Sick Saturday

Oh dear this is not how I wanted my Saturday to be.  I don't feel well! 

I was fine this morning, I got up and went to get my hair done, no problem.  I have come home and made some lunch with bits & pieces laying around (used up some tomatoes, mushrooms, a tin of beans and a few hash browns) and did some chores.  Then about 2 hours ago I started to feel a bit dodgy.  I just feel a bit woozy and a little bit sick with a slightly sore tummy.  I really wanted to walk down to a local shop to get some lovely incense sticks they sell but I couldn't even face that.

I took two paracetamol earlier and catnapped for 30 minutes which has helped a bit but I don't feel 100%.  Hopefully it is nothing that will spill over into tomorrow and definitely not Monday as that is the proper start of my week off and if I am sick I will be really p'd off!

Sara if you are reading this & didn't spot it, I replied to your comment from yesterday about your DD.  She needs to take action - don't let him get away with it and her health has to come first as I am sure you have told her. 

So, I have not done too much today, just had my hair sorted out, cleaned the kitchen down, cleaned the bathroom, done three loads of washing which I have been able to line dry (hooray!), cooked a lunch/washed up and snoozed on the sofa!  Also drank copious amounts of comforting tea.

The little electrical gadget that tells us if we've used a lot of electricity has a sad face on today what with all the washing, kettle boiling & use of the oven/grill.  I get the feeling I won't have driven down the electric bill this month what with all the rain as I have had to use the tumble dryer recently.  I'll be submitting a reading in the next week or so, so I shall have an idea then. 

Well I think it may be time to use a few more pennies and make another hot drink, I am craving them at the moment.  And before anyone says anything about 'cravings' and feeling a bit sick, no it is not because I'm pregnant!  Definitely not! 

I hope everyone else is feeling much better than I am and has had a nice day so far.  Bye for now.
x

It's Here...It's Here!

The weekend is here!  And my week off follows!  And I have a bottle of chilled wine!  Does it get much better?  Actually it does as hubby treated me to a king size Twix!  My God the excitement.

Hello and welcome Sara, thank you for following and I'll look forward to reading your comments too (as I will everyone's).  Honesty.....I have it in abundance which is mostly good.....sometimes maybe not so good but I'll always try and be subtle if I need to be.  I think you know what I'm saying.  (We've all got a friend who has made strange wardrobe choices for instance....)

Thanks everybody on the job congratulations.  I am still so happy and I feel like even now I am starting to get 'me' back. At work today I was able to just get on with it thinking "This is not forever...I will be moving on!" and I was at peace.

I have been spoken to twice now to see if they can change my mind about leaving.  I don't blame them for trying and I guess I'd be insulted a little if they didn't bother to even ask but the answer is no anyhow.  Within the core of me I feel this is a great move and I will remain positive.  I don't want to build my hopes up too much but I want to go in with an open mind and not be thinking that it'll probably be awful just like the last two jobs were (well the last one for sure).  But I definitely feel like this is a good change of direction and I just want to hang onto that.

Hubby was able to contribute more towards the house this month as his wages were a bit more than usual due to some overtime so that was a nice surprise today.  All in all it's been a good day and even the pelting rain can't dampen my mood.

My God what a turn around in a week eh? 

So what are your plans for the weekend then?  Are you up to anything exciting or just relaxing in a frugal way?  I am off to get my hair cut & coloured tomorrow which is a treat but I am not ready to go grey yet.  I get it done at someone's house which is very much cheaper than a salon but certainly more expensive than doing it myself.  However there's no way I could attempt to cut my crazy hair and a home dye kit would literally make it die.  I am jealous of people who can do their own but for me it's just not an option.  But what I spend is still pretty cheap considering and it's money well spent.

I think we'll be staying in tomorrow with another film which is fine by me as I have all next week to go out & about it I want to.  I have already set up a few meetings with friends which will be lovely to catch up and won't be expensive as I will drive rather than drink/taxi. 

My social side has been 'unwrapped' this week...I am definitely in the mood for fun with my friends!  But unlike years ago, it'll be done on the frugal side.  The old (young!) me would've booked us a table in a restaurant for a three course meal, bought wine, got taxis there & back, maybe even tried to talk a friend into taking some time off as well and going off somewhere for a night for a laugh! 

Hmmmm so why was it you got in debt then Mrs?  Lessons learned!  But hey at least I have had some fun and at least I can continue to...but it'll just be fun on a budget!

And Now...For The Good News!

Well that new blouse turned out to be a lucky blouse didn't it?  Yipeeeeeeeeee I got offered the job!  I had to keep pinching myself last night to make sure I wasn't dreaming.  I was ecstatic!

I called my current boss pretty much straight away to tell him - I had to because the new employers will be contacting him for a reference before they put the offer in writing but verbally it's been offered.  Current boss slightly gutted but understanding.  We had a chat today as well and I was able to tell him (again) why I was unhappy and no, I wasn't going to be talked out of leaving.

So I am soooooooooooo happy knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel now! 

I really want this to be the start of a fantastic new chapter in my working life and I would dearly love to be there for years - even for the rest of my working life, that would be great.  I have had so many jobs in the 24 years I have been working that I swear if I stayed in this new one for the rest of my working life I would probably still have had more jobs than a lot of people do in a lifetime!

I love that blouse.  From now on that blouse is my lucky charm, haha.

So that is my good news.  And on top of that it is Friday tomorrow, I have a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge (yep, naughty but I bought it to celebrate!) and double yipeeee I am on holiday next week.  Sweet.

Finally, hello & welcome to Anne, thank you for stopping by & reading and deciding to follow my blog

Here's hoping you all have a good evening and enjoy the countdown to the weekend.

x

Best Laid Plans.....Go To Pot!

Well all the intentions were there for today!  Unfortunately it all went down the toilet.

So, first off, apparently no rain forecast for my area for TWO WHOLE DAYS so yipeeee I think, I can get a load of washing ready to be put on later when hubby comes home and he can also put it out when it's finished.  And it had to go on as he needed work uniform washing.

So at about 1pm it starts to chuck it down doesn't it?  And does it stop?  Does it 'eck!  It absolutely threw it down for hours...thunder....lightening....local flooding......no rain for two days my arse! 

So hubby puts tumble dryer on to get all the clothes dry.  Which is bad enough as it is but when I get home I find out he's tumble dried four of my tops that shouldn't even look at a tumble dryer let alone go in it!  ARRGGHHHH!!

I think one of them may have shrunk but I won't know till I put it on as it is a 'gathered' kind of hemline.  I can't face trying it on yet.  I've only worn it one weekend since I bought it.  If I put it on and it reveals my belly button I think I'll cry!  The other three I think are just about ok.  I told hubby to just leave my stuff alone in the future and leave it in the washing machine if he has to and I'll sort it out myself as he seems incapable of reading a laundry care label (this is not the first time such a thing has happened). 

Anyway my other plan was to leave work and go straight to shops for the weekly groceries.  Wrong!

Due to all the rain, the car park of my works was heaving trying to get out - complete chaos and it took my twenty minutes just to get out and onto the main road.  It was lashing it down again and I just wanted to get home as I had no coat with me and peep toe shoes on.  Not conducive to flooded car parks and crazy weather.  So I phoned hubby (whilst still stationary I must stress!) and asked him to pop over the road to the local (equals expensive) shop for just the bits we needed to get us through a simple meal tonight (an onion, some mushrooms and a courgette) and I would pop back out later for the main shop.

So he does go out bless him and comes back with a pack of three of onions & courgettes and a punnet of mushrooms (and biscuits!).....spending about £3 more than he had to when our budget for the rest of this week is only £15 anyway.  ARRRGGGHHH!  I didn't say anything though, it wasn't his fault as it's all they had but how annoying when you're trying to just keep the spending down?

So I had dinner then popped to the nearest supermarket where I bought as many 'basic' items as I could and I also picked up some reduced new potatoes which helped but still spent £11.10.  Which would be fine if I didn't have to pick up more fresh bits on Friday to see us over the weekend and early next week.  That'll be at least another £5 I think. 

So budget blown and weather ruined laundry/no tumble dryer plans!  Well done Met Office for predicting that.  I wish they'd just give up and tell us the forecast for the next half hour if that's all they can do successfully!

Right time to chill out I think and 'let it all go'.  Tomorrow is another day and let's hope for better and some good news on the job front maybe?

Now....where's my cuppa?

Have a great evening! x

Proud To Have Got This Far Today....

Well now, today was the day I finally got to wear that blouse I purchased, for my interview!  And I am happy to say I feel it went quite well.  Oh and I saw two people check out my blouse too!  (Didn't tell you it was smart but eye catching did I?)

I found out that between 50 - 60 people had applied for the job and only 8 people were invited in for interview, of which I was first in.  So, although I really want the job and don't get me wrong I will be bitterly disappointed if I don't get it, I feel fairly proud of myself for even making it through the door.

I was interviewed by a panel of three people who all threw various questions at me.  I couldn't answer all the questions but I was honest where appropriate as nothing worse than a blagger!  And they did say at the beginning not to worry if you couldn't answer them all.

Afterwards I was shown around the campus by someone else - which I think was a bit of an exercise on their part to see what sort of person I was, did I chat, was I approachable that sort of thing and without wanting to get my hopes up I do feel that went really well too.

I should know this week and if I don't get it, because it is the NHS they said they would be obliged to give feedback.  So that will be useful for future applications there or elsewhere.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me!  I feel so excited about having a chance to work for an organisation where my hard work ultimately goes into helping human beings rather than just making someone rich, even richer.  So now I wait......hopefully I should know Wednesday/Thursday.

In the meantime my challenge is to see us through the next week with a food budget of £15 and half a tank of petrol in my 1100cc car (it's about 14 litres of fuel!) has got to get me as close to 3rd August as possible which is when next the credit card statement cuts in.  Absolutely no chance of eking it out that long but I am rationing car journeys until the end of the month and at least making sure I can combine journeys where possible i.e. tomorrow I will go grocery shopping after work on the way home rather than coming home, having dinner and then going out again.  I know I know I should be doing that anyway huh?

I try and set myself a budget for food & fuel for the month and I pay off my credit card bill in full every time but I use it for everything possible to collect Air Miles.  You have to be filthy rich I think and booking lots of your own travel to make the Air Miles really work for you but I thought I would give it a go to at least try and get something for the money I would spend anyway.   I am determined to get at least something out of it at least once!  After that I think I'll 'tart' it for something that offers something a bit more realistic even if it is a small amount of cash back!

Yesterday I did an inventory of the food we have in the house and we have quite a few tinned items and some frozen stuff - enough to get us through this week and probably next week, supplemented with fresh veg/potatoes for mash and some fruit.  I have £15 for this week and £15 for next week, plus some Nectar points I can use if I have to because I really don't want to spend more than that £30 combined.  I'd really like to try and save the Nectar points for Christmas time though.  I have been collecting quite a few through British Gas as I they offer them for submitting your meter readings online and seems I do that monthly for gas & electric I have accumulated a fair amount.

However I am changing energy suppliers.  As soon as British Gas announced their latest hikes I went onto USwitch via QuidCo and changed to the best I could find for my area (Atlantic) and earned £22 from them and hopefully will save money with the cheaper tariff too, later in the year when it switches over.

I have been continuing with the short bursts of water in the shower to keep the gas boiler from firing and have started to wash my hair bent over the bath very quickly, massaging the conditioner in and pinning it up/leaving it to soak into my very dry hair whilst I then hop in for the good old scrub down!  I feel much better about the resources I am using, doing it this way.  Just over a week till I can submit latest meter readings and we'll see how I have done.  Hoping for £18 or less for the gas and £24 or less for the electric.  Feeling a bit gloomy about the electric as have had to use tumble drier once or twice in the last week due to the massive amounts of rain we've had however the forecast looks dry for the next couple of days so a good 'load' of washing will be going on tomorrow to be dried outside that's for sure.

I am off work next week (hurrah!) in which I will be either celebrating a new job offer or commiserating with some economy biscuits and a cup of tea whilst enjoying free exercise and as many frugal activities as possible to enjoy my week's absence from the office.

What are your frugal fun ideas for a week off work?  Happy to read any suggestions!

Oh Dear....

So just when I was getting a bit of a handle on things and trying not to get too het up about my job, things ramp up a gear in terms of stress.  It's like an obstacle course on a daily basis with new hazards hurled in to trip you up. 

I can't bear it much longer.  I noticed how stressed I was driving home when I realised how clenched my teeth were, how hard the grip was on my steering wheel and how completely ridiculous it was to yell "FAAAAAAAARK!!" just because I didn't make it past the amber lights in time!  That's on top of having to put the phone down on someone earlier in the day who just wasn't listening to me and refused to put me through to someone else and the unmentionable words stropped out on a regular basis throughout the day.  My shoulders ache constantly as I am so tense. 

I'm well & truly fed up and have had enough.

I know some of you will say "Talk to your Manager!" - believe me I have.  He's in the same boat.  The issues go deep.  The issues in my opinion are streamed down the chain.  Attitudes of those on high leave me incredulous at times and when it comes from Director level....where do you go from there?  That's right, job websites.  But as we all know we're fighting over not many decent jobs right now.

Trouble is I am not sure how long I can take it before I start seeing detrimental effects on my health both physical and mental.  I put some music on my Media Player earlier....a great dance track from a few years ago (way before this job) and you know how music can just transport you back?  Well it did, and the feeling was amazing.  It was like a mini 3 minute holiday!  It shocked me because I recognised this feeling........it was called cheerfulness.

Wish me luck for my upcoming interview.  I need to get out of where I am for sanity's sake!

Anyway, tomorrow is Friday.  That deserves a smile at least, no?

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a fantastic weekend.
x

HOW much?

I wish I had space for an apple tree!

Popped out tonight to local Tesco for some fresh bits & bobs to see us through the rest of the week & Saturday.  Hubby added a few extra bits to the list and I also remembered I needed to buy a card for a wedding (as I am yet to discover my inner creative crafty Goddess on the card making front....best I get in touch with her soon eh?) so the budget I'd set went out the window.

I am in shock at the price of apples!  I know we're not in our own season yet but even so.....flippin' 'eck!  It makes you think twice about even bothering but I am not at the stage yet where I want my semi healthy diet to go down the tubes.  I would have just bought some basics but there were none left.  I think I need to seek out somewhere else for fresh stuff as Tesco is getting ridiculously expensive for day to day items in my eyes.  Does anyone else find the same?

Any recommendations for fruit & veg gladly welcomed.  We get though apples, bananas, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, courgettes (trying to grow some of them at the moment) and some carrots & parsnips too.

We're growing some tomatoes at the moment as well but they're not ripening in a hurry!

Anyway I decided seems the budget was blown anyway that stuff it, I was going to buy us both a glass of wine anyhow so a cheapy rose and a cheapy red went in the basket and we'll have those tomorrow on our "date" on the sofa with The King's Speech.  Some basics bourbons actually did find their way into the trolley as well.....

Apart from the groceries, no other pennies spent today.  The shoes have been taken in for elastic buckle repair and will cost about £7 upon pick up.  I also need to buy some need heel grips and insoles for them but once done that'll be it for at least another year.

I'm off to update my spreadsheet!

Bye for now. x

Making Up For It On Monday!

So....today was back to work and I kept in mind that although it was going to be stressful and I'd be gagging to get home later, going to work was slightly more rewarding in that it's paying for my massive tumble off the wagon yesterday.  Well actually truth be told the money is there to pay for my shopping expedition but it means I will have to kiss good bye to some savings I had been putting away for something else but that's the whole point isn't it....you can't have it ALL.  Well you probably can but you'll be in debt quicker that you can say "Yikes! Credit card statement!".

Anyway today I've had a no spend day, not a penny, which is good.  I have also drilled down on all my direct debits to see what I could reduce or cancel and made those adjustments accordingly and after receiving an email from British Gas telling me my gas & electric are going up by 18% and 16% each, I have switched suppliers via USwitch and earned myself £22 (it's tracked already too!).

I've made a frugal menu for the rest of the week, using up whatever is possible in the house and should only need to spend between £10 - £15 on fresh fruit & veg and a few other bits for take-to-work lunches (I never buy lunch at work, EVER!).

Have planned a 'date' with my husband for Wednesday....we're going to stay in and watch a borrowed DVD together.  If I can get any bargains at the supermarket tomorrow and if there is any spare £ left over from my budget perhaps I'll sneak a couple of beers or 'one glass' wines into the trolley for us to sip on as well.  Otherwise tea & basic range chocolate bourbons it is.

Tomorrow I have to take a favourite pair of shoes to the shop for repair....completely freaky as I was only talking about them on Frugal Queen's blog the other day!  Hopefully it won't be too much to get them patched up again for another year.  I love them so much and they are irreplaceable!

Hope your Monday wasn't too bad and I hope you have a good week.

x

Erm...Sinful Sunday.....

Whoops.  I have been a very bad girl.

Let's just say I did get the interview shirt with the help of the John Lewis voucher. 

John Lewis have clearance sales on from time to time....I just happened to go in, during one. 

I'm not saying any more about it. 

Satisfying Saturday!

Well now what a lovely day I have had.  It's days like this that I am so grateful for and enjoy so much.

I got up about the time I planned and did a bit of housework before getting ready and toodled off.  I had about 30 minutes in the end before I met my friend and I only made it to one of the charity shops.  I tried on a few tops, one would have been perfect but it was too sheer.  So that went back on the rail.  I did end up with a red & white 'wrap' top from Wallis for £2.75 that has been washed already and is drying as I type!  Not exactly interview material but a lovely leisure time top and possibly a work top too where I currently work (or if I get the new job, when I am settled in a bit).

I also stumbled across a Tracy Shaw "salsacise" DVD for £2!  Now I loved dancing up until about 18 months ago and also used to do salsa a long time ago (as well as aerobic 'dancing' too) so I thought "why not?" as I really have been idle of late and my midriff is letting me know about it!

Hubby is out tonight so I put the DVD on - it was good fun and only 51 minutes long which was enough time to get a glow on and know I was working out but it was fun to do.  So I shall have to get that on at least once a week as well as trying to fit in some walking in my lunch hours and at weekends which I also enjoy once I am out there and hopefully I can nip this budding spare tyre in the bud!

Back to my day.....

Met my mate and we had lunch then walked around a little whilst chatting then ended up in a cafe where we indulged in a dessert and a cuppa.  I wasn't thinking then about my budding spare tyre obviously was I?

We were in the cafe for a good hour & half I would say (on top of about the same having lunch I'm sure!) and had a massive catch up.  We did pop to another shop but I didn't buy anything...I was tempted but I put things back on the shelf, thinking about stuff I had at home that I could use instead.

We chatted & chatted even back at our cars and probably didn't stop chatting for 5 hours!  So we clearly had a lot to talk about....

I came home and then relished the fact that I was inside just as a storm broke and enjoyed the lashing rain on the window and the claps of thunder, knowing the water butt would be full again soon as it really did pelt it down.  Perfect!

I haven't had dinner as I am still feeling full from lunch & dessert (though I might have sneaked a few Sainsburys Basics digestive biscuits with a cuppa) so that's good...saves on the oven and I can keep back what I might have used for another day.

The exercise DVD perked me right up too so in my book this has been a successful day....even if I didn't find my interview shirt.  Ah well....to the shops clutching my voucher tomorrow then!  Wish me luck.

Here's hoping you have a wonderful Sunday.

x
PS:  Mum if you are reading this, I left a comment for you on the Friday post.