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 🤗 .
☃️🤶🎅🦌🎄🎁

I’m back. Had a lovely time away. Spent a bit as I got some candles from the hotel and paid to change my return journey. Didn’t get any of the things I actually planned on getting.

Have spent far too much today. Carpet is (I think) in hand and have a fitting date. Now trying to work out what to do with the contents of the property while it’s being fitted. Also paid the contractor today. Think that was £130.

Sorry you’ve been unwell @MaryGreenhill. Ear infections are unpleasant. Hope you are feeling much better now.

British Gas are a big arse @Johaanah. I’ve been trying to sort something out with them since August but no dice yet. Think I might make a complaint now.

Hope you’re not feeling too dreadful @life.

Welcome @VikingNorthUtsire .

My leg did not have fun in France. Think rehab has taken a few steps back but I’m trying to not give that too much thought. Back to work tomorrow. Bah humbug. Wish I was in a better position to look for a new job. And that the job market was better. There will be some spending on storage tubs or boxes. Hopefully will get some Black Friday discounts. Have my eye on a sweatshirt too and a blanket. Have reached the point that I’m spending so much they won’t make the blindest bit of difference.

Welcome back @RumBananaSundae! Glad you had a lovely time away even if the spending gremlins tagged along . Candles from the hotel sound lush though, definitely a justified treat!
Good news about the carpet Hope you manage to snag some good Black Friday deals on the tubs and that sweatshirt/blanket you want .
Sorry your leg gave you grief in France . Fingers crossed work tomorrow isn’t too grim, and hopefully the job market perks up soon so you’ve got more options.And yes, British Gas are a total nightmare!
Thank you re my ear infection 🤗 l am fine now thankfully 😁

Welcome @VikingNorthUtsire
May l ask you what did you get your Mum from TkMaxx ?
I understand if you don't want to say 🤗

Happy to share! Two oversized bone china mugs for her morning cuppa (thought two matching ones would be nicer than just one)

I’ve bought my mum two Christmassy mugs and a little tray for Christmas! I got them from dunelm. Great minds!

Oh that's a lovely idea well done and thank you ☺️@VikingNorthUtsire & you @FurForksSake😊
I think she will love them , my own Mum lives a bone china cup ☺️

Budget day! I will be doing a sweaty workout in front of it. I’m waiting for increased taxation on rental income, DH gloomy about the prospect of salary sacrifice pension contributions being curtailed. I’m hoping that DS’ job prospects won’t be made more difficult by increased employer costs. I don’t think it’s going to be great one for my family, but I am hoping that the end of speculation and prospect of stability will improve business environments. 🤞

I had a quick search on YouTube for frugal channels and found The Budget Mum UK. She has saved £10k in a year on a take home pay of under £2k per month! I am definitely going to watch her! She sounds a frugal genius!

managed frugal cooking yesterday- spiced red lentil soup and baked potatoes for dinner with filling made from 200grams of mince that I found in the freezer. Fried it up with carrots, onion and a few capers and it fed 3 of us with some spinach salad. Going to eat the pantry again today and top up tomorrow. Trying to make up for splurgy visit to deli last weekend- I mean, that’s the secret of successful frugality, fitness, learning, life in general - consistency, innit?

Ah Budget day indeed! The last 18 months/2 years has been death by a thousand cuts for SME. Uncertainty kills growth, investment decisions are postponed, employment decisions delayed, I could go on - I’m glad I don’t have that constant, low level, never ending stress anymore after 25 years of it - these last few weeks have been a shit show in terms of what is going to happen, then won’t. The rise in employer NIC’s was a massive cost for small business (we never agreed with the low level of the minimum wage anyway and always paid well above that, but understand it’s appropriate for some sectors to make their own decisions) - I know we needed 2 extra employees before we sold but didn’t feel it was the right time to recruit. I know many others feeling the same. We shall see what happens. No growth, no tax revenue ultimately to pay for the astonishing number of things that need paying for! I think they are going to go with freezing tax thresholds by the sounds of it - so taxing by stealth (brought in by the previous government..).

Anyway - the dog has had a finger up his arse this morning to re-check a small lump - which has disappeared. We are on a plan - so no cost.

I’m popping off to the tip via M&S for fresh fruit. Had a lovely run this morning - cold, still and frosty.

Ratatouille for supper, with cous cous and possible some cod - DH will only accept so many vegetable based dishes before raising mild protest!

Welcome @VikingNorthUtsireand welcome back @RumBananaSundae🙂

Hope you’re okay @lifelongfrugaleer, boo to the shingles.

NSD for me yay!
Re the budget , it doesn't really affect us by the looks of it tbh.
I just hope it is a good one for the country .
Well done on eating the pantry @BigSkies2022 😊
Glad your dog is ok @needastrongoneagainand your dinner tonight sounds lovely 🤗

@BigSkies2022 i hope your dad isn’t feeling any ill effects of the long day tomorrow. I am also in awe of the many wonderful people who take care of our elderly. I do wish the system was more people focused to avoid such scenarios like your dads.

@lifelongfrugaleer shingles is no joke. Mind yourself.

@Alwayslearning25 im a sucker for art and craft supplies. I’ve loads and find the organising of them difficult. Also need to go through the colouring and activity books and cut out the unused pages in the hopes it makes them attractive again.

I had to leave the bargain threads. I’m too tempted by everything.

hi @VikingNorthUtsire I find it so much easier to be frugal in the new year but I also need to be. The rest of the year has so many expenses.

off sick today but then had to collect small child from school awhile has made an excellent recovery. I’m also feeling a bit better so once DH comes home I’m clocking off and having a nice bath!

yesterday was €71 on petrol and some groceries. Today I’m finishing off the majority of the Christmas present shopping in the Black Friday sales. Also bought my favourite blusher as it was 25% off and I’d free shipping. I’ve needed it for 5 months now but have waited for a good sale. I had others to use so it was a good idea to wait.

Glad you feel better @pistachiosanscream💐

£7.50 in a cafe, £38 on petrol £22 in groceries+ the Morrisons Disney trading cards magazines. DD was given a large number by someone so I got 2 more pack free with my shopping and the magazine (£2) looked really fun, and standard magazines are £6.50 minimum now, easily£10+.

@pistachiosanscream I should definitely get the kids rediscovered colouring books etc. a friend gave me some 11+ workbooks....her ds only did a couple of pages in each, ds (3 year old) wanted me to read them too him.

Also £8 on the car wash, great fun for ds. My car needs far more than a wash though, I need to get my tyres changed, book it in for a service and the boot doesn't open properly anymore. I feel like cars are one of our biggest drain.

@pistachiosanscream the exact same thing happened to my ds on Friday. Tbh he'd been sick all week and started antibiotics on Thursday but they'd really helped so I sent him in on Thursday, he wouldn't nap, which is unusual for him, but after picking him up he was the most energetic and healthy he'd been all week.

Glad your Ds is feeling better @Alwayslearning25🤗
I agree with you our car is a huge drain in our resources but we need one so that's it .

Edit* Friday I sent him in not Thursday.
Thanks @MaryGreenhill all the household but 7 year old DD have had the illness, I'm hoping it skipped her but still waiting for her to be ill

Oh l really hope she misses it @Alwayslearning25🤗

Ooohhhh living the sound of ratatouille. I have that on my meal plan most weeks at the mo.
The bone china cups sound beautiful. My friend got me a gorgeous cup and saucer for my birthday and it's just beautiful. I use it daily.

£10.65 on swimming for tomorrows session.
£10 on yoga for me last night. Haven't been in a few weeks and it was needed.
£42 on bubbles for a friend who is leaving work. She was my manager when I was pregnant, I came back from mat leave into a different team and we just became the most wonderful friends. I shall miss her daily at work.

Hats off to anyone running in this weather @needastrongoneagain I'm looking at you. I can't run even when it's sunny 😂 well done you.
I did however do a Davina workout earlier so feeling amazing from that.

Spent £30.15 in Waitrose, Poundland and Aldi. I bought some more orange Baileys.

Thank you @MaryGreenhill .

Thank you @needastrongoneagain. I did a double take with your post . I was a bit confused about the finger exploration then realised it was your dog. I am glad he is now lumpless.

Hope you’re not too poorly @pistachiosanscream . Enjoy your bath.

Frugal supper tonight. Some (very) yellow stickered broccoli from the freezer with various other freezer vegetables and some blue cheese and avocado. Have leftovers for tomorrow and am looking forward to it. They are safely stored in one of my new Pyrex containers.

Went to town today to have a Black Friday nose. I was interested in a sweatshirt but when I tried it on I didn’t like it. Have ordered a blanket to pick up in TKMaxx and a few odd bits from Amazon. Uniqlo discounts start tomorrow so will take a look.

Bit of a spendy day today
£20 Christmas gifts for my DD
£11 foundation and a nail varnish from boots got a free eye shadow set which was nice.
£6 other toiletries and a silk scrunchie to hopefully help my hair at night.
£5 lunch for work tomorrow at work at 4 so need to take lots of snacks.
£5 food for tea.

£15.48 for our fortnightly Oddbox fruit box.

Held off buying some bargainacious scented candles, because I already have some to get through (I get so tempted by shiny new things especially if there's a bargain).

Big Christmas shopping day tomorrow if I can find everything I need online.

Sorry to hear people and kids feeling poorly - hope all are feeling better soon.

Our Ddog used to get some, ahem, anal gland blockages and he had to be regularly, um, fingered at the vet. He seemed to love it: would very obligingly present himself and plainly harboured nothing but affection for the vets. This was an expensive interlude so I'm glad his issues have resolved.

The Budget Mum UK is more of a side hustle promoter - lots of affiliate links, her Etsy shop, etc, etc. So not for me.

More work at the flat tomorrow and food shopping. Dinner tonight was leek, potato and canellini bean soup, baked beetroot and carrots with walnuts, spinach salad, bread and cheese.

Tried and failed to catch up with the thread..it's been a really busy week so far, sure a lot are feeling the same! Trying to keep on track with spending and eating (although the fruit sugar jellies have been opened 🤭).

Sorry to hear of poorly DC and Frugaleers. Hope everyone feels well soon.

£25.19 Fenwick Christmas presents
£60.60 Lidl (£8 saving on Lidl plus)
£10 lunch

Having lunch at home tomorrow to save money.

Spendy day today - grocery shopping, £70 in Aldi and £46 in M&S, including a birthday cake for DH.

I have mistakenly sent a Vinted parcel to a shop about 12 miles away in a shopping centre, so I have to make the journey to collect this afternoon, no idea how as I usually get them delivered to home. Think I'll probably have to pay for parking too.

Payday tomorrow can't come quick enough, going out tomorrow with DH to buy the last few gifts, I have a list and have written down each shop we need to go in so we can hopefully be in and out as quickly as possible, DH will treat us to lunch as a reward lol.

November seems to have been and gone so quickly, can't believe its 1st December on Monday.

Have a great day everyone - it's almost the weekend 😊