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 🤗

@Johaanah a bit of both here to be honest.

My major downfall is convenience a tenner on the way to work in Costa at 5am because quite frankly I can't be arsed ... Sure.... A takeaway because we can't be arsed.... Sure. When I am being "better" with money (I can't say frugal as such) and I'm cutting those out I find that I'll eat healthier.

On the other hand however healthy food is expensive so I probably end up spending less but not massively less.

I get that, I spend a number of years commuting into London, around 2 hours each way on a good day, and convenience was worth the world, I think that frozen mashed potato was my saving grace on more than one occasion, or buying lunch rather than taking in leftovers because it got me out of the office and through the day in one piece. Now I work from home I can’t really make those excuses anymore 🫣

Evening Frugaleers

Needed food today pleasingly it was within budget and should last a week.
£8.13 Co-op
£83 Lidl
£34 Haircut 1/9 cuts I have budgeted for this year!

Well done @Lockin26 that's a brilliant days budgeting 😁

I was thinking exactly the same earlier @Johaanahim either healthy and losing weight or in savvy with money. I can't focus on both although I do try.
@DirtyGertiefromno30hoping you're ok sweetie. You seem quiet... Unless I've just missed a few of your posts which is quite possible tbh.
Sending love to @lifelongfrugaleerand hoping she is doing really really well.
And pearls too. Missing her and hoping she is ok.

07/01
A couple of DDs came out today but both are from allocated and pre-approved bill budgets, so I'm not counting them as spending. It feels a bit like cheating but I'm only including proper bills and MiniFool's basic activities. No additional spending despite accidentally opening an email with a free gift offer with any purchase! I browsed, then closed the page. Is this what self control feels like?! 🧘‍♀️

Tomorrow will be a spendier day as we're taking friends out for a thank you meal, and we need a bread & produce top-up after I used most of our veggies for tonight's tea. I have a belated birthday gift to order and potentially a big purchase too so maybe tomorrow is bite-the-bullet day 😬

YTD: NSD 5, LSD 2, Spendy 0

AHH you know me only too well @Frugal25 ❤️
Mum hasn't been at all well again. Didn't know why just thought it was a general decline in her health tbh because she has been through hell lately . Went to see Mum this morning she was so tired she couldn't keep her eyes open so we decided to go back up this afternoon.
Mum was awful when we came back up. Sweating , in pain and a high temperature. I have my own thermometer and it was 37.9 . I gave her Calpol , the girls sorted Mum out and gave her Oramorph to change her because she was so confused and hitting out. The head carer was marvellous , she tested Mums pad , 9n testing it Mum has another UTI or it's the same one that wasn't treated completely, she phoned the Dr at 5.20pm , we picked up the prescription from the surgery and took it to Boots in 1 hr Mum had had her antibiotic and we have left her resting in a clean bed very comfy . Gave her a can of Lucozade .She wouldn't have anything to eat at all tonight . They were going to leave Mum for the Dr to come in the morning but I wasn't happy leaving Mum until the Dr came tomorrow because of the snow in case he would not be able to come . She has another sachet of the antibiotic to have on Saturday. We have left Mum very comfortable and cwtched up . I hope she will be a lot better tomorrow. Fingers crossed. So yes l have been quiet because the last few days she's not been right at all bless her heart ❤️

Ah @DirtyGertiefromno30 sorry to hear your DM had a few bad days, these UTIs can cause such confusion. I hope your DM has a better day today (and you too! X)

Hope @lifelongfrugaleer is doing okay.

Re losing weight, I can't do it all at once either, I've started with drinking 2 litres of water a day and going to bed between 9 and 10 so my sleep is much better. I feel better after a week of doing this - last term I'd be making meals at 10pm thinking I was helping myself but I was like a zombie at work then flake on the sofa by 8.30pm and crawl to bed. I'm hoping the healthy eating and increased exercise will fall in behind better sleep and hydration. My DC are an age I can leave them to sort themselves at night, appreciate it's harder when you have younger ones.

Oh @DirtyGertiefromno30im so sorry. Your poor mummy. I'm so glad she has you fighting for her corner and demanding a Dr. As good as the staff are and have been, waiting for tomorrow wasn't the answer here. Well done you for doing the right thing. And getting the antibiotics in an hour is amazing. I hope DM is so much better today and so glad she was more comfortable with cwtches when you left. I love cwtches. Me Welsh friend told me what it meant years ago and it just makes my heart smile.
Sending you love my darling one. And lots of cuddles too. Shall leave you be so you don't feel you need to check in when you're so busy at the mo xxx

Sorry to hear about your mum @DirtyGertiefromno30. Really hope there’s improvement today.

Yesterday was a lowish spend day. I topped up a few things in Sainsbury’s on my way home and gave dd money to buy herself some food on the way home from school too. She’s not eating at school for various reasons but is then obviously really hungry by 3:30. I get lots of healthy snacks in ready for her but in this weather she’s after something warm. She’s really funny about food and it makes it tricky to find things substantial enough for her to eat that fill her up when I’m not there.

Spending about £15

Ive got quite a few purchases to send back over the weekend - including the decathlon haul that I didn’t get round to doing on Tuesday.

Ah thank you so much @Lockin26 tbh with you l went to bed and l turned my mobile off and thought the home can phone us on my landline if anything changes with Mum because for some strange reason l can rest better with my mobile off l know that sounds daft . Thank you for your good wishes for my Mum bless you ❤️
Your health decisions sound excellent and already you are benefitting from them well done 🤗

Oh my lovely@Frugal25, thank you so much ❤️ it really means a lot. Yesterday was scary and exhausting, but I’m just so relieved Mum’s finally got antibiotics on board. She was a lot more settled when I left, which helped my sore heart so much .
And yes… cwtches are the best 😊 there’s just something about that word that says everything a hug should be.
It's all encompassing 🤗
Thank you for all the love and cuddles , l felt every bit of it and right back at you . Don't worry about me l am really good when l can fight and do something practical for Mum and others. It's my forte l know that sounds ridiculous and perhaps a bit boasting but it's not meant to be it's just l know my strengths and patience and advocacy is really important to me. It all stems from my job as a Paediatric nurse and it's ingrained in me. Sending you a big cwtch right back thank you sweetheart 💕

AHH thank you @Shnoutre my Mum that's so kind of you . Tbh with you l am too afraid to ring to see how she is l just can't face it ATM in case she isn't improved or worse The home know to ring me anyway so l suppose that is good news 🤗. My sister is visiting Mum this morning so l will wait for her to let me know how Mum is.
I will go up this afternoon.
Well done on sending all your parcels back that's so satisfying when it's a job done 🤗

Oh Mary love sending lots of love to Nana Pumpkin.
Please be kind to yourself darling you can only do so much and YOU are important too.

@DirtyGertiefromno30 sorry to hear you mum is going through it again, please look after yourself as well......
Approx £20 on travel food and ss snacks yesterday which was expected, long day though and was in bed and asleep by 10! Can start to reclaim the house this weekend now.......

Office day today, remembered my lunch which was a good thing as parking seems to have doubled since last month so definitely don't need any more spends! As well as work I need to print out lots of returns labels which I've been saving up (why do people still need these when we could use a barcode instead 😡or at least give the option) so I've got a busy day tomorrow of sending things - I think there's £45 to come back off 2 parcels, the cd money so the best part of £200 once I've done it so worth the effort.

There will be a potential spend if the city centre Lego shop has the Creel House in stock but that will be for DD's birthday in March which has a pot (and there will be nothing else!!!!). Her dad is splitting the cost but I will pay to start with.

Thanks for updating need.
I’m back home and resting now

Hello @lifelongfrugaleer sending hugs and love 😘 so very glad you're ok xxx

Yes they would Def call you @DirtyGertiefromno30and I bet you did sleep better with the mobile turned off. I don't think we are designed to be contacted 24/7. Switching off the device that allows us to be would subconsciously mean you could relax a bit. Good thinking.
Bet your sister has it all in hand and by the time you go later your DM will be so much better
A few years back I suffered awfully with UTIs and sometimes the antibiotics didn't work the first time round and I needed two courses. But it did work in the end. But yes, sometimes a little extra is needed xxx

£99 in Lidl. That was to top up what we have in the freezer and some for DD party on Saturday. OH gave me £50 towards it so all is good.
Off out after lunch as I didn't pick up enough gifts for the party bags and to see if we can get DD a cheap pair of party shoes to wear with her nice dress. Matalan should do the job nicely!

Ah thank you so much that is so kind of you @mushy🤗
Iam going about my normal day and trying to stop myself from overthinking tbh ❤️

@lifelongfrugaleer get lots of that lovely rest, so glad you are able to be at home.

@DirtyGertiefromno30 I hope you’ve managed a restful morning and that the news of your mum is positive.

I think quite a few of you will be in the storm area? Hope you can all hunker down!

No planned spends today. DH is wfh, noticed he is spending £3-5 on lunch in the office. I doubt he will take a lunch box but might suggest one of those days he takes some chilli or something instead.

Off for my discharge appointment with my consultant today, and then hydrotherapy when I get back. I’m knackered just thinking about it.

in due back at work next week but occupational health meeting tomorrow will almost certainly confirm I need another month. My stamina just isn’t there and my pain levels are very inconsistent. Things are improving but due to the complex nature of the surgery not as quick as I’d have wanted.

Thank you @TheOnlyMrsW that is so kind of you ❤️
I am ok just muddling through as best l can . Everyone is so kind bless you all

@DirtyGertiefromno30 you are so good to your mum. well done advocating for the doctor as the sooner she gets the antibiotic the quicker she will be on the ment.

@Lockin26 i am also better at doing things gradually. this week im trying to focus on 1 quick workout a day. Ive done 2 so far and already i feel its a way forward for me. i dread the thoughts of an hour long class so these 12-15 minutes everyday give me the same or more exercise. Next week i will focus more on diet the aim will be to cut out the late night snacks. i have 2 work days out which will include lunch so 5:2 wont be an option but i will try and do 1 day fasting

@lifelongfrugaleer so glad to hear you have made it home. Best of luck with the rest of your recovery.

Todays a busy one, had to drop mum off for some tests to the local hospital, a new private one thats very swish. she may have to stay overnight. unfortunately an uncle died last night (this was expected as he's been in palliative care for a couple of weeks) and mum was fretting as she'd normally be baking stuff to bring to them. Mum keeps tarts in my freezer so i will now bake them off and call later with my sister.

For todays dinner i plan to put the last of the leftover roast beef into the slowcooker with a mexican marinade and we can use it for taco's.

Work are very efficient and my expenses will be in my bank account tomorrow. i'm expecting today to be a NSD.

Omg @lifelongfrugaleerits so good to hear from you. Wonderful news thank you for updating us , fancy you being home, honestly that is absolutely fantastic 😍