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

NualaBuala

Hi everyone :wave:

You’ve given me an idea BigMummaF and Keiss 21. I’ve got weeds and scraps of carpet. I wonder could I stick the scraps down to clear the weeds in certain patches? Or does it only work with a huge piece of carpet? How long would it take for them to die off?

Check out the useful links in the first post Keiss – there’s a link for the gloop recipe there. Seems to be a cheap and effective thing for laundry but I haven’t tried it cos I still have a load of soapnuts.

Glad that all is going smoothly with getting your extra hours Cheryl. I can identify with you and Kiwi on the overspends. I’ve also gone way over with my grocery budget. I’m been siphoning funds from other categories to cover it. Have a great trip Kiwi!!!!!

Congrats on the ECDL Erme! :j:T:j And well done for your first day on the job! Hope you're taking time to rest and recover since you've been so tired.

Thanks a mill ChinaTea. :T I feel a bit frustrated really because I feel certain there is something wrong and it’s not all in my head. Doc doesn’t really believe in M.E. and has suggested I exercise and just push through the exhaustion and aches/stiffness. My blood tests were all fine. I’ve agreed to do this cos I don’t have any better ideas. I find that often I can make myself do things and I do really enjoy them – it’s afterwards that I pay the price. Maybe I was clutching at straws thinking it might be M.E. – I just know I can’t do what I’d like to be doing and knowing the reason would help a lot. If nothing else it would help me explain my limitations to other people. Hope you’re ok – sounds like you fended off that DCA well. Yay for you doing all that sewing – a skill I wish I had.

Speaking of sewing, it sounds like you’re doing great with it Jen – yay for you!

Glad that you’re having a great time Candygirl!

Congrats on all your job offers Chika!!!! :j

Hope you’re not too sad to have finished your placement SF – won’t be long before you start your proper job.

I am going to have to do some serious financial wizardry as one of best friends got engaged. The wedding isn't for ages yet but I will have to save frantically to afford it. I don't know how I'll manage but who knows what my circumstances will be then. I was really touched because she has asked me to be bridesmaid. I'd rather not but am thrilled to be asked if you know what I mean, and I want to support her any way I can. I've never done it before and have no idea what's involved. Becuase I feel so unwell at the moment, I'm a bit scared that I won't have the energy to do what needs doing. But I think I'll just be honest with her about what I'm able for. I've already told her I don't mind if she changes her mind. And I might be absolutely fine by the time I need to do anything, *crosses fingers*.


Only a few days left of this month but I can see I've overspent, particularly on food. Will need to have a good look at the budget and figure out how to save for friend's wedding and cut back all around.


Hope you're all doing well and hugs to everyone who'd like one!

cw18

NualaBuala wrote: »

I was really touched because she has asked me to be bridesmaid. I'd rather not but am thrilled to be asked if you know what I mean, and I want to support her any way I can. I've never done it before and have no idea what's involved.

All I can say is that my Maid of Honour didn't have a great deal to do - other than turn up - but I don't think there was much she could have done as she was living abroad at the time (and still is).

She did help out with my three children though (especially when the photographer wanted shots without them, and also when we were greeting guests at the reception), as they were 8.5, 3.5 and 13 months at the time.

NualaBuala

cw18 wrote: »

All I can say is that my Maid of Honour didn't have a great deal to do - other than turn up - but I don't think there was much she could have done as she was living abroad at the time (and still is).

She did help out with my three children though (especially when the photographer wanted shots without them, and also when we were greeting guests at the reception), as they were 8.5, 3.5 and 13 months at the time.

Phew - thanks for the reassurance Cheryl. My friend has no children but that's the kind of thing I'd enjoy doing. I will more likely be found playing with the children than posing in wedding photos or propping up the bar.

bails

Hello everyone (especially those who remember me)

Sorry I haven't been around, life has been extremely hectic since getting back. The good news is that I have a job :j:j:j, the first one I applied for and the one I REALLY wanted, so I am one happy bunny as those of you who know my story can imagine! :D I had my first day yesterday at a conference in London - met some of my team who are great AND it was really interesting! So I am over the moon and can't wait to start a week on Tuesday - they're even starting my contract early so they can pay me over the summer :j

I also bought my wedding dress a few days ago so it's all happening here. Next steps photographer, food and band...

Hope you're all well and enjoying life - I haven't read anything yet so can't comment but lots of love to all my friends on here xx

Kerry_Woman

bails - congrats on your new job.

bails

NualaBuala wrote: »

I feel a bit frustrated really because I feel certain there is something wrong and it’s not all in my head. Doc doesn’t really believe in M.E. and has suggested I exercise and just push through the exhaustion and aches/stiffness. My blood tests were all fine. I’ve agreed to do this cos I don’t have any better ideas. I find that often I can make myself do things and I do really enjoy them – it’s afterwards that I pay the price. Maybe I was clutching at straws thinking it might be M.E. – I just know I can’t do what I’d like to be doing and knowing the reason would help a lot. If nothing else it would help me explain my limitations to other people.

Hi Nuala, I've only just come in half way through your story so I don't know the details but please don't let your doctor's opinion put you off. Sadly 50% of doctors still don't believe in ME, even though it is recognised by WHO as a physical illness. There have been other illnesses in the past that were dismissed the same way which are now fully recognised by all doctors and the rest of society (it sadly took 20 years to gain that recognition) - sometimes the medical profession take a while to catch up! I would expect your blood tests to all be normal, as ME is currently a diagnosis by exclusion (a diagnostic test is being developed in Bristol). I would advise you NOT to exercise through it (this from a HUGE sport junkie) and instead try some other techniques. I'd be happy to offer you some help if you PM me with some more info. Take care x

Congratulations Chika on all the job offers! And SF, did I see you have a job too hun? x

Erme

Am feeling very tired...discovered I am eating about 1000 cals a day. Not able to increase cos have little appetite. Losing weight...

Girlie stuff is happening as well (sometimes I feel very weak second day) so back on the homemade ones (sanitary wear) even though one leaked all over my pj's last night...

Going back to bed...tea is not important...being skinny is!

E

NualaBuala

Erme wrote: »

Am feeling very tired...discovered I am eating about 1000 cals a day. Not able to increase cos have little appetite. Losing weight...

Girlie stuff is happening as well (sometimes I feel very weak second day) so back on the homemade ones (sanitary wear) even though one leaked all over my pj's last night...

Going back to bed...tea is not important...being skinny is!

E

That doesn't sound good Erme. You must be feeling really rotten, you poor pet. I know you've mentioned an eating disorder in the past but not sure what kind - I don't want to pry though. But 1000 calories isn't enough - I do know that much. Would you consider having a wee bowl of cereal or a bit of fruit to keep your strength up? I hope you're not offended at my sticking my oar in, am just concerned for you and want you to be well. Just take care as best you can. Sending love and hugs your way.

Bails, it's lovely to see you back and am delighted for you about the job. A month or so back everyone was having babies, now everyone here is getting jobs! Great news! :T Thanks a mill for your advice about my health, I really appreciate it. The short version is I had depression, then realised my mood was good but energy was rubbish. And am now trying to figure out how to get back to my old self. Doc is nice but clearly not fully up to date on stuff. Will look into it a bit more.

Just in from doing a little more seed-sowing. I have been naughty - didn't have the energy to prepare the soil properly but took a chance. It was nice being out there anyway. Some of my seeds I planted earlier in the week have begun sprouting. Or perhaps weeds have found their way into the container! Anyway, it's a nice thing to see small green leaves poking their little heads through the soil where there was nothing before.

Have a lovely evening everyone!

cw18

For everyone who's recently got a new job




Welcome back Bails - keep us updated with how the job goes



Was called into HR to sign my new contract today, and they're having to re-do it !!! They'd managed to give me a 6am start on Monday, despite the agreement being 7am...... no way am I working 6am-5pm with two paid 15 minute breaks and a 1 hour unpaid lunch break :eek: The HR manager couldn't understand how the mistake had been made, as all the notes she sent off to get the contract printed had said 7am

The new bakery manager was concerned about making it 7am-5pm in the first place, but I assured him I was absolutely fine with that (have done it Mon, Thur & Fri, alongside my normal 7-4 on the Tuesday and 1-5 on Wednesday for 2 or 3 weeks in a row when doing holiday cover - so I know I can cope with it). I just don't do 6am starts (which mean up at 4:30am), even if I could really use my contract being for 30 hours rather than 29!

Now I just need to find out what this does to my holiday entitlement (worked out in hours), and then work out what I've actually booked already (have 3 full weeks and 2 long weekends booked between now and end of March, which is end of the leave year) so I can see what (if anything) I still have available for using

Doom_and_Gloom

Okay I'm sorry I've been missing for so long. After we moved from my parents into our own flat we've had to look at the budget all over again so I've been away working it out .
Our new budget is going to be 5k to not include rent, council tax or my disability needs (DLA should cover all my disability needs).

Keep from January to when we left my parents came to £660
Gas - £270
Electricity - £360
Water - £270
Food - £972
Internet - £90
Contents - £138
Bike insurance - £600
Road tax - £16?
Petrol - £288
Pet costs - £120
Mobiles - £380
Yule - £120
Birthday - £120
Dentist - £125
Optical - £85
Entertainment - £120
TV licence - £142.50 (Paid this off in full as soon as we moved in yet a few days ago got a notice saying they had come by and no one was in - absolute BS as both of us had been in all day - and that we have to pay for a licence or we'll get fined :mad:. Why I bothered paying it in full to get this !!!!!! from them I have no idea! If they come by again and actually bother buzzing to come in I'm going to have the notice and my licence in my hand and tell them to fudge off as I have a damn licence.) *sorry for that rant but it has really angered me *

The above actually comes in at £4,876.50 so we should easily come in under the 5K budget (I don't think I have forgotten anything) but we shall see! Soon to be added to signiture is how much we have spent!