I'm back, still struggling along, still frugal

nannygladys

Thank you ancientmum and Cherryfudge  for commenting, it's always nice to know someone reads my ramblings 

The snow has more or less melted now but this area is threatened with more tonight and tomorrow   but at least I don't have to go out in it unless I want to! 
I went shopping yesterday just for the essentials that I needed and took my usual bags with me and only used one!! lol I spent £18 on food for the dog in Iceland and £29.29 in asda for my bits, so we should be OK until I go shopping next Wednesday, it's  the real food shop since before Xmas.
 I'm still eating dinners that I made and froze a while ago and for lunches its mainly homemade soups or things on toast!! I made a light fruit cake at the weekend and cut it up into slices and froze the majority of it, so it's been nice to have something sweet with a cup of coffee in the afternoon but it isn't easy for me, I'm finding out I rather like plenty of food and choice, but at least having a low spend month I'm using up foods that aren't my first choice and probably won't buy it again! 
Anyway, I'll go for a wonder around the boards for more inspiration and have a look at the recipes on the grocery page.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Doesn't seem five minutes since I last posted but wow time is flying by!!!
This last week I managed to spend under £25 for me and the pooch, so another low spend week and the freezer contents are very slowly going down, but to be honest I didn't realise how much food I had in them!!! and something else I have realised doing this (if I have already mentioned it then I'm sorry for the repeat) is that I buy stuff without realising it that I don't particularly need! and although most are small items they do add up in money terms. Well so far I haven't bought anything like that but there's quite a few times I've picked bits up and considered buying them 
As I'm cooking everything from scratch to create room in the freezers I have been quite inventive with recipes and sometimes I think it's a good job there's only me eating them  but I am quite enjoying it if I'm honest! 
I've also started my decluttering, I haven't got that much and try to do a small bit every other day and give the cupboard/ drawer or whatever I choose a good clean out, sometimes I clear just one thing and other times is can be a few more, anyway they go into a charity sack and when it fills up I'll take it to a CS.
Anyway enough of my ramblings, my life is mainly at home now since I've cut out coffee shop visits and little outings to the retail parks etc so I'm not tempted   
Nannyg

fionaandphil

@nannygladys have you go a warm welcome group or the like near you? My mum goes along to their local village hall once a week and has a quick meet up and free coffee.  Our Council has a website with all the local venues on it showing where you can pop in, the idea being that its somewhere warm and welcoming.  It mainly takes place during the winter months and is great to ensure that you get out and about and have a chat with someone. Our local theatre also opens its doors once a month and does a free screening of a classic film with free tea and coffee.

nannygladys

fionaandphil - It sounds like your mum lives in a very caring area. The local library used to have a warm space that was open to everyone but no coffee/tea was ever offered and I think it stopped, the local SA used to have oap pensioner dinners once a week and other activities for other groups but I went past there a couple of months and it looked closed down, nobody there and nothing on their noticeboard, when I first moved around here it was a thriving hub for all members of the family. The only community pantry we had here only had funding for three years so that shut a couple of years ago and they used to put on all sorts of activities/groups as well but I think they were abandoned as well, although they could be meeting somewhere else! Writing this down has made me think that its all a bit sad, I haven't needed free/subsidised food but use it when I was a bit short, and I must be ant-social as I'm quite a home bird!

nannygladys

Well the low spend month is still going really well and every time I think of spending some money I do ask myself 'do I really need it?' I've turned away from coffee shops, the treats when shopping and stuck to my lists!! I'm hoping to go forwards carrying on like this.
I've made a small portion of flapjack when I've really wanted something sweet and made a proper coffee in my machine when a take out coffee beckons!!! I have been out for my free coffee but not in C8sta when out and ignored the offers I get from there on a regular basis (mind you I did have a coffee out with dd the other day from there, but she paid so a win win for me!! , she does know I'm on a low spend though and I did enjoy the coffee).
I'm running low on fuel for the car so I'll have to fill up tomorrow but it's the first time during this pay period so I'm really chuffed as I have normally filled it by now, it must be the round robin trips I've been doing instead of just jumping in and going, I'm out on a Wednesday so I've been doing my shopping, tip runs etc all in the same journey and then on a free coffee day I'll call in the farm shop for any veggies, fruit, cheese and eggs that are needed, on to the farm for milk and garden centre for the free coffee, and no cake is bought!!! Anyway, better get on, I'm going to cook my tea and do some more X-stitching on a project I've had on the go for over a year and I want to get it finished for Xmas 2026!!
Nannyg

Blackcats

Sounds like you are doing really well this month.
When I was working full-time from home I used to go out for a cuppa for a change of scene.  I don't drink coffee so I was paying about £3 for a basic cup of tea and about £60 a month if I managed to resist the slice of cake.  It did help differentiate the working day from being home and relaxing and was cheaper than commuting costs.  Nowadays we take our flasks with us when we go out for walks.  We always say our pop up coffee shop in beautiful locations are far superior to high street coffee shops.

good luck with your Christmas 2026 cross stitch!

fionaandphil

I'm keeping very quiet about a cross stitch I've had on the go for a few Christmases 😆 it's a stocking for DH , very complex but has been almost complete for at least 3 years - I really should finish it. 

Like you I have coffee from my home machine but we do get some nice biscuits as treats so it doesn't feel too scrimpy

Moorviews

I have only just found your new thread @nannygladys so will enjoy having a read. I hope you are well at the moment and just too busy to post.

Like you, I am going to be putting more fruit bushes in. I am hoping to get them covered against the birds if possible. My apple trees are terribly overgrown and due to an injury and the awful weather I haven't been able to tackle them over winter as I had planned. I do the round robin trips too and it cuts down so much on fuel, especially as I live rurally. Only problem is that it sometimes feels like I am not getting out enough!

As for unfinished craft projects, I am most definitely keeping my head down! I have a crochet one (started 3 years ago!) that I aim to finish by the summer. Another that I bought the yarn for but have gone off. I have decided that I shall probably use the cotton yarn for crochet cloths instead.

beanielou

Also just found your new thread. Keep plodding 🤗

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81740820#Comment_81740820

Hey lovely - wondered where you were today and found this thread. Love your line below …

Have you ever looked back on your life and realised you have been so taken up with trying to hold it altogether that you loose years of your life?

i think everyone has a twilight spell in life. Either caring, needing care or muddling along

don't fret pet - you are loved, followed and doing well x