2012 Frugal Living Challenge (Part 1)

Kerry_Woman

Mooloo - Sending you hugs.

SandraScarlett

silvasava wrote: »

Mooloo - Hugs & well done you for such a positive attitude. If you have a wobble come on here and you'll get plenty of help & support. Glad to hear you are able to have some time with DD & her baby too.

Sandra - only just caught up on posts - sending hugs to you & as Mculloch says maybe now you will be able to get some additional practical support.

Hope everyone has a lovely Jubilee weekend whatever the weather!

Well you'd think so, wouldn't you. I contacted the local Alzheimers society, pointing out that I was sole carer for DH, and that I would like them to recommend from where I could get some help, and that I was willing to pay for this, if necessary.

Their answer was, that I had to intially contact my social worker!! But I don't have a social worker, and neither does DH. I just don't have the energy to contact various departments, repeating myself over and over, so I'll leave that idea.

xx

Savvy_sewing

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Well you'd think so, wouldn't you. I contacted the local Alzheimers society, pointing out that I was sole carer for DH, and that I would like them to recommend from where I could get some help, and that I was willing to pay for this, if necessary.

Their answer was, that I had to intially contact my social worker!! But I don't have a social worker, and neither does DH. I just don't have the energy to contact various departments, repeating myself over and over, so I'll leave that idea.

xx

You could possibly contact any local charities for help, but alas its the way of relying on referals from the Social Services. I had to get a Social Worker to be able to get my care package, and have had to fight for one for the twins as well. Its difficult. then after they assess you they farm it out to the charities anyway. Waste of time and effort it seems, mind you the help I get is invaluable.
Just do it in your own time.

dizzy_lizzie

Mooloo hugs to you and your dd.
At least you can tell yourself that you gave it your all.
Well done for looking at things in such a positive way. You may have saved yourself another few years of heartache if it had carried on the way it was going.
Hope the break with your dd and baby help to soothe your soul.

Sandra maybe in a few more days you might decide to look into the social worker area. You never know you could be entitled to all sorts of things that you might not get to know about otherwise. Though I can understand your way of thinking at the moment. Just ridiculous that you have to virtually fight for what should be rightly available to you.

Slowly I took my lovely walnut and coffee cake to work and no one could believe it was vegan. Got 12 good slices out of it and every last crumb was eaten. But I forgot to take a photo. Meant to take one after I'd posted on here. I will make it again though. It's sooooo easy to do and I'll take one then.

Well what a dreary day. We had a drive out today. Think the best thing I bought was some fresh beetroot. That says it all really!
x

Savvy_sewing

No fabbing for me, just still putting my clothes in order. Jackets with jackets, dresses with dresses etc. Its quite theraputic putting them away in thier own rightful place instead of stuffing things anywhere they will fit. (How long it lasts is another matter). It means I can see how many of one type of thing that I have kept, and if I really like them all. If after I have sorted, I am going to parr it down, then I will have to think about what each item does for me in comfort, style and the like. Especially fit!
I have a drawer or cupboard space for everything as far as I can see. I had to move my bedside drawer over to the otherside, and put them against the wall, facing the bed, along side the wardrobe, and they are both full of junk, smellies, jewellry, and bits of paper etc etc. Something else that will need to be attacked as soon as i get the energy. It will keep me focused and stop me from mooching over the EX BF. Well thats the theory anyway.
Just feeling a bit down at the moment. Should have been looking forward to an evening out, instead it was mince and potatoes, with some green beans from the organic box.
Its going to be bed early tonight. The TV in my room is not working as the signal is disrupted with the weather. Luckily downstairs is on Sky and thats still on or DGD would be up in arms. She is watching ScoobyDoo.
I saw some of the pageant on the TV but she soon got board. I thought the outfit the Queen had on was lovely. She looks a bit like my mum, so it sometimes gives me the shivers.

rising_from_the_ashes

Mooloo (((hugs))) for you and your DD xx

Sandra grrrrrr I'm sure they make things as difficult as possible to stop people getting what they're entitled to :mad: - when you get the energy, give the council a ring as, if you get a good 'un, having a SW on board can make a huge difference

Well, have been to DMs today and pleased to say Maisie (new dog) recognised me :jlots of wiggling when I arrived She was spayed earlier in the week so has been staying with DM as didn't want her in the house alone with stitches in. Was also presented with the bill when I was there tho' ..... just shy of £200:eek: (and not really budgeted for .... well it was, but I thought I'd never find another dog so I spent it on my advance line rental:o). Will have to come from the "last ditch emergency savings" (which have £130 in) and errrr

Have spent the 3 hours finishing a job application (4 yesterday) - is it me or are they much harder nowadays?

Grocery shop for the week was £12.30 :j as only needed a few bits so just stopped at the local Co*op (more expensive but I only every buy what I need there) as if I go to Mr A, I feel I have to buy more stuff to justify the fuel (18 mile round trip).

Saw the end of the boats - what a shame about the weather, everyone looks frozen See .... they should've had it here - lovely & sunny (but cold wind & the odd shower)

tylersbabe

Hi All

Well after my initial enthusiasm and a lovely budget that I wrote to start in May (with a bit of wiggle room for learning to budget lol)

I never came back onto this thread or site and errm failed to follow my sparkly budget plan , well it was my birthday and a girls got to enjoy herself when she is getting older. Oh and then there is the family wedding this month, really I can think of loads of good excuses to not start budgeting properly

Well the wedding is tomorrow, and budgeting is to start in earnest on Tuesday. Discipline is the way forwards me thinks and on that note and added extra to my budget is going to be joining Slimming world and learn some discipline in my diet too :rotfl:

So I raise my glass to the end of my chaotic eating and spending :beer:

Thrifty_Sister

Just catching up again and wanted to send ((hugs)) to those that need them

Sandra - have you asked for a carers assessment? Ring your local Social services and ask for one. They will be able to assess and see what help you are entitled to.

Mooloo - special thoughts for you and your DD's and little ones. You have been through a lot over recent times and good on you for being really strong in facing your latest problem head on. It might be a temporary hiccup with your BF but if not after what you have gone through he probably didn't deserve youxx.

Rising - hugs too for Maisiexx. I had a dog of the same name and I lost her at 2 years old due to a form of cancer and I have never got over losing her. She was the most intelligent and loyal dog and almost human in her ways. RIP my beloved dog.

Loving all the cakes that evryone is making - can almost smell them. They all look and sound totally yummy.

Hope evryone enjoys the rest of the bank holiday whatever they are doing. Take carex

Savvy_sewing

At least I havent been anywhere to spend any money over the weekend. But we do need to go out today and buy the stuff for the street party tomorrow. As there are now only 3 of us, it will not be so expensive. I dont feel up to making things which I know would have been cheaper but for once it will just have to be purchased in.

The rain has stopped. I may have a lot of bunting to repair today, it devistated the majority of it up the street. But I didnt go out to see if it was the tape that they had given me to make it with, or the way they had fixed it up. I presume that the weight of the water absorbed into the fabric, along with the winds didnt do it much good.
I am wondering if I should be buying DGD's new school uniform now, or leave it till much later. She is so tall already for her age, I know that the age related stuff is not going to be any good. Saw one of the women with the green checked dresses from Debenhams on her buggy, and thought absolutely no way that was going to fit my 4 year old! Did think about making her a dress, but then worry that she would be the odd one out in the school, and as she is already the only one Fostered, and "in care" with me, then she already has a lot of things to adapt too. Like why she doesnt live with mummy, or have a daddy, and she wasnt allowed to peoples or have people over unless they had been CRB checked.
Anyway I am off the topic again, sorry my mind wonders.
Frugal. Time to use up as much of the fruit and veg as I can before it goes off. Pity I dont have freezer space to keep it.

LolaLemon

Sandra, a good place to start, when you are ready, is your husbands GP, he should then refer u to the 'right' people,

Mooloo, sorry to hear about u and your daughter, the little break looks like perfect timing for you both.

Looks like we have nice warm weather today, yesterday was very deceptive, it looked nice but was freezing! Going to get all the blankets washed and hung up outside today, I had put them off last week as I had no essential oils, and I really like my blankets to smell of either lavender or patchouli oil, and this past week my order of essential oils came - makes me happy, the knowledge that my home and clothes will smell lovely.

Yesterday was a busy wee day, we made 2 batches of play dough, and I tried scenting them (I know u don't want to eat them, but I used baking oils, just in case anyone does eat them, then they are not harmful) so we have a pale yellow smelling of lemons and blue batch smelling of peppermint.
Then we made jelly, poured into individual molds. Sons drama class, then we came home and made yogurt to freeze in lolly molds so son has 'ice cream' , for them I posted it on my blog (that I always forget I have!) ... included a few picture.
Once I get better at the baby bouquets I'm going to do a wee blog on them.
I have to say goats yogurt, mashed blueberries and honey mixed together is absolutely delicious! I can't wait to try them out as ice Lollies!

I had planned on taking son to the pictures (one goes free with voucher) today, but if its lovely I will leave it til next week.

Money wise, I'm sort of spending like its going out of fashion :-( its mostly 'on 'needs', food, car, nursery fees, and a few 'wants' - a picnic folding table, drama class, the molds for the Lollies. We don't have a table out back, I've been wanting/needing one since I moved in 5 years ago, so this will get well used for as well as using out back we also go out on picnics a lot, so I'm thinking its £20 well spent. Drama class is £14 for the last block, that consists of 4 classes, I grudge paying it, but he enjoys it immensely, and concentrates on speech and pronunciation, which he needs help with.

Well we are off out, need to get his bike riding confidence up.