1. I did not buy any new Christmas decor
As I mentioned in my recent podcast with The Finance Girlies, I keep seeing that this is the year of the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic.
A quick Pinterest search
And I honestly do not give a crap about that. 😉
I’m just over here cheerfully using the same (mostly clearance-purchased) Christmas decorations I already have.
Maybe it’s because I’m not a decorator, but I am befuddled at the idea that we are having a new Christmas style every few years (or worse, every year!)
I have always felt there is a certain nostalgic charm about pulling out the same Christmas things each year; I would actually not want new stuff every December.
2. I bought some discount Christmas concert tickets
My college girl will be in the area for a bit over Christmas, and I noticed a Christmas pops concert was happening during that time. Sooo, I bought two discounted tickets with my student account, and we will go
3. I submitted my eye exam receipt to my eye insurance
My eye doctor doesn’t participate with my new eye insurance (bummer!), so I asked for an itemized bill when I paid, and as soon as I got home, I submitted it online through my insurance website to try to get some out-of-network benefits.
I got very good at doing this during the many years of marriage therapy; it was all out-of-network, so I became well-practiced at the out-of-network submission rigamarole. 😉
I figure anything I get back is better than $0, and it took me less than 10 minutes to do the submission.
4. I made chocolate banana “ice cream” lots of times
I had a big bunch of bananas that went to their very-slightly-overripe state in a jiffy.
(For me, this means they have a few tiny brown spots.)
So, I sliced them up and froze them on a baking sheet, transferred them to a Ziploc bag, and then used them to make several batches of chocolate banana “ice cream” for myself.
I do it basically like this, except for the chocolate version, I leave out the strawberries and I add in a tablespoon of cocoa powder.
The strawberry version:
5. I passed both my fall 2025 classes
It looks like both will be an A grade, although I am still waiting for a few last assignments to be graded in my most recent class (it ends this coming Sunday).
My hospital requires either a B or a C for tuition reimbursement, depending on the class. So either way, I safely qualify!
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate
Thursday 11th of December 2025
The funniest thing about the "Ralph Lauren Christmas" that everyone seems to miss is that's he's Jewish.
Jeg
Wednesday 10th of December 2025
Well, I’m not having a Ralph Lauren Christmas either. In fact I doubt I will decorate as I am living between 2 places. Well, living in one and daily moving items to new residence. I have a collection of ornaments from now to 54 yrs ago. My newest is from my trip to Greece. Today I went with some club members to wrap Christmas gifts for those in need. The little girl I helped pick out gifts for wanted crafting items. (Boy, I’d like to meet her). And we were able to gift the teenager exactly what he wants. And tonight I went to the monthly zentangle class, a free guided, meditative doodling class. Learned a new idea to make a holiday card. I know just who will receive these cards. Enjoy the countdown to Christmas
Isa
Wednesday 10th of December 2025
* Right with you on the Christmas decor. What is a Ralph Lauren Christmas theme anyways? Red and green? Okaaaaaay. So, in other words, Christmas colors! The art of making something out of nothing (hello consumerism). Year after year I reuse the same decorations, I really don't care about trends
* Felt uneasy today but came in to work anyways. We are on Covid outbreak (hospital). N95 and visors are mandatory, so even if I was sick, I would not contaminate anyone. (I believe my symptoms are actually related to anxiety). No work = no pay (I have no sick days)
* I don't have a Christmas outfit. Just regular clothes. Same for hubby and kids.
* Using free meditation app to try and reduce the stress/anxiety I'm experiencing lately
* Cheapest hobby ever : reading books from public library and free piles
Lindsay B
Tuesday 9th of December 2025
1. I gave away a glass-topped end table on Buy Nothing. It was from my grandparents but I have spent the last few years worrying about it breaking due to my two little boys (with another one on the way). I didn’t love or need it anymore and I am glad someone was interested in it. Frugal for them and no hassle for me to take it to Goodwill.
2. I wrapped up some winter/Christmas books for my kids for fun surprises over the Christmas season and used only reused wrapping paper. They are too little to care if the wrapping paper looks worn and I don’t want to buy any wrapping paper right now. So this is inadvertently frugal.
3. My oldest kiddo, almost 4, fell out of bed onto a hardwood floor and was in a lot of pain. We ended up in Urgent Care to find out he had a broken clavicle. I’m grateful for free crayons and coloring pages from the nurse, and also that we managed to get his long-sleeved shirt off instead of having to cut it off. We’ve already met our deductible so as far as urgent care visits go, this was a frugal visit.
4. I finished some essential-oil scented laundry detergent that had been lingering for several years in my laundry room. I prefer to use fragrance-free for my kids but somehow ended up with this, so it took a long time to use. I am in a mood to simplify wherever possible before kiddo #3 comes in two months.
5. We had our attic insulated today to R40 level. While it was some money, of course, we qualified for some state and also federal rebates (the federal ones are expiring at the end of this year) that cut the cost in about half. I hope we will notice a difference in our utility bills over the years as well.
6. I was able to cobble together a lasagna for dinner with things on hand in the freezer and fridge today even though I didn’t feel awesome.
Leah
Tuesday 9th of December 2025
Hooray for frugality in the face of holiday mass consumerism! I love these emails! ...my frugal bits of lately: -used some repurposed ribbon and such for wrapping some gifts -used some free goods from a giveaway at work for said gifts -made more coffee at home this month -refinanced my car loan at a local credit union>>saving me almost $100 per month -passed on the holiday Secret Santa thing this year saving time and money