The Frugal Hearth: Stories of Simple Living and Living Well

Elisheba

Hello all and sorry for another long break between posts!

I've mainly just been super disorganised, but also as everything has just been toddling along I didn't feel massively motivated. However, back to being organised now and this diary is a great way of staying accountable, so I'm going to try and post more regularly.

In great news, I've now hit the 5 stone weight loss mark. It has slowed down quite a bit, but I'm still getting there. This has meant that pretty much nothing fits me from last year, as I'm down at least 4 sizes (possibly 5 as I was pushing the next size up if I'm being honest, at least in some things).

I'm still sticking it out with my waterproof jacket, which I paid quite a lot for just over a year ago, but it is huge on me. I've become increasingly aware that I really don't like wearing clothes that are too big, even if it is for well intentioned frugal reasons. I don't feel good in them, even stuff no-one sees like PJs. So I have been spending a bit more on good old V!inted than I had budgeted for at the beginning of the year, when I had no idea I would be shrinking.

The only thing I spent a fair bit of money on was a hand knit cable cardigan, which was just under £25 including postage. I am trying to keep everything else as cheap as possible, as unless the plan goes drastically wrong none of it will fit me next winter.

So far this Autumn/Winter I think I've bought 3 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of walking trousers (2 of which are still too tight, as walking trousers sizing is very annoying and tends to be tight on the waist), several pairs of pants, 3 long sleeved T-shirts, a fairisle jumper, the previously mentioned cable cardigan, a smart winter coat, a bra, a dress and shawl for a wedding (definitely an indulgence, although under a tenner), 3 pairs of PJs, and a dressing gown. I think that's it! Some jumpers do still fit me, and some bras (which were too small before). Basically though it's been a whole new wardrobe. Thank goodness I could get it all second hand - I've probably spent less than £150, but can you imagine the expense if I needed to buy new?? And buying it second hand makes me feel less guilty about fast fashion and world resources.

Other than that, I was away last Friday - Sunday at a church training weekend at a very nice hotel, which was all paid for by church so all I needed to pay for was silly dog's kennels. That was £75, which I think was very good value for a lovely weekend!  I relaxed the diet completely and indulged in all the food and cakes! In great news, when I tested my blood sugar when I got home it was comfortably within the normal range - a bit higher than it normally tests at, but certainly nothing to be concerned about. Hopefully that's a very good sign that my body is starting to sort itself out and is less resistant to insulin! It's literally the first time I've indulged in unrestricted carbs (other than my birthday) since I started this journey last March, so the first proper evidence I've seen that it's working 😁.

Tomorrow evening I have my village's Xmas meal at a local eatery so that should be enjoyable. No idea what I'm going to wear as all my clothes are either too smart or too casual, but I'll come up with something.

Then on Saturday I have so many tasks to do around the house, that I haven't been able to do due to busy-ness the last few weekends. I have to do a tip run to get rid of more stuff I've decluttered. I'm debating whether to try and sell some of my old clothes, but it's such a faff and I want them gone, so I may well take them to the clothes bank at the tip as well. 

Then I need to cut the grass, trim the back hedge, weed the borders, move a big bookcase to the bus stop I'm donating it to, do normal house work, walk silly dog, Remembrance service at chapel, do a big shop, change the cat litter, and I'm sure there is lots more. And I do like to keep Sundays just for relaxing, so Saturday is going to be intense!

Finance wise, I put aside my October savings at the beginning of November, which included my back dated pay, and I'm now at £8837 for savings. It would have been £200 more but I gave that to my brother who needed it unexpectedly.

Other than that I negotiated a new broadband deal, so that's about a fiver less a month, although it goes up every year. I've got a new pay monthly SIM for my phone as well, but haven't actually done anything with it yet. I'm not 100% sure on the date my contract ran out, but it's £1.99 a month for the first 3 months so not the end of the world.

I think that might be all my news for now. I'm reading The More of Less by Joshua Becker, who also has a blog and You Tube channel. Nothing new or earth shaking in it for me so far, but he's a very thoughtful guy who writes well. I'll make an effort to catch up on other diaries and try to inspire myself to better frugality over the next week or so. I've got loads of books from the library to read as well, so will keep my diary updated as I get through them. I don't know if I mentioned but I was on a big digital detox and as part of that stopped reading and watching the news. Well, I have started reading a newspaper again (free online from the library) but only a Scottish newspaper (The Herald for anyone interested) 🤣. Frankly I'm Scottish, I live in Wales, and I am very, very tired of English news. So that is my compromise! It's amazing how little English news is mentioned in a Scottish paper 🤣.

I hope you are all well, and my goodness, isn't it mild this week? I was too hot in bed last night and had to throw half my bedding onto the floor.

Elisheba

Slowdown said:

Hi again, just checking all is ok x

Thanks for checking in, @Slowdown. All was well, I was just being lazy!

Elisheba

backinbusiness said:

Jumping in to say hello, and also - have you considered replacing the blown headlight yourself? Depends on the make and model of car obvs, but you can usually find something on Y**T*be that shows you what and how to do. I've not taken mine to the garage for a blown bulb for about a decade now. (I will concede that it's not always easy - some swearing and exasperation to be expected lol. Just my two-pence worth. Love your updates btw. BiB x 

Thanks for the suggestion. I once replaced my own headlight, years ago, and then at MOT it needed to be done again as it was at the wrong angle apparently. And it was an awful faff as you say, so I just leave it to the the professionals now. I think it cost about £11 in the end, and if rather just pay the money.

KajiKita

Lovely to hear from you 😊
And fantastic news about passing the 5 stone lost mark! Seriously impressive 👏 Wonderful that you could eat unrefined carbs without it having any significant effect on your blood sugar. I suspect that means you find it easy to maintain once you reach your target weight 😊

In terms of an outfit for tomorrow night - I’ve seen many people over the years pairing super dress up with casual / slightly scruffy - think glitzy Christmas party type top with ripped jeans. If it works for them, no reason it won’t work for you 😊 Hope you have a good time 😊

KK

Makingabobor2

Well done on the weight loss. Great that you found so many bargains on Vinted, I love it. Have had loads of stuff from there. 

Moorviews

It’s lovely to see you again and to hear how everything is going so well 😊
Well done for keeping up with the diet and achieving that amazing weight loss! I can’t remember if you sew but if you do, there are a surprising number of ways to make clothes smaller or larger. Catherine Sews on YouTube is great for showing how she has altered charity shop finds to fit and suit her. Might be useful if you have any favourites that no longer fit you. 

Humdinger1

Impressive progress on every front @Elisheba! You're really in the zone now and will get there.   Love Humdinger xx 

liselle

Fantastic progress! You’re doing so well.
I get your comment about the news being about England, but believe me, we in England hear a very great deal about the Scottish weather forecast on tv!I realise that there’s a lot more going on weather-wise there but mega frustrating when you’re waiting to hear whether you need to take a raincoat out with you….!

Cheery_Daff

Wow Elisheba, you're doing fantastically well! Very impressive.

Elisheba

Afternoon, frugal friends,

Another long time between posts, although this time it was because I thought I might have big plans afoot and wanted to know what was happening before I said anything.

I had seen a very tiny house, that I could afford, in the area I wanted, and was rather excited about it all. However, I got feedback from a roofer earlier this week and it's much more work than I expected, and although I'm still waiting for the actual quite for the work I'm pretty certain it's not going to be something I'm going to move forward on now. Such is life. It's all a learning experience. 

I'm currently in bed as I have some virus and everything hurts, but I've just had a nap and taken some painkillers so I'm aching slightly less than I was and thought I would take the time to record what I have actually learned from my first serious consideration of house buying.

1. I'm thinking of buying in Scotland, and there you can see a Home Report before you even view the property, which is very useful indeed.

2. Get quotes for all the cat 2 issues on the Home Report. This roofing issue was cat 2 on the report, not cat 3 (the more serious category). However, from what the roofer says the work needed is both serious and immediate, so obviously the home report isn't gospel. So investigate and get quotes all the way. I'm very glad I did.

3. Get quotes for for conveyancing! The ones I got varied dramatically so always with doing.

4. Speak to you conveyancing, mortgage and estate agents so you are very comfortable with what you need to do next and everyone knows what's going on.

5. Don't get excited and proceed before you are as certain as you can be of the risks involved. I was very tempted to make a formal offer before I got my quotes, and am glad I didn't.

6. I now know that a home purchase needs to make sense for me financially, and I don't want a massive project.

7. I now also know that I can be flexible in the size of a house, and am fine take on bits and pieces of work. I can can fire it all into my budget and as long as it all adds up, then I'm comfortable proceeding.

8. The whole process is quite anxiety making. Look after myself, accept I can't mitigate every risk but as long as I do my best, write everything down and use a budget then I will have some modicum of control, which helps a bit.

So there we are - things I need to remember for next time. It will probably be another year or two, as not many houses pop up at that price that suit me, so I'll no doubt be checking back on this post!

In other news, I did my end of November budgeting and now have £9340 in savings. All on track for £10k by the end of the year, possibly £11k depending on whether I decide I need to fill up my oil tank this year or can wait until next Autumn.

I did some more decluttering after I was back from Scotland and before I got knocked down by this virus, and that's all my Xmas decorations sorted out now. The tree is up and a big box for stuff I no longer need is gone. Also took about 5 or 6 shopping bags of other stuff, mainly kitchen things, to the charity shop, and sorted out a huge bag of craft stuff and spare envelopes and things.

I've got some stuff I need to take to the tip, and I'm really hoping I'm better by the weekend so I can do it. Even typing this on my phone is hurting my arms and wrists - it's very frustrating!

Other than normal food and petrol purchases, the only thing I've actually bought recently I think was set of electronic scales for the kitchen. My old ones didn't work properly, and I need to them to measure food for silly dog so he can stay a healthy weight. I bought them from my local hardware shop so feel I'm doing my bit for the local economy. 

Annoyingly, my house needs a proper hoover and dust, but that will have to wait until I'm feeling better. I've done one big load of washing from when I was away in Scotland (I was staying with my Mum who smokes so everything smelled smoky and needed washed) and have another just waiting to be hung up to dry. I'll need to find the energy to do that asap as can't sit in the machine. I did manage to clean the bathroom before I got ill, so at least I won't get any bugs that way 🤣.

Right, I'm off to hang up the washing. I may be some time... Once I've recovered from that I'll catch up on diaries and hopefully feel a bit more frugally inspired 😁.

Hope everyone is doing well. It's very pretty in mid Wales today with lots of mist, but the heating is on as it also very cold!