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 🤗

Your spending sound so controlled @Johaanah well done. I may do the same each month.
I did spend £1.98 on face masks last month. (I know. Big spenders) Nothing on beauty this month as using up all my lovely beauty gifts from Christmas.

The pretzel clusters.... Are they the chocolate covered ones @RumBananaSundae? If so I can't ever walk past them. I always have to buy at least two packets. Delicious. Start again tomorrow. It's Thursday. A perfect day to restart anything.

@DirtyGertiefromno30your clothes are so nice! You have beautiful taste in fashion Hun. And getting in early for next Christmas. That's the dream isn't it, sales and being organised. Yay! Love that you thought what I thought about the dessert. The cracking of chocolate makes it posh. I was very much "that's restaurant quality!"
Sounds like you had a great day 😍

Oh I hear you on the spending fail@RumBananaSundae , we all do it and £3.25 on pretzel clusters doesn’t sound too bad though 🤗.Totally with you on the squash struggle too, it’s like they’re designed to fight back, I wouldn’t be surprised if A&E had a squash injuries triage corner every autumn 😂. Striped clothes are so lovely, so versatile and look so good on, l love them . Here’s to your new start day tomorrow , you can do it sweetheart 🤗.
Thank you souch re my Mum that's so kind of you ❤️
Hares are so elusive, aren’t they @BigSkies2022? Magical is exactly the right word. I’ve only ever seen them fleetingly too, usually darting across fields as we drive past.
Sounds like a lovely NSD (apart from the Denis Severs splurge but totally justified though! 😁). Roast veg, feta and naan sounds perfect, and a glutes workout in front of Stranger Things? Well done on the 10k steps too, that sunshine clearly gave you a huge boost🤗
Haha @Frugal25 £1.98 hey big spender! 😂 Using up Christmas gifts is the best thing for the budget well done.
Ah thank you re the clothes , that’s so sweet of you 🤗.
Early Christmas shopping does feel very virtuous 😁
And yes, that chocolate crack gave me total restaurant vibes! 😍,
On a more serious note has anyone seen @FurForksSake about ?
Only l haven't seen her for a couple of days and l know she told us her Mil wasn't well a while back . I hope everything is ok with her bless her ❤️.

Hello! I’m here! Mil has come home today, finally. Dh will go round with soup tomorrow. We are waiting to hear about the plan for cancer treatment and it’s taking so long.

spends are lots of big ones.
today the plumber came and that was £500 to fix two showers. The parts have five year warranty so fingers crossed that will do the job.

The car is going in tomorrow for £1k of work apparently. It’s seven years old and if it keeps going for another few years then that’s fine.

feeling pretty flat at the moment, I can’t even put my finger on why.

Just logging, will catch up next few days.

£7.35 lunch at Tescos - first bought lunch in weeks, rest of this week will be prepped.
£5 Poundland
£85 Asda order - coming tomorrow. Got 4% off with work discount.

Oh bless you @FurForksSake, that’s a lot all landing on you at once sweetheart. I’m really glad your DMIL is home, that must feel like a step in the right direction, but the waiting for the treatment plan is just exhausting isn’t it. The not knowing is the worst bit, your brain never really switches off from it.
And ouch to the spends. They’re horrible amounts to see go out, but they are proper life admin ones, not daft spending. Two working showers and a car that keeps going are so worth it. A seven year old car having a bit of money spent on it is still cheaper than replacing it, that’s how I try to look at it. Also you know who's driven it and the genuine history of it .
That flat feeling sounds like sheer emotional overload to me. You’ve had worry, practical stuff, big decisions, background fear about your poor Mils cancer, and constant thinking about what is going to happen . Sometimes it doesn’t come out as panic or tears, just that dull, grey meh, where everything feels heavy.
This is a lot for one person to carry, so it’s no wonder you’re feeling it a bit sweetheart bless you, l so hope you feel less down very soon , big hugs ❤️

Booked a cottage holiday for the end of March, paid £65 deposit. It was £70 off if booked before the end of January, and I had a £25 voucher that ran out today, so it would've been rude not to I thought. Decided that the February council tax money will go towards it, so it shouldn't be too painful.

It will be lovely to see my Mum and my son, I'm really looking forward to it.

DS doesnt have room in his flat to put us up, and I think its just too much for DM to have house guests. Also, although I lover her dearly, we have history. And we would probably fall out if I stayed with her and stepfather.

Excellent discount from your work @Lockin26 4% is not to be sniffed at 😁👏

That’s brilliant timing @Nellieinthebarn. £70 off plus an expiring voucher is basically fate saying book it 😁.
The cottage is such a good idea. You get lovely time with your Mum and your Ds, but your own space stops any tension arising. That’s not unkind, that’s just being really sensible. Such a nice thing to look forward to 🤗

Had a high-ish spend day yesterday - but I know I’ll thank myself for it later! Well not the £20-something I spent in Subway, but it was delicious and it was a lovely treat for us. I spent £14.49 in the shops - mostly at The Works.

I spent £8 on 3 puzzle books in The Works for my children for Xmas. (Yes I know it’s almost a year away, but low income means I do shop year round and actually it does save a lot of money and my kids don’t end up with tons. It works for us). Very pleased as they’d have cost me about £30 on Amazon!

I also bought the first book in the Princess Swap series for £1 and a word search book for £2, those will be for one of my children’s birthdays. They’d have cost about £12 on Amazon.

I bought 2 x Christmas Wordsearch books on clearance for £1 each for my youngest nephews for Xmas. I’ll gift these with a notebook and some gel pens. I’ll look around back-to-school time for those. Most of the wordsearches aren’t actually Christmas themed so will hopefully be used year round!

And from Home Bargains - I got a Princess Super Pad puzzle book (says it’s for ages 4-7) for £1.49 for my youngest. I haven’t seen them in there before so thought I’d grab one since I’ve got my older children a puzzle book and she’s a bit too little for the ones they had at The Works and it looks like it’ll be a nice level for her next year when almost 5.

I think it was Subway which made the day feel quite expensive!! I think I did quite well in the shops and felt very frugal otherwise.

Nothing wrong with shopping throughout the year for Christmas and birthdays. I used to do it too. And birthday party stash for kids party

the cottage sounds like money well spent Nellie

not suprised you are a bit flat with everything going on fur

going to the range today. Need a new kitchen bin
also milk and to collect a prescription

I am also one to shop throughout the year for things like Christmas and birthdays, such a great idea when you see a bargain and it spreads the costs. You got brilliant bargains @TheFrugalChicken
Ooohhh the cottage sounds amazing @Nellieinthebarnand a brilliant idea to enjoy time together and have space. Sensible if you ask me and I do the same.
No wonder you're flat @FurForksSakethats such a lot to carry. I'm so glad your MIL is home. But the wait and the cost of cars etc will take its toll. Make sure you're looking after yourself and being gentle and kind to yourself also xxx

£42 in Lidl today. Under budget (£45 a week for a few weeks due to insurance etc going out and paying off debt) feel physically sick that I don't have a bigger budget to feed my family. Physically sick. I feel like my spending habits and my past lack of discipline is now punishing my DD to teach me a lesson of some sorts.
Although don't get me wrong. The fridge, cupboards and freezer are full. We have snacks. We even have food for the birds. We aren't hungry (my waist line will tell you this) but seeing how little I bought....I did manage to rummage in the yellow stickers though and grabbed quite a bit there for things that were on my list.
ALSO!! I grabbed the last too good to waste box. So much in it. Fruit and veggies. The veggies I'll turn into soups and stews, the fruit we shall just eat and the lemons and ginger I've frozen for later use. Although DD won't eat any of this. It does all help for future me as I'll cook it all and stash in the freezer. That made me happy.

Morning.

Thanks for the garden love, we are very lucky I know - being in our garden in summer is like being a million miles from anywhere. That said, @RumBananaSundaehas it spot on - oh the upkeep - it’s something else. DH used to do it all, and love it - but we have to pay someone nowadays. The leaves in winter… We get hares too round here - my Spaniels love flushing them out - said hares are never in any danger - in fact, I think if the hares could laugh in their faces at the Spaniels efforts to chase them they would. They can catch rabbits but never hares. Or indeed squirrels, that is a canine life goal never achieved. (We’ve only one spaniel now, but the comment applies to both, although dear departed dog was utterly useless in truth at catching anything).

All spends minimal here, I’m on with death admin really. Been very frugal with food and the roast ham from Sunday has also been used for pea, butter bean, spinach and ham soup. And last night in risotto, with the leftover stock and roast butternut squash.

My new bird feeders have brought lots of the blue tits into better sight, and I’m proud of my squirrel-proofing efforts by somewhat precariously and using an old ladder hanging them from the pergola with long lengths of string. The squirrels at the minute seem satisfied with hoovering up the fallen seeds, so boom solving the potential issue @BigSkies2022

@Frugal25 Try not to feel too bad about the situation, most of us have been there and can really sympathise with you. It's so difficult at the moment with food prices rising so rapidly and I am always shocked at the checkout when I'm given the total, life is hard when the children are small and there is so much to pay out, I can remember being in the same position as you - I was working full time paying for childcare and our budget was extremely tight with no room for error, But times change and things move on and you'll get through this without your dd ever knowing about how tight money was.❤

Sorry @Frugal25 I missed your post. Now stop that right this minute young lady! (Adopts stern voice!), every one of your posts speaks to how much you love your family. I’m useless at remembering stuff on the thread, but this comes over very clearly. Your family is loved, fed, and warm and want for nothing. Plus having the valuable knowledge (even if this isn’t obvious yet), that you’ve adhered to a budget and lived within your means. I called that very clever financial choices in my book.

How is the admin going @needastrongoneagain? Are you still getting help with it all?
Your garden is the stuff of dreams. And hares too! I may take your idea of the feeders hanging off the pergola with string.... I have all the stuff and hasn't had the idea. I shall give it a go! It does look like you could really escape in your garden. Beautiful.
Thank you @needastrongoneagain and @Johaanah
Gentle shake has been given and I've given my head a wobble. Family are loved, fed, healthy, warm and safe. That's all that matters. This shall pass. Food prices are way too high and little people are expensive. We have been invited to a party later today (present already bought thankfully) and have another coming up but I shall scoot around for a gift nearer the time. It's constant but fun.
It's awful that we work to pay for childcare. Makes me so cross.
Managed to get four portions of roasted veg and five portions of soup out of my veg box for £2. And I still have lots left over. Topped up the freezer nicely.

I agree with need and Jonah so I’m pleased you have given your head a wobble frugal. You are doing amazing

Oh dear i couldn't imagine eating hare @BigSkies2022 though i've no problems with rabbit but i see the almost as a pest, there's loads of them up the road and i hope they on't migrate to me. The hare's don't live in the garden full time but come to visit a nice bit. We have a big garden with a stream running across the back of it which we leave deliberately uncultivated so its a good ecosystem for wildlife. other areas of the garden we have managed more as i hate the thought of vermin near the house. Bus as @needastrongoneagain says the upkeep is huge.

Our area has a biodiversity group and we had an ecologist visit our garden and explain all the different plants and animals we have an how to best support them (basically leave them alone)

so the car cost €475 as it needed a new battery. It's a Hybrid and DH said he wouldn't know how to jump it if it wouldn't start so better to be safe etc. the ni also spent €6.50 on a french activity book for small child, another kid in her childminders is giving her lessons😀

@RumBananaSundae if i could keep my spending fails that low i'd be delighted. Enjoy the treats.

I hope you're ok @FurForksSake you have had a lot hit at once and its exhausting to have to deal with everything especially when you can't control all of it.

Good to have the ottage booked @Nellieinthebarn sometimes spending tht bit extra to shore up your boundaries is worth ti. its a good reason to mind the pennies. you can then spend the pounds where it counts more.

@Frugal25 glad you gave your head a wobble. You're in the hard budget years now. in time it will be easier in time but you will have modelled strength and resilience for your DD. Knowing whats enough is really important. We live in a quite wealthy area, we are doing very well too but other children in small childs school have much bigger houses, newer cars, more holidays etc and i can see how easy it is to compare and find yourself lacking. Having a good vision of whats "enough" and whats important to have is something i'll have to work on myself and support small child with.

frugal, you are doing really well. One thing I have tried to do in the leaner times is remember to talk about money and the choices we have to make in a positive way- like, ‘if we make our own picnic to take to the park, we can buy an ice-cream’.

£10 in butcher, £8 in Sainsbury’s, £23 in Holland &Barratt on electrolyte and creatine supplements for DS😲 While I would not likely spend this sort of money on supplements for me, I am sort of hoping that the more votes DS casts for good health habits- workouts, nutrition, supplements, sleep- the more they will stick. So I buy the supplements when I can!

Boarding kennels looked good and DDog is up to date with all vaccines . I am all for booking him in for a couple of nights to acclimatise him- will talk it over with DH tonight.

Your garden sounds absolutely gorgeous @pistachiosanscreamwith the stream etc. did you book the ecologist or did it come with the group? Wondering if i have something similar near me ...sounds amazing to know how to support wildlife better etc.
Ouch on the car but better to keep it going.

Def building up resilience and the picnic/ice-cream idea is such a good one.
I'm the same. Wealthy area and I'm doing ok but not the richest and it's a daily "I'm doing ok" reminder for me. X

So glad the kennels looked good @BigSkies2022thats such a relief for you. The trial holiday to acclimate sounds a good idea. Your son sounds like he has his head screwed.on right. Taught him well. X

Thank you @lifelongfrugaleer x

Sold another item on vinted. Shall post tomorrow

Oh a garden with a stream. Lovely

you are doing better than ok frugaleers.

£67 the range. But have a new bin. Sainsbury’s around £127 thus far

l Love how you’ve planned ahead for Christmas and birthdays @TheFrugalChicken it’s so clever to spread it out and save a lot compared to Amazon prices. The puzzle books and wordsearches all sound perfect, and it’s great that you’re thinking about their ages and what will actually be used. And hey, a Subway treat every now and then is totally deserved you enjoyed it, and that’s what counts! 🤗
@lifelongfrugaleer
Sounds like a busy but productive day! Shopping a bit at a time really does make everything easier, and it’s great for keeping on top of birthdays and parties too when the DC are young.
Good job on keeping frugal in other areas though, that’s impressive. £67 at the Range for a new bin is a win compared to Sainsbury’s! Hope the rest of your shopping goes smoothly, and your prescription collection wasn’t too stressful for you 🤗

Does anyone set a target on NSD’s each month? I’ve been working away a lot so buying ‘easy’ meals for the family when I’m away (pizza etc) but will be home a lot more so more cooking from scratch although I’ve damaged my arm so not able to do much at the moment which is annoying as I have lots of veg that needs preparing if only to go in the freezer so it’s not wasted. Just writing a shopping list for the month but difficult to know what to buy as don’t know how long my arm will take to heal and my tribe just wouldn’t be up for lots of food preparation - don’t fancy eating pizzas for the next few weeks! ( or paying for them!)

No spend for me today.

Yes the chocolate covered @Frugal25. I’d never noticed them before. Try not to beat yourself up. Easier said than done I know. Very good going with your veg box.

Glad your MiL is back @FurForksSake. You do have a lot going on. How are you feeling today?

A holiday cottage is a nice thing to have to look forward to @Nellieinthebarn. Sounds like you got a good deal too.

Sounds so lovely with the spaniels @needastrongoneagain.

Your garden sounds fabulous with a stream and wildlife @pistachiosanscream.

Was well and truly screwed over at work today. Actually am upset about it. And upset because I’m upset about being upset about it. And there were tears. Everything just feels so overwhelming. Feel so stupid about it all. Arghhhh.

@Frugal25Oh love, that horrible sicky guilt feeling is the worst, isn’t it 🤗. But honestly, from everything you’ve said, you’re not failing , you’re absolutely grafting and making it work. That’s something to be proud of, not ashamed.
£42 and you stretched it like that?? Yellow stickers, Too Good To Waste box, soups, stews, freezer topped up that’s amazing work❤️. Proper home economics wizardry. Turning £2 of veg into nine portions plus extras is not lack, that’s resourceful as hell. Future you is going to be so grateful when you pull those meals out on a busy or skint week.
And the Mum guilt voice that says “my past spending is punishing my DD” that one lies. Your daughter is fed, warm, safe, loved, going to parties with presents, living in a home where her Mum clearly cares deeply. That’s security. She won’t remember Lidl totals. She’ll remember soups, routines, a lovely kind Mum and Dad and you being there for her ❤️.
Also, shopping through the year for gifts and bargains? That’s not just sensible, that’s how people stay afloat without December panic. Same with Vinted , that’s money back in the pot. You’re actively steering the ship, not sinking ☺️
It’s okay to be cross about childcare too. Working just to hand money over is such a kick in the teeth. That frustration doesn’t make you ungrateful, it makes you human.
The key bit you said yourself though.
Family loved, fed, healthy, warm, safe. That’s the headline. The tight patch is a paragraph , not the whole book.
And for what it’s worth someone who can turn lemons, ginger, and a bargain veg box into freezer gold is doing a lot more right than wrong 💛 you are a wonderful person and l like you ❤️🤗

Your garden sounds like a proper little world of its own @needastrongoneagain. I can just see the spaniel going flat out while the hares jog off like it’s a game 😂. Keen, not gifted if it's anything like our Springer Spaniel Amy 🤗. Squirrels still reigning champs 😁.
That ham’s done brilliantly soup, risotto, stock. Love a bit of thrifty kitchen magic. If the squirrels are stuck with floor sweepings, you’ve won the battle. Blue tits up close are so lovely.
And all that admin as well bless you it's a lot on your shoulders sweetheart 🤗