Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - Part 3.

23rdspiral

Well done with your Tree Dizzy. We got a Wilkinsons one last year, small with berries and frost on it ready, as we were packing to move we couldn't face a real one. We'll have a real one this year though and have a bay window at the front to put it in! Can't wait!

SandraScarlett

Hi all. Thanks for all your PMs and messages of support. I can't put into words how much strength I get from reading them. In fact, people on here, who I don't know, have been more understanding than some of my so-called friends!

DD is still in hospital, and it is unlikely that she will be home until well into next year. I must admit, I just lost it all the other night, and bawled my eyes out. Having to talk to Social Workers, Doctors, Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists, Teachers as well as neighbours, friends and relations, all with one eye on the clock for the school run, has taken its toll. Also, every phone call is like one of the Labours of Hercules.

You phone up, get a recorded message, input the extension, the phone rings and nobody answers. So then you phone again, wait for the operator, who 9 times out of 10 is surly, and then you're put through, the extension rings, and then .................. the phone goes dead! :mad: So you start again ........

Add to this the fact that I am doing SILs Christmas shopping too, poor lad doesn't have time as he works a 5 and a half day week, and 11 hours a day, and looking after DH, plus trying to visit DD as much as possible, and you get the idea.

BUT ........ on Tuesday, I went to see The Help, which was brilliant. I'd read the book, which made me laugh and cry out loud, and the film, which I saw in the morning,was wonderful. Then today DGD and I, along with 2 coachloads of pensioners, went to Rochester Dickensian Festival, which was superb. And I was the one who organised the trip, so I've been fielding dozens of phone calls from people asking what time their pickup was, and where, and did I think it would rain, and what time would we back etc

Fortunately the forecast of heavy rain was completely wrong, and we had virtually tropical weather, well, about 55 degreees in old money, blue skies, and a fantastic day. So I'm tired, but happy that it went off without a hitch, and everyone was delighted with their day.

xx

paidinchickens

Sandra you are an amazingly wonderful person and don't let others get you down. They are not in your shoes and if they would like to be may I suggest you blinkin well let them for at least a week until you have put your feet up for a wee while booger um all and do what YOU know is the right thing to do

Have a lot of carp myself and taken me a VERY long while to realise I really don't care what people think

My deepest heartfelt hugs and kisses

Pic xxx

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j:j
Hugs SS- in times of crisis it's amazing how people you would think would support you don't and yet others are absolutely brilliant.
Great news on the tree DL- with my frugal hat on have you thought of trying the charity shops for different baubles. Ours have loads at the moment in mint condition and they're really pretty.
Still steadily frugalling away here at GBT- found half priced wool in the CS yesterday for my blanket and am working up to making a few Christmas cards this week. Can heartily recommend £land- they have packs of lovely paper for card making. Have finished the actual gift buying- I reckon 85% have come from th CS this year but I know my sister will do the same as we're both fine with the idea of recycled gifts and she's on an even tighter budget than me this year.
Yesterday I very patiently sat and folded all the brown paper that came as packing in a parcel from Amazon for reuse- as I did it I thought the peeps on the frugal living thread will understand :rotfl::rotfl:
More decluttering, shredding and perhaps a spot of christmas card writing along with a chicken liver casserole are my frugal plans for today. Woohoo!
Arilx

tumptyteapot

Oh Sandra, how wonderful you can see positives in amongst all that you are going through. Huge hugs, I hope things shift for all of you soon and life gets easier.

tumptyteapot

I need an idea for something to put in the center of the pass the parcel I am doing for my family - it worked really well last year, I'd collected little presents from charity shops etc and named them so that no one was left out, the person unwrapping handed the present over to the named person if it wasn't them. It meant I didn't have to think of something that everyone would like. At the center of it all were musical crackers, which cost a fortune. I need a cheaper alternative that a family of 2 parents, 3 adult sisters (one mentally handicapped) and one 8 year old child will enjoy, and.. one that isnt too big as the parcel has to be wrapped around it and it will be huge.

One sister is a diabetic, they are all vegan.

natnat13

SS - nice to hear from you, you sound amazingly strong, love and best wishes to you.

Tumpty - Can't really think of anything apart from chocs, shower gels, socks off the top of my head but will keep thinking.

Watched the penny pinching programme last night, didn't really tell us anything we didn't know did it?!! These coupons and discounts are great if you already buy the stuff but matey with his choc spread for instance was about £1.99, I bought a value one for 89p last week. It seems to be all branded stuff so if you're happy to buy value ranges then you're saving more anyway. I think coupon lady has obsessive issues!!! I'm surprised they didn't go into whoopsies either, channel 4 obviously didn't read this thread as research!!!!!

I am off to do my Sunday shop today after swimming. Made a list and sticking to it!! Got ebay items ending today, only had bids on 2 last night, must go and see how they're doing.... bye...

natnat13

Sorry Tumpty just read your post PROPERLY, chocs would be no good then!

Blairweech

tumptyteapot wrote: »

I need an idea for something to put in the center of the pass the parcel I am doing for my family - it worked really well last year, I'd collected little presents from charity shops etc and named them so that no one was left out, the person unwrapping handed the present over to the named person if it wasn't them. It meant I didn't have to think of something that everyone would like. At the center of it all were musical crackers, which cost a fortune. I need a cheaper alternative that a family of 2 parents, 3 adult sisters (one mentally handicapped) and one 8 year old child will enjoy, and.. one that isnt too big as the parcel has to be wrapped around it and it will be huge.

One sister is a diabetic, they are all vegan.

My first thought was some sort of board game or something? Or a framed photo of your family? (Probably not that frugal though ) Sorry, my creativite juices are not flowing yet this morning!

seriouslyfrugal

Morning


sandra: sending you hugs it is amazing how support can come from the most unlikely places isn't it

I found this thread - coupons ( it is also on the 2012 thread too)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3628257


this weds is the walking group xmas lunch I will also walk on friday but the rest of the week is upto me - nice really