Amigos actively attempting austere actions August 24>

[Happierwithouthim]

Link to last thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/5007277-familiar-friends-in-frugalityfeb-24?latest=1

All welcome, the vibe is frugal life to make the things that matter possible, which is different for everyone, some of us have overcome debt, separations etc. All are friendly and we're sometimes chatty, sometimes quiet.

Don't lurk, join in

Hardly posted at all in November.
Payday was Thurs, still haven't allocated my money in YNAB yet.

Visited IKEA on Sat to get bits for my new kitchen, €211, which when at the till bf said he'd pay for it.

Wow that was a great treat from you BF @HappierHappierwithouthim 😊
Just been reading about the huge car tax rises next year 😱
It just seems neverending, this raid on our finances by this Government 🙄

I got sensor lights for my kitchen drawers just two to try them out & a new set of plates & bowls, I intended getting an extra set in range when I bought the set I have in 2021, I didn't & now they don't have them anymore. My sister has been asking what she'll buy me so maybe I'll get an extra set of these ones.

Sent him this pic last night, photo of first meal on plates

Bought eufy x8 Pro on Amazon last night €280, it's €350 everywhere in Ireland on Black Friday, hoping addresspal works because Amazon wouldn't deliver to Ireland.

Gorgeous meal and plate @Happierwithouthim
Hope the address works out for you too ☺️

What a lovely treat at ikea @Happierwithouthim . Food looks yum -plates remind me of Denby halo.
@mary good to see you back

Thank you @Chile1978 that is so nice of you 😊
Shopping today in Lidl , their Yule logs , Panettone, marzipan fruits and mince pies are all reduced this week needless to say l bought some 😁

Hey Mary

defo not frugal here

Haha lovely to see you @lilifelongfrugaleer ❤️
These things from Lidl were frugal but l'm afraid l have been a frugal sinner this year 😂 just as well l found you again 😂

After yet another commitment to post regularly, I failed!! Never mind, will try again but no bold commitments....
Since my last post, when things here hit a bit of a crisis, things have been hectic but pleased to say things have settled down from a stress perspective. Family stuff is in a quieter phase, long may that continue.
November was spendy but overall we should hit the end of the year just within budget, no mean feat with the year we've had. We've got £2k put away in a car replacement fund so as to be better prepared next time and have increased our mortgage overpayments to reduce our remaining term which is now less than 5 years.
Chile fantastic work on the credit card!
Em great to have a holiday to look forward to
Mary good to see you. The road tax rise is being over hyped from what I've read. The main change is on brand new cars which have had an exemption and cars over 40 years old which were also exempt. Standard tax will rise with inflation as usual.

Another one failing on the posting front, and the frugal front tbh!

Here's to a frugal 2025 hopefully!

Hope all are well. @ememem84 thinking of you xxx

Well Done@Chile1978
Been a bit quiet on the posting front too but we are away this weekend seeing DS, his DP and DGD. So spent £35 on bottle of wine for sunday lunch tomorrow and also paid for DGDs trip to Santa later this week which we won't be able see but have been promised lots of photos!! So add fuel to get here and more to return home it has not been a frugal weekend. They are away for Xmas to her family but they have all their Xmas pressies now ready for the big day. 🎅But lovely to see how much DGD has grown.

I've been happily buying Christmas presents, my new cooker has been delivered, and I am writing a list of Christmas food. So not frugal in terms of amount spent, but in a way very frugal, because its all within the allocated budget that I have saved up throughout the year. If I finish the year in the black with most of the emergency fund in tact, then I feel I am in a much better place than this time last year. I certainly feel more in control of finances, and more at peace with my simpler lifestyle.

We've tried to stick to a £50-70 budget per child all in but it's creeping close to £100 each even with using vinted etc.

I went through our Christmas food order and took some stuff off that we can do without to try to keep costs down.

I think we are going to be overdrawn Im Jan which we really wanted to avoid 😞

@Northender! So good to see you here . Glad your family stress has lessened and very well done on your finances that is brilliant news 😁

How's everyone doing in this spendy season?

YNAB is ynabbing for me! But I don't love shopping which helps.

Hi @Happierwithouthim
Not doing too badly ATM , l am resisting buying more stuff in the sales and having to store it in the house until next Christmas 😁
Not doing that again 🤣
In the meantime, can l wish everyone a very frugal but Merry Christmas .
Bless us all ❤️

@MaryGreenhill if only ikea did a Christmas sale for the last few bits I need

I’ve been good in December as Nov was spending. I do actually need an ikea trip for the sale. Pray for me

I got €100 credit when my customised worktops weren't exactly customised.
Then I claimed a hinge under ikea family guarantee and they sent me 5 drawers by mistake. A door I wanted is currently out of stock but the smaller door and drawer fronts are in stock so I've adjusted my plan to include three drawers in this wall of presses instead

And there's a collection point opposite hospital I'm visiting frequently these days.

I also made a blunder in my lobby plans and didn't allow for door closing so my wonderful builder shaved a bit off the back to make kallax unit fit

We're doing OK. November was expensive because of the car NOX filter and I had to buy a new laptop: those were around £2400 in addition to our usual outgoings.

DH and I are not exchanging presents. He's been offered the next procedure he needs on NYE rather than an indefinite date in 2025 so we're needing to pay for a hotel for NYE's night! That's quite eye-watering but logistically, it's the right thing to do. We'll manage to cover it by being very modest about Christmas. That's being helped (ironically) by the fact that DH needs to follow a special diet for 3 days ahead of his procedure and he'll be fasting on 30 and 31!

@Happierwithouthim we are doing ok.

All Christmas shopping is now done and we have managed to stay out the overdraft which we weren't expecting. Only just though!

We had a big 1k unexpected bill for the car which has wiped out savings so it will have to be a lean January! We also have £400 of storm damage to fix in Jan.

We haven't gone overboard on food and drink for Christmas which I'm pleased about. We will have a lovely simple Christmas which is what suits us anyway, just the 6 of us at home and enjoying things like walks, board games.

Has anyone got any frugal plans for 2025? I'm hoping to get a job after many years as a SAHM and carer 🙂

I just checked the bank balance, and thought I was doing fantastically well, but then realised my works pension has been paid in early. Which is nice, but it means its got to last a bloody long time! Next payday is January 31st. 😨

AHH if only @Happierwithouthim
😂

Happy Christmas one & all!

Thank you @Happierwithouthim
Hope you and your beloved have a wonderful time ❤️🎄🎅🌟❄️🎁⛄