Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

MrsCD

Dusty, our Northumbrian Water bill went from £461 to £495 for the coming year, if that helps your budgeting.

dustydigger

Thanks Mrs CD.We just pay the standard flat rate,and at least £100 a year less than yours,somewhere around £350 a year I think.I have always thought contract for the water company was disgraceful. Rate of inflation plus 5%. No way did investment in infrastructure reflect such increases. The whole thing was a disgraceful bribe to privatise our most precious utility. After all,unlike energy companies,where you could switch - huh,even that has gone now,all the companies charge the same - water is still a monopoly in each region.And they even dump sewage in the rivers and sea.

Better stop there,before I start foaming at the mouth. I remember back when Maggie announced the privatization. Then the cost was a mere £1.30 pm. 3000% rise in cost,whereas real inflation has only been about 400% in the same period. An absolute disgrace nobody ever talks about. Grr 

dustydigger

Sorry not to be around. Mr Dusty has been a bit clingy,and its been birthdays all the way. DD2 is 44 today,DS2 is 39 on Monday.

All the family are meeting up in Durham City today for joint celebrations.Then there is a big break from birthdays......Oops,forgot about Mother's Day on 19th,but then only one birthday in nearly 4 onths. I'm a grumpy old woman,I need a break from celebrations! and it will be a relief going back to AFD days. Only 24 AFDs in February,aiming for 25 ithis month,hopefully having good scores after that.

Starting a new Frugal Fortnight on Monday,hope to get into a better posting regime then. Felt a bit lethargic this week,dull and apathetic between all the birthdays,and  I have never seen my hands so big and swollen.and stiff. But no pain thank heavens,so thats a relief. Bit awkward typing but not very bad.

dustydigger

Just noticed we are on page 100 for the thread.997 replies. 107k views. Awesome. Thank you so much all you kind concerned people who consistently give me good advice and stout support. Much appreciated.

Now if only we could get this neverending depressing and LONG winter over with,I may feel better and have a brighter view of life. Can but hope!

Muddy_Walker

Lovely to see you Dusty! I always think March is awesome because:
we have the first day of Spring
Crufts
Bulbs are chugging upwards
gets darker later
Did I mention crufts 🤣

dustydigger

 

Muddy_Walker said:

Lovely to see you Dusty! I always think March is awesome because:
we have the first day of Spring
Crufts
Bulbs are chugging upwards
gets darker later
Did I mention crufts 🤣

Crufts? What's that?

My nephew has been a judge at Crufts for decades. He has won in his own category several times. His breed is the schipperke,pronounced ''skipper kee'',a Belgium small dog employed on canal barges as a watchdog.Now he is an international dog show judge,travels to Norway,Sweden,Netherlands,Canada, and a host of others places.

So yes, Crufts does ring a bell

I couldnt believe how quickly our bluebells and daffodil leaves are shooting up this year. Last year the weather was so bad it was April before they struggled through.This year was much milder. Good thing with the energy prices.

Waiting to see just what the govt is going to do about price caps etc. Its all very uncertain,even our Martin doesnt know!

dustydigger

had great plans to go to town with Mr Dusty today for first time in a year. Go to bank,get some t shirts at Primani,and have our dinner in town. All plans scuppered by my back playing up. Doubt if I could manage much walking,and that steep step on and off the bus might cripple my back entirely.Not easy at the best of times,and with the back killing me already its just not a sensible idea.

Expect to see my ''baby'' . Yep,DS2 is 39 today.

dustydigger

Mr Dusty has gone to town to send money to his family back home - yet again. Life is getting so hard over there.

Plus Mr Dusty should be collecting our pension. I am sure its a fortnight since we got it. Its paid weekly but we withdraw it fortnightly. But Mr D is just as certain its not a fortnight,only a week. He never believes me about anything. I tried to show him that he put the usual fortnightly £250 in the bank to pay bills and food delivery on 20th Feb,thats 2 weeks ago,but he wasnt really listening.....sigh......Anyhoo,we'll see if he brings home the right money,then I'll do my Frugal Fortnight budget this afternoon.

He was very anxious about sorting sending money to his family plus going to his bank,then mine to put in money. Thats why I had wanted to go with him but as usual things went wrong.

 Then I will rest. Dread Mr Dusty coming back with our pay. There is a tussle about it every time now,helping him to work out the money. He puts my money in bank in town,and then all I require is £73 cash,anything else is his share,but he gets a bit puzzled about it.He's resisting making a different arrangement,(doesnt trust cash machines) wont use an online account,so its a bit sticky for now,after years of smooth running. Que sera,sera......

dustydigger

Hi people,does anything ever go right for me? I lost my cursor!

Yup,I dropped something on my computer and lost the cursor completely. Had to fiddle around on my phone trying to find info on how to restore it. Normally trying out FN with various F keys on the top line of the keyboard works,but not this time. Checked out various methods,at various time all day yesterday,and it was complicated and difficult,but finally did it. { am soo NOT tech minded. But Mr Dusty was fretting thatHe hadnt been able to do his football - I now do all the work putting bets on,he wants my opinion on odds etc,as it isnt clicking anymore . So I never got on to doing my budget or posts on here. Good job I had set up all my groups for the month on my 3 sites,but everything else is a bit  behind Mr D of course,king of the castle insists on his things comngfirst. We have just spent 40 mins putting on today's bets,I have been tidying the kitchen ready for asd@ delivery - anytime between 9.40 to 11.00 - so I popped on here just to show I am alive,and I WILL get round to my budget probably some time today.

Progress of a sort,if glacial speed.

beanielou

A day for you to celebrate the amazing strong woman you are