2015 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User]

Wombatchops so sorry to hear about your situation. Life can turn around so quickly. At least you have some savings which will tide you over for a while and you were really sensible to insist on having this despite being criticised.

I am not sure about benefits you may be entitled to but your local Citizens advice will be able to give you good advice specific to your situation.

There is a really good page on facebook called feed your family for £20 a week. They post regular recipes and offers - particularly from Muscle Foods which sell meat.

There are lots of threads on here that will help with reducing costs - The Grocery Challenge on the Old Style thread is a good one to keep focussed.

cw18

Frugaldom wrote: »

If hubby is home watching TV all day he can also watch kids, help about the house

As someone who had 18 months off work with back problems (2006-08) I have to say I'm not sure I totally agree with this. I had days when I could barely get myself washed and dressed, and just catering for an adult with cancer (who couldn't do much around the house even when not in hospital for treatment) often pushed me beyond what I should have been doing. There's no way I could have coped with children under the age of 3, and even a 6 year-old would possibly be a challenge depending on how good (s)he is when they realise the parent in charge can't actually move around after them very quickly. It really does depend on what the back problem is and how badly it's impacting on mobility.

jess444_2

Hi all, Just catching up with this thread and would like to join in next year if that if OK.

Currently having a nightmare of a time in work and really want to take early retirement from Sept 2016 when I will be 57. This will mean my pension being reduced quite a bit, but really feel that the job is making me ill at the minute, so have to go.

After essential bills are paid we will have £700 a month left for food, petrol, clothes and genera living expenses (myself and OH) So the plan is to live on this amount from Jan to Sept to test the waters and save a bit of an emergency fund.

I have already cut right down on presents, magazine subscriptions, etc, and we are planning to sell one car in Sept as it will not be needed. I will also look for a part time job once I retire, but it would be nice to know that we can manage if we have to.

Wombatchops

Thanks everyone for your advice, it has definitely been noted and gratefully received. I had to take myself off here to calm down. Also, it was unfair what I wrote about my DH. I was having a meltdown and in a "and he does this... And he does this..." frame of mind. I didn't intentionally mean to apportion blame, I was freaking out and thinking if we don't do or buy x, y, z then we would be in a slightly better position. And I ended up blurting it all out here.

We have now received a letter from DH's employer stating when he receives half pay, when he receives Statutory Sick Pay, and when he stops being paid. Hopefully we won't get as far as SSP, and in the meantime, we have enough put by to get us through the half pay period. And we can now seek advice on whether we can claim assistance during his sick period.

At the moment, I'm being asked if I can meet people for dinner at their house, but I have to say no because he is in no fit state to look after the kids alone. I don't think he will be able to help with childcare if he is still off sick when I return to work, although that would take the pressure off should he be able to look after them.

I am still panicking, but I am starting to calm down and think a little straighter. And I am working on a short-term budget for the next 6 weeks.

Finally, enough with my self-obsession for now. Hello jess444 and good luck. Also, I hope nobody has been affected by the floods this weekend, they look devastating. But if you have been, I am thinking of you.

sistercas

wombatchops don't worry about blurting anything out , we are all here to support each other , I'm glad you are feeling calmer xx

jess444 welcome , I hope you realise your dream to retire early , that's certainly on my agenda if at all possible

lynnejk

jess444 wrote: »

Hi all, Just catching up with this thread and would like to join in next year if that if OK.

Currently having a nightmare of a time in work and really want to take early retirement from Sept 2016 when I will be 57..... but it would be nice to know that we can manage if we have to.

Welcome to the Fred. It sounds like a good idea for you to 'test the waters first' and I'm sure you'll manage to get it all sorted in the nine months. Good luck with it all

Wombatchops wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your advice, it has definitely been noted and gratefully received. I had to take myself off here to calm down..... And I ended up blurting it all out here.
......And we can now seek advice on whether we can claim assistance during his sick period.

I am still panicking, but I am starting to calm down and think a little straighter. And I am working on a short-term budget for the next 6 weeks

Pleased to hear that you are calming down a bit - and don't worry about blurting it all on here as it's good that you had somewhere to turn to at the time.


Good luck with your plans, hope you get some good advice and let us know how you're doing. Good luck


Lx

sistercas

lynnejk wrote: »

Welcome to the Fred.


Lx

:rotfl::rotfl: Love it

Frugaldom

cw18 wrote: »

As someone who had 18 months off work with back problems (2006-08) I have to say I'm not sure I totally agree with this. I had days when I could barely get myself washed and dressed, and just catering for an adult with cancer (who couldn't do much around the house even when not in hospital for treatment) often pushed me beyond what I should have been doing. There's no way I could have coped with children under the age of 3, and even a 6 year-old would possibly be a challenge depending on how good (s)he is when they realise the parent in charge can't actually move around after them very quickly. It really does depend on what the back problem is and how badly it's impacting on mobility.

I was thinking more longterm than immediate so can only apologise for my wording being misconstrued. I too spent time off work while totally incapacitated by a back injury, among other things, but being self employed meant zero support. I had young children, I had no savings, I had no choice. Had it not been for various friends popping in each day, I don't know how I would have managed. Reaching for telephone was about as much as I could manage.

I mean no disrespect by anything I ever post online, I have little free time, I try my best to post across all the forums and challenges I run, I welcome everyone who needs a little moral support while trying to juggle difficult budgets but will also always remind everyone that this is a public forum fully searchable in the relevant search engines. Content posted here can also be published elsewhere, so my personal preference to share my thoughts on many subjects within a more private virtual setting shouldn't be taken as anything other than that... my personal preference.

Yes, there will be a 2016 challenge. This one started in 2007 for 2008, so our 8th MSE version will be on here soon. All welcome.

Wombatchops

I'm looking forward to the 2016 challenge "Fred", I'm going to need it.

I have checked on the Turn2Us website, which suggests we won't get any help. I've got an appointment with Citizens Advice Bureau on Monday morning, so I'll see what they say. Fingers crossed. Thank you all for your support in the meantime though.

I'm a bit wound up by my 6 yo's school at the moment. They are putting on a Christmas play and my daughter is a mouse, so they want us to provide a white top and white trousers. She has no white trousers or leggings, they'd always get stained immediately, so I stopped buying any, and I can't use anything to get rid of stains because most detergents affect the eczema of her, her brother (the 2 yo), and my DH. And all of her white tops are patterned.

I asked her teachers if she could be in black instead, and they said no but they'd see if they have anything. They never came back to me, and I've been unable to borrow anything from friends. Given our uncertain financial future I refuse to buy anything (and I personally think the school has no right to expect me to buy anything, but I'm aware that some may disagree with me).

My improvisation? She is wearing white tights, a plain white vest, and my white t-shirt, fastened with a safety pin. Luckily I'm rather small, and she is tall, but it still drowns her, hence the safety pin. And, if the school don't like it, given that I suggested an alternative and asked for their help, but they didn't deliver, they can kiss my a***. Does that make me sound awful? I hope it doesn't sound like some form of child abuse.

lynnejk

Wombatchops wrote: »

I'm looking forward to the 2016 challenge "Fred", I'm going to need it.

I have checked on the Turn2Us website, which suggests we won't get any help. I've got an appointment with Citizens Advice Bureau on Monday morning, so I'll see what they say. Fingers crossed. Thank you all for your support in the meantime though..............

My improvisation? She is wearing white tights, a plain white vest, and my white t-shirt, fastened with a safety pin..... Does that make me sound awful? I hope it doesn't sound like some form of child abuse.

Good luck on Monday - fingers xd for you


I think your improvisation sounds just fine. It's only a school production for families etc. Well done :T
Lx