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

Pippilongstocking

Hey chaps thanks so much. Weve been off for two weeks really needed a break, heading home tomorrow. Lovely to be here. Such a warm place to breathe out in.

For the last couple years and especially the last six months, I've been living between work and the hospital with parental, or thats how it feels. I honestly dont know how folks manage to juggle these things emotionally and, not to be crass but financially its just so tricky.

Parent is a fighter so proud of her, home tomorrow. Budgets budgets budgets needed going forwards.

Nn all xx

MatyMoo

Welcome back oh stripey one

Sorry to hear parental is still causing concern. I know or local hospital does a reduced parking rate, arranged via the ward, for the rellies of long term patients.

I’m assuming you have a lack of time to organise meals too, that always seems to increase costs.

Don’t forget to take care of you too xx

Pippilongstocking

Maty thank you. Parking is a killer thats for sure. I sometimes find a free spot by maggies centre. But, not often.

I hope youre all well today. Tidying up the teeniest apartment ever. I sometimes wonder how much stuff we actually need.

Happy saturday x

rtandon27

Happy Easter!

:EasterBun

***Leaves some (yellow-stickered) chocolate Easter eggs & sneaks off to enjoy the sunshiney day***

Pippilongstocking

Happy easter to you too!! Passes choc around.

Bit of a spendy day. Some for work, some grub shopping must claim receipt back.

Ds is home for 5 days so hes ferretting in cupboards and cooking.

Lunch today was from the storecupboard at work. Nice to be back, its so bonnie.

Not got round to budgets yet........i will aim for may.

I did notice ive not claimed any work expenses for ages. That wont be helping either........

Walked mutt when doing work errands.

Hen sitter happy with free eggs. No payment required, same with dog sitters, they just miss having a dog. I love folks coming to dog sit but often feel the need to provide all food/fuel and sometimes pay them and or travel. I think sometimes my independence doesnt let me accept favours.

I need to learn to accept help.

Cheery_Daff

Certainly do lovely Pippi, and lovely to see you back! Don't let people's favours cost you more than a professional dog sitter would... Xxx

Having said that, we'll be after a hen sitter ourselves in the summer (hoping to head back up to Orkney again :j ) and already I'm feeling like I can't ask anyone cos it's too much hassle for them so I'm clearly just as bad as you :eek: :rotfl:

You don't fancy a trip to the peak district do you?? :rotfl: you could bring the hound and we have excellent hen facilities if yours fancy a holiday themselves :rotfl: :rotfl:

troglodyte

Hello and Happy Easter!
I was sure I posted here a couple of days ago but the post seems to have vanished!
So good to see you again Pippi, sorry that life is basically a round of work and hospital, hopefully it'll all be worth it.
And don't be afraid to ask for favours, it's good for everyone! https://www.treehugger.com/culture/borrowing-cup-sugar-benefits-everyone.html

Pippilongstocking

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Certainly do lovely Pippi, and lovely to see you back! Don't let people's favours cost you more than a professional dog sitter would... Xxx

Having said that, we'll be after a hen sitter ourselves in the summer (hoping to head back up to Orkney again :j ) and already I'm feeling like I can't ask anyone cos it's too much hassle for them so I'm clearly just as bad as you :eek: :rotfl:

You don't fancy a trip to the peak district do you?? :rotfl: you could bring the hound and we have excellent hen facilities if yours fancy a holiday themselves :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hey up me lovely - you know its a hard line isn't it. There is a lady in the next village from us who has a poster up about 'if you'd ever wanted to have chickens but were'nt sure, why not come look after ours for a weekend/week when we need and you can experience the JOY of chickens.' (Full training given)

:rotfl::T:rotfl::T

We both need chicken networks it seems. :A Aw the windy isle, its funny I've only been back once, and I don't know that I will go up again, we'll see. So beautiful though. I'd love to say yes to a summer trip but alas with parental care being as it is, I find myself unable to think more than a few days ahead at the moment.

Make a poster about the joy of hens???

:money:

troglodyte wrote: »

Hello and Happy Easter!
I was sure I posted here a couple of days ago but the post seems to have vanished!
So good to see you again Pippi, sorry that life is basically a round of work and hospital, hopefully it'll all be worth it.
And don't be afraid to ask for favours, it's good for everyone! https://www.treehugger.com/culture/borrowing-cup-sugar-benefits-everyone.html

Oh I will have a look at that Trog thank you me dear. Hospital for now is no longer an option on a regular basis (I wont miss THAT carpark for sure), sadly there are no more treatments to be had, so we're making home comfy for now and taking each day as it comes. Parent was last seen directing younger siblings in the garden to do the hard work from a comfy chair - still plenty spirit there for sure.

I hope you and yours are grand.

Pippilongstocking

Hey me hearties. Been a busy week back to work and DS has been home which has been nice, haven't really had time to spend with him but been nice to have time in the evenings.

Spends have been largely food/cafe/treats this week with DS home and work being a bit silly, isn't it always.

Need to do a budget to help focus that a bit and check freezer etc, its not full to bursting but the stores are. Yes, MEAL PLAN required.

Also need to top up the fuels here - wood, oil, gas

Plan of action - lots of wood in garden needing chopping and sawing takes care of the first one.

Second one - well I had upped the DD to help smooth out the winter from the summer for spends and that seemed to have helped. We have also not had any scheduled heating on all winter *(!!!)* but just used the boost when home and got one room warm with wood fuel. That seems to have reduced our oil consumption by about a half tank this winter (£300ish quid) - house seems none the worse for it. But, I do need to order oil now. Will check the oil balance in the bank.

Gas - changed cooking and main heating in kitchen to gas heater and gas cooking - only spent around £90 on this over this quarter, which isn't bad - again its put the gas heater on for 10 mins take the chill off when in shower, put it off and have breakfast, seems to be working when its needed. But need get more today as all the bottles and the spares are aboot oot.

Overall I'm pleased with reduction in fuel spends, I'd still like to get rid of oil entirely so looking at a plan for that sometime in future.

Food spends, well they are up up up - too much on the hoof activity. Although I do have my emergency shreddies (other brands are available) in a box in my bag and oatcakes, so I won't expire through lack of food. Its more comfort eating the now i think.

Garden veg patch needs a make over - so will think on for that one.

Now though its time for a cuppa before I open the bank accounts. Its 3 days to pay day and before I spend today there are still FUNDS. Not a lot but funds nevertheless.

*puts kettle on*

Pippilongstocking

So banks checked.

Wages due in on Tuesday - enough left to get the essentials and not go over overdraft.

The massive under paid tax bill (SE miscalc from HRMC) 2771.85 is now fully paid as of this month - its been a stretch and a half but done in less than 10 months, which has left me uber skint I have to say..

BOO HISS to recalculated tax bills.