I want to stop drowning

enthusiasticsaver

I tend to try to either use the oven or the hob but not both at the same time even if cooking for the family not just DH and I. So if cooking a casserole I will put potatoes in and do veg in there too or if roasting I will do baked/roasted veg or microwave it.

debtaghh

I think I will def try and batch cook and see if that makes a difference. I don't own a slow cooker.., do you think leaving that on all day will be cheaper than the oven?

debtaghh

Morning,

Sorry I've been so grumpy lately. I have in the real world as well and I'm conscious of the fact that I moan a lot... like all the time!

Today is the day ( well for now anyway:rotfl:) that I'm going to stop feeling sorry for myself!

I have found work hard and life at home, kids playing up etc. I have felt sorry for myself about my weight and untoned figure ( in other words my very flabby figure!)

What's needed is ACTION and not moaning and feeling sorry for myself! This is doing me no good and causing me to fall asleep every night ridiculously early!

Aim:

Exercise 20 mins a week at least three times... increase this over the weeks.
Drink more water like I used to.
Watch calories esp on days that I can!
Accept the fact that I have no money but it will be a costly couple of months but stick to my budget and try and cut back where I can!
Accept the fact that I am not a homeowner but enjoy the now instead of worrying about if we have to move again.
Focus on now instead of worrying about the future so much!

I need to do this as I can't carry on the way I am as it's destroying me!!

debtaghh

Morning,

I get paid tomorrow and can't wait as it feels like it's been ages. I've realised from reading purple mum's diary that we then don't get paid for another five weeks :eek: that's going to feel very long! We have lots going on over the next couple of months including lots of guests coming over, Christmas shopping, Christmas celebrations on top of normal activities/spending.

I'm going to try and monitor the food spends as much as I can as that's the only area I feel I can cut down on. I've had to put our heater on for quite a bit each day as my mum has been over and really feels the cold. How many hours do you all put your heating on for?

Have a lovely day.

enthusiasticsaver

debtaghh wrote: »

I think I will def try and batch cook and see if that makes a difference. I don't own a slow cooker.., do you think leaving that on all day will be cheaper than the oven?

If you read the diary of a frugal family it was calculated a slow cooker uses roughly the same electricity as a lightbulb and if it takes 8 hours to do a casserole then it will use around 10p of energy. A normal casserole done for just one hour in a cooker will cost around 30p in energy. Maybe put a request up on a freecycle page for one?

debtaghh

That's very interesting and I will definitely look into slow cookers.

enthusiasticsaver

debtaghh wrote: »

Morning,

I get paid tomorrow and can't wait as it feels like it's been ages. I've realised from reading purple mum's diary that we then don't get paid for another five weeks :eek: that's going to feel very long! We have lots going on over the next couple of months including lots of guests coming over, Christmas shopping, Christmas celebrations on top of normal activities/spending.

I'm going to try and monitor the food spends as much as I can as that's the only area I feel I can cut down on. I've had to put our heater on for quite a bit each day as my mum has been over and really feels the cold. How many hours do you all put your heating on for?

Have a lovely day.

We have had to succumb to putting the heating on too in the evenings. We have it on for about two hours. 3 degrees here yesterday. We are having a new kitchen put in at the moment so the doors are constantly being opened to let the dust out so that doesn't help.

Spent the day with my daughter and Granddaughters yesterday so that warms me up running after a three year old and walking a six month old around. I am off to the gym/pool today to use their heating instead.

I would break your income into weekly spends to get you through the month. Can you encourage your mum to put another layer on or move around more to keep warm? Hot water bottle? My DH uses one as he feels the cold as not much fat on him. Soups are a great way to keep warm too but I find just keeping busy minimises the amount of heat used. Sitting around makes me cold. It is only October so ideally heating should be used sparingly.

enthusiasticsaver

debtaghh wrote: »

Morning,

Sorry I've been so grumpy lately. I have in the real world as well and I'm conscious of the fact that I moan a lot... like all the time!

Today is the day ( well for now anyway:rotfl:) that I'm going to stop feeling sorry for myself!

I have found work hard and life at home, kids playing up etc. I have felt sorry for myself about my weight and untoned figure ( in other words my very flabby figure!)

What's needed is ACTION and not moaning and feeling sorry for myself! This is doing me no good and causing me to fall asleep every night ridiculously early!

Aim:

Exercise 20 mins a week at least three times... increase this over the weeks.
Drink more water like I used to.
Watch calories esp on days that I can!
Accept the fact that I have no money but it will be a costly couple of months but stick to my budget and try and cut back where I can!
Accept the fact that I am not a homeowner but enjoy the now instead of worrying about if we have to move again.
Focus on now instead of worrying about the future so much!

I need to do this as I can't carry on the way I am as it's destroying me!!

Sorry you have been feeling low. Time of year doesn't help I think. We took our granddaughters to our local garden centre to see the Christmas decorations as they always put on a snow scene with animals and singing reindeer. So much lovely stuff to buy but of course if money is tight it can be depressing. I resisted buying anything but if I was a consumerist rather than a minimalist I think I would find it difficult.

Just say to yourself that stuff will not make you happy but the peace of mind which comes from well managed finances will. You have come such a long way and got so disciplined you have a lot to feel good about along with the fact you now have a regular salary.

All your aims sound good. Exercise will improve your mood definitely. Being grumpy on your diary is allowed on here. It is an outlet so if you are feeling low then voice it. Much better than glossing over it.

Put home ownership to the back of your mind. It is outside your control for now. Uncertainty with renting goes with the territory but if you focus on building up emergency savings as well as debt clearing that will give you a buffer should you need to move again. The main reason is your area is too expensive and that must be true with a lot of people who live in the London/South East.

debtaghh

Me and my mum do feel the cold... think we must have circulation issues. Both covered in layers and freezing even with the heating on.

debtaghh

Thanks enthusiastic. You're right about several points.

I'm feeling more dedicated ... just hope it lasts!