Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

lynzpower

So sorry to hear your news Patentgirl, hope there is something else around, xx

Romy- shocking innit!!!!!! Have you worked out out of that spend what was neccesary? think most of ours was this month but I dont expect it to last lol

seriouslyfrugal

patentgirl wrote: »

Well this morning had planned to come on here to report January not too bad apart from an unexpected car bill for DDs car for £109, TV licence DD going out today and only saved £15 towards that but all a drop in ocean after today called into meeting at lunchtime being made redundant total shock come complete out of blue totally stunned at news dont know how we will cope as DH was made redundant last year he did find another job but alot lower pay purse strings will have to be tightened again! I will get some redundancy money so that is something x

I am thinking of you I was made redundant in 2008 so if I can be of any help do ask

:grouphug:

NSD day for me :j

as for january I was underspent which is good

have a good frugal day everyone

Erme

Started with a whoopsie ebay for card blanks @£10 for 50 which is a lot...then got worse...:(

Went to the 'market' (if that's what you call it) - looking for the veg stall (trying to avoid the supermarkets ) and the wool stall. Both had closed down - felt partially responsible...

Had a whoopsie spend in £land on some bits and bobs and 59p on a sausage roll cos was hungry

Then thought stuff it...going to Mr A cos knees hurt to cycle...Had the whole shenanigans again over a cabbage I'd had the other week. Wait for bus back was going to be 30 mins (I'd just missed one) so argued my point. Got it for 67p (since when has 67p per pack when it's wrapped in plastic meant 67p per kg? Go figure?). Was horrified at the cost of leeks considering they're in season and that they had no smart price tatties (maybe cos all the posh town dwellers shop there? I dunno) - so got baked potatoes @ 50p.. Had to...twas the only way..

Came home and checked email. Some old chap wanted a buy it now price of £90 on kindle. Agreed. Changed the listing. He missed out and started sending me abusive emails. Reported him.

Went to cheap asian supermarket looking for cous cous. They had none. Trawled all the way to another one via the chinese supermarket. Got it but also got 5kg of rice for £3.99 (rice is rice to me. I don't care it's not basmati). So that was another £4 overspent...

to top it off (and this is what's just wrecked the day)..dived to the PO and got there just after 5 to post the kindle cos the chap said he didn't need the instructions at 4.55pm. The wifey who overcharged me by 50p for Governor Palin's New Year parcel (and that was only after I brow beat her for 10 minutes. Even though it clearly said on it 'surface printed papers' she tried to charge me the airmail price initially at over £5. ) smirked when she said 'Special delivery closes at 5 and we've packaged it all up. She literally was grinning like a cheshire cat. I loudly said 'why are your staff always so grumpy to me here' as I turned my back and walked out.

I've put a complaint in about the PO staff cos it's been persistant, sticking to the rule book for minor probs with my letters/parcels and grumpiness for years. I thought 'that's just how folk are', till I went to the PO near sewing class today (30 mins on the bus) and they couldn't have been nicer. I thought they might get irksome about the card to Palin but even that they were lovely about. They even spotted I'd already put a stamp on P's card (from New Year) and reduced the price. They'd have NEVER have done that at my local post office. More likely put their stamp over the top of it.

And what does it do to me? Make my hidden disability worse that's what it does. Maybe some of the time I am mobile. Maybe some of the time I can cook.....but least little trigger and you guys know what happens to me...

So now when I set up my wee card making business I have to find a PO that I can cycle to or walk to that's pleasant to me cos there's no way I'm going local again..

As for Mr. A - Aldi is just across the carpark - even with a dodgy fluidy knee I can get there and get my veggies there.

Sorry to cut and paste (just posted all this on the PAD board)...but yeah...that's my dodgy day

E
PS...Just caught up on posts and seen

susie-sue wrote: »

What a great idea FF!!! I never thought of that one :T

now that's what I need.....a good ole espresso. I found my 8am one on the side when I got back from sewing and town @ 1.30pm - cold :thud:

dizzy_lizzie

patentgirl wrote: »

Well this morning had planned to come on here to report January not too bad apart from an unexpected car bill for DDs car for £109, TV licence DD going out today and only saved £15 towards that but all a drop in ocean after today called into meeting at lunchtime being made redundant total shock come complete out of blue totally stunned at news dont know how we will cope as DH was made redundant last year he did find another job but alot lower pay purse strings will have to be tightened again! I will get some redundancy money so that is something x

Big hugz patentgirl. That must have been one hell of a shock :eek:
especially as you hadn't even time to prepare for it, mentally and physically. Hope you soon find something new, and who knows, it could be a blessing in disguise and a better job is waiting just for you.
Fingers crossed.
Luv Dizzy x
♥

patentgirl

thanks eveyone for your support got a feeling willl be needing it more than ever xxx

JayneC

Patentgirl just wanted to add my good wishes - so sorry x

23rdspiral

Thanks for the hugs Erme, and thanks for the advice everyone else. Nula - i did tell them i had an appointment but they didnt care!:mad: instead they threatened to make me give up a different day of work that's great CV material that i really do not want to give up. So i've relented. But luckily booked more hours that day so the petrol is less wasted. But it did involve a long walk at lunch to calm down and figure out my priorities and buy chocolate for everyone near me!

i'm a jangly mess at the moment, whizzing from 'i can do anything' manic and productive, to 'what's the point in trying i'm highly specialised therefore highly useless' depression. need to keep an eye on that. right this minute, i'm neither as i'm on here and distracted! though i am also pigging out on Red Sky crisps from HBs. ummm. Not sure how i spend 7 quid in HBs - might see if theres anything to take back when i'm feeling more myself. DID manage to avoid the stationary and moisturiser though (2 comfort purchases). gee i sound like a nut.

Kiwisaver - wow! you've reduced your monthly budget by so much!! i'm so impressed!

MooLoo - good luck with getting your 'making' back on track... i really need to do the same!

landregistrylass - i'm trying to shop and cook in exactly the same way!!:T usually i'd buy whoppsies anyway but just freeze them till they fitted with what i fancied...
with this Challenge, now i'm mostly eating what i get reduced the same week and making sure the fridge is clear before defrosting anything!

Oh no Patentgirl. That's horrid. I feel embarased i've been worring about getting the letter, but at least i figured it was coming. that's just aweful. i'm glad to hear you're getting redundancy pay. *hugs* , if you dont mind them!

landregistrylass - i hope you dont get the chop too. working local govt was my ambition, and now its gone sour. i hope you weather it.

JayneC

Feeling a bit pants this eve - I've been seeing a guy from my drama class for a couple of months but it's not really working out, so have arranged to meet later to tell him Not nice, why does life have to be so complicated! But can't keep seeing him just cos I feel bad about breaking it off can I?!!

Anyways on the frugal front I've had a NSD today - though the petrol light is on in the car so going to have to put more in soon. Can probably walk to work tomorrow and Thursday but at a different office on Friday so may have to get some then. Got a mystery shop for Saturday, pub lunch so that'll be nice Found out about a beef box scheme nearby and considering joining but you get around a 6th of a cow at a time which will fill about 2 freezer shelves so not sure my freezer is big enough!! I'm already in a shearling lamb box scheme which I get a portion each month over 8 months (totalling a whole lamb over the time). It's a good value way of getting really good quality free range meat at a reasonable cost. I'll have to ponder that one...

Ok - going to do my Flylady task of the day. May be back later x

mooomin

Quick budget question:

I currently rent a room out to Mr F's sister in our flat (Although I will be giving her notice shortly, the annoying little harpy...that's another matter though!) and don't know if I should include her rent as additional income as it might make the challenge too easy :rotfl:

As I said, she'll be out of the house soon and I'll be back to my own income only (Plus overtime etc)

Thing is, including her rent in the challenge would almost wipe out January's overspend, and I am using her rent to pay off my cinema pass which is part of the reason for said overspend. THOUGHTS?!?!

cw18

((hugs)) for patentgirl

I'd figured mine was coming from the day we were TUPEd to another company, and almost exactly 12 months later they announced mass job cuts - though my personal redundancy wasn't confirmed for 4 months after that (they asked for folks to take voluntary first, but I refused to apply on the basis it meant a few extra months pay ). But it still came as one heck of a shock when I was told they were 'letting me go', so I can't even begin to comprehend how it must feel when it comes out of the blue