FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

Erme

Nuala try orange juice.....sorry forgot about that one...even orange squash makes me feel 'normal' on a bad day ...

Good pm down the veg garden...just tired and heaps to do before Sabbath

Catch up later

Hugs

E

JayneC

Hi everyone,

Wil have to get better at keeping up with thread, it's been ages again!

Sorry you're not too well at mo Erme and Nuala, hope you feel better soon. And hugs to anyone else that needs them.

Exciting news - have now got 2 chickens, after deliberating for about 2 years... They're not laying yet as they're still young but have settled in ok. Mum and dad came to visit this week and helped to build a proper enclosure so now they're safe but have plenty of room to move about - the enclosure is high enough to stand in and goes all along my back fence. The compost bin is in there as they love to scratch around init for bugs and worms... and they like to perch on the edge. (It's a wooden one that I made from an old shelving unit and off cuts of my shed when it got cut down to make the chickenhouse, lol). Managed to make the enclosure with mostly off cuts of wood so only cost around £25!!! That was for some long posts of wood, chicken wire and hinges. I'm well pleased with it. Will try to post some pics.

Also have been offered some land to use for growing food, it's huge but really overgrown so will take some time to get under contol (managed to get some strawberries in tho). THere's already some things growing there, redcurrants, rhubarb, raspberries and a grapevine in the green house and tons of blackberries. Theres' allegedly a gooseberry bush too but I've not found it yet. Will probbaly take till next spring to get in any sort of order so don't think I'll get much in this year. Will keep you updated. Not sure where I'm up to with my budget as I'm getting worse at keeping track but don't think I'm too far out.

Went carbooting last week as DS1 had some things he wanted to sell. I made about £5 and he made about £80!! Did manage to get a couple of things and not go too mad (which can be a problem with car boots). Got a lovely NEXT jumper for DS2 for £1, a Thomas the Tank Engine cardi for DGS for 50p, but splashed out on kitchen scales at £4!! THey were really good ones though with a proper metal bowl. THink that was all so not too bad! DS2 is off to his summer camp tomorrow and have to take him to the coach at White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds so will have to show great deal of restraint! DD2 and DD3 are coming along for a mooch round the shops but I'll try not to look!!

Back soon, take care all xx

slowlyfading

Just a quick hello - the move went well and we're settling in nicely budget is still okay - obviously spending more sorting things out but it's still pretty low

Kerry_Woman

Slowlyfading - Glad the move went well and that you are settingly in alright.

Frugaldom

Glad to see you got moved, SF.

Sorry never to post much, too many things to do whilst trying to make the most of whatever dry weather we get. Nothing exciting to report, still on budget and still frugaling like made. Glad everyone's doing well and I did think of Whitewing at the weekend - belated happy anniversary!

Kiwisaver_2

Hey all, I hope you are all doing okay. I've not been around for a while and seem to have completely lost the plot since I came back from my travels. Having got all behind at work after four weeks away I seem to be forever running to catch up with myself and everything has gotten on top of me. I think I have the winter blues, working late, eating !!!!pola and I've generally not been feeling on top form. A touch of homesickness added to the woes and now I am on a mission this week to climb out of the hole and get back on top of my life. Hopefully by the end of this week with a last push this week the work stress will be reduced and I can get back to normal.

Feeling stressed with my work and having a lack of energy though, has spurred me on to go and join a yoga class. I've been for three weeks now and although it's ultimately going to be good for me I have been feeling the 'pain' of not having done any real exercise for over three years and this has probably added to my weariness.

I have just caught up with my spreadsheet tonight and added up all my spends and amended my signature. It's not looking so bad afterall and I'm still doing considerably better than budget and I've paid a lump off the mortgage with holiday money that didn't get spent. :T

Erme

Hugs Kiwi...just off to Mr S interview via hospital chaplaincy..hope everyone is well..was fixated and anxious yesterday and had a whoopsie spend :eek: so like praying about the budget tomorrow...anyhow...

I was still fixated and like I was on online ads and I found another job ...so phoned up and had an interview straight away. It's just door to door sales with an electric firm but still

Blessings

E
PS. Christian folk Mr. S interview is @ 4pm so please pray - boy I need 'em

NualaBuala

Good luck Erme!!!

pagangirl

De-lurking to say hope interview went well Erme.

Keeping fingers crossed for you

Hugs
xx

cw18

Hope things went well Erme



Have ordered some more work uniform pieces today - been trying to get confirmed prices since last Thursday, which they finally managed to get for me today! - but was told by HR that payment will be taken as a salary clawback from next months pay so won't show on my s/sheet as a spend until then

Was initially issued with 2 blouses and 1 apron, but - as I pointed out to them on my first shift - I wasn't going to be able to get the apron washed, dried and ironed between clocking out at 5pm on a Monday and clocking in at 7am on a Tuesday (none of it is suitable for a tumble dryer even if I had enough wet laundry to warrant using it) so they gave me a second apron.

This still means I have to put the washer on for one set of uniform every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and for both on Friday, in order to have a clean set every day - and (due to size of household and reluctance of DS to pass over his washing) most times it's only my uniform in the machine. Come next month it will only be me here, so also less bedding and towels I can try and put through at the same time - so having a clean uniform as required by work is costing me a fortune in electricity, water (metered) and washing powder.

Last Thursday they issued me with a third blouse (apparently entitled as I work 5 days in a row), but said they're not allowed to give anyone a third pinny despite it being this that gets muckiest

So today I've ordered two blouses (£4.80 each) and two aprons (£3.70 each) which takes me up to five of each (I've managed to acquire a 5th pinny from someone who no longer needs one!), which (along with the 5 pairs of trousers I got from Mr A on Saturday to replace the 2 larger sized pairs I've had since November, and the 5 vest T-shirts - I always wear one of these under my blouse - I got from Mr A a couple of months back) means I'll have 5 full sets of uniform and only need to wash them once a week This also means I'll only have to get the iron out on a weekly basis, so I'm hoping to see a drop (albeit a small one on a weekly basis) in my electricity and water bills alongside a less frequent raiding of my stock-pile of washing powder