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 🤗 .
☃️🤶🎅🦌🎄🎁

Well done on the bargains @chimichangaz1p books and Aliens 4K are totally justified! 📚🎬
Finances drifting is normal especially this time of the year, you can get the pots back on track soon enough don't beat yourself up over it sweetheart.
Gig sounds tricky but very sensible to skip the overnighter 🙄. Big girl pants on 💪
People pleasing tip “No I’ll just pay for mine” works fine, on repeat , no excuses needed. I think you will find you aren't the only one cheesed off over this person.
Just imagine how many times they have done that and got away with it ,cheeky devil.

That’s a lot to handle bless you @Frugal25💚. You didn’t let anyone down choosing what you can afford shows real strength. Christmas, birthdays, mortgage shocks… it’s a lot for anyone to deal with.
Well done on budgeting and putting the £30 into savings instead of gambling on winning that house, that’s future You looking after yourself .Cancelling what you can and a wardrobe clear out is a great idea well done 👍.
Lidl facemask + bath + Gogglebox = perfect self care. Vaxing carpets tomorrow? Peak festive adulting 😂
You’re doing your best this tough month don't be hard on yourself sweetheart 💐
I am fine here honestly, thank you for asking, we have just been waking early and for no good reason really , DH is the same . I wonder if something is waking us up that time of a morning ? 🤔
Will have to investigate 👮‍♀️🤣

Busy but satisfying day for you @BigSkies2022! Fingers crossed your DS gets his Christmas gift £200 is well spent on a future wardrobe. Love the fox watching camera, and the garage roof sounds well worth it. Rachel Roddy dinner = perfect low-effort comfort 😋. Jane Austen event or cosy night in both wonderful 😁
@FurForksSake aw bless your Ds hope his lips are better soon.
That's lovely the DC are singing at the council offices bless them the ppl will love it 😁
Enjoy your takeaway 😋

About £40 on groceries in Marks and Spencer today. But I have clementine juice now. And one of their fancy bags of easy peelers. And chocolate squirty cream. No I have no idea what I was thinking while out.

I’m worrying about the cheese running out too @Mochi1fudge. I’ve not bought any yet. I was leaving it until next week.

Thank you for mentioning parsnips @Vinorosso74. I’m not a parsnip fan but enjoyed curried parsnip soup last year so will get some.

Sorry you’re not looking forward to your night out @chimichangaz. I hope it’s better than you’re anticipating. I’m happy to receive tips on not being a people pleaser too. I often end up doing the let’s split the bill thing and paying for people’s wine, starters, desserts and who knows what else.

I’m a non-sleeper too @MaryGreenhill . You can join me at the gym. Hope you’re OK.

Good luck son of @BigSkies2022. I hope something comes along for you soon. Enjoy your evening whatever you choose to do.

Today was a strange day. My head has been all over the place. Not sure how it’s the end of the year already. Was payday today (early as it’s December) I’ll have broken into it early once the bill I’m expecting lands next week. The last couple of months have been brutal spending wise. I’ve lost track.

Fucking stupid amount of admin today.
£339 car insurance for DH on my car. Got the princely sum of £4.11 back after a £56!!! Admin fee. After i did the work and it’s not like im chosing to not drive. Its in the terms and conditions you know

fuck off daylight robbery

conversely the gum who is owned by a tight arse waved all fees and are refunding & cancelled me without fees

new trainers going back so £70 back there

will get hospital parking permit when there 28th as many appointments came though today for preop for 5 Jan surgery

out tonight for Xmas meal. Cost me £40 so may as well eat it

You have to be tough with bill splitters, take cash so you can put down exactly what yours cost + tip if you want. I research the menu before. And then hold firm as they will try and guilt you.
happened to me a few times especially at work and as I don’t drink & others do. holding firm is the important bit and paying your share first. When they start it’s a no! Here is my share you can do what you want

Also as Mary said. No im just paying mine on repeat

Pre buying stocking fillers from shein, new with tags from vinted, picking up black friday bargains... so much saved yet loads of thoughtful presents.

I can’t imagine arguing with someone that clearly stated they were just paying for themselves. I prefer it as I don’t drink very often at all so I’d rather just pay for that. I don’t see why we should split it any other way. I always have a notepad and pencil at the ready 😆

Taking command of the bill often helps!

Oh @RumBananaSundae that chocolate cream is my Dh's favourite 😋 love to join you in the gym 😁
You have a heck of a lot going on , l am not surprised you don't know where your head is but you are getting there bit by bit, just keep rolling with the bumps 🤗
@lifelongfrugaleer enjoy your meal tonight and the sooner the op comes the better .
Get it over and done with early in 2026 and you can recover from it and by Spring you will be like a new woman 🤗
A day of ups and downs for you ,some financial wins some losses but you are doing brilliantly with all the preparations you are so brave and practical 🤗👏

Well done on all your bargains @Chinsupmeloves fantastic bargains 🤗

Good for you @FurForksSake
That is the way to do it . Take charge of the bill and stop the cheeky devils working it to their advantage 👏😁

Well done on the care home @needastrongoneagain it must be a weight off your mind.

people pleasing is definitely an issue I also have but I’ve worked hard on boundaries and also asking myself how much do I care about this, if it’s not much I go along either way it, if I care a lot u speak up now or find a way to avoid.

fingers crossed for a successful launch for your DS next year @BigSkies2022

enjoy your night in @Frugal25 i want to work next year on having relaxing hobbies that aren’t shopping or eating.

@FurForksSake will the big online shop make your prep easier? You are still recovering so if it saves you energy I’d spend the money.

money is slipping away. Also paid early this month and it will just mean January is a very long month!

Can you help? I need to do my Christmas food shopping. Any offers on wine/ ham/ turkey/ snacks? I’m happy to brave 6 or seven shops if needed! Hosting 12 and unexpectedly DH can’t give any money towards it so I need to try to do Christmas on little over my normal food budget.

Oh Heck @Kittkats - that's a bit late to be dropping it on you a few days before Christmas! Can you ask any of your guests to bring something to help? So if someone brings a dessert and another a couple of bottles of wine and another the crackers - would go a long way to helping you. In our family, the cost never falls entirely on the host because we work it out this way although I know many families also rather selfishly don't do this.
Mercifully most of the big supermarkets have cut certain vegetables in price - in Sainsbury for example potatoes are 15p a bag so you should be okay with that. Carrots are 5p I think in Aldi. If you have coupons on your Lidl app (if you have one) Christmas puddings have been reduced by 25%. If you eat Turkey for your lunch there are plenty still in the shops but if you are really brave you could try shopping for one on Christmas Eve when they may be reduced to silly prices but you are stuck if you can't get one. Beef Joints are half price in Sainsburys and Tesco and the gammon ham too was a couple of weeks ago so don't know if that one is still running. Also if prices are your issue don't be afraid to buy own branded on say stuffing for example rather than Paxo etc.
Get writing a list and stick to it. Let us know how you get on!! Wishing you lots of patience and luck in the shops!!

Thank you! Not DH’s fault, he’s recently disabled and can’t work, but sold a big item on eBay to get money to contribute to Christmas. Unfortunately DHL haven’t collected from the service point over a week later so funds aren’t released. My parents are now bringing dessert, someone else is bringing crackers but not everyone is in a position to contribute (several dc, uni students on a budget etc).
Thanks for the tips on veg etc. I’m trying to decide how brave I feel re the reduced turkey! Will definitely go for cheapest brands though.

Afternoon everyone 😊
DH is watching the football and l am settled here with a nice cuppa 😊.
NSD for me today .
I slept all night so l am in the pink 🤣.
@pistachiosanscreamthe money just disappears down the drain ATM for us all .
I used to be paid by the NHS and they used to pay us early too and it took forever to get to the end of January to get paid again . I hear you 🙄
@KittkatsTesco have 6 x bottles of wine on clubcard offers and 25% off for buying 6. Also my Aldis had their bucks fizz reduced to £1.25 .
Can you get the Too good to go app and download it and take them up in the offers available. Greggs and Aldis are superb. Lastly good luck and dont worry everyone will just be so happy to be together bless you and your husband 💐

Not in the UK @Kittkats so can’t help with where the best offers are but I’d advise you have a good root around your cupboards and freezer and see if there are things you can use up to make snacks and canapés. Is it just dinner you are hosting or are other meals involved?

most people have lots more food than they realise,

any bottles of alcohol that can be used for cocktails? Instead of loads of wine.

Great idea @pistachiosanscream 👏👏

@Kittkats sounds like a difficult time, but I’m sure you’ll make it work. Most of the supermarkets are offering the veg for as little as 5p, so I’d go big on vegetables. Make lots of stuffing with the cheapest stuffing mix and that will bulk anything out. I’d also get an extra large chicken and a gammon that will be far cheaper than a turkey. Lidl or Aldi will sort you out. Lidl app might have some coupons.

Always worth putting your requirements into chatGPT along with your store cupboard supplies and let that form a shopping list for you. Also, not sure how your town is of course but it may be cost ineffective to go to 7 shops once costs are taken.
LSD day today.

• £2.50 window stickers ... Got a good hour out of daughter moving them about 😆
• £6.32 groceries. What's really awful is I can't actually remember what I brought.

Offered my daughter the opportunity to pick what we do tomorrow all she wants to do is visit a relative. Bless her.

She is going to her aunt's on Monday whilst I finish some Santa jobs so that'll unfortunately be spending.

I've refused to do anything to do with the move until after the 5th January.

Quite right too @ChipshopPickledEgg well done you 👍😁

@Kittkats another rec for the Lidl Plus App here. Today I picked up a smoked gammon joint for £5.94 and got 40p off it on a coupon. Will slow cook in ginger ale and then add maple glaze. Also as mentioned the cheap veg is on all this week.

Not bad today - all my meals out are done now.
£69.07 Lidl
Refund from Shein £11.97

I'm trying not to be defeated by a fridge. Ordered a new American fridge freezer on Black Friday. Two been delivered, two faulty display panels! Spent 1.5 hours in Currys this morning - they couldn't have been nicer and exchanged on the same price, even though this one was £100 more. Third one coming tomorrow - also this one has an offer of £200 shopping vouchers to claim in February.

Whoever mentioned cheese ( @RumBananaSundae ? ) I got two boxes of cheese board selections from the coop yesterday. Just in case they run out. I am also eyeing up mince pies with some Baileys tonight. 😋

I started the Christmas cheese yesterday
£££ on horse show.
like an idiot I’ve booked 2 hotels. Thrown myself at the mercy of the doubletrees for a refund or date move

Today was €54 on supplies to extend the table to easily fit 10. Then €11 in Costa for a danish and cookie for small child and a coffee for DH. It was an early start as we wanted to avoid the crowds so happy to pay to keep the small child on side.

then €1.95 on milk and a melon in Lidl.

tomorrow I’m meeting friends for food and the Tesco shop is coming. So it will be an expensive day