Happy New Year!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and aren’t feeling the side effects of last night!
I thought I would let you know what my Thrifty Finds were over the festive season:
- If you read my previous Festive Thrifty Finds post you’ll know that I was determined not to waste food this holiday season. I have been keeping a list of what we did throw away (half a red cabbage and a mouldy Brie so far) and notes on how we can improve quantities for next year. I’ll keep you posted on the total later in the month.
- I managed to stick to my present budget 🙂 We reduced the number of adults we were buying far which helped a lot. I didn’t buy as many second-hand presents as I had planned. I think I’m going to try to buy presents throughout the year in 2018 so that I can increase the number of pre-loved items I buy. I’ve been following @feegilfeather on Twitter and love how she had posted all her presents bought from charity shops throughout the year.
- However, I have already picked up a couple of decorations for Christmas next year. These ornaments were reduced to £1.35 in total in Oxfam. I also bought some Christmas cards for next year.
4. I did go a little over the grocery budget but made some savings by cashing in all the 1ps and 2ps we save over the year and making use of my Nectar points.
5. We managed to keep to a budget for family activities, and reduce the amount we committed to. Highlights included:
attending the Crib Service at the village church then going onto friends for mince pies and cocktails;
having friends round for a Games Night;
going to the cheaper cinema in our local town to watch Jumanji (£18, instead of £32 at Bath Odeon!);
eating out at YoSushi, which was a first for us. I had 1/3 off the bill as I signed up to get a birthday discount;
spending New Year’s Eve at a friend’s house in the village. We cooked a dish and brought along the champagne we had picked up in France on our holiday.
6. I’m also really pleased that I did not buy something! Despite trawling the sales and charity shops for a New Year’s Eve outfit I decided that I actually had a choice of three outfits already at home (two of which were – of course- second-hand!). So I saved money and making a horrible last-minute impulse buy, which is something I would have definitely done in the past.
Looking to the future, I have many more second-hand and thrifty finds in store for 2018. May your 2018 prove to be a thrifty, peaceful and (maybe) second-hand one too xxx