La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.

iris

Take care

sheilavw

Thanks for the new thread.

I too feel an affinity with both Helen, and Suffolksue having lost my Husband to Motor Neurone July 2019 just under a year after diagnosis. I still find it difficult, we were together since I was 16, 59 is no age at all.

I did join our fabulous local gym, mainly for swimming in an evening. I was going at least twice a week, in the run up to Christmas it dwindled to one visit. Aiming to do at least 2 weekly visits and swim my half a mile each time.

Working full time in a busy High School I have no problem getting plenty of steps in!

This Year I have already a short break here and 2 holidays abroad booked to look forward to.

The first to Turkey at Easter with my Daughter, Son in law and Grandson.

The second a 2 week cruise with my Sister and Brother in August.

Like Helen I need to book a dental visit, hoping not too much work needed. I have had a lot of dental work in the past.

Nargleblast

Lovely to see a potentially interesting new thread that resonates with my situation. 

My  husband died three and a half years ago from cancer, and I have worked to create a new life for myself as a singleton. I am taking early retirement at the end of next month, thanks to my adult son raiding his savings to help me clear the mortgage. I now have no mortgage, no loans, no card debts, nada. Great feeling not to owe any money to anyone. 

My State pension kicks in next spring so I have just over a year of living carefully on my work pension and widows pension before things get easier financially. My son lives with me and works from home, but at some point, probably when he completes his Masters later this year, he'll be off spreading his wings. That's fine, I have learned to be at ease with myself so living alone doesn't bother me. I always say you have to learn to love yourself and enjoy your own company first and foremost.

Socially I am a member of a choir and get so much friendship and fulfilment from that. I shall also look around locally for something fitness-related, something I could  not commit to before with working different shifts every week. No way am I going to sit at home and rot just because I have retired from work. I also have a dog and three cats to keep me entertained.

I have drawn up a household budget which will be tight, even with the contribution my son makes to the bills. It is doable, though, and I have separate savings accounts for car expenses, holidays and an emergency fund. I do a lot of cooking from scratch and always look at prices of things. I want to buy one or two things to brighten up my wardrobe for spring, I do tend to have a lot of black and dark blue in my wardrobe, so I feel the need to lighten up a bit. 

La Dolce Vita is out there, and I am determined to grab some of it!

Suffolksue

Good to see you Nargleblast.I remember you were very kind to me when DH died 
Sheilavw ,I remember you too as my MIL died from Motor Neurone 50 yrs ago ,
 OH consultants spent a lot of time looking for a genetic link between OH disease and his Mums but none found .
He had MSA ( only confirmed after his death as he’d donated his brain at their request) and their conclusion is that it’s coincidental .
Im looking forward to all our Dolce Vita adventures 

Jellybaby

I’m another long term lurker on the previous thread. Another singleton here, my husband died over ten years ago from cancer. Although I’ve had a few ‘entanglements’ 🤣 nothing I would call relationship for lots of reasons but really do prefer my single life now. I work full time and care more and more for very elderly parents who refuse any help whatsoever. They’re like a couple of stubborn toddlers!  

Anyway, early retirement Spring next year then hit a big birthday a couple of months later. I want to be in the best shape possible starting this new chapter - not just physically but mentally.  I’m working on my home too, as well as moving DS2 who still lives with me, out into his own place (he is looking, I’m not chucking him out 😁).

Dentist for me too! Fingers crossed it’s not as bad as I think.

Wednesday2000

I am also looking forward to my husband retiring early in 2026. We have just spent a shocking amount getting the roof fixed, but I was saying we need to start saving seriously again after he is next paid in a couple of weeks. I watched the Martin Lewis show about saving accounts the other day and I want to open a couple. We do already have one saving account each with First Direct as we bank with them.

We went out to watch the film Plane yesterday and it was formulaic, but very enjoyable. It is a thriller starring Gerard Butler. We did buy 10 cinema tickets in bulk for £50 that we need to use before the end of April so that should be 5 cheap trips to the cinema and I will start bringing my own drinks and snacks with us.

My brother finally gave me some of my Nan's stuff as a keepsake as she died a few years ago  but her house has only just been emptied completely. Nothing valuable, but just a few things to remember her by.

nannygladys

Loving this thread.
I woke up this morning feeling quite sorry for myself, but then the sun came out, the cat that visits has gone to sleep on my knee just after I'd made a fresh cup of coffee and then your thread appeared - feeling loads better now. I'm 70, but been on my own for many years and I could definitely do with living a bit more 'life' 🙂. So I will be reading and posting occasionally if that's ok, thanks all. Ps  I have an NHS dentist who is very good, but a filling came out the other day which I will have to get redone, at all least it isn't causing me any problems yet.

helensbiggestfan

Sue I wondered if it was MSA, that's what my husband had.  Truly devastating. We've been told it was idiopathic and but theres no cast iron guarantee. I just hope my sons and grandsons are ok. (It's a mother thing, we always worry😉). 

Suffolksue

Thanks Helen ,yes that’s what we’ve been told ,Our Professor really has looked into it to the full extent of present day knowledge,especially given his Mother’s illness ,but no link can be found .
He wrote to me just before Christmas to say they’d used a new test but no link .
I agree I also have this worry about son and grandchildren.
still ‘it is what it is ‘ as both DH andMiL used  to say .
It really is a devastating disease 

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Friends 

lovely to see so many here and to hear all your stories and backgrounds.....yeah I'm nosy. 😂🤣.    Seems like there's a fair few singletons among us.  

Wednesday.  What pretty Porcelain, a lovely keepsake from your grandmother.  Ouch to the roof, still it's an investment really for when you need to sell later and you get the benefit in the meantime.  And, given the rising costs of materials and labour, it won't get any cheaper.  

Feeling a bit delicate so having a quiet day today, well as quiet as it can be with my son, DIL and two young grandsons staying over whilst they have some building work done. Lol   The job has run over time (and budget of course) but at least I'm saving them some money on hotel bills.  I reckon they will be here for at least another week. We're packed in like sardines but we're managing. The children are having a whale of a time and my son is getting a break from cooking which is pleasing him no end.

nannygladys.....good luck with the filling.  I have a crown prep appt on Tuesday 😱😂.