Escape to the country & living off savings

Skint_yet_Again

Had a call from the gp and they want me to take more meds. I have convinced them to give me another 3 months to pull myself together. I know what I need to do but have been fuelling myself with carbs and chocolate 🤦‍♀️ 

Shopping list amended for Monday to start eating healthier for July. I am going out for fish and chips tomorrow with DF and then will reduce carbs. 

Today was wheat shreds & skimmed milk for breakfast, 2 egg mushroom omelette for lunch with rocket salad & cucumber from DF’s allotment plus tomatoes and radishes. Afternoon snack was cheese cubes with 2 rings of tinned pineapple. Dinner is 2 Cajun chicken thighs with roasted veg (courgettes, mushrooms, peppers & onions). Pudding will be fruit, either strawberries or an apple. 

Meals will be packed out with salad or veg & I will get some tins of different beans and mackerel or pilchards. 

I will have to see if it increases my shopping bill & may have to increase my food budget  😬

[Deleted User]

Perhaps cut down on the cheese and tinned fruit ? Just a suggestion. 

audaparizeau

Skint_yet_Again said:

Copied over from my old diary

Hello again from Yorkshire 😁 The move from the south coast went well but it has been hectic since I got here. Spending has been budgeted for 

van hire £250
diesel £90
train fare for DS to get home £30
new boiler £3600
living room light £32
kettle & toaster £40
New bath towels (sale) £6
Living room paint 2 for £22
white paint ceilings & skirtings & sandpaper/ brushes £53.93
Misc tool station & bnq 116.65 includes new loo seat
emergency eye exam £30 (gel detachment) - all ok 

Roofer is booked to come mid March £2750 including scaffolding. I’m just pricing up & choosing a new bathroom & wallpaper for the bedroom. 

I got refunds from council tax, car insurance and breakdown cover after changing my address. I also told the car insurance I have retired as I am not working or claiming benefits and I am living off my savings until my pension starts. I may look for a little part time job when things settle down after 6 months or so. I am not going to have another pet as I don’t want the tie. I do miss puppy dog though 🐶 

Im not sure what to do about this diary as I’m not going to be saving any more. I will always try to save on items bought using deals and vouchers. The majority of my remaining equity is now invested in 1 and 2 year bonds. I’m not sure how much I will be paid for February as I had to pay back some annual leave. New household bills are coming in for the new house. I have just paid car tax which was budgeted for. I have kept £10000 for next 12 months living expenses & £10000 for 12 months after and £12000 for house (boiler/repairs/ new bathroom) in an instant access account. 

It sounds like the move went well, but I can imagine it's been a busy time for you. It's great to see that you've budgeted your spending and managed to take care of essential items like the van hire, new boiler, and household necessities. Remember to take your time with choosing a new bathroom and wallpaper. It's smart to keep some funds set aside for living expenses and house-related expenses.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks @audaparizeau

[Deleted User] said:

Perhaps cut down on the cheese and tinned fruit ? Just a suggestion. 

Hi @[Deleted User] Tinned fruit is supposed to be fine in juice which I wash off. Cheese is small quantities. Both are shown as low gi snacks advised on diabetes websites. I am not aiming to lose weight just stop spikes in blood sugar. I do buy fresh fruit such as apples & strawberries but fresh does not last long enough between shopping trips even if I keep them in the fridge. 

I’ve just finished the strawberries from the fridge and had to throw 3 away that were mouldy. I have apples left until I go shopping on Monday. 

[Deleted User]

Sorry! I just assumed we were talking high cholesterol! Apologies!

Skint_yet_Again

No problem. I didn’t specify what the gp wanted me to take meds for. Hopefully if I can eat fruit or veg instead of cakes, chocolate or ice cream I can improve my health. 

A bit of good news there was no text from the debt agency today. It’s not my debt so hopefully they have given up now 

Skint_yet_Again

Went into town today while the bus fare is still £2 each way and I treated me & DF to fish & chips with bread & butter, mushy peas & a pot of tea each. Total £17. Walked around for about an hour after, so hopefully walked off some of the carbs / calories 😆

Also got a huge punnet of strawberries £1 from the market, a quilt 4.5 tog £8 in primarni and 10.5 tog in Wilko £9, both will be paid for from household annual bills fund.  I also bought a pair of black loafer shoes £9.99

Remaining in current account £1.80. Tomorrow I pay myself so will transfer £833 from savings (£10000 a year). 

DF brought me some beetroot from his allotment, so I microwaved it and have had some this evening for dinner with cheese, celery & cucumber. Had a 30 minute walk an hour after dinner which is supposed to help avoid sugar level spikes. It’s a lovely evening, sunny and a nice breeze. 

I am going out with my old school friend tomorrow for more retail therapy and a bit of lunch with less carbs 😁

MovingForwards

I know it's more expensive but would frozen fruit work out better, especially if you're not throwing it away. Have it with a bit of cream, yoghurt, ice cream or cold custard.

A square of dark choc is better than a bar of normal choc. While it's a full bar grate some, pop it in a lidded tub and in your fridge, as and when sprinkle it on your fruit.

Depending on how much cucumber you've got, a few slices, in a glass of water with ice is delicious.

Is it still A1D1 you're shopping at as L1DL have fresh low GI bread, which may satisfy carbs.

You've done well to have money left month end.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks MF, yes it’s aldee as there are 3 near me, all a short car drive in opposite directions 😆

There is not a lot of fruit I like. Strawberries, pears, apples, pineapple, grapes, melon, bananas, peaches. I buy a mixture of fresh & tinned pineapple & peaches. 

I have my next hba1c in 3 months so I am now cutting right back on sugar (apart from natural sugar in fruit) and less carbs until then to see what effect, if any, it has and try to avoid having to take more meds. It has come down since my last test but not enough according to the diabetes nurse, but I haven’t exactly been trying ! 🤦‍♀️

Skint_yet_Again

Today I have paid myself from savings £833 and transferred £150 (max allowed) from my 1.99% account to my 6% account. 

Budget for July

Phone sim only £10

Tv licence 13.25

Water 48.90

Council tax £97

Union £2.14

Gas & Electric £100

Annual bills £100

Birthdays £50

Car fund £50

Petrol £40

Entertainment £100

Food £160

Income £833

Outgoing £771.29

Food budget is 4 weeks x £40. Will keep checking if it is realistic and increase if necessary. 

Currently savings pots stand at:

Xmas/ birthdays £285 (£50 a month)

Car fund £750 (£50 a month)

Mot, service, tyres, repairs

Annual bills £265 (£100 a month) Insurances, breakdown cover, car tax, clothes, household items, glasses (cheap from internet- eye test free), dentist check ups  

Gas & electric £200 (£100 pm)

I will transfer money into the various pots tomorrow and then the credit card bill is due around the 5th so I will work out the amount from each pot and then pay the credit card off in full.