2018 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

ploppy57 wrote: »

What is the matter with our society? They need to be helping you before you become homeless. Surely if you can prove you are going to be made homeless, that should be sufficient..... This country never ceases to amaze me. Hope you manage to sort something out.

They live in the hope (and / or expectation) that the person / people making you homeless will have a change of heart and not carry through with the 'threat'. It's all too easy for people to say they're making you homeless to try and help you up the priority list when they wouldn't actually do so.

At the start of 2005 I served my daughter with an eviction notice to help her application for a housing authority property, but it was accepted as she'd moved in just before having her second child (bringing child 1 with her) and her doing so had made the house overcrowded, was disrupting study time for my older son (GCSE year), and had meant my hubby had to get a temporary shift change from nights to days as he couldn't sleep while the toddler was running around the house (and that meant a drop in income). I definitely got the impression that without all those reasons they'd not have taken it seriously even back then.

[Deleted User]

Indigo- I worked in housing for years - by the sounds of things, you are currently living as an excluded occupier if your share a house with your landlord. Depending on the length of time there; conditions of going into the living arrangement; the reason for leaving your last 'settled' accommodation if the current arrangements don't classify as that; and the extent of your disability, you should qualify for social housing. They will take a number of other things into account too - pm me if you want some non-legal advice (I know housing law but am not legally trained nor qualified) as I'll need some details which are too personal for general publication

[Deleted User]

Oh, forgot to mention that all councils have a homelessness prevention team who you can go to if you are threatened with homelessness in the next 28 days

spudsmum

I've not been doing very well this week either! I've been reading all the posts but really struggling for motivation at the moment so not been posting.

I gave myself a good talking to on Friday and managed to bring my weekly shopping in £15 under budget but then after that everything has just collapsed. The twins needed soms new clothes as theyve seriously outgrown everything so we had to head into town on Saturday - I went prepared with drinks and snack but with parking and lunch it still cost a fortune, then mother's day presents x 2 (got the kids to make the cards) and a mothers deal meal out arranged by MIL and I now have 28p to last til Thursday - probably not going to happen so faced with the possibility of being over my weekly budget for first time since LBM which I find really depressing.

Also likely to struggle next week as DH's wages will be about 50% of usual due to his sick days then from that also have to buy food for the twins birthday tea party and ingredients to make a little cake and also pay the credit card and sort the last bit of holiday spending money for Easter and ..... Well you get the idea.

So I'm having a little pity party here right now and really hoping i can find a way to get my mojo back.

I also fell over earlier, not once but twice, so am nursing a badly bruised behind to add to my list of woes - just lost my footing in some mud and went down hard on my tailbone which I think has aggravated an old injury so its agony at the moment and sitting on a hot water bottle to try to ease the pain a bit. Was carrying my daughter the second time I fell so at least she is ok which is the main thing I guess.

Oh and then when I got home soaking wet I went to microwave some soup to warm me up - no microwave! On further investigation no electric! Looks like some water has got into the electrics in the garage and tripped out the whole system. The only way I could restore electric to the house was to isolate and switch off the supply to the garage so I've no tumble drier and no power to my two outside freezers. I've managed to move sone food inside and cook off a few bits so hopefully we wont lose too much - luckily I was in the process of trying to use stuff up so there was no meat left or anything expensive in there which I would be gutted to lose so i need to be greatful for that but it will be a massive culture shock going from three freezers to one. At least until we can afford to oay an electrician to have a look which is not possible at present

Well hopefully I've not depressed you all too much with that stream of misery - going to bed now and hoping to wake up to a better day tomorrw :T

Frugaldom

Hello to all and well done for still being here! The end of this month sees the end of the first quarter so try looking at your budgets as a percentage of the entire year. By then, my annual budget of £4k should show a spend of approximately £1,000 but it won't be exact and there is plenty of time to catch up before this year's challenge ends.

Indigowarrior, if you were near here I would offer you a place to stay! I hope you find somewhere suitable soon.

Best wishes to all, especially those who need a boost right now. If budgets are testing you to the limit, remember this is a complete lifestyle choice, not a quick fix. It is also well worth every penny saved no matter how long you live like this. Once debt free, your life and everything in it is your own. Keep on frugaling.

indigowarrior

Hi Squirrelgirl I will send you a pm.

indigowarrior

@squirrelgirl.
I am not sure it sent lol.

[Deleted User]

Indigo, received and replied

Well, I have no heating or hot water:eek: unfortunately, oil deliveries are taking 2 weeks due to the recent snow-in so we've run out!! it's really annoying as I haven't run out for years- normally it's a 2-3 day delivery time and in my infinite wisdom, it didn't occur to me that it would be different following a snow-in!! :rotfl: on the plus side, it's a good excuse to lay under the duvet, do not housework and watch dvds!! :D

Spent money yesterday when I shouldn't have- work have started this book club thing so spent £44 on stuff for the grandbaby!! :wall: seriously, I need to stop...I just can't seem to see anything I think he'll like and not buy it!!! I can't continue with it when he's older as I don't want to end up with a spoilt, unappreciative, entitled brat as a grandbaby, but while he's little and clueless, it's hard to stop!!

Anyhoo, planning on a duvet day now....just need to brave the cold to make a latte!!

indigowarrior

Oh no @squirrelgirl! Thank you for your help and enjoy the duvet day.
I spent too much today. Had lunch at a cafe which cost £16.50. It was delicious but I do feel regretful

shish100

Foggy froggy - For healthy snacks, I have 5 small snack size plastic pots that I fill with dried fruit,nuts and seeds. Then I healthy snack ready made for each working day. The key is to weigh/measure your portion properly as it they do have a few calories.

Spudsmum - hope things pick up for you soon. Are the contents of you freezer covered under your house insurance? Depending on the excess is it worth claiming?

SquirrelGirl - Sounds a perfect excuse for a duvet day! Enjoy your films.


For Minimalmist March - I'm chipping away. Got £5 cashback for an old mobile, sold an item on an auction site and got a few others listed. I also managed after 3 years of persuasion and nagging to convince OH to bin an old broken and dusty suitcase. You do not know how happy I am right now

I did have to buy lunch the other day - I didn't check my tin of soup had a ringpull, and no one in the office had a tinopener!! Oh well - should have made sure I cooked enough tea to have leftovers.