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 🤗

Hi Everyone!

Happy Birthday to Rainbow - hope you have a great day!

NSD planned today, nothings come up for me to need to spend money, so another good day.

I've been trying to get ahead and work out my Feb budget, as I am hoping my spendthrift ways will be kept in hand and I will continue adhering to Low buy 2026. I did try to explain my low spend year to DH last night, he very rarely buys anything and if he doesn't absolutely love a piece and if it doesn't fit perfectly he will return it. I'd say he makes a purchase once maybe twice a year max, but for some reason he couldn't get his around the fact that this challenge only applies to me, our youngest child is in the last year of 6th form and will soon be independent, so we only have a few months of paying for anything school related, trips, uniform, lunches etc. Once she's at Uni or working she will be sorting this out herself, anyway he's asking questions such as 'what about dc's music tuition?' obviously we will continue to pay for this, but I think that as someone who never feels the urge to impulse buy he doesn't get why this is difficult for me, hence I can't refer to it as 'No Buy' as he would 100% expect that I would not make a single non essential purchase in 2026. 😂

Today I am continuing my freezer purge and dd and I have salmon fillets for dinner, dh and ds have pie and peas, with potatoes of some description.

So glad to hear your dads op went well @BigSkies2022 enjoy your quiet day today.

Today i bought the water bottle, €8.54, €2 tea in work, €10 on bagels from farmers market and €20 booking fee for an easter camp for small child.

My car loan has officially closed today with the bank issuing the closing statement. I can now officially redirect those funds back to savings for the next 2 years while i pay the savings back. that was a nice email to get!

@Johaanah my DH is a bit like this, naturally doesn't have spending urges. it does mean that he sometimes pay more for an item than i would as i'd buy things mainly on sale but overall i think his way works well. i have to give myself "rules" for spending and i wish i was more like him.

LSD for me today. I have spent the morning with the water company, they sent a lovely man round as my water bills are way too high and to find out why. Apparently my water pressure /outage is double. So I've contact my plumber to see if he can fit devices to slow this down. My toilet is also flushing double what it should do I've told everyone to not flush as much esp if it's a small wee. And the kitchen tap, which OH loves to leave running is the main culprit as it pushes out three times as much as it should so I'm going to get a new tap fitted which will limit the flow. Hopefully that will all see my bills reduce as I'm always in debt at the mo (unsurprisingly) no matter how much I pay.

This afternoon DD and I have played in the garden, I got her slide back out. And we did some painting. I also went through her wardrobe and got a bag full of clothes that are too small so I'll pop them on vinted in a bit.
Did spend on a tin of paint. The walls upstairs are very marked and I've put it off as the paint is £70 a tin. But I found they do tester pots for £5 so boom!!! We only needed a small amount.

£10 later on yoga.

Afternoon. We are just in from a little walk, I cajole DH out a couple of times a week, it’s for his own good 😊

That’s interesting re the water pressure @Frugal25, I hadn’t realised it causes so much additional expense. Hope the plumber can help. Enjoy the yoga.

Definitely a postive email @pistachiosanscream re the car loan!

I’m liking the very literal thinking of your DH, @Johaanah, that’s very like my DS.

Good news re you DF @BigSkies2022 , these things take it out of you don’t they? Enjoy a recovery day.

Happy Birthday @Rainbow1901 - it sounds like you had a lovely day.

How you feeling today @RumBananaSundae?

No need to worry about keeping up with the thread or how you post - I think I’m going to remember all sorts until it comes to posting.

Spends
£90 Ocado. Will be under budget for the month, which is great. I’ve hardly done any top up shops at all and we’ve used a lot of stuff from Christmas.
£10 herbal teas, just partaking of a liquorice one - very nice.

Chilli for tea, bulked up with lentils and extra veg. I’ve overloaded DH with bean based recipes for the last few days, so reverting to meat based one to appease.

Happy 20th to your DS yesterday @Lockin26🎉 Sounds like a really lovely couple of days with good food and company. Those brownies and cookies sound very tempting 😋
Very sensible balancing it out with soup for work too, it all evens itself out 🤗Totally understand struggling to keep up with the thread too ,it moves so fast sometimes!
@BigSkies2022 What a long, draining day for you all but the op is done and the nasty is gone, which is such a relief. It sounds like your Df was in very good hands. Fingers crossed he heals well and there’s no lasting nerve damage 🤞
That drive home sounds awful after such a day. Bless him with his wine and dinner .I’m sure he was asleep in no time.
Your plan for today sounds just right after yesterday 🤗
@Frugal25 it's been a really productive LSD for you, even if the water bill stuff is such a pain. At least you know why it’s so high now, and you’re doing all the sensible things with the plumber, the tap and the toilet. Hopefully it’ll finally bring things down, because it’s so frustrating always feeling in debt when you’re paying what you can.

Sounds like a plan @lifelongfrugaleer 😊 £55 for four meals for three with leftovers is pretty good, especially if it takes the thinking out of mealtimes for you , l think you are doing brilliantly sweetheart ❤️
@Johaanah
Makes sense to me! Your DH probably can’t imagine the temptation since he rarely buys anything. Good thinking with February’s budget and school costs. Freezer purge sounds very productive and frugal , and salmon for dinner sounds lovely hope the pie and peas go down well 😋

Love that you treated yourself a bit too @pistachiosanscreambagels from the farmers market yummy 😋 😁. And huge congratulations on closing your car loan! That must feel amazing, having that money freed up 👏😁
You’re smashing the budget this month@needastrongoneagain£90 for Ocado and hardly any top ups is excellent. Love that you’re making the most of Christmas leftovers too. The liquorice tea sounds yummy too , l might have to try that 😁. Hope DH enjoys the meat based chilli too , l love chilli 😋
Been to see Mum who was fine but tired today which is ok , no pain and comfy is the best l can ask for bless her.
Been shopping to Aldi , Waitrose and Morrisons.
Aldi £9
Waitrose £10
Morrisons £47
Weather is dire here 6c drab dark and raining , roll on February 🙏

Yes - this is my Dh when buying my Christmas present, he just orders it online, doesn’t look for a deal and even pays postage - which is something I would never ever do! It’s definitely a better way of spending I agree, he only buys what he needs, whereas if it’s a bargain I’ll buy whether I need it or not. So he may spend a little more on each individual item but overall spends a lot less. I have never really given myself rules - until now, however for a very long time there was no spare money at all so rules weren’t needed.

Good news about the car loan, must be a relief to know that money is now available to you.

@Frugal25 i I bet your showers have been amazing with such fab water pressure, nothing better than a really powerful hot shower. I miss having little kids to play with in the garden or take to the park, it’s hard work when you’re living it but those simple days are so precious ❤️ I had my kids when I was very young and now I’m in my mid 40’s and they are all grown up I feel a bit lost 😞

@needastrongoneagain Love an afternoon walk, especially on a day like today, cold and bright, it’s good to get some fresh air and blow the cobwebs away.

Oh @Johaanah l envy you having your DC young , l had mine in my 30s and my Dds are 30 and 31 and no sign of any grandchildren yet ! You will still be young when your DC have babies and they might have babies that will be amazing for you sweetheart 🙏 ❤️👏😁

Yes I think we always envy what we didn’t have/do, I had a miscarriage when I was 38 and that was a bit of a difficult time, although it was a shock and we hadn’t expected it. We didn’t try again as Dh has several chronic health conditions so it wasn’t ideal, but I do have my regrets.

My mum was a grandma at 38, and everyone in my family had children young, not anymore though. I don’t think I’d have been ready to be a grandmother at 38 at all - I’m not ready for it now in my mid 40’s but times have changed haven’t they?

Anyway here’s looking forward to a new era - where I get to focus on me 🤩

(also sorry for getting rather serious 🧐)

Bless you @Johaanah .God knows l have been serious over the past month sweetheart. I am so sorry about your miscarriage, it is so devastating. I had 2 before having my DC and they really made me ill mentally . So depressed and the grief is enormous 😱

I envy you also @Johaanah. I had my first (and only sadly) at 40. I waited such a long time for her and my mum also had me quite late too. Not through not wanting babies, just we had them late as the prince charmings were late arriving for us both. Does mean my lovely mum is an older granny and I shall be too. Unless DD has hers very early. Trying very hard to look after myself to be young for as long as possible.
I'm so sorry about your miscarriage. Such an awful thing to go through. I had one too at 42 and I've often thought "what if". Sending hugs your way.
Your mum was so young! That's wild!! But she had energy to really enjoy it too. Good for her.
I bet your DC are just gorgeous and you can enjoy them in different ways now to when you ran about in the garden with them :) I'm looking forward to shopping trips myself! Although I have really enjoyed today I have to admit.
@DirtyGertiefromno30your lovely ones will surprise you yet I'm sure! I think the age is getting a bit older for having babies isn't it. My neighbour said to me last year "I've given up on being a granny" I said there was still time. This year she has been made a lovely granny. Makes me smile.

Did a LBT workout earlier and boy can I feel it.

Been cheeky. Have given OH a smaller portion of soup tonight and put two portions in the freezer for next week. Shhhh 🤫

I get what you mean about waiting for the right person @Frugal25 ,sometimes life just makes us hang on a bit longer! Your DD is lucky to have you looking after yourself so well you’ll be a fab granny whenever the time comes 🤗.
I’m so sorry you had a miscarriage too, it’s such a tough thing to go through 💐 Sending lots of hugs ❤️.
Your neighbour’s story is so lovely, it’s never too late for happy surprises! And well done on your LBT workout, sounds like you earned that cheeky soup plan. 🤣🤣

I read that as a Ltb (leave the bastard workout) 🤭

Im a multiple miscarriage person, my last would have been our third baby and I’ll always be feeling I should be a mum of three. It wasn’t a later term loss, i just always wanted three and it wasn’t to be. I love my boys and I am so content with what I have.

Sometimes it's very tempting @FurForksSaketo ltb!!! Esp when he has snored all night lol.

Oh Hun I'm sorry. I like to think that we are still a mum of 2 or 3. Just we can't see the others. It's what helps me tbh. Although I know it's a bit odd.

We are very lucky to have what we have. I cherish my little being every day.

How is it nearly Wednesday already?!

@RumBananaSundae
I hope you had a brilliant day with your friend xx

It’s such a tender kind of loss , miscarriage @FurForksSake bless you sweetheart ❤️.
That doesn’t sound odd at all to me @Frugal25, it actually sounds very loving ❤️. Holding space for our lost babies in that way makes complete sense, and if it brings you comfort then that’s what matters ❤️
You’re right, we really are so lucky, and that sense of cherishing comes from knowing just how precious they are and how lucky we have been to have them ❤️

Nothing to add but hugs for you all to the miscarriage chat ❤️

I’ll more likely be a granny to horses or dogs I think though certainly from DD

£53 collegan & magnesium top up £48 garden waste sub
running Sainsbury’s basket at £80 for friday
£9k next bathroom payment from savings

@lifelongfrugaleer are you sneaking in big expenses like I tried to? I bet the bathroom will be lovely.

£22 for the window cleaner, another item added to YNAB.

Im checking the bank account every day and adjusting the budget. Friday is pay day and I should be able to fund all my categories. DH is getting a mini bonus (£2k before tax) for doing some work over Christmas so that should boost back some of the savings we used to get out of the overdraft.

Higher spend day today. I'd to bring mum to a medical appointment so i used the time to do some errands.

€7.50 in lidl, cheaper as i returned my cans and bottles. i got my yoghurt!
€45 in chemist warehouse. €6.50 in eurogiant on birthday cards for small childs friends and 2 toast racks. then €20 on a pair of black loafers.

Jeez, this month is long and I am skint after paying all my bills. Have just sent an email to DH seeking funds to get me, DS AND and the joint account through to the next respective paydays. February 10 (my payday) can’t come fast enough!

Despite temporary cash flow constraints, I am enjoying a quiet couple of days. Taking mum to see dad tomorrow, so we can have a slice of cake and cup of tea together.

Book club tonight, better get reading.

Today has kind of been a NSD, I ordered a shower speaker and nightshirt from John Lewis, but I used a gift card I got from work, so not sure if it counts or not?? I have had the shower speaker on my wish list for a while, and yesterday I sorted through my underwear and nightwear and got rid of a load of old washed out stuff, I kept one pair of PJ's and one nightshirt (the Chelsea Peers ones recommended here a while ago) with a view to adding a new one. So thats my confession seeing as I'm supposed to be doing a no buy - I feel I have failed, but I will continue anyway.

Payday can't come soon enough here either - next Friday for me,

Hope everyone is have a good day 🙂

@Johaanah to me that’s definitely not a spend. It didnt reduce the balance on your bank account so thats fine. I’ve got a £40 John Lewis gift card and I’m still thinking about what to buy, but when I do it will be guilt free!

No comment fur 🫢😆