Mince Pies, Mulled Wine, frugal festive frolics. Yuletide budgeting banter & Merry Saving Shenanigans for all 🎁🎄🦌🎅🤶☃️

[MaryGreenhill]

Welcome to the Christmas Frugal thread . We are a super friendly group here & everyone is welcome 🤗 .
☃️🤶🎅🦌🎄🎁

It is a rental,let furnished but not embellished, IYSWIM. Making up the beds and adding a few cushions will make it look a bit more welcoming in the photos than bare mattresses and headboards- but surely no-one would think they were getting duvets and pillows would they? I wasn’t planning on setting the table for dinner, as the vendors of my parents’ flat did. I will ask the agent anyway.

I have a strong desire to give away my weekend overtime shifts to spend more time with my family, esspecaly my school aged DD. But it would mean more chipping away at savings

Spent a chunk out of the Christmas Pot yesterday on Christmas Stocking gifts, wine, chocolates, soft drinks, mulled wine and lots of foodie bits that can stored without issue. So lots has been ticked off the list and DH has been told - strictly mitts off!!
DS has indicated that he, DIL and GDD will be here a few days earlier for Christmas as DIL can wfh while here. So need to menu plan a few more meals - but who cares? :-) We have more time with them all.

Morning all,

I've skimmed the thread i hope everyone is doing ok. Its been a busy while, was away for a weekend and came home to a suspected case of nits. Which i confirmed. So lots of washing.

I've also done lots of my christmas shopping. My finances area bit of a muddle at the moment as i'd saved for this and the weekend away and random Christmas spending in different pots so its all paid for but not clear in my head.

I'm also finding the cost of treats so expensive, €5 for a large bar of chocolate. It was cadbury!

Anyways i've done quite a bit of stocking up for christmas and put it away so i've made a list of what we have and what i want to get. Hoping to get a good deal on champagne for christmas day as its very expensive now.

Today i spent €2.50 at work on a small breakfast roll. Then i'll give €20 for a charity coffee morning. I plan to pick up some gifts id ordered from a local shopping ventre at lunch and will also see if that supermarket has selection boxes on sale. I need about 8 of them.

I spent £3.95 on postage yesterday at Anthropology. Saw on the bargain threads if you signed up for 'Anthroperks' they send you a £20 no minimum spend voucher, and they did! So I bought a Jellycat for the tree that is so cute, it was £20 so just paid postage.

@FurForksSake that is money well spent, not defrosting a car is my favourite thing of having an electric car in Scotland! Just in the car, toasty and ready to go right away!

So glad you’re not flooded Mary and that the community are coming together.

Switched internet provider to heybroadband today and we have the first 10 months free at a faster speed. I also got one month of board game subscription half price from rentshuffleroll at £12. It's been good but we cancelled it for next month as we don't really have time. Paid £15 for the work Christmas party. Paid for the farm pass £158... it's been an expensive month, we have a buffer.... I will likely spend more thati earn in December too but aim to reverse that in January. It is the regular payments, more than the spending for me. I did spend £12 in the cafe at lunch too today. ... but as DS was sick on Monday that was nsd.

Afternoon everyone 😊
Been to McArthur Glen in Bridgend for a few things , then straight to Costco where l stuck to my Costco list £110.
l only buy things that are definitely a saving on normal prices otherwise it's nonsensical to buy stuff there that is dearer than from the shops , l am too tight fisted to do that 🤣.
Went to McArthur Glen as well and picked up a few things from the Marks outlet. A lovely polo neck jumper for Mum £12.50 and a pr of pyjamas for her friend £8.50. Joules top for DH £39.95 and a huge box of hotel Chocolat for £28 instead of £80 admittedly it was best before end of this month but l am sure that will not bother us lol .
Didn't spend a lot though thank God 🤗 on our way home now got to pick up some milk first though , at least we will miss the school run 😊

Great stuff re the switch of internet provider that saves you a lot @Alwayslearning25
Thank you @PearlTeapotits wonderful to see the community spirit alive and well in my neck of the woods . It's a shame it takes a catastrophe like the flooding to bring ppl out from the woodwork but hopefully the spirit will keep fit a long time yet .
Well done getting that Jelly cat that is a fantastic deal .
Hope you are feeling much better sweetheart 💐.
Well done on doing your Christmas shopping @pistachiosanscream excellent job ☺️
Lovely news you have the family for longer over Christmas @Rainbow1901, best Christmas present ever ☺️
@BigSkies2022 no prospective renter will expect the duvets and dinner setting to be included but the duvets on the beds will make it look finished imho and might increase the rental value a little so go for it ☺️
@Johaanahyour Cottages pies sound delicious and really frugal well done !

Great stuff re the switch of internet provider that saves you a lot @Alwayslearning25
Thank you @PearlTeapotits wonderful to see the community spirit alive and well in my neck of the woods . It's a shame it takes a catastrophe like the flooding to bring ppl out from the woodwork but hopefully the spirit will keep fit a long time yet .
Well done getting that Jelly cat that is a fantastic deal .
Hope you are feeling much better sweetheart 💐.
Well done on doing your Christmas shopping @pistachiosanscream excellent job ☺️
Lovely news you have the family for longer over Christmas @Rainbow1901, best Christmas present ever ☺️
@BigSkies2022 no prospective renter will expect the duvets and dinner setting to be included but the duvets on the beds will make it look finished imho and might increase the rental value a little so go for it ☺️
@Johaanahyour Cottages pies sound delicious and really frugal well done !

Great stuff re the switch of internet provider that saves you a lot @Alwayslearning25
Thank you @PearlTeapotits wonderful to see the community spirit alive and well in my neck of the woods . It's a shame it takes a catastrophe like the flooding to bring ppl out from the woodwork but hopefully the spirit will keep fit a long time yet .
Well done getting that Jelly cat that is a fantastic deal .
Hope you are feeling much better sweetheart 💐.
Well done on doing your Christmas shopping @pistachiosanscream excellent job ☺️
Lovely news you have the family for longer over Christmas @Rainbow1901, best Christmas present ever ☺️
@BigSkies2022 no prospective renter will expect the duvets and dinner setting to be included but the duvets on the beds will make it look finished imho and might increase the rental value a little so go for it ☺️
@Johaanahyour Cottage pie and Lasagne sound delicious and really frugal well done !

Great stuff re the switch of internet provider that saves you a lot @Alwayslearning25
Thank you @PearlTeapotits wonderful to see the community spirit alive and well in my neck of the woods . It's a shame it takes a catastrophe like the flooding to bring ppl out from the woodwork but hopefully the spirit will keep fit a long time yet .
Well done getting that Jelly cat that is a fantastic deal .
Hope you are feeling much better sweetheart 💐.
Well done on doing your Christmas shopping @pistachiosanscream excellent job ☺️
Lovely news you have the family for longer over Christmas @Rainbow1901, best Christmas present ever ☺️
@BigSkies2022 no prospective renter will expect the duvets and dinner setting to be included but the duvets on the beds will make it look finished imho and might increase the rental value a little so go for it ☺️
@Johaanahyour Cottage pie and Lasagne sound delicious and really frugal well done !

Great stuff re the switch of internet provider that saves you a lot @Alwayslearning25
Thank you @PearlTeapotits wonderful to see the community spirit alive and well in my neck of the woods . It's a shame it takes a catastrophe like the flooding to bring ppl out from the woodwork but hopefully the spirit will keep fit a long time yet .
Well done getting that Jelly cat that is a fantastic deal .
Hope you are feeling much better sweetheart 💐.
Well done on doing your Christmas shopping @pistachiosanscream excellent job ☺️
Lovely news you have the family for longer over Christmas @Rainbow1901, best Christmas present ever ☺️
@BigSkies2022 no prospective renter will expect the duvets and dinner setting to be included but the duvets on the beds will make it look finished imho and might increase the rental value a little so go for it ☺️
@Johaanahyour Cottage pie and Lasagne sound delicious and really frugal well done !

Great stuff re the switch of internet provider that saves you a lot @Alwayslearning25
Thank you @PearlTeapotits wonderful to see the community spirit alive and well in my neck of the woods . It's a shame it takes a catastrophe like the flooding to bring ppl out from the woodwork but hopefully the spirit will keep fit a long time yet .
Well done getting that Jelly cat that is a fantastic deal .
Hope you are feeling much better sweetheart 💐.
Well done on doing your Christmas shopping @pistachiosanscream excellent job ☺️
Lovely news you have the family for longer over Christmas @Rainbow1901, best Christmas present ever ☺️
@BigSkies2022 no prospective renter will expect the duvets and dinner setting to be included but the duvets on the beds will make it look finished imho and might increase the rental value a little so go for it ☺️
@Johaanahyour Cottage pie and Lasagne sound delicious and really frugal well done !

Please forgive me re the multiple posts 🤣

Spent about £20 today on lunch with my friend and some odds and ends in Waitrose that I didn’t need.

Well done on all the Vinted sales @FurForksSake.

Goodo on the hat trick @Frugal25. Maybe you could send some of your no spending vibes my way?

Oh @chimichangaz that’s lovely about the hug. I am still wondering what beings from other universes are.

Well done on your hat trick too @Johaanah.

Great at sticking to your list @MaryGreenhill. I should go back to that really. It’s a rather sensible thing to do.

Have been spending much more since I started using my card so I will try and get back to using cash. Had a bit of snow this morning so feeling a bit more justified for my splashing on clothes over the last few days.

Back to work tomorrow and not looking forward to it. Am meant to be off for a long weekend on Friday and haven’t done any preparation yet. I’ve looked at the weather forecast and can’t decide what jacket or trousers to take.

@RumBananaSundae aw bless you sweetheart ,there is nothing like dreading going to work . I am sure you will be fine once you get there 💐🤗

@RumBananaSundae perhaps I've described it incorrectly as 'beings from other universes' - just looking at her website (Jo the channel) she describes her work as 'high frequency galactic channelling'. Not sure I totally understand it myself.

Anyway - today has been a busy day of helping my son take all his stuff from the built in wardrobes here (he's been moved out 18 months!). There was a heck of a lot and there is still other stuff for him to take (I've just found loads of his clothes in the old 'ironing box' in the 'front room of doom' that I am hoping to clear and decorate in the next few weeks!) We went to visit my sister at lunchtime as she's recovering from an operation, and it was lovely to see her. Spends were £19 on some top up groceries for me and her and a couple of Christmas bits, and £10 on lunch meal deals.

I've managed to move a lot of stuff from different places in the house to my son's old wardrobes and am feeling much more organised (if a bit overwhelmed at how much stuff I have, even though I feel like I'm constantly decluttering!).

I've joined up for anthropology rewards I haven't had the voucher yet but hopefully will that'll be a nice contribution towards something for Christmas.

I've stepped out of a couple of secret Santas this year at work really can't be bothered and truthfully I've never loved anything given.
.
@RumBananaSundae were right behind you. Never easy going back to work.

£8 in Waitrose on proper groceries. £7 in butcher on chicken wings. And £40 on cremante and sherry for the Christmas war chest. I am keeping a running tally in my catering diary. £56 so far on Christmas supplies.

dinner tonight is mashed potatoes, chicken wings and broccoli. I was going to go to book group but have a migraine and a busy day tomorrow, so might just curl up in the warm house and watch telly.

DS back from Manny. I am trying to get him interested in making changes to his study/tv snug to make the space work better, but he is not feeling it. Might have to content myself with a declutter.

@ChipshopPickledEgg my voucher took 4 days to arrive from AnthroPerks

Sending NSD vibes your way @RumBananaSundae !! Hope they work.

Oohhh I need to do a tally on food next year for Christmas. What a great idea @BigSkies2022 . As I've been buying a little each week I hadn't added it up.

@chimichangaz that festival sounds right up my street. I shall have a look for one near me.

Another NSD. Kinda forced as I have no money until pay day tomorrow. So I'll just spend it then!

@chimichangaz festival sounds lovely.

Another hat trick of NSD on the thread @Johaanah well done! I'm making prawn curry and rice later - this morning was a bit haphazard with the snow so no prep done - will see how I get on!

Good luck with the rental photos @BigSkies2022 the running tally for food is a good idea.

@Alwayslearning25 hard one. Do you have free weekends coming up? That would drive my decision. The farm pass is a good spend 👍

Antrhoperks on my list for later @PearlTeapot

Hi @pistachiosanscream you sound like you are cracking on with Christmas. I decided to make a huge spreadsheet on Monday night. My head was battered at the predicted Christmas bill but I did feel more in control afterwards.

Good work at Costco @MaryGreenhill

@RumBananaSundae hope work goes okay. Not sure if you've had a longer break or just like me dreading "doing it all again tomorrow" as I lamented to DH earlier. Regardless hope you have a good day and then a weekend away to look forward to.

Snowed here overnight, feeling Christmassy in town at lunchtime.

So far today
£2.80 Greggs mint hot chocolate. Gorgeous treat as the centre I was working in was not warm ❄️.
£20.05 Superdrug for DS - needed for a fungal infection on his hands. Mind you I came home with all the creams and the little monkey has gone to the steam room and gym where the pharmacist thinks he may have picked it up. After waking me last night to tell me all his worries about it. And I get to do it all again tomorrow! Kids!
£3.32 Coop meal deal (we get discount)

Sorry if I've missed anyone

Interesting, thank you.

I’ve also got the £20 Anthro Perks code - but I haven’t used it yet, I’m wondering if I should as I’m really trying hard to make sure my spending is intentional. I’ve looked at the site a few times today and I don’t really need anything, the Blue Capri Volcano candle is divine though!

I didn’t manage to make it four days in a row of NSD - but today was LSD, I spent my £14 Vinted balance and had to pay an additional £11 for some Elemis face oil - retails at about £70, can pick it up for £50 odd right now so the £25 I paid was a good deal.

Work was quiet today and as I work from home this means that I could keep an eye on my emails and get some sorting out done at the same time, our tiny box room is my office/dressing room and I managed to get quite a bit sorted in there. I have a great routine with cleaning and keeping the rest of the house in order - but my room just becomes a dumping ground too often, glad I made progress there. Also came across my scarf and gloves in the process so that was good news too.

I did make the cottage pie and lasagne today - pleased with that, tomorrow is grocery shopping day and like most of us here we are still eating our way through the cupboards and freezer, so only fresh foods to buy. Hoping to spend under £100, as I have dinner sorted for tomorrow already I could push the food shop back a few days but I can’t face the supermarket on a weekend, far too busy and nothing on the shelves.

I love reading everybody’s Christmas plans, just need to get myself motivated to start organising myself now. When does everyone start wrapping? I don’t want the gifts to look scruffy so I generally start once the tree is up early in December. Definitely don’t want to be doing it Christmas Eve as I have in the past.

I’ve been reading, but not managed to post.

I’ve been quite busy getting rid of stuff on eBay. Over 60 mainly small items sold, but £350 coming in. One day I had to post 15 items. I’ve listed some unwanted Christmas gift sets from last year, and surprisingly they are selling.

I really need to start on my Christmas shopping. Did some shopping for DM’s friends presents earlier though, so that job is done. And I got the final token for a free cuddly toy, so will pop back to get that at some point.

I splashed out on done face cream using my Boots points earlier in the week. It comes with a free gift, so that may go on eBay too!

I’ve also signed up for anthroperks. I’m sure I can find something to buy!