2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Tanya12345

Oh Willow what a horrible situation, easy to say but please don't fret. Not knowing always makes things 10 times worse as you mind goes into free fall painting the worst picture. I've had "overpayment" issues with benefits and found that they were really sympathetic and didn't make repayment crippling. I know there's many people here who will help however they can, count me into your army !!
Thanks Boultdj, I'll investigate that channel, it sounds like just what I need !
Glad to hear your on the road to recovery Jellytotts, your meals sounds delicious and no spends is a plus !! 
We had word from the butcher today and have to now find a place to store 210kg of sausages....... May just have to have a huge Sausage Party !! Although I won't be putting that into my search engine........xx
,

elbree

Hope you're OK, @willow_loulou. It's a stressful situation to be in but I think a lot of us have been there. One piece of advice my Dad gave me which really helped was that some people in council offices/tax offices/benefits helplines are really nice and some people aren't. If you get someone who is stressing you out and not helping, tell them that you are finding it too stressful and you'll call back the next day. You're bound to get someone else who might well be nicer and give you a better outcome. I did this a few times and mostly it worked! Basically you're engaging with them but not being a doormat. It's OK not to take their first offer (which might not be a good one) and to negotiate. You need to find a settlement that suits both parties, not just them. I found this advice quite empowering and hope it helps. Big virtual hug. 

nannygladys

Hi willow_loulou,
 a similar thing happened to me, I hadn't been paying enough tax. My employers were at fault but I ended up having to pay it back. The tax office were really good and we came to an agreement between us as they didn't want me going in debt or not having enough to live on. I couldn't fault them and it got paid back eventually. It did cause me sleepless nights though until it was sorted, but it wasn't as bad as I was imagining! 
Nannyg

AnimalTribe

Jellytotts glad you are recovering and managing to do so much too.
I didn't find any mushrooms yesterday, but there are lots of pinecones to collect when they dry out. I'll use them for crafts and the  wood burner.
My DH made a rare trip into our nearest town for a car repair (under warranty) and came back with a Lidl £1.50 veg box. I didn't think they existed in our neck of the woods, but he must have timed it just right. The box was massive, and there is nothing in it that I won't use. There was 1 white cabbage, 4 peaches, 4 peppers, 1 lot of celery, 6 carrots, 5 lemons, 8 nectarines, 2 apples, 2 tangerines, 3 apricots, 1 onion, a large punnet of cherry tomatoes, and a load of grapes. Sadly, I am so excited by this. 

joedenise

That sounds like a great box @AnimalTribe.  My local Lidl's boxes are rarely as good as that - although having said that I haven't timed it right recently!  My DSis got a good box recently from her local Lidl but she's the same as me rarely seems to time it right!  But they are great when you find a good one.

balabooberlies

AnimalTribe said:

Jellytotts glad you are recovering and managing to do so much too.
I didn't find any mushrooms yesterday, but there are lots of pinecones to collect when they dry out. I'll use them for crafts and the  wood burner.
My DH made a rare trip into our nearest town for a car repair (under warranty) and came back with a Lidl £1.50 veg box. I didn't think they existed in our neck of the woods, but he must have timed it just right. The box was massive, and there is nothing in it that I won't use. There was 1 white cabbage, 4 peaches, 4 peppers, 1 lot of celery, 6 carrots, 5 lemons, 8 nectarines, 2 apples, 2 tangerines, 3 apricots, 1 onion, a large punnet of cherry tomatoes, and a load of grapes. Sadly, I am so excited by this. 

I would be absolutely over the moon with that...........

Well done to hubby !

bala

x

Tanya12345

Wow Animaltribe what a fantastic haul - excellent Hunter Gatherer skills from DH !
Hope you had a better nights sleep WIllow_loulou
Another beautiful day here, picked up the 1/4 tonne of sausages...... Oh Boy it's alot of sausages !!
Now out weeding, watering and picking the avalanche of beans that have appeared seemingly overnight !
Have a lovely afternoon all x

nannygladys

AnimalTribe - that's a brilliant box, like you I could use all that, I have never seen one yet in my local Lidl but I keep looking.

I haven't been out today, just weeding in the garden and making some piccalilli for the winter months my sil likes it so he gets most of it. Just about to start making tea and then I may go a walk as its so nice outside.
Nannyg

willow_loulou

Rather jealous of such a fab veg box! Thanks for all the kind words, I’m trying hard not to stress but it hits me in waves. I just don’t have resilience for benefit issues. The fact they’ve not emailed me and are leaving it to snail mail makes me so angry. This could’ve been over with by now. Anyway I had a sod it moment and bought a takeaway last night 🤨😝 so that’s my budget ruined! Onwards comrades!

Blackcats

Willow - the not knowing is the worst.  Once you know what you need to tackle you will be able to make a plan.  A sod it moment every now and then is absolutely fine 😇

I've never seen a fruit and veg box in my Lidl but I'm always pleased with the price of the fruit and veg there compared to other places so a box would make me super excited too AnimalTribe.  My OH would be just as likely to come from with something random and unnecessary from the middle aisle (like an arc welder or other strange one-offs in the middle at Lidl) as he would be to buy the £1.50 box!