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 🤗

@DirtyGertiefromno30
There's a reason biscuits are often the same shape as tablet medication and coffee is liquid it isn't just accidental.

@Frugal25 I'm another who doesn't really like their job, but I can do it in my sleep, it's stupidly well-paid for what it is (wouldn't get the same anywhere else for a similar role) and I've been here a long time so holidays are great. It's really flexible, I'm 50 this year, 2 years away from DD being done at uni and I really can't be bother starting again so will carry on as long as they let me.

Decent enough weekend spends-wise, we were out at a gig on Saturday but I drove so drinks weren't expensive and we went to see Labyrinth at the cinema yesterday so £10 in the local Vue. It hasn't aged well!!!

Morning all. Sorry haven’t caught up but just posting for accountability. £19.92 in Home Bargs yesterday. Would’ve been less but they had packs of 30 Coke Zeros for £8.49 which is an absolute bargain (it’s my guilty pleasure).

Just spent £4.53 on Amazon for a used copy of the Oliver! score which is our show this term. I need to buy cake cases but this will be cash, which I’ve already accounted for.

Morning all, Working in the city centre today so some shopping done.

Spent €44 in the works on their Christmas sale buying stuff for next year. I also returned an item for €7 and cancelled my Irish amazon prime and got a refund for €7. then i also cancelled my Spotify premium free trial so won't be charges for that in February.

I will be having a nice lunch on work today so i think dinner will be something simple like omelettes, i will leave it up to DH though as he's the main eater tonight.

@Shnout i hope you feel better today and how nice of your daughter to mind you so well.

Thank you @Frugal25 i am very pleased with my current consistency. though i must admit its not a very hard thing, i follow a 12-15 minute workout on the app. there is no thinking involved as experience tells me that if i start thinking i think about how i don't want to do it.

No updates here. Resting and only spending on essential
pleased colonoscopy went well and makes sense to test while they can
the up and down with relliees is tough

sorry reading but not taking much in

So good to hear from you @lifelongfrugaleer❤️
Thank you re My Dd2 and my Mum. You just rest up sweetheart you are just amazing take care ❤️

Hi all,

I used to be a regular here (probably for 7+ years?) and then I dropped off maybe 3 years ago - big building work, SEN kids, work… all
got a bit on top of me. Anyway, I hope 2026 is going to be much less stressful than the last 3 years. What with building work, legal costs and general life costs our savings have been mostly cleaned out. So I’m back, with a new name.

I went back about half a thread just to get a feel and am glad to see some people I remember - but also so sorry to hear you’ve had to have big surgery, Life. I am very glad you are on the mend. Waving to Need, Mrs and a few others who I remember (I am sure there are others still here but with name changes I can’t figure out!)

The year has started for me with a budget and a plan to build up savings. My job isn’t very secure so I need to think about what next this year. Like a lot of you I am not loving it but I am the main earner and the pension is good, it is also reasonably flexible for WFH but very stressful (senior public sector). With perimenopause I really feel I’m not the person I was, i need to think about those years to my retirement as I don’t think I could do this for another 15+ years, but nor can I retire! On that note DH and I need to do some serious financial planing - I know my pension forecast but he’s been an ostrich and I know his pension won’t be great. We also need to look at life insurances etc. AND we need to get other things in order - Power of attorney for each other, and also probably set up some sort of trust for one of our DC who has significant learning disabilities and won’t have capacity to inherit and manage money. That’s my main goal for this year.

I’ve had a few minor health issues and probably going to get an IBS diagnosis once they rule out the more serious options 🤞🏻 so that is also spurring me on to try and be healthier. Interesting that so many of you say you can focus on finances or health but not both. I’m the opposite - I am either reasonably in control (of money, weight, clutter) or I’m not! They tend to reinforce each other or all spiral together, and generally depend on my stress levels.

Bad frugal moment this weekend, I made a big batch of bolognese sauce for the freezer, maybe 10 portions, on Saturday, and DH didn’t put it in the fridge once it had cooled (I’d gone out to the theatre, was going to portion and freeze on Sunday). Found it and binned it yesterday morning. He is in the dog house, not just for the money but for the wasted effort (he doesn’t cook). Grrr.

So happy to see you @lifelongfrugaleer. Rest up and the rest will follow when you're ready xx

Agree @MushyPeasAndMintSaucei would Def study harder if I could talk to younger self. And my OH has a job he adores too. Again, like you, please for him but a touch envious!

@pistachiosanscreamwhat app are you using Hun?

good to hear from you @lifelongfrugaleer

@Frugal25 i'm using he betterme app, i signed up for a one month 28 day plan. so far i like it though it does have some issues.

@ArmDimples i'm like you, im either dialled in and manage health and finances or spinning out of control and managing neither. definitely linked to my overall stress levels. i do like my job but it is at times stressful and juggling it and family life can make life very busy. When i've lots of plates spinning its the health and finance ones that i then to drop.

Afternoon.

I have been skim reading. Thank you all so much for the kindness re DF. He hasn’t yet passed. End of life care is traumatic in truth I’m finding. I’ve always been a believer in assisted dying and I fundamentally do now. Going back to sit with him soon.

Waving at @ArmDimples but I’m bloody useful with name changes!

Spends very minimal obviously. I’ve a shop arriving today for circa £100 and I forgot to mention a purchase of a pack of Nordic Socks for £45. Look them up - not cheap but we all swear by them here. I wear mine until they wear out but I’m not frugal or skilled enough to darn them. And too lazy, had I possessed the talent.

Welcome back armdimples, if I recall correctly one of your DC and I share a birthday. Glad to hear the building work is complete though?

I’m not a great example with work- I’ve recently left a job without one to go to, for a number of reasons. However, I am so much happier and back to being “me” after having a good break. Now on the job hunt.

Sorted a CV and a cover letter for a job application this morning. Now doing a bit of prep for the job interview later this week. Seen another job to apply for too, but the commute would be a pain, so needs a bit more thought.

Lots of interesting posts - I really like this thread for its ´hospitality’ so to speak to all topics.

I feel like 2026 has actually started for me today. I did 60 minutes French practice this morning, some of it mortifying, but I am here each day to build my practice, not pass angry judgement! Weights, admin, chores, dog. About to go and pick up my pillow case and get some steps in.

NSD today: made a big pot of lentil soup, going to do spaghetti and tomato sauce tonight and fennel salad. DH likely working late, new clients.

Got to finish my novel for book group tomorrow ! It’s a thriller so if I don’t get to the end there will be spoilers.

LSDs for me yesterday and today. Yesterday was £8.50ish on two coffees for me and a friend on our walk (from a specific budget we have) and today £38 in Tesco. I had a quick mooch around M&S but no food bargains and resisted looking at the clothes. I’ve bought some who gives a crap loo roll from Tesco as I’m just coming to the end of (what felt like) hundreds of rolls of cheap thin paper from B&M. I’ve decided there are definitely some things you can’t scrimp on so let’s see if these who gives a crap rolls are any good. They certainly can’t be worse.

Also went to the gym this morning, posted a card, collected an order from Next (lots of holiday sandals to choose from and a gym top) and picked up an Amazon order (budgeted birthday present) and a protein powder order.

I spent ages yesterday getting YNAB up to date and vowed (again…. 🙄) to update it weekly. I’m designing a new finance journal to use alongside YNAB as I find I make random notes about finance actions and then lose them or forget about them - if they’re in one place hopefully I’ll be more organised.

Welcome to all new and returning posters - I agree with @BigSkies2022, nice to see a wide range of topics on here!

It is a very friendly bunch here, I’m so glad I’ve come back after years and years away.

I took £10 to Aldi and spent £6. I bought six mini pizzas, two cucumbers and some lettuce. Spending cash really, really made me think. I am considering doing that more often. The mini pizzas are in the freezer and ds10 will have one a week in his lunch.

Dinner today was ham, egg and potato waffles with beans. Felt very frugal and the kids have devoured it.

I’m still adding up dh’s commuting costs to try and get the budget right. It looks like it’s £60 a week for parking lunch and underground and £75 a week for the train. That’s for three days a week in London.

DH has gone to visit his mum in hospital, she’s more poorly than first thought. She’s has a giant gallstone for years and then somehow got Mounjaro prescribed and took that for a month or so and it’s made things worse. She’s now had a ct scan and they’ve found a mass and want to refer her to a bigger hospital. Which I know means it’s likely to be cancerous and one which isn’t easy to treat. I’ve been very reassuring and supportive to dh but until we know, we won’t know.

Staying in best for my bank balance but not for mental health or fitness.
But I did well today on my trip to supermarket on way home from work. I only bought milk and I put ingredients for lentil soup in slow cooker before work.
I also prepared no kneed bread buns this morning and left them to prove today.
The kitchen is cool.
I prepared the flour etc last night and only had to add warm water and stir then leave.

@MushyPeasAndMintSauce
It's inspiring that your husband loves his work and a bit of jealousy is perfectly normal. And yes spot on!
biscuits =medicine
coffee = fuel 🤣

@TheOnlyMrsWSounds like you’ve got the perfect life balance an easy, well paid, flexible, and worth sticking out until DD’s done job ,it's got a lot going for it .
Glad your weekend was fun and a low cost gig and Labyrinth for a tenner is excellent 👌

Sounds like some solid bargains there @devildeepbluesea £8.49 for 30 Coke Zeros is a steal , guilty pleasures are allowed😁. Good call keeping the cake cases in cash so it doesn’t blow the budget.

Great job on the returns and cancelling those subscriptions
@pistachiosanscream .
€44 in the Works sounds like a nice haul for next year’s Christmas! Lunch in the city sounds lovely too, and keeping dinner simple with omelettes (or whatever DH fancies) sounds perfect. Hope you enjoyed your day 🤗

Welcome back @ArmDimples good to see you back 🤗

Thinking of you so much @needastrongoneagain❤️ End of life is so traumatic, and it’s completely understandable that it’s bringing up such strong feelings for you sweetheart . Many of us only truly grasp it when we’re living through it. I’m glad DF is being cared for, but that doesn’t make any of this easier.
Thank you for the update , no judgement at all on the spends, especially in the middle of everything you’re carrying right now. Comfort matters, and those socks sound like a proper investment. Take care ❤️💐

Great to hear you’re feeling like yourself again @Holidaysandchocolate! 😊 Well done on getting your CV and cover letter done & good luck with the interview prep , very wise to think about that commute for the other job .
@BigSkies2022 what a great start to 2026! Love that you’re keeping up with French, fitness, chores, and dog walks.

No spends for me today. I’m also on team leave the house feels like a dripping tap.

I know exactly what you mean @Frugal25. I absolutely hate my job but it has to be a quiet hate as being made redundant would be worse. The job market is awful and I can’t afford to start again so I’m stuck.

As for education @MushyPeasAndMintSauce in my experience it’s a waste of time, effort and money.

Nice to see you @lifelongfrugaleer.

Good luck with the application and interview @Holidaysandchocolate.

Meant to be on leave tomorrow but have to work. Finished the last of my soup today. Really enjoyed it so thank you to the poster who mentioned blue cheese (very sorry I can’t remember who it was). Have cupboard food for the next few days as have some hummus and baba ganoush to use up so hoping to keep spending down. Have run out of tangerines so might buy some more. Have developed somewhat of a habit and my thumb looks like I smoke 60 a day.

Love the coffee walk treat and your some things you can’t scrimp on approach @chimichangaz. Fingers crossed those loo rolls are good 👍 .Great work getting YNAB updated and designing a finance journal,having it all in one place really helps us keep track 🤗
@FurForksSake that's a busy, day! £6 at Aldi for all that is brilliant, and the mini pizzas for lunches is ideal. Dinner sounds frugal and tasty, great that the kids enjoyed it too .
I am so sorry about your Mil. That's so worrying for you and your DH sweetheart, always here for you sweetheart 😘❤️
@FurForksSake

Well done @RubySparrow that was great planning, that lentil soup and the no knead bunssounf absolutely gorgeous. Healthy, frugal, delicious and easy 😋😁.
So tough for you with your work @RumBananaSundae,quietly hating it but being stuck is exhausting and demoralising 😱. I get what you mean about education too🙄.
Glad the soup turned out well! Using cupboard food and Hummous/Baba Ganoush is a brilliant way to keep the spends down. Hope you can get some tangerines soon , they’re delicious ATM 😋🤗