NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

apple_muncher

Fmess - caought the tail of an advert for 'the world's strongest TEAM'. One to check out...?!

mothernerd

Re-written my figures as the Iysland shop got cancelled last night - think it was because it didn't recognise the card (have used it before) and it asked extra questions and when it got to the postcode for the account (have notified them but not yet acknowledged) I plumped for the old one.

So only a penny over on the food budget (nearly all on takeaway and sweets) and travel budget intact. Will have to spend money at some point but going to make Mexican rice salad, have fish with veg (both using frozen veg), chop the wrinkly pepper (was hiding under the onions) into my 1/2 curry and have bacon or sausage with the 5 week old YS sprouts on a stalk. Have juice and a couple of tins of fruit if I need them but that should be enough to get me through the weekend.

Will have to buy food at some point but determined not to get stressed about it (travel budget good so will manage somehow). Going to have a slow weekend, ticking things off the list but having fun. DS3 brought my second willow obelisk and the remaining decorations upstairs yesterday so going to decorate that.

Bothered by the no shower situation - need to go to mum's (she has a walk-in shower) but have to wait until I am rid of this lurgy. So had a thorough wash then dribbled water from a jug over all the bits of my legs I can't reach. Draped the towel from the seat onto the floor to soak up the water and have pushed it round the bathroom floor with my crutches to get the bits of floor that need mopping. Will boil wash it later.

Need to clear the bed. It's mostly tidy but there are lots of little bits of paper lying around (was going to cancel next week's health trainer appointment but couldn't find the right number - appointment card is usually inside my diary but as the year end approaches all the pages are on one side and everything falls out.

Will clear bed (in stages), sort through all the bits (also need to staple a few business receipts but they are all together and do a few non-urgent change of address notifications - can post them off after the Christmas rush) and will remake the bed. I am going to put the 2 white sheets (washed and dried) on the bed and then the 2 turquoise ones on top so in successive weeks I can move things to one half of the bed, peel off the top sheet then do the other half - no heavy lifting or bending. Can't cope with the weight of the quilt over my operated foot yet, just wear layers of clothes and a light cover over me.

Started working on DS3 as he needs to put the black rubbish bin out at both houses from Monday (would be all done if he had remembered when I was in hospital - still trying to catch up).

Have a fun weekend everyone and try to stay away from those shops, it won't be good out there.

maria3104

Mr T have delivered. A massive shop, all unloaded into clean fridges. With newspapers, thank you Mrs Foxglove.
£104.36 reduced to £91 flat using coupons. The W shire gammon is already cooking on the stove in ginger ale. My favourite and I never tire of it.

One more delivery until the big day.

Now to batch cook 4 750g of mince into food for normal days, shepherds pie, lasagne and spag bol I fancy.
Have a happy frugal day all.

skintscotslass

Hello all

#23 reporting in. I'm not sure where December has gone already?? I'm ridiculously behind with my stats. Going to catch up with everyone's news and then look at my new totals (which, other than eating out, are looking pretty good lol)

stewby

Yesterday was a spend day but from unbudgetted money and with good reasons (well some of it).

£3.00 went to a retirement fund for a colleague.
£1.00 went on a sandwich at work (sorry).


I was feeling really rotten after a shift from hell on the Thursday so I decided to cheer myself up with a sandwich on the Friday.
I felt it was a necessary evil to get me through another twelve hours of stressfulness.
:undecided

Today is a spend-free day!!!!!
Number eight out of fifteen!!!!
:j

Currently thinking of going shopping to buy some treats for my work colleagues tonight (it is the staff xmas party but we are missing it to work... well someone has to).
I know it would be bad but I can't help it. Might just persevere... was going to do baking but have kinda been lazy all day instead.
:embarasse

On the plus side... xmas tree is going up on Monday and OH is treating me to a meal out on Tuesday.
We are going into the local city to do some shopping and look at the pretty lights. OH has never been into the city this close to xmas and I did try to warn him how much of a nightmare it is but he is determined.
It's going to be very entertaining as he hates shopping normally due to crowds. Can't wait to see how many shops he manages (it's normally just two).
:rotfl:

apple_muncher

Fmess - me again - sorry! Tuesday channel 5, 7pm: world's ultimate strongest team :j:j:j.

Lost an NSD to a £2 carousel ride, but it was worth it! Twas a ride for dd - not me, by the way! We had previously survived the D1sney Store with no purchases - dd just wrote a letter to Santa and enjoyed a little mooch around. Then we legged it back to the car and over to dance classes.

Soooo pleased we made the effort to go in for 9am as, even by 9.45, the place was getting rather full. Am very glad to have opted out of the mad consumerism! Dd and I laugh at the adverts on the telly, telling you 'you deserve', 'treat yourself', 'enjoy the thanks, knowing you only spent £79 on x'. And she's only 6!

I have finished making all the bunnies for Christmas presents - phew. (until we think of someone else...). Next year's plan is to make ALL gifts...


Achievements for 2014? Working an extra 2 days a week for 8 months and paying every single penny of it off the mortgage; paying approx 18k off the mortgage; getting lots of things out to the charity shop; making stuff to sell at 2 school fairs; supporting my mum.

Aims for 2015? Pay 13k off the mortgage (especially as dh has survived a round of redundancies); make all gifts; look after myself (exercise, sleep, food); ensure I have quality time with dd and dh; visit dh's mum in America (probably the last time we'll see her).


Today I am grateful for the Santa letters you can do in the Dis Store, for the carousel, for 2 free balloons, for red cabbage coleslaw, for candles.

Calling14

Yesterday spends £3 on 5 pairs tights. Lovely meal out xmas party was still full this morning and even better it was free.

Today's good news car passed MOT and had an essential service £85 in total. As I walked around shops for 2hrs whilst it was being done sneaked into Costa had a caramel latte and a muffin to warm up. Naughty but nice fiver spent.

Heard some bad news this morning friend of a friend passed away, 7 years youngest than me. No warning fit person as well. Leaves children behind. Puts life into. Perspective

Calling14

Thirty great news on your contract extension. You are so right, given up chasing men. Just enjoy my life as it is. Make the most of my family.

Sazzlebegood sounds like your daughter confidence is growing wanting to stay in school.

Need to get extra xmas cards tomorrow and a few pressies. Petrol as well seeing as it has come down in price again today x

Fmess

Sorry to hear your sad news calling

Thanks apple muncher, I've set it to record. Last night there was a over 40s strongman program on channel 5

Today has been a spend day, got the food for the week (£29) and got my hair done Really pleased as it looks lovely and makes me feel more respectable.

Went to the gym and did some running for the first time in ages, so feeling quite virtuous.

mothernerd

NSD. Bed of many layers is made up, the willow obelisk 'tree' is decorated and hm rice salad, bacon soup and mini quiches are in the fridge (may not get as far as the freezer).

Feeling a bit Christmassy, kitchen looks like a kitchen, house is tidier, business receipts are all lined up, just need stapling and listing and one small 'shoebox' of small bits and paper scraps to sort.

Today I am grateful for central heating (bitterly cold outside), that I brought the bins near to the kitchen door and for my sparkly decorations.