2014 Frugal Living Challenge

skintygerlinky

Evening Frugalites xx

Quick rant: am sick to death of fuel companies!! Can't believe how they just expect customers to just sigh and go 'oh that's annoying...but will just pay up, then!'
If fuel bills increase, people have to FIND that money from somewhere and it is ridiculously stressful doing that; it can cause huge rows as people tear their hair out wondering where on earth it will come from....yes I'm speaking from experience .

Aaaanyway just had tea - Linda Mac fillet was bit ropey but patas bravas was delish, bit mega spicey!! I swear if someone walks past me with a lit cigarette I'll go up in flames! Best get used to it - I'll be eating it for the next two days :eek:

I too am feeling the warmth and support on this thread - lovely to know that we can share good times and bad on here xxx

OverRated

You have all prompted me to submit meter readings! On the todo list for tomorrow.

chirpycheap

[Deleted User] wrote:

The on-going saga of me not sleeping has finally beat me. I have signed myself off work this week with stress and I am seriously thinking I should just resign - we could probably afford to live off OHs wage as long as I put all my frugal skills into place. I need to have a long think about this. I have an appt with the doctor tomorrow so will have a chat with him and then see how I feel at the end of the week. OH is happy to support me whatever decision I make. One thing is for sure - I cannot cope as a full time teacher. I did ask for part time but have to wait until April/May for an answer which will probably be no. I am crying alot so I am going to distract myself by being on the forum more than I usually have time for and getting lots of inspiration and positive vibes anbig cyber d maybe taking some time to do some cooking and baking.

A big cyber hug, hope you are soon feeling brighter. I don't think people realise how unrelenting the pressure in schools can be. I read somewhere that 50% of newly qualified teachers leave the profession within 5 years-it's madness!

Today I have been Make-Doing-and-Mending. Yesterday I was telling my Mum that I was looking for a new Duvet cover as mine had developed a big hole along the seams. Mum pointed out that I could repair it and a reel of thread was cheaper than a new duvet cover. Well I huffed and puffed and said it was too much bother but I was sent home with a reel of cotton and today I repaired the duvet cover. It didn't take the 'hours' I thought it would and unless you looked closely you wouldn't be able to see I had repaired it.

Hope everybody else is having a good start to their Frugal February!

afoolwithmoney

Pulled out all the food in the cupboards & now scrolling through receipe sites looking for ideas to use up things like millet that OH will eat. He doesn't touch anything that's remotely healthy, not covered in fat, green etc. You get the idea I must add that all these things are in the cupboard from before he moved in & from a time when I would buy things that where reduced & I fancied trying. Hence the last couple of years I have piled on the pounds & had a very restricted diet. All change Ive started hiding veg in food like Im feeding a child, calling foods by another name & even feeding him by candle light so he cant see what hes eating :rotfl:

calleyw

chirpycheap wrote: »

We are really enjoying our Frugal challenge.None of the guilt over unnecessary, impulse purchases. I have started thinking of purchases in terms of my hourly wage. So that the Chinese meal I fancy is 2 hours at work and the gorgeous pair of boots is half a day!
.

Also is not about how much it costs and how many hours of pleasure.

I have a hobby that can be expensive, kits can cost up to £50 some times.

But over the amount of hours it take me to complete the kit it is really just pennies and I get thrill of finishing the project and have something nice to look at.

Oh and nothing wrong with the brakes go figure!!!

Yours

Calley

SarahB1989_2

Had a fantastically frugal day - won a slow cooker!! Very excited about this, won't have my hands on it til the summer due to living away in temp accom but parents have promised to look after it well til I can claim it. Also complained that our communal tumble dryer is pathetic (everything comes out damp) and got the equiv of a refund and a free dry in tokens

[Deleted User] wrote:

Thanks to everybody for the advice. I am going to see the Doctor tomorrow and go from there. I will be asking for him to sign me off for at least a few other weeks.

I had a good chat with my mum earlier tonight and she was full of good advice (she was a teacher too!). I am going to use the rest of the week to relax, get outside in nature which always helps.

Hope some time off does you good. One of my family is a teacher who had to be signed off for stress and now does 4 days a week, not sure the school were too keen to start with but it's worked out well as it means he can keep working, wouldn't have managed full time.

Buffythedebtslayer

[Deleted User] wrote:

The on-going saga of me not sleeping has finally beat me. I have signed myself off work this week with stress and I am seriously thinking I should just resign - we could probably afford to live off OHs wage as long as I put all my frugal skills into place. I need to have a long think about this. I have an appt with the doctor tomorrow so will have a chat with him and then see how I feel at the end of the week. OH is happy to support me whatever decision I make. One thing is for sure - I cannot cope as a full time teacher. I did ask for part time but have to wait until April/May for an answer which will probably be no. I am crying alot so I am going to distract myself by being on the forum more than I usually have time for and getting lots of inspiration and positive vibes and maybe taking some time to do some cooking and baking.

skintygerlinky wrote: »

allie so sorry to hear you're going through a rough patch at the mo. For what it's worth, I can empathise what you are going through in that I was also, until recently, teaching full time!!

It is probably the most draining job I've ever had, which is a heartbreaking shame as the ACTUAL TEACHING was brilliant, but the hassle that came with it just wasn't!
Rather than go into it all here, feel free to send me a message any time/if you want xx

happybird71 wrote: »

That makes me really sad. Do you feel supported in your school. Are you primary or secondary? I really hope things change soon for you. Too many teachers feel unsupported and consequently end up ill. Hugs x

It makes me really sad too! I left my old hideous job when in hindsight I probably should have been signed off as the summer was not enough recovery time, as I have found my new job so difficult. Teaching is sodding well exhausting and it breaks my heart that so many of us have this result. I swear we can't ALL be the work shy lazy so and sos the media make us out to be.


Seriously don't make my mistake, take the time you need first.


I REALLY need to find a new career!


however now since it is 9 o clock I am off to do some marking...........BOO HISS.

vw_campervan_mum

Hands up - another ex-teacher here. I had to leave after a hellish 3 years. First 10 years were tough but ok. Then new management made the school culture unbearable. I would have gone part time but that was not allowed. I am now unemployed and will happily do anything else. I have an interview for a pet shop tomorrow and will be soooo happy if I get it.

Life is definitely too short to spend it crying and feeling desperate - get out before too much damage is done. If only I had been able to leave earlier I may have had better options for another job. It will take me a long time to get over the past 3 years and I hate to hear of so many others struggling in what should be a wonderful job but has changed so much in recent years.

Remember your own children will only have one childhood. I had to work to bring mine up as I was a single mother but I regret so many missed experiences with them.

Listening to Gwen Guthrie to cheer myself back up now - think that will help with the housework tomorrow :T

apple_muncher

allie, I've been where you are, although not as badly as you. I had a great GP then, and was signed off. You will feel bad, guilty, teary. That's why you need the time off. You've tried to cope and now you need professional help. Thimk of the advice you would give to a friend going through this, then aim to do the ssme for yourself. I believe you are entitled to 6 months full pay. Your lessons will be sorted if you let the school know this is prob a long-term thing. And I'd highly recommend seeing a cousellor. I was lucky that my sch had one.

Do not feel guilty! Well, that's easy to say, but you need to look after you.

Sorry to butt in. Sending lots og hugs.

lovefullshelves

After reading all your posts about being a teacher I'm really worried about son's career path! Hopefully he'll stick with the music side!
Happy today as used up the last of the bacon leftovers..managed 6 meal potions with 6 rashers! bacon 'magic' pie and omelette!
And my mate gave me a pack of mince that wouldn't fit in his freezer! I add tvp and make it go for miles with my meat loving lot. They still don't know I add it, what the eye doesn't see!
Also been costing properly the meals I cook regularly. Only found 2 so far that cost over £1 a portion!
I suppose it helps alot that i don't pay for potatoes, onions, apples and most other veg as I grow them anyway:)
Hope everyones warm x