Live on £4000 for a year - part 4 (Oct - Dec 2008)

Skint_Lynne

Janey51 wrote: »

Sorry Frugal Friends for neglecting you all
I am still popping in and out but seem very lacking in energy and motivation at the moment.
I think I am getting too worried about Christmas without DH and even though I have made plans, part of me wants to be here in case he decides to come back :rolleyes:
I know I'm being silly but I really do believe he will be trying to contact me and I want to be here even though he will be quite capable of speaking to me wherever I am in the world when he is ready.

I bet you all think I'm going nuts now but grief is a strange creature. I find it lies quietly in a corner for a while and then jumps out and gets you by the throat when you are not expecting it :sad:

I have spent almost nothing over the past week which is good :T But I am off to Manchester tomorrow and I am going to buy myself some new clothes as I really am starting to look a little frayed around the edges

I do apologise for not commenting on people's posts and I hope everyone is doing OK although hugs to Marru.

Janey,

He will be trying to contact you, take it from one that knows. I don't know if I have mentioned before that I live in my nana's house. I quite often come home at night to find that the lights have been switched on for my arrival, or that my fireplace ornaments have been re-arranged. My kettle also swiches itself on (she was fond of a cup of tea:p ). In support of them finding you wherever you are, the kettle also switches itself on in my mum's house (her daughter).

Now, some of you will think that I am nuts, never mind Janey, but these things actually happen. I thought of telling you when you mentioned about the noise in your hall janey, but I didn't want to frighten you. I actually take comfort in the fact that she is still 'around'. None of these things occured before she left us, now it happens on a regular basis. I hope that makes you feel better, and not ordering the men in white coats to take me away!!:rotfl: :rotfl:

Skint_Lynne

Forgot to say, a NSD so far today, hopefully I will keep it up before bedtime. I am so tired and I have a party to do tonight. I just could not sleep last night and I felt as if I was up every hour. I think I had too much on my mind after doing 67 reviews yesterday. I had better get all those goodies or I will be angry!!!

Brighton_belle

Janey - just to add to the chorus of voices - I don't think you are nuts either. You are spot on about grief - it does lie still for awhile, as just as you think 'I'm getting the hang of this', does leap up and grab you by the throat. Do what ever you need to do to look after yourself Janey.As other's have said, your DH can find you where ever, but if you need to be at home, then follow that instinct. I hope youare able to enjoy some of your trip to Manachester, and kitting yourself out with some new clothes. That sounds very good and norishing for you.

Lynda - fab news about the job. Many congrats.
Spent the afternoon in bed with 3 layers on, 2 pairs of sock and a duvet, AND a hotwater bottle, unable to get warm. Still , a NSD:D .
On target to do a second month of food shopping at £175. Got £20 to last 12 days but only need bananas and a few bits and pieces.

sophiesmum_2

Brighton_belle wrote: »

(((HUGS))) Marru -i can really empthise re the energy slumps and it must be so hard coping with DD when you feel like that. I know little about your circs, but every bit of me is hoping you don't select the 'return to accounting' option. Seems you were born to work with animals to me.

After an appallingly early start to the day, I am now back home and doing some more clearing clutter. Trying to be ruthless, and pretending I am about to move house and have to pay for every kg of stuff I choose to keep:rotfl: . Some stuff I wish I could just get rid of, without feeling, 'oh. but you could Ebay that. We all know what that means...living with the undone ebay mountain for months...
Love the veg garden plans shaz. Maybe by the spring I'll have finshed organinsing the hse and it'll be time to turn attention to the back yard.

BB , I find it much more liberating to get the stuff out of the house as soon as possible - tip or charity shop usually. You get a nice buzz from having helped the charity and get rid of the stuff out the house. If I have stuff hanging around it drains me and I feel as if I am getting nowhere with my decluttering.

Marru

Hello everybody!

Just to say that you are all wonderful.

Not an NSD as bought snack at college and had to get a new jacket for DD as the zipper died on the one that was given to us and last winter's one is too small. But I did take my own sarnies for lunch.

I am trying to get a babysitter for Thursday so that I can go out first time in (ummmm, over four years). She will confirm tomorrow if she can do it. Fingers crossed. If I can get a baby sitter then it is skittles night for me. Donation towards snacks £1.- plus a soft drink to go with them.

Due to the car issue my ex has now got a penalty payment from DVLA for £55.- (£35.- if he pays early) because he failed to inform DVLA about the disposal (ownership transfer) of the car and he is angry with me as he thinks I should pay it. Well I won't. He has given enough grief re the car as it is.

When I came home I had a lovely letter from council saying that they will take me to court due to unpaid council tax. I have told them about ages ago that I am a student so I don't think the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. This is the smallest of my worries as I am sure it is easiest to sort out.

I really need to update my spreadsheets and find out what my financial situation is. I have spent my lunch hour reading MSE articles about "up your income". I have decided to join one of these agencies that provide pet services as a pet feeder. Can't do boarding or sitting and I already do the amount of walking I can but I could do feeding when the owners are away. Also I will look again into catalogue delivery stuff. I couldn't find the forum post about it today but will try again tomorrow.

I am ok, really tired but mood is better. No studying tonight or in the early hours of tomorrow morning me thinks. And I can see my favourite man tomorrow and kiss him and cuddle him. Ummm - no - he is a horse. :rotfl:

Thanks for everybody.

And Lynda - that is excellent!!!

Janey - I think that I can talk with my guinea pig who passed away so why couldn't you be able to with someone "from same species" that was so close to you.

Everybody else: or , which ever applies!

Marru

PS I did think of selling myself in eBay: Damsel in distress - spronsor needed...

whitewing

Janey,

From my DH's culture we have adopted a tradition of lighting a candle on Xmas Eve for a few hours to sit quietly and reflect on those who are no longer with us. It's lovely to do, even if only for a few solitary moments in the hubbub of festivities. (We'll be thinking of your Tom).

Everyone else, hello.

sophiesmum_2

whitewing wrote: »

Janey,

From my DH's culture we have adopted a tradition of lighting a candle on Xmas Eve for a few hours to sit quietly and reflect on those who are no longer with us. It's lovely to do, even if only for a few solitary moments in the hubbub of festivities. (We'll be thinking of your Tom).

Everyone else, hello.

That's a lovely tradition whitewing:A , I may try that myself, this year has been particularly hard for me with the loss of people I loved. This would be a lovely way of bringing them into my christmas.:heartpuls

cha97michelle

Hi everyone.

I have been having a good few days. I had to spend some money on stuff on Saturday (new baby outfit as a present for my friend, a few more christmas presents sorted, a new coat for my DS1 as he fell over and ripped his other one and i couldn't mend it - no hardship as it was last years one anyway.) I redeemed it though, as i have been busy in the kitchen and we had a frugal family outing.

I am feeling rather pleased with myself as although i can cook, there are certain things i don't which i think of as hard. I managed to make shortcrust pastry, and also proper yorkshire puddings over the weekend. Tasty and much cheaper than buying packets and adding just water. I have learnt my lesson, and love my dairy cooking book that i got when i was a student but haven't used much since.

So basically, Friday night i made the pastry and stretched a small portion of stew into a pie that served DH and myself. I also made a banana cake in the oven at the same time - 1st time i've managed that. Then I did toad in the hole, which went down really well with the boys here.

I've also dusted off the breadmaker and made 3 loaves in the last 3 days. I stopped using it when i was pregnant as the smell of the yeast really aggravated my morning sickness, and i've found by using warm water and slightly more yeast than the recipe says, my bread has been really yummy and risen superbly.

I'm confident now that i might manage to live more cheaply.

lynda big congratulations from me for the job. I hope you find a suitable solution to help you start as soon as you are needed.

Marru you sound a lot more chipper tonight. Have you managed more rest/sleep?

redglass thanks for the costco info. It's good to know i can get a membership and how, although my DH asked his boss if we could use his business to get a card, so i think we will go that route as it will be at least £5 cheaper.

Right, off to make myself a shopping list. I have squeezed an extra couple of days out of my fresh food stocks by baking and random concoctions, but i need a trip to Mr Ms tomorrow. I will make sure i spend £40 in the best way, and qualify for the £20 voucher. I know i am now low on breadmaking flour. (Actually - i noticed today that my yeast and skimmed milk powder are both over a year out of date - maybe that is why my bread was nicer. )

Michelle, x

Brighton_belle

sophiesmum wrote: »

BB , I find it much more liberating to get the stuff out of the house as soon as possible - tip or charity shop usually. You get a nice buzz from having helped the charity and get rid of the stuff out the house. If I have stuff hanging around it drains me and I feel as if I am getting nowhere with my decluttering.

Thanks ever so much for this SM, and everyone else who commented. The silly thing is, I know this to be true and right for me too, but I needed others to valid date this to enable me to be free:o . I have 3 things I feel I must try and sell and I going to wack them on tomorrow and then that's it. Ebaying isn't for me and that's ok.

Michelle - I always love the comment in your sig. I wonder what you'll do for 2009?
Marru, forgive me if I've got the wrong end of the stick but sometimes you've talked about having to get large sums into your dd's trust fund. I don't know if you are still striving for this, but I was wondering if given your circs, this is something you could accept a 2 year delay on until you have finished college. Your DD is better off now with a less exhausted mummy that having x in the bank when she is 18. I know in an ideal world, filling the trust fund would be a priority, but i would think the few £1000 I think you've talk off could make both your life alot easier now (and therefore hers too).

Frugaldom

Good evening all, extra special wishes to Marru and Janey and huge congratulations to Lyndasharp!

It has taken me aaaaaaaaaages to catch up with all the posts but I'm confident that my broadband will be sorted out within the next week or 2. Anything has to be faster than the 28kbs connection speed I have tonight!:rotfl:

That's the first week in the new house passed already! It's still chaotic, but the greenhouse is up and filling with kindling, firewood and assorted garden firniture, boxes and the BBQ - no signs of any plants yet! :rolleyes:

Immediate savings - Seeing as we had a brand new prepayment electricity meter fitted the day we moved in, it was easy to see what the past week has cost us. Old house was averaging about £7.50 per day, here is about £3 per day! :j :j :j Better still, it's so much warmer with the fire burning freebie logs.

The grocery budget has taken a serious hammering, because I decided to place a stockpile order to Mr T's and get it delivered to parents' house. They'll bring it with them next week when visiting and it'll top up the stores to last well into 2009 with some things. I now probably have enough bubble bath, shower gel and shampoo to last the entire 2009 challenge, never mind 2008! :rotfl:

I hope everyone who is holidaying this week has a great time, sorry I'm not around very much but it's a 25 mile round trip between the two houses and I still need to go there every day to do more packing. Must dash again, we're salvaging some old furniture rather than buying new Tomorrow, I want to tackle the junk-filled garage to see if there's fire fodder or anything that can be converted into anything else before council come and take it all away.:rotfl:

Marru - I trained as a RANA many years ago at Glasgow University Vet College, the job is well worth doing if you love working with animals. Stick with it and maybe an au pair isn't such a bad idea if you have a spare bedroom and could offer English lessons, board & lodgings in exchange for childminding and some light housekeeping duties.