Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

youngmummy

NSD today woop woop x
myself and OH went to the optitians yeasterday had the shock of my life at the cost of it all OH has to wear galsses all of the time
and myself same as before but my sight has got slightly worse

cw18

cw18 wrote: »

Well - it looks like my date's off
.......
He didn't call back, hasn't responded to a general text I sent this morning, and hasn't responded to a follow-up text I sent this evening. So I guess he's someone who doesn't see opposite sex friends as being viable as just that...... his tough luck says I !!

Looks like I may have been a little hasty/off the mark with my assumption

'Wandered onto' the site we met through this afternoon (hadn't been on since Monday, but wanted to check something with my settings on it), and he'd messaged me on Wednesday evening and Friday morning...

Turns out he dropped his mobile on Tuesday evening, and damaged it enough it wouldn't work for incoming or outgoing calls or texts. Took it in for repairs on Wednesday and hopes to have it back tomorrow, but says he's 'missing our chats'

Guessing he's like me, and only keeps phone numbers on the phone and/or SIM, so without a working phone I'd be up the creek trying to get hold of almost everyone I know as well :eek: (Mine are all on the SIM, apart from my I.C.E. number which is also saved on the handset memory)

Note to self - must save/write down ALL important contact numbers somewhere else 'just in case'. I always have a back-up handset in the house anyway, but would be stuffed if the SIM failed on me

rising_from_the_ashes

cw18 wrote: »

Note to self - must save/write down ALL important contact numbers somewhere else 'just in case'. I always have a back-up handset in the house anyway, but would be stuffed if the SIM failed on me

I had my phone nicked once and I was the same - nothing written down!

Was really good for a while but must admit there're a few "new" no's I've not written down....

Adding this to my "to do" list!

Blairweech

Hi everyone,

Well, I have had a lovely weekend - it was mine and OHs anniversary on Tuesday, so he came up this weekend. Went to lunch at my aunties on Saturday and today we went into town for lunch and he cleaned my car . Had a bit of a spendy week - bought 2 new tops on Tuesday (£19 each for nice quality rugby jerseys instead of £59 - who would pay that?!), treated myself to some new jeans as I only have one pair of black jeans and I wear them all the time - £14 from Matalan . Had to spend another £12 on shoes, as I am working at the Gold Cup next week and did not have anything suitable, also required a long sleeved black blouse - really easy to find :mad: - BUT I managed to pick up one from primarni for....£3.50 :cool:, will have to wear a t-shirt underneath it but that is not the end of the world.

Oh, and this weekend my brother discovered that my car radiator is leaking so have bought a new one - £28 :money:and he will fit it next weekend probably. I :heart2: my brother.

Edit: One of my friends just sent: "Save money on buying a new address book by simply using an old telephone directory and crossing out the names of the people you don't know" :rotfl:

LolaLemon

hello... feel as though ive been away for ages.. but ive been reading and running as im trying to limit my time on MSE
My fone also died recently, have no numbers, cant check facebook etc... and i was feeling better for it, only thing i missed, well 2 things i missed was the alarm clock and torch. i had to go out and buy an alarm clock, so went to tesco (clubcard points n nearest) have u seen the price of a plain alarm that doesnt even have a radio? £10ish! i did manage to find one that was on sale for £4, its very childish looking, got it in red and it can go in my sons room when im finished with it, altho the alarm goes off abt 30 mins before the time its set for! The torch i use for getting up the stairs after i turn out the lights, and checking on son when i go to bed. really missing that.
My sister has given me a loan of her old (but still sellable) blackberry, still have a very few numbers (just family and nurseries) i can go on facebook but its a bit of a faf so i dont go on as much.
My depression is bad at the moment, but not outwardly, its more at my home... its a tip... really bad. its partly to do with being ill with the flu and having no energy to do anything during feb, then when i started getting up and about again, im trying to catch up with uni, i have no one to take my son just now as my parents are on holiday - had to get someone to do my shifts in the pub this week, thats me £90odd down and things with my sons dad and me are at an all time low... ive been repeatedly asking them to change their washing powder as my son has allergies and he ends up with rashes, itchiness, etc... well abt 2 weeks ago he stayed and came back covered in spots, he picked a few on his face... they did look more like blisters this time, and he went to their house on the friday after nursery as normal, (we had been to the Drs 3 times taht week, always told its not contagous and is ok to be at nursery and babys - his dad has a 3 month old) came home on firday night, dad all 'im sorry, we'll get it changed this week'.... nothing i hadnt heard before... he was suposed to stay on the sat as it was his brothers christening on the sunday, sat his dad says hes not staying and hes not going to the christening looking like that. told him to f**k off and go to a solicitor as im not putting up with it anymore, my son is always being cancelled on (made him tell my son, as i was not going to be the parent who says no).. and shes not much better.... so its not a very good part of our lives just now. (he did come and take him to the christening, and i only allowed him to go, as i dont want him to miss out on being with his brother, not that that matters to him n her! grrr....) ended up taking my son to the carnival to cheer him up, cost me £2 entrance fee for us, and £10 for 10 tickets... biggest rip off ever! and it was money i really didnt have, couldnt go to uni one day as i spent my train fare at the carnival! But he enjoyed himself, and that was what mattered.
Anyways, what i need is time to get stuck into my house, but no one takes my son for full days. that will change as the sun comes, but til then i need to make a start on the house.
Nearly finished uni for the year.. just have 2 essays to do and 1 exam in april and im done for the year! woohoo! long summer cant wait! picnics n fun days here we come!
was even looking at camping stuff in halfords today, went in to price bikes, its sons 4th birthday at start of april and he's mentioned a bike, and id really like one too... but at £150 for me and £60 for him, its a bit expensive, and im not too sure if i would actually use it though, as much as i would like to.

Also, to help me, i have been going to see the disability departmenta t uni, and they have sent of a request for a proper working pc, with all the help needed pre installed (dont know if its an acutall computer or a laptop, hope its the later so i can use it when on the trains as im o their 2 hours a day) im alos getting a voice recorder and something else, cant rememebr what, but its all to help my dyslexia and depression,a s when that gets really bad, i dont sleep, and then i have no concentration in lectures n stuff (found myself falling asleep in a few, and it was ones im interested in!) so im looking forward to that, should find out in next week or 2


Thanks for letting me ramble.

Hope everyone is ok, hugs where needed, and smiles all round

rubytuesday

Lola Sorry you are not having a good time of it at the moment. It's not easy when you are feeling down and it sounds like you have a lot to contend with. Try to take it one day at a time and perhaps tackle the house little and often. A messy house isn't the end of the world - we're used to it, although it's nice when it's done but children prefer happy memories to a tidy home!

enjoyfinancialchallenges

twiglet98 will pm you tomorrow with recipes. XX

LolaLemon hang on in, when you are down the only way is up so it will all change soon. Can you threaten not to send your son until you know they have bought suitable washing powder. It must be very uncomfortable for your boy. Chin up. XX E

dizzy_lizzie

LolaLemon wrote: »

Thanks for letting me ramble.
Hope everyone is ok, hugs where needed, and smiles all round

It's not rambling it's a good 'outpouring' and it does us good, you know we're here for support :grouphug: (dodgy hug)
Things sound really hectic for you and I sympathise with what you're going through. Hold on to the fact that it won't always be like it is now, though I know it's not much help at the time.
Have you been on the 'flylady' thread? Has great little coping strategies for getting jobs done around the home but the main thing is doing it in 'babysteps' Also Lola go on you tube and type in 'flylady' and there are videos explaining what it's about and how to get started.
There's a '27 fling boogie' were you put some music on and throw 27 things out, or you can recycle/charity whichever you chose and do this everyday. I bought a timer and set myself tasks for 15 minutes at a time.
Anyway there's a lot more to it than that but it may help.

I must admit I've been reading more than posting. I'm waiting for a cortisone injection in my thumb which is agonisingly painful but until the appointment I'm using homeopathic remedies, so using the computer isn't easy at the moment. I have been keeping up and offer hugs for all the rotten things happening in the thread at the moment for some of you. Lots of support as usual on here with some lovely recipes being posted from lesley (and vegan ones too :T)
Also :wave:to our new frugalistas
And things are looking up cheryl
Sorry to not mention everyone but as usual I'm in awe with what you all do :A

Take care everyone.
Luv Dizzy x

chika

Hi Lola hope you're ok. Do pursue the student support at your uni. You will be given an appointment with an independent person who will assess what you need. If you tell them that you travel a lot you they will give you a laptop. They also take you through all the software that can help and you can say yes or no. I didn't like the voice activated one but loved inspiration and read and write gold. You get some nice useful bits of kit to help you. Good luck!

cw18

(((hugs))) for LolaLemon - sounds like you've had waaaaay too much too cope with on your own in a very short space of time