Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

rubytuesday

Oh so sorry to hear that dizzy lizzie but I'm sure they are lovely memories!

dizzy_lizzie

rubytuesday wrote: »

Oh so sorry to hear that dizzy lizzie but I'm sure they are lovely memories!

Aw thanks rubytuesday. Was a bit maudlin there wasn't I but it just came from nowhere when I read LollopyBears post!
I think I need a few early nights to be honest. Was staying up way too late over Christmas and it's probably caught up with me
Anyway on a lighter note been able to knock a bit of money off my sig so thats good!
Luv Dizzy x
♥

mooomin

chika wrote: »

I know some people love their ipods but have you considered getting a non branded generic one? I had one for years before I got my current ipod (v cheap from Amazon as they were changing models) and it was fine for what I needed and only cost £5! No good if you're used to a touch but if you just use if for music they are quite good.

Had a load of things that were attached to my iTunes before they removed copy protection so wouldn't be able to take them to another branded player

So, today I have spent £2 on lunch, £1.35 on bread (this is why Mr Fresian isn't normally allowed into the bread aisle) and *cough£193cough* bought a new iPod

I have reduced the cost by £45 by taking money out of my Sealed Pot, and am possibly selling some other bits and pieces too in order to make it a "neutral spend".

It's so shiny....!

I can't quite believe how short a time it took me to crack and get another one though. Bad, bad Fresian

rubytuesday

I forgot to say another NSD for me and I am also owed a horrendous amount of money by girlie's Dad so if I ever get that I will be much better off! Yes we can live in hope!

twiglet98

I can manage NSDs easily during the week as I'm at work, but on Saturday I spend - head to town, 8 miles away, for the supermarket shop, get diesel, back via the farm shop for vegetables and wild bird food. Half a week's wages gone in two hours, it's my least favourite day of the week.

itsallinthemind

cw18 wrote: »

The prat bypassed the hospital as the 'traffic was too bad', but is now home and thinking about going back later as he's lost feeling in one leg :mad:

and as to the latter - hug is all he gets yet. taking things slooooowwwwwwly......

Always better to take it slow, was about 2 months before my ex got a snog! Not a prude, far from it, but slow is good

Hope he has got down there, it is probably a trapped nerve, but good to rule out a clot, as these can make the legs go numb

JayneC wrote: »

DS2 had pasta and cheese which is his very favourite and very cheap (tho not that nutritious, as no veg whatsover!!) he had tuna pasta for lunch but quite happy to eat pasta at every meal if i'd let him;).

Had a look at AP again and was some good bargains but not enough of things I need to justify the postage, so think I'll give up on that one. I did fill my shopping basket but then when I really looked I realised that all I would have really bought anyway was olive oil and fruit juice so I cancelled it.

We have had pasta in some form twice today. My eldest is fussy and would live on it. We often have Cheesy Pasta as it is their favourite(use veg stock instead of water took cook pasta), no not that good for them, but they like it for what they think is a treat and gives Mum a break! I look at their Nutrition over a week, not a day, some days we are better than others!

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

I've just thought I should knock off the ebay postage too off my sig because I added it to my running total.

I've loads to sell shortly, I will not be taking the postage out of my budget nor classing as a spend day. I will transfer just postage amounts to my bank so that I am not put of pocket, then keep the rest safe in paypal for the safespace.

NSD 2 of 10. Annoyed with myself, as I put the washing on this morning half asleep at 5am, realised at 10pm I had not got it out(It beeps but did not hear it) so I had to put it on again, wasting liquids and energy :mad: Eldest keeps running hot tap obsessively, so we are wasting lots of gas/electric today :mad:

May need a spend day tommorow as I have seen a bargain to come out of home budget and may need a phone top up, I have a few calls to make.

Made lemon cake whilst sorting my cupboards, plus some mushroom filo parcels for when my relatives stay(all the other day whoopsied) to pop in the freezer. I really did find a few good bits in the cupboard, so will make a channa dhal tomorrow to shift some chick peas! And try not eat all the cake as the children love it warmed with custard! I had some crumbs though(about an inch wide ).

cw18

minnie2 wrote: »

whats happened? what have i missed? hope hes ok!!!

He clipped the central reservation side on, while going up an approach road to the motorway - then the van spun a fair bit (by the sounds of what he says). He pulled onto the hard shoulder, made sure it was drive-able, and drove himself to work.

He told me at lunch-time that he was going to hospital on the way home as he was 'sore', but the traffic in the area was bad so didn't bother in the end :mad:

Then asked me (after I got home) whether I thought he should go back out to be checked over, given one leg had gone numb. I said it was possibly 'just' a trapped nerve, but always worth getting it checked (though I didn't fancy him driving himself there) so he said he'd give it some thought.

Just before 6:45pm he let me know he'd contacted NHS Direct to see what they thought, and had been told they'd call back within 45 mins.

As that's about how long it takes me to get to his, I grabbed my keys and purse, let the dog out (and in), then sent him a text to say I was on my way over.... and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer as it was better for me to be there than to be sat at home worrying.

Got to the flats to find a rapid response unit parked up outside, and as I checked the 2 texts he'd sent me (one to say to wait a while, and one to say he was being taken to hospital) I heard the ambulance come in behind me......

(Apparently NHS Direct returned his call pretty much as soon as he'd told me within 45 mins, so they must have thought it urgent!)

Made myself at home at his by using the facilities while the crews finished their 'hand over', then we all left. The ambulance crew asked if I was travelling with them, which I declined as I wanted my car at the hospital - but I confirmed with the driver that I did know where I was going (pass signs for an A&E on my way to his, and that was the one they were headed for).

Think I confused the crews though.... I knew they were there for him, knew the way to his flat once we were buzzed into the building, let myself in to his flat without knocking/shouting (lever mortice lock, and unlocked), said 'Hi' to him as I dumped my coat in the living room, and then went to use the facilities - but all the time stayed well out of the way of the space they were working in. Neither did I in any way demand to know what was happening, but calmly made sure the door got locked on the way out and headed down with them. When I was checking the directions, the driver said I could probably just follow them as she wasn't going to be using blues - but I said there was still a chance that lights would separate us, and if they ended up having to put blues on part way there I wouldn't be able to.... plus they'd presumably have to book him in before I'd be allowed near him in the hospital anyway. She looked slightly stunned at this, so I quietly explained that I'd been through all that when my late hubby was going though chemo, at which she seemed to twig why I'd been so comfortable to let them just get on with it

I got to the hospital at around 8:20, and left at 00:10-ish after they decided to keep him in over-night. I'm absolutely bushed now I'm home (was fine on the drive back though), but am really pleased I let my Mother Hen instincts over-rule everything else and headed over.

The hospital seem to have a few concerns, and whilst none seem significant on their own I guess they all add up to something that needs checking out

LolaLemon

itsallinthemind wrote: »

We have had pasta in some form twice today. My eldest is fussy and would live on it. We often have Cheesy Pasta as it is their favourite(use veg stock instead of water took cook pasta), no not that good for them, but they like it for what they think is a treat and gives Mum a break! I look at their Nutrition over a week, not a day, some days we are better than others!


then keep the rest safe in paypal for the safespace.

NSD 2 of 10. Annoyed with myself, as I put the washing on this morning half asleep at 5am, realised at 10pm I had not got it out(It beeps but did not hear it) so I had to put it on again, wasting liquids and energy :mad:

can i ask, i keep seeing this mentioned in a few places, but what is 'safespace'?

grrr i keep forgetting the washing too! some times dont realise for a day or 2!!! (thier is only the 2 of us, so i dont use the machine every day)

eating pasta every day isnt that bad for u, well it cant be, the italians do it most days lol
dont know how old your kids are, but it seems to be something teenagers do alot... live off pasta and mature students too... i think its something to do with studying - we/they need all those carbs





if anyone can help me id be greatful - ive posted this in the daily thread but dont know if anyone will see it...
i bought pork ribs - only small mini ones baout 2/3inch big, but a lot of them... and i dont know how to cook them!
i have nearly every storecupboard item imaginable and loads of honey, mustard, vinegar etc so could do a marinade - what one?- and use my slow cooker if anyone has any good recipes? or any other methods of cooking




cw18 - what a night for u!
hope he's better soon.
Men! when will they realise they cant put off medical help, no matter what the excuse!

Erme

Morning all...ended up really manic (which was not good considering I was up @ 3.30am :eek:) and blew at least £20 if not £30 on who knows what? I know at least £6.50 went on books at the charity shop (one of which I need as a replacement, one is a hardcover knitting book I mightuse; again another reader's digest on gardening which was truly a missbuy.....and another called the 'green cook's encyclopedia which whilst not exactly useful has loads on exotic veggies that I can get from the asian stores etc and some good sandwich filla ideas but then I have WAY too many cookbooks so again another whoopsie.)...All because of fixations I didn't get met - and even then pre blowing all this money I said I couldn't afford milk (@ £1) when actually I needed milk

To make all this worse I discovered my green lentils I got last week had to be soaked overnight so like that was that - another £6 whoopsie at the corner shop on rubbish food.

Feeling really bad about all these misspends.... really don't have the money anymore this month for mis spends so the next 2 weeks is going to be really tough ...going to try and get a week's worth of patches off the GP on tuesday for the cigs and quit (or try quitting) on Sabbath..

Added to which - wide awake at 3.30am and unable to get to sleep so that's not good. I need my sleep.

Only good bit of news is that when hyper I phoned round the carpet shops and am getting a rollend for free today to cover the lounge threadbare bits :T. How I'm going to get it home I don't know as I don't have a car and I reckon it won't fit in the shopping trolley..

Anyone of the praying type pray I get a refund on my e-cig batteries cos that would come in really handy

Thinking of cancelling my conference on the 21st cos whilst it's only 50p return bus fare (I have a concession pass) ..I know I'll be tempted to spend more (always spend loads in dundee :eek:...it's sooo cheap) and I don't need to go (the consultation is a farce in my opinion. It's self harm revamped as modern. Same prejudice from professionals. Same ignorance I encountered 20 years ago - just with modern lingo). However I do need to go to my recovery conference in Glasgow in feb cos I'm hoping to meet nicca off the board (she was on DIY SOS) and also some other good friends and they pay one night's accommodation

So yeah I totally agree with cranky about finding it hard to have NSD's and would rather spend 75p a day on a cheap coffee so I don't have a whoopsie like yesterday

I just pray I don't go on a whopping downer now after all these fixations

E
PS. If you can get that green cook's book it has a recipe for pasta in it http://www.amazon.co.uk/GREEN-COOKS-ENCYCLOPEDIA-Janet-Hunt/dp/B0024XEOJ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294723381&sr=1-1

PPS. to save yet another post (hate wasting posts) the kitchen garden month by month is my best gardening book to date :T

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Garden-Month---month/dp/0715303295/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1294723696&sr=8-2

and also T & M have their GW seed offer on again for frugalites from last year so I've ordered the pots for the lounge...but seriously thinking of getting some paint buckets from the £shop and compost for pots and strawberries...will grow them in the flat. whole garden in the flat LOL..carrots the works...anyone any other ideas what I can grow in paint buckets?

itsallinthemind

cw18 wrote: »

The hospital seem to have a few concerns, and whilst none seem significant on their own I guess they all add up to something that needs checking out

I hope he is okay Cheryl and they are just being cautious. Was lovely of you to drive up, sure he appreciates it x

LolaLemon wrote: »

can i ask, i keep seeing this mentioned in a few places, but what is 'safespace'?

grrr i keep forgetting the washing too! some times dont realise for a day or 2!!! (thier is only the 2 of us, so i dont use the machine every day)

eating pasta every day isnt that bad for u, well it cant be, the italians do it most days lol
dont know how old your kids are, but it seems to be something teenagers do alot... live off pasta and mature students too... i think its something to do with studying - we/they need all those carbs

i bought pork ribs - only small mini ones baout 2/3inch big, but a lot of them... and i dont know how to cook them!

Morning

Safespace is here http://www.safespaces.co.uk/safespaces-films/ needed as my oldest self harms and needs low sensory areas, sometimes it is the only way of keeping certain children at home, safe and their siblings/family too. With extras and a few sensory bits it will be 5k http://www.safespaces.co.uk/prices/ hence me doing the challenge

No they are school age, although they already eat like teens. I think they like pasta as it is easy to chew and they are lazy Youngest would scoop it off the plate into their mouths, given the chance

Better go have a cuppa before the children go from stirring to moving