posted too soon....

kessie was selling on vinted easy I really need to do it. I'm worried things won't sell as there is so much on there how do you know people will choose yours?

Who is it whose finished the rental house can't remember name but well done!

em boo to the photo visa thing but you are rocking that outfit

@Decafflatteplease so far it's been easy. I'm not adding anything else until these sales have gone through. The buyer buys a postage option and you get a shipping label. So no working out postage costs. Yesterday tried to send via Evri machine at our Coop. Literally two mins walk from our house. However there was no QR code so I've had to print at the office. That's a little barrier. I'm headed home to try to post this afternoon. Will let you know! You get five working days to send so at least I've had that time to work this out!

@Decafflatteplease we have quite a few options on a Monday but our usual Chinese was closed, clearly we really wanted it as I drove a few miles to go to one which was open!

I've spent about £6 on food at work the last couple of days. I've been on another training course the last couple of weeks and I've been very good at taking my own lunch rather than using the work canteen so £6 is a win to be honest as in the past I would have spent much more! The canteen there is cheap and easy so it's v tempting.

Finished for the week now, DS and I are off to stay at my parents' for a couple of nights so we will be provided for for a few days which is nice. Hopefully will just spend the petrol to get there and back (120 miles ish each way). DS is a bit under the weather still so fingers crossed he perks up. Nursery say he's been fine there, but he's not been sleeping well with his cough so he's tired.

@Decafflatteplease it was me, well dh mostly who finished the rental. Thanks for the well done!

Had a valuation today, very positive. They seem confident someone will be in by Christmas as the market is very buoyant here.

Still feeling rough but the coughing and sneezing has slowed down. But I did set myself back this afternoon. Had my next laser tattoo removal session. Got home and that was it, shivering, dizzy, I’ve slept on and off. Feeling much better now but I’m guessing jamming my arm with a laser has sent my body into a bit of shock, oops!

Hoping a good nights sleep will sort me out and I’ll be fit for work tomorrow.

Decaf You sound like you are recovering really well which is great. Glad you're getting the naps in too! My DM was discharged home from hospital yesterday thankfully and is feeling much better. She is supposed to be having surgery sometime within the next few weeks but still waiting for the op date.

Curls You must be so relieved to have the rental sorted now!

Spends:
£2 bus fare to work
£2 donation for the charity bake sale at work and I got a doughnut out of it. DH was going to pick me up from work so I figured I'd spent what I would otherwise have done on my bus home, and for a good cause. And doughnut more enjoyable than bus ride! So an LSD again even if half of it was not a necessity.

Tomorrow should be another LSD fingers crossed. Would like to take the kids to playgroup but depends how bad the weather is as it's a long walk. Then got my blood test in the afternoon.

Keep taking it easy decaf,
yeah for the rental being ready

did more Black Friday Christmas shopping yesterday and have a list

I made a Green Friday purchase this morning 40% off a refurbished iphone 8. I have a 7 and it's grand but charging it constantly and it only has 32gb storage so is always full. €264.99 on a 256gb iphone 8. I bought on Klarna so interest free, 3 payments, my first time to use it. Into my budget now €22 per week for next 8 weeks to pay it off. I want to stay on rolling 30 day contract sim free.

I'm twitching over buying my vitamins on black friday there is only 10% off though. I've been making do with effervescent ones from aldi/lidl for last while and i'm not suffering really.

Need to buy runners for either dd who has taken mine or myself and let her keep the ones she stole

weight that was a win really getting doughnut out of bus fare
socathe the want for Chinese was strong so!

I didn't feel like making either of my hellofresh meals last night so just had a sausage sambo. I'm loving lidl bakery multiseed cob lately.

€6.60 on cheese in local shop, forget to get it in lidl on tues. Oh well I do like to support local shop too

I noticed dogfood there was €13, I used to get this for €8 on special offer in Dunnes last year, it had crept up to €11 but this is a significant jump. Just checked Dunnes online and it's still €10.50 there so I'm afraid local shop is going to lose out.

Thanks all.

I'm on my own with our youngest tomorrow for the first time since the op, bit nervous tbh! Have bought a couple of new toys that hopefully we can sit on the couch or at the table to do mainly orchard toys they are a hit here. I think the main problem is I can't get to the floor so can't do train track or things like that which is the most requested toy ATM! I'm also planning a film afternoon so I can doze on the couch.

It's meant to be sunny tomorrow so I wanted to go the park but I'm not up to pushing the buggy/lifting into a swing etc. That makes me sad ☹️ however we will get in the garden hopefully DC can play mud kitchen and I can watch. Also got some spring bulbs to plant if DH lifts the pots onto the bench tonight so no lifting for me.

In frugaleering news I think I've already said this but I've started getting parcels delivered to a parcel shop rather than our house as it's only round the corner, is an excuse for a short walk and you get 50p to £2 off which adds up. And not sure if this is all places but ours give you 10 days to collect so plenty of time. Majority of presents are from vinted or boots 3 for 2 this year. My older ones want cash so that's easy 🤣 have got them little presents aswell of course!

Hi all, I joined the previous thread then kinda dropped off the face of the earth 😬 life got in the way and we've been slammed with constant cough, colds, viruses and whatever else. Yay for having two school aged children!
We've also been having some minor building work done so downstairs is all coming together for Christmas.
I just want to look around for some decor for the living room now (all in budget).
On the plus side, I finally had a gynaecology appointment and they've put me on the waiting list for diagnostic laparoscopy.

Spending hasn't been too bad considering everyone. We've recently paid for a UK break early next year £350 (first one since before COVID) and bought a Preloved 3 piece suite which is in immaculate condition for £240. Also had necessary electric work done (£450) and materials for the building work £550 (close relative does the work so I'll pick up a nice bottle of something for him).
Big purchases but all necessary and budgeted for.

Hope everyone is well. I've started reading through this thread and will catch up with everyone properly later as just about to do the school run for youngest.
Have a good day 😊

Made it to playgroup thankfully stayed dry this morning til we just got home so that's good. £5 entry for the 3 of us which I feel is a bit steep but it is the best local playgroup and still much cheaper than going anywhere else.

Got to get bus to and from health centre later for my bloods so that will be £4 all in. Will be an LSD again if I don't spend anything else. However still haven't booked the kids Xmas grotto visit which will be £30 for the two of them so might do that tonight.

Decaf I feel you on the not being able to get on the floor problem with small kids. I had PGP in my pregnancy with DS so that was really hard for the last few months with DD. Then I had complications recovering from birth for about 8 weeks or so again same problem. Then when DS was a few months old I had a large mole removed which also didnt heal well so then that was another 8 weeks or so with the same issue. And now I'm having issues again with my new shin condition! It's really hard. How old is your DC?

Afternoon.

Great news re your DM weight, and glad she's feeling much better.

Great news re the rental being finished and a good valuation curls.

Enjoy the parental visit socathe.

Hope you are okay with the smallest DC decaff, glad you are feeling slightly better.

Welcome back rattle, if I don't post regularly then I lose track too! Some of the things you can get on preloved etc are amazing.

The Lidl bakery is amazing happier, we often have a 'use up veg' soup with some chunky tiger bread for a cheap meal.

This month has been a bit spendier than last. I've been trying to live on a set amount of money, which is a lot less than the money we actually have coming in monthly, but an attempt to reduce outgoings as the future is now less certain. Last month I was well inside. This month, about £300 over. But still managed to save a lot, if that makes sense?!! Some of this is dental and hair appointments etc, dog food bulk buys etc, some is me being not disciplined enough. But good overall, can't beat myself up over spending an awful lot less than I did!

Spends
£76 Lidl, including lots of Christmas items and a huge bag of dishwasher tablets for £9.50 (still cheaper than a Black Friday offer on Amazon....). Cancelled the Ocado order due as Lidl way cheaper.
£77 fuel.
£6 TGTG
£6 coffees for DH at the hospital
£18 accessible taxi
£200 cash out (find it easier to budget in cash)
£3 parking at York for an awards ceremony for DD.
£20 dog blanket (unneeded, as was some marks and spencer food last week).
£3 onion bhaji made at local shop to go with tea tonight (masala frittata or pilau. Unneeded spends too.

Right - off to collect the TGTG order.

Went to the Matalan Black Friday sale and spent £30
£15 Asda, £28 Sainsbury’s and bargains on fit flip websites as blue light discount stacked with Black Friday sale £117 for £250 of stuff

Need is it possible to do TGTG as a vegetarian? I had the app donkeys ago and there didn't seem any way to ensure you got vegetarian food (understandable given it's just leftovers). Is that still the case these days?

weight, I think you can set preferences to only have vegetarian options. A couple always come up for us, Harvester for salads and Toby Carvery for a vegetarian carvery option. I generally get Greggs or Costa, and close to the weekend when adult DC eat everything! DD is vegetarian, DS eats meat and I don't describe myself as vegetarian but eat meat rarely. Greggs bags are really good here - today we got yum yums, donuts (ideal for DC, not my thing), a cheese salad roll (I'll take to work), two vegan sausage rolls, two vegan cheeze and bean toasties (I've frozen), a chicken baguette and a ham salad baguette. So for us, we all can eat something, but appreciate not for all. That lot was £5.90. It covers DS and his huge appetite and lunches for days.

Evening everyone 😊
Spends today , 22 Tesco
22 McDonald's pick up by app l had a 40% code so treated us to a Christmas menu McDonald's. Although l only ate the Christmas cheese things and a hot chocolate drink. I don't really like MCDonald's but the others love it 😊
Not bad considering the amount of food/drink they had 🤗

Hope everyone is ok ,
Take care 😊

How have i not seen this before?
Can i join?
I need to curb my unnecessary spending. I spend when im Bored, even a quid here and there but all adds up :(

I did this week plan meals from what I had in freezer but was still £48 to get other bits, milk, ham cheese, nappies etc.

Pay day Tuesday although i can pay myself earlier i dont want to so im making my £30 last. I do need asda in a min for dc snacks as has allergies so have to shop around. But. Im sticking to what i have to get!

I have done all my xmas shopping, gifts and most food except cheeses, pate, dips etc (were out xmas and boxing day so no meat etc required) and managed to stay within what we saved during the year

Welcome @AlwaysFullOfQuestions22 we are a friendly bunch round here pull up a chair make yourself comfy 🙂

mrsevans the McDonald's app is fab you can save loads of money and get free stuff when you redeem points. Not technically free obvs as you've spent in the past to accrue points but anyway!

NSD here today woohoo!

£2 on unsalted butter for a cake.