Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

KolaKube

Evening all...! I'm feeling rather pleased with tonights dinner - steak an chips for 2 for all of £3! Two bits of delicious mrM frying steak from the butcher counter (£2 and not even whoopsie) and a few oven chips. Scrummy and beat hands down the greasy overcooked version of the same we paid £22 for on a recent meal out..!

OH stocked the cupboards last night so as much as im a tad angry at the £40 spent so close to moving i *am* making the most of it lol *takes a sip of the proper wine he brought*... He doesnt often do the shopping but as its come out of his own cash not the budget i can move the same to savings that wouldnt otherwise be there :j

How is everyone today?

LolaLemon

Was on a Christmas forum that I follow, and it got me wondering, how do u frugallers do Christmas. I'm normally buying stuff for my son in the sales by now, but this year looks the same as last, where I'm too skint to get them. I actually hated Christmas last year, as I couldn't get him what I (or he) would have liked. But this year, I put £5 a week in a credit union Christmas club, although I'm hoping not to use that for Christmas but to go on holiday in Jan .
I'm aiming to make most of Christmas this year n pick up bargains to make themes hampers. Neighbours get Lyle made shortbread/cookies.
I don't really do many people. My granda, mum, dad, son, sister, brother and my 2 god kids. I also get Lyle to make his godparents a little something.
I do a tea hamper for my granda as he is a tea fiend hehe. Tea bag a day box, couple of packets of biscuits, tin of 'luxury' biscuits, and new cup, put in a box n wrap with florist wrap.
Unsure for parents this year.
Sister n brother will be dictated to me closer to the time , £50 max each for them, although I'm hoping to get them to agree name out of hat £50 max
Godkids will b bargains through the year,
I was soo grateful for clubcard points last year, I git them personalized books and got my parents a stay in a hotel for them to use within 6 months.

Please share some frugal ideas

paidinchickens

Lola I have been worrying about xmas also. I usually have things picked up cheap and put away but have nothing this year so far :eek: I think this because when the sales were on they wasn't cheap enough for me:rotfl:

I usually save any cashback site payments and tesco points for xmas so have a little there.

Hopefully the kids will be bad and I will only have to get them a lump of coal...............but the price of coal :eek:

23rdspiral

Hi just wanted to add that Mr M had a fab offer on tinned chickpeas and tinned toms at 20p a can! So I bought 5 of each:) as i know we will use them. They weren't with the tinned veg/pulses OR in the world foods section (where that brand usually is), they were on a pallett next to the quiche!! :rotfl:

KolaKube

Lolalemon.... I'm ashamed to say - and this is the first time i've admitted this to anyone - our xmas shopping is done! I use a combo of things picked up in 70% sales, money in my paypal from ebaying on boots.com, and any vouchers that come my way. Everyone gets awesome presents but our actual spend works out about £5 per head. i just dont believe in spending more than we need to. Good old mse! Xx

paidinchickens

KolaKube wrote: »

Lolalemon.... I'm ashamed to say - and this is the first time i've admitted this to anyone - our xmas shopping is done! I use a combo of things picked up in 70% sales, money in my paypal from ebaying on boots.com, and any vouchers that come my way. Everyone gets awesome presents but our actual spend works out about £5 per head. i just dont believe in spending more than we need to. Good old mse! Xx

I have just looked in the mirror and I have turned green:rotfl: well done:T not at all envious:p

Forgot to add we are making wine so no booze bill and I think I will buy some joints to freeze soon before the prices go up. I have crackers, wrapping paper and cards bought in the sale. It is hard to know what the boys would like as you can bet your bottom dollar they change their minds at the last minute.

mooomin

A chunk of my shopping is done. I've got:

Royal Albert bowl for Mama Fresian's birthday - 70% off in Debenhams
Assorted toiletries for Mr Fresian's family - 70% off at Amazon
Royal Doulton full sized figurine for Mama Fresian's Christmas - £30 + token collect, newspaper offer
Wrapping paper - cheap as chips from M&S after Christmas

I have a couple of other bits, but nothing for Mr Fresian yet. I've been saving Amazon vouchers from surveys and Swagbucks as he normally wants games! I'm waiting for 70% off in Accessorize/Monsoon/M&S to get scarves and jewellary for female friends.

I'm nowhere near as organised as I was last year. I don't think that the sales are anywhere as good this summer as they were last year

tumptyteapot

we have a family rule that everything has to be second hand or hand made for xmas presents, saves heaps! and you have to think about the presents. My sister knits socks, I sew things, make chutney/jam/chocolates....... it's easy

KolaKube

Dont be jealous paidin - it means we're tripping over the stuff for the rest of the year lol! Just our presents to each other left to get really. Sometimes i think we miss out on the atmosphere a bit by shopping so far in advance - we tend to just treat ourselves to a gingerbread latte and watch people bustle by doing their last minute shopping

Trumpty - a handmade / 2nd hand xmas sounds lovely but until i can handmake xbox games i dont think id get OH on board...:eek:


fresian sounds like youve done well at getting a few bargains tucked away :money:

its still july and youve all got me all christmassy now...!

KolaKube

Ps paidinchickens... Making your own booze is def an xmas moneysaver i could get into - any advice on where to start?