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

cw18

Still reading regularly, but not a lot to report from here.

However, I got ridiculously excited today when the window cleaner gave me a discount of 40p for paying an extra one early

He came cleaning before I went to work, and (as I'm not going to be in tomorrow when the other chap comes collecting money) I went out to pay him. Only had a £10 note (borrowed from DS2s room, but has been repaid this evening) and expected to pay him £8.40 for two cleans (this months bill), only to be told todays was only £2 as they'd not done the back last time (boss - who was doing the cleaning today - was on holiday, and forgot to leave key for my gate). So he looked at the tenner and said he'd take that as payment for today and the next two, which should have been £10.40 Given they missed one clean in January due to the snow and he's not put the price up (normally does in April), this means I've already paid for the first clean of July but am still less than half way through the budget for that category


Did a stock-take of my freezers last weekend, and discovered I have enough portions of pies/meat/fish to last me until the end of the year (even with DS2 here until September). By the time I add in the tins of tuna etc and packets of mushroom rissotto I have in, I really don't need to buy anything else along those lines until somewhere in the early part of 2011...... I just need to restrain myself from refilling gaps in the freezers as they appear now


Starting to really get into the swing of NSDs, though I'm lucky to get more than 4 in a row at the moment - mainly due to the rate at which DS2 gets through milk (and with not having freezer space to buy in bulk and store there). Hoping to get much longer stretches after he moves out for Uni


DD is moving house on Saturday, and has to be at the letting agency in a different area at 9:30 that morning to finish off paperwork and collect the keys. So tomorrow night I'm staying at her current place with my GDs while she stays over at my parents place, then my Dad's bringing her back in a hire van to do the move (have hopefully convinced DS2 that he's helping too, as it's likely to take more than one run and DD and I really want to get it all done on Saturday). I've got to drive up to her new place by tea-time complete with GDs (and more than likely her PC and/or TV), then am hanging around there until my OH gets home from an afternoon with friends. As her new place is only about 5.5 miles from his, there's no point me coming home for an hour or so just to drive back up again to see him.



I'm also seriously considering rehoming the dog by the end of the Summer, which will mean further changes to my budget. Neither of the boys is happy about this plan, but my main concerns are that I won't have enough time for him after DS2 moves out (meaning I have to do all the walking) or I may have to have him put to sleep when I can't afford treatment that is relatively 'simple' and a 'quick cure' for a problem (both of which - especially the latter - come under the heading of 'irresponsible pet ownership' to me). I looked into the possibility of free treatment (if needed) through the PDSA etc., but don't (and won't) qualify for any of the benefits you have to be in receipt of to get this.

DS1 had asked me to hang on to the dog until he comes out of the Army (should be next March at the latest, which I could have coped with) so he could take him off me - but then informed me last week that he's looking at working abroad and preferably truck driving in the USA, so I can't see that he's thinking about the dog at all. DS2 has offered to chip in with costs while he's at Uni, but I still don't think I'd have the necessary time

Plus he ties me to the house, and seriously restricts time I can spend with OH (or any friends, or on any outings) - and OH has bad allergies to some animals, so may not be able to spend time at my place on a regular basis anyway (Not yet introduced them to see, as I'm still de-cluttering when I have any spare time - and 'spare time' is the one thing that's been greatly reduced since starting to see OH, yet it needs doing before he can come over)

Erme

Nuala cos you hae three stars :j

Just a quick heads up...thanks for all the good wishes...just nipping out to docs to get some self injury did last weekend double checked cos it's sore and hot...Hope everyone is well. Got 32 large buns from mr S on Wed (my normal night to go to mr s for bread) for 32p ...yay...16p for 8 then BOGOF.

So yeah Dr. C was cool...am getting better....just tryign to manage the side effects of these meds now:P

E

NualaBuala

Aw thanks Erme! :T:T:T Glad you got on ok w Dr C ... and hope you're doing better all round now, you've had a tough old time of it by the sounds of things. (((((Erme))))).

Well I shall try not to let my 3rd star go to my head! :rotfl:

I'm trying to do some meal planning - I don't seem to be able to stick to a rigid plan so I'm doing a list of meals to pick and choose from during the week. I'm trying to use up what I've got in the freezer so all I'll really need is fruit and veg and maybe a few bits like spices I haven't got in.

I've got an engagement party tomorrow which I hadn't budgeted for so I'm really hoping I can claw back the money from my grocery budget. Or from some other category cos I seem to be spending more on groceries these days.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Erme

Well the good news is the burn isn't infected. :j

The bad......

dressing for approx 6 weeks and no showering cos I'm allergic to the waterproof ones ... Practically gave the really good looking GP the shock of his life cos he didn't know I SIed with burning (How long have I been @ that practice? Like a few years and how long have I been burning? like a few years? - go figure?). So paranoia on the way home and like more meds. If I get any housework done the next few weeks it'll be pretty amazing but dv I'll only be on the upped dose of tabs 4 2 weeks and then I'll get my depot shot upped. Next see Dr. C a week wed :eek: too many medics spoil the broth methinks

and I have a new word - a verb - to misimprove - as in waste...and in the context of time

Hope this juicer fae ebay comes today. So need it when nutritionally I'm just eating whatever is to hand..

Good job on the menu planning Nuala...you'll find your grocery spend go down. Too me that's the first stage of FL - menu planning...

Hugs

E

Erme

Really, really am going back to bed in a mo....Nuala where is the DFW thread/board?

Ta

E

Erme

I didn't go back to bed till 6 :P . And by that point I was paranoid and planning 'the great escape'...good news the juicer came this am and looks really good . Have tested it on apples ...Has no container for the juicer (just a spout). It's a russell hobbs/george foreman 'juicelady' with recipes and stuff. Huge box! (ps yes it IS really quiet!)

And am beginning to feel a little less faint on the meds. Been doing housework this am :j...so soon be lunch and then nap before going out ot this protest but I think I'll be a little late...

I still think the world cup is a code word for a german invasion :eek: Been thinking that since yesterday...

E

snugglebum

Hello, I dont know if you all remember me but i was mumzyof2. iam back now after a bit of hard time (hence why i left and lost contact). I have recently moved house and had a baby girl Hope everyone is well xxx

JayneC

Hiya all,

Top_drawer, do let me know if you decide to go to the Festival, we could meet up if you like? Made a bit of a list of all the things I need for camping and it's prob gonna be a bit more expensive than fisrt anticipated, lol:D Still not too bad tho and when I've got everything I've got it IYSWIM.

Thanks for the heads up about Aldi Nuala I'll take a look at that.

Erme glad you feeling a bit better, take care of yourself

Was planning to go to Mr T tonight but think I've left it a bit late now. Shall have to go in the morning. Think we're going to go to one of the 'Open Farms' in the afternoon. It's not too far away and there's quite a few activities lined up plus stalls. Will report back tomorrow.

Well DS hovering today so better let him have half an hour on computer before bedtime.

See you all soon. xx

xnatalie81x

Welcome back snugglebum you getting onto the challenge again

grandma247

Welcome back snugglebum. Sorry you had a hard time and I hope things are better for you now.