Struggling along as best I can

joedenise

DH made the soup for our lunch - I've got to rest my thumb for 24 hours after a steroid injection - and have to say it was very tasty but a bit thin.  Think I'd add a diced potato when I make it again to thicken it up a bit.

Thanks @Sun_Addict for the recipe link.

nannygladys

Sun_Addict - The soup was lovely but like joedenise I thought it a little thin so added some lentils to thicken it up. Next time I'll try less liquid 

nannygladys

Well surprise surprise the CWP is no more for thousands of pensioners and Im not sure whether Im entitled to it yet, but hey ho they can't get rid of me that easy!!!

So the past few days I have been busy painting and finishing the bathroom off, in other words I painted the door!! Im wondering if I could get a heated towel rail put in, I may phone the handyman up to see if he can get an estimate for me, the radiator in there is very small and not very efficient so it may be worth investigating instead of just replacing it. I also papered the bay window recess that has needed doing since I had the canopy replaced, so I can now begin to paint the front room, well some of it anyway Im definitely not attempting the ceiling!!

Im making the food stretch by using some of my stocks and will continue until I get paid next week, its a good job Ive plenty of frozen veggies that I have grown and Ive plenty beans, lentils, pasta and rice I can use as well. I did manage to go to the garden centre for my free coffee, read my book for half an hour, and a look around and thank goodness there were only Autumn decorations NO Christmas ones yet! it's still too early for me.

Its certainly getting darker earlier these days but I quite like the autumn so I'll to start getting my fleeces downstairs, hot water bottles to cuddle and the electric blanket reinstated on the bed and plenty soups and stews made. I'll have to look my old trusty sleeping bag out as well, I use it as an extra blanket downstairs and is a lovely and warm addition. Well that's about it for today Im off to make a coffee and read my book, I have been reading it for weeks but I'm finding it hard going, but as I bought it on some ones recommendation I'm going to finish it whether I like it or not and then its straight to the cs!!
Nannyg

Makingabobor2

Yes its bad news about the winter fuel payment. I only started my pension last year, so only had it once

Cherryfudge

I know the CWP will be sorely missed by many, though I think it needed to be reformed as it was also paid to many who had no need of it. I am just hoping for a milder winter this year, and wouldn't say no to it being less wet as well.

I reduced the liquid in the soup by about a quarter as I like a really thick soup.

Makingabobor2

Hope you're ok @nannygladys

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 -  I'm still around but life has been getting in the way a bit. I'm fine and just managing but it is getting harder to manage now than before. I'm planning on a very low spend time between now Christmas so I might come on here to chart my successes and failures! I hope you're keeping well and positive!!
Nannyg
 

Cherryfudge

Good to hear from you again @nannygladys, I hope you're well?

If it helps to come here and chat, please do. Sometimes other people's ideas are very helpful, and they do say a problem shared is a problem halved.

nannygladys

Thanks Cherryfudge
 I have had quite a bit going on the last few months and when stressed or anxious I seem to revert back to old habits, and spending on things that aren't needed. 
I'm not in debt ( I'm not that daft) but the savings towards bills and sinking funds are no longer, so I have to begin again as they are my safety net. So I'm going to start posting again about what I'm doing or not doing to get myself back to a 'safe' place again. So here I go again....
Nannyg

nannygladys

Hello all
So today I went to a retail park and bought a fascinator and a clutch bag, as its my youngest dd wedding next Saturday, which I'm really looking forwards to and both were in the sale so weren't as much as they could have been, I already have a dress, shoes and waterfall cardigan to wear, so they were the only two items I have had to buy! It should be a lovely day in a beautiful location and it will be an excellent/happy day for us all.
I'm not going to list items I have bought because mostly I spent on silly things like coffees out, some clothes that weren't necessarily needed, and treating my girls etc but I did buy a new hand mixer as my old one blew up and the paint to decorate my front room, which is still not done - I think I will have to employ the handyman to do it, so that will have to be added to the list.
I did a late shop at ASD@ last night and managed to be in the right place at the right time to bag plenty of cheap fruit and veg, which I froze etc when I got in. This morning I went through the fridge and downstairs freezer, so I now know what food needs using first and put together a lose menu plan for the next few days to use some of it up. Tomorrow I'm planning on going to a garden centre for a free coffee and will keep my purse shut, after I've hoovered through and walked the pup.
I have decided to give the lottie up in April and just grow in the garden ,in the garden I've managed to grow quite a lot this year and still have leeks, cabbages and kale if I need it, oh and some parsnips as well if the slugs don't eat them all Next year there's going to a war on the slugs, I'm quite ok with a few of them but this year I seem to be over run with them so thats it - war 
I don't get paid until next week so until then I have very little to spend but I have plenty of food in and fuel in the car. Next week I'll have to come up with a plan after I have a Iook at the calendar and get paid to see how little I can live on and save. Its a bit like old times again!
Nannyg