Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

itsallinthemind

Erme wrote: »

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..

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

Try not concentrate on your misspends Erme, they will only make you feel worse. Easier said than done I know Good news you can get patches on Tuesday though, will save some pounds on e cigs eh It is Tuesday today, did you mean today Tuesday the 11th or next Tuesday the 18th?

Good news about the carpet roll end-drag it? Dunno!

cw18

itsallinthemind wrote: »

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

Don't know about that

I was greeted with "by heck, you've shifted some to get here" when I arrived (ummmm.... no! I didn't break any speed limits, but I also just about managed without referring to my route planner and didn't take any wrong turns last night - the latter being a first ), and at 9:30pm he informed me I was heading home at 10pm due to the drive back (and was informed in return that I'm big enough to make my own decisions on when I need to leave somewhere before getting too tired to drive)

But he is learning (very quickly) just how stubborn and pig-headed I can be :rotfl:

itsallinthemind

cw18 wrote: »

But he is learning (very quickly) just how stubborn and pig-headed I can be :rotfl:

Sounds like you are managing him well on all accounts Tell him if he is good he gets walkies soon :D:p

Better get eldest ready for minibus, 07:13 pick up, mental!

apple_mint

Very quickly popping in as I must get ready for work (as much as I would like to stay here and keep reading:D)

A NSD for us yesterday. Made up a pie last night comprised of left over bits and pieces from the fridge. Cooked it in the Remoska and we are having it cold tonight, so that will be interesting Smelled lovely as it was baking though.

Planning a NSD today. So far I'm keeping motivated, this thread if brilliant for reminding me why I need to stay this way. I've managed to keep away from Amazon and that is a big thing for me!

never_too_old

itsallinthemind

thank you , you are a star:T:T:T:T

itsallinthemind

l.m.hart wrote: »

itsallinthemind

thank you , you are a star:T:T:T:T

Sent you 2 versions in the end, after a disagreement on the phone regarding which was the best version You want the microwave one then shout(It is ammaaaazing)

Right, I have beds to change, now I am child free, if anyone sees me on here before my 9am break, feel free to hurl verbal abuse my way

mooomin

A quick budgeting question for you:

I have been a fan of the PAD (Payment A Day) method for debt-busting and, more recently, for building up savings since I became debt-free. The money I PAD comes from the current account that would normally be my day-to-day spending and once something is PADded it's out of commission for spending.

If I PAD to pay for a large purchase (for example, I need to get my hot water tank looked at this month) would this count towards the budget for the year or not?

Frugal plans for today:

Naff all as we're off to Newcastle for a funeral so £15 has already left my account to cover some of the diesel we'll use and I have a parcel to post too.

cw18

flying_fresian wrote: »

If I PAD to pay for a large purchase (for example, I need to get my hot water tank looked at this month) would this count towards the budget for the year or not?

Totally depends on how you're running your budget.....

I have a category for 'appliances', and another for 'contingency'. I move money into an account each month to build up these savings pots, and if I spent something they're intended to cover (like a new kettle) then they'd come out of my challenge budget for the relevant category.

But this is because my annual budget pretty much reflects my incomings, so if I bought these items and didn't account for them then I'd end the year in the red at the bank (or with a balance on my c/card)

If your PAD is made outside your Frugal Living budget (but can be sustained without causing debt), then I'd say that anything paid for from this can be discounted.

If your PAD payments come out of your budget (ie. show as a 'spend' each day), then I'd also say you can discount the spend - otherwise you'd be double counting it (once when you PAD into your savings acccount, and once when you spend it).

Hope that makes sense - I'm a weeee bit tired having been up most of the night.

(Something I ate yesterday didn't 100% agree with me, but I think this may not have been helped by everything else that went on last night as my digestive system generally copes with most things! As such I've phoned into work this morning as I wouldn't be allowed in the bakery, and feel far too shakey to be lugging tins and stuff around to restock shelves - which is all I would be allowed to do for the next 24 hours)

minnie2

cw18 wrote: »

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

bloody hell!!!! and yeah men!!!! pain in the backside!
Sorry to hear about your late husband! Most of my family ive lost to cancer and had my own scare this year.

i have got a brain tumour - but found out in oct that its benign!! But it had been a very long year waiting for the news!!! and curse the dr who totally dismissed me when i first went to him!! i quote your a woman - come back in a month if its still an issue!!

But ive got to have treatment for 3yrs, take the drugs mon and thurs. reacting slightly better to them now!!! been about 10weeks now.

cw18

minnie2 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your late husband! Most of my family ive lost to cancer and had my own scare this year.

I've lost 3 of my grand-parents directly to cancer (liver, breast and prostate in that order), and the 4th was apparently found to have it at his autopsy (could have caused the stoke which caused him to come off his motorbike, though it was injuries from the accident that went down as cause of death). Late DH had testicular cancer, and an uncle of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer in the first half of 2010 (I've heard nothing since, but am sure my Mum would let me know if there was anything I needed to know)

i have got a brain tumour - but found out in oct that its benign!! But it had been a very long year waiting for the news!!! and curse the dr who totally dismissed me when i first went to him!! i quote your a woman - come back in a month if its still an issue!!

Grrrrrrr!!!

But ive got to have treatment for 3yrs, take the drugs mon and thurs. reacting slightly better to them now!!! been about 10weeks now.

Finger crossed your reaction to the meds continues to improve