I Rattle!

I have had a headache since Monday, today is Thursday. It is not fun.

Not a migraine, just a dull ache that starts at the back of the neck in the morning, and slowly investigates the rest of the skull during the day. I have taken paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen, they work for a limited time.

Sitting hunched over a PC clutching a phone between shoulder and ear whilst listening to people bemoan the state of the economy, does not help.

Whinge over...

The result of this headache, is that I have got home every evening this week and done nothing. Yesterday, I sorted out the ironing then went to bed. If I was an American, I would say "It sucks" as I am not "This is just irritating, what what" :o)

I have restocked on bread, making two loaves on Tuesday.

I really wanted this week to cut out my new dress for work, look everything is ready to get started.

I love this fabric and think it will make a beautiful dress. Hopefully this weekend I can get started.

On the plus side it has been a low spend week, £3.80 spent since Monday not including petrol. Which is very helpful as the bank balance is starting to look a little low since paying for the car tax.

I visited my parents this evening on the way home from work. They are going off on holiday tomorrow, so I will not see my Mum on Mothers Day. I dropped off her card and we had a nice chat. I really miss them when they go away.

She took the opportunity to empty the fridge of fresh produce, so I have come away with 'free' goods. A pointed cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber. All destined for the bin. Brilliant!

Looking forward to the weekend, and spending some time on my hobbies. I want to cut out the new dress, go to the library, and order the book for April's Book Club. All very pedestrian, but I enjoy it and now in my 30s, stuff it I like my pursuits. I get a lot of pleasure from them. My work is not my life, it merely facilitates my other interests.

What do you get pleasure from?

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Library Visits and Bread Again!

Well Hello again! How are you?
I am brilliant thanks! Had a great weekend and pretty low spend too.
The Chap and I ate at his on Friday night and he took me out for dinner on Sunday, yum - though I did get the drinks before that we shared with some good friends of mine.

To be fair we normally take it in turns to pay for dinner but it had been a while since we had been out just the two of us. Oh, it was lovely!

Saturday I took myself off to my nearest town. Normally, I avoid town centres on a Saturday. Having no money to spend puts me off. Plus, I might spy something I really want, so removing myself from such situations is best.
But, this Saturday I had my expenses cheque to pay in. Well, if that is not a reason to run to your nearest bank I do not know what is!
So I took the opportunity to go the library too and look at what I got out.

Your local library is such a great resource it never ceases to amaze me that I am the only person I know who goes. What a waste to just keep buying books. If I do use my library cookery book in the kitchen, well I just put it inside a clear plastic bag to keep it clean or cover it in cling film...simples!

Unfortunately talking books are £1.50 each for 3 weeks, but I do love having something other than the radio playing in the car so it is a nice treat.

The book is to get some ideas on other breads to try baking. I made some more loaves on Sunday, so still no supermarket bread brought since I decided to give up mass produced loaves until the end of March. So far so good. Plus my costing suggests each loaf I bake comes in at 35p /loaf. And, no horrid additives.

Whilst the oven was on I decided to use up 2 old bananas I had left over from work last week and made 2 loaves of banana bread too. Thrifty as all the ingredients were in the cupboard plus I bunged everything in together thus saving on electricity too.

I thought if honest the banana bread was a little over cooked, but obviously my work colleagues did not agree as 1 loaf got hoovered up by 2pm and there was only 3 in the office today! :o)

They look okay don't they?

I am getting excited currently as it is pay day later this week and I have been organising my budget and what I can pay off - more on that later this week.

The new door is in hand too though I did find out that even though I own my flat the Housing Association who I pay my service charge to insist I have to ask permission before commencing the work. Oh and they charge a fee for that...... £60!!!!!!!!!!!!! I currently have a complaint about the fee outstanding and am digging out a copy of my leasehold to check if they can do this. Even Robin Hood wore a mask! So cross on Friday when I found out.

I have a friend and her 2 yo son down this weekend so currently getting ready for them coming. Entertaining on a budget should be fun. So I am writing a shopping list ready for pay day and planning the meals in advance. I have £4ish left on Feb's budget but really can probably get away with buying nothing else until - Thurs / Friday. But the food budget will have to be extended I am thinking £80 - 100 for the month with a large proportion being spent to restock this week, then only perishables going forward until the end of March.

It has been another week of no food waste which pleases me no end.

Tomorrow - Dentist £30, Evening Course - £15 and Avon Order £5.50. But the afternoon off work... Priceless!

This month is right down the wire financially, after paying for all this lot there is well I think the correct term in "Bugger All" left in the current account so Wednesday is going to have to be .No Spend Day. Lets hope the salary does not arrive a day late again.

Have a great week folks, and remember we may not be rich, but at least we CAN sleep at night.

Frugally Yours.
Abigail
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