Frugal Friends Facing Forward with Fortitude

[Happierwithouthim]

Here's a friendly space for new and existing frugal friends.

We have all different types of incomes and lifestyles but with a common goal of making the best of the money we have.

Many of us have experiences of becoming debt free or being in difficulty with money for one reason or another so there's no need for embarrassment, just join in, post as little or as often as you wish.

Some record daily spends, some record only spends that are unplanned, some don't record spends at all, the choice is yours!

I wasn't sure if ds still believed, after being up until midnight awake with him from 3-5 with the excitement & then him sleeping in my bed & me having to sneak out presents from top of my wardrobe at 6:15 & him waking at 6:35am I no longer doubt him!!

Mary isn't that just the best that your mum is on the mend.
I've a local girl on my mind since I woke, her ds14 was buried last Thurs.

Have a lovely day everyone

It’s awful happier. So young
❤️ to ds and his excitement

mary so pleased that your mum is on the mend.

Happier that puts things into perspective.

Mine have long since realised that Santa is not real. It doesn't take away from the fun of seeing what Santa's assistant has brought them... Chopsticks and stickers were the surprise hits of the day. Seeing them explain to other family members what they got was my surprise of the day.

For those having your second Christmas day today I hope it is peaceful and the family arguements exhausted themselves yesterday. For the rest of you have a happy leftovers day.

Good afternoon everyone
Hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday and it is continuing today
We went to Christmas dinner with the residents at Mum's home for Christmas day . Mum is so much better thankfully , she really enjoyed herself there and so did we ! We came back home in the afternoon, once my sister had taken over visiting, for our own Christmas dinner then . We had a lovely meal and a great day but what with one thing and another we are all so tired not doing anything today , tv and eating lol , just come back from seeing Mum and she is continuing to improve so it is all good
I want to thank you all for being so kind to me re My Mum's hospital stay , it is so lovely of you all bless you
I haven't spent anything in the sales and we aren't going to go shopping either because tbh we are exhausted , it's all the stress l know .Enough of that
Hope everyone is well & really enjoying themselves bless you all
Back to normal for me for now at least

Typed and lost a post this morning grrrr!!
Happy Christmas everyone, hope you all had a good day. Glad your mum is improving Mary
Happier so lovelywhildthry still believe, but hard work too!
We had a lovely day with no drama which was very welcome after last year when dad had a bit of a funny do & wandered off. Very quiet day today, using up leftovers, planning finances for next year after a very spendy end of year.

Happy Christmas Frugaleers!!
In the true spirit of frugality and recycling after a lovely Christmas Day with family and friends yesterday - we were sent home with all the leftover veg and the remainder of the gammon. I had a lovely salad with some gammon ham for my lunch today and DH had the first of (what I'm sure will be many) Bubble and Squeak meals - the leftover veg mountain is huge!! So while it's not my thing we are quite happy to eke out our foodie bits by eating leftovers for the next few days.
Next doors dogs had some beefy treats while I was sharing a glass of Port and Lemon with my neighbour but we ate the pigs in blankets so they missed out on those. 😏
We met up at DDs house this morning to finish up unwrapping gifts and to Facetime DS and his GF so we could chat and unwrap together - it all got too fraught yesterday trying to get together via SM so it was nice to be able to do it today before they all took off for various Boxing Day social events. So I now have plenty of Shower Gels, Shampoo, Conditioner and Moisturisers that will save me purchasing them for a few months (I love Christmas for these kinds of gifts!!)
So now settling in for the evening with DH with a cuppa for now but will graze on all sorts this evening - cheese, sweets, wine whatever takes our fancy! Happy Boxing Day to you all!!

That sounds lovely for your mum to have had you all to visit Mary

I gave €10 to the Wren today, it's when a group of musicians & dancers go house to house playing music and dancing

I was looking at buying a tv online yesterday in the sales yesterday but didn't, luckily because bf bought me one for Christmas, when I've got my extension built in new year it will go in the living room there.

I'm cosying up on couch in front of emmerdale and the fire tonight, going to my parents tomo for a couple of nights.

Good morning everyone 😊
Thank you @Happierwithouthim re Mum she was amazing yesterday, so much so we are not visiting today , my sister is, we will do tomorrow and we are going out to the shops , yay 😊
The Wren dancers / musicians sound lovely, we don't have anything like that here . What a fab pressie off your Bf bless him he's a keeper 😊
Have a lovely time with your parents ☺️
@northender thank you re Mum it's been a bit of a rollercoaster but thankfully she's much better now 🤗
Your Christmas sounds lovely 🤗
@Rainbow1901 your Christmas sounded just perfect like a Christmas we used to have years ago with family/friends/neighbours orientated and lovely & peaceful 😊
So today we are popping to the shops to see if there are any bargains 😂
I don't think l will find be many they will have all gone yesterday l expect 😊
I don't want anything so 😭 f l don't get anything it doesn't matter 🤗
Have a lovely day everyone 😊

NSD whahoo

Me too life
Did the journey to my parents without stopping! 2.5 hours

Good evening all -

I hope everyone has managed to find some time to relax over the holidays.

Sorry about your mother Mary. I’m glad she’s on the mend now.

Goodness Happier that is terrible. Some things do make you reflect. Enjoy your time away.

I’ve had a quiet few days. Still working my way through the pre-Christmas soup. Will rejig plans as I have so much unopened food.

Arsehole continues to be an arsehole. I’ve spent the majority of yesterday and today doing paperwork.

I’m not sure how I’ve managed to spend so much when most of the shops have been closed. Didn’t find anything in the sales until today when I got two pairs of trousers in Marks and Spencer. I also got a half price stolen. I’ll add it to the untouched Christmas cake bar and mound of cheese.

Not sure where the holidays are going and I’m surprised at how tired I’ve been. Nothing exciting planned so that’s a relief.

Currently at the tyre place getting two tyres replaced £130 😩 This has been on my to do list since the summer holidays though, so I can tick this off!

A few spends today too as booking DDs birthday activities. We’re going out to dinner tomorrow and then going to finally see the Christmas lists.

I still have my annoying cough. Had it two weeks now.

Hope everyone is having a relaxing few days and if at work it isn’t too bad!

Went to a local town which has a high class charity shop. £9 sea salt dress, £6.50 Superdrug and £4.20 Lakeland. Just don’t want or need anything

Today was another NSD walked my df's new dog and dsis treated me to breakfast a bacon sandwich & we shared pancakes

I got a £61.99 refund from Amazon for an unwanted gift and £4.60 for missing notice board accessories.

no other spends other than bits above
work tomorrow

NSD here. Nothing to do with the rain.
Mary that is such great news that your mum is feeling better. It is such a worry when they get poorly.

Happier I am sure the rules say do not tempt wavering potential dog owners to be by telling them about lovely days out with the pooch. 😉 It would be bad for my budget.

Yeah but when you have a dog that insists on 4 walks a day torrential downpour or not it’s a different emotion

Thank you Life

Today is going to be a day of getting things done. I have avoided cleaning the bathroom, doing my coursework or tackling the washing for the last month. I have to do them today so I get a full relaxed weekend before getting back to work. If you see me here tell me to do one.

Ds moved in bed after I came back from toilet his book fell on his nose and gave him a nosebleed, he was so hurt emotionally by it I couldn't laugh

Someone else's alarm went off at 7:30, and I'm awake even though I don't want to be yet.

Today there will be spends, cost of kennels for one unescorted

Your poor DS. The shock of having that happening. Bless him.

I have got as far as a dishwasher and washing machines loaded and on. DD picked up after a messy night out with friends and I have logged on to my coursework.... I may need more tea before making a substantive start.

I got all dressed up and put on make up because I was supposed to be meeting two friends for coffee at 11. Did a quick last minute check and it's actually tomorrow morning. Feel like I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go . Anyway, I'm going to visit Ex MIL and FIL later, to exchange presents. I'll nip down to the shop for bread and fresh milk in a minute. After breakfast, I need to check my bank balance and see how much damage Christmas did. And draw up a budget for the new month (and year) ahead. Also, work out what's happening in the new year - put in dates for holidays etc. It's nice having time to devote to these things.

Unescorted I don't have a dog but I have two cats. The biggest issue is getting someone to feed them/tend to them if I want to go somewhere. If it's just a night or two, my brother usually obliges. Any longer and I'm looking at a cattery which is quite expensive for a week or so.

Also, the price of cat food has jumped significantly in price (like everything else, I guess) since I got the cats in 2020. I don't think I would have got two cats if I had anticipated this.

Hello all, just checking in to say I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. So glad your mum is on the mend mary. unescortedd I can totally understand why you’ve put off all your jobs…im sat here on the sofa on my phone trying to get up the energy to go to the tip. I really really need to do very little for a few days. I’ve massively overspent this Xmas which is not good so have been hovering on the No spend 2024 thread! Have a good day everyone, hope you can find something to do tayto - at least you weren’t late!