Frugal Autumn/Winter shenanigans ,is it an hour on or an hour back😂 .Halloween trick or treating, spooky silliness, Guy Fawkes fireworks , toffee apples and hot dogs ,lovely wedding plans , cosy Christmas plans and all the rest of it 🎃🍂🔥👰🎄

[DirtyGertiefromno30]

Welcome one and all to our lovely frugal thread . All welcome just join in 😁

That Sauerkraut sounds bloody lovely @cuckoolodger, bet it’s hard waiting for it to ferment 😂 . And banana pecan cake too 😋, I’d struggle not to eat it! £13.50 for all that is a real bargain, especially for 5kg of chicken. Soup tomorrow and roast Sunday, you’re sorted! And two bunches of roses too and they are gorgeous ❤️ 🌹

Use a Stair Cladding Kit (The Easy Overlay Route): If the rest of the stair is solid, you can buy a pre-made Solid Oak Staircase Cladding Kit from suppliers like B&Q. These kits slide or glue directly over your existing damaged steps and built-in lips as a complete overlay.

I looked it up and they say you can easily do it using these kits @SmallDFartyCarNRG Good luck 🤞 🙏

Sounds like a lovely day for you all @Twogingercats 🤗. M&S soon eats up the money but their stuff is so lovely it's worth it ! Nice that your Mum enjoyed the history group too and £5 a month is a bargain until you join properly next year 😊.
Aw thank you my Mum is lovely there today bless her ❤️

Ooh I really need to get into pickling and stuff too @Frugal25, sounds like such a good idea. My parents and my Mil used to pickle loads of things in the run up to Christmas and the baking they did was no ones business 🤗.
Well done on the NSD and Davina workout 🤗. Hope Royal Mail sort the missing Mingo , the seller sounds useless 🤞🙏.
Aww your poor DD ❤️. Bet you can’t wait to get her home for cuddles bless you both . Roll on 5pm and Friday night bliss 😁
And you’re up to the Sewing Bee semis Fabulous 😍

The pork steaks sound like a brilliant buy to me @SpookyHalloweenDeviledEggs, especially getting 3 or 4 meals out of them. And Tescos cheese bread is delicious 😋. Hopefully you can all have a nice quiet, lower spend weekend, especially with your DD being so exhausted after her first few weeks back bless her 🤗

Pay day and finally a NSD 🥳

Yay! 😁 👏

Found you all!! Just had a catch up read and love the sound of the pickles but just don't have the room to store things like that. Not decluttered for a while but DH has at last put some shelves up in the shed so we now have room to shuffle things about.
Have started Christmas shopping using the pot set aside for that. But have decided that we had so much stuff left over last year (that we chomped our through for the first three months of 2026) that we really could do with buying less. We have had an invite for Xmas dinner so only need to provide whatever is requested by the host - last time it was the Gammon ham which we love anyway so it's no hardship to have that as leftovers. Think I might make a list of stuff we really like and try and stick to that. I do like a freezer full of beige food - that would be my only downfall but it's handy for drop ins!! Famous last words!! 🙄 DH is diabetic so the sweets bowl can be drastically cut and I don't eat chocolate anyway.
Aside from that, we seem to have spent quite a bit on food this month so will be menu planning after a freezer audit. I have noticed that the prices are rocketing upwards so that will be a real worry for some people. One of the freezers needs a defrost before Xmas so need to sort that by using bits and pieces up.
We are out at a show on Halloween night so don't even need to get sweets in for that - so a saving to be made there. 👹
I've renewed the tariff with Octopus for the next 18 months and even that increased our payments by £35 per month 😫but hopefully will cushion the expected price rises in January. In the meantime, the cat has worked out how to open the divan drawer on my side of the bed - it's now her favorite place to sleep - anyone for a fur lined woolly jumper?? 🐱

I would love a fur lined wooly jumper. It would go with my fur lined bed linen..... @Rainbow1961 as my cats have decided bed linen is their preferred place to sleep bless them.

£304 refund on car wing mirror as the guy who charged me realized I didn't need the whole bit which was lovely of him. That will go back into my emergency fund.
£30 oh another mingo on eBay.
Original mingo I doubt will appear. I lost the case against it on eBay. Seller did a right number on me so I won't get a refund or anything to show for my money. I've put in a complaint but reading up on him this isn't the first time for him. I should be more careful. I have read up on new seller and she appears to have 100% happy reviews. Fingers crossed.

Think that's it for today. Off to see another wedding venue later but I doubt I'll go for it as it's an hour away. We shall see.

Prices are def going up on food. I've started hoarding and need to put my bits and bobs in a container really so I don't use them up in menu plans.

When I get a new kitchen (years away) I would love to make a larder out of the awkward corner that is just a waste of space. It would only be small but useful to store things like pickles and tins.

Tomatoes are rippening and potatoes are still being harvested here which makes my heart happy.

Enjoy the cheesy bread @SpookyHalloweenDeviledEggs

The history group sounds amazing @Twogingercatsi shall have to have a look around here for something similar

No idea how much I’ve spent over the past two days. I have a lovely cardigan, a Barbie and random items of junk food. Most of which I’ve eaten.

Was clinging on to get past Wednesday now being dragged into family drama that I want to stay far far away from. It’s one thing after another and all rather tiresome.

Have done some planning re a break as it might be good to sort my head out. Really need to give some thought to financial logistics (and a job of course).

Aww I love your Christmas plans, @Rainbow1961 especially the freezer full of beige food 😂 🤤. So handy for unexpected drop ins! And nothing wrong with gammon leftovers 😋. Lovely that you have been invited out for Christmas dinner 🍽️ 🦃🍗 l only wish 🤗.
That extra £35 a month is painful though 😫 .Hopefully it gives you a bit of protection when prices rise. Menu planning and a freezer audit sounds like a good idea too. Well done on starting your Christmas shopping too 👏. I agree with you the prices are rising so quickly. God knows where it will end 🙄.
Aw your cat ❤️😂 .Bless her, she’s clearly decided the divan drawer is her own little luxury bedroom! 🐱😂

Ooh £304 back is brilliant @Frugal25 😊 . What a lovely thing for him to do. Such a shame about the original Mingo. That seller is another Piguana.
Hope you like the wedding venue , it's so exciting 😊. Love the idea of your little larder too, perfect for all those tins and pickles. Hope DD was ok yesterday after her fall bless her . Have a lovely evening sweetheart 🤗

So I bribed my husband with coffee to do a big job we've put off 😆 £11 and imo worth every penny 😆 ... And I napped whilst he did it .. result.
£10 farm shop lunch and something for tea.
£5 in Aldi for bread and sandwich meat.

(As you lot probably can tell I tend to just round up or down approximately so I don't have that many to the pound spends 😆)

Aww @RumBananaSundae, bless you it really has been one thing after another for you lately 😔. No wonder you’re feeling fed up with it all. At least you’ve got a lovely cardigan, a Barbie and plenty of junk food to comfort you and you got us here and you know we are all behind you sweetheart ❤️.
I think a little break sounds like a really good idea, just to get away from everything and clear your head. The money and job stuff will work itself out bit by bit. Hope you can stay well away from all that family drama you do not need to get involved in that .

£11 well spent if you ask me @SpookyHalloweenDeviledEggs.
That's the way to do it 🤣. And I’m exactly the same with the rounding up, who can be bothered with all those pennies 😂 .
NSD for me today, been to see Mum who was fine thete bless her. Another beautiful day here sunny and blue skies, nice and warm . Dried 2 lines of washing , cleaned my 2 fridge freezers and cooked gammon, broad beans,carrot & sweet potato mash and parsley sauce for tea and it was banging even if l say it myself 😋🤣.
Hope everyone is ok and having a lovely evening ☺️

Your dinner sounds amazing @DirtyGertiefromno30. If there are leftovers I'll pop round tomorrow.
DD completely fine now after her fall thank you for remembering xxx
Oh @RumBananaSundae you just need to be left alone. Where are you thinking for a break? Try and create some space between you and your family, hard when it's family as I well know, but you need some head space .. you look after yourself.

£35 on wine and Christmas bits from Aldi. Popped in for wine and discovered their Christmas aisle. Obviously I had to participate. I've hidden the bits in a locked drawer as OH saw them and said "oh they won't last with me...." Paws off mr.

Ok. I wanted to hate the venue today. But it's a 14th century manor house and just gorgeous. A few downsides but can be worked around.... Now I'm torn.... Do I do big and glamour but an hour away and not practical (today's venue) or do I do cute and small and practical (first venue). I shall have a sit and think as "Sarah and duck" say....

Spent a bit today as met a friend for coffee. Got back just as the supermarket was closing so ended up in Sainsbury getting something for supper.

Thank you @DirtyGertiefromno30. I have my fingers crossed. It’s most certainly not a fun time.

I’m not sure yet @Frugal25. The winter weather seems to be thwarting my ideas as as I don’t like the thought of of icy pavements. It’s nice to have options? Maybe for your venue?

Haha @Frugal25, definitely paws off Mr ! 🤣
Once you see the Aldi Christmas aisle you have to participate, it would be rude not to 😂 l was eyeing it all up today , l did pick up a box of Medjool dates but they will eat them now well like all Christmas pre gotten food 🤣.
Ooh I can see why you're torn with the venues ❤️. The Manor sounds gorgeous but an hour away is a lot. Cute and practical has a lot going for it too. Have a sit and think, as Sarah and Duck say 😂. So glad your DD was ok bless her ❤️

Sounds like a lovely day with your friend @RumBananaSundae 😊 . Typical ending up in Sainsbury’s just as it's closing but l hope you had some yellow stickers nevertheless 😂 .
Re your Holiday are you thinking of going somewhere warmer only l think it would be lovely to get away to a warm climate when the pavements are icy here 🥶.

Evening everyone 😊
Been shopping today , Aldi £93 🙄.
Asda £24, Home Bargains £24 .
I have 2 stuffed full fridge freezers and a few bits for Mum , also a couple of Christmas presents. Hopefully l will not red to spend except for Milk and bread for all week fingers crossed 🤞
Hope everyone has had a lovely day, rained here till this afternoon then it was lovely and sunny 😊

Good evening
£25 on a pot of racing green outdoor gloss paint. Dh has made a lovely new box for our milk bottles and will paint it tomorow. Around £30 in Tesco for foody bits.
Had a lovely nap this afternoon. Woken by Mum asking if I was All Right? What that means is “where’s my dinner?”
Hope everybody has had a nice Sunday.

Oh l love racing green colour @Twogingercats, well done to your DH for making a milk box bless him!
I had to lol 😁 at your Mum wanting her dinner bless her heart ❤️

Ooohhh im envious of your milk bottle holder @Twogingercats how amazing your hubby made it too

I'd second going away somewhere warmer @RumBananaSundae as I hate icy pavements too. So dangerous and I always slip.

£70 in lidl today as we had loads left over from last week.
£7 on a book that promises to make me lose weight before the big day.

I think I've settled on the small and practical venue just need to convince the mr as he was keen on the big manor house. think I've swung it by saying that as we party on, DD would be taken offsite to a hotel for bedtime. Which he didn't like, whereas the small venue had bedrooms on site.

New mingo should arrive on Tuesday.

Ooohhh freezer fulls sounds very organized well done @DirtyGertiefromno30

Lost track of the thread but I'm here

Hope Mingo arrives Tuesday @Frugal25 🤞 🤞

Warm and sunny vote here @RumBananaSundae

Christmas isle in Aldi will be tempting. @DirtyGertiefromno30

Sorry missed a few updates. My update
Went to Costco yesterday £105. Need to rein in the fresh ready meals and huge snack packs! Although also got fish and meat I can budget with.

Today was a NSD 🎉 first for a while. Also loaded up last of items for Vinted. Psychological tick. Any sales pay for family meals as they are from PIL and DMs houses. Sold two items quickly and posted them 👍

Good morning everyone 🌅
Looking quite nice out here 😊🤞
Off to see Mum in a bit 😁.
£70 isn’t too bad if you had loads left from last week @Frugal25😊. I hope you find that £7 book is good sweetheart . I think the smaller venue sounds much more sensible, especially having the bedrooms there for DD. Hopefully you can persuade the Mr 😂
Ooh new Mingo Tuesday, lovely! 😁