Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

jwil wrote: »

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas :xmastree::xmastree::xmastree:

Thanks Jwil .

Sun_Addict wrote: »

I'm like you HH, I get restless very easily so I'm not one for watching much TV. I'd rather read a book with the radio in the background. It's killing me being unable to do much at the moment, I can't wait for this cast to come off, still got another 5 weeks to go.

I really feel for you SA. I hate not being able to get out and about and do things, it's so frustrating. The only advantage is that you have time to do lots of planning, reading and stuff like that. Small compensation though when you'd rather be active.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've had a successful shopping trip to town :T. I met stepdad for coffee and had a chat. Then I picked up presents in the sale for two relatives I still hadn't bought for :money: got the rest of DS3's present :T bought myself a new mascara, then bought myself something to eat for Christmas lunch, satsumas and some chocolate fingers. It felt a bit spendy but it was all necessary stuff.

It was like Armageddon in town it was so busy :eek: so I was glad to come home. I took a short cut through MnS food hall and that was an error in jugement because it was rammed in there with mile long queues :eek: (of mainly elderly people, they're the only ones who can afford to shop there ). The bus was standing room only too. But people were quite good natured considering the mayhem around them.

I've walked 10,139 steps so far and the day's not over yet :j. The soles of my feet feel a bit sore though, so I'm thinking of buying some gel insoles to cushion them. As you get older the fat on the soles of your feet gets thinner and I can really notice now I'm in my fifties that I can't wear thin leather sandals any more, but need padded insoles in my shoes.

I've put five pairs of jeans on to wash and after that I need to put on yet another tee shirt wash because DH has been stockpiling them at the end of our bed instead of putting them in the laundry basket :mad:. After that I'll have to see if I've got any energy left to do anything else.

I hope everyone is having a good day :xmassmile.

foxgloves

That's a productive day, HHoD. Re being active, I'm like you too, in that I am not very good at sitting watching TV in the day. If I switch it on, it is only to make me stop & have a proper lunch break. I will watch one episode of whatever it is, then I am back up & about cracking on with things. And I can't have the TV on just for background. If I am not watching it in an engaged manner, then it goes off. I like dramas, esp complicated crime ones & documentaries but I don't watch any soaps, reality TV, people dancing, singing contests or that kind of thing.....except 'Bake- Off', of course.
I know what you mean about the queues in M&S. It is too expensive for us to shop there apart from the occasional
one-off thing I want to buy. My Mum used to like doing her food shopping there. Partly because she didn't have to worry too much about her budget, but I think mainly it was because she was getting elderly & the M&S food hall was so much smaller & more manageable for her than a big supermarket superstore. I noticed than when we used to take her to a big Sainso's for a change, & because she sometimes liked to look at the clothes there, she would be worn out by the time she got to the tills & would need a sit-down.
Anyway, have a lovely Christmas & I hope you will get waited on at least a little bit!
F x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks Foxgloves . We have similar tastes in tv. I like scandi crime thrillers, or any psychological crime thrillers and documentaries. DH and I like history documentaries, art documentaries, Countryfile, The Repair Shop and that type of thing (plus films of course). Nothing else really holds my attention and I only put the telly on if I actually want to watch something. Unlike DH who likes it on as background noise; I've learnt to screen it out over the years but if I'm home alone I enjoy a bit of silence.

My Mum used to get tired tired walking around supermarkets and she liked shopping in MnS too, although stepdad used to complain about the expense of it, but he's frugal by nature and Mum could afford to shop there and it gave her a lot of pleasure.

DH likes to cook on Christmas day so I let him get on with it, but I'll help to peel the spuds, carrots, etc, and to clear up after him. I expect I'll have a lazy day on Boxing Day when we go to Stepdad's house for lunch.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've now put all of DH's tee shirts on to wash and put the jeans to dry. I've also emptied the kitchen bins. Now I just need to shower and cook. Then I can relax with a Christmas film :xmassmile. We've been watching Jack Frost, now that's an odd film! :snow_laug

DH had to take DS3 to the dentist this morning. He paid £20 for the check up, but I pointed out that as DS3 is a full time student it should have been free on the NHS :mad:. So DH is going to try and claim the money back! Luckily he doesn't need any work doing so he won't have to go back for six months.

Sun_Addict

I watched Jack Frost the other day, it is a bit odd. My favourite is Love Actually, never tire of it.

My mum was a huge fan of M&S food, I used to moan at her for buying mashed potato ready made :rotfl:

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict wrote: »

I watched Jack Frost the other day, it is a bit odd. My favourite is Love Actually, never tire of it.

My mum was a huge fan of M&S food, I used to moan at her for buying mashed potato ready made :rotfl:

I like Love Actually too . My favourite bits are when Colin Firth and his love interest talk at cross purposes in different languages, especially when they dive in the pond to get his manuscript :rotfl: and when Hugh Grant dances through No 10 to the Pointer Sisters :rotfl: (it helps that I massively fancy them both )

Willowtree222

I love White Christmas. It is definitely my go to Christmas film.

I braved Mr T today. I think I timed it right because as I was leaving I saw the mayhem start to unfold!

x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak wrote: »

I love White Christmas. It is definitely my go to Christmas film.

I braved Mr T today. I think I timed it right because as I was leaving I saw the mayhem start to unfold!

x

I like White Christmas too, we saw that a few days ago and enjoyed it .

Well done on surviving a trip to Mr T, it's not a pretty sight by lunchtime when it's heaving with manic shoppers :eek:.

Willowtree222

I live right near a massive one and even drive a mile out of my way to avoid going past it at this time of year. I am so glad that I decided to do that again this year.

I got into the queue quite ok, but when I looked up they were down the aisles. x