50p a day til christmas, healthily?!-Weezl's next challenge (part 2)

Elfinwings

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

aww elfie sorry you feel miserable....it is really hard and I suspect our weezl is prob the best to comment as she is the frugalista and happy with it. I tend to stamp my foot and hurmph...maybe you feel flat cos oure tired? Frualing is exhausting as you do more...could you put aside a small amount each month for fun budget maybe? Also you can make lots of yummy hm treatments yourself so try a book from the library and get the girlies round for a pamper...also you can make pressies etc and again the library is good..Will have a think but meanwhile big hugs!

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

Elfin, so sorry to hear you are feeling the strain. Being broke can be pretty demoralising sometimes can't it.

I have a few friends that I really treasure, there is a core group of 8 including us that have really gelled. At times like you describe, I try to get together with as many of them as possible because they unfailingly lift my spirits. When all 8 of us are together, we giggle, there is a bit of dark conversation, a bit of light and if I have to get something of my chest, they help me share the sorrow or whatever, and just being listened to and having someone on my side really really helps.

Can you do something like that? We are all foodies so food is always involved. We all like to cook, and meet up often to eat with each other, which on its own makes me feel loved. If one of us is particularly broke, we each contribute to the meal.

Sometimes I think about what is REALLY bugging me and try and solve that one thing. So, if I thought that it was having nice ingredients, I might squeeze the budget to enable me to have the scallops or the crab that month. It might mean having veg and lentil soup with HM bread for dinner for 10 days that month, but if it means I had something that meant a lot to me to look forward to, it helps to keep going without feeling despondent about it all.

Re pampering - a skills swap might get you a pamper session; either directly or via a LETS group if there is one near you, or maybe from the trainees at a local beauty college? Maybe your friends could brainstorm solutions for you?


Lesley

Thanks ISOM and Lesley, it helps just saying it out loud sometimes, doesn't it You are so right, it is exhausting, and I think maybe I am tired. I have had a good think about what you both said, and have decided to take drastic action! I have enlisted the help of a friend, booked a few days off work next week and am going to go and stay with her at her caravan. I will try to stretch the funds to allow a bit of a fun budget for the days I am away with her and I'm also going to see if we can do a home-made spa whilst we are away. Hooray for friends, and for good advice from you ladies :j

I have never found out much about LETS, it sounds like something I should definitely look into, I can cook and bake so perhaps I would have something that others would be interested in.

Thank you very much, I'm well on my way to being a fairy cake again!

Elfin. x

BigMummaF

Oh dear..my turn to eat humble pie --at least that's free I wasn't trying to be a snotty-grot over the ethics issues at all, just a poorly-phrased attempt at putting an opposing view...can we all play together again at break-time please..I'll bring my ball?

Have to admit that we have a certain tv package [think of where birds & aeroplanes move about!] but the offspring are responsible for that. We are a family who enjoy--on the whole--the simple things in life & consider this to be our whole entertainment. Having said that, I'd be sad without it but would cope if it had to go. Hopefully tho, I'll get to watch a few more episodes of '4 Ingredients', an interesting aussie cookery programme that concentrates on recipes with up to four ingredients. I think there's a site on goodfood.co.uk --really must try to write it down next time I catch it :doh:

Lesley_Gaye

Elfinwings wrote: »

Thanks ISOM and Lesley, it helps just saying it out loud sometimes, doesn't it You are so right, it is exhausting, and I think maybe I am tired. I have had a good think about what you both said, and have decided to take drastic action! I have enlisted the help of a friend, booked a few days off work next week and am going to go and stay with her at her caravan. I will try to stretch the funds to allow a bit of a fun budget for the days I am away with her and I'm also going to see if we can do a home-made spa whilst we are away. Hooray for friends, and for good advice from you ladies :j

I have never found out much about LETS, it sounds like something I should definitely look into, I can cook and bake so perhaps I would have something that others would be interested in.

Thank you very much, I'm well on my way to being a fairy cake again!

Elfin. x

GREAT! - that sounds really good

I would love to be a member of a local LETS. There are some relatively nearby, but they are 15-20 miles away, so not very practicle.

I contacted the LETS HQ and they keep trying to get me to set one up, but I don't really want to commit to the large amount of work that that would involve

In_Search_Of_Me

afternoon...sorry have alarmed some people! All I can say openly is that I am trying to minimise debts and pay off max amounts - which I was sort of doing before but in reality a certain amount of playing with it! Mind is now definately focussed - as are efforts! So elec and gas reduced, phone/broadband/tv (no birds with mine!) down to bare min (ie no more living tv which I miss most!) as are rest of bills. Mobile is next to explore. In terms of flat plundered what I mean is that I've decluttered and sold loads!! Feels good actually and I've been overwhelmed by the love and support I've had from family, friends and church...so please dont worry for me. I will get through this but admittedly its a really hard time and I'm exhausted - most of all cos I cant sleep - even with tablets so am back to gp on Thurs. Good thing is I've lost over a stone...silver lining and all that lol!!
Elf great that you are a happy bunny again - or at least happier. One thing I've learned from this is that is just stuff! We just have to rediscover ways to have cheap fun and "reframe" our outlook. It can be quite rewarding...I got rid of barclaycard cashback card yesterday! Only 3 more ccs to go!!

lightisfading

BigMummaF wrote: »

Oh dear..my turn to eat humble pie --at least that's free I wasn't trying to be a snotty-grot over the ethics issues at all, just a poorly-phrased attempt at putting an opposing view...can we all play together again at break-time please..I'll bring my ball?

Have to admit that we have a certain tv package [think of where birds & aeroplanes move about!] but the offspring are responsible for that. We are a family who enjoy--on the whole--the simple things in life & consider this to be our whole entertainment. Having said that, I'd be sad without it but would cope if it had to go. Hopefully tho, I'll get to watch a few more episodes of '4 Ingredients', an interesting aussie cookery programme that concentrates on recipes with up to four ingredients. I think there's a site on goodfood.co.uk --really must try to write it down next time I catch it :doh:

Oh please don't feel bad I think a good debate is good and healthy, we can't all have the same opinions after all. I have to admit to being an advocate of vegetarianism for moral reasons and for financial - despite my whinge about prices recently a veggie diet is cheaper. (but at the same time, I KNOW i'm not perfect as I'm not vegan!)

So yes, PLEASE don't take anything as a personal attack.. just another viewpoint. And after all, if we didn't voice opposing views we'd all be the capitalists the media wants us to be

Fire_Fox

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

well done you! Am doing the same but still buying occasionals like eggs and bread as havent had the energy to make bread...:( Will also now have to seriously debate with mysef about free range/organic eggs as no money...vs the fact that I really abhorr the way they are kept so will prob have to have less eggs to not compromise on what is, for me a fairly strong principle...tricky.

Both Asda and Tesco sell packs of 15 medium free-range eggs for £2 which is not much more than Value/ Smartprice I think. I missed them as they come in a plastic egg box not card, the label doesn't look free-range and the shops keep putting them in funny places (Tesco next to Value eggs, Asda at the end of a frozen aisle!).

In_Search_Of_Me

Thanks all for the egg info. Am ok for now and cant eat too many! Currently living on the cupboards so tonight am having a friend round and were having pork chops, new pots and sweetcorn and a good natter! Good that I am supported but am also able to support others...even if its just a hug, smart price pots and whoopsied chops!! We know how to live dont we eh!!
Elfin can you go to car boot and get some thing for a hobby? Helps to distract and I've much enjoyed my knitting of late - its cheap and means I can make pressies (jumper for ferg restarted cos he grew quicker than I knitted!!) plus do some cheap charity work. I am also (to get my cat fix) looking into doing vol work at local small cat charity...

Elfinwings

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

Elfin can you go to car boot and get some thing for a hobby? Helps to distract and I've much enjoyed my knitting of late - its cheap and means I can make pressies (jumper for ferg restarted cos he grew quicker than I knitted!!) plus do some cheap charity work. I am also (to get my cat fix) looking into doing vol work at local small cat charity...

Hi ISOM, good idea on the hobby front - and I love carboots. Most recently I was able to buy a lovely silk dress for £2 - a good friend is getting married in October and has stipulated Black Tie as the dress code :eek:- I was very relieved to find something within budget to wear!! Volunteering for a cat charity sounds like a lovely way to get the recommended dose of cat-cuddles. Just don't be tempted to bring any of them home with you...I would!

In_Search_Of_Me

mr acetate onkey said the same lol! I wont though - dont want to have to go through parting with them again so no worries there! Much to do as cunning plans are afoot which will mean I get to stay here but get extra dosh tax free and no, its not the oldest profession!!

Savvy_sewing

Maybe its the time of year, as I have been feeling down and depressed about the finances. Yesterday, I started to look at my Debts again, and organised a payment plan with the Utilities (about bills left from living in the big house with the twins and grandchildren). Then in the evening I re looked at my budget, and altough I have trimmed things massively, and I am worried about the income if DS doesnt go to college. My debts which I hadnt got before I moved in with the children/grandchildren, will take me until October 2011!! After loosing everything and going Bankrupt in 2007, I promised myself that I would never again have a debt, and if I couldnt afford it I wouldnt have it.
And here I am now facing huge utility bills that were supposed to have been divided in three between us, and the twins have just ignored all my requests to help me, even if it is only a few £ a week, or month, and left me with the debt.
I also have gone without a lot, and no longer have the funds to keep my timeshare appartment, as I have used my money to pay for groceries, and rent, and a mulititude of things for the twins, and never had the money back.
Mum is no longer a black hole they can plunder.
I was shocked at how much debt and how long it is going to be before I am clear, all from 6 months of living with the girls.
I have trimmed and trimmed the budget, and still cannot live on the 50p a day that you all aspire too. (Or the £4,000 a year challenge).
So I am feeling like a complete failure at the moment.
I wanted to go to the village hall meetings, the lunch club, the art clubs etc, but I cannot see me being able to put them into the budget. But to live in the village and not be able to go out and meet people will be a tough one, after living in Towns and working with so many people when I was at work.

Thank goodness for all the lovely people I have "met" through MSE!!