2015 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

well done Alji, I do not KNOW what I will be doing but would go to either my daughter - as usual - or my son - always last minute. I will of course go to see both families on the day - God willing. Have bought all pressies now and started wrapping, as a lot were via Amazon I have lots of brown paper and have been told that it is a trendy way of wrapping so frugal here we come. Printed labels off web onto sticky sheets, some on silver paper which I recd for free from sticky label company a couple of years ago. Fairly sorted now.

alja

Yes, I have used brown paper for presents this year. Wrapped them up and tied them using twine-like string. I also used brown luggage tags to add to it and popped a little note on each tag with a little clue to the present inside. I quite enjoyed wrapping them up


I went Christmas shopping last night as I finally received some m+s vouchers I was owed (after buying broadband). So I got them loaded onto a card and started to use some of that money for presents. I've also exchanged some vouchers for the Mr T boost, so I've got £60 to spend on presents and clothes etc in there too it'll definitely be of help for me whilst I'm really watching my money at the moment.

sistercas

I saw a nice idea for Xmas tags and that was using a photo of the recipient as a tag . I might have a go and see how it looks

[Deleted User]

I love a list too - recently started using a Bullet Journal which allows me to have a totally flexible HM diary using any notebook. I love it - I have separate sections for money, family photos, gift planner as well as current month, daily bullets etc.

For Christmas this year I am planning a very simple day. Head down to Sister's in the morning to see my 2 nieces open their gifts/have breakfast. Then home for a relaxing day - walk at local country park and meal for me and OH which will be steak pie or similar as I don't like turkey. First time since moving into this house in 1998 that we have had dinner at home so looking forward to it. Will be visiting parents on Christmas eve. This of course is all theoretical. BIL will probably gate-crash us in the afternoon as he is on his own with 2 girls since my sister is working before he heads up to grandparents house for dinner.

his_missus

Ooh Christmas plans...I think we've been invited out to SIL's for Xmas Lunch although she hasn't actually mentioned it to us, only MIL has. Then again we do often feel like we're an after thought with her, she'll probably drop us an invite on Xmas eve


I do intend to stick to a budget for Christmas this year, not overspend on gifts or food and drink and try to use, wherever possible, vouchers I've earned from surveys etc.


In other news, we've finally succumbed and set the central heating as we hit our 16C point yesterday despite the forecast saying was going to be a mild evening.


Also, I'm definitely getting to grips with a spending diary come the New Year. We want to save at least £600 a month and, whilst it's doable, it does mean keeping a firm grip of the purse strings and not losing focus.

Kerry_Woman

My Mum and I usually go to my Sister's for either Christmas Day or Boxing Day. If plans fall through this year, we are just planning a quiet time in the flat. My Brother and family usually pop down from Somerset after Boxing Day to see the family. Have not heard anything as yet. My Mum and I have discussed what we will doing, but am not going to get stressed. Weather permitting we will go to Church Christmas Day morning.

cw18

I try and have as simple a day as possible on 25th, then go and visit DD, GDs and parents somewhere from 26th to 29th. That way the 4 youngsters get a second Christmas (and presents spread out a bit), and I can combine the trip with my Dad's birthday (28th).

Last year DS2 came to stay for a few days after Christmas so he could join me (and DS1) on the trip (think he came up 27th and went home 30th), but I don't know what his plans are this year - and the bank holidays may make it tricky as he has to use public transport. 26th is the official Boxing Day (so I expect it to be restricted - and it looks like I'm going to be in work), 27th is a Sunday (never good), Monday 28th is the Boxing Day Bank Holiday (will there be any public transport?), and then both DS1 and I are in work for the rest of the week. The last few years DS1 has been at work on 24th, 25th and 26th (he opted to work Christmas so he could have New Year off), but has since changed jobs and I'd be very surprised if he was expected to work 25th - but will probably be in on 28th which rules out doing the visit to family that day.

So it looks like visiting will have to be done on 27th, which means that if DS2 wants to come with us he'll probably have to come back on 24th (at latest). And if that's the case I'll be cooking for 3 on the day, but it's more likely to be sausagemeat and chips than turkey and all the trimmings - less work for me, and eaten more happily by the boys

My OH spends 25th at his sister's with her, her OH, their Mum, his niece and possibly one or both of his nephews for at least part of the day (one may go to GF's parents, and the other may go to in-laws with OH's great-niece). Then on Boxing Day he takes him Mum to a family gathering at one of her sister's and spends the day there. So if I go visiting family on 27th I'm not likely to see him at all that weekend But I'm likely to get a longer than normal weekend with him the following weekend (evening of New Years Eve until the Sunday lunchtime, so almost 3 days instead of the normal 20 hours I'd get that weekend )

alja

I managed to have a great Christmas present shop today and made use of loyalty cards and vouchers etc that I had put aside. It really does make the difference! I've even started to wrap a few bits to stay organised.
I popped to Mr T earlier today and found a few dented tins of soup on the clearance shelf, dents don't bother me! So got a few bargain soups to stock up the cupboards with
This week I'm going to make a conscious effort to make sure I take lunches into work. I've been so busy lately that I've been a little bit slack.
I'm also changing my next crazy savings goal from £90k down to £50k. Still probably unattainable (well I know it is), but one can try I guess? I'd need at least that to buy my dream *next* home it seems...so worth a shot to see where I can get to!

sistercas

alja wrote: »

I managed to have a great Christmas present shop today and made use of loyalty cards and vouchers etc that I had put aside. It really does make the difference! I've even started to wrap a few bits to stay organised.
I popped to Mr T earlier today and found a few dented tins of soup on the clearance shelf, dents don't bother me! So got a few bargain soups to stock up the cupboards with
This week I'm going to make a conscious effort to make sure I take lunches into work. I've been so busy lately that I've been a little bit slack.
I'm also changing my next crazy savings goal from £90k down to £50k. Still probably unattainable (well I know it is), but one can try I guess? I'd need at least that to buy my dream *next* home it seems...so worth a shot to see where I can get to!

Good luck with your savings goal x

I think loyalty cards are great, they can make all the difference , I tend to save my b00ts points that I earn around this period buying Xmas gifts and use them throughout the rest of the year for bits of makeup or toiletries . Same with supermarket points I save them throughout the year And use them towards the Xmas food shop :T


I'm reading Dave Ramsey's Total money makeover at the moment , it's a very interesting read, I'm only half way through but he has got me thinking exactly what I'm doing with my money and its concentrating my efforts to become debt free asap . That is my goal for early 2016 , then I'm moving onto emergency funds and savings

I've always been frugal with food and avoid wasting food as much as possible , it's been great to see Hugh's war on waste highlighting this and it has deepened my resolve to continue in this way even more

Wombatchops

Good luck alja and sistercas. I watched Hugh's show and signed his letter too. I'm trying my best to be mindful of what I use.

As for savings, the mister and I have to-ed and fro-ed on this, but it seems we are now settling on extending our house to turn it into a four bed, rather than move, so to get things started we are looking to save £50k in five years. :eek: Forget tall order, it's an enormous order, but I'm hoping you lovely people on this thread will keep me on the straight and narrow.