Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

doingitanyway

I routinely return things now too HHOD when I need to. Yesterday it was just plant milk that was bad. previously I would have dumped it but now I return it. £3.50 back in my pocket

It's great that you got the additional work and I hope the extra income helps you feel more comfortable and more able to treat yourself sometimes

foxgloves

Morning HHoD, Re your returned leggings..... I like close fitting black leggings under summer dresses, particularly my shorter tunic style ones, but I found it increasingly tricky to find what I want in a good fit. They're too long, too baggy or they start to sag around the knees after just a few washes. This summer, I tried a pair of M&S black cotton footless tights & they were perfect! Close-fitting so no saga, wrinkles & baggy bits and comfortable to wear, plus a nice solid black. They're £10 a pair but with a Sparks offer, I got 20% off, so £8. Hopefully they will still be available next Spring, as I intend to buy another couple of pairs & confine my old saggy leggings to my pile of gardening gear.
Anyway, just posting this in case it's helpful (I don't work for M&S, lol)
F x

[Deleted User]

HHOD

Congratulations on the TA cover:j:T:beer:. I'm so pleased for you and know it must be a relief not only because it will mean some extra income at a very expensive time of year but also because it will give you valuable experience for your CV.

I know you said money is tight at the moment and you don't know exactly when your extra wages will come in and the car expenses looming aren't helping are they? I can understand that you want to make the very most of every minute you have left with DS3 before his term starts but would it maybe be best to let him go on the coach this time, seeing as it seems to be a possibility that he's already considered? It will save you and DH a packet when funds are low (presumably DS will be paying his own coach fare).


Good for you accepting the lunch date with Stepdad and his fiancee:T. We all know how much that must be costing you emotionally and I'm full of admiration for the way you are tackling such difficult issues. I hope it turns out to be an enjoyable experience (well, tolerable anyway) and the food is good. I find I can put up with a lot for good free food:o

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

Thank you for asking after me, I'm fine, no DVT, just have to put my legs up properly a couple of times a day !!

So pleased to hear that news, Elizbeth. Must be a real relief and here's hoping your recovery is quick and trouble-free:beer:

I've had a health scare myself. I went for a routine eye check at the opticians on Friday morning and my only concern was that they would need to change my prescription and I'd have to fork out for new lenses. I fully intended to keep the same frames. Now I'm debt-free I'm as frugal as ever:rotfl:

Optician did a load of tests using all sorts of machines that I've never had done on previous eye-checks and said he was very concerned about my optic nerve:eek:. I was in there ages whilst he dictated a letter to the secretary for an urgent referral to the hospital Ophthalmologist. When I say urgent I mean he insisted I presented myself with the letter at A&E that very day:eek:.


I rushed home and DH said he'd drive me there. Hospital is 17 miles away and although I usually drive myself everywhere he could see I was a in a bit of a state and insisted on taking me. Upshot was we sat around in A&E for about 2 hours before I was called. I felt a bit of a fraud, there were people coming in with all sorts of injuries and I was as right as rain, I thought. The A&E Doc said I couldn't see the Ophthalmologist that day as that was not how it works and it needs a referral but he'd referred me as urgent and the Ophthalmology dept will be phoning me early Monday morning to give me a time to attend the clinic on Tuesday.


Sorry to monopolise your diary, HHOD but I just needed somewhere to get things off my chest:o. I'm usually the one who calms everything down here and keeps things on an even keel. DH tends to panic over health issues so I can't say too much to him about how I'm feeling. I'm doing my nonchalant que sera sera act at the moment but I have to admit I'm scared. I've been so fortunate my whole life in never being ill apart from the usual colds and a hairline wrist fracture once and this is all new to me. I know Elizabeth and Beanie (and I'm sure others who post on here) have stoically endured all sorts and the fact that I'm such a baby is disappointing me.

teafor2

Hi HHD Excellent news that you've officially been asked to cover the class. I think you're getting your foot well and truly in the door now so don't give up hope of something permanent coming up in the future.

Hope the lunch goes OK. At least meeting your niece means you have something to look forward to after it. xx

milann

It must have taken some doing to go out with step dad and his new lady. Emotional times.
Scrimpess you’re not being a baby - I’d be terrified too. Fingers crossed it’s a something and nothing :beer:

Sun_Addict

Fab news the cover has been confirmed. It must be good for the head to know they have a willing and reliable employee to turn to.

Scrimpness - what a scare for you, you're not being a baby, eyes are very precious, don't take chances with your sight. Hope everything turns out ok.

beanielou

Scrimpess~~I would be terrified.

HHD~~Enjoy your meal

jwil

Brilliant news about the extra hours :T

Hope the meal went ok today x

HairyHandofDartmoor

doingitanyway wrote: »

I routinely return things now too HHOD when I need to. Yesterday it was just plant milk that was bad. previously I would have dumped it but now I return it. £3.50 back in my pocket

It's great that you got the additional work and I hope the extra income helps you feel more comfortable and more able to treat yourself sometimes

Thanks DIA . I like returning things too, especially impulse buys . The extra money will be very useful, although I'm not sure how much I'll actually get. My MTA rate is £9 an hour, but I'm not sure exactly how many extra hours I'll be working.

foxgloves wrote: »

Morning HHoD, Re your returned leggings..... I like close fitting black leggings under summer dresses, particularly my shorter tunic style ones, but I found it increasingly tricky to find what I want in a good fit. They're too long, too baggy or they start to sag around the knees after just a few washes. This summer, I tried a pair of M&S black cotton footless tights & they were perfect! Close-fitting so no saga, wrinkles & baggy bits and comfortable to wear, plus a nice solid black. They're £10 a pair but with a Sparks offer, I got 20% off, so £8. Hopefully they will still be available next Spring, as I intend to buy another couple of pairs & confine my old saggy leggings to my pile of gardening gear.
Anyway, just posting this in case it's helpful (I don't work for M&S, lol)
F x

Thanks Foxgloves . I'll have to try footless tights next summer. I would hate saggy knees :eek:.

Scrimpess wrote: »

HHOD

Congratulations on the TA cover:j:T:beer:. I'm so pleased for you and know it must be a relief not only because it will mean some extra income at a very expensive time of year but also because it will give you valuable experience for your CV.

I know you said money is tight at the moment and you don't know exactly when your extra wages will come in and the car expenses looming aren't helping are they? I can understand that you want to make the very most of every minute you have left with DS3 before his term starts but would it maybe be best to let him go on the coach this time, seeing as it seems to be a possibility that he's already considered? It will save you and DH a packet when funds are low (presumably DS will be paying his own coach fare).


Good for you accepting the lunch date with Stepdad and his fiancee:T. We all know how much that must be costing you emotionally and I'm full of admiration for the way you are tackling such difficult issues. I hope it turns out to be an enjoyable experience (well, tolerable anyway) and the food is good. I find I can put up with a lot for good free food:o

Thank you Scrimpess . The extra money will be useful for Christmas etc .

Unfortunately DS3 needs to take all his kitchen equipement (saucepans etc) plus his duvet and pillow to his new accommodation so DH and I will have to drive up, but he may go up a few days early with a sleeping bag to get settled in before his course begins.

It's never easy seeing stepdad and fiancee because although they are very pleasant, I just want my mum to be there but I have to get used to it.