NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

CoffeeandStitches

And lots of love to calling, too. Who you seeing?

In fact - just love to everyone today. I think it's much needed. x

liltdiddylilt

Calling I do not know what to say. It hits really close to home with what mum is going through at the minute. I am so so sorry for you, and your friend & their family. How life can turn on its head in the blink of an eye... Take care of yourself, and enjoy things like the carol service (sounds hilarious!!) and hugs from grandson.

Stewby big hugs to you. Next year is another year; have you thought about returning the stuff you have bought now that you have got the splurge out of your system? Just a thought and feel free to disregard it but it might make you feel happier returning it and getting your money back than buying it did in the first place. Be gentle with yourself and hope OH's mum bounces back!

Today was supposed to be a SFD. Best laid plans and all that. Him invited his mum and dad for inpromptu dinner tomorrow. *I'll cook it!* he says. But now he is out tonight, Jelly is in bed at 6pm, I am home from work at 20 to 6, and he will not go out this afternoon to pick up the ham, sweet potato etc that will need cooking. I have somehow got to be in 2 places at once, work/home with Jelly & shopping, then cooking the ham etc instead of having a relaxing evening. He is a lazy plonker. I offered the money for the food, but he doesn't want to leave the house. Too much like hard work. My answer would be don't invite your parents when I am winding down the fridge/freezer and cupboards ready for the Christmas shop! Fuming a bit. I don't mind him going out. I don't even mind him inviting his parents, it will be a nice evening when I get home. But him doing the inviting them miraculously disappearing on the work involved is so typical I could thump him.

So, if I manage to get to the supermarket then I will not have a SFD. Also blows the groceries budget even more as I am not taking this out of my Christmas budget!

Hugs all. Back later to tell YNAB and have a hopefully pleasant evening eventually.

liltdiddylilt

Has everyone gone to a Christmas party I don't know about.....? Helloooooooooooooooooooo?!?!

I am confessing to YNAB. I've broken it. So much red :rotfl:

apple_muncher

No party here - sat with dd as she tries to sleep! And I'll be in bed myself by 9.30 - and that's REALLY late for me!

Fmess

I was just thinking the same lilt

Hugs to stewby and calling. I think lilt's idea of taking the items back us a good one stewby, and then you have the satisfaction of buying but don't lose any money. Calling i love the sound of that carol service! I would loved to have gone to that.

Loveadove and stewby well done on your donations and good deeds.

Lilt men!

Today is SFD number 10 and LTW number 12 Feeling rather pleased atm although not sure why as I've put lots on the credit card, and all money pots are all over the place. Tomorrow is OH's payday so I will sort a few things out tomorrow.

mothernerd

My turn to have a bad day, though nothing compared to what others are going through. Hugs for everyone.

Tried to get out of the SM run by attempting another online order (at 4am this morning). Went through checkout and got sent back because one of my vouchers expired in November. Went through again, including more security checks and then it just said the order was not successful.

Tired, stressed, in pain. Mail came - appointments to make, unwanted (and patronising) card from the ex and a letter from the cc fraud department asking me to get in touch or card may be blocked. Gathered all my stuff, dragged chair from kitchen to front room. Got through on third attempt - needed info on the statement. So stop, hobble upstairs for statement, back down, dial again - different questions, didn't need statement. Updated all details.

Repeat for other card (before last night's failed transaction becomes an issue) - sorted. Appointment made.

Reminded DS3 about going to SM. Why can't I order on-line if I have sorted problems with card - have already spent several hours last week and this trying and failing. He doesn't see how I can get round SM - he wanted to go this afternoon when I needed to rest before the viewing. Think we are not speaking - he is asleep again.

Viewing went better than I expected but bin had not been emptied. Taxis both ways so £4.80 on travel budget. Very hungry when I got back at 10 to 7 (was too early to eat before I went) so went to chip shop.

Have just tried to order (thought my order might still be there,happened before when old computer kept failing) can't log into web-site (deleted the gateway e-mail when I was cross). Decide to try Morries (new customer). It decided I already had an account but was giving it the wrong password/postcode (why do computers always think they know better than you). Phoned customer services, as suggested - they don't deliver in this area yet. So if DS3 wakes before I go to sleep, we are going to the SM. Lack of fresh fruit and veg is probably not helping my mood - DS3 says I am grumpy with him, when other people have upset me (actually said he wanted me to treat him like I did the phone people).

So today I am grateful for my bed, for peace and quiet and that I won't be cleaning a pub on Saturday morning.

liltdiddylilt

£109.52 on groceries. Not nearly as bad as feared. Still a busted budget but damage limitation approved for further use this week. :rotfl:

Him went to supermarket. *falls off chair* bought unwanted carp and not the stuff I need to provide his parents with dinner. Need to go myself tomorrow. This has caused mild ructions. Ham is cooked and resting now before a quick swish of honey & mustard & 10 minutes in the oven to finish it off.

Have had to extend Christmas gift budget by £30 to account for forgotten pyjamas for everyone under my roof Christmas Eve. Traditions must be kept even when you don't budget them.

SFD 10/18
Groceries £109/£100
Christmas gifts: £24.16 over agreed budget
Christmas food: £21.60/£100
Donations £15/£5
LTW: Still every day completed (today was brown bread and butter )
Exercise. Only missed 4 miles, not bad!
Good deed: Does not throttling Him count? It took much effort and many saintly thoughts.

Hugs all. Mothernerd you must also have the patience of a saint.

nannygladys

Lilt I know this may seem to be a daft question but as a non meat eater who is feeding meat eaters at Xmas I have bought a small ham joint that I want to cook and now I'm just getting confused, some say boil it and some say roast it, then others say you first boil and then roast, so how have you cooked yours please? I really need advice from someone who has done it, and then I read your post and my prayers seem to have been answered so to speak.

Thanks
Nannyg

speakingofart

Spendy day yesterday as I thought, work night out was fantastic - I love my team so much and we ate obscene amounts of really good indian food, so the £20 was well worth it! Last day at work till 2015..... bring it on!

Groceries £30/£150 15th december till 15th January
SFDs: 5/15
Petrol £34/ 60 15th December till 15th January
Lunch to work: 14/15

sazzlebgood

stewbyi hit the shop like you as i needed cheering up yesterday too as DD2 knee is really painful and had to phone physio. Looking back i realise i was blaming my self for her pain as i'm the one who does the physio exercises with her. Physio reassured me once she arrived that it wasn't too bad and its probably due to her recent op and using muscles in her legs she's not used before. The clothes were half price and needed;)
Went out with friend last night for our christmas tea, really nice meal except it repeated on me all night so really tired.
10 x 2 litres of Reduced milk, bag of reduced potaoes and 5 reduced cauliflowers bourght yesterday.:T OH having to use his dry stone walling skills to get it all in the freezer LOL. Going to run down the freezers and cupboards over the christmas holidays. If i take the kids shopping i end up coming away with loads of junk food.:rotfl: