NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

maria3104

Hi

Speaking o fart, amazing year you have had.
Mother hen, get well soon.
I love reading all your posts, they totally inspire me.

I am off to a XMAS craft fair today. My budget is £10, hopefully to be spent on hot choc and cake. Yummmmm
Mr T coming today, around £70, so will not be a SFD. Yesterday was though!

You have all achieved so much in 2014, I genuinely think it has been a survival only year for me. Maybe next year I can crack on a bit.
Done the charity visit and managed to massivly shoot myself in the foot. Went to visit an old lady, who begged to come for XMAS day with us. Unknown to me as I profusely agreed and offered DS to collect, return etc my other DS has arranged for us to have xmas with him and said old lady can not travel that far. So looks as if we will be split, DH and DS2 and DD in one house and me and old lady in another. Oops! Very complicated set of circumstances all round. I am truly trapped. Stuck in reindeer poo and all that.
Never mind. I can be frugal or something!

LoveaDove

Happy Weekend all!

Spend day yesterday, had a meal and a very long over due catchup with a friend (all budgeted for!) I will be continuing xmas shopping this weekend- mostly online so I think SFD's shall be lacking- but I will be searching for best value! I have 5 xmas gifts left to get, a birthday present for my sister and then a huge Foodbank donation and I should then be sorted for the lead up to and including Christmas! Really need to hand make the rest of my cards. I think I will leave my Food bank donation until next week, so I can plan properly what I am going to buy.

Still love reading everyone's achievements- you all continue to inspire me!

maria3104- you sound like you have got yourself into a little bit of a pickle through being so kind- bless you!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

kaspadoc

Hello lovely festive and frugal people :j

Apologies for being mia so far - have had a busy and spendy week so far, although have got a lot done when it comes to Christmas!! Am looking forward to going home for 2 1/2 weeks and generally having a rest!!

Off out for a Christmas do tonight but have set myself a budget and will leave my debit card at home :A

I always walk to work or get a lift but I'm terrible at the ltw challenge, I often work lates and have a hot dinner from the canteen

I will be donating to the Local food bank before I go home, and I try to carry out a daily act of kindness, although my job does make it easy!!

As far as achievements go - my main one is carrying on with my training after the death of my partner.

I will try to post more often and next week is sure to be less spendy and more mse!!

Kaspadoc

vintagebrighton

Afternoon all Blerdy freezing here (at last), makes me feel Christmas is really on the way!

Coffeandstitches, one thing I've learnt from MSE is that it's the small amounts that really matter, you don't notice them and they really add up quickly. Well done on getting your refund.

It's lovely to see how you've all recognised your achievements over the year. Sometimes we do forget to appreciate how much we have done, and how hard it is sometimes. And Maria, just surviving can be very hard work! Kaspadoc, really sorry to hear about your partner, that's more than enough to deal with.

Will have another NSD today but missed out yesterday over a silly thing. Went to get a few foodie bits using the shopping money jar (so not counted as a spend) but I foolishly chucked in a few bits cos they were cheap. Had to come out of my 'budget' though, the shopping budget doesn't fund my junk food habits.. and it was all junk food, just soooo cheap

Not much else to report. Have to spend the day boxing up stuff in the lounge as the plaster needs repairing. Bit of a b*gger just before christmas but can't be helped. Hope it won't take long.

Hope those with lurgy are feeling better soon......

VB x

Dottydaisy

Sorry for not posting, illness prevented me from so doing. Thanks to Fmess for challenge and when this turtle manages to roll upright she will update more often.
Congrats, commiserations, hugs etc etc to all concerned.


Budgets in place as in signature. May find it hard to get 15 NSD as my month end is 20th not 19th as previously stated, but doing well so far on keeping to budgets.
Fun pot has been used for coffee at a meeting and weekly lunch with pain management group.
Good deed so far allowed man with 2 items jump the queue at leedl, next one is to write envelopes for Xmas cards for mum and 2 other ladies at her home.
Will be doing donations to fund education for a child and two pairs of shoes, so 2 children can go to school in Africa. Secondary school children cannot attend unless they have shoes! Already done food bank to 20th.
Outings planned -free Christmas party at mums assisted living accommodation, A subsidised trip (only £9 to pay) at a local theatre, drinks and nibbles before (free) to see White Christmas. Christmas lunch with PMG group. £11.00, so £21 still left in fun pot for anything else.
Achievements this year
1 Successfully attended Pain management course
2 Made new friends at above, we still meet for lunch weekly to support each other
3 lost 2 stone in weight
4 Joined fellow turtles in reducing debt
5 Debt now into 18's :j
Have gotten most of Christmas things, need mince pies, gammon for Boxing day and fresh items as needed.
Hope everyone is having a nice day, Dotty

sazzlebgood

Quick post.Had to replace security lights today as they've not worked for over a year. Had to sort as occasionally DD1 comes in from school when no one is here and I don't want her coming in when its dark.Cost £17.98. Bourght our only newspaper of the week and a jumper in the sales foe DD1 who seems to be going through a growth spurt £16.20. Took mum out for tea as she helps us out so much with the kids £30.OK take care everyone especailly those who are ill. Off to do more physio with DD2:D

liltdiddylilt

Hell boys and girls. Not a SFD as I had to go to pick up some bits and bobs. Ended up spending £45 in Mr L but £15 was nappies, and some other bits and bobs were from other 'pots' so my grocery budget hasn't been hammered too hard. Managed to get all of my items in there which is a relief as I seem to spend a lot more popping to Mr A's for the bits I cannot get the same brand of in Mr L. Warburtons!

Christmas decs are up except for some window ones hiding in the cupboard at the minute. Job for tomorrow. Dinner another knock up of anything simple/easy that needed using up. Feeling a bit better but house still lurgified.

Off to play with Christmas food shopping online and see what things I MUST have *after eights* and then how much it is likely to cost. Got £100 aside for Christmas food, dinner and treats, Need to grind down the freezer contents though or none of it will fit!!

Have a good one peeps

apple_muncher

Another NSD claimed. Took dd to a big soft play place - she'd won her place, so no spend - yay! We came home on a road that avoided any shops so we weren't sucked in. Result!


Today I am grateful for bumper cars, for the door curtain doing its job when dd was playing out the front, for a lovely chat with my mum, for completing another bunny, for chips!

mothernerd

NSD. Still fighting lurgy. Made onion soup and turkey stew and had lemon sorbet from the 'Christmas drawer' - it helped. Lots of washing dried and large dead branch of ivy (more than 2" thick) sawn in three so it will fit in the bin.

Not doing sewing as don't want to pass on lurgy as an unwanted Christmas present.

Today I am grateful for simple cooking, lemon sorbet and candles.

Fmess

Evening all

Well done on your achievements dotty

So sorry to hear about your partner kaspadoc

Today was a SFD Thought it probably wouldn't be as did some travelling and socialising, but as I had done the travelling, my friend treated me to a drink and a cake

Hope you are all enjoying being frugal and well done on your festive preparations