Pulling my frugal pants on.

ladybird1106

Frugalness today 
1. Plot and mum combined provided tea. 
2. Nectar points paid for the shopping I forgot. 
3. Bought the youngest fizzy pop in small bottles as a big bottle tends to go flat before it's finished and tends to go down the drain.
4. Opted into octopods saving session again. 
5. Miss giddychops had more peelings soup with her biscuits. 
Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Nothing frugal yesterday. Took MIL to local shopping centre to get her some new clothes as she has lost a lot of weight. Found her a beautiful dress but they didn't have her size, so we are heading to a local village today as they have reserved it at one of their other shops. Spent a pleasant couple of hours milling around until she started to flag and then we escaped. 
Today we are due to travel to see an outdoor light show, but the weather is going to be atrocious and the youngest will get soaked (wheelchair user). My mum is coming too and although she is a robust 74 yrs old she hates getting wet. Unfortunately I've checked terms and conditions and we can't alter the day. If we don't go mum stands to lose £64. We were really looking forward to going, but I'm not looking forward to walking in torrential rain for an hour and I predict the youngest will complain the entire time. Will chat to mum later about what to do.
Love 🐞

ladybird1106

Just got on the scales. Very annoyed with myself, I've managed to put 10lbs on this year. I weigh more than DH and hes 5ft 10. No excuses. Deep breath..... OK so the dog can no longer walk the distances we used, but maybe I need to split the walk into more manageable pieces. 2 walks instead of 1 long one. We have a rowing machine 🙄 but I find it hurts my arm if I do more than 15mins so maybe start at 5 minutes (better than nothing). Need to practise my yoga, so need to set heating to come on earlier as I've refused to get up because it's cold. I really need to not use turbo on my bike and to use more muscle power. My sister and I need to start back swimming but it's nearly £5 a week that's £20 a month. I'm not sure my budget can accommodate that at the moment. Food wise, need to restrict the goodies😭 hmm that will be interesting as it's coming up to Christmas 😂. Need to conquer my sugar cravings. I have no willpower and quickly forget self care when others need my support. 
Love 🐞

northwalesd

We've all (OK probably most of us) been there lb, be kind to yourself.

KajiKita

Hi Ladybird 😊 (love your user name btw, makes me smile every time you post anywhere 😊), following along now. 

Enjoyed the idea of ‘nature’s tumble dryer’ and the comment about leaving the allotment feeling taller because of two inches of mud on your boots made me chuckle 😂

Fwiw, I have massively cut back on carbs - potatoes, lower fibre bread, pasta, rice (I find frozen riced cauliflower a quick, healthy and easy substitute for the latter two when eating with Mr KK) etc. and it’s really helped with cravings and blood sugar dips. I’ve lost a bit of weight but not as much as some, but for me these days, at this time of year, just not putting on more weight is enough - I can tackle targeting actual weight loss next spring. 

The other thing I would say is it is hard to change everything at once, and when you get tired and have one bad day because life, it becomes demoralising. Focus instead on new habits - the going for two shorter walks a day is a good one, put some hand weight by the kettle to use while the kettle boils (muscle burns more calories than fat), do squats daily - not all of these obviously, but maybe one of two would work? Then add one or two more until you have gradually changed how you live day to day.

Also, if you are a carer it inevitably means that you have a lot on. Be kind to yourself and don’t expect too much at once? 

KK 

ladybird1106

Thanks northwalesd. 
Your right KK, sound advice. My problem is I tend to be and all or nothing person and become disillusioned when I  miss a couple of days due to caring commitments and give up. Also I need to get back into the swing of it more slowly as when I do too much too soon I get very tired and again give up. So today no sugar and did 2 dog walks about 25 minutes each. Although Miss giddychops was not happy about the 2nd one as she got very wet and kept looking at me as if to say 'whose chuffing idea was this'.
Didn't go to the light show due to the weather, but mil did get her dress sorted. 
Frugalness 
1. Veggie chilli made in the slow cooker for tea. (onions from the plot). Enough for another day and a portion for mum to take home with her.
2. Miss giddychops finished the dog soup today. 
3. Cancelled online sm shop. 
4. Rumtopf is bottled. Used saved glass bottles from early on in the year (they had premade mocktails in them)
Love 🐞

ladybird1106

DH has not gone into work today as he slipped on black ice yesterday whilst at work and his knee has swollen up and beginning to bruise. Due to the nature of his work he is unable to go in if he's not fully mobile. It has given him the opportunity to have the Christmas cake mixture spoon and bowl all to himself. Currently in the oven, the cake not him, and making the house smell delicious. I used my grandma's (passed away last year) recipe although i didn't use the gravy browning !!!!!!!!!. There was too much for my tin so made 2 little ones using gu pots.
Already had Miss Giddychops out and no sugar so far on day 2.
Love 🐞

KajiKita

Well done on the two new habits. Sympathies to Mr Ladybird - I hope he recovers swiftly and hasn’t done any serious damage! 

KK

beanielou

Hope Mr Ladybird is on the mend soon.

ladybird1106

He's hobbling around like a caged animal KK and beanielou. He hates been stuck inside, especially since he was strongly 'encouraged' to write his Christmas cards😏.
Christmas day family eruptions have begun and one set of family members are upset (I'd be fuming too), DH is trying to mediate. 
Frugalness for yesterday
1. Tea was leftover stew (potatoes and parsnip from the plot) 
2. Free exercise x2 with miss giddychops. 
3. Octopods saving session x2 earnt us £3.41in total.
4. Homemade Christmas cake is made, left oven door open to take advantage of heat generated - once it had finished baking.
5. Used 2nd class stamps to send Christmas cards off on their merry way. 
6. Swept all the floors instead of hoovering today. 
Love 🐞