FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 2, April - June.

grandma247

Hello Bails good to see you back.

whitewing

Erme,

I love pinking shears. Reminds me of my nan as she was the only person I knew who had any. Used to have hours of fun as a child with hers.

rozeepozee

Is anyone going to the smallholding festival at Builth Wells? We'd love to go but it might be a bit ambitious camping with such little babies.

http://www.rwas.co.uk/en/garden-festival/

Blairweech

Hi everyone

Bails: Yay, you are back! Hope you had a fantastic time, great to see you again

Good to see rozee and whitewing around too

Frugalling is going well, I have 4 days work ahead of me now, plus a weekend working on a local farm, :j

However, there is a rather major issue at home...I spoke to my Dad about my uni digs this weekend, his response 'how are you going to pay for that then?'. Turns out when I originally asked my Mum about going to uni and would they pay for the digs (that was the bit I can't afford) and she said yes, what she actually meant was 'I'll just say yes because it's probably another one of your ridiculous ideas which you will forget about in a week' and didn't mention it to my Dad :mad: :mad: :mad: It should have been properly discussed, but seeing as my parents do not wish to encourage me and my Dad does not even want to hold a conversation with me about the subject (or any subject really), thats pretty unlikely. If I'ld have known this was the case, I would have approached the whole thing differently BEFORE I gave up my house and job to pursue my dreams. Naturally, my Dad did not bother to come with me on my open day/interview because it would have meant him missing an afternoons TV.

Sigh. Sorry, I am just so...weary. And now I have no idea what to do.

candygirl

Great to see you back Bails:j:j:j
Have had a not so frugal weekend with lots of socialising with Mr Meerkat, but it's been fab:D:D:p:pI'm sure things will calm down into the humdrum soon:rotfl::rotfl:
Have done tons of freezer sorting and batch cooking today so wont need much shopping this week:j:j
Have also sold a lot, n bought a bit on ebay to stop me shopping all the time.Have the holiday at the end of the month so my ex is looking after the dogs here, so very frugal me thinks:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

whitewing

On Sat morning DH, DS and I sat down and went thro our folder. This is where we list our priorities, list the clothes etc we need, and basically work out how we're going forward. Short, medium and long term stuff, but we try to remain a little flexible so not really any strict deadlines.

On Sunday we went for a pootle round town, bought some trainers for DS, and some clothes for DH. All bargains of course (but not sufficiently great bargains to list here!) Got all the Boots baby bargains too including the Parenting Club Changing Bag.

While we were having tea last night DH was so pleased, and remarked that it was the first time in years that he had been able to spend a load of money and not have to wait until bday or Xmas to use the stuff! I felt so guilty... (I'm not that bad really and he didn't mean it resentfully)...until today....

We went for one of those account reviews that our local bank does that I always try to wriggle out of but thought I would take the opportunity to use it to make our savings acct joint too (were in my name but it occurred to me that as I keep the current acct balance very low, DH may run into trouble immediately if anything happened to me).

And apparently out of the 9 ratings the bank has for 'desirability' -can't remember what they actually call it - we are the top rating! (Should point out that luckily, and only really by accident, we have never been really bad, but not that great either). So I'm chuffed to bits. And it has motivated me to keep chugging on. Especially as our strategy is to overpay our (expensively rated) mortgage, which works but means we can't 'see' our money so we just feel poor all the time, lol.

I am another poster who nods, cheers and hugs along while reading the thread so I can honestly say if I read the post - and I don't ignore anyone, just skip posts if baby is too demanding - then I will be talking to myself about it and thinking of the poster. And my thanks button doesn't work so I can't thank anyone.

ceridwen

Blairweech wrote: »

Hi everyone

Bails: Yay, you are back! Hope you had a fantastic time, great to see you again

Good to see rozee and whitewing around too

Frugalling is going well, I have 4 days work ahead of me now, plus a weekend working on a local farm, :j

However, there is a rather major issue at home...I spoke to my Dad about my uni digs this weekend, his response 'how are you going to pay for that then?'. Turns out when I originally asked my Mum about going to uni and would they pay for the digs (that was the bit I can't afford) and she said yes, what she actually meant was 'I'll just say yes because it's probably another one of your ridiculous ideas which you will forget about in a week' and didn't mention it to my Dad :mad: :mad: :mad: It should have been properly discussed, but seeing as my parents do not wish to encourage me and my Dad does not even want to hold a conversation with me about the subject (or any subject really), thats pretty unlikely. If I'ld have known this was the case, I would have approached the whole thing differently BEFORE I gave up my house and job to pursue my dreams. Naturally, my Dad did not bother to come with me on my open day/interview because it would have meant him missing an afternoons TV.

Sigh. Sorry, I am just so...weary. And now I have no idea what to do.

Oh dear....:(

Hope things work out with you okay. NOT good news when one cant rely on parents to back you up for wanting to achieve the best you can with your life....:(

Best wishes that things go okay with you....

enjoyfinancialchallenges

Hi bails good to have you back onboard, as you will find out lots has been going on including a few extra frugalmites but fortunately not for me.:eek:
I hope we will get to learn a little at least about your wanderings. I have to say I loved the last paragraph on your posting thanking everyone, thanks you are welcome, for any use my rambles have been to you. IUKWIM......correct? or have I just invented another abbreviation? Oh well !!!

So sorry to learn about your dilema Blairweech, that sounds really tough, its at times like this that I realize I would like to be able to do more than post and offer support. Somehow we do get to 'know' each other more than just a little bit. It must be terribly frustrating that you have made major changes in your life in order to achieve what you set out to do. Is there just a tiny, tiny chance you could discuss it with your DF? I wrote the 'DF' bit with gritted teeth because of what you wrote about him earlier :mad:

My feet are at last progressing, I had the stitches out today, not a good experience and one day I'm glad is over. By the time I returned from the hospital at 3 30 I was exhausted and fell slept so tonight may be a long one!

On the frugal front my month is now over and I had £8 75 left over so an improvement on last month when I was short by about £8 00. Must do better this month though.:(

BigMummaF

Hey Bails :j Glad you're both back safe & sound & envious of the gloriously healthy tan you must have brought home with you How did the Nepalese[?] waistcoats turn out & have you found The Dress? What's happening with your plans to hold the ceremony in the fields? Have you seen the pooch! So many questions--I'm sorry --but it's good to have you back. You must tell us how Russia & Tibet fair up against the media face..& Good Luck with the Job Hunting.
OK--& *inhales deeply, holds....sighs* aahhhh...breathe...I'll leave you to settle in...

Blairweech wrote: »

....'how are you going to pay for that then?'....
Sigh. Sorry, I am just so...weary. And now I have no idea what to do.

Aww Blair--I'm so sorry; I'm not surprised you feel so low. You had things ticking over & now there's a ruddy great hole in the radiator so to speak but--once your resolve kicks in--I think you/we need to concentrate on the question of the moment. I find the best Plan is to arm myself with a pen & paper & physically write down all the pros & cons of a situation. I suppose you could do it on a computer, but I like the feeling you get when you can actually scrub something out when it is no longer relevant--bit like slamming down a phone & you can't do that with a cordless & get the same satisfaction! So..if it were my list I would have:-

The Situation: can I still afford Uni?

Issues:- Cost of Course & Supplies £x + Housing £x + Living £x = £x
Savings £x + Potential Earnings £x + Possible Grants £x = £x
Balance to Obtain = £x
Pro:-
It will give me the qualifications I need to pursue my Dream.
I will have done this completely on my own merit.
I will learn so many Life Skills by attempting to achieve this.
I can get work in the uni bar/local restaurant/supermarket/farm.
Grants from EU, NFU, bursaries.

Con:-
I will have to live as cheaply as possible for X years.
I will have no financial safety net as all savings are spoken for.
I have to find a job to fit around location/ hours/ course requirements.
It will be bluddin hard, difficult & soul-destroying until I complete & find work.

That kind of thing & if you write your own list, we can offer suggestions to help you through. Perhaps it may help if you think of this not so much as a set-back, but more an opportunity to truly examine how you feel about your future--glass half full & all that ((Hugs))

enjoyfinancialchallenges wrote: »

....its at times like this that I realize I would like to be able to do more than post and offer support. Somehow we do get to 'know' each other more than just a little bit....

How very true EFC & like Whitewing, I sit here chuntering on at the poota screen with hisses & kisses where appropriate tho thankfully, the latter is in the majority :T I do read the thread & again like many others, feel I don't have a lot to add on a day-to-day basis; there's a limit to how interesting hanging my xxxXl 'smalls' outside can be, altho I did drop a pair t'other day & had to chase Pup to get them back :rotfl:Thank the Stars the gate was closed or the kiddies would have had a fright on their way to school, seeing a not-very-fit female clad in an all-too-comfy-but-ancient housecoat trying to round up an english bull staffie with a flowery barrage balloon hanging from his jowls :eek: Free entertainment tho

Frugaldom

Hi guys, just catching up after a fairly busy weekend of gardening, attending a birthday BBQ (Sophiesmum) and listing a couple of things on eBay.

Top-Drawer, we're not allowed to promote our listings on here, so no way of knowing who is who unless you all PM'd one another.

Blairweech, that is tragic news about uni and digs fees but maybe it's an expense that your parents genuinely cannot afford but just don't want to have to admit that there are money worries. Could you find a sponsor to fund your digs or could you find a family who would be prepared to have you stay with them in exchange for helping about the house or farm/land?

Bails! How lovely to see you back on here, hope to hear loads more from you soon.

Erme, that Newtondee place looks brilliant, it's like the kind of place I'd love to be part of where everyone staying there was a fellow frugaleer.

Frugaldom is progressing well with spending being kept low at all times. Ceridwen is right, I am all for the bartering system and neighbours actually BEING neighbours rather than just the people who live next door or whatever. It's amazing how many different attitudes there are regarding this, though, as it just isn't 'for' some people. I haven't a clue why anyone would want to cut themselves off from all others as it's far better to have the support of a friendly network of people if or when there's a crisis.

Personally, I haven't noticed much difference in any financial or political way for years. Prices fluctuate, interest rates fluctuate, the job market fluctuates, the housing market fluctuates and those who earn too much money will always be at the helm dictating what us lesser mortals should do, be it fighting wars, farming, claiming 'benefits' or paying taxes. I reckon I must live in some sort of bubble, despite my being a chatterbox. I see friends and acquaintances every week, I'm communicating with the outside world every day and life is just a balancing or juggling act of maintaining health, wealth and happiness. It's difficult to keep all the balls in the air at the same time but we find our own way of doing it eventually. Or maybe Frugaldom lies in the heart of La La Land and I'm just a bit naive.

Watched the eccentric vicar on TV and wasn't he so lucky to have a house provided, utilities paid and a massive walled garden for £25 a year? Wow! Most entertaining, although not very realistic for most of us - especially the running of a car and having parishioners buying us petrol. But the general theme is good - we need what we need and nothing more and we should freely give what we can afford to give. Charity, poverty and love of nature, I think, is Franciscan and that fits in well with frugal living. Only nowadays, we're drawn into the belief that poverty is something that means not being able to afford designer gear or a car! That's the part that makes me mad. But I won't drag out the soap box just yet as it spoils a perfectly good day.