Time to mend and make do, beg, borrow and barter.

Pippilongstocking

morning lands - early bird here - woke at 4.45 again - seem to be a bit washing machine headed but we'll see, not pinning it down to much other than 'lots on'. Sometimes I wish I had a pensive like Dumbledore.

Cancelled cleaner today as DH still sick enough to be off and potentially infectious - no brainer really. I'm not working at weekend so I'll likely be able to wield an indoor lawn mower (Vacuum) over the floors and swish and swipe the bathrooms. Potentially a saving of £22 as she doesn't charge if we cancel but she's a one man band, I'd rather pay her, although she's insisting not.

Paid off in total the 0% cc for last months small spends - was less than £200 but its now gone.

Deposit from apartment went back on the card, so that's £250 which was in limbo now back available.

£100/paid to DH for the next adventure to the land of the maples and bears. Mid April post snowdrop holiday - will be required for sure.

I was even up early enough to brush my hair - not an event that happens entirely often in my life, although its being slapped under a wooly bunnet soon enough, I'm not sure it was worth the effort.

Heating engineer comes today to see about leak - fingers crossed on that one.

I need to top up the wood stores, plenty free wood there but none cut, might see if I can get a window on that at the weekend. Pal at work has a local contact who delivers 4tonnes (Volume) for about £100 - the last fella we used was £60 for 1 tonne bag - so must get his number today.

I'm loathe to buy too much wood, I prefer to forage for it, but Jan/Feb/Mar are mega busy at work, so as long as I forage the rest of the year I do cut myself a bit of slack, and we've budgeted for it over the year.

Cuppa time and a nip around the banks/boards - car insurance due this month, must get on that soon.

Beanie thank you for the kind words. She was tired yesterday and gets mega-scottish when she's tired, usually she's unaccented (life in the forces) - its kinda sweet and a bit sad, she sounds more like my granny everyday.

Reading up on UFM (Uber Frugal Month) this week its been about getting partners on board, was an interesting read, DH is generally OK with the concepts, although our finances are very different, he's very supportive and prudent with cash, given his industry, its so volatile, he's mindful of all spends at the moment. I take care of the smaller stuff, he's watching the bigger stuff. Team work.

The next ponder on the frugal email was options - I'll cut and paste the email in as its a nice read.

Pippilongstocking

Directly from Mrs Frugalwoods Uber Frugal Month Challenge.

We’ve been talking a lot about utilizing frugality as a means to achieve your lifelong goals--but what if you’re not quite sure what those goal are yet? No problem! The beauty of frugality is that it gives you options. When you’re not in debt or living paycheck-to-paycheck, your world is suddenly quite open. You could quit your job, change careers, move to a new place, or perhaps take a sabbatical to soul search. Frugality grants you the freedom to ponder what you want out of life.

Even if you’re perfectly content with your current job, and even if you intend to work until you’re 65 (or older), and even if you have no plans to move, you never know what unexpected circumstances might arise. Your company might enact lay-offs and you could lose your job, the economy could endure a recession, a change in family circumstances--a new baby or a marriage or a divorce--could radically alter your worldview.

And if you’ve been living frugally, you can weather all of these storms much more easily. Frugality is the difference between a job loss being a crisis and a minor inconvenience. The concept of financial independence isn’t about whether or not you enjoy your job–it’s about how reliant upon it you are. Give yourself the gift of financial stability through frugality.

Today’s mantra: Don’t let your spending prevent you from doing what you want with your life. Rather, let frugality sculpt the life you crave.

Today’s action: Make a list of all the things you could do if you were financially independent.

Today’s recommended reading: Frugality Gives Us Options and Why Be Frugal? One Word: Options

I found this interesting to read, OK so Rome isn't and won't be built in a day, but having options is an interesting way to think about frugality - I think. Before moving south to the mainland, I made an active push to clear my car and most of the 'easy' debts in my life as I was moving from a full time working life to a new place with only 1 day a week work to rely on (and lovely DH obviously) - having cleared those debts I knew I had a car to get around which was fully paid off, and my living expenses initially were low, so I could take a bit of time to adjust to my new life down here. It bought me a bit of time without the panic of leaving my old life.

I hadn't really thought of frugality as increasing your options before. Its an interesting concept.

Pippilongstocking

Working_Mum wrote: »

I tend to hoard food when I am stressed and feeling the pressure - so a big goal for me has been to use up what is in my cupboard!!

I discovered the joy of a "Bircher" ( https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bircher-muesli-apple-banana ) breakfast and make a bowl on a Sunday and keep it in my fridge all week and eat it every day - it means I eat well, cheaply AND use up dried fruit/ fresh fruit that's knocking around and needs eating up. I snack on it if I am feeling peckish so saves grabbing a packet of crisps etc

I would love garden produce but am not at that stage yet in my garden!!

I've had a think about this and wonder if I can make this up and store it in the fridge at work for either 'second breakfast' :rotfl: or actually more likely LUNCH. I'm always pushed to get something eaten and walk the dogs at lunch. If I had this made up, I could munch this, walk dogs then have a miso soup or someat after stomping.

Thank you!

What kind of things are you thinking about growing when you do get there?

:A

Working_Mum

Morning Pippi,
I confess to having two bowls of Bircher on the go - I am self employed and currently in my office all day long and can't get out for lunch etc.

I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic just before Xmas (I don't have a thyroid so endocrine system issues often go hand in hand) so I needed to get my blood sugars under control, save money and still eat healthily all whilst holding down a full-time job!!

Duddaduuuuum step in the Bircher! I do the 16:8 fast so eat as late as possible - a bowl of Bircher (porridge oats, flax seeds, sultanas raisens & dried fruit + anything else in the cupboards which needed using up: soaking in milk but you could do apple juice or soya milk etc) with extra thick double cream and some fresh fruit ie raspberries /blueberries/bananas!!

I have found a feel fuller for longer having this around lunchtime and then eat a healthy cooked supper within the 8 hour window. My blood sugars are down, I am losing a bit of weight and feel as if I am saving money and working my long term plan to be debt free with choices!!

Have a great day and thank you for posting the Frugalwoods post! It echoes my goals - freedom and choices!!

PS you asked about my garden - I have spent the last couple of years lopping things down and clearing away old wood - I have planted spring and summer bulbs and love, love love pots!! I am hoping to plant some herbs and tomatoes this year and build myself a little veg patch for onions, leeks and potatoes (heard they are foolproof!!)

starnac

Hey you. Glad DH is feeling a bit better. Hope your mum is getting there too. It's no wonder you're not sleeping with all this going on. Make sure you take time for yourself too.

troglodyte

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

Directly from Mrs Frugalwoods Uber Frugal Month Challenge.

I hadn't really thought of frugality as increasing your options before. Its an interesting concept.

I so agree with this - in fact was just having a conversation about it with Big One the other day. Basically having money gives you more choices - and if being frugal is the way to get that money buffer (as it is for all of us) then yes, avoiding spending money on little things you don't really need means you have more freedom when it comes to big life choices.


Big One does have rather a habit of going on and on about things so I'm afraid she is now probably lecturing her school friends on not frittering their money away on the latest gadgets or fashions!

Pippilongstocking

Working mum thank you so much for that really interesting post. I wish your numbers keep going down as you work so hard. I might give this a go at work. Ta. Choices eh. Exactly that.

Starnac - you're very kind lovely you've a lot on too lets look after ourselves.

Trog - my DD went through a faze of that too - its quite cute. They're both very very careful for her money now. Its a good skill to have. Just like choices.

Been a bit 'throaty' this side, pulls jumper over face. OH keeps looking at me in a somewhat dodgy manner looking like he's ready to catch me or something. I'm glad he's got my back.

Boiler is fixed - dodgy pump causing leak, oil is refilled - not a great start to the year.

Heating is still off - which sounds utterly ludicrious in January but I see no point in wood stoves blazing and radiatiors pumping out heat when we're largely in one room. Makes the chores go a bit quicker.

Off to check the banks and drink me 'I've not got a cold brewing' hot lemon drink.....ahem.

*denial rocks*

Pippilongstocking

Argh £5.99 on my cc for an office app I no longer need - been meaning to cancel it for ages - I can't mind how to do it.

MUST FIND OUT TODAY AND CANCEL - that's £36/year I don't need to be wasting.

Greying_Pilgrim

:wave: and :kisses3:to Pippi, all of Clan Pipster and members of the Stripey Gang

Just because

Happy Friday Everyone.

Greying X

Pippilongstocking

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

:wave: and :kisses3:to Pippi, all of Clan Pipster and members of the Stripey Gang

Just because

Happy [STRIKE][STRIKE][STRIKE]Friday[/STRIKE][/STRIKE][/STRIKE] WEEKEND Everyone.

Greying X

Aw thanks missus - much needed - it seemed we've jetted from Friday to Monday - I've been in bed pretty much since my throat decided that it was possibly more flu than flighty :cool::cool:

Still here as I see no need to spread this muck around, so I'm housebound, fluid-ing up and keeping cosy. Haven't seen the Dr, don't see any point in wasting their time, I'm not hugely at risk and I'm happy in bed being monitored by DH who's got me under house arrest.

WEE mammy is OK though I have heard by phone I haven't infected her. Huzzah.

Having a wee mooch about the boards, managed to get up earlier unsupervised and make toast, only to be marched back to bed.

Banks etc an easy day here.

I have to confess forgetting about a pot of soup on the stove which looks like its alive now. Its vexing but its done so no point in crying over it.