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 🤗 .
☃️🤶🎅🦌🎄🎁

That link didn't work, what is it about?

Vinted I mean

Thank you so much re my Mum@RumBananaSundae🤗
I know what you are saying re your work but could you have a nice long break before Christmas. I think it would do you the world of good 😊

I’ve bought two dresses now! I think I’ll wear the second to a dinner with the family, again, fit depending!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/styleandbeauty/5441738-vinted-sizing-change?utmcampaign=thread&utmmedium=app_share
Try this one @Alwayslearning25

Both gorgeous love them 🤩

Welcome @sharkstale I also got a takeaway after gymnastics this week. Luckily it’s usually DH who does this activity so I won’t be tempted regularly.

@Mochi1fudge im giggling at the dungarees. I hope he wears them.

welcome @Thanksforyourlackofthought im also trying to cut back on Christmas this year. Last year u bought massive amount of pre made canapés and im actually still using them from the freezer. Though almost gone now. Definitely limiting myself this year.

@Frugal25 that croissant sound amazing.

@BigSkies2022 im so glad you got the bag and it’s had its first outing

I was away for work last week so most things were expensed. Did but some gifts and new boots for myself and small child for €45. Then over the weekend I was pretty good. Food shop of €88 but included 3 boxes of quality street and 2 boxes of crisps as they were on offer. They have also been moved out of sight so they don’t get dipped into.

I've just finished work so quickly read the thread. I've been really busy today so pleased to say it was a NSD!

@pistachiosanscream as long as they fit I can say he will wear the dungarees, likely on his 60th birthday when we are visiting an observatory (hoping for a clear night to see the stars and planets).

I'm really struggling with any momento this year for Christmas I have done a few friend gifts so far but I have ordered a few bits and haven't had the energy or push to go collect them.
Definitely having a scaled back Christmas this year - can't be arsed spending money on people who just aren't greatful.

@ChipshopPickledEgg I've cut back too. One present for some people instead of two or three.

Salisbury is gorgeous, stopped off there on way home from holiday once and it's just gorgeous.

£65 on Christmas gifts following DD photoshoot. Yup, everyone is getting my DD face for Christmas!!

£4.85 on lunch. I didn't want lunch. Went out with same friend as last week when I spent £8 on a frigging salad. I'm taking own lunch in from now on. Id stopped as I wasn't hungry at lunch but if I'm going to be social and eat I need to take a packed lunch.

Thanks for the heads up re Vinted sizing @ChipshopPickledEgg. I had a notification from them earlier so I checked my listing and something I listed as a size 10 had been re-sized by them as 16-18 😡

If they’ve done the same to the majority of listings it’s going to cause chaos. And thank goodness I only had one item listed! Those people who have tens of items listed might have a real headache.

Busy few days for me as looking after a family member after an op - spends Saturday were £25 takeaway for us both, plus bits in Morrisons £15 then £7.50 on blue tinsel in Morrisons (it’s perfect! Been looking everywhere!). Sunday I bought some Christmas booze £60 and a meal out with friends £25. Today I haven’t spent a bean.

I have a Christmas planner and each year I make a note of food that never got eaten at Christmas or that I bought/made too much of. It definitely helps.

I am feeling smug this year. It is just me and 20 yr old ds. I have won a £50 Asda voucher so that will cover our nosh. A business customer gave me some wine which will cover the two days festive lunches. We are giving each other £50 each so effectively free. I am in fact only spending less than a tenner on cards and stamps so that is the total cost to me this Xmas!

Can someone tell me if I have been bamboozled for my data? I use My Fitness Pal to track food and I received a pop-up offer to participate in a draw for a Tesco voucher. Which I duly did, and apparently won a £200 voucher. I then got sucked into answering a load of questions, but aborted when I was asked about my PayPal account. No sign of Tesco voucher, but I did receive a call asking me various questions including my bank details. Which I did not give. Has anyone had a similar experience?

optician today, should be free, although I am interested in a chunky chain thingy for my specs. Back to flat and hope to see lots of progress. i keep being promised a skip!

This is great for you!

Christmas is so hard for me financially. But (silver lining?) of my manic spending a month ago is all christmas shopping is done bar 2 people and DWs stocking.
And I am waiting for Black Friday deals for those. Then done!

We don't drink and don't buy extra treats really although me and DS make a massive glut of rocky road to snack on, and we're going to attempt florentines this year too. We have 4 family over for Christmas Day so the meal is a big expense. We all don't like turkey but last year they brought with them the meat (which was very expensive) and I really hope they'll offer to do the same this year!

Some great bargains in the Boots £10 Tuesday, some things I really like, resisted them all but feel grumpy about it.

I would definitely consider changing any passwords related just on the safe side it does sound unfortunately like you've been sucked in for your information so you might see an increase in spam (in my completely unknowledgeable opinion)

Morning everyone 😁
Asda £8 just a couple of bits
Primark £9 same
I don't know anything about that Fitness pal survey but it sounds like a scam to me @BigSkies2022
Like @ChipshopPickledEggsaid change your words aw it's such a pain 💐
@FurForksSakewhen are you having your surgery done lovely l know it's not long ?
Good luck, l hope everything goes well with it 💐

@MaryGreenhill morning! Friday, it’s coming quickly. I had a nightmare we overslept 😱😱😱😱😱

Morning.

@BigSkies2022 - boo! We all get sucked in on occasion. Easily done. As @ChipshopPickledEgg says, maybe change the passwords and don’t answer any numbers that you don’t know which might come up on your phone. Then block.

Ref the veg box, it’s £20 for a 4 person box, with £2 delivery charge from a local shop. I did used to get ones from Riverford, but honestly couldn’t justify that any longer, even when working - I didn’t feel they were good value any more, although appreciate their ethical stance. What I like about the one I get is that the lady who owns the shop really thinks about the contents, so if she adds Pak Choi, there will be something like mange tout, a lime, some ginger etc - ideal for a stir fry or Thai dish. The size of the sprout tree this week has me flummoxed though!

Spending today will be on milk and orange juice only. Yesterday was £30 at Amazon on a replacement gym mat for the garage.

Cajun chicken and tray baked vegetables for supper, with potato wedges if needed.

Oh that has come around so quickly. You won't oversleep bless you 💐🤗

@needastrongoneagain those vegetable boxes you get from your ladysound brilliant. You can tell she cooks 😁

I pinched this off on Reasties thread because it seems a real bargain.
gifts.ivycollection.com/shop/the-festive-100-sparkling-gift-card

Need prep, blanch & freeze your sprouts

sorry big. Sound like a scammer too

pearls. Hope things carry on going the right way. Remember it’s not linear and hospital is for a reason

reading but have the memory of a thing with holes in so sorry if I don’t call out

spending on food here for food tech exam practice. But mmm Greek food cooked by DS

i too have a what worked & what didn’t at Christmas and have it down to an art now except for Boxing Day as that was new last year

no other spend. CBA Christmas. Think I need 2 late night shops and I can be done

Oh I'm loving the idea of a what worked and what didn't list. I'm Def doing this!!
NSD here. We went to the crematorium for the first time in a few years with a cross and poppy. Then a chilled day cooking for Christmas and freezing it.
Oh poop. Forgot I'm off to yoga later £10

Unsure about spending today maybe about £40.

They’re quite beautiful dresses @FurForksSake. I hope Friday all goes well.

Thank you re Salisbury @Frugal25. I’m considering places I can just sit on a train to.

That’s quite a change in size for your Vinted listing @chimichangaz. Can see why people aren’t happy.

I think I’d err on the side of caution too @BigSkies2022 it does sound nefarious.

I picked up the Marks and Spencer sweatshirt and can’t decide if it’s too big. I ordered the size down and will compare and return one.

Have just spent too much time writing an email to the solicitor. Tried ChatGPT and it was awful. It just makes things up so that stressed me even more. I’d forgotten just how soul destroying dealing with solicitors is. Wish I did not have an anxious personality. And I don’t trust the solicitor. It feels like I’m being fobbed off and not being taken seriously.