NST December: Frugal festivities

Fmess

Evening all,

So today has been painfully spendy. I went to the chiropractors and they wanted an x-Ray to assess the damage (£60 on top of £47 appointment and assessment fee). The electrician then came and is yet to text me the cost (fingers crossed). I've then bought food to entertain the family tomorrow and the dogs' Christmas presents and I've just given in and bought a takeaway as my shoulder pain has spread to my neck and is agonising, plus my throat infection appears to be back

And guess what I forgot dolly?! Echinacea!

mothernerd

Today I am grateful for a visit from DS1 (decluttered 4 parcels plus a load of packaging) for DS3 helping take apart some L shaped bed bits so they are shelf shaped planks (he still can't work out how he got roped in but was nearly finished by the time he started to wonder) and for being mostly safe inside from the weather.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd's lovely dance teacher spending time chatting with her when we arrived, for clean bed linen, for a wonderful shower, for dh cooking lunch, for having more than enough.

Bobarella

Hi all
Today I am grateful for
1. Having a nice afternoon decorating the tree and lounge.
2. You2ube, which I used to listen to Twas the night before Christmas with my son, the fact it was read by D i ck Van Dyck bonus MSE won't let me type the poor man's name without !!! Ing it if I type it fully
3. A friend buying me a coffee out.

So at almost the halfway point of the month I am pleased with my progress. Have paid off £300 this month so far. Managing to keep spends low on shopping and discretionary spends.

Dolly - well done on standing up for your values. It is so hard in situations like that to know what to do.
I was on the bus the other night with the buggy and my son. Another mum got on with a small child and her buggy. On her buggy was a Christmas tree. She was struggling to get it into the allocated buggy space and juggle her child. There was an oldish man sat in one of the priority seats with an empty seat next to him. He said to the woman to come and sit down as she deserved it. Anyway she did after saying no several times. Then he asked if he could have a cuddle with the child (a girl) the child did go to him. But started wriggling pretty quickly and went back to her mum. I felt incredibly uncomfortable and could tell the woman did too. He seemed a sweet man but seriously who in this day and age thinks that is appropriate behaviour for a stranger???

crazy_cat_lady

Today I have been very grateful for
feeling almost human again
surprise gifts from thoughtful friends
B M bargains saving me a fortune again.
It wasn't a nsd, but I came in at less than £20, which includes a top up shop for the week ahead.

The_Only_Girl

Hello turtles, just dropping in to say a quick hello and I miss you all. Due to my repetitive non posting and disappearances followed by my numerous apologies during the last few months, I decided to bow out of this month's challenge. It's the classic "it's-not-you-it's-me" syndrome. It feels so odd not being in the forum. It makes me feel like I am on a slippery slope. I have noticed a few bad habits resurfacing in our household so I am hoping to nip them in the bud before they lead us back to debt. I am also feeling a little bit down recently - it's like nothing appeals to me much apart from my latest obsession with sewing (I have made 4 tops so far, which is not bad after 10 weeks of beginners sewing classes). Hoping all these downers will be out of my way by the time I rejoin the turtles again, hopefully in January.

Wishing you all lots and lots of NsD's, PAD's, wombles etc. happy holidays everyone!

traveller

The_Only_Girl wrote: »

Hello turtles, just dropping in to say a quick hello and I miss you all. Due to my repetitive non posting and disappearances followed by my numerous apologies during the last few months, I decided to bow out of this month's challenge. It's the classic "it's-not-you-it's-me" syndrome. It feels so odd not being in the forum. It makes me feel like I am on a slippery slope. I have noticed a few bad habits resurfacing in our household so I am hoping to nip them in the bud before they lead us back to debt. I am also feeling a little bit down recently - it's like nothing appeals to me much apart from my latest obsession with sewing (I have made 4 tops so far, which is not bad after 10 weeks of beginners sewing classes). Hoping all these downers will be out of my way by the time I rejoin the turtles again, hopefully in January.

Wishing you all lots and lots of NsD's, PAD's, wombles etc. happy holidays everyone!

TOG-I could have written this! I feel really off and can't put my finger on it-but please don't officially bow out! Everyone knows life happens and welcomes us all back when we can face it-well i hope so anyway :rotfl: The fact that you are able to focus on your sewing is a positive step-you at least can focus on something and i remember sewing being so rewarding because your accomplishing something :T

Lately i've been feeling continously mentally and physically tired I really don't know why. Not helped y the fact DD wants a sit down dinner for her birthday today with the whole family including my ex and his mum. I really can't stand the woman and only found out last night she's coming. Deciding life is too short to be miserable, I've bowed out and daughter is angry with me. The woman is vile, but only to me, so everyone thinks I'm imagining it :mad:

Bob, i found that bus situation very uncomfortable reading as unfortunately from experience i know that it's the 'sweet' people that can cause most harm

Well, in the spirit of chrimbo, this month is all about damage limitation and sourcing things as cheap as possible.

I hope all of our ill turtles are feeling better, please look after yourselves
Things I'm grateful for today, a safe warm home, discovering Luther and a tidy house for once as i spent the day cleaning yesterday

Enjoy your Sunday everyone :T

The_Only_Girl

Hi traveller thanks for your kind words. I will keep popping in every now and then and rejoin in January. I feel for your sentiments about your daughter's birthday meal and the other guests. Being forced to be in a social circle you really can't stand is hard. This another one of my faults. I can grin and bear it and be amenable, hold it in because I don't want to make people unhappy, until I am about to explode. I feel like I have a few fuses about to explode at the present. But as you said, in the spirit of the season, it's damage limitation. Life is too short to be miserable.

I agree with traveller about the bus situation Bob. Very odd man.

crazy_cat_lady

Morning all
Normal service should be resumed today after a mega lie in until 9.15. I can only think that I must have really needed it. Still snotty but nowhere near like I was last week.
Today will consist mainly of catching up on all of the things I should have done over the past 7 days and haven't. Including finding a small parcel that was delivered on Tuesday last week and I can't find ANYWHERE...
TOG/traveller - I honestly believe that this time of year is just exhausting full stop. Combination of dark nights and mornings, rubbish weather, the pressure of Christmas etc. Be kind to yourself as well - one thing at a time.
Have a good day all!
PS Bob - there's no way on Earth a total stranger would get their hands on my kids like that. I'm way too rude - I'd have just said no.

traveller

TOG-Glad you will keep popping in I too have tolerated too many awkward gatherings and grinned and bared, which is why it's not going too well I won't today! I feel just too tired of it all and I will not allow any energy I do have to be wasted with her,lol. I'm trying to fight my way back to normal - i'll need to be attached to a drip of Vodka just to stay sane if I go and I don't even drink :rotfl: