2023 Frugal Living Challenge

Kerry_Woman

For quite a while I have kept falling off the band wagon, but keep picking myself up.  I did have a light bulb point re  one of my category spends.  Will see how that goes.  I did use my savings for my holiday to the Lake District, my first holiday since 2019.  Really enjoyed it.  I want to book another little break, but have to find out how much annual leave I have as I start a permanent job in the trust tomorrow that I did bank admin for.  Luckily I don't have to do the whole induction for 2 weeks, as I up to date with my mandatory training.  There are somethings that I need to attend either in person or online this week.  I did some other training in the last few months, eg excel. I have booked some other training, eg minute taking and fire warden.  One of the managers where I work wants me to become a fire warden as I am usually in the office 5 days a week.  The training is all provided by the trust. Will seem strange as I have been doing temp work for a very long time.  I am looking into some other things to do, eg networks to get involved in. Have been attending some free events locally and some planned until the end of the year.  I go for a coffee every so often in the shop that I love, but as I now bring my own travel mug I save £1 per purchase. Did buy next year's calendar for £1 and diary for £1.99.   Have had a smart meter for the electric and one for the water recently installed.

nellis10

I'm trying to clear out my freezer ready for renovations in the kitchen. I am raiding the back of it and finding frozen kidneys, mince and some trout. I feel a pie coming on!!! lol Happy Sunday to you all!

Madbat60

Morning all, 
I've been missing from this forum for a while but still being frugal.   I've managed to save enough money to pay for the kitchen we got from Wickes.  June was an expensive month, with 2 birthdays, car repairs I just seemed to be going through money like water.  I was doing OK at work, and I was going to carry on for another year then some bright spark decided we'd all go on 12 1/2 hour shifts.  I was looking at my revalidation paperwork yesterday and I suddenly realised I didn't want to nurse anymore.  So end of September I will be gone all because some empire builder wanted to push his agenda forward.  

So no more night shifts, i'll living off my NHS pension, housekeeping DP and DS gives me, my cleaning job at my gym and the bit of dog walking I do.  It'll be tight.  I might have to get a bit more work but after 27 years at the coal face I'm done.  DP is starting to get so much pain in his knees he can hardly walk, and we will be applying for benefits when his job ends in September.  Good news is I found a local food club, where you pay £10 for the year and buy reduced price food.  That's really helped.  So I'm being brave and jumping away from something that pays relatively well but ultimately makes me unhappy and exhausted.  I'll be 62 in November and plan not to do much until I get my state pension.  

fionaandphil

Hi @Madbat60 good luck with the retirement.  Have you thought about doing some care work instead with more flexible shifts or working as a PA for somebody, looking after their care? I know there is a great demand for people, especially with NHS experience and it might mean you have more flexibility?

Siebrie

@Kerry_Woman "One of the managers where I work wants me to become a fire warden as I am usually in the office 5 days a week." Have you asked if it comes with extra remunaration for the extra responsibility?

Madbat60

@fionaandphil I never want to do care work ever again as long as I live.  I've looked after my parents and aunt.  I'm done.  Plus my back is knackered.  I already had flexibility as I was an agency nurse.   I'm going to have a few months to sit with our finances and the whole experience of being retired.  I might increase my cleaning job, take on more clients or I just might sit and contemplate my navel.

Kerry_Woman

@Siebrie I just get an extra day off for my annual leave. I am happy with that. There are a couple of other fire wardens, but we are not always in at the same time. 

Cas

Had great fun out with the dog today doing a bit of foraging.  Most of the brambles are still green or red but the ones in the sunniest spots are starting to turn black.  Managed to pick a few handfuls but none made it back home!  I managed to find ribwort plantain and I'm going to try to make a healing salve using the leaves plus olive oil and beeswax leftover from some candles.  I also picked some nettle seeds which I’m going to separate from the stems and leaves and leave dry.  Apparently, they contain vit A, vit C, iron, magnesium and silicon, support the adrenal glands and boost energy. I also picked some meadowsweet which I'm infusing in milk overnight so that tomorrow I can strain it out and use the milk to make ice cream. 

Cas

@cw18 I hope you can work out something with your work so you can do your counselling sessions.  Could you tell them it’s a medical appointment and make up the hours another time?  

I worked with a bully.  It took a while to realise the bullying was because he was having issues with his workload and was taking I out on me.  And I only realised that after I didn’t work with him for several months because of the way our summer holidays worked out coupled him with a having a stroke (he was 42, fit, healthy but very stressed, fortunately he recovered fully).  I felt normal again, it was like someone had flicked a switch.  Luckily I had an understanding boss so he assigned someone else to work with him.  But the damage was done and when 6 months later after working with in a team where there were 2 of us doing the job of 5 people I got signed off work.  It made me realise that my health and sanity came first, not work.  Please make sure you look after yourself!  Sending hugs.

@mumtoomany  thank you, that’s good to know.  I will maybe try growing peanuts next year.

@fionaandphil I’ll be cutting back the blackcurrants and topping up the compost (they’re in a big pot) so hopefully they’ll do better next year.  

@2Scratters I think there are 2, me (Cas) and cas (who came later).  Not sure how we managed that!  I couldn’t wait to finish, I had it all counted out on the calendar.

@Madbat60 good for you and all the best for your retirement.  You’ll soon wonder ow you managed to find time to fit in work!

cw18

Cas said:

@cw18 I hope you can work out something with your work so you can do your counselling sessions.  Could you tell them it’s a medical appointment and make up the hours another time? 

Not easy to do in my job.  The post that's due to be delivered today HAS to be delivered today!   The only vague possibility (if I get the very last appt) is that I turn in a half hour early - which means I can officially finish a half hour early.   But if post / parcels turn out to be heavier than they should be for the day, I still might not get away by my later official finish time.

And I'm actually working longer (without pay) every day, as there are expectations as to what mileage we cover - but my sciatica means my pace is too slow.   If I don't complete I risk losing my job, but my manager won't approve overtime pay for the length of time it's taking me.   (I'd sooner have the job, as I can't cover my basic bills if I lose my salary!)   She actually had a bit of a go at me this morning because my OT claims have gone up over the last 2 weeks.   She seems to have forgotten that she's had me doing extra work in the office to help cover for someone who's been off - and that has meant I've been up to an hour later out of the office.   So booking 1hr 20 instead of my normal 35 mins actually means I've been doing well !!   I really didn't feel like kicking off with her though, so when she said I need to pull it back down I just smiled sweetly and said I'll do my best.......