when you reach breaking point

COOLTRIKERCHICK

thought I would bump the thread up, as its getting closer and closer to christmas... where stress levels get higher and higher.

Things are getting more stressfull at the cooltrikerchick household..

Yesturday I was soooooooo stressed I just sort of zombied out in front of the tv/computer..

Dont know where to start with christmas this year.... got a few amazon voucher codes... turkeys are growing nicely.. ( first year for us to rear our own, so might distpatch one next week, just to make sure they taste ok etc) plenty of our own grown pork in the freezer.

Bought hubby a home brew kit yonks ago, so might get him to start that.

Every year I have a love/hate relationship with christmas, I love it, but I hate the pressure and stress, and the money spending, even though I have cut back year on year..we are now on basics, but still the costs are high

the_frugal_frog

well I DID IT!!! a month with not a penny to my name, I have finally been paid my first wage from my new job. I was only on jsa for 2 months but it was a hideous time!!!

I have lost a stone in weight, I was thoroughly miserable, my gas went out (prepayment) this house was as cold as can be! I ate mostly baked beans and reduced bread.

My electric went out, and I took a small wonga loan to see me trhough, all paid off now.

Wonga is paid, my stock cupboard is small but growing, christmas is sorted, just bought small token gifts. My christmas dinner is in feezer, compiled of reduced sticker veg and a reduced pork chop lol.

I have heating now which is bliss, I still am being careful, but an hours heat just to take the chill off is lovely.

Towards the end I had NOTHING in the house food wise, if I had been snowed in it would have been a very desperate situation indeed, therefor I am building my tinned stocks up.

I am by no means rich (but I feel it, becase I have something other than beans, and I have heat!!!) and I have to be very careful still, but I have some lee way, I am saving £10 a week for emergencies/general savings.

And yes, I took toilet roll from the toilets in the city centre as I just had none, and no money, that was a low point

This has shown me the absoloute importance of having a stock cupboard and having some savings (even a few quid would have helped me out)

2013 is the year I will save save save!!!!

Hope everyone is OK

Own_My_Own

Congratulations.
It is lovely hearing that you made it . x

COOLTRIKERCHICK

FRUGAL FROG..... well done you for being so strong and basically surviving on nothing... so glad it didnt go any longer..

I have a store cupboard, but in all honesty i havent got a clue what i have, or how long its been there:cool:

I am not too bothered about best before dates etc.

I think this weekend I SHOULD do a dam good clean of my cupboards, and do a major stock take.. and do a stock list of what and how many I have etc...

I wish I had an old fashioned walk in pantry, to make things easier to see and stack etc...

Might even try and see if I can pick up metal shelving/racking for free ( ooo yes i know who has some) and rack out part of a spare room, and use to for my storing room...

gallygirl

the_frugal_frog wrote: »

I am by no means rich (but I feel it, becase I have something other than beans, and I have heat!!!)

That is really humbling ff, when you consider what other people think they 'need'.

So glad you made it, here's to a happy and beanless future :T.

How is the job by the way .

the_frugal_frog

the job is going well, not sure I will stay there too long, reasons I wont go into, but It pays ok and I am greatful they gave me the opportunity.

Sitting in the canteen every day was HELL. lol. Half the time I had "sandwiches" no filling, it was grim!! and my colleagues were munching on cooked breakfasts

7_week_wonder

Frugal,
Thanks so much for letting us know how you are getting on! And huge congratulations on surviving *and* managing to start saving.

Here's to a much better 2013 for you!

mardatha

:beer: well done pet ! :T:T:T