Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

Frugaldom

lingojingo wrote: »

Forgive me Nyk, for I have sinned - not merely fallen off the 'get fitter not fatter' wagon, but completely wrecked it and gained weight!

So, inspired by reading the website, I'm joining you on C25K. I'm going to download the MP3 file that tells you when to change from walking to jogging, see if that helps. Just need it to stop raining, would like a dry first time out!/QUOTE]

:j:T Now about that rain... I asked pal what we'd do if it was pouring when she got here and she said something along the lines of, 'get wet, you fool!' :rotfl:And guess what? It's started to rain here! Other friend did her first work out yesterday, her quote says something about needing an iron lung now?? :rotfl: I keep forgetting that it's been the best part of 30 years since we all left school! :eek: Facebook has a lot to answer to, I blame it for the reminders! :rotfl:

Edited in - is keeping in contact with the same friends one had at school a peculiarity to us northern country bumpkins? HS (from waaaay down south) finds it all a bit odd that we are all still in cahoots with one another after such a long time. And now that us oldies are discovering sites like facebook & friendsreunited, well! NOW I get it! It's amazing! I think my entire high school is online and our class about due another reunion, if we can get them all back into Scotland at the same time. I've already attended 3 reunions, last one in 2004, and there are now whispers of another in the pipeline. :j

Skint_Lynne

Sorry guys but I have to clarify my thoughts on this matter.:o I am well aware of the costs of overheads, wages, equipment, etc because I run a business. I am also grateful and aware of the training, time it takes etc and dedication that vets etc put into their jobs, as our local vet is fantastic.

I just object to the over inflated cost of out of hours services, and they are inflated. The one that I have visited is always mobbed, probably because it is an inner city establishment granted. Also, I cannot figure out how my vet can charge say, £20 for a consultation and the out of hours one up our way is £95 for a glance at a pet, that is without any meds etc.

That's just my experience and why I think they have folk over a barrel in that particular establishment.:eek: It's just a shame that people have to pay these prices as I suspect that sometimes they take their chances and wait until their own vet is open, and that might have dire consequences.

Anyway, that's me stepping off of my soapbox now.;) I hope the wee one is feeling okay today Cheryl.

I am going to get studying for my interview on Wednesday as I really want the job. I am also going to splash out on a haircut so that I look smart, I usually only have one a year because of my long hair, but needs must.

Will check in later. xx

Savvy_sewing

hoping that my health will stabilise. Want to start to collect sticks etc from near by. Have no winter stock for fuel, waiting for the landlord to get the chimney swept.
Started to collect pine cones from BF's garden when I go there, but really need to up my collecting as I am now beginning to panic.
Went over board in the charity shops on Friday, and with lunch out in a local pub, the budget is really blown. But it was great catching up with my best mate. (Only real mate actually).
Went to so many schools, no way I could keep up with the class mates!. Mind you my BF was one from the last school in Cyprus, and we met via the webb!. 5 years or so ago.
Only MSE was the Duvet cover for my bedroom was£2.99 in charity shop.

grandma247

Went to so many schools, no way I could keep up with the class mates!.
me too

cw18

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

It's just a shame that people have to pay these prices as I suspect that sometimes they take their chances and wait until their own vet is open, and that might have dire consequences.

Hate to confess that I actually debated (for about 30 seconds) waiting to see if she had another fit before taking her anywhere before our vet opened at 8:30 this morning :eek:

But I shrugged off the knowlegde it would cost me and went and found the relevant number/address, as I decided I'd never forgive myself if the worst happened because I left her.

Anyway, that's me stepping off of my soapbox now.;) I hope the wee one is feeling okay today Cheryl.

She must be feeling a bit better - in the last hour she's eaten the bowl of food I'd only just put down for her before the fit yesterday, and it only took her about 5 mins to clear it :T

Brighton_belle

should I be worried or excited as a comfirmed townie that my OH is currently reading "The challenge of smallholding":rotfl:

Nyk - wish I could join you on the C25K but I'm struggling to balance the projects I've already got. Will be cheering you from the side lines though - several of the WL forum started off a year ago saying they hated running and are now complete fans, having built up gradually.

Oh and I thought exactly the same about the pressure canners! I though 'this is total hard core' , enviasging a room full of machinery a la heath robinson with steam everywhere and the clunk of a fully sealed tin popping out every 30 seconds:rotfl:

SM - I've actually managed not to buy anything from lakeland since the remoska last August:A

I'm pleased to say that so far, this July I have kept a compete record of cash spends, having slipped up a few times the previous 2 months.

Good to read everyones news and see a few faces popping back. Welcome home shaz and great to hear fromyou sft!

EDITL cw - glad to hear your dog is picking up.

grandma247

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Oh and I thought exactly the same about the pressure canners! I though 'this is total hard core' , enviasging a room full of machinery a la heath robinson with steam everywhere and the clunk of a fully sealed tin popping out every 30 seconds:rotfl:

:rotfl:There is a machine that will"can" dry goods in a tin. I think LDS food storage Places have them in America and people can go and use them to put up their dry goods so they keep indefinately.

CW good news about your little dog.

bails

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

but because she is on incapacity benefit, she got the treatment free.

Really? Is this just for out of hours stuff or generally? I've never heard of this.

Sorry to hear about your yorkie CW, hope it was a one off. My parents dog is also having fits at the mo; apparently ticks can cause them too.

cw18

Bails - you generally need to be in receipt of Housing or Council Tax benefit.

If I don't get any other income before next September I should be able to get some help towards my CT, which means I'll then qualify for the PDSA assistance (rules for the PDSA are here), but have to drive miles to get to them instead of a 5 minute walk down the road to my local vet who knows my dogs

jtb2412

Hi everyone,

Another wanderer who has returned I've still been reading when the time allows so have kind of been keeping up with you all. Happy travelling to those off on adventures, CW - sorry to hear about your doggy, I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery, congrats to whitewing - how exciting :j and hello to everyone else (far too many to mention but if I've not been here in person, I've been here in spirit ).

I won't bore you with a full update of the goings on here but to give you a rough idea it's been incredibly hectic both at home and work.

Home life has been packed with gardening/allotment, picking, freezing, cooking, decluttering (which I'm still doing), kids social lives, visiting family and so on.

Work life - all change on that front. Our 'tenants' who rent part of our office space are moving out, we have new tenants moving in, other employees from other offices moving in and a major sort out while we appoint a new manager so I've been doing loads of extra hours and trying to split my time between work/home life.

I was very glad to have a quiet term at Guides - the other leader took on most of the planning/organising so that was a relief !

So, I'm afraid I've fallen off the wagon completey with figures and the challenge but I did start again last week so am back with it. I simply didn't have the time to keep up with spending and logging everything on the spreadsheet but the bank balance is looking great so even if I haven't been doing it 'properly', I think my subconscious mind has kept me more on the straight and narrow than I probably realised.

My plans for the holidays are:

Keep up with all the produce and freezing, jamming, pickling and preserving as much as I can.

Batch cook lots of soups for winter.

Declutter as much as possible, especially the kitchen - I need the space for storage of all the jams and chutneys :eek:. This kind of poses a problem as I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to kitchen gadgets and items - I can't bear to get rid of anything just in case I'll need it in future. I'm in two minds as to bung it in the loft or freecycle it and be done with it. Any advice on that would be welcomed .

Keep on top of the garden/allotment. We spent the whole weekend down the plot and have more or less got up to date with everything (weeding, tidying etc). Garden still needs some attention but hoping to get that done over the next 2 weeks.

Spend some much needed time down the beach with the kids. We are off on holiday in 2 weeks so plan to spend that time resting/relaxing and mainly spending time together having fun (as cheaply as possible of course!)

I've done my budget for the year and I need to start thinking about some savings accounts so if anyone could point me in the right direction - I have no idea where to start !

I won't bore you any more , just needed to get a few things off my chest so to speak and get it written down so I can't fall off the wagon again :rolleyes:.

Feels a bit liberating to be back :D:T.

Off to do more decluttering :eek: