NST December: Frugal festivities

Bipex

Hi to everyone!

Sorry, I did not post as conscienciously as I had hoped for the November event, but I do want to make clear how many useful posts I read there(many thanks to apple for hosting) and here. Some great tips and helpful advice, essential to maintenance of a positive mental attitude, which helps enormously.

Update so far on objectives:-
Tight budgets set and being stuck to for everything.
Exploring a change to my savings account, which is virtually empty as it attracts only 0.1%. Standing order will be set up for a modest amount when I have a new account, so that this is done automatically.
Only managed about 10 NSD last month, but hope to do better in Dec. On target so far (9/18).
Lunch costs significantly reduced since shopping at budget supermarkets.
I especially approve of the next objective for this month, as I volunteer with a mental health charity.
Goal for next year: I'm looking to change my phone/broadband package in the new year, which should save over £200 in 12 months. If you have not already done so, it is well worth exploring your options, assuming you have such services. There are some good packages available and do also consider reviewing annually to achieve consistent savings year on year.

I'm grateful for:-
staying out of debt (100% debt free atm)
good friends
MSE contributors

Best wishes and good luck to all! ����

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd having a lovely playdate friend over, for experimenting with knitting with massive needles, for successfully replanting some hyacinths, for hardly having to wait at all for today's 4 buses, for a lovely - albeit brief - chat with my friend on the till at aldee.

Bobarella

Hi All

I've just finished making jambalaya for dinner and very nice it is too. I'd made a rice meal earlier in the week so I used that all up in the new dish plus added home made stock, passata and chicken which I picked from a carcass, chorizo and prawns.

I've meal planned for the weekend to use up other leftovers. Fish pie will be one main meal and carrot soup another as I bought a whole bag for 1p the other night.

The investment account we've set up for DD came with a £10 free amazon voucher with it which arrived today and will be used for xmas presents.

This weekend I've got to get the cake marzipanned and iced. It smells delicious all rummy and gorgeous have a jar of mincemeat open in the fridge that needs using too so mincepies will be made tommorow too. So its a food use it up weekend.

Dolly - I'm sorry you had to miss the concert.

Calling - yes I did watch that programme through horrified fingers. It's not the amount they spent but the sheer lack of meal planning. I felt really sorry for them not knowing how to use their leftovers properly and it makes me realise how glad I am to understand food economics a bit better than the average bear

Bob

The_Only_Girl

Hi all, I watched the Eat Well for Less programme last night too and was also horrified at the extravagance and unnecessary wastage the feature family was doing. How can you not know you are spending £1400 for Christmas? Am I right in thinking that was just for food and entertainment? I can't even begin to imagine how much they spend on presents. It kind of reminded me of my past self before I learned how to make, stick to and monitor a written budget, although not at such a scale. But been there, done that, I've got my wreck of a credit score to prove it. It also makes me so grateful I have realised where that dangerous path was leading me and my family and I have learnt from such mistakes and hopefully we're on the way to a complete turn around. I am also grateful to be around like-minded people and me and my family are not one-offs.

I am also grateful that there are lots of fellow crafters in this thread who understand what it means to have twitchy hands when away from the sewing machine/crafts table. This afternoon I went to meet some of the ladies from work for our Christmas lunch and the revelation of our secret Santas. My secret Santa gave me a sewing box, which I so looooove. Am I that obvious? From the Christmas lunch I went straight to the fabric shop to top up my stash. Oh dear. Help I'm on a slippery slope. I've been given an ultimatum. No sewing this evening, hence the twitching hands.

Hubby had a sudden craving for red meat so he dragged me to the meat wholesalers and bought the whole month's stock of meat. Spent £46 but it's not too bad considering the amount of beef we bought. I cant imagine what our cholesterol and Uric acid levels will be like after a month. It's Christmas everybody's blood tests will be abnormal.

Sorry for this long post. Have a great weekend everyone!

chocolatelover93

Evening everyone
Not had a chance to read though again today been another busy one
Just nipped in to post my three grateful things:
1. Having a day off
2. Getting all Xmas good sorted
3. Having a nice lay in this morning (I got up at 11.25am!!)

mothernerd

My 'tree' is up (it's a willow pyramid meant for growing peas up but it works). had to move two chairs and a drawer, get DS3 to read the meters, sweep out the corner, put a small round table in the empty space and put willow tree up. Decorated it later on. Things are slowly improving - spent most of the morning just carrying things up and down stairs. Have had the heating on and cleared some of the backlog of wet washing.

Not spent any money today.

Today I am grateful for a visit from DS2 and updates on his, mine and mum's health (he had been to the infirmary and was going back, 5 different blood tests - further investigations into one of his long term conditions), for libraries and books (a rucksack full of fresh ones) and for using up what we have (as fridge and freezer are both nearly full I am trying to keep all the fresh veg in good condition, I have a raft of recipes to try when I have space to put them).

Fmess

Evening all,

Spendy day as had my first chiropractic treatment after the £108.50 consultation and assessment session last Saturday. However, needs must at the moment and I do feel better but achey tonight. Next appointment on Monday.

Today I am grateful for:-
1.) my lovely secret Santa present
2.) finishing work for the holidays
3.) my chiropractor

dolly84

Morning guys.

DH is working today so me and the kids are staying at home this morning and will get some cleaning jobs done, then after lunch we will nip into our little town and just have a wander, the town is small enough for me to let the kids go off on their own for a bit which they love. No plans to buy anything really going more to see the lights and get out for a bit.

Bipex

Morning all.

Misstara: sorry, my first post should have been to ask to join. Is it too late? I will try and achieve the objectives anyway.

Grateful for:-
A good night's sleep
Mild weather saving me money on heating bill
Posts on MSE that make me laugh out loud

misstara

Bipex of course the more the merrier

Had a lovely evening last night with my friend and didn't spend much, there was so much chatting and laughing that we hardly drank anything.

My three things for today are
- my mum making gf scones for mid morning coffee
- my sister will be back any minute so the whole family will be together
- it's not raining so will be able to go out for a walk this afternoon