Pumpkins, Pies… and Prudence! Autumn Frugal Saving Shenanigans here 🍂🌰All Welcome 🌰🍁

[MaryGreenhill]

Making a new thread!
Please check in regular posters and welcome new people.
This is a super friendly thread to contribute to. We are all wanting to be as efficient as possible re spending but all have different budgets and priorities. No judgement here we are all friends 😊

@FurForksSake you sound like me with your freezer. I once brought what I thought was beef soup to work for lunch but turned out to be stewed rhubarb.

@Mochi1fudge i too am feeling anxiety at the amount of spending coming on top of each other. I was so shocked by the size of the Tesco online order for party food that I broke it into smaller ones in different stores and I’ve probably spent more than the big Tesco order🙈.

@Frugal25 i always make my stuffings, bread and sausage and vpnraised red cabbage ahead of time and pop them in the freezer.

this year I’m planning on not stocking up on frozen appetizers. I still have some from last year I’m trying to use up. Hoping to really cut down on the food and treat shop this year.

today I spent €38.50 in Penneys, got some seasonal serving dishes I definitely didn’t need, wrapping paper and some bath bombs for small child. Then €43.50 in Tesco. See all the small shops adding up!

@ememem84 we've not heard from you in a while are you doing ok? Xx

I know @ChipshopPickledEgg
I don't think l have seen Em here for quite a few weeks last l knew she was flying back and forth having treatment bless her . Hope she is feeling alright and treatment is completed .

Hey! Thank you for checking in! Xxxx

yes! I’m all good. It’s just manic busy here.

work is busy - I’ve got a colleague off with mental health issues, so am navigating that; and it’s just busy.

dh is busy. Dc are busy. And life has gotten on top of me.

Aw @ememem84 that's lovely to see you are ok sweetheart take care ❤️

Awe bless you Em. So glad to hear from you x

Ah @ememem84 I dip in and out of here at times (and very grateful I'm always welcomed back 😍) good to hear from you.

Good morning all! Really busy weekend and unfortunately spendy. My meal out was fantastic but way more expensive than I'd budgeted for so that took up most of the money I had left for the month (apart from half term which I have some aside for).
Then on Sunday we did DDs packing for her residential and she needed a few things so they've had to go on the credit card. It's not much - slippers, gloves and some stamps to send a letter home. So very small cost but needed to be bought as she goes today! Hadn't had a chance for a food shop but DH and the kids got McDonald's sat evening and we went to my parents for dinner last night. However DS2 was poorly so DH stayed home with him so DH needed a takeaway too - on the credit card.
So no money left but only got the boys so should be no problem.
I'm going to do a small food shop today ready for a big one at the weekend for half term. I've got enough in the groceries account for this, so not concerned at all.

We talked about DHs credit card last night as he has an expensive car service straight after Christmas so we had to discuss what was going on it before. We are going for a night away to Warwick Castle when the kids have an inset day in Nov. It will include ice skating, light trail and seeing Santa - all the things we do every year. Which should lighten the load for spending in Dec! So that will go on his credit card. But nothing else for a bit otherwise we'll end up in a situation of extending his limit if an emergency came up. It is a holidays / weekend away (which we do far less of now) / emergency credit, but I don't like sitting too close to the limit for those potential emergencies!!
DSs wardrobe has now been ordered, that's all coming in half term so should provide some free entertainment, especially for the boys 😂.

Have a lovely week everyone, I am looking forward to only having two children for five days and my evenings starting at 8 rather than about 9:30. I've got a puzzle from last Christmas that's only half completed so I am hoping to get some of that done. With no rushing around for DDs clubs I should hopefully be less frazzled / dazed in the evenings 😂😂😂.

Good morning everyone 🤗
@HP87 you have everything under control from what l can see well done . Enjoy your earlier evenings 😊
Popping to the local town for a look in Primark , l have seen some very pretty Christmas home things online and want to have a good look , will pop into Holland & Barrett and ask about some joint supplements for DH too. Did everyone see the Osteoporosis heads up in breakfast news this morning.
Food for thought ,especially for us ladies . I will return 😁

I’ll look up the osteo news, I’m sure I’m at risk.

Today I’ve got hydrotherapy, which is not covered by bupa. That will be £85. It’s expensive and I need it twice a week in December. It’s all to try and get me ready for surgery and then recovering from surgery. It’s good but a real cost over the month. Luckily my insurance is covering my physio before surgery and hopefully afterwards, otherwise that will be £75 every ten days.

lamb we had last night is easily going to do two more dinners, I might even make a double curry tomorrow and freeze half.

@FurForksSake apparently 50% of us are at risk of Osteoporosis over the age of 50 l was shocked tbh .
Hydrotherapy is excellent, l saw a lot of good come from it when l worked as a Paeds nurse with disabled children .
l know it's a lot of money but it's for your health and recovery, therefore to me it's an Investment. I hope you really enjoy the sessions @FurForksSake 💐

https://theros.org.uk/risk-checker/?campaign=77a866ee-c708-ed11-82e5-0022481b5a28

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/queen-women-justine-roberts-camilla-britain-b1253756.html?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleANizHpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHkqgoxJ66X0GO8W5rk2F71cCHVhrFzvtScthGdj4pY4FSFx2L50n5TTrv5n4_aem_hxwUIXBhJZ5PYpr7kA0gJw#Echobox=1760927400

Morning dear comrades! My weekend was spendy and frugal simultaneously: cheap/free entertainment with National Gallery and theatre trip, cooking from the pantry. But , in another part of the forest as a boss of mine used to say, the expenditure on the renovations at the flat have begun and I am just going to watch the money bleed through my fingers over the next few weeks. I just have to throw a sort of mental boundary around that outflow- it’s planned for, it’s necessary, I have the money and I will be able to earn it back - and lock down on everything else!

Got DS cooking yesterday- he made a chicken biriyani, and very nice too. I feel I have not been as firm as I ought to have been in getting him to build a repertoire of dishes and this is my last opportunity! It occurs to me that when he does finally set up his own home, that good cooking utensils and a good selection of spices will be a big help. He took bits off to university of course, but shared kitchens in student houses don’t generally invite thoughtful cooking.

raining hard at the mo and don’t feel like doing much, but will crack on! Ddog is upset by seasonal fireworks at this time of year and everyone is zonked in the mornings because of his disturbed nights.

Thank you so much for putting the link on @FurForksSake🤗
I have done the survey and apparently l am ok ATM 😁

Oh your poor Dog bless him@BigSkies2022. Well done to your Ds cooking a Biryani l am very impressed 😁
Your weekend sounded wonderful 😊

Mary- I recently read an article (promoting the writer’s book) on how to avoid the rather useless, overly-mothered man on the part of the smart woman seeking a decent life-partner. ‘What meals do you like to cook?’ was one of the questions designed to weed out the useless sorts. I like cooking and eating and DS and DH are generally happy to eat my meals and let me get on with it. But DS really should learn half a dozen things that he can serve to others and give them pleasure on top of the omelette/pasta basics/chicken or fish and oven chips/packet rice that he uses to keep himself alive. And then he will pass the screening test!

I agree with you @BigSkies2022 and think your Ds will be snapped up by a very discerning, smart, woman indeed! 😁

Well l got Mum 3 thermal long sleeve vests , cheapest l could find them was Primark £4 a vest. The grey ones were £4 the black ones were £7 so Mums got grey ones of course 🤣
Lots of lovely things in Primark and if l hadn't had the phone call about Mum l would have bought a lot more but l can always return.
I had a phone call saying Mum's got another UTI and she's very emotional there bless her ☹️. My sister is visiting today so l told them to ring me if she wants me or if she's poorly. I need to find a prevention for her really .
My Sister will let me know how she is later . I don't know why but l am quite upset about her being poorly today of all days ☹️.
£38 in Primark , 2 Christmas jumpers for the Dds and Mum's vests . They had loads of Christmas jumpers in there .
Asda £20 on groceries .
Hope everyone is ok and having a lovely day 🤗

Hey Everyone!!

I was away with friends Fri/Sat and had my eldest son and his partner over for Sunday lunch yesterday (cooking for 9 people - it was like Christmas!) so I've only just logged on here and I've missed tons of messages so I'm just about to look back over them.

I had a very expensive Saturday - spent just over £300 on a night away, NSD yesterday though and today should be the same as the weather here is atrocious so I can hopefully make up for it.

I have started to get some Christmas gifts, it does feel too early, but I'd rather get it done, I'm also trying hard to make sure I buy things that the receiver will actually want/use but still have a surprise, this is much easier with females I feel.

@MaryGreenhill UTI's are horrible especially for elderly people. I hope your mum recovers ok and is comfortable. Take comfort in knowing she is getting good care where she is and being monitored carefully.

Well done @BigSkies2022 on raising an adult man and not a man child. These basic skills are so important but also the appreciation that cooking nice meals takes time and effort and even if hes not cooking them all he should definitely appreciate the effort is a big plus. I'm like you in that i love to cook and i always say that DH is a pleasure to feed as he's very appreciative and eats most things. He's also good at reminding the small child to say thank you for the dinner mom cooked. There was once that we always laugh at though. I'd asked him to pick recipes from my cookbooks that he'd like me to try. One of which was a vodka penne. This was made and duly enjoyed but given only 9 marks out of 10. When asked why the measly score he said because it didn't include chicken! there was no chicken in the recipe.

It was very light hearted and we both got a good laugh out of it.

I just dropped my mother to have a cataract op done and will collect her later and bring her to mine for dinner. Then my sister will come for her and bring her back to her house so someone will be with her all evening.

So far €97 on food shop

Thank you @FurForksSake I shall do the test!
Oh @MaryGreenhill , so glad your mum has someone on hand at all times and is being looked after but no wonder you are upset. I had a few UTI one after the other a while back and I have no advice on how to break the cycle but sending my love.

Hello @ememem84 !

Ooohhhh @pistachiosanscream I bet homemade stuffing is amazing. Never done this before. Shall take a look.

Pay day today. Put a little more in all my pots and savings.
£15 on a Christmas light show in Dec.
£47 on paint which I did need but wanted it to be from another savings pot and the card didn't work in the shop. Argh. Will have to put something else on this card that would have normally been on the one I used to even it out.
£20 in charity shop on some Christmas gifts, a Halloween hair band thing for DD and a glass plate for me. I did see other bits but put them back.
£8 in poundstretcher on full Halloween costume DD had to have.
I need to do budget now as I get quite panicky when I can see it and I've spent.

I spent money in Home Bargains this morning, but that was last minute bits and pieces for the holidays, cat food, cat bix and cat litter so came to about 60 quid. Then had to go to Iceland as we are running out of coffee and no chance of stretching it to Thursday night but bought two loaves of bread, one to eat now as we've run out and one for the freezer for when we come back. Milkman will deliver when we come back. Also spent 2 quid in the charity shop on books to read and leave on holiday!
Car is booked back in as the Engine warning light came on again - our friendly mechanic said it's the same fault as last time. So have had to go back to the dealer and email the warranty claim company as they paid for the work. It's back in on Wednesday for another diagnostic test and they will decide what to do next.

Hi @Johaanah so glad you had a lovely time 😊
If you had spent £300 and not enjoyed it then that would have been a waste but when you enjoy yourself it's brilliant and money well spent. Well done in the Christmas gifts. I don't think it's too early tbh, it's only 9 weeks Weds Christmas eve 😁

Aw thank you @pistachiosanscream &@Frugal25 that's so lovely of you both ❤️
I have heard from my sister and she sent me pictures of Mum who was fine there thankfully .
What upset me was the home said Mum was asking for my Dad and she was upset about him ,he's been dead for nearly 7 years bless him. So she was a bit more confused than normal.
My sister and I always make Mum drink a lot of fluids when we are there with her. I am talking about 600mls between the coffee/tea/choc and water and l think it's made a real difference to my Mum because my sister made her drink . Also the stimulation from a visit would have helped. Aw thank you both so much 💐

@pistachiosanscream l hope your Mum's cataract op goes really well and she recovers quickly 😁
Your Ds sounds an absolute darling 😊