Dusty's Frugal Fortnights

dustydigger

Made about £1 from surveys this week,pretty pathetic.I get screened out of at least 4 of MySurveys surveys before I finally get one. And they are so long,and very very slow on a laptop.They say 15 minutes,but it never takes me less than 30!No Prolific,I got timed out of the last one because Mr D wanted me to do something.I missed out on £1:mad:

I did do some family history work.I have collected a lot of family records from the Durham records Online site.many hundreds,before I lose access on the 16th.Found lots of new facts ,because some of the work I did way back in 2010,and a huge amount of data has been added to the web since.One family line had seemed to peter out in 1795,the earliest record for that line. Now they have added data going back to the beginning of the 1700s,lots and lots of new clues to follow :jI was delighted to see that the General Records Office has a pilot scheme on,where you can order a virtual certificate online for £6,the price of a takeaway.I am stuck on getting an uncle's details (I'll do a post about it soon) and didnt want to buy it locally,£12.50 with postage,so £6 is a bargain.:j Its the fact of his birth I need,not an actual certificate,so a virtual copy is fine.That family member has been driving me nuts for months,now the log jam should be broken.
I should get it tomorrow or Friday. Cant wait,if the date is right I can also add his wife and her family,instead of irritating blank spaces,which drive us genealogists absolutely crazy!:D

dustydigger

Family history group today,I have £50 for the credit union,the woman who takes the money has been elusive lately.That will make £396. Thats the oven and a hoover paid for in advance when they finally blow up.:D Other things on the list for that account (eventually)? ....garden shed,new carpet,kitchen window blinds,new mattresses etc etc etc.
No football today,so maybe Mr Dusty wont be in my hair so much. I'll hoover through,and mop the kitchen floor,and put the beef on slow simmer for supper,but I must do some reading. I have 4 non renewable library books due by no later than the 10th,and I am way behind,got to get stuck in,because I hate not finishing a book!About1000 pages to read,at 30 pp per hour thats 30 hours reading by Monday,about 6 hours a day:eek: Pre internet day,that would be quite achievable,but I spend far too much time online these days (MSE is a major culprit!) Got to get back to carrying a book everywhere,and reading while stirring the food,having a bath,waiting for buses etc etc if I am goinf g to finish those books:rotfl::rotfl:

So,less surfing.nonstop reading is the plan.I

dustydigger

The engineer came about the telly,as I thought nothing wrong with it,but he cleaned the ends of the wires just to look like he was doing something.Its probably the aerial wire,and I am NOT paying for a new aerial this year at the least.As I say,it happens in hot weather every year,Mr D forgets every time.
Thank goodness I had insurance coverage for it,I would not have been amused if I had to pay some ginormous call out fee!:D

lonelyrat

dustydigger wrote: »

I have saved an amazing £910 in 6 months
:j:j:j:j:beer::beer::beer::beer:

Shows what frugal living,healthy eating and no alcohol can do for the finances:rotfl:

Well that's just amazing!!! Massive well done Dusty

My gran's actually through in Edinburgh so should definitely organise a visit soon - she's not that far away! Will pick her brain and try and get some info from her

Don't know if it would work into your lifestyle but I find walking in the morning far better in this weather. I try and get out and home before 10am (if I'm not working!) that way it hasn't fully het up yet. I find the afternoon/ early evening too close and humid.

Hope you get on well with the intermittent fasting - my dad is a big fan. I watched a few youtube videos with him and it does seem really interesting. Takes discipline but I would certainly give it a go in the future (when I'm more disciplined :rotfl:) Let me know how you get on with it!

Had a chuckle at Mr. Dusty and his antics!

dustydigger

lonelyrat wrote: »

Well that's just amazing!!! Massive well done Dusty

My gran's actually through in Edinburgh so should definitely organise a visit soon - she's not that far away! Will pick her brain and try and get some info from her

Don't know if it would work into your lifestyle but I find walking in the morning far better in this weather. I try and get out and home before 10am (if I'm not working!) that way it hasn't fully het up yet. I find the afternoon/ early evening too close and humid.

Hope you get on well with the intermittent fasting - my dad is a big fan. I watched a few youtube videos with him and it does seem really interesting. Takes discipline but I would certainly give it a go in the future (when I'm more disciplined :rotfl:) Let me know how you get on with it!

Had a chuckle at Mr. Dusty and his antics!

Definitely interrogate the gran. I'm sure there will be some surprises or even shocks and scandals!:D
I was delighted to get the birth certicate for my uncle,and it is concrete evidence that the family I discovered in 1939 records is his family. I now can add him and his wife and kids to my tree,and can trace his wife's family back to 1850.The irritating blank space is full at last.Now,if I had aked my relatives back in the day I could probably had all the info plus lots of interesting stories to add flesh to the dry records.I'll try to find time on Sunday to tell the fascinating ,if often frustrating tale of the disappearing uncle:rotfl:
I havent been too well lately,water works problems as usual,cant seem to shake them off.Plus the feet problems have made walking about rather painful,so no walks. I have been referred to the podiatry clinic.an appointment next Friday.Its partly caused by arthritis in the feet,plus the way that my foot bones are realigning after the knee ops.,weight and pressure are being put on different areas of the feet,and the bones are moving. I can actually see the difference in the left foot operated on in late 2014. The right knee hasnt totally straightened,that leg was very bad,so that foot is still a work in progress,and balance can still be a bit dodgy.I was warned it may never get up to normal standards,but at least the pain is way down which is a major ''gratitude'' to celebrate
The drawback about not walking is I dont get my heart rate up,so my metabolism is remaining sluggish.Also have been poorly and also stressed out,so have not got back into the intermittent fasting,nor eating properly. Too many health and family issues stressing me out,plus Mr Dusty's court case ruling is tentatively set for next Wednesday,and he is totally obsessed,high as a kite,endlessly ranting on about it,not sleeping at all.He is already sure that he is going to lose the case because of the judicial system's notorious corruption,and intends to appeal. His lawyer has warned him that such an appeal would be very very costly. Of course the system always disapproves of appeals,which it sees as contempt for court decisions,and I see their point.But Mr D is wearing me out trying to comfort and calm him.The football is now actually a welcome distraction from his moanings:rotfl::rotfl:
As for his ''antics''.glad its given you a little laugh,could be quite amusing from a distance,not so much fun bearing the brunt in person!:D:D:D

dustydigger

Managed to complete 3 books so far this month,with only 40 pages of a fourth to finish as quickly as possible (probably during the 50 minute bus ride!). I need to go to the library today,as their time is up.
Challenges so far:
12x12 challenge on LibraryThing (read 12 books from 12 categories over the year) - 84/144
Worlds Without End challenge - 42/88
The Bold, Beauteous, Breathtaking B!

B is the second letter and the first consonant of the basic Latin alphabet. It was part of the Phoenician alphabet more than 3000 years ago, and at the time it was called ''beth; and looked quite a bit different ,though it did have the same sound as our current letter B. In the Greek alphabet, it took the name beta, which is used in English to denote the second in a series. For example, Beta Centauri would be the second brightest star in the Centauri system. It is also used in technical fields to indicate a version of a new program provided to a small group of users for Beta testing; prior to general release. B is often used in English to denote two or second, as in plan B, B movie, etc.

For July:
1. Read a book where a word in the title starts with the letter B
2. Read a book where at least one of the author's initials is B;. (First or Last name. Middle name is also acceptable IF the author's middle name is on the cover of the book.)
3. Read a book with something starting with the letter B; shown on the cover.



Dusty's Bold Beautiful,Breathtaking B Challenge

1. Read a book where a word in the title starts with the letter B : Kathy Reichs - The Bone Collection
2. Read a book where at least one of the author's initials is B;. Earl Derr Biggers - The Chinese Parrot
3. Read a book with something starting with the letter B shown on the cover: Jasper Fforde - Lost in a Good Book (bookshelves)


Havent even started one of these yet! This challenge is a great way to read out of the envelope,or read books that have been on the TBR for a long time.

lonelyrat

Haha! I do love a scandal!

Fingers crossed all goes well on Wednesday I hope it isn't a foregone conclusion and you/ Mr. Dusty get positive news.

Love the bold, beautiful, breathtaking 'B' challenge!

dustydigger

lonelyrat wrote: »

Haha! I do love a scandal!

Fingers crossed all goes well on Wednesday I hope it isn't a foregone conclusion and you/ Mr. Dusty get positive news.

Love the bold, beautiful, breathtaking 'B' challenge!

Sad to say,bad news about the ruling. The date set was Wednesday,and surprise surprise,suddenly that has been announced as a public holiday so that one of the govt ministers can do something or other. Mr D is furious,he is sure the magistrate had insider knowledge that this sudden public day was coming up and deliberately chose that day. Could be,could be,knowing the endemic corruption in the Uganda judicial system. The courts are going into summer recess,and any court cases on that day the 10th will go on the end of the present court lists,so it will be months again. Mr D is absolutely incandescent and bitter,and he is certainly proving hard to live with.OK,I sympathize,and at least he didnt go off to Africa for the judgement,but its hard coping with his disappointment,frustration and anger.Five and a half years for a simple eviction case? Nightmare.:eek::eek::eek:And the woman is sitting there rent free,collecting rent from tenants,growing food on the land,keeping cows and selling the milk,and in general probably having a big laugh at the situation.Our lawyer has a list of damages to claim if we win,thousands of pounds. Ridiculous,because she is penniless,and couldnt pay a penny,and is garnering sympathy from other relatives which has caused family tensions and a breakdown in relations with Mr Ds cousin,after about 70 years of friendship.Yep,a nightmare:(

dustydigger

Oh,and Lonelyrat,I never expected the letter B in the LibraryThing challenge to turn out so big here on MSE!:rotfl::rotfl:

dustydigger

Emptying the purse for the Sealed Pot challenge for this fortnight produced a princely £2.68:DBut I'm with Mr Micawber,any surplus is a win!

Well,I also contributed 4 £2 coins to my £2 coin challenge this fortnight,but nothing else. It was a big bill fortnight. £91 fuel and £32 broadband in one day alone certainly lowers the CA rapidly!:rotfl:Plus £16 on family history certificates,but I am pleased with the breakthrough achieved by the purchases, and it was within my Personal Spends £20 budget so I didnt feel guilty at all.
Oh well,this next fortnight should produce some savings,not so many bills. Plus I've set up a DD for saving for the USA trip,£50 a month. A total of £80on there now, looking better already!:D
The Xmas fund is looking very good too,£420/£800.
Actually I wont spend all that because I am saving in other ways for Xmas. I have nearly £20 on Tesc*,I am aiming for £35 by end of October when the savings scheme ends. That will pay for the Xmas alcohol. I have £10 saved on my Icel*nd bonus card,expect to reach £20 or more by December,for buying frozen stuff etc.( If only I could remember to take my Asd@ Xmas savings cards with me when I go there! Its rare as I do most of my Mr A.shopping online.Not sure if its possible to save online,should check. I only have £6 saved in 6 months because I rarely visit in person,and never have the card with me even when I do. No room for more cards in my purse!.:D)
In both cases I will use TCB to get cashback for a home delivery for Tesc* and Icel*nd,which will save me even more:j.And in any case I am cutting down on food this year,there is always so much stuff left over - which I end up eating!:rotfl:
I cant reduce much outside of saving for food,because I have 15 people to save for for Xmas presents!:eek::eek: I aim to cut down by a fiver per person compared with last year.and some of the sweets and drinks will be covered by the Xmas savings cards ,so actual cash for presents and Xmas cards and other stuff will probably be in the area of £400,perhaps £100 for other items,(including New Year) and birthdays for the rest of the year will be about £100. Total spends in the area of £600.Sure to be some unexpected things,but I should be well within the £800 and anything left will go to the USA fund!
So I am well on my way to a stress free Xmas (well,moneywise anyway!:D),and with a healthy £400 in the Emergency Fund,and £394 in the House and Home waiting for domestic catastrophes,financially I feel better than probably any time in the last 10 years.:j:j:j:j
Now if real life would stop the body blows from health and family issues everything would be coming up roses.:D:D:D