NST December: Frugal festivities

chocolatelover93

Not a NSD for me today, it's my brothers birthday so we're off to see him tonight. I couldn't get my shift changed at work so I'm finishing at 8 and straight over to mums so got to pick up some dinner on the way.

Bob - :rotfl: your son on the quiz made me giggle!! Sort of thing I would do!! haha

TOG - Hope you're ok, some people just can't drive I've had lorries do that to me here too and it's so scary

GSR - So sorry to hear that, I hope you're feeling ok, sending hugs your way.

Today I am grateful for:
1. Finding two winning scratch cards in my purse that hubby gave me (used them to buy a YS loaf of bread and then afterwards realized I was charged too much :mad::mad: no receipt though so can't take back - but at least it was free - in a way haha)
2. Cuddles with my cat this morning
3. Wrapped up all Xmas presents and sent all the cards so I can officially say I'VE FINISHED now just waiting for "the big day" haha

Fmess

Hugs everyone, just wanted to say please don't bow out, even if you have no SFDs or are spending on the credit card like me or can't post everyday. Just so you best, don't stress and let's lean on each other for support and keep 'talking'.

Big hugs

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I've been run off my feet, feeling really run down and have a horrible stye under my eye. But I'm absolutely loving my new job. I have 1 day left in the old place so things will get much easier once that is out of the way.

I've lost track of NSDs but have managed quite a few as I've simply been too busy to shop!

Have started my budget planning spreadsheet for next year and am aiming to pay off all of my debt in 2016. This includes my spending credit card, which had crept up due to using it for things like insurances, and nearly £3000 on another credit card. I think this should be manageable.

mothernerd

Hugs to everyone who is struggling.

Spent money today - Hospice shop men arrived at 12.30pm (I had been told 1.30pm to 4pm) so had to do the run, hop on a bus thing again. Then they decided my items were not good enough for their shop. Walked back for the exercise (had planned to take the dolly truck and bring a load back) and had to rest part way. Feeling old, useless and unwanted - may dye my hair red if I can find the energy.

My Christmas money finally arrived and there is enough to cover the food bill for this month and my clothes spending for the year so I have adjusted my figures. Probably should add to the emergency fund but I am going to advance pay a couple of bills, pay for something from the 'extras' list and save some for if I have to hire a skip. If I can't give away the 'best' stuff from the shed, may need the skip and a 'help yourself to anything you can use' notice.

Today I am grateful for alarm clocks, for books (need to escape atm) and to DS3 for giving me some of his pizza.

Bobarella

dolly84 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:What was Q2?

Lord I didn't stick around on there long enough to find out

The_Only_Girl wrote: »

:rotfl: Oh Bob. You must have turned fifty shades of red!

Well let's just say I may have developed selective deafness at that point:rotfl:

TOG -how scary that must have been. Really glad all turned out ok in the end.

crazy_cat_lady

Hi everyone - I'm also starting to fail miserably at my December challenge - in terms of SFD's. I have been caught up in the 'little bit here and there' shopping. Secret Santa for work. Box of biscuits for lab tech (supply). Petrol. Medication. But no bowing out for me - if I give up completely I'll fall right off track and end up in debt again.
Mental health wise I'm a load better than I was at the beginning of the month. The end is in sight with work and I'm really enjoying time knitting in front of the telly...
So - things I am grateful for today.
The lovely Year 11 students in my form class who are going to run the class quiz tomorrow while I'm out for the afternoon.
Rediscovering my love of knitting as a way of relaxing.
My kids both mucking in and helping round the house tonight so that I could get finished early to spend the evening watching telly and knitting (and being on here).

GSRcat

Seems like it's a crazy month for us all! Decided next month will super frugal! Although hopefully by next week I will have paid off a massive bulk on my CC, THATS why I have been downing all this over time!
Crazy cat lady- glad it's not just me, I was feeling like a massive failure but I've had no choice really with this building work coming to an end.
Mothernerd- you must be shattered with all that tooing and froing you have to do. And you aren't old, useless and unwanted, you are a wise owl on here and you are far from useless and you do some much for those boys of yours, we all love you!
Boberella- that's so funny!
TOG- glad you are ok after your scary experience, how irresponsible of that Lorry driver!
FMess and Traveller- thank you for your kind words, with things like this I go on a mission a bit and want to be perfect, November went so well for me so I was feeling confident and these challenges really really help discipline you and I credit them with teaching me good ways so when things don't go to plan I feel like a massive failure.

Feeling more positive this evening, Headspace has helped this afternoon and I will certainly be making sure I do it more often.
I met up with some friends the other night and one (who is really funny about meat) said she read an article about bacteria in chickens from W@itrose is less than those from other supermarkets, and up until then she had been buying it from Marks and Sparks because according to her it was "better" so when she got home she got the three packs of frozen chicken from the freezer and chucked them!!! I tried to explain that poultry generally had certain levels of bacteria present regardless and maybe she should consider not eating it if she is that concerned but she said "but I like it" honestly I just don't understand this? It's unacceptable, mind you family of hers moved to a brand new house and decided to pull out the brand new kitchen cos they "didn't like it" so it's no wonder really. Sorry for the rant but that annoyed me cos I hate waste!

misstara

Evening all

GSR you're certainly not a failure, December is always a difficult month for trying to be frugal. Hugs to you and anyone else who's struggling.

I'm also not doing particularly well on NSDs, have managed a grand total of 5 so far. Today has been a super spendy day - bought a suitcase and spent far more than I intended to on christmas gifts, however, that's them all bought now and have spent this evening wrapping.

My three things today are
- having a lovely evening with OH
- christmas shopping done
- one day of work left before 6 days off

chocolatelover93

Morning everyone

Quite tired over here, took me a while to get to sleep last night. It seems my brain doesn't like to work during the day but at night I come up with random ideas!!

Motherned - it annoys me that charity shops do that surely they should be grateful for the donation!! We have one round here that was really cheap and prices you would expect from a CS. Now they've got too big for their boots and hiked them right up!! I know it all goes to charity but I've seen them charge over £500 for a chair!!

My three things I am grateful for today:
1. Spending time with my family last night, we had a giggle and my brother had a good birthday
2. After today I have two whole days off work :j:j
3. My cats providing me with some entertainment this morning (even if it meant I didn't have a chance to put make up on and was a couple of mins late to work ). They've started going out the bathroom window (I had to show them they can get out that way) however as cat logic suggests they cannot get in the same way. Even with treats. So they just sit there and meow as if I'm the cruelest person in the world!! They do make me giggle!!

The_Only_Girl

One Christmas present done! I made a tote bag for my friend using a fabric from my stash. It's a curtain fabric that I brought from the carboot last year for only £1.50. Very nice quality and it could probably make at least 5 bags. I live the saying "necessity is the mother of all invention." The desire to stay frugal this Christmas is what pushes me learn to make things that I have never done before. I've started on a pillow case dress for my niece, which I'll finish today then four more bags to go and followed by an apron requested by my niece. I'll keep you posted as to what I'll be making next.