NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

apple_muncher

Have managed to stay up for 40 mins longer than dd tonight. Am rocking this grown-up malarkey!

Fmess

Applemuncher and lilt I don't have any children but I'm already in bed and knackered. I usually have a self imposed bedtime of 10pm but i can't even make it to that tonight. Those of you with children, I am in awe of how you have the energy to look after them.

Night all

liltdiddylilt

Night fmess & apple! Sleep tight!

As for the kids thing... I have no answer. I am so used to being tired, I wouldn't know properly awake without the aid of mega caffeine if it hit me in the face. I didn't drink coffee before I had Jelly :rotfl:

mothernerd

Quiet day, lurgy is definitely on the way out but not yet gone. Washing done, some cooking done, too little drawer space in the kitchen so re-located non-kitchen things (curtain rings, shoelaces) to an empty drawer up here, cut some ivy but sat to chop the long lengths into smaller sections (filled three sacks), decorations on the mantle piece. Was going to make some change of address phone calls but DS3 was asleep next to the phone. Started a couple of new bags for charity donations.

Need to finish the postponed sewing (didn't want to pass on lurgy with the gifts) as want to get them all given out this week.

Today I am grateful for lovely hm food, that I came back inside just before the heavens opened and a good read.

traveller

Morning everyone just a quick update. Limo company have got back to me and said driver was basically not at fault, but couldn't prove his hours and they apologised again. They have asked me what do I think is fair compsensation? I'm going to ask for 50% to take into account the time stuck at the checkpoint and me having to reimburse those who chose to take a cab from where it was stuck as it was too late for them to then get night buses from a safety point of view. Never mind the fact I've only just recorded from having been to nearly 4am. Another one that's normally in bad by 9.30 or ten,lol. Well have a good day everyone, got to get ready Gordon work now. Have a good day

speakingofart

Spendy day on sunday for lunch out (unplanned outing, bad turtle!) and yesterday for petrol - have really noticed the prices decrease though, got a full tank for £34... usually more like £50. NSD today, and hopefully tomorrow.

Groceries £0/£150 15th december till 15th January
SFDs: 4/15
Petrol £34/ 60 15th December till 15th January
Lunch to work: 11/15

thriftylass

Good morning,

been AWOL over the weekend as usual and the budgets are now truly bust. Pub on Friday (gosh that is expensive nowadays) and a visit to Santa on Sat. Won't update my numbers anymore as I lost track but will try damage control. I just find it really hard dealing with unexpected or spontaneous outings etc esp this time of the year. If I didn't have DH or kids it would be so much easier.

Anyway, to cheer me up I'm playing with my spreadsheets today and will make a more sensible budget plan for the whole of 2015 so I always I achieve my financial goals while still having spare cash for the unexpected without feeling guilty for spending it. Will catch up on the weekends posts in my lunch break.

Caeraugirl

Sorry for not posting for a few days, sick house this weekend as both kids had round two of this horrid lurgy - DS1 off school still with horrible chesty cough.

Confession time now. Still on target for food and petrol, but sadly the planned spends budget well and truly blown! Had a panic while counting up presents for kids, realised they'd only have a handful as their main presents have taken up most of the budget. Cue guilt-shop at Ama$on for some extra stocking fillers and games. Every year I get sucked in.....! Also planned a Secret Santa for us so each family member gets something rather than the kids getting for us and each other, but somehow that's come out of my budget too.

Oh well, keep reminding myself that without this challenge I'd be much worse off, as there'd be no restraint at all. Am well and truly finished on present front now though, am refusing to buy anything else, and only food we'll need is fresh stuff and some treats so should hopefully come in under budget for that.

Love the 2015 goals mini challenge Fmess, have some ideas but need to think about them a bit more first. Okay off to check on DS1 before doing some work, catch you all later. Hoping for a SFD today, at least.

thriftylass

Caeraugirl wrote: »

Had a panic while counting up presents for kids, realised they'd only have a handful as their main presents have taken up most of the budget. Cue guilt-shop at Ama$on for some extra stocking fillers and games. Every year I get sucked in.....! Also planned a Secret Santa for us so each family member gets something rather than the kids getting for us and each other, but somehow that's come out of my budget too.

So five presents plus their main, sounds loads to me.:o How old are they? Is that just from you or including other gifts like grandparents? Sorry just curious. DS and DD main present will be a garden house (plastic from Toy$'R'U$) from the german grandparents. DD will also get a wee dolly from us, some books from grandpa and a new nursery backpack from her uncle and that's it. DS will get a cheap kids snowboard and a bin lorry from us plus a footie strip from his other granpa, books from uncle and sweeties and fruit in his stocking. But then mine are only 9mo and nearly 4.

Caeraugirl

thriftylass wrote: »

So five presents plus their main, sounds loads to me.:o How old are they? Is that just from you or including other gifts like grandparents? Sorry just curious. DS and DD main present will be a garden house (plastic from Toy$'R'U$) from the german grandparents. DD will also get a wee dolly from us, some books from grandpa and a new nursery backpack from her uncle and that's it. DS will get a cheap kids snowboard and a bin lorry from us plus a footie strip from his other granpa, books from uncle and sweeties and fruit in his stocking. But then mine are only 9mo and nearly 4.

They're 12 and 10, and although elder not materialistic at all the younger one usually has a list as long as his arm. They had about 8 presents each, ranging from their main present - one has a bike, the other a tablet - to wrapped boxes of chocs, but my mum then decided she wanted me to get them some gifts from her they could open, as well as the money she normally gives them, so three of my purchases for each went to her. She's refunded me for those but then I had guilt that they didn't have much from us. I know they'll have what they wanted and won't care who paid for it, but I felt awful just giving them four parcels so talked myself into getting more. Stupid and unnecessary, I know, and definitely my issue, not theirs. The other factor is that my brother, one of only three others who give them gifts, will also give them money rather than presents, but I have insisted this weekend that the two extra items DS2 thought he'd also like for Christmas came out of his Christmas money as I'd finished buying gifts and felt he had plenty already. Neither "believe" any more, which makes the whole thing a little easier as I explained they wouldn't have a large amount of packages but that they had what they really wanted and that the budget was finite. Should have reminded myself of that pep talk before I hit the Ama$on site...lol!

Phew, sounds like a confession rather than a reply, sorry Thriftylass!