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Our beautiful recycled life: a patchworking income, green living, dfw adventure!
Pippilongstocking
Posts: 16,336 Forumite
OK, lifes changed, new job, different focus - time for a new diary, I need more of my mse money mojo back.
Hello :kisses3: I've been about for ages - I'll find the old diary links and put them up here.
We started off pre-mse (was there really life BM? (Before Martin)) we were a financial disaster of epic proportionis, with debts of about £35k and an income of less than 12k a year since then we've taken so much advice (thank you all), taken lodgers, found the 'bay of e', lobbed ourselves in a canoe down the great amazon online selling route for books and dvds etc and wrangled down the debts - its a great place here - I'm not shy to take advice - if I'm being daft or unproductive I'd rather you all :A let me know. For anyone doubting that mse advice and listening to it doesn't work - it really does.:T
Debt now - £7845 :eek:
(plus a pesky student loan which I don't want to think about right now of £14k)
2 overdrafts of £1000 which I exist in monthly
2 credit cards we've been using to exist £2700 on them (3100 total limit)
£2145 of a 0% loan from a pal
£1080 to the tax man
I've been on a very limited budget writing up a p/g thesis for a year and a bit, just keeping ourselves above water and now I've finished and managed to find a job! :jHurrah! I'm now employed half time for a recycling charity - a professional womble don't you know. :j
My other income is based around patchwork income to be with my 2 teenage kids and try to enjoy our lovely 'good' life, most of which is recycled - my actual 'profession' is as a gardener - I teach grow your own classes at our local college, do a bit of casual work whenever I'm asked and do a couple of gardens for folk and I'm in the midst of trying to build up an online plant/seed selling business.........I'm dyselxic but that only excuses my bad spelling!
Aside that - I'm a foodie at heart but want to do it on a frugal budget - so we survive by cooking alot from scratch, reduced shopping and having freezers (from freecycle) stacked to the gunnels with grub - and we work a very lovely stripey storecupboard which we top up when we're on the mainland (did I mention we live on an island?):o I've also just become our local 'slow food' leader up here - whilst thats not paid and needs a fair bit of work, the foods great!
OK - we live on an island - way up north - windy, rainy, cold but breathtakingly gorgeous - with petrol which costs a small fortune and is why I can't get a proper job in my actual field but I am helping in our local community garden!
Its a life choice - we live a lovely healthy happy greenish life - in a quite beautiful place - but that does impose limits - a compromise I'm happy to make.
Our armoury of frugal weapons include:
* Mse -
small things, dfw help and the Os board to name but a few!
* A smattering of chickens for free eggs and lovely enough to lay enough for me to sell a few to cover their food. And a daft cockeral.
* We tend to reduce shop as much as possible each week I put together a 'reduced green box' from the local stores - its random and different every week. But fun (thank you Red for the inspiration)
* long stripey socks for courage, generally odd
* we buy local when we can - less waste and also supports our community
* we have a very ridiculus often tepremental campervan for holidaying and adventures - he is not money saving very much but he helps where he can.
* we home grow as much ourselves as we can, but the climate is challenging so I've a polytunnel half constructed
* I'm trying to learn to 'forage' - I'm new at this so any tips welcomed!
* I write a wittery blog - about frugaling/food/good life/chicken/recycling - helps me focus, but isn't to make any money purely for paying it forward and wittering.
* charity shops, utterly fabulous for everything and freegle/freecycle
* we love cooking and eating so we do ALOT of that:rotfl:
* we recycle everything we can - its not just a patchwork job its a passion :A
* we don't own a tumble drier - we air dry
* we don't waste food ever - if we do, I get a good slap with a wet kipper. Food waste can reduce your budget by about £500 a year.:eek:
*and, I write ridiculusly long 'to do' lists - its an addiction but it appears to work for me..............
Our debt is now down but still not great cos I've been out of work and trying to build up the 'patchwork' life and get rid of the debt we've accumulated whilst 'treading water' during my write up.
It will be an adventure I'll grant you that - never a dull moment round here.:rotfl:
Kettle on, don't be shy, theres generally cake somewhere.:D
I've a full week a head - I've college work to do - paperwork to do in womble land and I've got to focus on writing this weeks list.
Diary in hand........................may the list writing commence.
Today, right now I am £7845 in debt and it will be reducing......................
(oh dear I do go on don't I? I waffle - if you don't like waffly people - best not read more! And I forgot the dog (he's sleeping, don't tell him) he's my main companion when at home or out working/walking. A very funny cairn terrier who thinks he's a chicken.
Hello :kisses3: I've been about for ages - I'll find the old diary links and put them up here.
We started off pre-mse (was there really life BM? (Before Martin)) we were a financial disaster of epic proportionis, with debts of about £35k and an income of less than 12k a year since then we've taken so much advice (thank you all), taken lodgers, found the 'bay of e', lobbed ourselves in a canoe down the great amazon online selling route for books and dvds etc and wrangled down the debts - its a great place here - I'm not shy to take advice - if I'm being daft or unproductive I'd rather you all :A let me know. For anyone doubting that mse advice and listening to it doesn't work - it really does.:T
Debt now - £7845 :eek:
(plus a pesky student loan which I don't want to think about right now of £14k)
2 overdrafts of £1000 which I exist in monthly
2 credit cards we've been using to exist £2700 on them (3100 total limit)
£2145 of a 0% loan from a pal
£1080 to the tax man
I've been on a very limited budget writing up a p/g thesis for a year and a bit, just keeping ourselves above water and now I've finished and managed to find a job! :jHurrah! I'm now employed half time for a recycling charity - a professional womble don't you know. :j
My other income is based around patchwork income to be with my 2 teenage kids and try to enjoy our lovely 'good' life, most of which is recycled - my actual 'profession' is as a gardener - I teach grow your own classes at our local college, do a bit of casual work whenever I'm asked and do a couple of gardens for folk and I'm in the midst of trying to build up an online plant/seed selling business.........I'm dyselxic but that only excuses my bad spelling!
Aside that - I'm a foodie at heart but want to do it on a frugal budget - so we survive by cooking alot from scratch, reduced shopping and having freezers (from freecycle) stacked to the gunnels with grub - and we work a very lovely stripey storecupboard which we top up when we're on the mainland (did I mention we live on an island?):o I've also just become our local 'slow food' leader up here - whilst thats not paid and needs a fair bit of work, the foods great!
OK - we live on an island - way up north - windy, rainy, cold but breathtakingly gorgeous - with petrol which costs a small fortune and is why I can't get a proper job in my actual field but I am helping in our local community garden!
Its a life choice - we live a lovely healthy happy greenish life - in a quite beautiful place - but that does impose limits - a compromise I'm happy to make.
Our armoury of frugal weapons include:
* Mse -
small things, dfw help and the Os board to name but a few!* A smattering of chickens for free eggs and lovely enough to lay enough for me to sell a few to cover their food. And a daft cockeral.
* We tend to reduce shop as much as possible each week I put together a 'reduced green box' from the local stores - its random and different every week. But fun (thank you Red for the inspiration)
* long stripey socks for courage, generally odd
* we buy local when we can - less waste and also supports our community
* we have a very ridiculus often tepremental campervan for holidaying and adventures - he is not money saving very much but he helps where he can.
* we home grow as much ourselves as we can, but the climate is challenging so I've a polytunnel half constructed
* I'm trying to learn to 'forage' - I'm new at this so any tips welcomed!
* I write a wittery blog - about frugaling/food/good life/chicken/recycling - helps me focus, but isn't to make any money purely for paying it forward and wittering.
* charity shops, utterly fabulous for everything and freegle/freecycle
* we love cooking and eating so we do ALOT of that:rotfl:
* we recycle everything we can - its not just a patchwork job its a passion :A
* we don't own a tumble drier - we air dry
* we don't waste food ever - if we do, I get a good slap with a wet kipper. Food waste can reduce your budget by about £500 a year.:eek:
*and, I write ridiculusly long 'to do' lists - its an addiction but it appears to work for me..............
Our debt is now down but still not great cos I've been out of work and trying to build up the 'patchwork' life and get rid of the debt we've accumulated whilst 'treading water' during my write up.
It will be an adventure I'll grant you that - never a dull moment round here.:rotfl:
Kettle on, don't be shy, theres generally cake somewhere.:D
I've a full week a head - I've college work to do - paperwork to do in womble land and I've got to focus on writing this weeks list.
Diary in hand........................may the list writing commence.
Today, right now I am £7845 in debt and it will be reducing......................
(oh dear I do go on don't I? I waffle - if you don't like waffly people - best not read more! And I forgot the dog (he's sleeping, don't tell him) he's my main companion when at home or out working/walking. A very funny cairn terrier who thinks he's a chicken.
Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:
0
Comments
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HI Pippi
Great to hear you have done so well and doing things that you love too. I love reading when I get a chance. A life so very different from mine!!!
I'm quite keen to start dealing with that wilderness that I call a garden next year so am going to follow for the ride.
urg x x0 -
Aw Urg - I read yours too - but hardly ever have time to keep up and comment - thank you for posting on here - a garden to tame - how utterly exciting!
Life's turning a corner - a nice proper job, a bit patchworky income, a lovely family, a lot of support and I hope a happy life for all of us - you especially! Different lives just make for very interesting reading!
xxxxTotal debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
Hi Pippi, great to see you are starting a shiny new diary. I always pop by in your diary but rarely post as it is soo packed full of followers that if you miss a day, it is normally 30 posts longer than the last time I looked and I lose track.
Will try and keep up this time as I love to hear about your recycling, living frugally lifestyle.
I recently learned about blueitts (sp?) I still wasn't quite brave enough to eat them as I am a bit wary of mushrooms, but the purplish tinge on the stalks is quite a good indicator I think
Just keep swimming!0 -
welcome to your new home Pippi, i'd have made you a card if i'd known a move was on the cards for you.
can't believe you almost forgot Peedie though, i won't tell him though for a price lol0 -
Hey up itsadogslife (cool name!) don't worry about keeping up - I can't do that myself often - lovely to see you and jump right in whenever you've time. There are alot of lovely companion about aren't there! I love mse.
Do you mean this fungi? Looked for it - well done you - I'm not great with fungi, so like you I'm wary - I don't get any practice up here! If you've a local group or a 'fungi talk/forage' in your area finding someone who's experienced will help - your local field club or gardening group might list talks etc - be fun to go on a foray - I really enjoyed the one I've been on but like you I was wary without someone who really knew them with me!
Recycling - I love it! Moneysaving too - which is ace. Our local group is quite active - this week I'm learning to make chirstmas crackers - I've to have 20 ready and made for Friday's party - EEEK!!!!!!!
Lovely to see you. I'm normally the one waffling - so no wonder its hard to keep up! Pop past and say hi whenever - there's absolutely no rules..............Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
Happy new diary pippi. I hope that you bash that last amount of debt really soon
chevI want a job that is less than an hour driving away from my house! Are you listening universe?
0 -
Aw LT your cards are fabulous! DD still uses the box of delights you put together for her.
I've been wrestling with a move for a while - I'm needing a shake up to get rid of that debt and a rethink to juggle the patchwork now its rather quickly and unexpectedly and wonderfully arrived.
And, hot news - I bought and wore a skirt last week - and brushed my hair and everything, go me eh? Although I didn't iron.........
Hides the ***** and pops kettle on.Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
Chev me old mucker thank you very much - its needing to be gone - and the boy child leaves for uni next year and I need to save too - eeek.
I need an injection of a boot like your's up my derrier....................xxTotal debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
Hi Pippi glad to see things are going ok and wish you luck for the future. 0
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Pippilongstocking wrote: »Aw Urg - I read yours too - but hardly ever have time to keep up and comment - thank you for posting on here - a garden to tame - how utterly exciting!
Life's turning a corner - a nice proper job, a bit patchworky income, a lovely family, a lot of support and I hope a happy life for all of us - you especially! Different lives just make for very interesting reading!
xxxx
I am so happy that things have turned out well. YOu always seem to approach things with a 'smile' and a fantastic attitude. The stripey ways have always made me smile - I've even got a pair of stripy long socks for the cold days! Can't wear them on the outside but they make me smile!
Oh far we both have come from the 'small things' thread. There was a real satisfaction in ticking things of those lists!
I'm off to post on the Sealed Pot thread - am very late!!!!
urg x x0
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