The hardest challenge yet

lessonlearned

Sounds like you are doing well.

And if you can walk all that way, with a backpack when you are 8 stones overweight, then there can't be much wrong with you.

Just think how fit and healthy you will be when you've lost some.

I have lost almost 3 stones last year, just another 7lbs or so to go. I feel so much better and my knees are certainly grateful. :rotfl:

I've been having a kitchen sort out this morning, just going to tackle the fridge and freezer, basically just reorganise them and do an inventory.

I'm well on track with my budget this month, feeling really chuffed. I have halved it from what it was. Don't know how sustainable it will be to keep it as low in the long run but hopefully I will be able to grow a few bits this year to help keep costs down.

I am quite enjoying my frugal challenge.

Just checked my energy account and looks like I'm doing ok. I might even have enough for a refund at some point.....wahoo.

elantan

you should see me running for a bus, not a pretty sight i can tell you, i need to do more cardio
Well done on the weight loss, it isnt easy ( i know ive tried so many times) but so worthwhile and well done on being on budget, thats fantastic, its a great feeling of achievement isnt it? if we ever have any extra from the energy we tend to treat ourselves, it;s money we hadn't planned on having so might as well spoil ourselves, we tend to treat ourselves often ive noticed :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Today I have went up for some garlic, spent 50p but have garlic for dinner, lamb chops with brussels ( we try and eat brussels alot when they are available as they disappear so soon and we miss them)

Today i read a wee bit about the 4 tendancies by Gretchen Rubin

https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/four-tendencies-quiz/ quiz here if you fancy trying it

I am deff a questioner with a bit of upholder hubby is an obliger with a bit of rebel, which kinda explains why we are at opposite ends of scale :rotfl: but it gives practical ways to work with people with different tendancies, I am very challenge driven, but I like to challenge myself more than others, hubby likes to please others more than himself in many ways, so another thing to work on and see if we can make changes.

Who wouldve thought that trying to get on top of the food bill could be so involved?

elantan

Night shifts finished, they can be so tiring, but i managed them and they are done.

Today i got up early to go to the butcher, we still have a wee bit of butcher meat left but i wont be able to get to the butchers for the next three weeks ( hill walking, kayaking plans) so off we toddled to the butchers, the one we go to is a 45 min drive from our house ) so 1.5 hours there and back driving) and they are certainly not cheap, but we love so much of the food we buy from there, we use another butcher for other things but we have enough supplies from there.

Anyway £194 lighter in pocket but i think given that and what we currently have we should be ok for 6-8 weeks. got home organised the cash remainder for the budget and we should manage this month if were careful. We just have veg, fruit, bread, milk and any takeaway and alcohol wanted.

I'm finding this easier than expected so either I am doing something very wrong, or missing something but if i can sustain this for 2-3 months i will drop the budget to £450 a month and slowly keep it going till we reach a level that suits us.

I got extra in my wages, the plan has been to spend it on retirement and safety net funding due to Oh job situation, but this month I decided to save half and spend half, so a light weight tarp has been ordered, ive also ordered somethings for the kitchen table, in a desperate attempt to also get on top of my weight issues i have decided I am no longer eating on my lap in front of the t.v if Mr El wants to that is his look out but ive never liked it and i aint doing it anymore, so ive ordered a nice water jug and a beautiful flower vase, just big enough for a single flower, ive also ordered myself some lovely plates and a candle holder, will order some nice water glasses also ( i only drink water with my food) i'm going to try and make my meal times a more relaxing pleasant experience rather than a rushed just eat cause you need to affair, now to clear the kitchen table:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


Hope your all having a great weekend

balabooberlies

Your table is going to be beautiful.

Impressed that you have almost halved your budget.

Sweet dreams

Bala

X

elantan

balabooberlies wrote: »

Your table is going to be beautiful.

Impressed that you have almost halved your budget.

Sweet dreams

Bala

X

Thanks Bala, yeah I'm kinda surprised myself ... you know that surprised in the what have I missed out kinda way

balabooberlies

Yep, am in exactly the same place.

Have come to the table really really late. However, it looks as beautiful as yours does......filled with hope and excitement for the future.

Wednesday2000

elantan wrote: »

I think he is stressed and depressed about the same subject that he has been stressed and depressed about for over 15months, a subject which I do support him in but can no longer listen to only that, for 13 months he only ever talked about this one thing, and when i say only ever i am genuinely not exaggerating, he would wake up through the night and discuss it with me, first thing in the morning on the way to work when he picked me up whilst dinner was cooking during eating after eating the rest of the night and in bed, a full 13 months till i finally exploded, now he has managed to talk about it approx 50% of the time ( still too much for my liking but atleast i get a break now and again) but the downside of this is he is holding a lot back and he is struggling with it, and i cant help him as i was starting to go insane with listening to him, i was becoming depressed because of it, the situation doesnt look like it will be resolved anytime soon, so we trundle on, but I think that is why he drank so much over the weekend and is making unhealthy food choices just now, he will need to find a way to deal with it.

Has he thought about seeing a therapist to discuss whatever is bothering him? It sounds like it is really affecting his life and your life negatively.

elantan wrote: »

Today i read a wee bit about the 4 tendancies by Gretchen Rubin

https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/four-tendencies-quiz/ quiz here if you fancy trying it

I am deff a questioner with a bit of upholder hubby is an obliger with a bit of rebel, which kinda explains why we are at opposite ends of scale :rotfl: but it gives practical ways to work with people with different tendancies, I am very challenge driven, but I like to challenge myself more than others, hubby likes to please others more than himself in many ways, so another thing to work on and see if we can make changes.

I have done that before and got Questioner too.

elantan

Thanks for the reply people

Wednesday, he has seen therapists in the past, just now what's happening is his work are trying to take up to 35k worth of wages and pension from him, never mind the sick pay and holidays, they are threatening him with a lot of stuff, he has been battling and trying to stop this for well over a year and it has been constant for him, he is emotionally and physically exhausted from it all, but he will not give up ( his work are wishing he would) I totally get what he is going through and help as much as I can but have had to take a step back for my sanity, he knows I will support him no matter what ...

he is the strongest man I know and he will not give in, even if it costs him his job, I am more proud of him than I can ever express ... but the fight goes on and they will keep trying to keep it going on till he gives in

elantan

A friend contacted me last night, were going out for lunch ( 2 couples) next month, so this is gonna be a mini challenge, how to afford a meal out with friends and still stay in budget.... I will be ready for it though

boultdj

Groupon vouchers any good El?
Or is it anyone's birthday? Some places let the birthday person for free.