FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

knithappens

I am a regualr reader but not a regualr poster anymore , but will be doing more posting now the winter is almost upon us.

Am on budget, and have managed to pay almost £3000 off the cc debt this year and have started over paying my mortgage finally, only an extra £100 a month, but that will reduce my mortgage by 10 years, and save some pennies in the long run, this has b een my first year, so am hoping next year i can be better with my frugalling than this year. as i dont anticipate any major expenses, but will be trying to save a lot more, need to build my emergency fund back up and start savign for some renovations for this house, but clearing my CC debt is my main priority, so i can add more funds to my savings and mortgage over payements.

I am busy preparing for winter and xmas, as frugally as possible, already made my xmas cake, running down the freezer so i can re stock for the winter, and will be making a few more xmas cakes and mincemeat for presents for xmas time.

Not much else exciting happening, except I may have a date next week, not been in a date for years not even when married, very excting and scary all at the same time

Skint_Lynne

Hi all,

I have not been on here for ages, lots going on, a new job, away on holiday etc. Hope everyone is well, and as it has been so long, some people will not even 'know' me, so hello!:wave:

Cheryl, well done with the weight loss. I have been trying, but have not been very successful. Have you changed your eating pattern much, or is it purely the exercise that has worked for you? I have tried changing what I eat etc, but it does not make that much of a difference.:(

I am still trying to watch what I am doing, will be concentrating on getting christmas organised and my brother gets married next month, so need to watch the pennies.

See you all later folks. x

cw18

Skint_Lynne wrote: »

Cheryl, well done with the weight loss.

Thanks

I have been trying, but have not been very successful. Have you changed your eating pattern much, or is it purely the exercise that has worked for you? I have tried changing what I eat etc, but it does not make that much of a difference.:(

I'm actually eating MORE now than I was earlier this year..... OH complained I never ate enough, so I signed back up to a weight loss site I used before (2002/03) intending to prove to him I ate ample - only to discover I was bordering on putting my body into starvation mode :eek:

I'm actually having to eat what I would consider total junk (sweet puddings, cakes, biscuits etc) in order to get my calorie intake up high enough - my stomach just can't physically cope with the amount I'd have to put through it if I stuck to all low-cal foods But I am eating a lot more F&V and drinking loads more water.

Been doing this since 23rd Aug, and lost almost as much in the 5 weeks from then as I did from early May until that date (9lb out of a total of 21) !!!

Skint_Lynne

cw18 wrote: »

Thanks

I'm actually eating MORE now than I was earlier this year..... OH complained I never ate enough, so I signed back up to a weight loss site I used before (2002/03) intending to prove to him I ate ample - only to discover I was bordering on putting my body into starvation mode :eek:

I'm actually having to eat what I would consider total junk (sweet puddings, cakes, biscuits etc) in order to get my calorie intake up high enough - my stomach just can't physically cope with the amount I'd have to put through it if I stuck to all low-cal foods But I am eating a lot more F&V and drinking loads more water.

Been doing this since 23rd Aug, and lost almost as much in the 5 weeks from then as I did from early May until that date (9lb out of a total of 21) !!!

Wow, that's great, so still eating enough and losing the weight. I think that would suit me better then, do you find it difficult to fit the exercise into your day, or do you just make time? What site are you using, is it the sparkpeople one?

cw18

Not heard of that one. The one I use is a "pay for" site, but someone posted a link to a very similiar (and free) one on the GC thread in the last few days. Looks like it's missing any community area/forums though, and I find those invaluable in getting help and advice from other users of the system.

Some days I struggle to find the time to exercise - but mostly that's me being too lazy to get started early enough. It's actually getting easier now I don't have DS pestering for meals at 'regular' and 'appropriate' times, but the darker mornings/nights and all the rain we're getting are counteracting that to some respects - so it's definitely becoming time to 'make full use of the gym'. But even if I don't do anything else I have to walk the dog -and that alone is 40 mins/day as a minimum.

Today I practically forced myself to go to the gym - and the deciding factor was that Mr T (on the same complex) had over-charged me 21p yesterday. Not worth going back just for the refund (would cost more in fuel to get there and back), but by going to the gym it became worth calling in for the refund as well (ended up getting the full £1.40 charge refunded and the grapes that caused the problem given to me for free as well - so well worth the effort )

Skint_Lynne

Will have a look over there, thanks Cheryl. x It's just a matter of being determined I guess. I don't want to get any bigger. I'm not bad, but it's not easy to lose weight, so I don't really want to gain anymore.

That was a blessing in disguise having to go back to Tesco, at least it got you to the gym!

JayneC

Hi everyone,

Horrid day today absolutely peeing down...

Nuala and Winchelsea, thanks for comments about my garden - it's gonna be a lot of work but will be brill when it's organised. I'm starting to fantasize a bit about having a couple of pigs up in the 'woods' part. Maybe a goat or 2 in the top field too....The permaculure garden at Off Grid is my inspriration-hope my garden can look something like that eventually!

CW just to echo what others are saying you've done fantastically well with the weight loss and quite right to be doing what's right for you even if 'others' don't really like it;)

Done a bit of baking this afternoon once my parents had left, only some fairy cakes and brownies but helps to fill DS lunch box. Had a roast dinner yesterday with the folks plus another couple of extra guests - DD1 and DD2s boyfriend (dinner for 9!!!) so not having roast dinner today. Only me and DS here for tea anyway and he's busy on his xbox (got xbox live for his birthday and I've not seen him since, lol).

Feel like I should be busy doing things.... Might go and do a bit of knitting (ooh the exitement:D)

JayneC

Forgot to say thanks to Frugal re the woodburner. I'm wanting to get one with a back boiler that will heat water and run radiators so will be quite expensive as I haven't even got a hot water tank!! I've also heard that they're quite good for running underfloor heating which would be fab for my kitchen and bathroom but if I have to have it all fitted at the same time that will bump up cost as I'll have to get suitable floorcovering too... I had a quick look earlier and the one I've seen was £1200 plus whatever extra bits are needed to fit it (flue linings and the like) plus the actual fitting. Need to get a fitter round to tell me exactly what I need really, then can shop around.

Erme

I'm finding it hard to read today's posts but yes CW sparkpeople does have forums and stuff and I used it for a few years till the eating disorder kicked back in with a vengance and I found calorie counting more harmful than beneficial...

Just want a wee rant cos like I was doing so well today...hardly any anxiety and like about 3pm it kicks it's derriere back in so I instintively phone some friends looking for some support and like one makes things worse rather than better....About 4.30pm I decide the agnus castus is due and try that but by 5pm I'm hyper and now I'm feeling very strange...so strange like the voices are back but they're just in the background and I desperately want to get to church tonight and not spend another 12 hours in bed like last night...:mad:...

It's horrid having this doom and gloom anxiety and I'm back and forth to the medics like I don't know what with it cos I'm sure it's cyclic cos about 4-5 days into my period I feel great for a couple of days and then I don't feel okay till just before I'm due on again.

Anyone else any ideas? Or am I just rantiing

E

NualaBuala

I've no words of wisdom Erme but just wanted to send you