2014 Frugal Living Challenge

abby1234519

I've stayed away since my last post. My anxiety went into hyperdrive, just the fact that I had admitted it about the gambling and acknowledged it (rather than just saying Silly Abigail and brushing it under the carpet) sent me into fits of anxiety that have lasted all week.

Other half was angry but supportive. I don't let him spend money out of his account because we can't afford to and then I gambled so obviously he felt that was hypocritical. I explained its not really, by that I mean I haven't gambled on a regular basis I've managed to always control it. By being in control of every aspect of my life I manage to keep afloat and away from aspects of my personality like the gambling thing. Also I explained I have an addiction to being addicted. When I start to sell things on ebay for instance I get addicted to it.

When I start trying to pay off debt, I get addicted to it. When I start painting the house, I get addicted to it and do the ENTIRE house.

Point is there are underlying issues but the GPs have always been useless in helping. Psychiatrists were useless, I know what is wrong with me as it runs through the family. I explain to them that I am manipulative and always will be but luckily I can usually control it.

So I am left to toddle along by myself. One lady recommended CBT but her boss who was sat in on a session pointed out they didn't have a chance on it working with me. So I have propanolol for my anxiety and thats it. Can't really fix sociopathic tendancies I guess!

The gambling was an instance of me losing control, hasn't happened for about 6 years (I am 25) and it shouldn't happen again. The anxiety preceded the gambling so I think if I can manage the anxiety the gambling shouldn't rear its ugly head.

I do however now have £900 to make before August. I've made £135 cashback, I have some items on ebay which total about £200 in bids at the moment. A few of those are big ticket items and after they sell we will be down to selling clothes and baby items. I am swagbucking it like I have never swagbucked before. I'm up to £25 worth of paypal, I will plough on with the surveys every night as I've seen people who've made £500 in a few months. Just need to keep going at it. Can't take on a part time job so I am a bit stumped as to what I can do. I do have plenty of clutter however and I can sell some of the wedding stuff because its not needed. Ie the candlebras that I managed to get for £75 would sell individually for £20 I think. So that would be about £165 profit.

Apart from all the above, I am a nice person I swear!

After upsetting the frugal applecart I need to get back on with this shizzle. I need to feed us for 3 months on £150. I can do that if I manage to avoid the supermarkets.

dolly84

abby - I know exactly what you mean about having an addictive personality, I am the same. You have made some big steps forward and are doing everything you can yo put this right. Don't right off CBT, I have trained in that and it is very, very good at getting to the root of a problem.

I am doing well with all things frugal at the moment and would be doing so much better if other people stopped asking me for money i.e., water bill, school trip, girl guides trip and t shirt, music lessons, tow bar for car. :rotfl:. Oh well onwards and upwards, surely April will be a good month, oh no, two weeks school holidays and a trip away of our own too, perhaps not then.

abby1234519

dolly84 wrote: »

abby - I know exactly what you mean about having an addictive personality, I am the same. You have made some big steps forward and are doing everything you can yo put this right. Don't right off CBT, I have trained in that and it is very, very good at getting to the root of a problem.

I am doing well with all things frugal at the moment and would be doing so much better if other people stopped asking me for money i.e., water bill, school trip, girl guides trip and t shirt, music lessons, tow bar for car. :rotfl:. Oh well onwards and upwards, surely April will be a good month, oh no, two weeks school holidays and a trip away of our own too, perhaps not then.

The problem with CBT is that I am very manipulative in most situations. I manipulate other people into behaving how I want them to. I can't remember what the psychiatrist called it however they did diagnose me initially with having no fixed identity. I'm a chameleon! so the reason we have never attempted CBT was because they worry that I will work it how I want it to work and so it won't get to the root of the problem. Ie I know what answers they want and a lot of the time I never really know whether I am saying how I feel or whether I am saying what a human with feelings would say. I don't know if that makes sense. I am often aware that when I talk about feelings that it sounds contrived and I am describing how a usual person who talk about it. I don't know if they are my emotions or whether they belong to someone else. I used to be good at expressing emotions however as I have grown out of my teens I have found it hard to talk about things with empathy, I am a lot more logical than I once was. I view this as a flaw.

However I definitely feel an emotional attachment to money!

DawnW

It's Friday :j:j:j:j:j

Managed to bunk off work early-ish for once

Went to an auction viewing with OH and picked up a takeaway on the way back. Oops :rotfl:

Remembered to claim my expenses but will need to cover about £35 which is over the limit we are allowed due to paying for dinner for the people I was with. They put in a lot of work for my organisation on a voluntary, unpaid basis (at least I was PAID for having to travel on a Sunday - they weren't), and I was unprepared to act like a police officer over the cost of a starter or glass of wine, so resigned to cover it myself. It was less than I thought, and included a tip, which also isn't allowed. In some ways it will be MS to give up work :rotfl:

Auction tomorrow and I may buy some bits for my small business, but must NOT spend too much :eek:

I am not counting business spends in my totals, as I obviously have to keep separate records for that for HMRC, but the idea is to try to make more money than I spend, which isn't really happening at the moment

SarahB1989_2

skintygerlinky wrote: »

Sorry you're feeling like this sarah xxx

I really hope you feel better soon. You're doing the best you can at the moment and you're doing a good job. You're making sure you're eating regular meals and posting here for support. Keep it up, this won't last forever xxx

I like sweet potatoes, celeriac, carrots, turnips and swede as an alternative to pasta or wedges, especially cut into chunks and roasted with a bit of oil and garlic. They seem to taste a bit different and are really tasty! If they are boiled in any combination and mashed they make a lovely topping for shepherd's pie - nice change for bolognaise.

You've probably come across these sites before - but they're always good to check for inspiration:

http://agirlcalledjack.com/

http://thriftylesley.com/

Thanks for this skinty I'd seen the first website but the second's new to me so will check that out. Feeling a bit more positive today as some travel costs have been reimbursed so the money situation is a little less fraught for the time being, if I can stick to very tight budgets til end of April things should be ok.

mum2one

A semi frugal day - needed to get some clothes for DD - so we went to Primani, - did get a lot for the money, £75 (4 prs shorts, 4 strappy tops, 4 vest tops, 4 tshirts, 2 prs flip flops, 2 prs pjs, (all for holiday), winter pjs, pj tops... We only go shopping once in a blue moon so balances out.

Without sounding daft, if anyone has feet that are slightly 1 smaller than the other - Shoe Zone - they had a rack of these "odd sizes" and I got pr of leather boots for £3.99.

Now no spend weekend... xx

Florenceem

Made my first order with AF - mainly went for ingredients to make meals.

sparrer

Day out with dear old DM who I only get to see about once a month (she lives several motorways away). Clothes shopping was a necessity so we went to the only shop in her town which is rather expensive. Fortunately they had a sale so we got a pair of shoes, two tops and some undies for the grand sum of £17. Lunched out at a 241 pub so quite a frugal day all round.

TM6

Good morning Frugalites from Leicester

My DD2 has just set off for the University Open Day with my DH leaving me back at the hotel with DD3.

We had a result here last night - we are due to check out this morning at 11am and we enquired how much it would cost to book out later. The Receptionist disappeared and came back saying that as we are members of the hotel group loyalty scheme we can stay until 1pm free of charge (they waived the £20 fee :j )


You know you're a Frugalite when......

You buy a new lipstick and for the first time EVER you don't buy the matching nail varnish :rotfl:



After the open day we continue our journey down to Cornwall where we will be staying until Friday.

Our half term seems to be different that the rest of the country as our children only broke up yesterday.

I can't wait for long walks on the beach with our gorgeous Border Terrier

What are you up to this weekend?

tatabubbly

Its a spend day in our house, just to the local shop to pick up some bits and pieces to keep me in food until the OH comes back! Hate not having the car for doing my groceries! I've been living out of the cupboard and freezer, managed to use up all of the bits of extra bread we had in our freezer and trying to stretch the meat (Honest! ).

Hoping to spend less than €20. I need every penny I can put my hands on to get through March unscathed...