2021 Frugal Living Challenge

willow_loulou

Yes the animals are definitely worth it. I have a small zoo here, but I am frugal where I can be with them too. The chickens, hamster and guinea pig get reduced and seasonal fruit and veg dependent on what they can and can’t have. I also take neighbours grass cuttings for the chickens run - they love to rake through it and it helps keep the floor fresh. If it’s literally just cut I’ll give some to the Guinea too. 

I grow various herbs for us and them (stolen idea from @Frugaldom)
I also cancelled the pet plan for the flea and worming stuff as it was not paying for itself. The included stuff was not available during lockdown and when I changed vets he advised against it unless I used the flea treatment every month. So I did my sums and and I have at least £100 a year! They have their own account to pay for their needs. 

I’ve also reduced how many grooming sessions they have. I’m not able to do it myself so it is needed, since I changed their food my smallest who always had eye staining doesn’t get the problem hardly at all now! Amazing. 

willow_loulou

Forgot to say, I’m picking up about £80 worth of cake tins this afternoon for free! I only have one tin so I’m keen to get some of these. The rest will go into work for the community kitchen. 

Im putting the journey onto another collection trip (a few books also free) and dropping off a few things to a charity shop. 

Poppy_Golightly

 my 2022 frugal living challenge will be to include all the moneysaving ways I can find of spending as much of my free time as possible living off grid.

Not wanting to sound creepy, but I think I've just found a soul sister

prepareathome

balabooberlies said:

Frugaldom

My beloved Father left us last week after battling 2 primary cancers.  Within hours (when family gathered) I just picked up my handbag, left, and got the first train up to London to go home.  Had stayed at my parents for most of those 6 months.  I confess due to lack of sleep and grief I wasn't in my right mind.

When I got to Victoria I didn't want to go home, I wanted to 'run away'.  I thought of you and how soothing it would be just to work with the land and nature.

I did the right thing and came home.  Just as well as am physically unwell.  But for a few minutes I felt I had an escape plan....

thank you

bala

x

When my mother died in 2007, I had been travelling the 200 hundred miles to be with her every weekend plus staying with her for weeks when she was not so good or needed to go to appointments, set things up for her for the time I was home and dashing back when needed - got the trip down to just over 3hrs.  It was June but a beast of a day, heavy rain and cold.  She had gone into hospital two weeks before, not for anything major and was expected to come home within a week but suddenly took a turn for worse after a few days and gone the next week, so sudden and unexpected.  After the doctor declared her gone, I felt I must escape.  Spoke to staff, arranged things as although I have four younger siblings it was me that was expected to do everything, none ever came to help.  There was a nature reserve near the hospital and I went there and, in the pouring, rain walked around the lake there and was just so lost and didn't even notice how soaked I was or cold.  DH had followed me, he came down that last week once we knew she was going to be with me, rest of family turned up the day before she passed.  I just wanted to leave everything and run to an isolated place and live there.  I wanted to escape like you and was definitely was not thinking straight.  Took DH ages to convince me to leave and he would not let me drive, we went back to mums in his car then he got one of my siblings to take him to collect mine.  I have still not forgotten that walk around the lake and how I felt even after all this time.  I had always wanted to have a small holding/croft and we even tried to do so in mid 1980s but it was done when we were not quite in our right minds as you might say as it was after our youngest daughter died suddenly, we sold up and moved to north Scotland, all in a short space of time but finances were so tight we had to sell up after only two years as we did not plan anything properly, it was instinct to run away, worst thing we could have done as you take your grief with you but no one ever said that, nor do I think we would have listened if they had.  Our other children did love it except for the long journey to and from school and the occasional nights they had to sleep there when weather was to bad for us to travel to collect them.   We never had the money to try again properly.   My father passed in 2011 and thankfully did not react like that then (mum and dad had divorced in late 19790s. He lived in Scotland and she England.  Hugs to you x

balabooberlies

Prepareathome

thank you so very much for sharing.  I don't feel so alone in my feelings now.  I know that I cannot abscond even though the desire keeps popping up.  I will never forget those minutes at Victoria station, feeling so lost.

I know that the fact I spent the last 6 months with him, careing for him the best way I could, including irritations etc, it wasn't perfect.  But full of love.  I apologised to him one day for insisting he took his meds and he turned to me and said 'it's okay, I KNOW you'.  He knew I would never hurt him.  He knew I was fighting for him.

Spending 6 months with him was a luxury most aldults cannot afford.  I have been lucky and blessed.  He was my anchor.

I thanked him for something he gave me but pointed out that the true gift was that he said he was behind me and my idea.  His response was that he has always been behind me.  What gifts.

I have a life to build.  Something that takes as much as possible from Frugaldom.  That, I know, will have his full blessing.

Many hugs to you also, and to all those in need

bala

x

cuddlymarm

Hi Bala
It’s hard losing a parent. Hugs to you and know it is going to get better xx

Marghirl

Bala, I am so sorry, I lost my own dad just over five months ago and I know what you are going through. I too was his carer. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Xx

florianatwobob

@balabooberlies it will get easier to deal with eventually. Take each day (and hour if necessary) as it comes and know that you did your very best for your dad. 

annieb64

Bala. I'm so sorry.My Dad died a year ago. He  had a stroke  and was in hospital  for three weeks. Because  of covid restrictions  he could only have one nominated  visitor-my sister. My other sister and I were allowed to visit at the very end but only one at a time and wearing mask , apron and gloves.My youngest sister was with him when he died along with two hospital  chaplins, one Catholic and one Anglican.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Kerry_Woman

Bala - Sorry for your loss.