Festive Frugaleers - Chatting and saving through Christmas.

[CathodeRayTube]

Just setting up the new thread for the chatty Frugaleers.

By popular request - copied from an old thread grin

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1628874-Gas-Elec-Bills-monthly-and-SKY-so-angry

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1911061-NO-MORE-COLD-MUMSNETTERS

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2209167-Slow-Cookers-are-shit

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2224969-saving-money

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2258202-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-6-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-purpose-and-keep-moving-forwards-even-by-tiny-steps?

orchard.tesco.com/ Sign up to this.

//www.topcashback.co.uk/home And this.

//www.quidco.com/home/ And this

//www.moneysavingexpert.com/ And this

//www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub ditto.

//www.checkoutsmart.com/ Plus this.

//www.hotukdeals.com/all/deals/new?page=3 Check this daily.

[Cagliostro]

Oh Wreck sorry you're having a crap day. Can't help on the piercing thing but seems like the final straw for the day for you? Hugs xx

Glad things are improving CRT and I'm doing ok thanks, just had an easy day having been so busy recently with birthday outings and housework and housing stress! DD is down with a rotten cough and cold so she can't go to her medal presentation/competition tomorrow. She's gutted :(

Definitely a bigger dent with cash not Tesco vouchers but you will get a lot more choice of presents I should think if you aren't only able to spend in one place! :)

Unescorted thank you, I had a brief look at each of those companies you told me about but now we've got the landlord visit out of the way I can properly focus on it! :)

[Unescorted]

Fluffy we have had it hanging over us since the last general election. Doesn't make it any easier for people.
wreck hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

The oddest thing happened the other day - we got an email from Sainsbury energy saying that because they forgot to send us a letter to say out DD wasn't covering our energy use and they were going to put the DD up they were going to credit our account with £640. We assumed it was one of those hoax ones that harvest the data when you click the link...but it was for real. When we took the meter reading we have ended up £400 in credit. The extra £200 we clocked up when we were drying out the house after the flood.

[allthebestplease]

unescorted that's great news.
Only spent £1.50 today for the newspaper.

[CathodeRayTube]

My Loop energy monitor says I could be saving £400 a year if I switch to the Co-op, so I've written to my current supplier to ask if they could make a better tariff for me to switch to. Last time I did that they brought a better one out within the week and I didn't have to switch at all. Fingers crossed now.

[CathodeRayTube]

I had a realisation today. I keep thinking when I see a cheap deal: "how much cheaper does it have to be to be worth the effort/storage etc?".

Well, I just realised that since it's so hard to get more than 1% on savings at the moment, I really only have to be saving 1% on the cost of something for the effort to be really quite worth it.

It's interesting, because I usually shoot for 20% as an ideal, so 1% is pretty easy to get in many situations. It makes me think that I should focus more on saving money in the household budget and worry less about the fact that savings are so rubbish at the moment.

[SnugglySnerd]

I have fruflu too Lifelong, been drinking honey and lemon. Hope you are taking it easy.
Spent a lot today too: £30 Xmas tree, DH went out for tissues and batteries and I bought a few gifts online but I did use a code for 15% off.
Have two invoices to pay but online banking wasn't working today.

[BertieTodd]

Thanks for the baby dust mammy. That's very annoying about the wedding; hope DH is over his strop and is making it up to you today.

Spends today:
€65 Tesco
€109 boots online, they may be returned though if they don't fit well; I'm really struggling to find comfy boots after my favourite pair died, I'm between sizes with wide feet and very high arches so it's tricky.

Quite pleased with a productive day, probably the last free day DH and I will have together before Xmas so we got the house decorated, some gifts wrapped and under the tree, and then had a lovely evening with family over for dinner.

[Cagliostro]

Wreck I forgot to say thanks for the tip off about the Arundel Castle programme! Will look for that :)

[Cagliostro]

Have you tried Clarks Unstructured range for boots? They aren't much to look at but they are sooo comfortable. I was reluctant as they were £80 and I've never spent anywhere near that much on footwear before. But it was possibly the best £80 I have ever spent - the job I was in meant I was on my feet all day and it made such a huge difference.

[ChristmasSeacow]

Hello all, been reading but a bit busy so not managed to post recently.

Cag good birthday haul and I agree with the whole world on keeping the money out of the way for a bit. It's not income so totally reasonable. Glad things are moving with the landlord too.

Sorry for all the unwell frugaleers, I think it had been a very germy term. Lots of people I know have had more than the usual quota of colds and bugs.

Speaking of which, DS has had a nasty cold and yesterday he threw up everywhere rather spectacularly. Luckily this was just after his SLT had been and gone so she missed the firing line! However, it wasn't great timing because the gas people are replacing our mains in the road so the gas was off - so no heating or hot water all day (only got it back at 10pm, was freezing). It's not easy cleaning up without hot water! He seems better today, though still not eating much.

Anyway, was an NSD yesterday apart from the private SLT (£70). Thursday was an LSD as just paid £3 for parking at DS's SN playgroup. Today also NSD for me as I sent DH out for the newspaper and strawberries

Some great news though- we got the results of our Harmony test yesterday (screening baby for downs and other trisomies) and we are screened as low risk. I am getting on a bit so that was good news indeed. We also found out we are having a girl. My head wanted a girl (apparent lower incidence of autism, also I think good for DS) but I love my darling boy so my heart didn't mind either way. MIL will be ecstatic as she has made no secret of wanting a granddaughter (and of being gutted when we knew DS was a boy). We are not going to tell her the gender for a while as SIL and BIL are having a boy in the new year and I don't want to them to feel their first child (another slightly 'disappointing' boy for MIL) has been overshadowed by girl news . MIL is lovely and will treat all grandchildren fairly and equally but she just does not have a poker face, Iyswim.

Due to general tiredness and uselessness I am falling a bit behind with Christmas. Totally stuck on what to get my sisters and starting to panic now! However, I made my Jamie's get ahead gravy today so that's a small step in the right direction. I threatened DH that if he accidentally throws the bowl of murky liquid that is cooling on the kitchen counter down the sink I will change the locks and leave his stuff on the drive. No mercy.

[Cagliostro]

Aw Seacow that's lovely news! Congratulations :) x

[WreckTangled]

Cag it was really interesting

Sea cow that's brilliant!! My friends ds is autistic and we had the same conversations re her second dc being a girl and she was! She's such a calm baby compared to her ds

[WreckTangled]

Dh is taking the dc swimming this morning so I can wrap. He's having a strop because I asked him to wash their hair after (makes sense, no?) so lazy.

Then we're off to my friends for roast dinner. Yum! Need coffee and oatie bars so will pop into sainsburys.

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Totally makes sense to was hair after swimming wreck.
Congratulations sea. Your plan to hold onto the news sound spot on.
Gws fellow frufluers.

Been asked to go for lunch before the cinema but not sure if I feel up to it. However feel I should make the effort. Nados is inoffensive enough isn't it, I've never been.

[lifelongfrugaleer]

Clarks is my go to for shoes. 5.5 d fit.

Unescorted that's great service from sainsburys.

[WreckTangled]

Mmm I like nandos and get 20% NHS discount.

I recommend the chicken in pitta with garlic bread and coleslaw Mmm. I tend to go for medium spiced.

[mammymammyIRL]

Thanks for all the sympathy regarding dh, he was working & I was out & about with dc yesterday until about 3pm. I'd a problem with my car & rang mechanic rather than him
When we finally met yesterday he apologised profusely he saw for himself on reflection what an ass & idiot he had been. He was tired & didn't want to go to wedding but couldn't come straight out with it! Told me he'll pay for half my hair next time I get it done as it was for wedding I got it done. This isn't strictly true so I won't hold him to that but it's great that he's realising his behaviour isn't on & the consequences of it affect everyone.

Took ds to buy runners yesterday & couldn't get his feet into the next size up, that's because he went up two sizes , ended up buying boots not runners as they didn't have good quality ones in his size. Boots were reduced from €25 to €15, I will check other branch for runners today when dd is at a birthday party. Aren't they fab?!

Aldi spends €165 but this included nappies(we only need one pack a month now for nighttime) the obligatory box of king crisps for Christmas & a turkey crown & a world beers pack for dh from dc also

Seacow great news on your scan
Unescorted that's great about your leccy bill, I must work out what mine is going to cost & input meter readings so that i know if I'm apportioning correct amount in ynab
Wreck did you get sorted with your piercing?
Girlie were the pjs nice in primark? Ddog got hold of my favourite fleecy pj top

I went looking at fabric samples to reupholster our couch base cushions. The book we prefer had no price on it so we've worked out our max & dh will call to the shop tomorrow. We also selected a fabric from cheaper book just in case. My df gave me €500 for Christmas as he always does so this is what I'm doing with it & paying for some wall cappings & remainder is for me (approx €100-€150)

Girlie my last car was bright yellow so I never had to remember where I parked it, this one is red so I do a lot of head scratching as I'd 4 years of not having to remember where I parked, it's a hard habit to get back into

Yesterday I paid €8 + €2 tip to get my car washed, dh thinks this is a huge waste of money but I knew I didn't have time to wash it myself & I don't do the job as well as the guys in town. It's not frugal but I figured I was up money from not spending it on alcohol night before & there was no charge at gp as my smear will be covered by government.

[mammymammyIRL]

Definitely should wash their hair wreck. Ds doesn't always go in now when dd is swimming & I miss that because he has to have a bath or shower at home then over weekend. Swimming means we're all washed together

[WreckTangled]

Exactly! Unfortunately not. It's out now I'm gutted!

[mammymammyIRL]

Will it heal up that fast?

[WreckTangled]

Yep fastest healing piercing! I could get it in one side but the hole inside just wasn't there. Might go back next week see if they'll redo it for me.

[mammymammyIRL]

[ememem84]

wreck that's so annoying re piercing. My belly button was difficult to get back in a while ago but I managed it..dh thinks I'm crazy even having it (but I was 19 and fabulous when it was done)

I think we might be getting our Christmas tree today. Yippee!!!

[SnugglySnerd]

Morning all. Have cancelled all plans for today and returned to bed to feel sorry for myself. DH isn't well either so at some point I'll have to swap with him and go and watch tv with entertain DD. On the plus side it might be an NSD except I had Xmas cards ready to give out to friends later which I will now have to post.

[allthebestplease]

cath everytime you save in the household budget put that into a stocks and shares ISA as then you will make 20% savings. My sister has made 80% on hers over the time.

DH has to buy some bits from Wickes and then we are off to the park. We haven't overspent our monthly cash budget yet, so fingers crossed we can make it last.

Ive got a couple of tutees so that's good, if I could get one more that extra cash would be just enough to get by. Ive set up a website and will drop off flyers to the local schools.