The Thrifty Gifty Girls 2009 (Organised & Money Neutral for All Occasions) #3

rainmac

mum2one - so very sorry to hear about your mum. It sounds like you did all the right things. I'm thinking of you all x

Rusty, sounds like you had an excellent day. We had quite a bit of rain so spent the day going to see my mum and dad and then the outlaws and then home for tea. Your BIL sounds not very nice, should we order some more cement? Just let me know!

hayley11

mum2one - so sorry about your mum, hope she's ok

Rusty - sounds like you had a lovely day

furrypig

MUM2ONE sorry to hear about yr mum but well done on acting so fast and seeking medical attention so quickly!! You did exactly the best thing getting an ambulance so please don't feel guilty xxx

RustyFlange

rainmac wrote: »

mum2one - so very sorry to hear about your mum. It sounds like you did all the right things. I'm thinking of you all x

Rusty, sounds like you had an excellent day. We had quite a bit of rain so spent the day going to see my mum and dad and then the outlaws and then home for tea. Your BIL sounds not very nice, should we order some more cement? Just let me know!

No cement needed, I can hopefully stay out of his way today although he is supposed to be coming to see the kids today as he leaves for the marines tomorrow ... I don't have to see him til he gets his leave although I will probably make an effort to write to him and send pics of the kids etc etc. doesn't stop me hating him

Have another £2 to add to my ebay total, something sold on there this morning Got to love buy it now auctions

paddingtondoo

Happy belated Rudolph day!

I didn't do very well with Jammy's challenge but made a bit.

Did better with plms ones.
have papers and stamps ready to make xmas cards and have some left over from last year
Decluttered landing, spare room and bathroom - I have loads of stuff to eBay but need a serious kick up the bum to get on with it.
Haven't done so well with the meal planning as OH has been home nearly all the time so my food spending has gone up but credit card has gone down loads as only has a few bar bills on it . I tend to go about 3 times a week and buy for a couple of days just need to stop extras jumping into my trolley now.
I have 2 jars - 1 is sealed and gets £1 in every time i make a card and any 50p that I have left at the end of the week and a flower pot that has small coins in it that get paid into the bank every so often when it gets full.

Have just won a new extractor fan on eBay :j. The front fell off our old one 2 years ago and the door has been sitting in the utility room since then not really thrifty but necessary Just have to get OH to fit it now. He's a qualified electrician but last time he put something up he managed to drill through the light cable

hayley11

RUDOLPH DAY UPDATE :xmassign:

Bit late but here goes...

Mels Challenges

1) We don't really send Christmas cards but I may try to make some now i'm getting all crafty.

2) We've got a pot that we put all loose change in, it's nearly full so we'll bag that up and take it to the bank soon.

3) I am going to really try and think of presents I could get people in the sales but I am rubbish at buying presents in advance.

4) We do try to meal plan but it's all gone out the window the last few weeks but when I do my big shop, I will meal plan then.

5) Every room needs decluttering in my house! :rotfl: I think I shall try and do the kitchen though, it never stays clear of boxes or junk! I'm just going to have to be tough with myself.

Money Neutral

Money Spent: £176.12 (£47.50 mum - £50 jord - £2 emma - £47.04 gary - £22.58 simon)

Money In: £313.01 (£10 boots - £94.21 ebay - £72.80 quidco - £61 grand national winnings - £75 bed)

So I still have another £136.89 to spend

I'm being really generous this year as well! Well my sister didn't get anything apart from a card which I do feel a bit bad about, she doesn't really deserve anything to be honest but that's another story!

I've decided to start buying things for my OH's birthday, I always get him lots of little presents. I was going to buy him one a week but that would be 29 presents! :eek: He's not having that much! :rotfl: Suppose I could put some aside for Christmas too. Maybe one a fortnight

little_miss_moneysaver_3

mum2one wrote: »

Still playing catch up with posts........

Not a good day today,

Started off very weird, took some flowers up to the crematorium, (my sisters 40th anniversary end of March, and would of been nans bday on 23rd April, St Georges day), but dd was being slow with breakfast so dad and me went, so weird, as though someone was watching over us. We went into the chapel and the book of rememberance was open, and it was the page of my sister on it. Its the 1st time I have ever seen the entry, it was lovely.

Got home, and dad was going to take mum, unfortunately........ mum was took ill, she went dizzy, and started to fall, she was at the top of the stairs, so I grabbed her down to sitting, then, I realised she was haveing symptons like the stroke advert on tv, she was in a right state, she wanted to walk down stairs, I honestly expected someone to pop round with a cheque saying hers £500 - from U've been framed, I had to sit behind mum with my legs round her to support her, dad was at her foot end, trying to keep her feet on one stair at a time, got her downstairs, and into a chair, rang an ambulance, expecting them to say ur making a fuss, but they confirmed what I thought she had a mini stroke. We got to her in time, she was admitted to hospital as apparently the 1st 24hrs are crucial, if she has no mini stokes or major stroke in that time she should be ok, but will need tests.
I just feel so damm useless, and guilty, but on the other hand had it not of been for the TV advert things could of been worse.
Got to ring hospital 2mor and c where we go from there. xx

You did everything right mum2one. Imagine it could have been a lot worse if she'd have fallen down the stairs as well. Good you recognised the symptoms. Like you said the first 24 hours are important and you got medical help as soon as it happened. Hope she's on the mend soon.

LMMS x

paddingtondoo

Welcome jasper - we're all slightly potty so don't let that put you off and any other new people that I've missed :beer:.

I've just done my ironing so am treating myself to some crafting this afternoon although made the mistake of looking in the washing basket am sure the magic porridge pot story should have been called the magic washing basket :rotfl:. I actually enjoy ironing .

DD fell off her bike yesterday and had used her very dirty hands to wipe the tears off her face (she wasn't hurt) and was filthy from head to foot. Wish I'd had a camera handy - she refused to stay in the bath after I'd scrubbed her as the bottom was all scratchy :rotfl:.

Big hugs mum2one that must have been a huge shock fortunately you were there and did exactly the right thing - just proves that those adverts are a good thing - I hope she's getting on ok today.

I have set myself a rudolph challenge today - after today I'm not buying myself any more craft stuff this month - wonder how long I'll last with that one :rotfl: - and for every day I last I'm going to put £1 into my sealed pot to go to the Doncaster Dome show in June (using the carrot method)

mhagster

Hi everyone, back from the sun to the rain!

We had a lovely weekend but I do not want to do anyone's shopping in a strange supermarket on a busy Saturday afternoon ever again. My sister has been a bit poorly so just My OH and I went down. Given a shopping list and off we went......not my idea of fun! Did some cooking for her and sat and had a blether and such a laugh!

home to washing, ironing, my own shopping and dinner to cook.

I got some bargainous books for my dd2's Christmas yesterday and have been buying silver charms from Avon for her charm bracelet she got for her b'day. They have been on offer, either BOGOF or buy one at full price get one for £1, so I have been gathering them for Christmas.

I bought easter crackers in tesco on friday, they were reduced from £3 to 75p so bought 3 boxes. I had seen them at Easter and liked them but didn't get them as we were away......bargains! I might be able to open them and put nicer things in them. got a set of lovely Easter hair clasps which will be for a friends daughter for next Easter that were reduced in strange and busy Asda yesterday.


It is grumpy son's b'day in June and we got a camel pack for him (rucksack-y thingy with built in water holder and straw) free with nectar points. he is a keen cyclist so hopefully will like it. He is getting a ticket to go and see ACDC with his Dad but doesn't know that yet.
I find it hard to get bits and bobs for him. the girls are easy to get for. I usually make him a wee food hamper of his favourite things. He would rather have cash to buy games with!


For Christmas I have got everyone apart from kids and OH, I will gather bits and bobs throughout year and hopefully get their main gifts neutrally. My OH collects hotel loyalty points and we can redeem them for vouchers.

I have started a hamper for my In laws, it's their golden wedding in September so will buy as I go shopping. I started a gift card for them at tesco on Friday and plan to add to that every month. Also got one for myself to try and add to when I go shopping but forgot this afternoon.
I got a sealed pot but have not used it yet...must start! I tend not to use cash ( A bit like the Queen!) and usually pay by switch, I find if i have real money I spend it!

Anyway, I think that's me all updated, not money neutral but still thrifty with my gifties! And have made an enquiry about car boot sale, so hopefully get a date for that and clear a space in my bedroom.

Last year for christmas gifts I had enamel colanders as hamper bases and did themes. A pasta one and a curry one. part of my job involves making up hampers and at Christmas I'm doing them in my sleep. I love making them up for people and would love a hamper made for me. I do a nice food one for my inlaws each year and buy something for it every week from about August onwards, always remember to check best before dates. I don't have any photos but if I can be in anyway helpful to anyone I will!!


What a huuuuuge post, enjoy your weekend and have a good week.....nearly the month of May!

mum2one

Gd news, we caught it in time, they gave her oxygen at hospital and asprin, they let her out this afternoon, we have to go to gp 2mor, then she has to go back and forth to the hospital, she has to have an brain scan, and a scan on her neck to check her arteries, depending on what they come out as is to what medication she needs.

Thou have to confess I am inj absolute agony, never again, will I try to get her down the stairs via her bum! x