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

1000 replies

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 31/12/2025 09:23

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

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Rainbow1901 · 10/01/2026 18:31

£21 in Iceland on tonights tea of curry and pilau rice, bread, coffee and half price soap pods. Already started rounding up on the Bonus Card for next Christmas which currently stands at £1.65 and Nectar 94p which DH earned via ebay!
Paid in some cash which has now been paid towards CC debts and DS's Wedding fund.
It's bloomin cold - and we are forecast snow - but a week ago they said it wouldn't snow and it did. When they forecast for storm Goretti they said snow - we had a bit of rain so let's see what happens tonight.

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:32

Time with a friend is never wasted money @RumBananaSundae☺️ . And £5 on groceries today more than evens it out 👍
Glad you had a lovely evening, that counts for a helluva lot 😁.
Thanks for the kind words about my Mum, she’s very up and down, today she's been the complete opposite a d in bed all day in agony. I have to the the rough with the smoothly know 😔
Sofa, soup already sorted, and no pressure evening sounds just right. A bit of gentle menu planning and the notebook if you feel up to it, and if not, the book will still be there tomorrow. Sometimes resting is the very best thing for us , healing time 😍

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:35

£21 was money well spent @Rainbow1901😁 tea sorted, half price soap pods, and money going to CC debts, DS’s wedding fund, and next Christmas. All adds up.
Curry and pilau rice is perfect in this cold too 😁.
The weather forecasts are absolutely useless 🙄.

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:41

Thank you so much for asking, that’s so kind of you @Frugal25❤️ . Mum’s been really down today , she's been in bed all day and in pain , so we’re just taking each day as it comes tbh with you. It's very hard on this rollercoaster.
So sorry to hear about your DM 🤗, kidney infections really knock you for six and a party would be a lot even if she was starting to feel better bless her heart ❤️. Hopefully she’ll settle again as time goes on 🙏.
Sounds like the party went well they can be a bit full on for everyone, especially little ones bless your DD . I’m glad the balance is paid too, that kind of thing always adds to the stress well done to your OH for coming up trumps 🤗

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:47

Aw thank you so much@Lockin26 ❤️
Mum had a rotten day today unfortunately and after that brilliant day yesterday too 😔
Just have to cope with each day as it comes .
That’s a good Home Bargains spend , practical and organised with the birthday presents well done 👍
Blimey, Body Pump Heavy and step aerobics is very impressive ,no wonder you felt like it was a perfect combo. You’ll definitely feel it tomorrow, but in a good way!
I admire your willpower with the leftovers… although I completely agree, M&S garlic dough balls are dangerously good 😋 your willpower is far stronger than mine is !

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:51

Sounds like you’re doing exactly the right thing by taking it easy today @Shnout hope you have started to feel a bit brighter now bless you sweetheart ❤️
Well done on the Vinted sale too, £27 is great, and it’s sensible to wait until it's easier later in the week to post the other things . An LSD and an NSD is a good win as well.
That food spend sounds very reasonable, especially when it’s for baking with DD ❤️, that’s lovely quality time and far cheaper (and probably more memorable) than cinema or bowling. Good luck to her with the competition, I hope the cake turns out brilliantly 🍰

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:53

Vinorosso74 · 10/01/2026 15:36

Thoughts with you @needastrongoneagain
Spent £30 on toiletries today, got most things on offer so I'm happy with that. Also spent £27 in Sainsburys but we need to eat!

Well done on the toiletry offers @Vinorosso74 🤗👍

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:55

Dance class done, a bit of pottering too sounds like a goodday
@MushyPeasAndMintSauce
Fingers crossed the Chinese delivers , £23 isn’t bad at all if it does, and if not an NSD is a win anyway enjoy your Chinese if you do have one 🤗😋.

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 18:59

Good news on the refunds! And that runner sounds like a great idea ,much safer for your Ddog’s hips bless them ❤️ . Worth every penny for your peace of mind
@Nellieinthebarn😁

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 19:01

Looks like a good old catch up @FoolShapeHeart! First spendy day is excellent and well done on making lunches. Love the Too Good To Go plan and thebatch sandwiches too , great ideas 🤗

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 19:05

Ah thank you so much for asking about my Mum , she's not had a good day today bless her heart ❤️
Homemade butter, oatcakes, and jam as a gift sounds lovely @devildeepbluesea 😋. Exciting auditions today too 😊! DD’s tea with 40% off mains is perfect, and ham, egg, and chips for you sounds spot on. One of my favourites too 😊 😋

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 19:07

lifelongfrugaleer · 10/01/2026 09:47

Pleased DF was able to interact with the DC need. It’s awful and I pray for a comfortable passing for him x
it sounds trite but please be kind to yourselves with all those emotions dredging up ❤️

That’s so beautifully said @lifelongfrugaleer❤️
Simple, but exactly the reminder people need sometimes.
Hope you are recovering really well Sweetheart

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 19:12

Five mini workouts in a row no wonder your muscles are feeling it @pistachiosanscream 🤗
The Lidl plan sounds good , one big shop plus smaller topups should keep DH well on track.
Totally get the tax return stress, €500 back will be a nice holiday boost for you 😁👏
Looking forward to seeing your meal plan once you sit down tomorrow!
Mum not well today but thank you for being so happy for me yesterday. It is what it is taking each day as it comes ❤️

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 19:14

Well done to your DH @FurForksSake bless him 😁👏
Hope your Ocado order had loads of bargains , l only wish we could have deliveries from them 🤗

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 19:20

I have caught up on everyone l think , apologies if l have missed anyone out 🙏.
NSD for me today , going g to do that refund tomorrow.
Dd1 has a colonoscopy booked in for tomorrow bless her, the prep for that is hellish .
We aren't eating in front of her as a sign of solidarity 🤗
She's done the one lot of prep , she has another lot to have tomorrow. Nothing serious just she probably has lBD but it needs checking out bless her .
Hope everyone is ok 🤗
Take care everyone ❤️

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BigSkies2022 · 10/01/2026 20:17

Need best wishes for the weekend. It sounds like your dad is drifting away. I hope it is peaceful for him and you all can put your arms around each other, figuratively or literally, according to the kind of family you are.

I checked the new tenants in today. Still some admin and bits to do, as there always is at the start of a new tenancy. They are young, accomplished, so sorted! Very impressive young women, and they seem to love the flat. I think a lot of rubbish is said about GenZ. The ones I encounter are so far ahead of where I was at their point in life. I was dumb as soup!

Anyway - £54 in Sainsbury’s today, about £18 of which was ice-cream. I need comforting carbs and fats right now ! In a similar vein, I made a really nice coq au Riesling (doesn’t count if the wine is in a sauce rather than a glass) with the last of the Christmas chicken. Ds and Gf here, and GF brought us fancy chocolate, cremante and truffle crispés. Seems Christmas never ends!

the Thai last night cost £80 including the tip for the delivery rider. Is that a lot? It felt a lot but we have take away very rarely. To put it in context, my new Chelsea boots cost about the same, and if they go the distance of the ones they replaced, I shall still be wearing them in 5 years !

Early night with a book for me I reckon. DH also zonked after a heavy first week back: new clients, transport challenges, cold weather. But first, coffee ice-cream !

chimichangaz · 10/01/2026 20:23

So sorry to hear about your DF @needastrongoneagain, and about the similarities with your DH situation previously. That sounds really tough and as others have said, take care of yourselves ❤️

Sorry to hear your mum is having a bad day @DirtyGertiefromno30 and also sorry for your DM’s kidney issues @Frugal25 ❤️

Lowish spend for me today - met up with friends for lunch and shopping and spent £30 but also returned a jumper to H&M for a £20 refund. Yesterday was quite spendy as I booked the coach travel to and from the airport plus the airport hotel, but I was glad to get it ticked off my list.

Absolutely freezing here so I’m having a baileys hot chocolate while I wait for my electric blanket to warm the bed up ☕️

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 20:42

Glad your tenants are impressive and loving the flat @BigSkies2022.Gen Z getting a good rep! £80 for a Thai takeaway with the tip seems fair, and those Chelsea boots are a win. Early night with book and coffee ice cream sounds perfect. ❤️

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DirtyGertiefromno30 · 10/01/2026 20:44

AHH thank you so much @chimichangazthat is so kind of you ❤️
That Baileys hot chocolate sounds divine, and nothing beats an electric blanket on a freezing night. Hope it warms you up nicely! ☕️🛌

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devildeepbluesea · 11/01/2026 07:06

Morning everyone.

So sorry to hear about your DF, @needastrongoneagain , please take care of yourself. I hope his passing is peaceful and full of love.

And I hope your DM has a better day today @DirtyGertiefromno30 . And I hope you’re looking after yourself as well.

Well I can report that butter is surprisingly easy to make! However I got about enough to “break even”, in the sense that the cost of the cream was about the cost of the same amount of shop bought butter. Of course I also have the buttermilk to bake with I suppose. I will definitely make more, especially if cream is reduced price.

Came in just under £50 in Tesco, and the bill at the pub was just over £30, which was less than anticipated as I had a couple of pints after auditions!

Need a Home Bargs run today, then hopefully a couple of NSDs tomorrow and Tuesday.

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 11/01/2026 08:33

Morning everyone 🙂
Thanks for the good wishes about my DM @devildeepbluesea
I am really hoping today is a better one, especially as Dd2 has a Colonoscopy today and l am restricted to one visit today because of my Dd2 colonoscopy. I am trying to take each day as it comes with Mum and look after myself too thank you ❤️
Your butter making sounds like a big success, especially with buttermilk left for baking . Definitely worth doing again with reduced cream.
Spending sounds very reasonable under £50 in Tesco and the pub was cheaper than expected was a bonus glad the auditios went well 😊.
Fingers crossed Home Bargains is painless and you get those NSDs tomorrow and Tuesday 😊
Hope you are looking after yourself too @needastrongoneagain .
This is such a very difficult time for us bless you sweetheart ❤️

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FurForksSake · 11/01/2026 09:38

Morning all. @DirtyGertiefromno30 thinking of you, one day at a time and looking after yourself sounds very sensible. I hope the colonoscopy goes ok, prep for her is probably the worst bit. I had awful gas pain after mine, I wished I’d bought some more buscopan!

Today DH is running a taster session for Squirrels, the scouts not the nut hiders. Taking one of our kids to help out.

We had take away last night and I have some chicken left for lunch. Yum!

I keep adding lines to my YNAB, it’s amazing what you forget.

Frugal25 · 11/01/2026 10:05

Morning everyone,
I'm hoping for a NSD today and hopefully tomorrow too. Although I may need stamps.

@DirtyGertiefromno30fingers crossed for your lovely DD2 today. I agree the prep is probably the worst bit and you're so lovely not eating in front of her. Xx
I hope your lovely mum is having a good day today. Thinking of you.

Prepping and freezing sarnies is such a good idea. I may have to steal this idea and use here.

A chilled day here. No plans at all which is blissful.

So glad your tenants are good eggs @BigSkies2022
. When I had a rental mine were awful. I had police being called out, balliffs, drugs, no rent being paid. Not all the same tenant, but I didn't ever have a nice person in there which is why I gave it up in the end. If you have good ones then it makes it so much easier. X

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 11/01/2026 10:06

AHH @Frugal25how lovely that your DH is running a Squirrels taster session bless him ,hope the kids enjoy helping out. Chicken lunch sounds perfect enjoy 😄.
YNAB really does make you realise how much slips your mind , it’s shock every time you add a line but at least it keeps the budget on track!
Thank you for being so kind to me re my Dd2 and my Mum ❤️. We are just going up now fingers crossed 🤞.

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Frugal25 · 11/01/2026 10:13

When I read about squirrels my mind immediately went to hey duggee. You can see what I currently watch on TV.....

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