Supermarkets (and many other stores) rope you in as soon as you walk through the door with Christmas music, decorated windows, and scented air. Consumers really have to be on their game BEFORE they walk through the doors.
I have made a list in my phone of all the things not to do next year for the past 3 years - mainly focused around not buying too much food - I also wrote how unwell all the overeating has made me feel! So far this year I have stuck to a carefully curated list - sooooo much cheaper and no waste or over eating hopefully xx
I do my grocery shopping on line, get only what I need, then go pick it up when ready. I do my own handmade cookies and candy as gifts. All ingredients are purchased throughout the months ahead. I plan ahead. I don't fall for impulse purchases.
I grew up in a family that did not decorate a lot for the holidays. Mainly a decorated tree and a wreath on the door. When i moved out i was really surprised to see how some people decorated for the holidays . Christmas themed kitchen towels, pot holders, bathroom hand towels. Then there were the sets of dishes, drinking glasses and aprons. The overwhelming decorations around the house. I only have a tree and a patchwork throw I made plus a few treasured Christmas items to display. The space , “both mental and physical, it takes to manage all the stuff would wear me out. I did buy into it all at first, but over the years i have given away or donated most of it. Now I really like my subtle Christmas. There is nothing against lots of decorations, but i have found it is not me.
I grew Up with a lot of Christmas decor just like you describe. I loved waking Up in the morning to a glittering home with lights, candles and Santa figurines all over the place. Christmas music playing on the stereo. It got a lot easier going to school in the dark cold winter morning when I was greeted by that. And for breakfast mum served me rice pudding with cinnamon and hot chocolate with whipped cream. 🎅🏻 extra everything 🪄✨
My favorite thing to avoid are "gift" baskets. I get baskets at the thrift store and then tailor the gift to the person I am giving it to. Much less expensive than the pre-made ones, and far more personal.
This year we are cutting back on food for Christmas Dinner. No ham or turkey with all the fixings. Nope. This year it's lasagna and garlic bread with a slice of cheesecake topped with cherries AND we will enjoy homemade cookies and other baked goods. There will be plenty for everyone!
Thanks I do tend to purchase more fresh fruit each week during the winter . 3 apples , pears , a bag of grapes & mandarins . I stay away from their filled bags of fruit . Don’t need anything trendy in my home . Happy Holliday of Savings to You and Yours .
Well said Jane . Was in Adi the other day just to buy my usual stuff and was amazed by the size of people's trollies ! Could feed an army with some If them . I wonder how much food will end up in the bin ☹️ I shudder to think 😳 I have bought a couple of small pieces of cheese and a tub of chocolates so far for us over Christmas. Nothing major . Oh and a bottle of booz each for hubby and me . That's about it . 👏 We have to have blinkers on when shopping . Take care and keep warm . We've had snow here up north ! ❄️☃️❄️ 🌲
Hi Jane, I am only giving cash this year and only a small amount. Because!!, my sister, Aunt and I have made a game of $5.00. We send $5.00 for birthday and Christmas dards and then we go to the thrift stores and see what we can find for that amount. We write each other what we have found. It has been so much fun doing this type of gifting; then agonizing over what to get each other that we do not really need.
Once again Great video Jane ,, yes I have noticed this too, I am a detective when it comes to these gift boxes ,especially with food ,I found a licorice that my friends love at Christmas is $7.00 for 200g for the box but the same licorice in the candy department is $4.00 per 200g .During Christmas Candies go up,,,,I do up mini Banana loafs ,mini coffee cakes, Christmas Crack is this years new treat ,,I put the love into these treat,,,and family and friends Love them ,,, all I want for Christmas is quality time and laughs with my family and friends ,,,THAT you can not buy in the store ❤❤. Just wanted to add , I have a list of gift ideas written down as I come up with them and a budget and my Friends all get the same gifts, my friends are in their 60 ,so food is always a winner ! I know I love getting food ,,,especially in Today’s food crisis .
Every year I make a fruitcake, which my target audience adores, and which calls for brandy in the cake and on top at the end. Last time, I used orange juice and just poured the bit of brandy on top. NO-ONE noticed the difference, NO-ONE complained! I did try leaving brandy off a section to try and there it did make a difference so I'll keep anointing the top, but heck, I'm making a happy saving by using the orange juice!! Cheers and best wishes to you both for a wonderful Christmas!!
@@FrugalQueeninFrance This recipe is a last-minute type, but that's a great idea......a couple of days in Earl Grey tea sounds like a nice change. Thanks! It's cooking, not nuclear fusion, so experimenting is fun.
Our house is surrounded by woods, so we decorate with pine cones and fallen pine branches and holly for our table. Plus I go to Goodwill (charity shop) and buy white candles for .50 - 1.00 each and decorate our small tree with led lights....and that's it for decorating. We fnd it beautiful. Cost is $ 0 with the exception of the led lights.
Absolutely love this Jane, every word is true, but oh my goodness you’ve made me chuckle, my sentiments exactly! Why do people fall for the whole commercial side, the true meaning of Christmas is forgotten 😘x
Sensible advice Jane and Mike. I'm looking forward to a simple Christmas day with my husband and our dog as it's all about love and I'm grateful for another day (whether it's Christmas or any other day) with my loved ones, our health and a roof over our head that's ours. Wishing you a happy Christmas ⛄🎅🎄
Yes, I've learned to keep in mind how much we actually eat. I used to waaaaaaay over do it with the amount of food I bought for Christmas. I still get the things we all enjoy, just less of it. I certainly never buy the pre-sliced cheese. (I also shred my own cheese.) I'm perfectly capable of slicing cheese and meats and finding crackers and fruit that we like. As others have pointed out, have a plan and a list and don't stray from it.
I think christmas stock is put out much earlier than needed hoping to cash in on the "I should pick it up early" reflex. growing up my parents did this and the stuff intended for Christmas never lasted more than a few days after purchase. boxes of chocolates being the biggest culprit, every week from November to New Years it was buy, replace, buy, replace. nothing wrong with shopping as you go so long as its not impulse shopping as you go. A well thought out list is your best friend. Love the channel, keep up the good work :)
It’s when you see the use by dates on a lot of the stuff and it’s all well before Christmas. You know things will end up getting thrown out by people too worried to eat things ‘just in case’ and that’s sad.
Thank you Jane..great points. I also think that people panic buy at Christmas. The shops here in Australia only fully close technically on Christmas Day with altered shopping times on other days. There is no need to shop like the shops will be closed for a week..they won't be!
@@FrugalQueeninFrance We have big Boxing Day Sales time here the next day after Christmas. Crazy markdowns to entice buyers. We do have public holidays but not everything shuts and retail workers get paid much more to work those days. Many private businesses will close for a week or two..especially between Christmas and New Year. . Our summer school holidays go from about mid December to end of January, with some other 2 week breaks through the year.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance school children have 3 term breaks of a fortnight each plus the long summer holidays. Many parents organise holidays to coincide with the school holidays. Workers are entitled to 4 weeks of annual leave per year.
I've found the same thing happens to food and sweets prices for other Holidays, Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. I always shop in the regular aisles, especially for candy. I do shop the holiday displays and aisles for sales after the holiday.
I always made our boys an Easter basket too with normal chocolate rather than Easter eggs and they loved it. It’s the chocolate that’s delicious at Christmas, Easter or any time really, not the wrappers!!!
At Christmas I always take advantage of the lower price per kelo on the larger joints of meat. I cook it. Slice it and pack it into individual portions and freeze. The meat usually lasts until after Easter.
I like making up my own gift baskets/boxes. The pre made ones are usually disappointing. It is so important to be a savvy shopper. I shop for Christmas starting in August. The internet is such a great tool to compare prices for the same items. Thanks for sharing Merry Christmas 🥰🎅🎄❄☃🎁🎉✝💝
Haven't watched yet (obviously, since it's not up) but the thumbnail reminded me of how I am slightly tempted to get a Cadbury advent calendar each year but I live in Australia so the chocolates would just melt (I don't like refrigerated chocolate). Realistically I'm not interested enough to keep up with any sort of advent calendar.
I've bought the Christmas loo roll and kitchen roll in the past when I had small children, it's just a bit of fun but I think the older you get the more aware you become of the tricks supermarkets play. I don't buy those multi packs of things anymore but if someone wants a treat of pate or whatever infused with alcohol then why not, for some people it's the only time of year to treat themselves and family and have something different that they wouldn't normally have. It's about moderation I think and being aware of the selling tricks.😊
I try not to shop in the supermarkets in the last 2 weeks before Christmas for these very reasons, I buy my meat early and freeze it. Only thing I buy Christmas week in fresh fruit and vegetables which I buy locally from the independent green grocery. It may be slightly more expensive but I am not tempted to buy other things. I buy long life bread to bake at home . Everything else is either in the pantry or freezer. I prepare and cook everything else from scratch.
I find by shopping online, I am not roped into the subliminal seduction that the retails shops use so much more at this time of the year. Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas Jane & Michael
I usually check out the holiday paper towels after the respective holiday. When COVID hit the US a few years ago, Easter gatherings did not occur; hence, stores had an over abundance of paper towels, etc with Easter themes. I picked up several rolls for about 25 cents a roll.
I wonder if a large part of the Christmas letdown is a result of the realization of how much money we spend so needlessly. My only post Christmas is having to say goodbye to my family.
Carefully planning and keeping to your shoppinglist does always the trick , also with Xmas. On the booze part , I'll buy during the year and will drink it with the paté or cheese or chocolade on the side :). Got trained a whole year by your channel
Loving this video! So true! Everything you are saying is so true. Way to easy to overspend this time of year. Thank you!!! My thing is too easy to overspend on Grandkiddos. I have to keep myself in check!
I recently went to do my usual shopping and was really negatively surprised by the cashier asking me "is THAT really all?". When I asked her why she was asking, she said most people, even singles, usually buy more. Especially now in December.... Well one can't help stupid....
Oh dear! I noticed in the thumbnail the Christmas loo roll, I know Jane will say what a waste of money it is but I’ve already bought it, impulse buy!!!
Aw, now you've bought it, as it's too late, why not use it as tissues? I never buy tissues, I use loo roll, so you could use your special roll for festive tissues!👍👍
I agree many more convenience food then there are normally. I know I fall prey to buying more cheese then we need and then have a lot of leftovers after Christmas. One thing I do is stay out of the stores, that helps. Next I prepare my turnip, mashed potatoes etc a day or two ahead of Christmas then when I take the meat out of the oven to rest I pop the casseroles in the oven. I sometimes start them in the Microwave to give them a head start. Our dessert usually consists of a plate of homemade shortbread that I made much earlier in the season with a cup of tea. This year here in Canada there is a shortage of turkeys in some areas due to the Avian Flu in the birds. I bought my turkey early when they were on sale and save 2 thirds of the going price right now.
Thank you! Great observation from you😃 I used to shop to much. Now I don't shop much except for what is on my list. I buy my favorite regular chocolate because the Christmas ones are so bad in quality of %cocao or lots of sugar. Cookies I cut out and bake myself for a fraction of the price. 🌲 😇, ⭐⭕etc I wish you all merry frugal Christmas!
Hi Jayne. Yet another great video. Will you be doing a video about your plans for Christmas? I finally made my last house payment last week so very happy but still have more to do to secure my future. Best wishes to Mike and the dogs. Jenny from Australia.
I remember when I was growing up my mum freq complained about the new pjs, dressing gown, other clothing she'd bought my dad being in the sales after Christmas. She wanted to give them for Christmas but they eventually agreed that a little something each - a small box of chocolates, for example - was enough and the money was saved for them to catch the bus into town after Christmas and enjoy the bargains then instead. I agree with not buying the ready prepared food as well, seems you get so much less for your money doing it that way. I don't mind peeling and chopping potatoes with carols on in the background, or snapping sprouts off a sprout stalk stored in the shed. Pigs in blankets are our once a year Christmas treat, so I just buy from the butcher - so much nicer and also cheaper than the tiny things in supermarkets. I did make my own cranberry sauce a couple of years ago, and it was really nice, but costed out was so much more than a jar, so back to that now, I can always add some clementine zest or a splash of wine if I want to liven it up a bit.
Great video Jane, gosh all the tat the supermarkets flog for Christmas is ridiculous. Not supermarket related, but here in NZ some shops are trying to get in with the Ugly Christmas sweater trend from America -which is so silly as it's summer! They really will try to sell you anything.
When you mentioned gravy mixes, I was reminded of the stuffing for the turkey that fill the shelves. What's in there? I am guessing seasoned, dried out bread cubes. Like I would pay money for that, ha ha.
Just got back from the store… they put all the fancy packaged Christmas stuff in the front, just as you’re going in, and near the check-out, just as you’re leaving… You’ve got to go in braced, and ready with a list and a plan! And don’t bring the kids if possible… all that shiny packaging gets them begging!
Butter that is in the shape of a turkey, lamb, or Christmas motif. It is often three times as much per ounce than regular butter. And you still just hack it up and slather it all over your rolls. What a waste! Great video as always.😊
Great video! I bought ready made pigs in blankets as it was cheaper than buying chipolatas and bacon. I’ve only bought a small box of my fav chocs and a Pannetone. I usually I would have bought a Christmas pudding and pimped up cream and lots of Stollen. I’ve bought a boiling gammon as it was cheaper than “ nice sliced ham” and I’ll cook it & glaze it myself. I’m making my own mince pies as they are much nicer ( and cheaper) than bought ones! I bought a frozen turkey weeks ago and I’ve got my food delivery coming on Tuesday. I’m having my Christmas Day early as my family are coming to stay but I won’t need to do another shop until after Christmas now. What I haven’t got I’ll do without! No impulse buys for me lol. 😇 I used to work for a big supermarket and it’s definitely all about getting the customer to part with their money! Merry Christmas 🎄 😊
The BIG Costco chain store here in Pacific Northwest USA, in the Fall, this year, reduced the big dairy room, to add it on to the PRE MADE MEAL AREA WITH STAFF, there are soups, casseroles, pre cooked meats, so much ready made meals, ITS HUGE NOW! The signs say a pound price, that LOOKS LIKE THE SALE PRICE, until U get to the register, the $3.99 soup is $12.00 OUCH, buyers be AWAKE. THKS JANE & MIKE, cute video!
My wife was chuckling to your comment. Amusing. Friend who manager at Tesco says massive run on bread just before Christmas. Then the next week again before New year bread running out.. He says what aare people doing with all the bread
i would love it Jane if you would consider showing us how you decorate your home for Christmas i just but up a tree fireplace garland and door wreath and of course a crib, thank you great video as always happy Christmas to you both
I go list in hand and ignore all the elaborate attempts to get me spending on things I don't need. it is tough but budgets and a list help, granted I'm having to write option a, b & c due to supply issues to ensure my meal plan actually works.
I plan all food ahead including snacks for visiting family as some have specific dietary needs that i need to accommodate. I make what i can at home. . I am guilty of occasionally buying Christmas themed kitchen roll but i think that's the only themed item I might buy (and you can fold it to make great paper table napkins)! We will enjoy Christmas food but all leftovers will be eaten and nothing wasted. Good advice about selection packs, I generally prefer to buy items individually which is often better value.
oops I succumbed to the pigs in blankets but you made me stop re excess food and I've just checked the christmas opening times... both Asda and Co-op are open on boxing day so there's no chance of running out of anything over the festive period.
I have only bought what I really need this year , as it's only me & my son at home & it would be me eating most of it & putting on the pounds . So major cut back , although still got 3 tubs of sweets 😆
It seems like every store in the US goes Christmas crazy. I remember as a child it would be middle November before you would start to see anything Christmas related out in any of the stores. Now it is out in early October and poor Halloween has to compete with Christmas for decorations and floor space in the stores. You're so right about waiting until the after Christmas sales to buy any kind of Christmas related decor or other items that you can put away for next year. Or if you see a gift set that you like that you think has a good product in it, wait until after Christmas to buy it at a discount and then you can see if it's really worth it. I don't have any family in town so I really just purchase gifts for a close group of girl friends. We enjoy going for a girl's day of pedicures so our local beauty school has a day in early December when they sell their gift cards at 20% off. I will buy a batch of them for my friends and then one for myself and then we can all go and have a pedicure together. We do this on senior day when we get 20% off of our services so our gift cards go even further! We are all getting to that age where we are decluttering and do not need to be bringing any more knick knacks into our house so we all tend to want to focus on activities that let us spend time together or for a service that we really enjoy. How do Mary and Dolly like being out in the snow? My dachshunds do not enjoy it at all! When I had some long hair Dachshunds they didn't mind it so much and would actually play in the snow but my smooth-coated little ones even with a sweater on don't like to be outside in it. Thanks to you and Mike for another great video giving us insights with how marketers like to try to separate us from our money!
Giving 'stockings' on xmas day to adult kids - bought sets of pillow cases to use, making up small bags of emergency/hanndy items for their cars (some panadol, ibuprofen, nexium, sanitiser, mask, test, emery board, wound wipes, bandaids), a magazine or book, a scratchie, some chocolates, chips. Practical, frugal and should be fun. I avoided buying those lovely tempting tins of biscuits and chocolates!
Jane, I go into the store with my list and gritted teeth and run the gauntlet. If it has anything Christmas themed I resolve to wait until after Christmas to buy it when the price falls like a stone. Then it's packed away and labeled for next Christmas. To be honest, It seems that I am doing less and less Christmas related shopping. I don't seem to enjoy it like I used to. I really don't miss it all that much.
How do you balance your need/want to be frugal with the occasional treat for yourself? I appreciate that many people can't even afford to treat themselves to anything they want/like because of the nature of their finances and budgets etc (particularly right now with this awful cost of living!) But, for those who can, do you've any good tips on how to plan in the odd splurge or treat so that it doesn't eat into your budget or set you on an unnecessary spending spiral but where you can occasionally afford to do something nice? I hope you don't mind my random question! If you've perhaps already covered this in another video can you let me know, as would be keen to watch. Thanks.
A treat should be infrequent and not regular. Regular treats are Indulgent. We budget an extra 100€ for food at Christmas including wine and chocolates. We had a week in an Airbnb by the beach, although we took our own food being there was a treat and we saved all year. As adults we don’t need rewards for just doing the right thing. We eat out on our wedding anniversary and saved for that….we went to ikea for lunch.
Had to laugh when you said that the supermarkets you that you'll be "loosey goosey" with your budget. I'm frugal to a fault, but my husband lingers and drools over all the goody aisles in the supermarket. :-)
I remember several years ago a co-worker was talking about her and some of her friends went Christmas shopping and they had eaten boxes of alcohol infused chocolates and by the time they got home they were feeling pretty good, but they parked the car in the street in front of the house and her husband brought it to her attention, but she said they were feeling real good and hadn't noticed. I had to wonder how many boxes of alcohol infused chocolates they had consumed 😂😂
@L MTB At the age of 7, I had some rum balls at a party - they were chocolaty and yummy, so I must have had several, and yep, was as sick as a dog. I'm 65, still have a urgh reaction to the strong smell of rum!!
Went to get some fresh cream, they had ‘Baileys cream’ ooh lovely i thought, then noticed the price £2.49, what! I got normal cream, I have a whole litre of baileys (my treat to myself every year), i might just stir some in and see what its like lol 😊😂x
When I go to relatives for Christmas day I'm happy with whatever food they make/provide. When my husband and I stay home like this year I don't make a roast dinner. We eat a regular meal of whatever we fancy that day. Perhaps a mince pie though 😉
All the holiday themed housewares, where do people store them? I can’t imagine having tbe space to store having a whole extra set of dishes, glassware, etc. I have none of that.
I had a colleague who used to buy M&S Christmas loo roll every year! I’m all for decorating for Christmas and joke that my husband makes Buddy the Elf look low key when it comes to Christmas Decorating, but even he draws the line at Christmas loo roll 🤣🤣🤣
Hello, I really enjoyed watching you, but TH-cam stopped giving you the option to add subtitles to the video. Only if you put them there yourself and then they can be translated. Too bad, I really liked your videos.
Thank you, it's working now, a very informative video, everyone who doesn't want to wonder how much they spent on Christmas in the new year should watch it. And it's really everywhere, even here in the Czech Republic
The supermarkets are just one big con. We do our own little traditions and avoid the prepacked version. We have cotton handmade advent calendars and I buy the mini chocolate bars/sweetie packs after Halloween on reduction and put on of those in each date. Also make my own selection boxes from £1 packs of chocolate multipacks. Have to laugh whenever you see what the supermarkets try and get away with. If it is the same price as my usual washing up liquid and I actually need some I will buy the festive version because they give a nice Xmas smell, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy that. I keep all the gift bags I am given and reuse them the next year- £3 for a small gift bag last time I looked in the shop 🫣we buy Xmas cards when they are reduced dirt cheap for the following year, but some supermarkets give them away as they want rid of them- I like to give my patients a Xmas card if they are stuck in hospital over Xmas. Every year the stuff they package as Xmas gets bigger and bigger- Xmas macaroni cheese, spring rolls 😂 no added Xmas style ingredients just a Xmas packaging.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance i honestly thought you meant our verison of it which isnt even close to the same ours is like some kind of ground beef wrapped in cabbage
Dear Jane and Mike, Thanks you so much for your inspiring videos. They are awesome and i am still picking up tips. I wish you a very merry christmas. And a happy 2023.
In the new year I ways nake a list of the christmas cards/wrap we have left. I also make a note of what we need to buy more of or less of. Very often there is little on the 'more of list' and se real thi ga on the 'less of list'. It ensures shopping is more focused on what we need and not what we wa t or are tempted into buying.
I never knew you could buy Christmas toilet paper? Santa should not be on toilet paper! It just seems wrong on so many levels! haha I did get suckered in to buying some "gingerbread latte" hand soap. I am really enjoying it though. ;)
Thenither night after dinner out with my mom my 25 year okd son & I stopped by our dollar tree I need a bag if frizen bricoli for the batchnif dog foid I was mixing up later( mu digs have allergies) in the store my son is behind menim hesring mom focus! ficus ! Ge jeot ing& aweubgnin stuff in rhe shelves! Id stop ti see what caught his attentiin, thars when I d hear him ficus Mom ficus! Gitbto rbe back pright cirner. Grabbed the 1bagnif briccoli pad& git outside tital exoebditure $1,25 wok hoo success!😊
But half the fun is to buy too much stuff!! My country just went through the pandemic and now we got expensive electricity and food due to the war in Ukraine. And let me tell you that shows in all the public spaces, the stores are quite empty and we have very little Christmas lights Up. And I feel that in my soul, I so miss the extra everything and the dopamine rush from shopping. 😄🥰
At pets at home they ask you to donate money for an animal in need at the checkout, I just say sorry I can’t, I have 17 cats of my own to feed, which I really have 😆
Supermarkets (and many other stores) rope you in as soon as you walk through the door with Christmas music, decorated windows, and scented air. Consumers really have to be on their game BEFORE they walk through the doors.
They know what they’re doing
Ah! Thats exactly what I miss from before the pandemic. ❤✨
I have made a list in my phone of all the things not to do next year for the past 3 years - mainly focused around not buying too much food - I also wrote how unwell all the overeating has made me feel! So far this year I have stuck to a carefully curated list - sooooo much cheaper and no waste or over eating hopefully xx
Thanks for sharing
I do my grocery shopping on line, get only what I need, then go pick it up when ready. I do my own handmade cookies and candy as gifts. All ingredients are purchased throughout the months ahead. I plan ahead. I don't fall for impulse purchases.
Very wise
I grew up in a family that did not decorate a lot for the holidays. Mainly a decorated tree and a wreath on the door. When i moved out i was really surprised to see how some people decorated for the holidays . Christmas themed kitchen towels, pot holders, bathroom hand towels. Then there were the sets of dishes, drinking glasses and aprons. The overwhelming decorations around the house. I only have a tree and a patchwork throw I made plus a few treasured Christmas items to display. The space , “both mental and physical, it takes to manage all the stuff would wear me out. I did buy into it all at first, but over the years i have given away or donated most of it. Now I really like my subtle Christmas. There is nothing against lots of decorations, but i have found it is not me.
Nor meBarbara
I grew Up with a lot of Christmas decor just like you describe. I loved waking Up in the morning to a glittering home with lights, candles and Santa figurines all over the place. Christmas music playing on the stereo. It got a lot easier going to school in the dark cold winter morning when I was greeted by that. And for breakfast mum served me rice pudding with cinnamon and hot chocolate with whipped cream. 🎅🏻 extra everything 🪄✨
My favorite thing to avoid are "gift" baskets. I get baskets at the thrift store and then tailor the gift to the person I am giving it to. Much less expensive than the pre-made ones, and far more personal.
Thanks very much for sharing
I absolutely loved this video and hope you will include more quilting in the future! Thank you!
This year we are cutting back on food for Christmas Dinner. No ham or turkey with all the fixings. Nope. This year it's lasagna and garlic bread with a slice of cheesecake topped with cherries AND we will enjoy homemade cookies and other baked goods. There will be plenty for everyone!
Sounds perfect to me
Thanks I do tend to purchase more fresh fruit each week during the winter . 3 apples , pears , a bag of grapes & mandarins . I stay away from their filled bags of fruit . Don’t need anything trendy in my home . Happy Holliday of Savings to You and Yours .
Thanks so much
Well said Jane . Was in Adi the other day just to buy my usual stuff and was amazed by the size of people's trollies ! Could feed an army with some If them . I wonder how much food will end up in the bin ☹️ I shudder to think 😳 I have bought a couple of small pieces of cheese and a tub of chocolates so far for us over Christmas. Nothing major . Oh and a bottle of booz each for hubby and me . That's about it . 👏 We have to have blinkers on when shopping . Take care and keep warm . We've had snow here up north ! ❄️☃️❄️ 🌲
You keep warm too
Hi Jane, I am only giving cash this year and only a small amount. Because!!, my sister, Aunt and I have made a game of $5.00. We send $5.00 for birthday and Christmas dards and then we go to the thrift stores and see what we can find for that amount. We write each other what we have found. It has been so much fun doing this type of gifting; then agonizing over what to get each other that we do not really need.
Thanks very much for sharing
Once again Great video Jane ,,
yes I have noticed this too, I am a detective when it comes to these gift boxes ,especially with food ,I found a licorice that my friends love at Christmas is $7.00 for 200g for the box but the same licorice in the candy department is $4.00 per 200g .During Christmas Candies go up,,,,I do up mini Banana loafs ,mini coffee cakes, Christmas Crack is this years new treat ,,I put the love into these treat,,,and family and friends Love them ,,, all I want for Christmas is quality time and laughs with my family and friends ,,,THAT you can not buy in the store ❤❤.
Just wanted to add , I have a list of gift ideas written down as I come up with them and a budget and my Friends all get the same gifts, my friends are in their 60 ,so food is always a winner ! I know I love getting food ,,,especially in Today’s food crisis .
Food is a winner
I love the word detective , it’s precise !!! 😆
People need to remember over buying leads to waste and food thrown away is money thrown away.
Let’s hope they remember
Every year I make a fruitcake, which my target audience adores, and which calls for brandy in the cake and on top at the end. Last time, I used orange juice and just poured the bit of brandy on top. NO-ONE noticed the difference, NO-ONE complained! I did try leaving brandy off a section to try and there it did make a difference so I'll keep anointing the top, but heck, I'm making a happy saving by using the orange juice!! Cheers and best wishes to you both for a wonderful Christmas!!
I soAk my fruit in strong earl grey tea.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance This recipe is a last-minute type, but that's a great idea......a couple of days in Earl Grey tea sounds like a nice change. Thanks! It's cooking, not nuclear fusion, so experimenting is fun.
Our house is surrounded by woods, so we decorate with pine cones and fallen pine branches and holly for our table. Plus I go to Goodwill (charity shop) and buy white candles for .50 - 1.00 each and decorate our small tree with led lights....and that's it for decorating. We fnd it beautiful. Cost is $ 0 with the exception of the led lights.
Thanks for sharing
Merry Christmas, all!
Thank you
Absolutely love this Jane, every word is true, but oh my goodness you’ve made me chuckle, my sentiments exactly! Why do people fall for the whole commercial side, the true meaning of Christmas is forgotten 😘x
Thanks very much
Sensible advice Jane and Mike. I'm looking forward to a simple Christmas day with my husband and our dog as it's all about love and I'm grateful for another day (whether it's Christmas or any other day) with my loved ones, our health and a roof over our head that's ours. Wishing you a happy Christmas ⛄🎅🎄
Thanks Lindsey
The supermarket is only shut for one day over Christmas, but going on the size of most people trolleys, you’d think they were shut for a month!
People buy too much
@@FrugalQueeninFrance understatement
@@frugalitystartsathome4889 that’s no excuse, I’m from the same generation and I have no battery hang ups.
Yes, I've learned to keep in mind how much we actually eat. I used to waaaaaaay over do it with the amount of food I bought for Christmas. I still get the things we all enjoy, just less of it.
I certainly never buy the pre-sliced cheese. (I also shred my own cheese.) I'm perfectly capable of slicing cheese and meats and finding crackers and fruit that we like.
As others have pointed out, have a plan and a list and don't stray from it.
Portion control exists all year
I think christmas stock is put out much earlier than needed hoping to cash in on the "I should pick it up early" reflex. growing up my parents did this and the stuff intended for Christmas never lasted more than a few days after purchase. boxes of chocolates being the biggest culprit, every week from November to New Years it was buy, replace, buy, replace. nothing wrong with shopping as you go so long as its not impulse shopping as you go. A well thought out list is your best friend. Love the channel, keep up the good work :)
Thanks for watching
It’s when you see the use by dates on a lot of the stuff and it’s all well before Christmas. You know things will end up getting thrown out by people too worried to eat things ‘just in case’ and that’s sad.
I splurge on 1 holiday-based grocery item each year. Panettone at $4.99 US. So yummy and a once a year treat.
Delicious indeed
Thank you Jane..great points. I also think that people panic buy at Christmas. The shops here in Australia only fully close technically on Christmas Day with altered shopping times on other days. There is no need to shop like the shops will be closed for a week..they won't be!
Thanks, oh I would miss getting a big Christmas holiday and then another big summer holiday. Do you get a midwinter break too?
@@FrugalQueeninFrance We have big Boxing Day Sales time here the next day after Christmas. Crazy markdowns to entice buyers. We do have public holidays but not everything shuts and retail workers get paid much more to work those days. Many private businesses will close for a week or two..especially between Christmas and New Year. . Our summer school holidays go from about mid December to end of January, with some other 2 week breaks through the year.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance school children have 3 term breaks of a fortnight each plus the long summer holidays. Many parents organise holidays to coincide with the school holidays. Workers are entitled to 4 weeks of annual leave per year.
I've found the same thing happens to food and sweets prices for other Holidays, Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc. I always shop in the regular aisles, especially for candy. I do shop the holiday displays and aisles for sales after the holiday.
Best way
I always made our boys an Easter basket too with normal chocolate rather than Easter eggs and they loved it. It’s the chocolate that’s delicious at Christmas, Easter or any time really, not the wrappers!!!
Our stores all play Christmas music in the USA !! Get you in the mood to spend spend spend !!! I’m sure it’s the same in the UK and France too 🙂
Not in France, not a lot of decorations or music in our stores, mostly no music.
At Christmas I always take advantage of the lower price per kelo on the larger joints of meat. I cook it. Slice it and pack it into individual portions and freeze. The meat usually lasts until after Easter.
I wish that happened here,
I like making up my own gift baskets/boxes. The pre made ones are usually disappointing. It is so important to be a savvy shopper. I shop for Christmas starting in August. The internet is such a great tool to compare prices for the same items. Thanks for sharing Merry Christmas 🥰🎅🎄❄☃🎁🎉✝💝
Thanks very much for sharing
Haven't watched yet (obviously, since it's not up) but the thumbnail reminded me of how I am slightly tempted to get a Cadbury advent calendar each year but I live in Australia so the chocolates would just melt (I don't like refrigerated chocolate). Realistically I'm not interested enough to keep up with any sort of advent calendar.
I've bought the Christmas loo roll and kitchen roll in the past when I had small children, it's just a bit of fun but I think the older you get the more aware you become of the tricks supermarkets play. I don't buy those multi packs of things anymore but if someone wants a treat of pate or whatever infused with alcohol then why not, for some people it's the only time of year to treat themselves and family and have something different that they wouldn't normally have.
It's about moderation I think and being aware of the selling tricks.😊
@@94hydenseek thank you
I try not to shop in the supermarkets in the last 2 weeks before Christmas for these very reasons, I buy my meat early and freeze it. Only thing I buy Christmas week in fresh fruit and vegetables which I buy locally from the independent green grocery. It may be slightly more expensive but I am not tempted to buy other things. I buy long life bread to bake at home . Everything else is either in the pantry or freezer. I prepare and cook everything else from scratch.
Well done Pat. I go to the village market for Christmas
I find by shopping online, I am not roped into the subliminal seduction that the retails shops use so much more at this time of the year. Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas Jane & Michael
Thanks for watching
I usually check out the holiday paper towels after the respective holiday. When COVID hit the US a few years ago, Easter gatherings did not occur; hence, stores had an over abundance of paper towels, etc with Easter themes. I picked up several rolls for about 25 cents a roll.
Good for you
I wonder if a large part of the Christmas letdown is a result of the realization of how much money we spend so needlessly. My only post Christmas is having to say goodbye to my family.
Carefully planning and keeping to your shoppinglist does always the trick , also with Xmas. On the booze part , I'll buy during the year and will drink it with the paté or cheese or chocolade on the side :). Got trained a whole year by your channel
Thanks Caroline
Loving this video! So true! Everything you are saying is so true. Way to easy to overspend this time of year. Thank you!!!
My thing is too easy to overspend on Grandkiddos. I have to keep myself in check!
They’ll not play with half of them. We should buy less.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance , exactly my thoughts! Thanks
I guess the good old habits come into play. Dont go to the grocery store hungry, write a list and stick to it. Do not stray from your list! 😂
Well said
I recently went to do my usual shopping and was really negatively surprised by the cashier asking me "is THAT really all?". When I asked her why she was asking, she said most people, even singles, usually buy more. Especially now in December.... Well one can't help stupid....
I don’t think,people are stupid and we’re not here to judge. Each to their own.
I agree with Christmas ready food. I can make them so much cheaper. I really love to cook and bake
Thanks for watching Dawn.
Plan for the holiday throughout the year so you aren't tempted to even shop in these last 2 weeks! Except for fresh vege and fruit 😋
You might be surprised to learn that Christmas goods don’t appear until December in France
Lucky France here in the UK we have been bombarded with Christmas since the beginning of September. It drives me mad.
Oh we have been bombarded as well here in the US!! But I used my Christmas budget before Halloween, so I am not tempted lol
Well, I did purchase a chocolate advent calendar at Aldi last week, it was 25 cents on close out, so I figured why not!
@@patmartin9727 it started in late august here in Ireland just running away with our lives way too early
I enjoy a dollop of sour cream in my gravy but I put it in myself, no extra payment! Thank you for the video! I
Thanks for watching
Oh dear! I noticed in the thumbnail the Christmas loo roll, I know Jane will say what a waste of money it is but I’ve already bought it, impulse buy!!!
That’s exactly how they suck people in with cutie rubbish!
@@FrugalQueeninFrance yep, I’ve been sucked in, let’s face it, loo roll is only going to be used for one thing!!!! Looking forward to your video x
@@FrugalQueeninFrance IVE NOT SCENE THE TISSUE 😝🤦😂🤣 ANYTHING TO MAKE A BUCK
Aw, now you've bought it, as it's too late, why not use it as tissues? I never buy tissues, I use loo roll, so you could use your special roll for festive tissues!👍👍
@@bethanysherwood5930 good idea!
I agree many more convenience food then there are normally. I know I fall prey to buying more cheese then we need and then have a lot of leftovers after Christmas. One thing I do is stay out of the stores, that helps. Next I prepare my turnip, mashed potatoes etc a day or two ahead of Christmas then when I take the meat out of the oven to rest I pop the casseroles in the oven. I sometimes start them in the Microwave to give them a head start. Our dessert usually consists of a plate of homemade shortbread that I made much earlier in the season with a cup of tea. This year here in Canada there is a shortage of turkeys in some areas due to the Avian Flu in the birds. I bought my turkey early when they were on sale and save 2 thirds of the going price right now.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you! Great observation from you😃
I used to shop to much. Now I don't shop much except for what is on my list. I buy my favorite regular chocolate because the Christmas ones are so bad in quality of %cocao or lots of sugar. Cookies I cut out and bake myself for a fraction of the price. 🌲 😇, ⭐⭕etc
I wish you all merry frugal Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too
Hi Jayne. Yet another great video. Will you be doing a video about your plans for Christmas? I finally made my last house payment last week so very happy but still have more to do to secure my future. Best wishes to Mike and the dogs. Jenny from Australia.
We don’t do much differently at Christmas. Just carry on as normal.
Those gift sets (especially toiletries or cosmetics) can often be gotten for quite cheap during the after Christmas sales.
Thanks for watching
I remember when I was growing up my mum freq complained about the new pjs, dressing gown, other clothing she'd bought my dad being in the sales after Christmas. She wanted to give them for Christmas but they eventually agreed that a little something each - a small box of chocolates, for example - was enough and the money was saved for them to catch the bus into town after Christmas and enjoy the bargains then instead. I agree with not buying the ready prepared food as well, seems you get so much less for your money doing it that way. I don't mind peeling and chopping potatoes with carols on in the background, or snapping sprouts off a sprout stalk stored in the shed. Pigs in blankets are our once a year Christmas treat, so I just buy from the butcher - so much nicer and also cheaper than the tiny things in supermarkets. I did make my own cranberry sauce a couple of years ago, and it was really nice, but costed out was so much more than a jar, so back to that now, I can always add some clementine zest or a splash of wine if I want to liven it up a bit.
Thanks Corinne
Great video Jane, gosh all the tat the supermarkets flog for Christmas is ridiculous. Not supermarket related, but here in NZ some shops are trying to get in with the Ugly Christmas sweater trend from America -which is so silly as it's summer! They really will try to sell you anything.
That’s ridiculous
All good points, Jane.
Thanks Jonna
When you mentioned gravy mixes, I was reminded of the stuffing for the turkey that fill the shelves. What's in there? I am guessing seasoned, dried out bread cubes. Like I would pay money for that, ha ha.
Indeed
Thanks for sharing your ideas Jane !!
Thanks very much for watching
The visuals in this video really helped it hit home for me. I enjoyed seeing them.
Thanks for the feedback
Just got back from the store… they put all the fancy packaged Christmas stuff in the front, just as you’re going in, and near the check-out, just as you’re leaving… You’ve got to go in braced, and ready with a list and a plan! And don’t bring the kids if possible… all that shiny packaging gets them begging!
You have to indeed
Butter that is in the shape of a turkey, lamb, or Christmas motif. It is often three times as much per ounce than regular butter. And you still just hack it up and slather it all over your rolls. What a waste! Great video as always.😊
Thanks Susie
Great video! I bought ready made pigs in blankets as it was cheaper than buying chipolatas and bacon. I’ve only bought a small box of my fav chocs and a Pannetone. I usually I would have bought a Christmas pudding and pimped up cream and lots of Stollen. I’ve bought a boiling gammon as it was cheaper than “ nice sliced ham” and I’ll cook it & glaze it myself. I’m making my own mince pies as they are much nicer ( and cheaper) than bought ones! I bought a frozen turkey weeks ago and I’ve got my food delivery coming on Tuesday. I’m having my Christmas Day early as my family are coming to stay but I won’t need to do another shop until after Christmas now. What I haven’t got I’ll do without! No impulse buys for me lol. 😇 I used to work for a big supermarket and it’s definitely all about getting the customer to part with their money! Merry Christmas 🎄 😊
Thanks Marianne
Jane you are SO right. But supermarkets haven’t met me
Nor me
The BIG Costco chain store here in Pacific Northwest USA, in the Fall, this year, reduced the big dairy room, to add it on to the PRE MADE MEAL AREA WITH STAFF, there are soups, casseroles, pre cooked meats, so much ready made meals, ITS HUGE NOW! The signs say a pound price, that LOOKS LIKE THE SALE PRICE, until U get to the register, the $3.99 soup is $12.00 OUCH, buyers be AWAKE. THKS JANE & MIKE, cute video!
Thanks very much for watching
Yes it shows the price in Costco but it is the per pound price and not the total! Almost got suckered by that one myself
My wife was chuckling to your comment. Amusing. Friend who manager at Tesco says massive run on bread just before Christmas. Then the next week again before New year bread running out.. He says what aare people doing with all the bread
Who knows
i would love it Jane if you would consider showing us how you decorate your home for Christmas i just but up a tree fireplace garland and door wreath and of course a crib, thank you great video as always happy Christmas to you both
There’s a video last Christmas of that. It’s very minimalist.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance thank you Jane i look forward to watching it to get some ideas
@@denismulcahy2798 it’s already on the channel from Christmas last year
Very good Jane. And now I want to try jams with booze. Lol. I’ll make my own concoction.
Whiskey marmalade is great. We usually get a bottle for Christmas and add a few tablespoons to marmalade I make in January
Merry Christmas!
Thank you
I love the Christmas music intro .
Thanks
I go list in hand and ignore all the elaborate attempts to get me spending on things I don't need. it is tough but budgets and a list help, granted I'm having to write option a, b & c due to supply issues to ensure my meal plan actually works.
Thanks Nicola
I plan all food ahead including snacks for visiting family as some have specific dietary needs that i need to accommodate. I make what i can at home. . I am guilty of occasionally buying Christmas themed kitchen roll but i think that's the only themed item I might buy (and you can fold it to make great paper table napkins)! We will enjoy Christmas food but all leftovers will be eaten and nothing wasted. Good advice about selection packs, I generally prefer to buy items individually which is often better value.
Thanks very much for watching
oops I succumbed to the pigs in blankets but you made me stop re excess food and I've just checked the christmas opening times... both Asda and Co-op are open on boxing day so there's no chance of running out of anything over the festive period.
We’ve all done it
Yes, such sage advice!
Thanks so much
I have only bought what I really need this year , as it's only me & my son at home & it would be me eating most of it & putting on the pounds . So major cut back , although still got 3 tubs of sweets 😆
You might need all those choccies, I’m not here to judge
It seems like every store in the US goes Christmas crazy. I remember as a child it would be middle November before you would start to see anything Christmas related out in any of the stores. Now it is out in early October and poor Halloween has to compete with Christmas for decorations and floor space in the stores. You're so right about waiting until the after Christmas sales to buy any kind of Christmas related decor or other items that you can put away for next year. Or if you see a gift set that you like that you think has a good product in it, wait until after Christmas to buy it at a discount and then you can see if it's really worth it. I don't have any family in town so I really just purchase gifts for a close group of girl friends. We enjoy going for a girl's day of pedicures so our local beauty school has a day in early December when they sell their gift cards at 20% off. I will buy a batch of them for my friends and then one for myself and then we can all go and have a pedicure together. We do this on senior day when we get 20% off of our services so our gift cards go even further! We are all getting to that age where we are decluttering and do not need to be bringing any more knick knacks into our house so we all tend to want to focus on activities that let us spend time together or for a service that we really enjoy. How do Mary and Dolly like being out in the snow? My dachshunds do not enjoy it at all! When I had some long hair Dachshunds they didn't mind it so much and would actually play in the snow but my smooth-coated little ones even with a sweater on don't like to be outside in it. Thanks to you and Mike for another great video giving us insights with how marketers like to try to separate us from our money!
You’d love France, they haven’t got the Christmas food out yet as it’s oysters, lobster and caviar so that’s in the shop 48 hours before
Giving 'stockings' on xmas day to adult kids - bought sets of pillow cases to use, making up small bags of emergency/hanndy items for their cars (some panadol, ibuprofen, nexium, sanitiser, mask, test, emery board, wound wipes, bandaids), a magazine or book, a scratchie, some chocolates, chips. Practical, frugal and should be fun. I avoided buying those lovely tempting tins of biscuits and chocolates!
They are tempting
I don't worry about Christmas what I spend as I save every month all year round but I do buy discounted items when I find them.
Love you vids! I don’t celebrate Christmas and I’ve fallen for some of the things you’ve mentioned. 😊❤️
We all have at some time. Thanks for watching.
Jane, I go into the store with my list and gritted teeth and run the gauntlet.
If it has anything Christmas themed I resolve to wait until after Christmas to buy it when the price falls like a stone. Then it's packed away and labeled for next Christmas.
To be honest, It seems that I am doing less and less Christmas related shopping. I don't seem to enjoy it like I used to. I really don't miss it all that much.
I’m of the same opinion
How do you balance your need/want to be frugal with the occasional treat for yourself? I appreciate that many people can't even afford to treat themselves to anything they want/like because of the nature of their finances and budgets etc (particularly right now with this awful cost of living!) But, for those who can, do you've any good tips on how to plan in the odd splurge or treat so that it doesn't eat into your budget or set you on an unnecessary spending spiral but where you can occasionally afford to do something nice? I hope you don't mind my random question! If you've perhaps already covered this in another video can you let me know, as would be keen to watch. Thanks.
A treat should be infrequent and not regular. Regular treats are Indulgent. We budget an extra 100€ for food at Christmas including wine and chocolates. We had a week in an Airbnb by the beach, although we took our own food being there was a treat and we saved all year. As adults we don’t need rewards for just doing the right thing. We eat out on our wedding anniversary and saved for that….we went to ikea for lunch.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance Great, that makes total sense. Thank you for your reply. ☺️
@@Scottish-y4s you’re welcome and thanks for watching
Had to laugh when you said that the supermarkets you that you'll be "loosey goosey" with your budget. I'm frugal to a fault, but my husband lingers and drools over all the goody aisles in the supermarket. :-)
Oh I look, then get back to my list.
Wonderful info. Happy Holidays 💜
Thanks and merry Christmas to you too
I remember several years ago a co-worker was talking about her and some of her friends went Christmas shopping and they had eaten boxes of alcohol infused chocolates and by the time they got home they were feeling pretty good, but they parked the car in the street in front of the house and her husband brought it to her attention, but she said they were feeling real good and hadn't noticed. I had to wonder how many boxes of alcohol infused chocolates they had consumed 😂😂
Oh dear
@L MTB At the age of 7, I had some rum balls at a party - they were chocolaty and yummy, so I must have had several, and yep, was as sick as a dog. I'm 65, still have a urgh reaction to the strong smell of rum!!
Great video, guys!!!
Thank you
Went to get some fresh cream, they had ‘Baileys cream’ ooh lovely i thought, then noticed the price £2.49, what! I got normal cream, I have a whole litre of baileys (my treat to myself every year), i might just stir some in and see what its like lol 😊😂x
They nearly had you
Great video !! Thank you.
Thanks for watching
When I go to relatives for Christmas day I'm happy with whatever food they make/provide. When my husband and I stay home like this year I don't make a roast dinner. We eat a regular meal of whatever we fancy that day. Perhaps a mince pie though 😉
That sounds perfect
@@jillpruett4772you have to be an Orthodox Christian from the fasting mention (same here)
I have to admit that I bought a whole bunch of pumpkin scented hand soap in September.; 10 to be exact. 😱
It’s easy to fall for a gimmick but you’ll smell nice
@@FrugalQueeninFrance 😄😄
serious business, but you had me laughing out loud at the same time :)
Thanks Paula
All the holiday themed housewares, where do people store them? I can’t imagine having tbe space to store having a whole extra set of dishes, glassware, etc. I have none of that.
Exactly!
I had a colleague who used to buy M&S Christmas loo roll every year! I’m all for decorating for Christmas and joke that my husband makes Buddy the Elf look low key when it comes to Christmas Decorating, but even he draws the line at Christmas loo roll 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks very much for sharing
It's not just at Xmas. The local Supermarket starts baking hot cross buns on New Year's Day.
Thank goodness they don’t eat them here
It's a good thing I don't have spare money for Christmas so it will just be basics only .and I never shop when I am hungry.
Nor me
Hi
Great video
🇬🇧
Thanks very much
Hello, I really enjoyed watching you, but TH-cam stopped giving you the option to add subtitles to the video. Only if you put them there yourself and then they can be translated. Too bad, I really liked your videos.
We always click for subtitles. They’re automatically generated.
Thank you, it's working now, a very informative video, everyone who doesn't want to wonder how much they spent on Christmas in the new year should watch it. And it's really everywhere, even here in the Czech Republic
@@miloslavadoubkova7267 Thanks for letting me know
Once again Nice video
Thanks very much
We watch out and stay out of stores as much as we can
Thanks for watching
The supermarkets are just one big con. We do our own little traditions and avoid the prepacked version. We have cotton handmade advent calendars and I buy the mini chocolate bars/sweetie packs after Halloween on reduction and put on of those in each date. Also make my own selection boxes from £1 packs of chocolate multipacks. Have to laugh whenever you see what the supermarkets try and get away with. If it is the same price as my usual washing up liquid and I actually need some I will buy the festive version because they give a nice Xmas smell, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy that. I keep all the gift bags I am given and reuse them the next year- £3 for a small gift bag last time I looked in the shop 🫣we buy Xmas cards when they are reduced dirt cheap for the following year, but some supermarkets give them away as they want rid of them- I like to give my patients a Xmas card if they are stuck in hospital over Xmas. Every year the stuff they package as Xmas gets bigger and bigger- Xmas macaroni cheese, spring rolls 😂 no added Xmas style ingredients just a Xmas packaging.
weve also got pigs in the blanket but thats not at all what it is
Now you now the right way to make them 😆
@@FrugalQueeninFrance i honestly thought you meant our verison of it which isnt even close to the same ours is like some kind of ground beef wrapped in cabbage
What do you think about christmas toiletpaper: 4 for almost 15 euro! It is crazy 😂
I think it’s crazy.
Dear Jane and Mike,
Thanks you so much for your inspiring videos. They are awesome and i am still picking up tips. I wish you a very merry christmas.
And a happy 2023.
In the new year I ways nake a list of the christmas cards/wrap we have left. I also make a note of what we need to buy more of or less of. Very often there is little on the 'more of list' and se real thi ga on the 'less of list'. It ensures shopping is more focused on what we need and not what we wa t or are tempted into buying.
Thanks suki
I never knew you could buy Christmas toilet paper? Santa should not be on toilet paper! It just seems wrong on so many levels! haha I did get suckered in to buying some "gingerbread latte" hand soap. I am really enjoying it though. ;)
Thanks for watching and commenting
Yeah Christmas has become too a merchandisers dream. People's do over spend doing the holidays & spend too much on gifts.
They certainly do
Thenither night after dinner out with my mom my 25 year okd son & I stopped by our dollar tree I need a bag if frizen bricoli for the batchnif dog foid I was mixing up later( mu digs have allergies) in the store my son is behind menim hesring mom focus! ficus ! Ge jeot ing& aweubgnin stuff in rhe shelves! Id stop ti see what caught his attentiin, thars when I d hear him ficus Mom ficus! Gitbto rbe back pright cirner. Grabbed the 1bagnif briccoli pad& git outside tital exoebditure $1,25 wok hoo success!😊
But half the fun is to buy too much stuff!! My country just went through the pandemic and now we got expensive electricity and food due to the war in Ukraine. And let me tell you that shows in all the public spaces, the stores are quite empty and we have very little Christmas lights Up. And I feel that in my soul, I so miss the extra everything and the dopamine rush from shopping. 😄🥰
Dopamine is best gained from an achieved task, I like a big Christmas clean and declutter for that rush.
Only people that are aware of this are good at finding bargains ,experience is knowledge
Thanks very much
👍👍👍
I think it's terrible they ask for donations at the checkouts. Really puts you on the spot! It should not be allowed.
That’s awful
i agree Sharon and im not good at saying no but i hate this trend too
At pets at home they ask you to donate money for an animal in need at the checkout, I just say sorry I can’t, I have 17 cats of my own to feed, which I really have 😆
Chocolates half price as you walk into the supermarket.
That you didn’t need, no one needs them