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

Seasidegal58

You must be so relieved and pleased everything went smoothly. Looking forward to reading your update later.

System

Hope you are home safely HHOD .

HairyHandofDartmoor

I'm home but too tired to update at the moment. I've really hit the wall!

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I'm home but too tired to update at the moment. I've really hit the wall!

Just you take care of yourself, HH. After all you've been through recently you need to think about your own well-being for a while:kisses3:


We've all missed you and been concerned for you but I'm sure we can be patient and wait for as long as it takes for you to feel able to come back on here and update us.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks Carboot. I have a lot to tell you all about, so I'll do an update tomorrow when I'm less shattered.

beanielou

Look forward to your update.
Sleep well

jwil

Look after yourself and have a good rest x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks everyone. I feel much better today after a night's sleep.

I started today by knocking a whole cup of tea into my handbag :eek: so I can tell I'm still tired. Luckily it wasn't the bag I use when I go out, but the one I use to keep my things in when I'm in the house. So I've got lots of things spread out to dry at the moment.

To recap we had a slowish journey to take DS3 to uni and the car was groaning under the weight of all his stuff, it was like playing Tetris trying to fit it all in the car. Especially as he wanted to take his big monitor, a big desk fan, and his weights! The weather was rainy and there was heavy traffic.

We made our 8am slot to move DS3 into his accommodation the next morning, after our 5.30am start :eek: and he was the first one to move in. So he got to pick the best kitchen cupboard, fridge shelf etc. His room is lovely; twice as big as his room at home, with plenty of storage and his own shower. It was very light too, with a comfortable mattress. He won't want to come home .

We helped him unpack and make up his bed and the two hour slot was plenty of time. We left him there to settle in and bought him some food in the local Mr T. This came to over £50 :eek: but included a week's food, plus washing up liquid, toilet cleaner, toilet rolls, etc. So some of that should last him a term at least. When we took the food back a second flatmate was moving in, a girl. We had a cup of tea with him and then left him to it. He seemed happy.

We visited BIL with cancer after that at his house, who looked very well, and then drove to BIL2 where we stayed the night again. The next morning we met DS3 for coffee at his nearby high street as arranged. He said all his flatmates had moved in, four girls and one other boy and they all seemed nice. BIL2 was joking about his harem! After that we dropped him back at the campus. It felt strange to think we wouldn't see him for five to ten weeks but he seemed happy. He's been to a free meal and a party at the students union with his flatmates.

We felt at a bit of a loose end after that so went to Chartwell, a National Trust house where Winston Churchill used to live. It had been raining all weekend, but the sun came out when we got to Chartwell. We had a couple of hours there and it was very interesting. We drove to SIL house for coffee for an hour after that, and then drove back to BIL2's house for the evening. We were completely shattered by then.

The next morning we drove home and had a really good journey with sunshine and not much traffic, so we were home in six hours. I felt sad at leaving DS3 behind, and sad that we were driving towards Devon and my mum wasn't there waiting to hear all about it .

It was nice to see DS2 and the furry moron though, and despite everything, I was pleased to be home.

HairyHandofDartmoor

We spent several hundred of pounds kitting out DS3 for uni with kitchen equipment and food, including petrol, plus food and drinks out, etc .

We bought petrol at Mr T as far as possible and got loyalty points, plus we bought sandwiches and drinks in the supermarket to eat in the car at lunchtime. BIL2 and his wife cooked us a meal every night and we had breakfast at their house.

Despite this we still spent loads of money on coffees and petrol, plus DH ate all the sandwiches I made for the journey and still wanted to buy a burger! It was so tiring that was the trouble.

Anyway, DS3 is safely delivered to uni and seems happy. We now need to get used to a quieter house. It feels weird going past his empty room. It's not like losing my mum though, because I know we can see him again. When someone dies it does make everything else seem trivial by contrast .

We should save money on food and electricity now. I did my weekly food shop this morning and only spent £52! Partly because DS3 isn't here, and partly because we were away for a few days and weren't eating at home.

It's just as well because we are seriously skint now and can't afford to pay our gas/electricity bill until one of our customers pays us .

Dorastar

Blimey sounds like a journey and a half no wonder you're shattered! Still got all this to come in a few years time but dreading it! Hope the handbsg and contents dry out ok!