Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

dustydigger

Hi people,I am wobbling around,legs like wet noodles. Still very very weak,upset stomach,but the infections are getting weaker. Of course now the phlegm is starting up,and a cough,which makes me leak a lot. Within a week I will doubtless be sore,and will get a new water infection,as per usual. But still nothing when compared to this last week.May I just thank everyone for the kind concern you have shown me,much appreciated. I'll take a little break then do my Frugal Fortnight  budget.

Lots to do today preparing new monthly reading group threads. Also a lot of cleaning up my kindle unlimited stuff. Lots of books to return or delete.Cant get new reads till I return some.

Also need to start making lists for challenges etc for the rest of this year plus next year,on 3 different sites.BBasically,2 weeks inactivity has put me far behind.

Off for a rest before the budget.

Katiehound

take lots of care of yourself

xxx

dustydigger

Hi there peeps,popped in to show I'm still alive - barely!. Two steps forward,3 back I'm afraid. Spent last 2 days in bed. I've got to be bad to be in bed anyway,dont remember when I last was so bad as to flat out best part of 10 days. Sick as a dog,stomach is still very upset. Weak as a kitten,and dont feel that my B12 8th Oct had any effect,I feel as weak,actually much worse than I did last year when I lay on my bed and felt I was dying.

At least today I am minimally improved,was able to get up and am able to sit at computer at least a little while,if I take breaks.

Just phoned the hospital to cancel my spine appointment next week,no way will I be up to the travel . Surprised to find my appointment had been cancelled anyway. Huh? Typical. Anyhoo I have been put back on the list of those waiting for an appointment. This one took 4 months,who knows when the next one will be.

One good thing,all this rest has my back feeling much better than it has been. Very little cooking over the last weeks! My arthritis hasnt been bad either,fingers nice and straight for typing. Pity I was too weak to take advantage.

But all the rest of me is shocking. I used to smile when my dear sister,a martyr to diabetes,used to say gloomily ''I'm just a mass of corruption!'' I now know just how she felt!

Auntycaz

Hope you feel better soon Dusty take care.

beanielou

Take care  xx

MrsCD

Hope you feel better soon!

dustydigger

Hello again. Once more I will try to get the day off to a good start. But each day its seems two steps forward,one back.I promise to come back to do posts,and then end up back in bed. Not fun. The stomach seems to be improving,not feeling so sickly,but still suffering the awful diarrhoea and general weakness,especially that weakness caused by anaemia,I feel so wobbly. But all in all,there is some improvement. Two full weeks of illness,many many days in bed. Mr Dusty brought it home and was better in 4 days!

OK,at least lets see if I can post this frugal fortnight's budget,a mere 6 days late! Ouch

Dusty's Frugal Fortnight #13 : 31st Oct - 13th Nov

part is online,part cash;

online income for fortnight : £79  pension ,£250 sent to bank from our Pension Credit,total £329.

Then £73 cash to HBB (Home Budget Box) .

Total income -£402.

All bills paid online as follows(rounded up)

Charity DDs - £11

Gas /electric - £238

broadband and phone £37

Asd@ monthly delivery pass -  £6

Asd@ food deliveries  - £110(estimate)

total - £402. £73 must come from bank buffer

 I think I must start sending more money to my CA. I already used over £80 of my buffer yesterday. I ordered a dozen pretty money gift envelopes for Xmas gifts,and some am@zon money gift cards - 4x £10 and 2 x£20. as stocking fillers for adults.

I have 3 more birthdays before Xmas,GD3,GGD1,GD4 thats £60. I also need to top up my Icel@nd bonus card account. I think I have £44 saved for Xmas sweets etc,another £30 should be enough.I will get a home delivery of  selection boxes, sweets and fizzy drinks by the end of the month. Same with asd@ drinks deliveryby the end of this month. My final fixed regular home delivery is 14th Dec. After that they are suspended till January. Got to get my head clear enough to make comprehensive orders early and be finished by the 14th. After that it is all bedlam,I want nothing to do with it.

So I need to put lots of money into the CA to buy whatever I need. We will enjoy this Xmas,as it was all saved for months ago. But from January that extra £130 a month energy payments pretty much ruins savings.I will have to get money together for DD1 wedding early spring,but that £400 per annum for birthdays etc will  just have to be forgotten. Sad

Auntycaz

Dusty, my family would be mortified if they thought I was doing without so I could buy them gifts. I'm sure yours would feel the same if they knew how you were struggling. Please look after yourself.

Katiehound

Quote: "I think I must start sending more money to my CA. I already used over £80 of my buffer yesterday. I ordered a dozen pretty money gift envelopes for Xmas gifts,and some am@zon money gift cards - 4x £10 and 2 x£20. as stocking fillers for adults."

No No... sorry but £10 or £20 aren't stocking fillers prices-  that's plenty for a main present
Christmas is no longer a religious festival it's commercialism run rampant 
Plus far too many sweets- again commercial advertising & packaging

IMHO if your finances are wobbly then you should be putting your own house in order first, the rest of the family should understand that and with the financial hardship currently I would hope they are not expecting you to spend loads of your money on them

My advice would be to buy really really small token gifts at Christmas and then perhaps something a little larger for a birthday. A birthday after all is a very personal celebration.

Yes, I am in the bah humbug camp but equally I think it is very very important that you look after yourself well.

Take care

dustydigger

Its quite amusing to see everyone getting riled up about my Xmas plans.,or are worried about me struggling financially. I started saving for Xmas back in January,and did extr mely well till all these energy bill shenanigans,but I have all that I need. OK,19 is a pretty big group to get stuff for,but most get £20 limit,littl'uns less.. I save all year for food and drink,so every adult gets a bottle,sweets and cash or gift card,but no presents. Too much effort today to sort presents,wrapping etc for the family,much easier just give a goodie bag with drink,sweets and cash. Once I buy the items,I take no more than an hour to sort everything out.

And why are you worrying about my finances? You all see my fortnightly budgets,up till now I regularly put away up to £150 a month.,that was plenty to salt away cash in all necessary categories,such as Xmas,birthdays,household,sittingroom makeover savings,personal,health and the like.I'm fine,and have enough . The cash savings I have would cover any  excess energy requirements for 2 years, to the end of 2024,but surely I'll still save something,maybe £50 a month.but after that who knows the whole nation will be crying by then,so I would be one among the millions

Everyone has their own priorities on saving and spending their income. As long as I have my books,and of course my family,I am no big spender,especially not on personal items. I have everything I need,and it upsets me that some of you think I am suffering poverty and struggling to survive. Nope I am doing fine in those regards,could wish for better health of course,but good luck with that.

Throughout the year I never give anyone anything except on their birthdays. Please be assured that I DO NOT find giving them £20 at Xmas a chore or burden. Compared with many people's big gifts etc,it may be small feed,but it makes me happy,and they appreciate a ''widow's mite''. We love Xmas,celebrate as a family,and enjoy it all. So please dont get annoyed or try to put me off our normal Xmas routines. We have been doing Xmas our way.our family's way,for decades. If it aint broke,dont fix it!