January Jingles, Valentine Capers, Frugal Fun Shenanigans & Looking Forward to Spring!

[DirtyGertiefromno30]

Welcome to the New thread everyone 😊
Here's to everyone of us and hoping 2026 brings us all health happiness and frugal finances 🤗

Checking in. Is that you Mary?

Thank you for the new thread and for keeping us all going. Love the title.

Here’s to a frugal, calm 2026 for us all.

Thanks for the new thread! Just place marking ready.

Starting by eating down my fridge, freezer and cupboards - there’s going to be some weird meal combos going on come the middle of Jan!

Just come up to the home and this miracle was there to welcome us .This has made me so very happy ❤️
Happy New Year everyone 🎉

It is me @needastrongoneagain ❤️

Ah! @DirtyGertiefromno30 she looks so well! Hurrah for antibiotics.

Happy New Year's Eve!! Thank you for the nice new thread - the name is great!Lovely pic of your Mum @DirtyGertiefromno30 - good to see her looking so well. You must be so relieved.
Our new year plans have temporarily changed as Sonil was in hospital last night with very high BP and chest/arm pains. He's waiting to see a doctor before he's hopefully discharged. In the meantime, collected GS from Granny who sat up all night awaiting news while babysitting the said GS. DD is down south as her DDad had a major operation yesterday so she is now stressed and upset as she is now hundreds of miles from where she really wants to be. GS is reasonably happy and quite okay with Daddy 'working' and being here with us for the day and has brought along some of his new toys and if he's having fun can stop for a sleep over. Bluey is absorbing his attention while he has his lunch.
Need to sit down at some point and do month end finances and bank shuffles to get ready for the new month/year.

Also name changed
so glad to see your mum looking chirpy
have a good evening all

Yes ! Same here too 🤣

Ah thank you so much @Whatwedidnext l am over the moon ❤️

Ah thank you so much @Whatwedidnext l am over the moon ❤️

Ah thank you so much @Whatwedidnext l am over the moon ❤️

Hello all, just checking in on the new thread. Your mum looks fab @DirtyGertiefromno30 (that name does make me giggle)
Who have you name changed from, @Whatwedidnext ?!

Ive been to Dunelm to look at rugs as I’m redecorating my front room next year. Picked up some new cheap throws for the sofa for when my granddog comes to stay (he’s here tonight) and some new wine and fizz glasses that I didn’t need but like the shape….
Also spent a tenner in M&S on food for tonight and picked up my free Sparks birthday treat biscuits.

Bought a pair of PJs too £12.50 as they have non-cuffed bottoms and all my cuffed bottoms are slowly being phased out (they drive me nuts when they creep up my leg in the middle of the night and get stuck there!!)

Happy new year everyone - here’s to a healthy, happy, abundant 2026!!

                🎆🥳🍾🥂🎆

That’s a lot to deal with @Rainbow1901. I really hope Sonil gets sorted and home soon, very frightening for you all. Your poor DD too, being so far away at such a stressful time. I’m glad GS is settled and happy with you (thank goodness for Bluey 💙). Be kind to yourself today and don’t worry if the finances can wait. Wishing you a calmer end to the day and a gentler New Year start.
Thank you re my Mum too bless you ❤️

Lovely to see you here @chimichangaz😊
Sounds like a very successful mooch , especially the throws for the granddog (priorities!) and free birthday biscuits are always a win 🎉
I’m completely with you on cuffed PJ bottoms 😁 once they start creeping up there’s no sleep happening at all 😅
Enjoy the glasses, the treats, and granddog cuddles tonight.
Wishing you a very happy, healthy and abundant 2026 too 🥂✨
Thank you re my Mum ,❤️
I am truly over the moon 😁❤️

Good to see your mum looking well @DirtyGertiefromno30. I’m back home after getting some very chilly steps in and running errands. About to get changed into my workout gear, do a quick workout and have a nice stretch. Cassoulet for dinner tonight (we had duck legs and potatoes last night- I misread the recipe and we wouldn’t have eaten before 10pm - so I pivoted. It does mean we’re sorted for tonight though.) we’ll have to drug the dog to help him through the fireworks.

Usually I am armed with lots of goals and targets at this point! I am going to take my planning a bit more slowly this time, and let the shape of 2026 emerge…

but I am looking forward to 2026, and I wish the very best for you all. Have a great evening, whatever you are doing- and if it’s not too special, well, it’s really only another Wednesday night!

Thank you for the new thread @DirtyGertiefromno30 and your lovely mum looks so happy and healthy, what a beautiful photo of her. A brilliant way to end the year.
That leg press is amazing @chimichangazwell done you!!!
Oh poop, your lovely plans tayto. :( I hope you can sneak in lovely glass when your back from picking up DD? Hope the restaurant is just as good as your fave tomorrow.
NSD here for me. And should be tomorrow. OH and I are already in comfy clothes and we have picky tea tonight of lovely crackers and cheese. Nom.

I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026. I have started taking my resolutions slowly and it seems to work for me. I try and build on something from last year, like make the emergency fund a bit bigger, or lose a few more lbs and build on the weight loss from last year. If I say "I'm going to save £1k and lose 2 stone" and it doesn't happen. Slowly slowly for me.

Thank you. To everyone on here. This time last year I wasn't in a great position. I had no savings. My credit card was maxed out. Bills and mortgage was bouncing. I asked for help from an advisor and got turned away. Then I found this group. I'm not going to lie and say I've turned it all around in 1 year. But I do have an emergency fund. I have a plan for my credit card. And my bills are always paid on time now. I even have pots (still very small at the mo) for future spending. I'm so proud of myself and it's all thanks to you lot that I've stuck to it. I never stick to anything so this is a real first for me. You are all strangers in different counties that have become friends online and I cherish all of you. I have learnt so much this year from you all.
Have a wonderful evening whatever you get up to.
Love love xxx

Thanks dirty

Lovely words @Frugal25 and blooming well done. You’ve built solid foundations there 👏

I’ve picked up my Aldi TGTG bag and there was quite a bit of stuff. Not all
of it to my taste (blue cheese) but some good use by dates (10 January for some). I’ll eat and freeze what I can/what I like and offer the rest out to friends and family.

No steak @DirtyGertiefromno30 🤣

ChipshopPickledEgg checking in.

Sounds like a very productive (if freezing!) day @BigSkies2022 ❄️ Good call on the recipe pivot , cassoulet tonight sounds perfect, and always a win when future you is already sorted 😄
I really like your approach to easing into planning and letting 2026 take shape, rather than forcing it. There’s a lot to be said for that.
Hope the workout and stretch feel good, and fingers crossed the dog sleeps through the fireworks 🤞
Thank you so much re my Mum ❤️
Wishing you a really lovely start to 2026 , however it unfolds enjoy it 😊 ✨

Ahh this is such a lovely message @Frugal25❤️
Thank you so much re my Mum, talk about my disbelief and absolute joy ❤️❤️
You should be incredibly proud of yourself sweetheart ,what you’ve achieved in a year is huge. Going from bounced bills and maxed cards to an emergency fund, a plan, and paid on time bills is no small thing at all. That’s really a lasting change put in place .
I love your approach too , slow, steady, and building on what you’ve already done. That’s how it sticks. It's clearly working for you ❤️
Enjoy your picky tea and comfy clothes tonight , perfect NYE plans if you ask me 🧀🍷
Here’s to a happy, healthy 2026 and continuing to move forward, one small win at a time.
So glad you’re here with us all Love x

So good to see you here 😊 ❤️