NST December: Frugal festivities

dolly84

Welcome Bipex.

Misstara - not raining you say, I've almost forgotten what that must be like.

chocolatelover93

Hello everyone
Caught up with the thread now

Been finding it really hard to get to sleep the last few days been using Headspace/guided mediation/music to help me sleep but nothing seemed to work last night! I finally drifted off about 1ish (I think haha) And was it just me or was it really hot last night?!

Three things I am grateful for today:
1. That I finally got off to sleep last night!
2. Pre-made my lunch last night so not got to buy any at work
3. My manager for leaving me some choccie in the drawer at work

Bobarella

Dolly - it must be so nice to be able to let your children do that. I do think it's important to teach children to trust their own common sense too. So many kids are brought up ferried from doorstep to doorstep and don't have the first clue on navigating their own area.

Fmess - sorry you have had such a big bill and will have that ongoing cost too.

Today has been excellent on the money saving front. Back in november we bought DS a 2nd hand xbox for his birthday. It cost £48 on ebay. When it arrived it had a lot of adult games in the box with 18 rating. Anyway we discovered a shop in our local centre that does dvd and game trades so we packed them all up and took them down today. I was delighted to find that they gave us £30 for the lot which a) means we got the xbox for £18 effectively and b) means we just got 3 games and a dvd my son had on his xmas list for nothing today. Plus £1.33 credit in store for next time. Amazing result!

Whilst there I popped into the £shop and found a box of 6 eggs for 50p (free range) 6 walkers crisps marked down to 75p, ham, pork pies and mince pies all for just £4.25

Paid £10 into each of the kids savings accounts and found my son's had £15 added on in interest.

I then found 2p on my walk home.

Got back to find a lovely friends mum had sent £30 for the children for Christmas so will cash the cheque and split it between them after Christmas now..

Have processed a load of reciepts today on Clicksnap and shoptize and am about to go and get my wombled points added on as another get us out of the house trip. It's that time of day where the light starts to go and if we don't make a break for it will make a long day.

Still on today's list, icing Christmas cake and making own mince pies.

Bob

dolly84

Wow Bob what a result with the games.

chocolatelover - it was very warm last night, it's warm here today 17 degrees ish, we haven't had the heat on for 2 days which is fab at this time of year.

The kids enjoyed their shopping trip, DS bought a ping pong game in a CS (they love CS shopping) DD got some Christmas presents for me and DH and they both took the opportunity to drink fizzy pop - whilst the cats away.....

My Mum always gives me money to buy our dog something for Christmas and I went to Wilkinsons to get it all today, she gave me £20 (lucky pooch) and I spent £19.10, I looked totally crazy with a huge basket full of dog goodies. That little lot will keep him in treats for many months now.

I have managed to get out for a run this afternoon after DH got home.

chocolatelover93

Dolly - Yes, I think I will be turning mine off tonight!! I live in a mid-terrest house and we get the heat from the two houses either side. I'm sure they want it to be like the Bahama's sometimes!! haha
That's nice your dog got an Xmas present I normally get my cats a little something or let them share a tin of tuna if they are really lucky haha

mothernerd

Today I am grateful for books, a warm house and old films (going to go and drool over Cary Grant now).

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the shop having the books we were looking for, for getting dd where she had to be at the right time, for sitting outside in the sunshine and people watching, for getting waves and toots from train drivers, for dd liking the cakes I'd made.

Calling14

Bob great result on yr x box costs.

Feeling really down last night, just dreading xmas day. Hate being on my own come lunchtime. At least last year I had my doggie still around. Can't wait for it to be over. Sad remembering how many friends I have lost this year and family members last year. Anyway had a good blubber and went out for a drive/walk in the country today feel brighter now.

Did spend on 2 coffees throat was so sore.

Made an indoor picnic tonight for my brood/xmas film Jack Frost and Santa was touring the estate made it more fun.

crazy_cat_lady

Hi all
Sorry I've been AWOL for a few days. Real life has well and truly caught up with me and I've fallen off the wagon in spectacular fashion, doing all of the things that I promised myself I wouldn't. To cut a long and boring story short, my husband was admitted to a psychiatric ward this afternoon after being seen by a doctor this morning. He's almost 20 miles away (nearest place with beds) and is going to be there for the foreseeable future. I have been managing my feelings by eating way too much chocolate and not sleeping and being a bit shouty and grumpy. And buying wool to make things left, right and centre.
Anyway, I've lost track a bit of budget and spends for the month but I still have plenty to be grateful for
1. My fantastic kids - resilient as ever
2. My ever understanding friends and family, who are always there for me
3. Being finished with Christmas shopping
4. My dh finally getting the help that he needs (I hope)
5. Rediscovering my love of knitting and crochet
6. My feline companions, who always seem to know when I need them and when I don't

Calling14

Aww crazy cat lady hugs and there is me feeling sorry for myself feel guilty now. Hope he gets help he needs and you have support from yr family.

Forgot to mention have had my heating on, got water coming in through outside wall of the house, needs repointing been trying to dry it out. Now discovered leak in my garage thought as I had a tiled roof wouldn't get water problems. Tomorrow have to reposition bunny only slight drip at moment but rain forecast for days. House is just a drain on finances all the time.