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

HairyHandofDartmoor

DS1 has said I can borrow his laptop next Monday and Tuesday morning (he tends to get up late) to print off some invoices and statements for the accountants .

beanielou

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

DS1 has said I can borrow his laptop next Monday and Tuesday morning (he tends to get up late) to print off some invoices and statements for the accountants .

That's good then

beanielou

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I'm actually really cross and ashamed that DH and I have got into this situation of being so short of money, again .

We are two adults with no health issues that stop us from earning money. Our kids are grown up so we have no child care problems. Our mistake has been relying on a failing business for 100% of our income. Well I'm not doing that any more.

Like I said earlier I'm getting a job whatever it takes. I have been following a long term plan for the past few years. I've taken and passed my Functional Skills maths Level 2 a year ago, which is the equivalent of GCSE. Now I have nearly a year of volunteering under my belt.

So I've given myself what I lacked in the past to get a job. Now I need to get out there and find one. My plan for a few years has been to get a job, but being self employed for so long and being without a maths qualification was holding me back.

With determination like that you can only succeed:A:T

HairyHandofDartmoor

I hope so Beanie. I do feel very determined that things have to change.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Have a nice evening with OH. Did you miss him a teeny bit?

I did, HH:T. I loved having the place to myself for a few days though. I'm sorry if that sounds selfish and I know a lot of people would hate being on their own for several days. I really enjoy being alone and OH is a very 'big' presence when he's here:eek:. I do love cooking for him (he's a man who really enjoys his food:rotfl:) but I enjoyed being able to cook and eat my own favourites this past few days , pasta and so on that OH doesn't like much. I tend to cook the same meals for us both, I can't be doing with faffing about with two different meals all the time. I used up a lot of odds and ends from the freezer while he was away and I had a very frugal and MSE diet but I really enjoyed what I had and could eat when I wanted.


OH's train was about 40 minutes late and I'd parked a fair way away as the station car park is really expensive and there's never any spaces anyway even in the evening. It's not as if he had much luggage to carry, he only originally went for one night, although he took a lot more than I would have done. I got to the station in good time but was really freezing by the time his train eventually pulled in. As I suspected he might when he got off the train he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and carrying that thick parka I'd washed and insisted he took in case the weather turned really cold. He didn't put it on as we walked all the way back to the car. My teeth were chattering. He'd never worn it all while he was away, I just don't know how he doesn't freeze.


It was pretty late by the time we got home but he was really glad to be back and the house was suitably (for him anyway;)) cold:rotfl:. I'd had a bit of a blitz on tidying and cleaning everywhere while he was away and out from under my feet and he even noticed which was a first. He did say I shouldn't have bothered which spoilt it a bit:(

HairyHandofDartmoor

I don't know how OH copes with being so cold Carboot :eek:

I'm off to volunteering soon. It's been raining heavily all night and heavy rain is forcast today, so it looks like it'll be wet playtime at school! I'll look like a drowned rat when I arrive :rotfl:. It's lucky I've got a raincoat.

Have a good Friday everyone.

Willowtree222

Happy Friday. Glad you have got use of the laptop. Your determination will pay off x

elizabethhull

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I'm off to volunteering soon. It's been raining heavily all night and heavy rain is forcast today, so it looks like it'll be wet playtime at school! I'll look like a drowned rat when I arrive :rotfl:. It's lucky I've got a raincoat.

Have a good Friday everyone.

Enjoy your volunteering, HH and great news on being able to borrow DS1's laptop.

Sometimes I think we can be caught up in doing it all ourselves, that we don't even give our loved ones the chance to muck in and be helpful. When you think how gratifying helping someone can be, perhaps occasionally we should allow other people that same pleasure !

A few years ago I was standing whilst travelling by Tube with DH, and a young lady got up to offer me a seat. My first thought was, 'Gosh do I look that old & decrepit?'. but fortunately I squashed the pride, said 'Thank you, that would be lovely' and sat down to enjoy my seat. She had the gratification of doing a nice thing, I had the seat and we were all happy. If I'd declined, she'd probably never offered anyone again.

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

A few years ago I was standing whilst travelling by Tube with DH, and a young lady got up to offer me a seat. My first thought was, 'Gosh do I look that old & decrepit?'. but fortunately I squashed the pride, said 'Thank you, that would be lovely' and sat down to enjoy my seat. She had the gratification of doing a nice thing, I had the seat and we were all happy. If I'd declined, she'd probably never offered anyone again.

That really struck a chord with me, Elizabeth:T

I was recently leaving the supermarket with a full trolley of shopping,ready to push it up the long and very steep path to the car park. A woman customer (who I didn't know) standing beside the door asked me if I'd like help pushing the trolley up the slope. At one time I'd have felt like you, pretty affronted to be thought too decrepit to do it myself, but I was grateful for the offer and let her push it. My initial hesitation had made her even more eager to help, she practically forced the trolley handle out of my hands:eek:. I felt guilty though because she was pretty obese although probably less than half my age and was puffing a lot by the time we reached the top. She had to stop for a rest halfway so I thanked her and said I could take over for the last bit but she insisted and on we went as before. I'd tried to help by pushing alongside her with one hand but it was hopeless as she was a really large lady and the trolley kept going sideways with both of us trying to push at the same time:eek:. I know I'm ancient:( but I'm still very spry and not overweight and could have coped with doing it myself as I always do but I was truly overwhelmed by her kindness. I just hope she felt as gratified by the deed as I did;)

in_need_of_direction

maybe she's trying to incorporate some exertion into her daily activities.