December 2015 Frugal Chatter thread - all welcome!!!

[Andit]

Good morning, everyone.


Got home last night (grateful for a bff who is willing to play chauffeur to us and the other bff who is helping me stay sane despite what's going on with her Dad).


Hope all is well with everyone. Long story short (skip this post if you want to maintain the Xmas cheer that escaped me this year), this Xmas season sucked.


All was well until Xmas Eve. bff's Dad (the one diagnosed - sort of - with maybe cancer, maybe not last spring) fell down the stairs and broke his hip a few days before Xmas, so I went with bff to visit him. He is now convinced he will never walk again and thinks he should just die to not be a burden on the family (surgery went well, he has a great prognosis, and the sort of cancer-type diagnosis no one can agree on might not even affect him for years). Some of it can be attributed to an adverse reaction to the painkillers he was put on following surgery (morphene hallucinations, followed by an allergic reaction to codeine).


At Xmas Eve dinner, my starving beggar child, Quincy cat, didn't beg for treats and decided not to eat his food. Thought maybe he'd just had too many treats of late (he'd plowed into my sandwich the day before), so didn't think anything of it and kept an eye on him. Xmas Day (of course it would be on a holiday when no one is working!), he woke me at 5am, crying pitifully. I spent several hours on the couch with him snuggling up to me, crying in my ear. He refused to eat anything, worse he refused to drink. I spoon-fed him some watered-down cat food most of the day (any more than a spoonful and he'd spit it in my face). $900 worth of vet bills later (x-ray, bloodwork, etc), he's still not eating on his own (I'm now spoon-feeding him broth I made with leftover turkey). On the plus side, according to all test results, I have a perfectly healthy cat. Who seems to have either a sore throat or an upset tummy. Sigh. The bright point of my day was coming back downtown last night and watching him jump up to open the door, his usual routine. I just about cried, I was so happy he had a bit of his old bounce back.


Xmas Day, I was supposed to spend the day with chauffeur bff, but only went over for an hour for dinner cause I didn't want to leave Quincy alone. Turns out I hadn't heard the worst news of Xmas yet. I've been collecting tabs from pop cans for the last few years to raise money for a wheelchair for bff's friend's nephew (not sure how it works, but some charity pays for the specialized wheelchair and uses the tabs to offset costs). I no longer have to collect tabs, since the young gentleman (he was only 11!) died the day before. Then, I find out the neighbour that everyone on the block has been keeping an eye on is in bad shape. With the chaos leading up to Xmas, the usual series of checks had been missed, and she had decided to stop eating or drinking 2 days before. Ambulance carted her off, but it looks like she's had enough of this world. She told the paramedic to be careful not to let her dog out - poor pup has been gone for over 20 years.


Just to top everything off, with all the chaos, I hadn't checked my messages. Turns out a friend of mine, who's been battling cancer on and off for 2 years, suddenly passed away just before Xmas. The funeral was yesterday. I feel awful that I hadn't seen her since early fall - I figured come January, I would make more of an effort to keep in touch with friends. Now it's too late.


Sorry to be so down, I really should be happy. Those who were in pain are no longer suffering. bff's Dad is in a slightly better frame of mind after his granddaughter got annoyed with him that he didn't want to come to her wedding next year (that hit home, thank goodness). I have a healthy dog and a supposedly healthy cat, even if he is not behaving normally. And when I popped into the grocery store on the way home last night, I scored some really good deals on chocolate (went in for a few staples & spent nearly $20 on chocolate - good thing I had a GC to cover the costs). And I suppose that I should be grateful that I don't have an upset tummy, given that I ate my way through a box of Pot of Gold in lieu of dinner last night.


What I am really grateful for are the SCers who have become a wonderful supportive caring family for me. I can't begin to thank everyone for being, well, you. The sun is shining, there is no ice to keep me trapped inside, I have no surgery scheduled (last 2 Xmases were spent recovering), and all in all life is good. Just wish it could be a little easier some days.


Thank you for listening/reading. I really am grateful. Hug your loved ones. Reach out to that friend you've been meaning to contact (I'll be doing that today). And find a reason to be happy (I know it's not always easy to do that, but it's worth the effort).


Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[avoncallingu]

Andit- Major hugs sent your way and tiny little hugs for Quincy! (Ouch for the vet Bill!) I swear our animals read the calendar and say, "Yep, the vet is closed, I can get sick now because she can't take me to that nasty old vet!"

[lizzie bargain]

Oh Andit-so sorry for all your trials through the Xmas season. Hopefully things will get better now.

[Giseledta]

ouch on the vet bills. but they are our babies... I can understand. hugs


trying to figure out my goals for next year . I am thinking Iam going to break them down into 3month goals.... that way they are more manageable.


ok frugal for the day.


make cinnamon rolls for my youngest,and her friend sleeping .... put ina peameal roast at the same time, to use for sandwiches for the next few days.

working onmy swagbucks
and getting housework done.

going to start knitting a bathroom rug this afternoon as well . tore up towels to make the Yarn... some of my towels were pretty .. thin... but it will work good with my big needles.

[avoncallingu]

Giseledta, I like your plan for your bathroom rug! I've never heard of doing this. I'm picturing how pretty they could be.

going to start knitting a bathroom rug this afternoon as well . tore up towels to make the Yarn... some of my towels were pretty .. thin... but it will work good with my big needles.[/QUOTE]

[Giseledta]

http://www.acraftyhouse.com/2012/03/...ed-stitch.html

so . I took 7 large bath towels,... that were not in great shape. - holes, and worn out.
5 of 1 color, and 2 of another.
basic pattern is....
color 1, color 2m, 3 color 1, color 2, then end with color 1.

tore the towels into 1/2 inch strips..... joined the ends... and I plan on starting to knit.

hoping it turns out well. I figure with the towels.... it will be thick and absorbent... and washable.... and it reuses the towels.... so a win on all accounts....

[Crochetlady]

@Andit Sending you hugs. Since losing our friend this month we were reminded to not put off seeing people. We never know when they could be gone.
@Avon Hope you and DH get feeling better soon. @Giseledta That rug sounds interesting. I never would have thought of using towels.
I`m trying to find a light bulb for my Christmas tree. There are lots on Amazon but have to figure out which one I need.
Today I need to get a lot of crocheting done. Hope everyone has a good day.

[coupon girl]

-a friend I have had for 23 years - she is a bit hard to handle (she says we have to get together but not til after the new year ) she could have asked hubby and I over today as her hubby is off today and she was just doing laundry-but no her daughter and granddaughter were coming over and she doesn't care to have people over when they come -we use to see these friends once a month now its 3 times a year as they are sooooo busy -see andit I am trying to make time for a friend but its not happening
-she invited us to her house this xmas eve and we have gone every year for the past 20 but this year we were having fun at my hubby's niece open house -and didn't go to my friends I told her we may not come -and my hubby's family deserves some extra care as they are having problems in their household and under a lot of stress
-my hubby doesn't care if we remain friends with this couple as her hubby put down his deck and anything my hubby does around them is always wrong -having friends should just come so easy and this friend of mine decides to tell me -oh this Thursday ,Friday ,sat we are so busy going here to a dance ,another friends, etc
-our granddaughters are 5 months apart in age yet she never suggests we get them together for a play date

-mind you she did take me to Costco back the end of November but when I took her to tim hortons and bought her a coffee and myself a cold drink (as my mouth was really dry)she put her hand on mine and said "when are you going back to work -cause you can babysit and still work " I am just saying " I am still upset she said that really its nobodys business I enjoy watching my granddaughter plus I deal with a sore/dry mouth half the time.

-any tips ladies and some have said she is envious of your life -nope don't think so they make triple we we make
-yet she always asks about my daughter as she is a career woman ,driven ,outgoing -maybe she would like me to be that way
thanks for letting me unload

-anyway after the phone conversation I decided I needed to go out shopping to look for deals so off I went and had fun at winners -no malls -and got a lot of clearance and more gifts for next xmas I can put away -Melissa and doug crafts -puffy stickers and 3 -d craft sets 3.00 each for ashlyn - etc

son just called and asked if we would like to go to kelseys with them and ashlyn -as we really didn't get to see him much on the weekend only a few hours on xmas night so I said yes -love being with my grown kids

[lilo0003]

Andit: I am so sorry to hear about all your holiday troubles. It's a shame when so much bad stuff happens all at once, much less at Christmas.
Coupon girl: sometimes we have let go of people that are not good for us or too us. It's not easy but they are not worth the energy.

[SassyAshley]

Avon hope you feel better vertigo is horrible to deal with and from what I hear it can come and go with no warning.

Andit So sorry for everything you have gone through. Vet bills can be insane our one cat got sick on Labour Day years ago and it was $150 just for the vet to walk into the room, no even look at her.

Coupongirl I find you just have to ignore certain people and if you can't I limit the time I spent around them. A few family events ago I finally stood up to my cousin who loved to point out to everyone he is younger then me and married and now had a baby and I am still single. I asked him nicely to stop a few times as did his wife, he did not so I went to walk out which would have lead the family to question but he stopped and has not bugged me since. Sadly I do not think people really think about what they might consider an innocent comment or playful joking. I used to feel sick prior to family events knowing what was to come, now I can go and enjoy myself.

[SassyAshley]

Spent today trying to tidy up around the house but it is not going well. I am feeling overwhelmed in my house right now. We moved stuff around to make Christmas work but now it just feels like you cannot move anything even to it's rightful home.

So I have now given up and am going to do some work instead. I think it is better for my sanity.

I am starting to give up hope on getting anything done around our house. I start my new job on the 4th which is going to have me off and running right away. Mom's department is now been cut in half, in the last 6 months they have lost 2 full timers both of which head office does not want to replace, plus as well as 2 part timers and only 1 has been replaced as head office has said instead of 3 full timers and 2 part timers they only want the store to have 1 full timer and 2 part timers. Not sure how this will work out for her hours wise but right now it is insane as the full timer has time off as recently separated and has booked off as many PA days as she can and the other part timer booked off 6 days for Christmas as her BF is off. So this week Mom does have full time hours which is great $$$ wise but this was our one week to get things done. Oh well it is what it is and I am not going to worry about it as we cannot change it.

Well off to come up with 3 new training plans for our new employees and try to figure out how I can get 1 location on board with the new procedures we will be putting in place come the new year. Have a great night everyone

[coupon girl]

my son asked us to meet them at kelseys tonight -so we did
-and my son/his wife treated us to supper for all the wonderfull babysitting I do -ashlyn was so good with her baby doll sitting in the highchair eating pasta
-when we came out it really was coming down snowing hard -ashlyn was amazed and kept saying snowman ,snowman -gee its so wonderfull to see things thru a childs eyes

[saundyl]

Aw Andit CouponGirl and Avon it all sounds upsetting.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

[avoncallingu]

3.5 hours of freezing rain and now rain! Doggie and I snuck outside and were able to find him a small spot to pee, thank goodness.

I made an appointment today to see the chiro tomorrow. Roll on tomorrow!

Ashley, hopefully your new placement can roll out smoothly. You sound like a logistics wizard to me! Don't worry if a couple of new employees just "observe" for a couple of days until you can get to them.

Banks are closed today and no mail - as you all probably know. I would wrap the last few gifts I have to give but the dizziness is stopping me. Oh well! They'll have to be "New Year" gifts. The families involved are under the weather so we won't see them for a while but I wanted to get the wrapping stuff put away. Patience is a virtue they say!

[Granger]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I will probably see you all in the January thread! I am taking my last course to obtain a specialist in teaching reading in January and February. Between that and 3 littles I may be a little more scarce than usual.

Christmas was lovely. DH and I are on a date day with only the baby as my parents have the preschoolers. We went shopping (I went shopping and he held the baby) and out for lunch and dinner. Will probably continue today as the girls are returning just before dinner.

I got some 50% off deals for Christmas items next year. Spent some gift cards wisely to top up my wardrobe. Nothing astonishing. But it was nice to relax and shop with DH.

We received notice that another student suddenly passed. Another grade 7 student (she was in the other grade 6 class last year, not mine). To all those grieving and struggling, hugs. She had severe medical issues, but still a shock and too soon.