Sh*t creek - is now in my rear view mirror...!

MovingForwards

I would keep the TV as that's your human contact, seeing people, having something to take your mind off your day to day life.

Well done on stocking up, if you have the space keep doing it for a while, then you know you will always have food.

I'm so pleased for you 😊

Irenadler

Hey MF
I say thinking about selling the telly, but, that's as far as I've got! Thanks again, you have really cheered me up with your encouragement and advice...

Today I have been mostly checking supermarket receipts (T*sco versus L*dl), and L*dl wins on price, as I expected from reading the threads on the 'Shopping' forums. But I am trying not to take anything for granted now after all the eye-opening advice I have had. It's only the offers at T's that can beat L's, and not every time. So I have a not so cunning plan to get the main stuff at L's (any time from Thursday through to Sunday when their new offers are in), and then shop for what I can't get at T's with a mindful eye on their offers. Seems to be mostly Vegan cheese is missing from my local L*dl, as they aren't the biggest store (and I prefer that) and don't think they do yellow sticker items/reduced stuff?

This makes sense as L's are the furthest away, and I have to walk back past T's. That way, I will be carrying so much on foot, I can't be tempted to overspend in T's. And, if I get my brain in gear, I can time it for yellow-sticker items in T's. The fact I have to carry it also means I have to stick to basics, so, can only top up a couple of items to build the store cupboard back up. 

To celebrate my council tax refund which is in the offing, I really pushed the boat out and had 50g of porridge oats for breakfast, with pear and cinnamon. (Slurp! My favourite. Peel, core and chop pear, good dash of cinnamon, extra soya milk, porridge oats, all cooked up together, added the last frozen blackberries, thawed, on top when cooked, small handful). Weirdly, I don't much like fresh pear on it's own, but really like it cooked...

Haven't had that in a while, it felt like a decadent treat. I really know how to live it up!

I keep thinking of your phrase, MF, every time I review my financials, or think about spending. If you master a low cost lifestyle now, it will set you up for life. I am going to add it to my signature, if I can remember how to do it.... My previous, muddled attitude was very much 'bought without thought'. As long as there was my wages coming in, I bumbled along, doing the odd energy bill switch and thinking I was pretty money saving. Er, no. A switch between energy companies isn't going to make a huge change to my out-going's! Will be having a look at that signature......

MovingForwards

I'm not sure when L do yellow stickers, perhaps because it's a smaller one they have a bigger turnover and have no short date food to reduce.

Your celebration oats sound yummy!

We all take our income for granted, until something happens and opens our eyes. 
Keeping your outgoings low, eating well and saving, that's a good balance and in the future, so much is open to you 🤗

Skint_yet_Again

You sound so much more confident Irene it’s good to “see”. I am so glad you have been able to sort so much in a short space of time. 

We’ve all done the “bought without thought” so don’t beat yourself up about that. It’s what we do afterwards that counts. Give yourself some credit too. You have been through so much and you have taken on board many of the suggestions various people have made so well done you 🤗

savingwannabe

I agree with what everyone is saying I used to spend all the time and never thought that my income would ever run out till it did. I have learned so much from friends on here and every year I learn more. That toilet cistern thing is a good point!!! I hope you are well and have a good day. I sold my designer make up, clothes that I no longer wear etc It's funny what people buy pretty much everything. 

Irenadler

Thank you all, you are very kind.

I did actually cook nut loaf, so it will cover 8 meals from the fresh stuff, parcelled up in the freezer. But, I am struggling with MH negativity today. I am obsessing that it took me 2 hours to chop vegetables, and it wasn't that much quantity. Kept checking and re-checking the recipe, still messed up and put too much stock in so it didn't cook properly. I checked my time taken to do it. I was in the kitchen for those 2+ hours preparing and another hour or more on top cooking it. I'm sure I didn't black out, get abducted by aliens , or wander off, just worrying now that I am not capable of doing new things. Don't want to mention it to the GP, but, at the same time I am concerned that I am failing to grasp things properly. Like when it took me hours instead of half an hour to fill a form out, something I never had a problem with before....  It's gutting and draining to think I can't do what I used to; keep hitting that wall. Ok, moan over....

I have to force myself to look at the positives and get out of that mindset. At least I produced something edible in the end, no matter how long it took, and it's in the freezer portioned out. I ate some of it, and I am still here so it can't be that bad...  My poor old brain....

MovingForwards

Clocks seem to move at different times when MH is involved. You need to find some very simple recipes for when it's an off day, just a few ingredients so you can pop it in a pan with minimal effort, pull something out the freezer and reheat it, or just have a sandwich.
I've instant noodles, cup-a-soups, cereal etc for my high pain days when I have to be self-sufficient. Heck I've even got rice pots, Bombay mix, nuts etc just to grab and eat.

Again, stop putting yourself under pressure. It's ok not to eat perfectly each day.

Do mention it to your GP, it may be the meds are not suitable at the moment or maybe they never were only you are aware of it now, it may be your body telling you to slow down and stop having too much fun and excitement, it could even be because of the stress / money worries and now things are on track. Whatever it is, it's best to try and sort it out sooner than later. So please call your GP in the morning!

I will beg to differ about nut roast being edible 😁😁 vegi bake is so much nicer, then nuts as a snack later 🤫

Skint_yet_Again

Well done you cooking 8 edible meals! Last time I tried to bake a banana bread it came out like a flat Yorkshire pudding & stuck to the bottom of the loaf tin 😆  

We’ve all made mistakes with recipes. I’ve given up on banana bread ! 

My cooking these days is very basic & I use jars & packets. Not all of us are natural cooks, I’m certainly not! But there are so many chefs and bake-off type programmes on tv these days it makes us feel like we should all be able to whip up a lovely meal or fancy buns. 

I agree with the wise MF, speak with your GP. You have very high expectations of yourself and whilst none of us are perfect I hope the GP can help you not to obsess over things & be kind to yourself. Maybe next time you can celebrate cooking an edible meal & laugh about any failures. Your nut roast may go down in history, like my banana bread. 😉

... and don’t get me started on filling out forms 😱 Since I reached 50 I think my brain has evaporated! 

Hope you have a better day today x

Irenadler

Hey both
Thank you, my CBT keeps saying 'stop beating yourself up', guess it's habit.... Er, I may have given into the inner demon   my 'urge to splurge monster', and I may have finally gotten a text saying I am overdrawn, and I may be am kicking myself....

Was going to write a depressing post, but, it wasn't helping my mood. Will be mostly cleaning in a bid to get active and shake off the negativity.......

Skint_yet_Again

As long as you are cleaning to keep active and help your mood & not to punish yourself. You will get back on track