Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

foxgloves · 15 May 2025 at 10:38AM

@rtandon27 - Yes, we are both early risers. I think I'm turning into my Mum. She'd be up with a cup of tea at 5am & in bed at 9pm. I usually get up at 6.15 - ish. Early morning is my favourite time of day.
F

Suffolk_lass · 16 May 2025 at 10:51AM

Oh me too @foxgloves! I was lying in bed, wide awake as it got light at 04.40 this morning. I made myself go back to bed after a loo visit, at least until I heard the 05.30 news headlines, then I listened to the radio for half an hour, while pottering in the kitchen. I have opened up the greenhouse, moved all the seedlings still in the greenhouse from above the newly potted on tomatoes that are in their final pots (I swear they grew another 10cm overnight, and bushed out), waited while Mr Sl took a swarm of bees to our friend's isolation apiary and returned, and I am just back from the M&cyber store where I was checking if they sell separate PJs and which ones have operable drawstring waists and which have sewn the elastic into the selvage edge, so you can't even take them in easily. I am a bigger top than bottom, and have been choosing whether to put up with the bottoms walking down, or risk my top making an escape bid. While there I bought some coffee bags (number 4 Italian) - which were actually in stock. Our different diets meant two pots of yoghurt, hummus and coleslaw (he is low/no fat, I am full fat no starchy carbs; a budget nightmare). He is looking forward to joining me on the limited amount of full fat and fewer carbs after his op, (we have a date of 27th, but he may still be called earlier for a cancellation). Anyway, coffee nearly finished, then I am off to the bees for a few hours

Blackcats · 16 May 2025 at 2:21PM

I've found it to be very slow on the survey front this month too. I'm probably not looking at the right time. However, I have earned enough for 2 cappuccinos in a non-fancy reasonably priced coffee establishment - so cheers ☕️

rtandon27 · 16 May 2025 at 2:53PM

Surveys have been few and far between for me as well - I'm guessing our demographic is the most common one for voicing our opinions so they disappear more quickly than we can get to them? PA has been abysmal, but I did get one from P!necone for another product I'd never dram of purchasing!

joedenise · 16 May 2025 at 3:05PM

Another one who hasn't had many surveys from PA this month. Got about enough for 1 and a bit coffees! Won't be cashing out this month at this rate - need a bit more in $ as otherwise can't move it to bank account from Paypal - they won't let you transfer small amounts!

themadvix · 16 May 2025 at 3:20PM

joedenise said:

Another one who hasn't had many surveys from PA this month. Got about enough for 1 and a bit coffees! Won't be cashing out this month at this rate - need a bit more in $ as otherwise can't move it to bank account from Paypal - they won't let you transfer small amounts!

Do you realise you can convert $ to £ in Paypal? On the web browser version, under 'Money' look to the right-hand side and you'll see a link 'View money'. Click that and it'll show you all the currencies you have and their balances and you can click to convert to GBP. Don't ask me whether it's a better or worse exchange rate than converting via bank, though - I have never bothered to look (despite earning considerable amounts in USD - I probably should find out!).

foxgloves · 16 May 2025 at 4:49PM

Afternoon Sunbeams,
Thanks for all your comments, which I enjoyed reading when I'd finished packing tools away in the shed. I shall reply properly over the weekend.
An unexciting routine day today but perfectly pleasant nevertheless. I'm currently sitting on my reading bench sharing an apple with my blackbird. Budget-friendly activity as follows:
*Had my hair cut first thing. Lovely cut, lots of chat, such a bargain at £13. I did my own colour last week so look decent again!
*Eco-refill shop opens later on weekdays so that saved (or rather postponed) purchasing a small list of items until next weekend, as they were closed.
*Picked up 2 ink cartridges on click & collect. They seem such silly money, but they last us a very long time & will defo save on what we were previously paying for rip-off ink subscription.
*Cleaned kitchen, bathroom & vacuumed all of downstairs before the 🦈 helpfully ran out of juice. Usual minimal products & washable cloths.
*Sowed more french beans as germination rate has been quite poor. Had plenty of seed left so didn't need to buy any.
*Dug over, weeded & re-edged a corner of border next to reading bench, which was more physical than it sounds with the ground being so dry. Another trug of baddie bindweed to the garden wheelie....no way is that going anywhere near our compost. Planted out a tray of white antirrhinums which I grew from free seed.
And that's it for today. I think Mr F will be happy to do a big watering session tonight (1st of the year) as he's been on a training day & will be in need of fresh air. I offered to cook but he said if I cook at weekends, he gets behind with all his geeky podcasts! So I intend to enjoy a few chapters of my book.
Enjoy your Friday nights all,
Love F (& Soot who is here telling me it's been an hour since he last ate anything) x

Makingabobor2 · 16 May 2025 at 5:00PM

Another good day, by the sound of it. Your hair cut is a real bargain. I thought mine was good at £20, but yours is fantastic. I love my local (well 10 miles away), eco refill shop. Luckily it is in the same town as my friend who does my massages, so I can combine my trips. I have to stop myself spending too much and just follow my list though. Last time I went I got some lovely chocolate covered cranberries, time before was chocolate covered brazil nuts, and although they were delicious, they weren't really needed and were just a treat. So I need to stop having so many treats I think.