Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

cw18

rubytuesday wrote: »

Another hoarder!

Also can't often have people just drop by as it's too embarrassing!

Your house sounds just like mine :rotfl:

Erme

cw18 wrote: »

Hmmmm...... well I don't shower every day (I'm a big fan of strip washing) and don't have a dish-washer (hand wash my pots every 3 or 4 days - or after a batch cooking session - when there's enough to make it worth filling the washing-up bowl with water). But I do run 3 wash-loads most weeks (2 are just for work uniforms plus a few other small bits that fit in with them).

I don't run the washing machine every day but I do wash up and shower most days.... I just have stuff like porridge bowls (I defy ANYONE to get a cheaper breakkie than porridge?) and what not....

However that reminds me I do need to wash today cos I threw up about 6 this morning after DM woke me up with a text @ 6.22 (bless her )....

I have gastritis....lesson to youngsters - this is what you get if you smoke too much and drink too much coffee....whopping vomitting sessions @ 6am...LOL

cw18 wrote: »

They're literally black, lightweight, and handle-less buckets. The cut flowers for selling in store arrive in them, and they're non-returnable so we have to get rid of them one way or another. So the store packages them up and sells them at 99p for 8 before resorting to throwing them into the skip. We actually get two different sizes, and I 've started to try and make sure I always get the larger ones as they also seem a bit stronger.

I then drill holes through the bottom (one in the centre, about 8 towards the edge of the bottom, and another 6 between the middle and the 8 - but I have to be careful doing this (on a very slow speed) as the plastic is thin, and just drilling can cause them to split.....

I'm going to phone them and see if they have them...job for later...thankyou :T...it's only 8 mins walk away...

LolaLemon I see what you mean about the medics....pray you get it sorted soon...Hugs...But surely even a drop in service for counselling would be better than nothing because it might lead to seeing someone more permanantly...

Well...what a day I've had...tried to cancel an order for an external DVD rw cos like I don't really need it an can't really afford it and failed...also tried (this irks me even more cos like they said phone on Friday) to cancel an upgrade on the JP knife set from quidco but they said I couldn't as it's being packaged...

I stayed in bed all am...Had a really good therapy session yesterday and like the chap said the reason I got so sick last w/e was due to the nicotine overdose last week....:)...so pleased to get that sorted...

Now just waiting for my new ibook that has just turned up (praise God - DHL not only found me but also like came @ a reasonable hour ).....but it's taking AGES to boot up and I don't know why...

E

rubytuesday

cw18 wrote: »

Your house sounds just like mine :rotfl:

Well the boiler man came and I'd completely forgotten. Fortunately for a change the front room was relatively tidy and I'd already started in the kitchen so by the time he came in there I was nearly done. It could have been so much worse and very fortunate there's no need for him to go upstairs!:rotfl:

rising_from_the_ashes

Joining in the "hoarders club" - I'm terrible. Very, very clean (have a few OCD tendancies) but extremely messy - yes, I do pick up things, clean underneath them & then just drop them back where they came from!

Hanging out my washing is one of my worst nightmares - has to be evenly spaced, use the same colour pegs for each item and then they have to colour co-ordinate on each row (row 1: blue, yellow, blue, yellow: row 2: yellow, blue, yellow, blue) - it takes AGES (and if I've multiple loads & need to shuffle stuff up/remove stuff that's dried, I have to start all over again).

Feeling a bit stressed even thinking about it - the only good thing about winter is that I don't have to go through this every day!

Oh, I really do sound as if I'm a bit loopy and when I write it down, I do know how ridiculous it is but I just can't help it!

People have suggested wooden pegs but I just can't .......

rubytuesday wrote: »

Well the boiler man came and I'd completely forgotten. Fortunately for a change the front room was relatively tidy and I'd already started in the kitchen so by the time he came in there I was nearly done. It could have been so much worse and very fortunate there's no need for him to go upstairs!:rotfl:

ROFLMAO - I had my boiler serviced a few weeks ago and it never occurred to me the guy would want to look at the water tank.

This is in a cupboard in my ensuite which is a real dumping ground (as the shower doesn't work I don't use it at all as a bathroom - can't see the point in paying to get it fixed when there's another one that can be used) - lots of underwear lying around all over the place & very embarrassing!


Sandra - thinking of you and hope everyone's on the mend soon.

cw18

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

yes, I do pick up things, clean underneath them & then just drop them back where they came from!

Doesn't everyone

Hanging out my washing is one of my worst nightmares - has to be evenly spaced,

not tooo bothered about that

use the same colour pegs for each item

definitely

and then they have to colour co-ordinate on each row

haven't started on that one yet.....

but when I'm hanging up my work shirts the different sizes have to be on different coloured hangers - the 12's go onto pale grey and the 14's onto dark grey - but I think that's more so I know which size I'm picking up (both sizes are actually too big for me, but the 14's are huge - hope to change them for 10's soon - so I wear the 14's for my shortest shifts)

ROFLMAO - I had my boiler serviced a few weeks ago and it never occurred to me the guy would want to look at the water tank.

I don't have a problem giving them access to the hot water cylinder (cupboard on the landing), but it always amuses them that my car is full of stuff I've had to pull out of the garage to get them access to the boiler (and that there's a line of push-bikes down the side of the house for the same reason) And they always have to be persuaded they don't need to go round and check all the radiators, 'cos they wouldn't be able to get to half of them :eek:

slowlyfading

Sandra - hope everything is okay xx

minnie2

Hoping to make an extra payment on one of my loans tomorrow!!! only £250 but thats something!!! I owe £1998 paying £106 a month.I am aiming to pay it off by summer!! I know £250 isnt much but its a very good start and I have never paid anything extra and early for anything!! So I am happy!! If i keep going like this ill have paid it off by August which would be fabulous!

NualaBuala

HI everyone:

I'm on an enforced absence from the internet/computer because I have repetitive strain injury but have sneaked on here quickly to say hi.

Hope everyone is doing ok - I haven't been able to catch up as this is a flying visit and already tendon is flaring up.

Sandra, just saw your post - am so sorry to hear your bad news. Am thinking of you and your family. x

TumptyTeapot, I love your name, it is so cute! I practice mindfulness too, find it brilliant. Hadn't seen that site and thanks for the link. I'm trying to declutter too and like the sound of just borrowing bits of flylady. Sorry to hear things have been tough and about the depression - hope the future holds lots of happiness and peace for you.

I am still frugalling along fine. Am spending more on food, partly due to increased prices, partly due to me making healthy food a priority and trying to tempt myself with nice things like fruit and salad. But the money has been taken from other categories so all balances out. I'm going to take a little money from my savings to cover some new clothes and a couple of days away for my birthday at the end of the month. I feel so out of the habit of spending that I haven't managed to part with the money yet! :rotfl:

I don't know when I'll be back but will pop back as soon as tendons allow. In the meantime, hope everyone is ok and huge hugs to anyone who'd like one. xxx

slowlyfading

Nuala - hope you're feeling better soon xx

tumptyteapot

did I say I had a NSD today? that is wrong! just because I didn't go to a shop I thought I hadn't spent anything but I had a £15 veg box delivered (I get one every fortnight) and spent £1.99 on a graze box.