Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 2

Puddleglum

Commiserations Aril, I hope you find something soon. The employment news seemed quite upbeat today so all fingers crossed for you.

Aril

Hello fellow frugallers:j
After a tricky day yesterday I am slowly getting my head around the new situation- this discovery yesterday put everything into perspective and I realised just how lucky I am
http://posters-for-good.tumblr.com/post/542977597/if-you-have-food-in-your-fridge-clothes-on-your
Not been a bad here at Gnat Bottomed Towers- did sucumb to some gorgeous jewel coloured tea light holders but as they were from £land thought I could probably push the boat out a little:D
I've made a batch of non alcoholic mead this evening which is now cooling. Have decided that my first step once I finish work will be to sort out a few hours voluntary work in a CS to keep my spirits up whilst I'm looking for work and keep me out of mischief:D

Arilx

meg72

Thank you for sharing your discovery, it realy makes you stop and think dosen`t.

I am going to print off so that when I am feeling down and hard done by it will remind me to count my blessings instead.

slowlyfading

Aril - just read your news - sorry to hear that hope you find something soon. I'm still hoping I'll find something, so we're both in the same boat xx

cw18

Apologies to all - I've been AWOL all this month, and there's no way I'm going to catch up with all the posts so if there's anything specific needs me to deal with it can someone please shout? And if you're not yet on the list of participants at the top of the thread please let me know so I can add you (a quick scan makes me think we have at least a couple of new names?)

Also, I was wondering if someone else could take over ownership of this thread for the next quarter (at least) as I'm going to be even busier until the end of September !!

My daughter announced a few weeks back that she's getting married...... on 24th September of this year :eek: So she's trying to organise everything at very short notice (and doing well with it too), but it does mean even more regular phones calls from her than normal !!!

Things have been crazy at work over the last couple of months, but hopefully calming back down as of today due to a lady who's been off sick for 7 weeks (following an operation) coming back. Means my 29hrs/week were 38.5hrs last week and 39.25hrs the week before. Should be on about 30 this week, but am off next week - which will all have to be spend catching up on the h/work that's been totally neglected/ignored over the last few months. (The same lady was also off for 8 weeks following another op just after New Year, so it's been a pretty hectic year so far )

I also have a new chap in my life Started chatting on the 'net about a month ago, met up for coffee a couple of weeks ago, and I went and watched him playing in a darts match on Monday (he was playing an 'away' game at a social club very close to me). So texts between us wipes out anything from another hour up to 3 hours (!) a night...... luckily he had a spare/emergency handset on my network, so I added the number of that one to my add-on which gives free calls & texts between the numbers (set it up to stay in touch with a friend, but can have up to 4 numbers plus mine so isn't costing me anything extra).

My running's not going well, as I picked up a cold a couple of weeks ago (my first in over 2 years) and it hit my chest. Means I've had to pull out of the half-marathon I should have doing this coming Sunday So I now have 3 weeks to get back into shape for my 10km RFL (and a 5km charity run the following day!)

rubytuesday

Ooh congratulations and congratulations Cheryl!

Kitchenbunny

Just wanted to say that I've been lurking for a little while now and reading this with interest. It's nice to dip in, get some encouragement and ideas and maybe help someone else out too.

Thanks for the thread.

KB xx

tumptyteapot

cw18 wrote: »

Also, I was wondering if someone else could take over ownership of this thread for the next quarter (at least) as I'm going to be even busier until the end of September !!

I can help but not take it over if that is any use.

cw18 wrote: »

I also have a new chap in my life

woo! hope it goes well, I have banned myself from relationships until I grow up and learn some taste in men, given that I am in my early 40's I really need to stop going out with wannabee rock stars :-)

cw18 wrote: »

My running's not going well, as I picked up a cold a couple of weeks ago (my first in over 2 years) and it hit my chest. Means I've had to pull out of the half-marathon I should have doing this coming Sunday So I now have 3 weeks to get back into shape for my 10km RFL (and a 5km charity run the following day!)

I'm still stuck on week 3 of C25K, I never feel ready for the 5 minute run in week 4, today might be the day though. I find any disruption to my routine really throws things though and I empathise totally with the cold knocking you out - a friend reccomends eating a raw garlic bulb, she says it knocks any cold on the head! I've not been brave enough to try it though. I can't imagine running 5k, let alone 10! I am in awe of you :-)

cw18

tumptyteapot wrote: »

I can help but not take it over if that is any use.

Thanks
slowlyfading has kindly offered to take over the reins from me for the next quarter

woo! hope it goes well, I have banned myself from relationships until I grow up and learn some taste in men

I was beginning to question my judgement, but things are definitely look goooooood just now

given that I am in my early 40's I really need to stop going out with wannabee rock stars :-)

bad judgement doesn't seem to stop in early 40's - I'm definitely mid 40's (a few months closer to the next big zero than the previous one!)

I'm still stuck on week 3 of C25K, I never feel ready for the 5 minute run in week 4, today might be the day though. I find any disruption to my routine really throws things though and I empathise totally with the cold knocking you out - a friend reccomends eating a raw garlic bulb, she says it knocks any cold on the head! I've not been brave enough to try it though.

not sure work would approve of me breathing garlic fumes all over the customers :rotfl:

I can't imagine running 5k, let alone 10! I am in awe of you :-)

I've already done two 10km races - one last November, and one on my birthday in January. I did the second in 58m59s, so I know I'm capable of the distance. And I took part in a charity run at the venue of my RFL back in April, so I know what I'm looking at in terms of inclines too !!! They're not actually anything like as bad as the ones I train on though (can't avoid them around home), so it shoud be OK as long as I can get my breathing back to normal while my legs are moving......

Erme

rubytuesday wrote: »

I'm absolutely fine with some really cheap toe post sandals I've got from Primark last year - my sister in law bought me some last year and although I thought they would give me blisters just looking at them they were so comfy I bought myself some - the toe posts on these are really hurting and making me feel sick!

I only wore them for about five minutes but there was no way I could wear them for any longer!

I've just been reading the reviews and they are nearly all glowing although a couple of other people have said the same thing about the toe post.

OCh if that's the case sorry what I said about breaking them in ...Hugs

flying_fresian wrote: »

Ooft, I remember breaking in my Docs, the pain was unreal :rotfl: That being said, I still wear them and got them for the first time when I was 16 - I'm 30 now. I love my Docs

Great feet walk alike LOL.....I'm so heavy on the heels they only last 5 years...but still...£54 for 5 years beats £30 every 6 months in my book so bought the T ones from the discount place cos I needed something urgently then ordered the DM's.....as and when I start work I have my black DM's so why worry...I figure I only need 4 pairs of shoes (5 tops if you include gardening/wellies)....mary janes for spring/church, black lace ups for cold weather/work, plastic mules for slippers and sandals...

It's so easy as a girl to buy too many shoes LOL....even ones that are the same for 'next summer' :rotfl:...

Anyhow day one of no cigs...after the other week's faux pas with nicotine withdrawal I've upped it to 30mg (think I was on 24 mg or 27 no idea...diluted it with glycerine) using a proper online calculator... so this will save right now about £20 a week though next week budget will go derriere up as I'm away for 2 days and budget always goes derriere up when I go away :eek:

E

23rdspiral wrote: »

I've got a pair of fit flops and am very happy with them. they did give me bit of lower backache for a bit but I took that as new muscles being worked! But I think one reason I'm so happy is they were from a charity shop so only £1.00!!



Me too! I had the shoe versions first for a couple of years too. I called it 'bleeding them in':eek:

Nota frugal day... We,re volunteering at Glastonbury festival next week and I needed to stock up things like cupsasoup and mug shots, loo roll etc.. How I spent £18 in home bargains I don't know!