Frugal until 60!

Hopefuljoy

Hello Candygirl. I'm sure it's not luck but hard work on your part that you're mortgage free. It'll have stood you in good stead with your health. I paid £5k off mine last year when I was a full time teacher, however, post depression I decided the price of staying in and having money was far too high. I've had depressive phases since 2000 and I knew enough was enough! :T

My friends say I am back to myself now and the move has been great! Lovely team around me and it's nine to five. Proof that we can change at any stage in our working life. :j

Like you I am waiting on my plans while parents are around. I love them too much to leave and they have been very forgiving of my many disasters!

Spain sounds like a brilliant option. It's a very beautiful country. I read a lot of travel books and have a whole list of places to visit!

I'd best go back to sleep now. Mr P is curled up next to me like a tiny hot water bottle and there's a cat purring on my feet. It's things like this that make life joyful!

candygirl

I love your signature :A

pidge04

I really like your diary!

Wishing you so well!

Hopefuljoy

Pidge04 that is so encouraging. Thank you!!

Candygirl that's really funny as last night I got the urge to change it as I thought it looked depressing! It was written to be read positively as the beginning of the end of less enjoyable times but it could look I'm on a rollercoaster towards death! I was going to add another quote attributed to Churchill to the troops "Keep b9gg99ing on boys! KBO!" What do you think? I'm not political but that man really had some good sayings!

Have a lovely day everyone and in the words of Beanielou keep plodding.

D_M_E

This is not the end but the beginning of a long and fruitful journey.

Hopefuljoy

I've not much to report tonight except that after a long time lurching from one meal to another I have properly planned for tomorrow. And they are healthy!

Breakfast is Sainsbury basic granola to be mixed with a cherry yogurt. Lunch is orange pepper pieces, a piece of baked salmon, a pear and an apple. Dinner will be a veg stir fry.

I think posting on here is already making a subtle difference to how I want to live my life. Accounting for myself is encouraging me to treat myself better which can only be good.

I've also started dropping in to other diaries and the kindness on them is really moving. In short I'm glad to be back! I do worry about saying the wrong thing on other diaries so I'm mostly lurking for a while.

Tonight I ate the last of a tub of ice cream and I'm just watching one episode of Bones before researching the perfect chocolate biscuit cake from the 1970s. Go me!!!

Have peaceful evenings and good sleep everyone. xx

D_M_E

Research the recipe for Hungarian chocolate biscuits.

Or try:

6oz plain flour
2 oz cornflour
4 oz porage
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 oz butter
quarter teaspoon salt
3 heaped tablespoons golden syrup
2 oz cocoa powder
Optional: 2 oz cooking chocolate, grated

Mix the flour and cornflour together, then cream the butter with the flour mix.
Add in the rest of the dry ingredients and mix well.
Add the lemon juice, mix then add the golden syrup and optional if you use it and mix well - end product may be a little sticky.

Roll out on a floured worktop or board - make it about 20mm thick.

Now, cut out shapes - circles, squares, oblongs - about an inch or so in size, larger if you like.

Place on cooking tray and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes at 190c.
Note that they will spread so leave a good gap between each one.
Experiment by forming the mix into balls - they will spread and turn into biscuits so experiment with different sizes and shapes to end up with the shape and size you want.

Best eaten warm from the oven but are good for dunking in coffee or tea or hot chocolate.

Enjoy - homemade are always the best!

EDIT - you will notice there's no sugar - if you don't like the taste without the stuff then add 3 oz sugar - max of 5 oz and no more of the stuff but for a diet leave out the sugar.

Hopefuljoy

That's a brilliant recipe DME. I'm going to try it at the weekend. Thank you for taking the time to share it.

I have a confession to make. Monday and Tuesday were spent at home as my brain was feeling wobbly. I was experiencing PTSD symptoms and needed to be away from people. Fortunately my manager is very good and understood what caused it. I went to work today and feel a lot better. I also got a lot done. 90 percent of the time I am healthy but i've learned to take better care over the years and spot the signs I am sinking into depression.

It also accounts for how I've got myself into debt in the past. it's much harder to manage money when I'm not okay.

I've been missing my DD a lot since she went to university and hiding it from myself by eating too much rubbish. I do have some lovely friends and see them each week but they are not her! We are very close but I'm pleased she's finding her own life and she'll be back in two weeks.

There's no point complaining though! I've slowed down and been more organized about proper meals and have planned packed lunches for seven days ahead. Breakfast worked out well today so I'll repeat it tomorrow.

Sorry for bringing anyone down. I just wanted to be honest. Having said all that I know this will pass and the best thing I can do is be proactive and keep to my usual policy of being positive!

So with that in mind I am proud to say I have used my storecupboards and freezer so well that so far this week I've only spent £5 on food!!!

GlendaSugarbean

You aren't bringing anyone down, in fact being honest about having ups and downs is far more encouraging to anyone in the same boat. I'm glad you have a supportive job where you can be honest about needing help, and your plan sounds more than doable to me. Having the time and pocket money to potter about in a caravan is pretty much my ideal retirement! In my mid 40s so I have a while to go yet.

Lifeofdreams

What a great thread. I have subscribed. I currently have demanding role with long commute and not getting any younger. Feel as if living to work rather than working to live ! I need to simplify and budget so I can move to less demanding job. Sounds like you are doing a great job hopefully despite not feeling good at the moment.

Take care and I look forward to being part of the thread��