I'm back, still struggling along, still frugal

OpalGirl

Good progress Nannyg. Painting freshens everything up. And so good of your sil to install your new tv, you'll be all set for winter now.

nannygladys

I've nearly finished the painting but it's taking the paint so long to dry I've put my Xmas decorations up and will finish the one remaining wall and do the second coat on the ceiling when it isn't so damp. The dog had a partial green coat the other day and it was a few hours after me painting

At the moment I'm writing lists of food of what buy with my vouchers and saving cards, some will be for Xmas but I want to challenge myself next year with doing something different each month ie very low spend on food, halving the amount of my usual petrol allowance, having only certain days of buying food ie high amount of nsd's, using cash only and saving £5 weekly out of it besides buying my food, etc a different one each month so I have a different thing each month that I have to concentrate on. The extra items I'll buy with the vouchers will be stock cupboard items, ie flour, coffee, laundry stuff, toiletries etc. so my lists keep changing a little as I'm trying to work out what I eat the most of or work out how many tins of tomatoes, large bags of pasta and rice I would use over the coming year! Anyway I will let you know how I get on and hopefully write about my challenges as I undertake them! 

I want to save the money to help buy 'stuff' to make living on my own easier for me in the future. Presently I'm fine but as the old joints start aching more the harder it will get, I already have to use an electric can opener and some gadget that helps me to open jars (arthritis) so I need to make my house safer and easier for me as I don't want to move anytime soon and I don't want to give up growing my veggies! 

I'm thinking I might just have one more raised bed in the garden and by just moving the salad bed I should be able to get more growing space. I'm also seriously thinking of digging some small beds in my front garden for currant bushes and insect friendly herbs and plants as it's wasted space at the moment. But I'll see how I go into the spring. Its just that I have currant bushes in the back but they don't seem to do very well where they are. 

Anyway, I'll close for now, tomorrow I'm out for most of the day which will be the first time this week I need some milk and drop a bag off at the charity depot. Last week I took my old TV and stand, they accepted the TV but not the stand as it had some glass on it, there was no cracks in it but hey ho, I nipped over to the tip which is very near and a nice man put it in the waste for me.
Nannyg

amanda_p

I very rarely comment but your diary fills me with admiration. So many people could learn so much from you. The way you manage your finances in a world that is so full of ‘must haves’ and wants is truly inspiring.

You live within your means and think carefully about where your money goes. There is no negativity, you manage well on a limited income and make the best of what you have. 

Many people have forgotten the act of resourcefulness but you embrace it wholeheartedly.

Nanny Gladys you have my utmost respect and perhaps you should be shipped into schools to teach money management. It would be a lesson in how to make your money work whatever the circumstances!  I salute you!

joedenise

That's a good idea @nannygladys.  I'd love to do something like buying all cupboard stuff for the year but. I just don't have the storage space. Can't use under the bed as we have a water bed which means it is warm under there so will only use for paper things.  May well actually buy more loo rolls and paper towels and keep under there!

I'm sure if I think carefully about it there are probably other places I could store extra tins etc.  Will think about that but first I need to keep check of how much of everything I use over the year!

Sun_Addict

Morning NannyG, just realised you’re back. Good to hear from you again 🙂 Sounds like you’re very busy at the moment. I agree with what amanda_p says, you are an inspiration. I have just over a year to go before I retire and my pension won’t be great but I’ll manage I’m sure. I’m picking up lots of tips from you. 

nannygladys

amanda_p  thank you for your kind comment. I learnt by my mistakes on the money front and I am really lucky to have a really sensible daughter who helped me and really taught me how to correct my monetary mistakes. I don't think she realises how much she did and helped me by the advice, listening and taking me under her wing, and she made me realise life is more than just money. Also I found these forums and read and read and read avidly and took on board lots of advice!!

nannygladys

joedenise - wow, a water bed, I always think of 'a life on the ocean wave' when people mention them, but always wondered what they are like
I live in a small house, but it has 3 bedrooms and the smallest bedroom was/is my crafting room or now it's it a more a store room with all my crafting stuff, books etc in it. I bought a cheap unit from B&M a few years back that looks like one of the Ikea box ones, and started storing tins etc in, then a few years ago and eldest dd was moving her middle dd into her own bedroom and asked me if I wanted a similar one (but bigger) before she put it on free cycle and I couldn't say no. Her husband unassembled it and then remade it for me, and again it just fit by the other one in the small bedroom, so that it where I keep it all. I then saved up and bought a small chest freezer and put that in there too and there's still room in there for my sewing machine desk and crafting stuff. I don't keep an inventory though but everything is in date order, gathered in their own separate compartments so I do go though them to keep an eye what's nearing the best before dates etc. It works for me but perhaps not for anyone else!!

nannygladys

Sun_Addict  After a lifetime of working various jobs (no career - just jobs) I found retiring quite hard, having no 'purpose' and boundaries anymore and it took me quite a time to get used to it (again eldest dd helped - how did I get such a 'knowing' dd?) but now I love it. I still try to keep busy doing different things but at my own pace and no deadlines in sight!!! I am very grateful (and lucky) for all my daughters, the two who live near have always been thoughtful and helpful, whilst the one who lives abroad keeps in regular touch. I must have done something right with them!! but I do try not to bother them too much!!!

nannygladys

So another week or so has passed and it's nearly Christmas again! My tree has gone up and my fire place has been decorated. The fire (gas) is very rarely used so I don't have to worry about setting anything on fire. I haven't put all my xmas pictures up though as I don't really want to put pins in the walls to hang them up and I want to save the stickly things to use on my normal pictures that I haven't put back up yet, but its looking Christmassy - yay!
I have been to Asd@ and used one shopping voucher and Asd@ savings card to buy the bulk of my stores on Xmas food, and will use the T0sco one for all the veggies, fruit and anything else that I have missed. I must remember to fill the car up with fuel as well. I would really like a no spend January on food but I've worked out its not really feasible to do when I go to the farm for milk etc and may need fruit and other bits nearer the end of the month, so it will be a very low spend month and I think to make it easier for me I will buy the all the dogs food up front and freeze the meat etc and buy his treats as xmas gifts to him!!!! then I will have no excuses to visit the shops for food! 
To keep myself busy in the New Year I'm going to complete all the unfinished knitting, sewing and craft projects I have on the go and not buy anymore until I have a good go at clearing all the ones I haven't touched yet. I went a bit mad when I retired buying bits and pieces and just putting them away, or starting and not completing them, such as a quilt that just needs finishing off and a few cross stitch kits as well and that was like ten years ago!!!! 
Anyway times creeping on and I want to get my lunch and tea ready as Monday's I pick my dgs up from school to help my youngest dd out. I also made a lemon drizzle cake (gf) for them yesterday so I can get used to baking with gf flour, it hasn't risen as much as normal, but they can always put ice cream or custard on it for puddings!!!! I'll ask to try it whilst there to see how it tastes though! 
Nannyg

nannygladys

Well I had a slice of lemon cake and it was fine, not the best looking one I've ever made but the taste was great! My eldest dd also bought me up a slice of homemade cheesecake and two slices of coffee and walnut cake, it seems we are all having a go at home baking ps they were very nice too!
This week has been busy doing Xmas related things, like more food shopping with another voucher so I bought stock cupboards items mostly and stored them away for future use, so just the cheap veggie shopping to do now.
I am looking after dgs on Sunday/Monday so I think some gf cookie cooking will be done by me and him and any left can go home with him!
The weather has been really miserable here it seems like continuous drizzle all the time but we have had a few brighter periods but they are few and far between, but the houses nearby look really festive and comforting with their outside lights except when the wind was high the other night and a Santa and huge blown up snow globe disappeared down the hill  they did get them back though!!
Hopefully the time left before Xmas will be spent doing family things, looking after children, a bit of baking, a lot of sitting, the usual dog walks and a few biscuits and the odd drink or two with just one little shop for the veggies!!!
Nannyg