Pulling my frugal pants on.

LadyWithAPlan

Is Miss Giddychops a horse, dog or child?

Great goals and focus on here - I am sure you will get this target done ahead of time..

do you also do surveys to get extra cash in etc?? 

ladybird1106

Hi ladywithaplan, she's a pooch although as she gets older she is turning into a grump. 
Yep I'm signed up with yougov , but think I need to look into other ones. 

Grateful for
1) Having a roof over my head
2) Been able to heat my home
3)For food in my belly.
Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Another lazy day as we were both feeling under the weather. I suspect our bodies and minds just needed some down time after what has been a stressful couple of months. The plot will have to wait till later on in the week. Luckily I had the makings of soup in, we sat outside with soup, bread and a fire whilst watching fireworks. Podded the gigantic bean seeds  we've grown and froze them. So a little job done today. 

Frugalness 
1) Not been anywhere to spend money.
2) Some of the skins on the gigantic beans that I had dried didn't look too healthy. Rehydrate them, skinned them and them froze them naked. They'll do for soups etc.
3)Free exercise with miss giddychops. 
4)Tea was provided by the plot. (potatoes /leeks) 
Love🐞

ladybird1106

What a long, long day, I thought it was never going to end. Induction was online and lasted the day. I stood up, I sat down, I stood up again and wiggled my butt, I sat back down again, I waved my arms to keep the blood flowing. I propped my head up and I stood back up again and I survived. I'm not quite sure how much I have retained as I don't learn in that manner. Hopefully the hands on training will be more interesting.
Shopping for the week was a quick whizz around - £80.36. So a little leftover from the £100 budget
Tea was using up the celery lurking at the bottom of the fridge and pudding rice lurking at the back of the cupboard that had reached its BB date. Both will be repeated.

Frugalness 
1) Tea was used made with lurking veg/pudding rice 
2) New temp job started
3) 6 pints of milk reduced.
4) Empty vanilla pod put into sugar to make .........vanilla sugar
5) Opted for cheaper bread and cereal for DH.

Grateful for
1) Temp job starting
2) The youngest confidence/independence has noticeably  improved in the last couple of weeks

love 🐞

ladybird1106

We have decided that we will need to start saving for another EF and that we feel that £5000 is good number to aim for, this is more than 3 months worth. of wages. So hopefully this will be achievable within the next 2 years. I hoping to raise most of this from side hustles, savings from the food budget and surveys. 
love 🐞

South_coast

ladybird1106 said:

Tea was using up the celery lurking at the bottom of the fridge and pudding rice lurking at the back of the cupboard that had reached its BB date. 

My mind is boggling with what you managed to make out of that combo 🤣🤣🤣!

ladybird1106

 Spent the majority of the day with a close friend whole is under a lot of stress at the moment. We chatted about it all, especially money and how we are both feeling the squeeze at the moment. We were both pleased that I cancelled our weekend away as I will be working and lack of funds. We've decided we will just be honest from now on and say if we can't afford to do something. 
This afternoon I went to the allotment and picked the last of the beans, which are currently in the dehydrater. Picked beetroot and parsnip for tea. Made veggie hotpot with a layered potato, beetroot and sweet potato topping.

Frugalness
1) veg from the plot for tea and extra beetroot for sandwiches. 
2) popped down for a cuppa instead our usual trip to a cafe. 
3) weekend away cancelled. 

Grateful for
1) a understanding friend
Love🐞

ladybird1106

What a day! Had a moment at 530 this morning that not only would I not pay income tax on my wages (12 hour temp job), but was there a threshold for national insurance? There is and I wouldn't be paying that either which means that I would be earning 35p over the amount I would be allowed to earn and keep my carers allowance ......35p........ So made a phone call apologised for wasting their time and was very grateful to them for offering me the job but due to my circumstances I wouldn't be taking up their offer. Explained why and the wonderful young person on the other end of the phone asked me to leave it with them and they will see if they can alter the contract to accommodate my circumstance, can't guarantee it but would try. Totally blown away,. I was so shocked that they would attempt this on my behalf. Even if they can't it has restored my faith in humanity.
Took the Christmas tree that the local group will be putting up at the local Christmas tree festival nearer to where its going to be held. We transported it by bike and trailer Had to engage the electric as the person helping me is extremely fit and was leaving me behind huffing and puffing.

Frugalness
1) Tea was out the freezer - Lasagna  made in the summer using veg from the plot.
2) Not had to buy shoes for work as the youngest had some very scuffed boots in the boot box. Used a marker pen to cover the worst bits.
3) Transport the tree via bike and trailer instead of the car.
4) Left the oven door open once we finished cooking tea to heat the kitchen.
5) Mixed the water we boiled beetroot in with Miss giddychops dry food.
6) free exercise.
7) Free half cucumber as mum only wanted half but could only get a full one.

Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Yesterday was a tale of 2 halves. Training went well, really enjoyed it. Learnt loads.  Unfortunately in the afternoon I had an incident with my bike and my right leg is now painful (walking, sitting, standing the whole shbang). Had this before and it took months to heal. So dropped off letter to say I wouldn't be back due to unforeseen circumstances. Job was only for 8 weeks but it was 4 hours x3 days  of constantly been on my feet. So disappointed, but it is what it is. Bike will need to be repaired, hopefully won't cost too much. Spent most of the day on the settee with my leg up or hobbling around. Knee support helped when I took giddychops out for a very very quick walk. Had to cancel trip to local Christmas Market which should save us a few pounds.

Frugalness
Nothing about yesterday was frugal, in fact it cost me opportunity to earn money, and a potentially expensive repair job (or right off) on my bike. Could of been worse.
Love 🐞

LadyWithAPlan

Ouch that sounds painful ... hope you heal quickly - hot and cold alternatively really helps speed up healing as it makes the blood veins compress then open so more blood rushes there