Chit-chat June

Two cancellations; day trip to Oxford in August and check-up at dentist, in July. Both to be expected and both a relief. A relief because I don’t have to travel on bus to either of them. I had anxiety about the idea of it, regardless I now have face masks and would use.
I let my friend know, as soon as I knew regarding Oxford.
The coach company asked if I would like to cancel Oxford because they could see it probably wouldn’t be happening, while I was seeing what was happening regarding refund for Whitby that was cancelled last month and so I said yes. I quickly received refund for both and that’s now in my ISA.
As for dentist, it was cancelled to a later date in September, so priority could be given to emergencies and those needing to finish their treatment.
They also answered my other concerns I had regarding accessibility for me as a deaf person, after watching their video clip of what to expect when coming to the practise. The changes to protect both staff and customers, because of Coronavirus.
So I do hope that goes as discussed via an email with me.

This month, I have been reading this book.

The book is called, ‘The Awakened,’ by Julian Cheek. I picked just this one up from several books left on a table at work, with a note, ‘help yourself.’
The story I read on the back, grabbed me, because I could relate to the feelings of the character, having one time at a young age for a number of years, felt like that.

This book kept me engaged and I couldn’t wait to read more, to see what happened next.

Store loyalty cards

As you know not long ago, I shredded my Costa card, after receiving an email from them.

I have now decided to ditch another store card. This time Tesco Clubcard. Unlike Costa, they’ve done nothing wrong for me to decide on doing this. I have debated past year, or two on doing this and now I thought, I will. So an email went yesterday requesting that they close my account down and why; which was my decision to get rid of some store loyalty cards and this being one of them that I want to get rid.
Also with not having any plans to shop in Tesco while they do one thing that another store doesn’t do, that I can’t contend with and so avoiding the place ever since Coronavirus started, just adds to my decision of closing down my account.
I said that even if one day I start to shop again, or visit their cafe, I still don’t want to bother with a Tesco Clubcard.

I am thinking of ditching another card later. But thinking a little longer on that one before making any decision. But it’s nice to get rid of Costa and Tesco one.

Just some dvd’s I watched: (courtesy of my neighbour lending me theirs.) 

• The Rocky Horror Show
• Open Range
• Ladies in Lavender
• Family Guy Presents Blue Harvest
• Stargate Atlantis
• Master and Commander
• Grease 1 and 2
• Planes, Trains Automobiles
• The Beatles Yellow Submarine (I don’t mind their music, but I’m not a fan of this cartoon.)
• Mama Mia The Movie
• Frances Mcdormand Fargo
• Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Blogger, if WordPress does get rid of ‘classic editor’ in 2022, or later. 

I gave up Blogger, after having no joy.
I want to remind, as I mentioned before, that it wasn’t because of Blogger. It was me. The whole WordPress thing really put a damper on my mood and I wasn’t enjoying the process of moving some posts across for my story to continue.
I was in a frustrated, spit my dummy out kind of mood and feeling down about it.
The plan was to keep my name of my blog, when blogging there, hence some posts going across to Blogger.

But now, I have decided, should WordPress in 2022, or later, decide to get rid of their classic editor, leaving only block editor left, I will start afresh with a new blog, at Blogger. This will include also, a new name. So I will be brainstorming a new name, should I need one later. I have plenty of time to think about that one, should I end up leaving here. But I will have one part set up with Blogger before then, not visible until it is required.

Don’t forget, as I mentioned in past posts, I have a new blog email. It’s a neutral blog email name I have chosen, so regardless what I would call my new blog, this blog email would remain. You can find it on my about me page.
I still reckon the time will come when WordPress will do this, because the way they spoke on a forum, they are speaking in words that they will commit with this.
I hope classic editor remains to stay as a choice always, because I am not alone in this on why classic editor is best for me.

I have a post in draft that is for goodbyes, ready for if its needed in a few years. I hope I manage to put blog link on it, if post is needed.
Although this blog would eventually go if moving, I may keep WordPress account open for coming back to, so I can comment on blogs I currently follow. But I won’t be following any new ones at that point when not blogging here.

But as I say, this is if worst scenario that WordPress does this.

Work

It was back to normal working hours this month, in my evening job.
Even though I have seen changes made (while I was cleaning there at an earlier time,) to try and make our workplace safer, it still caused me anxiety and I still had same thoughts as the other ladies who were furloughed, as in, what am I going to walk into.

Also more work put onto us, but no extra time to do it in. There are also some things asked of us that are not achievable, so it has caused me stress, upset and frustration. I spoke with my manager after just over 2 weeks doing it my concerns and how it has affected me and I was given reassurances to these concerns, so I should be ok now.
I also raised my observations after my accident, wondering why the floor had not been taped, so someone else doesn’t trip on the tile I had acciddent on, until its sorted. They didn’t know about it until they heard it from me. So they checked to see it had been filed by person I reported it to, but it was filed under a different department. Their old department. So if I was to have an accident in the future that I report, to let them know also, so they know about it, to action it.

My hamster, Daz. 

This month was Daz’s birthday. He’s now one year old.

My phone

I have done a right one, that I have never done in all the years being a mobile phone owner.
As I quickly glanced at my phone before my shift started, the door propped open with a door stopper, decided to move and, slammed into my back. My phone slipped out of my hand and took a dive into a bucket of water.
Now my phone is supposedly water resistant when I read the description for my phone before buying at the time, but reading elsewhere, I read the oppsite when it comes to any phone and not just mine, that there is no such thing as a water resistant, or waterproof phone. Well it was still working after it happened, but I didn’t charge it when it was needed and left it till the next day. As a precaution, I bought a second hand phone as a back up, should this pack up later, because I have read what the damage water can do to a phone, over time. So although fine at the moment, at the time I written this post to publish later. It’s what might happen down the line.

My budget

Those that have been following some time will know my preferred way of paying my groceries is by cash. I find it easier to set my budget for each week this way, so I don’t spend more than I need. But because of some places only wanting you to pay by card, (which I have noticed since then, they have changed their signage to cash and card) and others if paying by cash then use self-checkouts, I ended up going the pay by card route.
I have been doing this the last 2 months, so early days I feel to give myself a chance to get used to paying by card, but because how muddled my brain feels towards end of last month and how I feel this month, I am going back to what I feel is easy for me. Paying my groceries by cash.
The first month out of two I tried by card I spent more than my budget. But it was expected that month and so no mistake on my part.
Last month, I felt I was a little more used to paying this way, but I still went over my budget. But only by a few pounds.
Whether I will go back to paying mainly by card for my groceries when I feel better with my mind, I don’t know. I am not ruling it out. But for now, I am sticking with cash, when it comes to my groceries. I have ended up getting used to self-checkouts. (Those that know me well, will know I hate them and I avoid them.) But I don’t hate them anymore and I don’t avoid, unless I choose to pay by card of course.
I know self-checkouts accept bank cards, but that’s where my nerves would start again. So will leave that for now.

Anxiety

As you know I suffer with anxiety and I have shared at the beginning of this post the anxiety for travelling. Most of the time it’s at acceptable levels. But as you know, when it creeps up, it goes up. Like the idea of travelling on public transport. I am avoiding so far.
Like everyone else, Coronavirus affected that, but I am also noticing how jumpy I am getting. (And I haven’t seen the odd horror film for a long time.)
I am assuming this is due to me being on high alert for some time now, that’s causing this.
Are you feeling extra jumpy too?

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© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. (But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated, as that is their copyright.)

Just a chit-chat

I did not know whether to call this post as I have done now, or thoughts and feelings so far. As I write this post, not knowing how it will turn out than just write what it whirling around in my head. But I will keep it as it is and not think about what I don’t really need to concern myself about. Hence the weekend of doing nothing than I posted, to hopefully quiten my mind.

So as you know, I have for over a week been really struggling. I have felt caged, frustrated, upset, wanted to scream a couple of times and pull my hair out. I have also at times in the past week where my mind as dissociated. But I am over the worst. But not all of it.

I was not that with it, that it took an email to realise mum was now at the nursing home, because of me not being on the same planet at times. It will be a week my mum being there, come this Wednesday.

Due to me being in a second job I knew when the time came to fill the form in again for help with NHS costs would mean less, or no help. (I got less help.) Although a little is better than nothing, it meant even less towards deposit for buying a house, if I still go that way. Which my current thinking, I still do want to and I have not gave up on this. But my original plan that I had in mind had to be evaluated, because how I was going to do it, meant it would never happen that way, as I blogged about in A question for my readers in the UK regarding their mortgage.

My whiteboard no longer looks like this.

It now looks like this.

I removed the gratitude wall, as I have been observing the vision board more than the gratitude wall anyway.
The gratitude wall was more fuller than the above photo, at time of removing it and now my vision board is reflecting my new goals. Which is to save either £6,000.00 or £8,000.00.
Now I am not likely to achieve the minimum £6,000.00 mark by next June. (The figures for either of my targets, I am counting down to my target. Not up. So what I have left to save for targets.) But it feels more achievable than my original plan.
So although I desperately want a house and garden, having this new goal will help to wait that little bit longer, if needed, to achieve the goal hopefully.
I certainly feel more comfortable at just looking at the year ahead, rather than the 3 years I had before, with how I have been feeling.

My original plan was a high deposit, so that my mortgage monthly payment would be less than my rent. But unless I have a windfall, that’s not going to happen.
So it’s a lower deposit than my original plan and depending on price of house, the monthly payment will work out possibly higher, but only what I would end up paying with the rent prices these days.

My other plans when it comes to buying remain the same and that’s  I am looking at properties no higher than £85,000.00 and to be paid off in 15 years. Preferably I would like to see it done in 10 years. But between now and when the time comes to buying, maybe I can still achieve that, or something less than 15 years, depending on the market and price of house.

My new plan should keep me more motivated with what I want.

Although my day trips are still listed on the board, I have no plans booking any other trips with coaches, than the two I have booked, which are Whitby and Oxford. Should these day trips get affected by the Coronavirus, I don’t plan to re-book for a later date this year.

I have ordered myself a muzzle face mask. Even though at the time of ordering I don’t know where the UK will stand on this.
It is a handmade one and one I would use for certain situations. Although there are talks that scarves are acceptable too, for a particular situation I am thinking of, this would be needed, to ensure it stayed on my face while having my hands full. Where I wouldn’t be able to do that with a scarf.

It’s not in the UK where I have bought one of these from, so how long it will take, I don’t know. But I am hoping it comes within 6 weeks.

I know I would need another, as a spare while other drying. But I need to see where I will get my next one from in the UK and when my budget allows.

My Peace lily seems to be doing ok, since it was re-potted in a slightly larger pot, just over a month ago. So I have not killed this plant so far and it is still looking good as it always has done. 😊

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© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. (But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated, as that is their copyright.)

A question for my readers in the UK regarding their mortgage

This question is for anyone living in the UK, who has had a mortgage in the last 5 years, to present. 

Is your mortgage payment, under, or over £500 per month?

Just reply with your answer as under, or over. There is no need to tell me your actual amount. 

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With this lockdown and everything else in my life. But especially the lockdown. The lockdown has made me rather desperate now to be living in a house, with a garden.

I have felt so caged in because I dare not go out for a walk out on the nature reserve, or park, because of everyone else doing it and not having control of that 2 meter distance.
And same with regards of sitting just outside my flat in the garden, along with maybe not getting my own peace and quiet during that time. My only  walking is when it’s work, or groceries, as I have mentioned before.

I am sick of the neighbours still opposite and, their latest antics and with not being able to travel to other areas, it’s making me feel caged.

Now if I was in a house, I would be sat in the garden, or doing something in the garden. I would not have felt caged. This lockdown has clearly shown me that.
I envy those right now that are in their garden resting, or planting their veg, or flowers. Or just doing that little bit of weeding.

So these last two weeks the way I have been going about my mortgage originally, I have been thinking, do I need to change plans to my original plan? Still, those plans I am thinking, may take at least a year, to a year and a half to achieve, if I use those new tatics. But that doesn’t feel as bad as what was 3 years. Plus, if I stick with my original plan then I now know it definitely won’t happen in 3 years, due to less being put aside. It will never happen if I stick to that plan. Unless I win the lottery. Which I don’t play.

As some will know already, I am seriously conteplating on moving out of this flat now, to a rented house, when restrictions are lifted. But I am holding off for two reasons.

1. Now is definitely not the right time to move in the next few months, because what may arise with my mum. It would be too much to handle mentally.

2. If I am going to change my plan and use a new plan in regards to buying my own home then there is no point moving into a rented one, because this may be more achievable.

So I am hoping to focus on just getting through the next 8 months to a year, counting from now. I can’t bear to think of anything longer than this. Then I will go from there

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© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. (But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated, as that is their copyright.)

Chit-chat July

So as you know, I took a blogging break. My mind was getting in a further mess of confusion. I felt overloaded, yet I wasn’t. I just couldn’t cope with how my brain was feeling of further confusion and, forgetfulness and my blog that started as therapy for me, when I first started writing this blog meant I just couldn’t be arsed to write and air what I was feeling, because it felt like too much work.
I was tired. I have been feeling tired for a long time as you know, as well as stressed. I wanted and needed to switch off. If I could have locked myself in a room for a week, or two without any form of contact, I would have done that.
It meant also not reading other people’s blogs, as well as avoiding mine. But at times, when I felt really good, I allowed myself to read the odd blog posts, liking theirs and maybe commenting. But I made sure my time was short.

So did my blogging break help?

Yes, surprisingly it did. I am still forgetful and I don’t expect this to improve, but feeling in general now to before, I feel much better, mentally. But I wasn’t expecting it to, with how I felt back then. This is my first post, since back from my blogging break.

I thank my kind readers and friends for their kind supportive comments, whether here on my blog, by email, or personally. 

Asthma

To top it off, which some of you will know already, my asthma has been very troublesome this year. It affected my sleep in the end, for nearly two weeks, because I was waking up through the night every 2 hours, or less. But the asthma (and cough) itself had been going on much longer than this, before it disrupted my sleep.
I was proper pissed off. If I wasn’t tired enough, I now had to face disruptive sleep, until asthma (cough) was more under control, as well as being pissed off and frustrated with my coughing and limits it was putting on me, because I wasn’t walking out to he extent I was before.

I have had asthma for years, but it’s never been an issue. So for the first time in all the years of having asthma, this year was the first year I can say it was a nuisance.
I have had one nurse appointment that led on to having a doctor’s appointment, as the nurse was concerned on a few things.
At this first doctor’s appointment, after examination and discussion, I was given a short course of steroids. I felt third day in on them that my chest felt lighter and by the fourth day, that night, I got my first decent nights sleep. But my cough was still a pain and gasping for breath with it. And I still wasn’t myself. I also started coughing up blood towards the weekend, so this led to me making a second appointment at my doctor’s.
At my second appointment, I was examined and we chatted. My examination shown, like at my first appointment that there were no sign of a chest infection, but because my cough was no better and because of the coughing up blood, he thought it might be worth having a short course of antibiotics. These antibiotics were a strong dose and I seen further improvement in the end. I just have the odd coughing bout now, which varies in extent, depending on weather and pollen.
I also had a chest x-ray, which turned out to be ok.

I am glad that my throat no longer feels like razor blades from coughing, but I am seeing if the rest may calm down on it’s own. If it doesn’t and I am not back to my full self, I shall go back, which if this is he case, I may have already done it by the time this post airs.

Dairy free

Before my cough got worse, I already decided I was cutting out milk and yogurt again, using soya alternatives instead.
I am also only going to have:

• dairy free butter
• dairy free ice-cream
• diary free chocolate

The dairy free chocolate I find more satisfying. The bar lasts me much longer, as I only take a few pieces at a time, where a dairy bar of the same size, I will eat all in one go.

I did this again, because I know by cutting out milk and dairy yogurt alone, the phlegm is much less in the back of my throat, or not at all mostly, when I have done this before, when I have had the phlegm problem in the past. I am not cutting dairy out for any other reason, than this.

With the asthma being much worse, as already talked about than its ever been, the phlegm in my throat felt very bad, at my worst coughing. I can’t imagine how much worser it would have felt for me, had I not cut milk and dairy yogurt out at this point.

In the past, I have done it on a temporary scale for so many months, but the above I have done now, I am doing it more permanently. But going completely dairy-free in the long run, I don’t know yet. At the moment, the completely dairy-free way, I am definitely doing for the remainder of this year and into the New Year and re-evaluate from there as to whether I continue being dairy-free, or partly.
If I don’t have soya milk in my tea, I also drink it black and I will put a teaspoon of honey in my tea a couple times a day. This was something I learnt to like, when I felt I had to cut the milk out before. So no problems in doing it again. And I can drink coffee black.

As this post airs, it will be my first day of being completely diary-free, after slowly cutting dairy off.
I already know that it gets a little bit difficult, when it comes to eating out in some places, because I already know of two places in my local area, where I won’t be eating, now I choose to be dairy-free.
Do you find it the same?

The only hardest problem I felt for me, was giving up dairy cheese. Which is surprising to say, considering I don’t eat a cheese sandwich often. But that’s not saying I don’t like dairy-free cheese, because I do, as I have ate it before personally.
I have some in the fridge ready, for when I fancy a dairy-free cheese sandwich, or toastie

Do you have dairy-free cheese?

I found a very useful book from my local library, to help me on my dairy free journey. It’s called, “How to cook for food allergies,” by Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne. This book covers more than just dairy, so ideal if you have other food allergies. I bought a second-hand copy in the end, on eBay. I will talk about this book in a post of it’s own, a little later.

Are any of my readers diary free, in their diet?

Celebratory party

I went back to where I used to volunteer for their celebratory party. 35 years they have been serving the community.
It was first time they seen me since I left and when they knew I did not stay in the other job, they were quick to ask me back, if I wanted to come back. I told them that I may be in another job I am waiting to hear from, that’s possibly temp to permanent, so couldn’t say yet what I would be doing. But if it turned out it wasn’t happening, I would come back to help, until in another morning job. As long as they don’t give me another leaving due. We laughed on that and they said they wouldn’t. But if I wanted to come back, they certainly would have me.

Budget

So I may have only been in that morning cleaning job for a short time of not quite 2 weeks, but it was enough to know whether a second cleaning job would make all the difference to my budget.
I know that it doesn’t have to be 10 hours at least a week, as I first thought. I could take on a job of at least 8 hours a week and, with that and my other cleaning job, I would be able to live on it without struggling, as well as being able to save.

DVD’s watched

• Cold Mountain
• The General’s Daughter
• The Stray, A True Dog Tale.
• Replicas (staring Keanu Reeves)
• (Re-watched) The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall
• Life
• Unbroken
• (Re-watched) A Stitch in Time
• (Re-watched) The Square Peg
• Sherlock, series 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Books

I have not read any books for some time, other than the last book I need to get back into and continue reading; “The Highly Sensitive Person,” by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D. So this month, I have read, “The Little Book of Bob – Life Lessons from a Street-wise cat,” by James Bowen, which I bought from The Works.
Then I read, “Hope Was Here,” by Joan Bauer, which I got from the library.

I look forward to seeing you back here and chatting with you. Again, thank you for your support 

There are plenty of posts scheduled here, which I hope you are looking forward to.
I hope to get back into joining in with “Fibbing Friday” and “Working on Us,” prompts too.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. (But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated, as that is their copyright.)

Frugal living – Part 7 (Hay fever medication)

This frugal living focuses on hayfever.

I have had hayfever since my teens. At my worst, I have had to not only take tablets for my hayfever, but also nasal spray and eye drops.
When I was learning to drive, I changed my hayfever tablets as suggested by my driving instructor. These tablets were the same I had been in since a teenager and I think the change to having something different did a world of good. This was because for a few years, I had no symptoms to start with, until last year a slight touch. But this year a little more, that I have had to put myself back on my nasal spray.

Now last year, because of cutbacks, it was decided hay fever medication were not to be provided by prescription on the NHS. I was lucky I could still get it when I heard others were paying.
Now moving areas, meaning new doctors and hay fever season already in season for me as I write this, I already knew last October that I would have to buy my hayfever medication this year, in preparation for when that time of year came.

Even though I am buying my own medication for my hayfever this year, doesn’t mean I have to change what I take. But I have looked around and price things up, to get it as cheap as I can for myself.

What have I learnt?

Shop around – one place may be cheaper than the other for the same thing.

Avoid brand names – brand names cost more and you can buy a shops own with the same ingredients. They work just the same.
When you buy your medication, just look at the important active ingredient in your medication. So for example, my nasal spray is Beclometasone Dipropionate nasal spray. The important thing I look for when looking around at Beclometasone Dipropionate nasal sprays, is making sure my dose says 50 micrograms on the box, for that Beclometasone Dipropionate nasal spray. I have also read in a magazine that to look at the “PL code” on the back of products, resting assured it it is the exact same product, so buy the cheapest.
I been getting my nasal spray and tablets from Boots and I have bought their own brand.
My eyes have been a little itchy, but it’s manageable at the moment. But if I feel I need to get my usual eye drops, I will be back at Boots, buying their own brand.

As tight as money is, I can’t leave off my hay fever medication.

I have tried alternatives in the past from health shops, that seamt cheaper in the past, but they don’t work for me.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

 

Frugal living – part 6

I’ve not mentioned it in a frugal post before, but I did talk about it in a post somewhere how I was planning on paying a slightly more for a different tariff for my mobile phone, so I had more internet data. I wasn’t planning on doing this until I moved to Mansfield and settled, so I could make sure I could afford, as well as still need it.
Well it turns out I did not need it, which was a good job I waited as I did, because I would not have been able to afford it now budget-wise. So keeping it as it is and using WiFi in my area I can balance my internet just right. I have only ran out once while living in Mansfield, but that’s because I got carried away looking at everyone else’s Elves on the Shelf. Lol.

Some of the places are at coffee shops where I use the WiFi, when I can afford to. Yes, it might mean buying a coffee, or something, but I’m not going out of my way to do this. For free options, there’s the library and in the town centre.

In Frugal Living – part 3 and part 5, I talked about things I wasn’t allowing myself to buy, until I ran out. Since the last frugal post, nothing much as changed. I am still not allowing myself to buy body moisturiser, because I have plenty and also received one at Christmas.
Shampoo and hand cream are on the allowed list, but only when I have run out.
Shower gel will not be needed for a while with already having one in, as well as another I had for Christmas.
My toothpaste I buy when needed and I have plenty of perfume still, so I won’t need to buy any for over a year, especially as I had some at Christmas too.

I talked in last frugal post how I hope to save in gas and electric, with living in a smaller place now. I feel at the moment I can’t compare due to issues with gas supplier when I first moved in, then changing it over to same supplier as currently electric and having issues with the electric side of things because my readings were not be used.
I then decided in the end to change supplier, due to new issues. So due to all this, time will tell in the end.

In the meantime, the spot lights in my living room and, bedroom all have LED bulbs and partly in kitchen. No plans of replacing any others with no plan of staying here now. All lights in property are spotlights. One thing I noticed when buying LED bulbs, they are not as expensive as they were just a few years ago.

Although I have changed my bulbs in the living room, I now have my lamp as you know. I use the lamp mainly, unless I am crafting in some way. The bulb in the lamp is 4 Watts and so it is cheaper to run than my main lights.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

Frugal living – part 5

I have not done anything new, than doing what I’m doing already, as discussed in past frugal posts.
I am though changing how I cut my hair. I have been using this technique originally, as shared in this post, How to trim your own long hair at home. But now, I use this technique, which you will find in the link below. There are nine variations of how to cut your hair in this link and the one I use is method seven of nine, cutting pigtails.
After using the pigtail method, the only difference I do, is I don’t bring my hair to the nape of my neck, instead, I bring it into a ponytail at the front and point scissors upwards to cut, so not a blunt straight cut on the hair length.

Nine methods of cutting your own hair

The new method I now use, I have been doing a few times now. I changed the technique because I wanted to cut my hair shorter, but using the old technique would have made layers in my hair very short. This technique prevents that and it works for me.
As my hair is wavy, I find cutting my hair wet best, for previous technique I used and the one I use now.

In Frugal Living – part 3 I talked about thing’s I wasn’t going to allow myself to buy, until I ran out. I’m on my last bottle of shampoo now, so when I have run out, I will buy another. I’m also allowing myself to buy hand cream, after running out. But this is the only moisturiser I’m allowing myself, as I still have plenty of the other.

With downsizing from a two bed house, to a one bed flat, I’m hoping to see some savings. My rent is more than before, but I still hope to see some savings when it comes to heating. So this is what I will be observing the coming months.

What have you been doing in the frugal side of things? Anything new, or are you just continuing with what you have done so far?

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

Frugal Living – part 3

A difficult month money-wise, between last post and this. My budget did not go to plan either – money I wanted to save, I ended up touching. I did end up putting some away, but not what I originally planned. I suppose I should be thankful that I did put something away, because I wasn’t expecting it to happen.

Starting to freeze my bread

I know a few of my friends do this and just take out what bread they need. I have just started doing this myself now and it makes it so much easier for me, than I realised. I wish I did this sooner. I have been careful in the past when buying bread, to reduce wastage. But doing it this way, is much easier I have discovered and I totally recommend it.

Do you freeze your bread and only take out what you need?

My monthly phone contract

I ran out of internet allowance on the final week, so I had to buy an add-on. This did not help my budget and I hope to not do this on next month’s. I do use wifi, but because of where I was and what I needed to do, I had to get one.

No more cling film

Now I have no microwave, I don’t need to buy anymore cling film, when I run out. The remainder I have, I have had since last year because I hardly used it. I don’t know how much I have left, as I have not really looked. But I would not be surprised if I still had this box next year.

What I am not allowing myself to buy

You may remember the book review I did, “The Year of Less,” by Cait Flanders. I’m using one of her tips I have not used before and that’s creating a list of items I am not allowed to buy, because I have plenty of it.

What I have banned myself from buying:

• Perfumes
• Moisturisers
• Shampoo
• Nail varnish

I meant to share this in an earlier frugal living post.

If you liked this post, you can find past frugal living posts by scrolling either to the right, or further down, depending on whether you are viewing my page from laptop, or a mobile device, clicking on frugal living, under the categories.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

Chit-chat June, with a bit of frugal living

On 19th June, after reading the Metro paper, I learnt that the ban on the sale of products that contain plastic microbeads had come into force. I am so happy to read this and it could not come soon enough. It’s been a ban that has been a long time coming. These tiny pieces of plastic affect sea life and are lethal to the sea creatures. Plastic microbeads were totally unnecessary in our products.

Walks, dvd’s and books

Like the previous month; ‘Chit-chat May,’ I had my walks out, watching dvd’s and into a couple of books, as well as my study. With the walks out in the sun, I should be ok with my vitamin D.
Speaking of vitamin D, since this post; ‘A bit of Vitamin D continued,’ I have decided to take this tablet daily all through the year, rather than just the autumn and winter months I was originally going to do.

I have chosen not to get the new album

The new album of Ben Howard; “Noonday Dream,” I was planning on buying originally, after listening to the preview samples of it on Amazon, I have chosen not to. I do not like this one, as I did when I bought the album, “Every Kingdom.”
But after coming across ‘2Cellos,’ via someones blog and looking them up further to listen more, I have bought their album, ‘Score.’ I found them relaxing to hear and surprisingly, I had the money to buy it.

Looking for that new home

I continue to bid for council properties in my chosen area as normal, but with one exception and that is my gut instinct I was ignoring, I am now listening to; an area I used to keep choosing because it regularly came up, when nowhere else did, I won’t choose anymore.
The only exception I would possibly be in this area, if the flat came up on the very outskirts in the opposite direction a couple of work colleagues walk home to and because it won’t be right central in the area, where it has known to be a bad area. But as big as this area is, choosing only that very small area on the very outskirts, it will not crop up often.
But if I had to live there, then it’s there I would feel safer, on the outskirts and where I feel my life would stay out of work, to a certain extent.

I have ignored my original plans of not looking privately. After decorating my two rooms where I currently live, I planned to stick out for this year. (Unless something came up from council.) But I have now ignored my original plans because a flat I happened to see when looking out of curiosity at what was going, appealed to me. I tried to forget about what I seen, but after two weeks of not being able to forget about it, I queried. I gave them details they required and then I viewed the one bed flat. The flat was lovely and perfect size for me, but because the shared entrance was dusty and musty, it affected my asthma.
I also know that for my money, I would get a better flat one day than that one, so I will be patient and keep looking. I know finding one will happen one day, but I won’t rush when it comes private. Since looking at that one, I will have a 2 months break of not looking private, then after that, depending, it may work out where I will stick it out. But it doesn’t mean I won’t look now and again. 🙂

Job interview I had

I talked about in ‘Chit-chat May,’ how I had a job interview. I was not impressed with it, so I had gone to the interview in looking forward to possibly working for them, but left because I had mixed feelings about the whole thing and a concern. I won’t go into detail here of my interview and exactly what happened, but it is not the first time I have had an interview with the same large company. The difference is, because of where my job would have been, means a different place where interview was held and different people doing it. But it still lead down to the same thing and feelings. I did not get the job in the end, but I wouldn’t have accepted. I did get feedback from my interview, that I shall take on board because I know I did not do well in the interview.  The feedback ended on a positive note how they would like me to apply for certain jobs, so I emailed a couple of questions I originally had, which they answered back to, but I doubt I will apply for anymore with them.  I continue to look elsewhere, while having email alerts for any jobs that may come up with the company I currently work for.

Study

I have passed my second assignment and looking at questions for assignment three, I know I won’t have any problems completing. All I need to do is sit down and get stuck in, reminding myself why I am doing this course.

I sold my cat carrier and Casio keyboard

I am not in a situation to have a cat and it will be a long time before I am, but I am also realising that if I was in a situation where I could, I don’t plan to have another cat. I’m not saying never, but it could be a good few years, even when I am in the right situation. I am enjoying the freedom of going out when I can, without the guilt of leaving a cat home alone and no, I have no plans to have two cats. So I sold my cat carrier, as there was no point holding onto it for many many years, with the possibility of never having another.
But this won’t mean by not having a cat myself, I won’t think of cats. I would like to still help Cats Protection where I had Miley from and where I would have future cats from, when I can, by donating things that will be useful to them, like cat food for example.

I also sold my Casio keyboard, for cash to put to other things, when in the end I did not use it much. It was better selling for cash than keeping. I have space too, where I originally had it and feel relaxed by seeing that space.

I’m also selling one of my small bookcases, just to shrink a little bit more in furniture, with knowing how small some flats can be, from ones I have viewed on in the past.
It’s an oak effect bookcase, with extra deep shelves. I bought this originally from Argos some years ago, so for any friends who live near me, if you would like this, or know someone who would like one, I am currently selling it for £5. Buyer to collect.

A special month

This month as been a particular special month for me. I finally got to meet up with a couple who I have not seen for many years since they retired. Although we email occasionally and keep in touch since they retired from the old work place I once worked at, I have not seen them for many years. Finally, we met up and chatted over a cuppa and we hope to do it again. They are a lovely couple, who I will never forget.

Frugal living – Money

As I mentioned in “Frugal living – part 1,” I had to change the way I shop. (See that post for more, which when you are on that post, scroll down to “Changing the way I shop.”) This topic now follows on from that.
When it comes to money, although I have got by, I want to save, without dipping into my savings every month. So although I do budget and I write every month my income and outgoings in a book, it was time to re-evaluate, to see if there is a chance to save something every month.
Although I was strict with my budget when it came to bills and put some savings away where I could, after this, the spending on groceries and going out, I was relaxed on. I have been relaxed with this part the last couple of years or three, because just for once, I wanted to enjoy myself and not think about this part. But things now have to change, because due to my savings and how my hours go up and down, I cannot rely on council tax benefit or housing benefit. Currently, I have no help with council tax and only a small help on housing benefit, so I never count this part, because I cannot rely on it.
Now last month, I was able to save more than I expected and I did not touch any savings. But this was due to back pay with hourly rate going up and also a fair bit of overtime I did.
This months pay is different and I could see I will have had to juggle and I thought I would not be able to put anything in my savings this month, but I have, hence i was able to buy the album I mentioned earlier in this post. Any change by the end of the month from my ‘groceries and going out’ budget, also gets put away and saved.
By juggling, I won’t need to touch my savings and things will be tighter than expected, because I am counting for every single pound and penny again.
I am going to have to be inventive when it comes to going out. This is nothing new, it’s I just have not done this since my early 30’s. So this month and the following months are going to be different.
When I choose to go out this month, it will be parks and packed lunches, otherwise staying at home.
Going out in a cafe this coming month is going to be only once to most twice this month, if it involves eating out and not just a drink.

I’m so glad I get help with prescriptions, dental and spectacles, but especially my prescription and dental. Had I no help here, my health would have declined.

Seeing my income and outcome is a reminder to me that it’s not just if I want to save for the holiday, but to live. But until I find that perfect morning cleaning job, I will get by as I have done so far. Until I get that other job, there will be no holiday for 5 days next year, only possibly the odd day trip. But as long as I am inventive on my local days out, I don’t see this being an issue.

And when I do get that second job, if at any point my hours were 30, or more, they’d be no way I would claim WTC again. (Working Tax Credits.) As much as this is supposed to be a benefit to help people, it can also cripple you, if you have a lot to pay back in overpayments. I thankfully only have an amount of under £50 to pay back after my DLA stopped and my hours never changed, but I know of some that have to pay thousands and with my hours now varying, I could see this easily happening to me. There is no way I would give the tax people a chance to cripple me, because of overpayments on WTC.

Frugal living –  Looking at alternatives for internet

It’s a long while before I can leave my internet contract, but as I know I will put my notice in when time comes up because of their below standard service earlier this year, I have started looking around. From looking around, I see having the internet and home phone (because there are never ones without landline,) will not be an option, because of how expensive it has become. It seems for me, the best contract is who I am now back with, with my pay as you go phone.
But until I make my full decision, this month I have been seeing if what I do when it comes to using the internet and everything else, can be achievable with my pay as you go phone. While doing this, I am seeing if it will work out more, or less than the contract I see so far that is best for me, using Wi-fi when there is one.
I started this challenge on the first of this month and it will end tonight, so some of my posts have been created from my phone, as well as when I have either left comments on my blog posts, or when I read other people’s blogs. So if you have spotted some weird typos, before I spot them, then this is why.
As this post airs, I already know what the results are for me and it turns out contract is way to go.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.

Frugal living – part 1

So since this post, ‘Frugal living,’ how have I been getting on? As well as what I do already I mentioned in first above post, I have also:
Bought no food bags since running out, which I was practically nil when I written the above post originally and just use my Tupperware containers for my packed lunches.

My socks that have been wearing out, have really been wearing out to the extent that it wasn’t worth me sewing them I felt.

I still use the baking soda and vinegar for cleaning my oven, but for nothing else, like the bathroom for example, which I still like to use my usual cleaner for that. I know from how well my oven looks, that cleaning the bathroom would look good to with this method, but I am happy and find I a convenience to use my usual method for those.

I continue to save glass jars that will be a replacement for my plastic Tupperware containers when they wear out.

I have reused a few empty toilet cardboard rolls for storing my electrical leads, usb leads etc.. in.
In the past, I have created toys for my pet cats I have owned and I have filled them with compost and grown plants from seeds in them, transferring them directly in the garden when ready, as they compost down.
For further ideas what you can do with the empty cardboard rolls, take a look here in, ‘Natural Living Ideas,’ which will take you directly to their post for further inspiration.

I have washed out a couple of empty Soya milk cartons and filled them to about three-quarters full of water, to fill empty spaces in my freezer. As you know, keeping our freezer filled up helps us to save energy, so me doing this, than buying food to fill the space was saving even more money for me.

As you know from a past post, I recycled an empty sesame oil bottle to stand my fake flowers in.

I reused some empty yogurt pots, a margarine tub and an empty powdered milk container as temporary pots to grow my Forget-me-nots in.

I have one liquid soap bottle left for my kitchen, but I plan to use bar soap as I do already in the bathroom, as it lasts longer and so it will save me money. When this last liquid soap container is empty, I will save the container, in case I get shower gel for Christmas. (I don’t have a shower, only a bath where I currently live.) If I do, the shower gel will be emptied into this empty hand soap container and I will use it as handwash, as I have done before in the past.

I may share more in further posts, if I do anything more different, hence I have put part 1 in the post title, in case this topic grows.

Microfibre cloths

I already use microfibre cloths when I damp dust, or other cleaning in my home, but I now have bought more, some months ago, as dish cloths. (Particular colours and designs, so I recognise it is just for this job.) So when the others have gone, that only last so long before you can throw them away, these will go in the place and then when they look grubby, they can be washed and re-used, saving money.

Changing the way I shop

Due to a tighter budget, (a little more of this will appear in Chit chat – June post,) I have to change the way I shop.
Every couple of months, or three, I used to do an online shop for the month and have it delivered to my door and in between this, just get the odd extras where needed, like milk, fruit etc… Having it delivered was especially handy when it came to cat litter and cat food. But now as I have no cat and because my monthly budget has to be less than before, it means it is not viable for me to shop online because of the minimum spend you have to make to have your shopping delivered. So I am back to walking into stores 100% and carrying my own shopping.
I am personally looking forward to my monthly budget challenge when it comes to my groceries and going out. One part of me says I won’t be able to do it, but the other is saying, I am going to enjoy the challenge. 🙂

And not forgetting…

I still continue to trim my own hair, after coming across this clip to show you how. This post will tell you more, if you have not seen it already: “How to trim your own long hair at home.”

Share your ideas

Share your ideas of what you do, as part of frugal living, in the comments of this post. It doesn’t matter how big, or small you do it, because every little bit helps your own finances, as well as the environment.

 

© Elizabeth Fisher and My Wellbeing and Learning Journey.

Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to My Wellbeing and Learning Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Guest Posts that feature on my blog are not allowed at all to be duplicated.