Get a grip !

Skint_yet_Again

Saturday 22/2/2020 9.45am
Date & time of posts still not showing on my mobile ☹️

It’s blowing a gale here today. Fed the dog at 5.30am. DS & gf are walking her today so I am going to wash my work clothes, hoover the dog room and kitchen tiled floor and do some more decluttering. I have a pile of paperwork in the living room that I would like to clear today. 

All food will be from stores. We need milk, carrots & dishwasher tablets so will need to get those unless can get DS & gf to pick them up on way back from the forest with the dog. 

savingwannabe

If you are decluttering then I had better start some marking. I will do three bits now. I have left it till last as I hate this subject. 

MovingForwards

Hello SYA, wanted to stop by as your diary popped up today, I've spent all day reading it, napping and reading more. You've been through a lot, highs and lows, but you never gave up.

Puppy dog sounds so adorable, I'm sure she has helped you a lot more than you realise. If you can find a Kong you can fill it with kibble, peanut butter and freeze it during the warm weather, makes a nice popsicle, as does frozen white fish. (Make sure you read the peanut butter ingredients as dogs can't have palm sugar and some companies have been swapping over to it). There is also a big Kong that you put kibble in and she will have to knock it around the floor for the kibble to fall out.

Now it's time for you to see when you can realistically retire and enjoy your free time together with downsizing and moving. I'm sure the change will aid your health, less to maintain and all that.

Anyhow, I'm subscribed, so can now keep up with what's going on

Skint_yet_Again

Wow MF you deserve a medal reading my whole diary, no wonder you kept napping 😂
Thanks for your support. It all helps me carry on including love and support from family and friends and support here from SW and Kittikins especially 💖 

“Puppy dog” is 3 yo this year but still keeps me on my toes 😁 she has a large red kong that we often put her dinner in and she pushes it around like a weeble to get the food out (remember weebles wobble but they don’t fall down !!) it slows down her eating otherwise she gobbles her dinner down in seconds !

Also she did have a big black “indestructable” kong which we put peanut butter in, actually she had 2, and she ate them both 😳 She also ate part of the skirting boards, bit the radiator and pulled off part of the dado rail and chewed it and chewed a hole in the plaster on the chimney breast ! She also bit the sofa, footstool and a hole in the carpet 😵 But she is much better now and doesn’t chew the house anymore, most of it has since been repaired & repainted. 

She loves crunching ice cubes, cold carrots & apples & cucumber 😁 She also chews on an antler and a giant peanut butter nylabone. 

Today I popped to aldi for milk, carrots for dog & dishwasher tablets. I have sorted paperwork, done some shredding and filed the rest. Also hoovered the dog carpet and kitchen tiled floor. 

I am thinking of ripping up the dog carpet as she will start moulting soon and it’s such hard work hoovering up the dog hair every day even with my shark. I may put down some cheap lino until we sell up and then put down a cheap carpet which will look better to sell & not smell of dog ! 

DS & his gf took dog to the forest and she had a great time jumping in mud & leaves & swimming in the stream. Had to hose her down in the garden & shampoo her when she got back 😂 now she’s snoring in the kitchen on the “dog sofa” 🐶😴

MovingForwards

It gave me the background to see where you are now, what you have tried, what works / doesn't work for you and means I don't make rubbish suggestions!

I know she is a shedder, a couple of my mates have one / a cross of one, have you got the brush mitten glove thingy? Might make a difference with the amount left everywhere; couple of quid on eBay. My OH uses one on my cat as it means he doesn't get smothered as much in black and white fur

I knew I meant to say something in my other post. You do shop in the main supermarkets, have you signed up for their loyalty cards? (Cost-a-lot have one too!) I save the points up for Christmas and can then treat myself to some good stuff.

I also check shops where I can get extra points or cashback through the bank before deciding where I will spend my money.

Is your petrol supermarket petrol? 

Your food budget is impressive, as is your meal plans / recipe you post up.

Skint_yet_Again

I am grateful for all advice and suggestions ! We do have a glove thingy from B&m which is good but as soon as we have finished brushing her she loses more 😬

I mostly shop at Aldi with occasional top ups in morrisons or asda for things I can’t get in Aldi. Petrol is from Tesco express garage using my clubcard for points. 

I do like to eat 🍔🍟🍕lol but try to plan nice healthier meals, but they are all easy to make as I don’t enjoy cooking. Thankfully DS and his gf now buy and cook their own food. 

MovingForwards

If you haven't got a Morrisons loyalty card do get one, it's 5 points per £ AND you request the vouchers when you want, rather than having them sent at set times.

My belly was rumbling when I read about your McD and KFC meals, I adore deep fried chicken! Chinese I haven't had a good one since I moved, it's also very expensive as the rice isn't included when ordering a curry (curry is also mild!)

I can highly recommend the dinosaur ice cream Morrisons have recently started selling. If you are allowed it.

DS and GF seem settled and take being dog parents seriously, I'm sure puppy dog likes her holidays and the walls round the pond. 

My OH made a new cat with all the fur off mine last year, asked him if he will be making two this year.

Skint_yet_Again

Haha I do love my KFC and Mcd but I try to get offers like the fill up lunch £1.99 from kfc or use the McD receipt survey to get a Big Mac & fries for £1.99. When I buy Chinese or indian I don’t buy rice I keep a pack of aldi microwave rice in my store cupboard around 49p and have that to save money. 

DS & gf are a bit hit and miss with walking every day, it’s usually me, but it helps keep me fit and makes me exercise. DS pays for all dog related costs. 

I know what you mean about the 2 cats from 1 lol.  Every time I hoover my shark is full and it’s like emptying a small dog into the bin 🤣

MovingForwards

I don't really have much take-away now, chippy night is my treat, occasionally I will have pizza but the base is a bit much for my IBS, especially with the cheese.

I think having an animal in the family makes a huge difference to our well-being, they listen and are non-judgmental.

Although DS and GF don't do as much of the walking as they should, you are getting out and about for a bit.

I know you said before about keeping warm, possibly the year she (PD) came into home, Aldi / Lidl get thermal long-johns in, they do make a difference. I'm pretty sure they also get waterproof over trousers in too, bikers use them in winter as they slip over their normal trousers. If you have a camping shop (go outdoors etc) nearby, it's worth popping into see if they have any lined trousers for walking.

Skint_yet_Again

TBH I think I would have fallen apart after my dear mum died if I hadn’t had puppy dog to concentrate on. She has been very hard work and brought me to tears on several occasions with her biting and not letting us sit near her or stroke her for 2 years, but has also brought much joy at times. Now she is gentle kind and loving and will curl up with me on the dog sofa and she sleeps with DS & gf in their room /bed. I draw the line at dog hair in my bed lol. 

Thanks for the suggestion about thermals & waterproof trousers I will look out for those. 

My DF made a radiator cover for the dog room / kitchen so now we have now been able to turn the radiator on it’s much warmer. Just need something to keep my legs warm on walks !