I'm still here

Well Ive not been doing much this last week, I have been working and getting really tired, some weeks I get more tired than others, not sure why, I suppose its because Im getting older.

Ive been busy today cleaning the fish and guinea pig out.  Rosy its really cute and growing quickly and when I can get her to stay still whilst I take her photo I will post one, trouble is she never stays still long enough!!
Not done much else as I have a sore throat and cold - feel really sorry for myself but Im all dosed up so I will be off to work for 6am as usual.

Anyway off now cos I havent really anymore to say!!!!!
Jane

Another rainy day

This is part of my poor sodden  back garden  this morning, you cant really tell but its still raining hard, even the dog bowls have filled up overnight.  To be honest I dont like the rain very much and feel really sorry for the people who have to work outside, my daughter is a postie and although she gets sodden on her round her take on it is ' Im getting paid for getting wet' well I suppose its one way of looking at it.  Im just glad I work inside and only have to make a quite dash from the car park into work.

I havent really been doing much, my Xmas preps are still going on, and Ive now knit five pairs of wrist warmers, I have just to get a load of buttons for them and after Ive fully finished them I will post a photo.  I still havent finished the cake band and Im really getting fed up doing the same patterns time and time again, so Ive decided to complete one pattern a night until its finished.  Im also making aprons this year and bought a cheap plastic one from @oundland and Im going to use that as the pattern, I already have some material, but Im a bit scared of the sewing machine, I havent done any real sewing on it since earlier this year when I had a relaspe and thought I needed one!! lol mistake really I could have paid that money off the CC  but hey ho its done now, so I ought to get around to making friends with it.  I follow froogs and love her quilts and would really like to have a go, but I havent plucked up enough courage yet.

Im making a menu plan for the next 2 weeks today, and only decided that Im having fish, wedges and mushy peas for tonight!! I really should look in the freezer and create a few meals out of what I have in. I'll let you know how I get on with that, Im still trying to cut down on the spending and so far this pay month I havent been too bad, but I do need a heat pad for the guinea pig so I think I may be spending on that tomorrow, I cant have my baby going cold!

Anyway thats all for now, off to complete menu plan.  I bought a chalk board (only 1.99 bargain) so I will write all the days and meals onto that so I have no excuse but to follow it.

Jane

Just frugalling along

I went to Ashbourne last week with a friend for a day out and bought this top from a charity shop there, I was pleased as it fits me a treat and its either new or very little worn.  I also ought a handbag for work but I havent taken a photo of that.

Yesterday was my day off from work and I decided to have a craft day, after the normal cleaning, washing and tidying around I started to X stitch my cake band and then I decided to have a look for something to knit as stocking fillers.  I found  a pattern for some wrist warmers in a sort of lacy pattern and they seemed pretty easy so I thought I would have a go and knit some for myself with a spare ball of wool I have, anyway long story short they have turned out really well and Im very impressed with the pattern, so Im going to knit another three pairs for all three girls and a smaller pair for my grandaughter.  I will upload a picture when I have bought and sown on the buttons so you can see the finished product.

I also made the linings for my lounge curtains out of the fleeces I bought and you can certainly feel the difference, the winter preparations are coming along nicely!!

Anyway must go and see if my tea has cooked through
Jane

Weekend catch up

I had a lovely day yesterday, and as you can see I was 60 - I know it sounds old but I certainly dont feel it, thank goodness.

Anyway a friend bought me this mug and I feel I can cope with it - 60 thats 21 with 39 years experience - so very true and it made me chuckle!!!!

My DD3 and her husband picked me up and we went to Nantwich food festival, it was brilliant, there were so many stalls, fasinating smells, so much to try, you could have had breakfast, lunch and tea just by trying samples!  and loads of really nice people, all enthusiastic and ready to answer questions about what they produced as you can tell I was sooooo impressed.  The local shops were all involved as well and it really good, good and good! Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera naughty me, will do better next time

Afterwards I was taken back home, full of goodness and told to get my posher gear on, as I was being taken out for a meal at night and be ready at a certain time as I was being picked up.  So at the appointed hour I was duly picked up and transported to a very nice pub/resturant and family and friends were already there, so I was treated to a very special night in the company of my DD1, DD3 and good freinds.  (DD2 lives abroard and work committments meant she couldnt make it, but she phoned my whilst I was there to join in) so I went home afterwards a very happy bunny.

This morning I had a bit of a lie in, which considering the headache I had was good!!! but then I had a cup of coffee and couple of pills and I feel more normal now so after this Im off to start a bit of X stiching for Xmas and watch a DVD with Pierce Brosnam in it (oh and I may make myself a slice of toasr as well)

Back to work tomorrow so I will go and enjoy my afternoon
Janexx

Ta dah moment

I have at last finished the knitted blanket for my DD3, she wanted to learn how to knit some time ago and I taught the basics and she went out and bought a couple of balls of wool and decided to knit squares to make a blanket, studying got in the way and it came home to me. So earlier this year I started to knit the odd square, undo all the ones she had knit cos they were all different sizes and have been knitting ever since inbetween doing other things, anyway its now done and I must say Im quite pleased with it, and this will go towards her Xmas presents, as I ended up buying all the wool bar the four balls she bought anyway hope you like the picture

I made some courgette curd the other day and that was lovely so Im going to make some more this afternoon to use the last of the courgettes I have been given, and Im going to start some new Xmas projects, Im determined to have a more old fashioned homemade Xmas. 

Anyway better get on and make the curd and then I can have a sit down and start the next bit of sewing

Janexx

Wake up call

I know, I gave up with all this blogging a few weeks ago because it all seemed a bit pointless but Ive had a bit of a wake up call today, I have sat down and been through my accounts and I really thought I had done really well from last pay day to this one (I get paid every four weeks) but I havent!! I havent been frugal at all and found out I have been to the shops and paid on my debit card 12 times when I shouldnt have and that amounts to £206.80 now I know that some of that was for my daughters birthday present and some was for things for winter ie fleeces and curtain rails - but really!!!!  It has made me realise that I cant keep doing this and I really need to take myself in hand and get stuck in,  I bet Im like a lot of people, I know what to do, can talk the talk and think Im doing well, when in reality Im shite at it!!!!

On the positive front I have made fleece curtains for the bathroom and kitchen, and I cant believe the difference it has made, Im really pleased.  I didnt spend a lot of money doing them - or so I thought - just two cream fleeces at £3 each, expandable curtain poles and curtain rings.  Ive also got three more cream fleeces to line my front room curtains as they arent lined at all, and I dont want to put my heating on much this winter.  The other things I have been doing is making a few bits and pieces for Christmas presents, I dont have to buy for many as I dont have any family, only my three girls and a couple of friends, so I thought this year as we are having a 'make do and mend one' putting a small hamper up for each one filled with homemade and charity shop bought goods and the odd crafty bought thing as well.

And the only other thing that is happening is my birthday this weekend and I have reached the grand old age of 60years!!!  Birthdays dont normally bother me at all and I just accept Im getting that bit older, but I certainly dont feel my age and luckily I have good health and still do a lot of things, BUT what upsets me is that for years I thought I would be retiring at 60 - not so now its going to be 62 years, 6 months and 19 days!!!! not that Im counting, and I do feel for the people who have got to work to 65,66 or 67 whatever the govt. have put it up to, but I really was looking forwards to retiring and for once in my life having more time to do what I want to - not that I know what that is yet ha, ha.

Anyway its a really long post and I will be posting more often as I crawl along my frugal road, hopefully much better than this last month.  I have to get my debt paid off before I retire so I can at least have a bit of money left over after all the bills have been paid - I want to be one of those who goes on coaches to the seaside and has a free bus pass!!!!!!!!

Janexx

Friday 17th

Been to work this morning and Im pooped!!!!  Its not that the work is hard as I more or less do the same each time Im there, but its the getting up at 4.45am that does it.  Im not a natural morning person and much prefer late nights and later mornings, but as the saying goes 'when needs must'.

Yesterday I wasnt in work and had a no spend lazy day, I did do some house work (not a lot) and cooked dinner etc but that was about it, out came my knitting and before I knew where I was a few hours had passed - oh what a life - I can please myself when I cook, go to bed and how I act indoors lol

The baby, Rosie, is fine and settling in well, she is only very young and doesnt want to stay still long enough for a photo yet, but I hope to remedy that soon. I bought a bench cover to cover her hutch and Im so glad I did as yesterday, and in the night, it rained,and rained and rained.  It has stopped now and although the cover has been taken off she hasnt put in an appearance yet!

On the frugalling front, Im still using the bath water from DGD's bath the other night to flush the toilet but its nearly gone now and so Im able to have a shower tonight and then the water from that will be used. The only good thing (in my eyes) about all the rain is that I dont have to save the water for the plants in the garden, speaking of which I seem to be in for a bumper crop of dwarf beans, so next year I reckon I will be growing more of those.

I called to see a friend on my way home from work, and he gave me some HM soup, he has a soup maker and always makes some really nice soup, so for my lunch I have had courgette, carrot and butternut squash soup and it was delish!!!

I have my DD1 and DGD staying tonight, as DD1 is out with friends for a celebration and has noone to babysit for her, so she is staying as I have to get up for work tomorrow and I dont think she would want me calling in to her in the morning at 5.30am with DGD!!!lol

So I will close now, cooking a tom and mozerella quorn fillet thingy in the halogen for tea, together with a jacket spud, so see you tomorrow or the next day

Janexx

Wednesday 15th

Hi
Got my new baby last night, a lovely little guinea pig called Rosie, well we dont know if its a girl or boy, but its soooo  cut,e it is having a girls name as she is pale grey and white with a little rosette on top of her head.  I will put some photos on when I take some, she is very shy and skittish at the moment - shes only a baby approx 6-7 weeks old and had to leave mum and dad as they were beginning to bully her. Also looked after my DGD who is 7 years for a couple of hours whilst mum was playing at pole dancing, which is always a joy.

Been to the dentist for a check up this morning and everything is OK for another six months so just £17.50 paid! really happy about that. Afterwards I went into town and bought a bench cover from Pundland to cover the hutch, but I will have to wait until it has dried out as its raining here at the moment, Im glad I did my washing yesterday. I also bought some radiator wire things to hang washing on and some bits and bobs that I needed rather than wanted!!! Im getting better at this frugalling lark, oh I also bought a couple of craft things from Pundland to put up for Christmas.

I had porridge for breakfast and just had a homemade sandwich wrap, for dinner Im visiting my youngest daughter who is going to provide tea, but I will take something for pudding, not sure what yet but will probably make a crumble or something similar.

Anyway Im going to brave the rain and see if Rosie will come out, she is quite tame but needs to get used to me so cheery bye
Janexx

Tuesday a 'at home sort of day'

Hello blog
Not been on here for a acouple of weeks, got caught up doing other things, nothing too exciting just family kind of things.

I really enjoyed the Olympics and watched quite a bit of it, and that is why my electric readings have gone up this last two weeks so I will have to be more careful with my TV viewing now!!!! I read both gas and electric every Tuesday and enter them online to my supplier, it makes interesting reading and I have found out that the TV takes up more elec than the computer and you can cut down on it if you really try, even when you dont think you use much.The gas is low at the moment as I only use it for heating and cooking, and as the heating hasnt been on yet and I dont have the oven on much at all, thats all OK but I will be watching it closely in winter - the thing I find interesting is that the energy company puts down how much you have paid and how much money wise you have used so far (using the up to date readings) so you can keep a check on the money situation at the same time, so at the moment Im happily in the black with them and building a steady amount up so I dont have to worry too much about the winter.

I have done my weekly wash and its on the line and Ive also made a shopping list so I will be going to the shops and libary after the bread maker has finished. My attempts at cooking in the halogen have been getting better as Im getting used to the settings, but I still havent made another cake in it, I dont want to waste the cake really, but I will have another go at some point, and the bread and butter pudding I made yesterday (using some stale bread) worked out wonderfully and I have enough of that for today as well.

Anyway another rather long boring post so I have decided to treat it more like my diary and hopefully will be posting every day or every two days.

See you
Janexx

The last few days

Been busy the last few days.  Baby daughter has moved house and I have helped, but only a little bit!!!

Today I have been to their house (she is married) waiting for their new washing machine to come, well I was told between 2pm and 6pm, so I duly took my knitting and paperwork to do, got their about 1.45 did their washing up and made myself a cup of coffee, did a couple rows of knitting and the washing machine men arrived, they were polite, efficient and made no mess and it wasnt even half past two when they went!!!  Anyway I waited around until a complete program had been run to make sure there were no leaks and then I came home.

Yesterday I had an exciting day (for me that is) the three of us went to Ikea,  I bought a chair for the dining room so I can sit and sew, read, knit and crochet in there and a nice bright rug for in there as well to cheer the room up, I also bought a coffee table for the front room and last night I assembled them all - go me!!!!

Anyway tomorrow Im off work as well (I only work 4 days) so it going to be a 'take it easy' day, the washing and cleaning is all up to date so I reckon its going to be a 'getting lists done for Christmas' day.  I am going to have a go at making quite a few presents, a crafty Xmas, but I have yet to sort out what to make so tomorrow I will be looking in my books and stashes to see what I can do.

This week I havnet spent any money on food, I know its brilliant, but to be honest I did a good shop last week and the food has lasted longer than I thought it would, so hopefully I can put this weeks housekeeping in my box for holiday money.  I have enough bread making stuff to last the next few weeks and the only things I have to buy are fresh veg and milk.  Im feeling much better in my self this week and am convinced its because I have been eating lots of fresh food, and not all tinned, dried and frozen it may be all in my mind but I just know that Im feeling more alert and with it.

Anyway Ill close now as I have a few telephone calls to make.
Janexx

Olympics day 1

My first attempt at putting pictures into my blog and I would like to put captions underneath but at least I know how to import them now!

Anyway the top one shows my small raised bed and shows my attempts of year one, not very successful but I am learning that as well and I have had a few peas, but next year I will be growing dwarf beans and peas again as they seem to grow ok and not carrots or beetroot as they havent grown very well at all and I think I will be pulling them up soon as they are bolting and theres nothing growing underneath -LOL

The bottom photo shows my attempts at container growing, leeks and toms not sure what is happening with the toms they seem to be flowering but as yet I cant seem to see any toms and the leeks went in very late but I will wait and see with them, so thats it  my first attempt.  I wont be self sufficient this year!!!!!

Anyway my frugalling goes on.  I have tried the halogen that was my daughters wedding present with mixed results, I can boil eggs, cook toast but the cake was a complete disaster.  Anyway I have tried toad in the hole today and although burnt on top it was fine, but I tried cooking roast pots at the same time and they weernt quite cooked enough, so I will get it correct next time by putting the pots above the toad.  I have cooked another toad as well (as I had enough mixture) and that has turned out a lot better, anyway I will keep trying and I havent written off making cakes in it just yet.

I watched the opening ceremony last night and didnt we do well - I really enjoyed it although I must admit I didnt understand all of it, thought Mr Bean was hilarious!!!! 

As I have been on my day off I have had the TV on whilst knitting and watching the games but Im getting a bbit fed up now and have turned it off for a bit.  Back at work tomorrow so I wont be in bed late tonight as I have to get up at 4.45

So I wil lgo now and carry on knitting for a bit, the jumper is for me to wear this winter and after I have finished it I will have to finish my daughters blanket and sort out a few bits and pieces for Xmas.

Jane

The simple life

Im sat outside at the moment, not in the sun but by my back door in the shade, enjoying the peace and quiet and trying to make a shopping list!!

I have to meet my baby girl in her lunchbreak in about an hour to do a swap with her, Im borrowing her halogen cooker that was a wedding present and as yet not been used, and she is borrowing my suitcases and holdalls as they are moving to a new house next week. Im quite excited about the Halogen cooker as so many people have told me that I should get one and that they are the best thing since sliced bread, but I have never used one in my life and I reckon thats why youngest hasnt used it either, anyway I will test run it and see if it lives upto expectations and then either show youngest how to use it and give it back or Im not sure ha,ha!!  Anyway I will have fun having a go as I have always done some cooking and baking and let you know how it goes!


Its funny how a bit of sunshine is cheering me up, I have days off today and tomorrow so Im definitely going to have a go with my camera, this blogging is all new to me and Im not sure what Im doing, I would love to be able to get 'Blogs I love' on the side bar and put other things in it as well, but I dont know how, so I will keep trying, it would help if I understood the lingo - what is a URL ??? I dont know if I have one or not!!

Anyway probably get back later as I have to get going
Jxx

Sunshine at last

Today I have been to work but I feel good - why - the sun is out and all is well in my world.

I came home and made some pasties using up the left over curry from yesterday, Im rathered pleased as it has made five pasties and I had the rest with some couscous for my tea ( I had it when I came home!!)
These will now go into the freezer for later meals.

I have had a walk around my garden and oh dear it does look sorry for itself, still next year perhaps.  The thing about gardening is finding what you want to grow and what will grow well in your garden, I know I could buy soil testing kits but Im a more hit and miss type of person, so I just plant seeds and hope for the best, but this year I havent done very well at all, it would be my luck to find out my soil is suited to broad beans which I loathe.

And this week is the week to try and post a few photos, Im quite computer illiterate although for years I worked on one, but I only knew the bit I was using, so Im taking it one step at a time and having a go.  Last week I pressed a few keys and ended up having to restore the settings back to the previous month because I couldnt get it working and I still dont know what I did wrong!!!

Anyway off to sit outside with a cup of coffee and my present book, Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler - I do like a bit of action sometimes.

Janexx

Another day another trial

My journey for frugalling probably started like many others and that is that I have overspent on everyday things thinking that I need them, when in fact I just wanted them and didnt really think how I would pay for them.  Well when I was working full time in a well paid job (well paid for me that is) I could manage and it wasnt until I walked out of my very stressful job because it was making me ill just thinking I had to go in every day, and staying hours beyond my contractual hours for no extra pay just to keep on top of everything that all my spending came home to roost.

I now work part time in a shop that suits me down to the ground but and its a very big but it only just covers everyday living and thats after a visit to the MSE website and taking on board all the info, so anyway I have been thinking of more ways to acquire money, I have nothing to sell on *bay, I have always given loads to CS so today I sold my gold!!! my old wedding band and some broken bracelets and necklaces and the money has gone straight into the bank to help pay of my overdraft, I also took a couple of bags of clothes to one of those places that buy old clothes, now I do have a bit of a problem with it as I usually give it all to a certain charity, but I feel at the moment that the OD comes first, so it all went and although I didnt get very much at all (well it is only 60p a kilo) but that also went into the bank, I must admit I feel bad as some of the clothes were good quality (from my daughter) and some older teens would have loved them - still its done now but Im not sure that in my mind that I will be doing that again.  I will have to look for some other ways.

I have cut my clothes buying to nil and food to only £10 a week so I cant do anymore there, but something has to be done otherwise my goal of paying my OD and CC off by the time I retire (March 2014) will not be achievable. 

It will not get me down though, I have my health and my three daughters and thats really important to me, and Im confident something will turn up.
Jxx

Rain rain go away

I have been at work today and when I got to the car park at 5.40am it wasnt raining but by the time I had got out of the car it was pouring down, and it hasnt stopped since. Im lucky where I live cos its on a hill and we are not affected like some areas of the country, but it doesnt mean Im not fed up with it, why oh why cant the sun come out long enough to dry everything out and perhaps get the odd BBQ on the go? oh well later in the year when we have this Indian summer that we were promised about 3 years ago!!

My poor garden has suffered - well the veggies have, the weeds are growing at a fast rate of knotts, its a shame I cant eat those LOL

The only intentional grown thing that has done well in the last few weeks are the strawberries, and I have had a few desserts from them.  Its all a shame really as I was looking to harvest some fresh veggies but it may have to be another year, I wont give up though as I like pottering around in the fresh air.

On the frugalling front, Im still being careful with gas and electric - trying all sorts of different ways to fill my time up from just putting the TV on. I walk my daughters dog (a couple of times a week), I knit, crochet and try to sew (not very successful at that yet), I read alot and visit the library most weeks.  Im reading Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler, I like his books and a couple of books by Miss Read that I have read before but enjoy the gentle village life stories, I think I wish I lived there!!!!  Im going to make the effort and when in the library next choose a completely random fiction and nonfiction book to read - it may get me out of reading books that I know I will like and challange me a little - especially the non fiction.

Anyway, my bread is nearly finished in the breadmaker (oh blumming eak - I meant to take a meter reading before I started so I could see how much leccie it was using) and the tomato soup must be cooked by now, so thats tea sorted. (soup curtesy of Mr Oliver)

Cherrio for now
Jxx

Mirrors dont lie!

When I got in from work I went upstairs to get changed and I just happened to see my naked pink legs in the wardrobe mirror, now you may think that I had seen them before but I must admit Im not that keen on seeing the whole of me as Im a bit bumpy!! anyway Im sure someone has pinched my legs and replaced them with fat tree trunks cos I dont remember them being that big anyway I plucked up courage to have a serious look at the rest of me and guess what the rest matches my legs so its definitely me!!!!  Time to get down to it and lose some of this extra padding, Im supposed to be losing some weight as I have high blood pressure and the nurse comments on it every time I go for my MOT, so this is it.  I was a member of SW once upon a time but the new frugal me will have to go it alone, I hope I have the will power - no be positive Jane you will do it and do it slowly.

Thinking about losing weight frugally I will have to extra careful because it would  be easy to just buy diet food, but I have to build it into my budget, anyway I still have quite a bit of food left in the freezer and its all the boring white fish and plain quorn, so at least that will work for me and the salad leaves are plentiful in the garden at the moment and there will be plenty of toms as well when the sun finally comes out and gets them going!!!

Plan A - fill in a food diary to keep track of what I eat and walk at least three times a week.

Got to go now and put my breakfast up for work tomorrow so I dont have toast and marmalade.

Jxx

Low User - thats me!!

After my depressive blog the other day Ive cheered up back to my normal self.

I have a day off today, so as I had some vouchers from Mr Ts I thought I would go and have a look at stuff.  Anyway I am really pleased with myself and although I have spent £27 I gained lots of points and all the stuff I bought is only what I will use, so some of it I will take off next weeks food money and the rest I will take off next months as the bulk of what was bought is really for my next four weekly food budget.  I also paid on my credit card and got an extra 650 points so I will be paying that off when the bill comes through!!!

And the Low User bit in the title is what the young gentleman from EON called me!! I have managed to revise my DD to them to £50 a month instead of the £56 which is what they wanted to charge me, so my skinting on the elec has paid off and I must keep it up now.  On a Sunday when I get home from work I read both the gas and elec meters and record it on my calander so I can work out how much Im using each week.  The other week I went without the TV for the week and it made quite a difference and then another week I went without the computer the difference wasnt that great, I must admit I was pleased about that as I use the computer more than watching the TV these days.  It makes a difference when the off spring came back even though they try to be careful, but I do try to compensate the following week and really make sure things are switched off, lights arent left on etc.

I have also phoned the water people as I havent paid a bill since last August when I went on a meter, as I was so much in credit, the next bill is due this month sometime so it will be interesting how much I have used as I save water for flushing the toilet and only normally wash up once a day, take quick showers (saving the water of course) and only doing one load of washing a week. Its quite exciting really - how sad am I????

There are things I cant economise on though, the one that springs to mind is decent coffee, I cant abide the cheap stuff so that was one of the things I stocked up on today, another thing is the toothpaste I use, cheaper ones just dont do it for me!!!

Anyway must go as its front room cleaning day and I havent started it yet.

Jxx

It is a little time since I was last on here, I hadnt realised.  Anyway its been raining all day but thankfully for most of it I have been to work.

Frugal wise Im still collecting all the water from washing etc to flush the loo and also as EON have put my monthly payment up by £14 a month and Council tax is getting rid of the 25% single person and making it 15% instead, some serious savings (ha ha) have got to be made,  soooooo  this week I have read the meters (I do this every week actually,just to keep a record of how much leccie and gas Im using) and I am determined to lessen usuage, not that I use an awful lot as I dont have any appliances on standby anymore and switch off all lights etc if Im not using them, so this week Im going to go without the telly to see how much of a difference it makes and cut down on computer time to every other day, in all honesty Im not sure what I can cut down on, I dont shop for clothes etc (cant remember last time I bought anything new bar a pack of knickers back in April) Im living on £10 a week at the moment to save money and really to empty the freezer and pantry, but that cant last for all that much longer.  So not sure how I can get extra money, I have nothing to sell, no gold or items of clothing and taking on extra woek would be very very hard as Im getting on to near retirement and find the work I do sooooo tiring.  Oh well Im sure something will turn up onwards and upwards.

Tea tonight was fish in sauce, mashed potatoes and mixed veggies, no pudding as I havent made anything. I have three days off now so tomorrow I will have a look in the cupboards to see if I have a basis for a cottage pie, or meatless loaf and that should last me for a few days, its a good job I dont  mind the same food for a few days running.

On a lighter note I have been walking the daughters dog and really enjoying it, Im getting to know some old railway walks and its lovely to hear the birds and see all the lovely green about.  Well will go now I will be back in a couple of days and hopefully I will have come up with a couple of ideas by then.

Jxx

Hello sunshine!

Its lovely here Im sat outside in the sunshine writing this, you have to make the most of the good weather whilst its here.

Last week I managed to spend under £10 and I put the leftover amount into a pot, because Im saving for a rainy day, well next years holiday actually.  I think I did rather well as I had my daughter then SiL to stay a few days and I managed more or less to feed us out of the freezer.  I dont eat meat and only fish when there is nothing about that I fancy.  I live on the outskirts of a small town/village that has a Mr T and an Ald* but I mainly shop where I can get the cheapest.  I look for bargains, hence my fullish cupboards and freezer and I think it has over taken my spending on useful useless things, ha ha. Anyway I have allowed myself a sum of £10 a week on food this month, each week starts on a Friday and since Friday just gone I have spent a grand total of £1.80  on 8 pints of milk! I am concocting meals out of my cupboards and freezer and some of them leave a lot to be desired but hey ho needs must and its the only area or expenditure I can control. So some of the meals this week have been:
couscous and burgers
lentil loaf, pots and veg
beans on toast
breaded plaice, chips and mushy peas (very nice it was to)
pasta and cheese
So you see its not very exciting but adequate, I think I really miss the incidentals like crisps and biscuits. I make cakes when my DGD is visiting but not on a regular basis.

I heard earlier on that a holiday Im going on with a friend next May has now been booked, so we are off to Scotland (Isle of Skye), I went to Scotland for the first time ever earlier this year and really enjoyed it, we went to Wester Ross (Aultbea) and it was so relaxing, plenty of walking, photography and doing not a lot!!! so Im really looking forwards to it and it gives me a focus for any spare cash

Anyway must go and wash up and have a shower (saving all the water of course to flush the toilet) bye bye

Jxx

Hello blog land
Im just watchingThe Good Life, what a lovely program and I still love it.  I can remember watching it in the 70's and me and the old man started growing veggies in the small garden we had and that interest has lasted until the present day.  Im on my own now and the garden is mostly gravel as its easier to manage but I still grow veggies in a very small raised bed and various pots! Ive eaten loads of spinach beet and salad leaves and Im waiting for beans, tomatoes, beetroot, more spinach and salad leaves, potatoes, peas and courgette,

I have found over the years that I cant grow carrots in the garden and next year Im going to branch out into soft fruit and rhubarb, but it will have to be in pots as I have no garden left to plant in.  In true frugalling tradition I have been using old containers from work that were going to be thrown away (jam etc comes in them) and although they dont hold alot, one tom plant goes in fine, I really need some stakes and when walking my daughters dog I noticed twigs lying around so I reckon I will pick them up next time I walk down there.  The compost I have been using is bought, and I like to buy the decent stuff and the it seems to work better than the cheap stuff. 

I also save water and put it into another huge barrel to use when its not raining!!!  so I am trying to be eco friendly and frugal

Anyway more tomorrow
Jxx

Been absent a few days

I have been absent the last few days, I have had my daughter to stay whilst her husband is abroad working and she has been on the computer quite a bit and I dont know why but I dont feel I can post honestly whilst she is here, I havent told her that I have created this blog, I cant explain why -  its not that the content is a great secret if it was I wouldnt be doing it!!

As it is all still very new to me Im never sure what to write about, cos I dont want it to be just about my frugalling along but about lots of things in my life, I dont particularly lead an exciting life and most of it is family based, even though I live on my own!!! My daughters are always around and my little grandaughter is a joy at 7 years and keep me company on some weekends when Im not working.

Anyway in my next post I will start to explain about my reasons for frugalling and what I have started to do
Jxx

A nice quiet day

Hiya
Didnt post yesterday as not much happened, but then again I suppose it did.  I was working until 2pm so after that I headed off to my daughters house to pick up her dog that Im dogsitting overnight whilst she is out, then back home. I was so tired I didnt fancy cooking anything so just had a couple of rounds of toast - I know its not healthy but I really couldnt be bothered!!

Anyway a little later I decided I would have to take said mutt out for a walk and I must say I really enjoyed it and it blew the cobwebs away.  We went over fields and along the canal, where I slipped over and felt a proper wally, luckily there was only me and the dog so there was nobody to laugh at me!! and came home refreshed.

So really nothing frugal being done except not spending any money and being careful with the usual.  Im on another early shift today and tomorrow, so hopefully I can feel more alive on Tuesday-my day off ha, ha

Jxx

A good start

Well day two and its been OK. Been paid today, not as much as I thought but I did have some time off sick and dont get paid for it, so have to be extra careful now.

Anyway my youngest daughter and SIL have come over for the night and like a true frugaler I made dinner for us all out of the freezer so really proud of myself, the only thing wrong is that they dont save water, elec etc like I do but hey I love seeing them!

Went shopping today and spent under £5 so I hope I wont have to fork out on much more this week but I will keep updating as the week progresses.

Not done much interesting as I have been at work today, but have finished another pair of socks, I have enough cone wool that was given me never to have to buy another pair of socks, as long as I keep knitting them, its a pity the rest of the family dont appreciate them, cos I could knit a few pairs for Christmas - perhaps I should anyway just to see their faces on Christmas day ha, ha

Jxx

Hello new blog Im getting quite excited now I have finally created one, but I must admit I have no idea how to put on photos or the suchlike, and Ive already lost one post!!!!

Anyway, I retire in about two years time and my wish that I would like to come true is to travel around this beautiful country of ours in an old campervan and see all its beauty. So to achieve this I will have to be very frugal and pay off my CC and OD and save-save-save!!!

To this end I will record as much as I can, triumphs and failures and Im expecting there to be a few failures.  I work part time in a well known supermarket and its not very well paid but its my choice to cut my hours and have a job I dont have to think so much about, as I used to work in a job that kept me awake at night and stressed me out. So - my first aim is to live on £40 for the next 4 weeks (I am paid tomorrow and then every 4 weeks) so I will be making a menu plan when I get home tomorrow. Just for the record there is only me and Doris the goldfish at home now, children have fledged although they do turn up for meals and lodgings quite regularly anyway off to bed now as Im in early tomorrow

Bye for now
Jane