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 🤗 .
☃️🤶🎅🦌🎄🎁

Right: £17 in cheese shop, £26 in greengrocers, £30 on DS’ repaired jeans picked up from dry cleaners/tailor, £20 on two bottles of Dr Bonner liquid soap for Dnieces, £23 in Sainsbury’s. DH spent £29 on armfuls of eucalyptus. I am arranging fruit and foliage in tasteful and festive displays.

Apart from picking up the ham on Christmas Eve, I am done. I got cards and gift bags out of my stash so all good to go there. I plan to devote myself to leisurely pottering at home and undemanding socialising in the form of visiting Ddad on Christmas Eve, hosting DMum on Boxing Day, hanging out with DB and his fam on the 27th. It’s workouts, walks, books and telly for me otherwise.

Toulouse sausages and mash tonight.

DS chipper because he’s had a lovely early Christmas with GF’s family, saw Liverpool win against Spurs (albeit losing their most expensive signing ever to a broken leg- £150million! That’s some frugal fail), and he has the sniff of the prospect of getting some very good work experience/internship really relevant to his goals. Fingers crossed it comes off- it would be a big boost to him if so. 🤞

might watch the new Amadeus adaptation on Now TV tonight if I can persuade DH to give it a go.

have a good evening everyone xx

Shelling out money all over here. Who know cancer was so expensive.

sending my car back tomorrow £660 shortfall to pay. Need to insure dh on the other car. I did it Friday at a cost of £339 but I’m hoping I can do a 14 day cancellation and refund then just swap cars on his current insurance

@pistachiosanscream hope your DM is okay, wise not to go to A&E unless necessary

@needastrongoneagain Yorkshire cheese box sounds right down my street.

@lifelongfrugaleer the wenslydale with cranberries went first from our cheese. DS took a liking to it. We had beetroot crackers too. 😋

@ChipshopPickledEgg Bella Italia good call. Tomorrow I hope to get to Asda v early then head to the Leisure Club I use, to hide away from it all for a bit.

Happy Birthday @Alwayslearning25

Hope @PearlTeapot is okay, I'm on and off the thread so may have missed a post. Anyway hope you are okay x

@MaryGreenhill pleased you slept okay And hope the heartburn stayed away.

Sorry likely missed updates - hard on my phone.

Funny day - put it this way, I have been updating my list of what not to do next Christmas! Traffic, overspending and overloading! On a positive the beauty technician gave me a glass of bucks fizz and a present, and this evening I shared a slice of M&S Yule Log with my friend. I'd done us a joint order as a Christmas present - think I deserved that after M&S car park!

£83 Costco - not taking DD there again!
£25 2 x eyebrow wax and tint for me and DD
Coop 90p for Ritz Crackers - we've ran out of cheese biscuits!

It actually felt a lot more spendy than that.

Thanks all. My mum Is good but I drove her around today so she didn’t have to drive. Then she made our Christmas Day cheesecakes. Cheap day, paid €1.66 as the balance on some groceries as I returned lots of bottles and cans

Morning all! Happy Christmas eve eve.

Went out with the best friend last night and spent about £50 which was bang on budget. Although I think Uber charged me for a ride I didn't have.... I'll get into that later.
Had such a wonderful day yesterday, we discovered a new national trust place in Kent that we haven't been to before, ightham mote, and we had such a beautiful time there and even DD enjoyed it.
Off to the library to return books today and need to post a birthday gift. Then we shall be putting together the jeep for DD once she is in bed so it's ready for the big day (we shall hide it in the shed)

So glad your mum is better @pistachiosanscream cheese sounds delicious 😋
I also noticed that the lovely @PearlTeapot is a little quiet and hope she is doing ok. We miss you Hun.
I bet you look all glam with your eyebrows @Mochi1fudge

Morning.

The National Trust place sounds lovely @Frugal25, I have started writing a gratitude list. Not every day, as that feels forced, but most days, days like that would go in there. I had a very early morning run with a friend today where we nattered like old times (pre DH’s stroke). That went in my little book as soon as I got home.

Most days feel spendy at the minute @Mochi1fudge , we will recoup as a thread in January.

Hoping you are okay @PearlTeapot

Getting sick through no fault of your own costs money sadly @lifelongfrugaleer we have found.

I forgot £19 yesterday on flowers for DF’s partner, I won’t ask him for the money back.

Today £140 at Ocado, which puts my Christmas food budget over, with the M&S order to collect tomorrow. I will be full to the edges of decent food and drink - so not too worried as I’ll recoup or ‘steal’ from another budget where there’s some left.

I’ve finished wrapping the last of the pressies, and only have some veg prep to do tomorrow and the Christmas table to decorate, which the DC will sort.

Finally got DF online - and he’s enough money to pay for his care for a few months before we will need to help him sell some shares to fund more, the home have started the process to apply for funding for his nursing care. That’s a bit of a weight off all our minds on both counts. It was his birthday yesterday and the staff at his new home gave him a present and a cake and all came in his room to sing happy birthday while we were there. They never did that once at the old one.

A relatively peaceful day awaits. Thankfully.

I think next week I’m going to sit down and work out some budget pots for 2026. We’ve been winging it for a long time and that has to stop. It makes me feel incredibly anxious and overwhelmed and I get panicky if I overspend from a pot. Dh is a high earner and we should have plenty every month, but it’s leaking.

NSD today and I have managed to track down the £137 owed me by La Redoute for a returned item. They will be transferring it from my credit account with them (not needed) to my current account (very much needed),although it might take a few days to show up. Better late than never.

I cleaned floors and did more laundry this morning, we were planning to go to the South Bank and potter about. But it’s cold, DH has a cold, so we mostly stayed home and I curled up with Ddog on a sofa and read. I may also have snoozed. DH went out and bought cooking apples, so we can expect one of his excellent crumbles at some point.

Dinner tonight is Toulouse sausages with lentil casserole, rainbow chard and cabbage.

I feel you on seeking control fur: the last couple of months have been all outgoings and I am so looking forward to reversing that and living lean for a good while!

I'm with you on the pots or sinking funds in 2026 @FurForksSake I need a level of control next year!

£50.86 Asda
£3.50 B&M
£6.63 Coop

That's the shopping done. Tomorrow DD is getting nails done then our Christmas Eve tradition of visiting an indoor market that has great food stalls (dirt cheap). Northern Goldsmiths Jewellers plays Christmas Carols when their outdoor clock chimes so will try to see that too. One of my favourite Christmas things!

So car went back today. £660 equity fee paid. But will save £269 a month on fees so we are down to one car. £60 to change DH insurance and take me off. Weirdly it was cheaper to leave me on.

refund of car tax due ?? Refund of service plan £94.42. They don’t normally but did a goodwill. Refund of £322 from Hastings multi car due

recouped a bit of money in the flood but hey ho.

the new care home sound lovely need.
happy DF birthday

pistachio hope DM is ok now

i remember pearls was struggling with being in hospital at Christmas sending much love

butcher order to collect tomorrow. Plus £85 Sainsbury (125 but spent nectar points)

Spending today has been £5 in Asda on a Yule log and £2.50 in Aldi on some crisps. Think I’ll start nothing things down in an effort to be accountable on what I’m eating. Cancelled the book I ordered from Amazon and ordered a different one. I hadn’t used the Black Friday refund so no real spend there.

It’s all a stinker isn’t it @lifelongfrugaleer. Hope you’re doing ok.

Glad your mum is good @pistachiosanscream.

Yes on the getting sick costing money @needastrongoneagain. It sounds like your father might be settling into the home. That must be a relief. And happy belated birthday to him.

I was thinking about @PearlTeapot too. I hope she is ok.

Will try and do the same @FurForksSake. I’m certainly winging it at the moment.

Feeling a bit nervous re spending next month/year. Not knowing how much the legal stuff will cost is discombobulating. Current account is looking sparse and the bill I was expecting today didn’t arrive (so that made me even more nervous). Though I did remember that I paid for the windows from my current account and not savings so think I’m feeling that.

Work was nice today. Had one meeting that turned into a four hour chat. Tomorrow is looking quiet too. My leg is not happy so I’m quietly pleased the gym is closed on the 25th so I can rest it. Quite looking forward to the four day weekend. Will read my book.

I have been MIA l am afraid. l am so sorry l have been away .
l hope everyone is ok and everyone is feeling festive and ready for Christmas. Lots happening here , things that are out of my control but l have tried to control what l could. Funnily enough money did not come into it at all .
However l spent £45 in Aldi and £16 in Tesco and that is me done for Christmas ☺️.
My Mum, who is 94 in a few weeks , has been diagnosed with early breast cancer last week, the consultant told me that she would die with breast cancer not because of it and the treatment is an Oestrogen blocker which can cause aches and pains . My Mum has terrible arthritis already and it's just caused her to become incoherant with pain bless her . It has been very distressing see her in such pain but they have given her morphine in patches now and thank God they seem to have worked today . She's been through hell bless her . Several of my friends have been really poorly and l have had to do shopping and visits and lifts to Drs and pharmacies for them all. My one friends wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer as well bless her . He is severely disabled and she has fallen to pieces over her diagnosis . It never rains but it falls . Last night my beautiful cousin told me she has suspected bowel cancer and l love her to bits, she's the sweetest person God has ever put breath in . I went to see the GP and l have low Ferritin levels and the Dr thinks l may be bleeding somewhere so l have to do a bowel cancer check , l am fine it's because l don't eat meat l am a devil 🙄😁. Anyway the world and his wife all around me are poorly bless them all. I have not forgotten about any of you here and l just hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas despite all the health and personal issues .

@MaryGreenhill oh goodness, what a lot to contend with. There is a statistic somewhere about the number of people who die with cancer and it’s only discovered at post mitten.

Thank you for keeping us all going Mary, I’ve had such a warm welcome and for keeping me in the fold.

Im thinking of moving out banking over to Monzo for the pots. I just need to work out how dh and I get a joint account and what to put in the pots. I’m probably better at doing that on paper and then transferring it in.

Spends today has been Ocado £135. We went for a walk but it is somewhere we have an annual pass for.

AHH @FurForksSakethat's so kind of you to say that bless you 🤗. It's unbelievable, fancy that ppl have cancer that is only found in their pm 😱
Monzo sounds ideal with those pots for different funds . I think it could be a game changer for a lot of ppl .

Oh @MaryGreenhill that's an awful lot to juggle with. Huge hugs coming your way and don't be sorry for having time off MN - you need to prioritize at home and for yourself by the sounds of it. Your poor DM, at least the morphine patches seem to be helping. I hope you can have a bit of down time in these next few days.

Aw thank you so much @Mochi1fudge it's been a bit daunting here but honestly l am fine , as long as my Mum is ok and out of pain l can cope with anything. Thank you all for being so kind you are all wonderful ❤️

I think my mum drama will last through 2026. She’s got problems with her kidneys, had some stents and sepsis in the last few months. She has no idea what the plan is now and step-dad should know but also doesn’t seem clear. Mum is 70 next year but has early stages of memory issues. It’s very frustrating trying to work out what is going on and what my sister and I need to chase and intervene with. That’s before we even think about what needs doing in the house.

Whoever advisied on investments. Thanks I have opened my first investment, well it's a junior ISA for my son, who is 3 so that seamed sensible as they are for long term savings. Started with £1400 from a bond that matured today, which was under his name as included gifted money for him from grandparents. It's forecasted that me putting in £40 a month would be £10-15k when he's 18. I will probably open one for myself and my other child in a few months.

Merry Christmas everyone.

@FurForksSake l am so sorry you are having this awful worry with your Mum . It's so difficult to deal with them getting older and in increasingly poor health especially if their cognitive sense is impaired because we have to make their health and financial decisions for them . I empathise with you so much it's a heavy responsibility on our shoulders . I do find it helps to share with others and l am so grateful to have everyone here supporting each other it makes a huge difference 💐❤️

Well done @Alwayslearning25
I think it was @BigSkies2022who gave us a lot of information, amongst others l know. So thank you all
very much for this brilliant support 💐

I was very good this morning and did not spend €150 on the sweaty betty sale.

then went to Lidl to buy coke on offer and also got more chocolate tubs. Oops.

otherwise t was a low spend day.

@FurForksSake thays really tough about your mum, she’s still relatively young so doubly hard.

@MaryGreenhill you poor thing, you are such a support for your mum and friends but you need to mind yourself too.

This time of year can be hard for the ill or elderly and I find that things often hit a low point. What’s meant to be the season of cheer can be a sad season. Fingers crossed all our loved ones stay healthy for the next few weeks.

@pistachiosanscreamI did smile at the Sweaty Betty willpower , that definitely counts as a win well done you! Lidl has a habit of sneaking extras into the trolley though, especially at this time of year 😁
@pistachiosanscream
Thank you for the kind words re my Mum bless you ❤️
It really is a tough time for a lot of people and you’re right, the season of cheer can feel heavy when illness or worry is around. Fingers crossed we all get through the next few weeks with our loved ones as happy and as well as possible ❤️

Oh @MaryGreenhill I'm so sorry for you and your lovely mum. She is so beautiful, which is obviously where you get it from. Sending hugs. Don't forget to take care with yourself which I know you do for others xxx
Pots in Monzo are brilliant. That's where I set mine up and they work amazingly well.
£8 on postage for a birthday gift.
£16 on scratch cards to put in cards for family.
That's me done now. I refuse to spend anymore. It's crazy. Roll on Jan pay day!
Happy birthday to your lovely dad @needastrongoneagain

That’s really kind of you to say @Frugal25 thank you so much sweetheart. Mum would be chuffed with you saying that honestly ❤️. And you’re right, it’s always easier reminding others to look after themselves than actually doing it, but I’m trying to behave myself 😊.
Totally agree on Monzo pots. Once the money is allocated in the pots it feels spent already, which definitely helps rein things in. Your spending sounds very reasonable anyway, especially this time of year well done you 😊
And yes… roll on January payday. December is wild there seems no end to it 😱
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas eve 🤗