Aspirations of Frugality and Fun on the Road to Mortgage Freedom

Karmacat

Got back after a looong absence of my own, and I find you're AWOL too ... hope you're okay, DDFW.

DedicatedDFW

Thank you all - i did not mean to cause anyone any worry but how lovely of you all to pop in - I'd like to thank you all individully but fear i'd then be too tired to do a proper post afterwards

I am back and relieved to see that PB has been looking after the cat

I hadn't actually realised how long it has been since i had posted. So i will cover off: the good, the bad and the new :cool:

Lets get the bad out of the way first - i have just been too ill to post and have had other real life stuff as well including the ongoing illness of a close family member. i did think of just popping in but i really did not feel up to it and wanted to get myself back to a good level of wellness before posting again - i genuinely hadn't realised it had been so long. I am not 100% but of course health is the priority and i am committing on here now to a 5 mile run tomorrow - i am not sure if i said but i am going to be doing a half marathon and the training has taken a back seat due to illness but i still have a goodly bit of time before the race and am a determined thing

The good:-

PB was also right in that i have been on my holibobs too and it was really amazing, i feel so lucky to have been on such a fabulous trip.
I got my degree - PB i got the grade i wanted


The new:-

I got accepted onto the MA course i wanted :j i start next month and :eek::eek::eek: - how much work is there? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Illness has served to focus the mind somewhat and i have mulled things over and made some decisions about what i want in my life and also put in place some things to make changes now I remembered posting on hypno's thread some time that i wanted to run and the realisation that the only thing holding me back was me and i got out there and i did it :T i have applied this thinking to other things i want to achieve where the only change needs to be in me.

So bucket list stuff i've been carrying around with me for years are:-

I want to run a marathon - i am getting closer to this by training now and entering in a half marathon. The running has of course taken a back seat but i am getting back into it now and feel so good after a run - not so much during mind :rotfl: but i coul not even run to the end of the street before and now i have a half marathon in my sights

I want to be fluent in 2 other languages. I cannot believe i have put this off so long. So even though life will change again with the MA i am not prepared to put this off any longer and have signed up to beginners classes in 1 language - that'll do for now - the other will be dusting off a language i did at school and then progressing that one. But with the language i am going to start next month i have been using a teach yourself ? is that the phrase? book and CD Hard work but fun! And i am a girl who needs the fun and challenge of the classroom so i know the classes are the right, but costly decision

I also want to be able to play an instrument well - again a lifelong want and so i am now the proud owner of a wee instrument of my very own. I am plodding on *quite* nicely teaching myself at the moment - and will have someone to help me out getting all the basics in place before i need to think about classes. Again hard work as its doing something so completely new to me - but what fun!!

slowlyfading

Lovely to see you posting again and sorry to hear you've been so ill. Well done on your degree and getting onto the MA course :j what instrument are you learning?

DedicatedDFW

Not sure if i should call this the frugal or the new but i have renewed my focus on all things frugal

Now i know many people will have been doing things that i'm just starting to do now but i am still chuffed that i have pushed myself to make the time to do these things and its simply looking to get the most out of every thing that we have. So today i took the carcass of a chicken that needed to be thrown away after today - well it was a carcass after i'd stripped the chicken off & i made a stock using some sulky veggies and some veggies i'd frozen just for this purpose and made some stock ready for soup :T I used to do this regularly but my freezer is :eek: So i made the effort to make the room and we now have a delicious stock destined for the freezer when its cooled and the best thing - no waste and no extra cost :T I used to love doing this but as i say the freezer is overwhelming - as are the cupboards and the storage baskets :eek:

So i am now systematically working through the freezer and cupboards and using things up. Having less things in, for me, even less food will work better as i can focus on what we have and do some batch cooking :T The freezer is so full right now of i guess raw ? ingredients and if i make something we have to eat it over a couple of days as there still isn't the space to freeze up the meals - that is how full it is when something comes out there still isn't the room

I might find it hard as i don't like to have bare cupboards / freezer etc. but i am looking forward to emptying it entirely and have been regularly opening the freezer and 1 drawer at a time lifting out 1 pack of meat and then making a meal / meals with it So far this weekend i have cooked a huge joint for sandwiches in the week - i'm saving the bone for more stock :A i've used up an out of date packet sauce (was super cheap) and made a meal of slow cooked lamb with this - it should be 2 meals but expect my Mr will scoff it all I've done the stock and also made a beef casserole with the last of the sulky veg and an out of date packet mix (was given free). All the meat i have was reduced price so the meals are very cheap really And i do enjoy cooking too so this has been a nicely productive thing to get back into. i am so looking forward to creating space in the freezr and cupboards it should just make things more streamlined and simpler - i hope

I guess my language book is making the most out of what i have already as it is good its not just taking up space :cool: and it is good to have this to confirm that yes, i'll need to put the work in but the rewards are there

I have also renewed my wardrobe - i've actually gone down a size or 2 so desperately needed a few bits that weren't dropping off me - all cheaply done in the sales / bargain shops and i am whittling out the 'too big' items generating bay of e and carboot fodder. I was also hopeful of a new job or an interview but *le sigh* am just not getting anywhere with my applications. Still the right thing will come along for me i am sure and whilst ill would not have been the best time to go somewhere new.

And of course the money :cool:

I have secured a discount on a service we need anyway :T

And have set aside a bit of time each week to do what i used to - look at the money stuff - are there any better deals? what can i do to save money here or get more for our money? once i'd made all the big savings - switching suppliers etc. its not really something i can do every week or month but its good to be back in the habit of looking at the money stuff

Oh and doing what i love ? happily plodding on with it

Think i've bored everyone enough now :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Thank you so much again for your posts was lovely and made me all emotional to see all my virtual friends on here posting I hope you are all well and will pop round soon x

DedicatedDFW

slowlyfading wrote: »

Lovely to see you posting again and sorry to hear you've been so ill. Well done on your degree and getting onto the MA course :j what instrument are you learning?

Hey SF,

Whoops thought i'd replied here too - thank you for your kind words

DedicatedDFW

Money news...

Whoop! :j:T:j Finally managed to sort out a niggly thing with my savings account - been ongoing for months and just as i thought i was about to have to take in all sorts of documents i have a letter and its all sorted out :T

Sold an item :T

Relisted unsold items :T

Resisted opening bottle of wine - the glass i've had will have to do :beer: making the wine go further - although i may open it tomorrow and throw some into the casserole i am probably going to make. And the wine that remains unopened and the wine i've just finished were both gifted to me

Ok it is late now and i have been trying to make the most of my weekend - although having got up to date with correspondence i've just been checking bank stuff - i am clearly a party girl :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Been thrown off kilter on time with clock having stopped earlier and started again without the time being put right - and it was telling me it was 8.55pm - i was so pleased although, admittedly, a tad shocked to have achieved so much so fast - until i saw the correct time *yawn*

I have missed you all and it is nice to be back

PB - if you are reading i hope all is good with you - we'll have to arrange a return of le cat - i will PM you and i am so sorry again for not having been posting sooner.

in_need_of_direction

Hon if taking a break lets you achieve so much and plan so well, I'd say it's worth it. Good to have you back with us.

Karmacat

Oh my! You've done a lot! You must be out on that 5m run right now, hope its going well

giblet1979

Fantastic to hear from you!

Well done on the degree, the MA, all the money saving; really sorry to hear about your poor health and poorly relative.

Really hope that things are getting better for you, and I look forward to hearing more exciting updates x

Chocforever

It is lovely to have you back - I have missed you. And your lists!


Sorry to hear your health has been poor and hope you are able to keep well.


My house move is really progressing and I may be moving soon. I will be able to join you as a MFW. And I also need to get back into running and being generally more fit. I have let my fitness go over the last couple of months and once I have got moved and sorted out, I definitely need to get back to it. I'm not brave enough for a half marathon yet; will just stick to 5k and maybe 10k for now.


Delighted to hear you got the degree class that you wanted. Much deserved. Out of interest, how long is the MA course?


Have a great week x