The long haul supporters thread...

Keeping_Positive

Welcome Poosmate, sounds like you have had a great start to your DF journey hope it continues.

ltm07

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

Hugs LTM...it does seem never ending when youre a long hauler which is why I set this up as we're unique & hopefully will all help each other through the highs and lows. Looking at your start date it looks as if you may be experiencing the 1 year blues...ie you've spent the last months sorting, paying off, flogging with very little fun and a certain amount of "had enough" invariably creeps in but beware!! My 1 year blues put me back thousands & I had to have another LBM and start again...now I'm back into it big time & realise that I needed new challage & to look where I slipped. For me it was replacing tat shopping with grocery shopping so I've been sorting that...last few weeks I've spent half what I used to & have been more innovative with cooking and less wasteful. Things like coke are a treat rather than the norm and managed this week to spend 5.97 on emergency beer on Tues but nothing else & 2 wk ago managed 2.88!! (0% alch though!). Plus you need to find cheap fun...I spent age feeling deprived & miserable but now rediscovered things like cooking, allotment, reading & started going to a book group for non MSE "me" time which I love...
Only you can decide re the loan but what I would say is look at the interest...if you get it you are likely to be lulled into a false sence of security & shop again and end up even worse off and not necc happier. The first year IS the hardest and it does get easier I promise as soon you will really see the impact of spending less & paying more off but there is no denying that its tough going...stick with us though and we WILL all get there! Slowly but surely....

Thanks ISOM & thanks to the others for your support. It really does help us out. As I said before there are people far worse off than ourselves, we've only got one kid & it's a struggle, to have more than one kid must be so difficult at times. Not spoken in depth to OH about things, so we're going to carry on as normal, allowing for a little slack here & there. We really have cut down & most of what we have cut down on will be our way of life forever now. We shop at Aldi, Farmfoods & are going to take a trip down to Lidl today & whe we do use the major supermarkets we buy mostly economy goods. OH has started to make meals & freeze them. So far we have frozen enough chile & curry for 6 more meals. Suggested to OH to come on here & check out the OS board to pick up more ideas so she is going to do that. We will never go back to our old way & budgetting for everything(even if we maybe overbudgetting slightly for the time being) lets us know exactly how much we have to spend. Also going to have a bash at growing our own veg. Going to ask my Dad to help us here as he is a keen gardener & used to grow his own spuds before he & my Mum moved into a flat. All in all, we have to find around £500 a month extra for the time being on top of our basic wages. We already earn around £300 with overtime & bonuses, so the other £200 will hopefully come from cutting down on using the car & also moneysaving OS! Thanks again & hopefully I can help & support you good people through the tough times as you have me.

In_Search_Of_Me

aww hugs ltm! Good that youve decided to plough on! I realised (looking at weezl's usda vs o/s challenge on o/s that with a bit of planning I could really cut my GB down and am working on that. Last week spent 5.88 & two weeks ago 2.33 which for me is nothing short of a miracle. It takes organiastion (iebeing innovative with what you have in!) but I've actually enjoyed it (amongst the panic!!) and even foraged for nettes which were MUCH to my surprise, delicious!!
Welcome poosmate! Talk away. I always like knowig where people are coming from so you know how best to support people, although there are so many it can be hard to keep up!!
Well am off today (with yet another migraine - awful close stormy weather here) to the outlet village to get new saucepans and some clothes. Looked on internet & new from high street theyre about 100!! The one I've had have done well but are no longer non stick!! All on CC but its that or nowt and there you go I am fed up of looking a scruff & while it will put me back a bit the thoery is that with the oney I'll save on my GB I'll be able to whac it back by the end of the month. Can def recc growing your own veg! I LOVE my allotment!! Big hugs all! Hello wendy & dubgirl!

Keeping_Positive

Dont keep mentioning saucepans! In the last few months I have managed to burn three of mine. I do have two sets so not too bad but keep being tempted to look for a new set. Already spent £22 on silcon baking trays (which are great by the way) which arent exactly a neccessity!

Repeat to self do not need new kitchen appliances, saucepans, utencils I do not need anything for the kitchen!!

In_Search_Of_Me

yeah but I do and the ones I have did lat about 8 years!! Who says silicone baking stuff not a necessity!! It is isnt it?!!

ltm07

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

aww hugs ltm! Good that youve decided to plough on! I realised (looking at weezl's usda vs o/s challenge on o/s that with a bit of planning I could really cut my GB down and am working on that. Last week spent 5.88 & two weeks ago 2.33 which for me is nothing short of a miracle. It takes organiastion (iebeing innovative with what you have in!) but I've actually enjoyed it (amongst the panic!!) and even foraged for nettes which were MUCH to my surprise, delicious!!
Welcome poosmate! Talk away. I always like knowig where people are coming from so you know how best to support people, although there are so many it can be hard to keep up!!
Well am off today (with yet another migraine - awful close stormy weather here) to the outlet village to get new saucepans and some clothes. Looked on internet & new from high street theyre about 100!! The one I've had have done well but are no longer non stick!! All on CC but its that or nowt and there you go I am fed up of looking a scruff & while it will put me back a bit the thoery is that with the oney I'll save on my GB I'll be able to whac it back by the end of the month. Can def recc growing your own veg! I LOVE my allotment!! Big hugs all! Hello wendy & dubgirl!

Hope you have a good day ISOM & in theory what we are doing is similar as we will try to keep our GB & petrol budget down & hopefully by doing this stay on track & allow a little slack at the same time. Tried Lidl today & spent £54, but bought enough meat & tinned goods to last us a month. So cupboards,fridge & freezer are full to the brim, so will only have to buy milk & odds & sods for a while. By the way have you given Poosmate a long haul number? The more on here the merrier is what I reckon so we can all help keep each other motivated. All the best to you & all others!!

In_Search_Of_Me

poosmate (117)

There you go a number & every thing!
Am back & did very well! Didnt buy any clothes as didnt love em enough (& I have to love em now!) but scoured the market for pans and got a bargainous set from asda for 35, although I got money off as the box was naff & there was a teensy eency scratch on one of the pans so they took 10% off! So not only did I get lovely pans (anodised & charcoal grey non stick - cost 120 at the outlet store for pretty much the same but named pans!) but realised I really am getting abit of a tight wad as had to que 10 mins to get money off!! My mum wil be SOOO proud!!

dubgirl

Hi all and welcome to Poosmate. Well the car didnt sell, not surprised, 12 watchers and not a single bid! So we are now going to consider other routes of advertising. As a last resort a garage has offered us £1000 for the car, but it is worth at least double. I guess we will end up doing that. Went shopping yesterday and spent £38, but I am trying to use up everything in the freezer to run it down to defrost it, hence low spend on shopping.

ltm07

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

poosmate (117)

There you go a number & every thing!
Am back & did very well! Didnt buy any clothes as didnt love em enough (& I have to love em now!) but scoured the market for pans and got a bargainous set from asda for 35, although I got money off as the box was naff & there was a teensy eency scratch on one of the pans so they took 10% off! So not only did I get lovely pans (anodised & charcoal grey non stick - cost 120 at the outlet store for pretty much the same but named pans!) but realised I really am getting abit of a tight wad as had to que 10 mins to get money off!! My mum wil be SOOO proud!!

Well done to you ISOM on getting 10% off. Have you been taking tips from Dominic Littlewood(Don't get done get Dom):rotfl: !

In_Search_Of_Me

hey dubgirl sorry to hear that re car. Have you tried autotrader>? Seems to be good for trade wanting cheapies etc and i know of two people who have sold sucessfully on there...Re the GB why not join us on the minimal spend thread on O/s? A nice supportive bunch!
Dont get the ref Ltm?! Can you explain!! Was v. chuffed at pans & also realising that I am ahead of myself in my pay of 8000 challenge! I'm so dull it sometimes take me a while to click!! Hope youre all ok. LTm are you feeling more upbeat than before? Re kids & days out etc there is so much you can do for free...when I was little picnics and walks in the woods were a huge fun thing & both are free...