There was some income........
In the workshop I found some bits of copper pipe, about a dozen, some 5 foot long and a few less than a foot long and also a small roll of lead. I could have cleared them out by taking them to the Household Waste Recycling centre but decided to take them to the big Scrap metal place where we used to take stuff from the smallholding. I'm glad I did because it put nearly £27 into the bank.
The ring that was too chunky for me that went into a higher value jewellery sale in April netted me over £70.
Almost two years on from his passing away the final money from Colin's Dad's will arrived - all a good help for me until state pension time.
The expenses this month have included all the usual stuff......food for me and the cat, diesel for the car, charity, phones and broadband direct debits.
Then I had to spend out on ......
- more peanuts and fat balls for the birds - bird feeding costs a fortune, but how do you stop once you've started? and hopefully I'll never have to.
- another 500 litres of heating oil at the beginning of the month when the weather turned chilly again and I don't like the tank getting too low.
- The TV Licence (and please don't say it's not a "have to" spend- it is for me!)
-Extra food for family weekend
- Hotter shoes for summer - replacing ones that had got very tatty over the last two years - I was really pleased they had done some prettier shoes in their wider fitting.
The things that money was spent on that technically (but only technically!) weren't needed....................
- I promptly spent the scrap money on a ticket for The Suffolk Agricultural Show! Made sure to decide early enough this year to get an early bird ticket. Last year, because of everything that happened, I couldn't make up my mind to go or not and ended up missing the cheapest offer.
- And while I was spending on tickets I bought a ticket for one of the presentations at the Felixstowe book festival too. I did two last year and would have gone to one or two more this year but there was nothing else I fancied.
- 4 elder saplings to make up for the one the neighbours cut down in the lane
- dressing up/fancy dress clothes, books and toys for grandchildren
- a tunic top in the Morrisons sale and a long summer dress from a charity shop ( comments by kids - "haven't seen you in a dress for years -except at weddings and funerals!") plus a cardigan from a charity shop.
- and some jeggings that actually fit me from Asda ( usually jeans that fit my thighs and bum are miles too big round the waist and tum - Oh Poetry!) ( For someone who doesn't spend much on new clothes this was a big spree.)
- A book for my birthday
- edible Easter pressies for the family
- A takeaway Chinese meal when Eldest was here
Was there anything at all that could actually count as frugal?
No..................... apart from using my Morrisons More £5 voucher and finding the cheap printer ink.
The usual things like free library books
Rhubarb and chives and two servings of asparagus from the garden.
Could be classed as a very un-frugal month I think............Ho Hum.
Still clearing out..........
- The scrap mentioned above
- A couple more bits of rubbish from the workshop into the bin
- A box of car light bulbs and fuses to Col's brother
- A couple of old Hi- Viz jackets into the bin
- Old panniers off my bike into the dustbin
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Sounds pretty frugal to me! I love buying early tickets for whatever - that way you get the "free gift" of anticipation which often gives me almost as much pleasure as the event itself. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI was cross with myself dithering last year and missing the early bird tickets for the Suffolk show. So save a fiver this year
DeleteIt sounds like a very good month in lots of ways, good for you! I also reckon TV is a must-have when you are by yourself. It is entertainment and it is company, both very important.
ReplyDeletexx
I like quizzes to keep the brain active and some sport stuff. Keeping an eye on the snooker this week
DeleteA pretty good month I think. We have packed up some items to Ziffit after reading about you doing so.
ReplyDeleteI reckon it's quite an easy way of clearing out books, just packing labelling and taking to a collect + place is simplest for me
DeleteI love your new shoes pleased you treated yourself.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your post you are so happy in your way of coping.
Enjoy your day Sue.
Hazel c uk
Thank you Hazel, that's a lovely comment. I try to keep positive
DeleteIt might not be what some folk would call a 'frugal month' ... but it seems like a well balanced month. And keeping tabs on what goes in and what goes out is all that's needed to stop an escalation of spending.
ReplyDeleteWow, it took a long time for Colin's dad's money to come through, I bet if it had been a debt that needed to be repaid it would have demanded a long time ago!
The solicitors were waiting on something to do with land registry for BiL's house to see if any more bills were due.
DeleteYou always keep within your means and that is always a plus point. If you didn't buy from charity shops and boot sales the figures for the things you buy would be a lot more.
ReplyDeleteOh Sue, how I wish we lived closer I would love a good rummage in your workshop - sometimes we just need odd bits and pieces like a bit of lead or a short piece of pipe and then we have to buy a whole length or roll - we would pay you handsomely too and take it away!
I have a big dilemma of the best way to sell the workshop stuff - tools and things that might come in handy -
DeleteIn Huddersfield we have the Christian African Relief trust charity that is purely run by volunteers, no government grants, and they are always wanting old hand tools to send to third world countries that other people don't use now since power tools are more popular but I don't think they have other branches.
DeleteLove those shoes Sue,as you say it’s good that Hotter now do some of the prettier ones in wider fittings
ReplyDeleteThey do tend to have only the most boring colours in the wider size so I was pleased with these.
DeleteI will never criticise you for your television licence fee! I agree, for some of us it's a necessity, although I question myself over my own need as, apparently, if you use catch up you don't need one. However, even though I don't personally think much of what is on offer {installed Freeview only that came with the telly} I like to have it on just for company in the room. I suspect you are the same?
ReplyDeleteI like quizzes and some sports and crime of course and just discovered Line of Duty in only it's 5th season.
DeleteIf you watch Catch-up or BBC Iplayer you do need a TV licence.
DeleteI think you did pretty well this month. A very balanced approach to spending with some definite wins in selling off a few items.
ReplyDeleteI laughed about the dress comment. My children would have the same reaction to yours should they ever see me in one.
I haven't had a long summery type dress since I was about 20!
DeleteI think you have been darn frugal. Really one needs some fun things as well.
ReplyDeleteTV is probably one of my sources of daily entertainment (watch while I mend, sew, knit)and a window onto the world. Really very frugal as how much would it cost to go to the theater????
God bless.
I'm still happily spending..........carefully!
DeleteAll looks good to me. Really must get with that Ziffit but I am going to have to sneak past the DP.
ReplyDeleteYou seem very frugal and that means you can spend on the things that are important to you and give you joy. Feeding the birds gives a lot of pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the bird feeding thing, Sue. Once you start, that's it! At the moment, with all the babies to fed, they're eating me out of house and home! I only stocked up at the rspb shop a week ago and had to buy more mealworms, suet pellets and seed today from b&q.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me you are living very well within your means. When you spend, you spend on things that are important to you. I agree about the price of feeding the birds, but it's something we love to do, and the birds bring us so much pleasure. I just found suet pellets on sale in the store where I buy my dog food, and it really made my day!
ReplyDeleteAll my dress shoes are from "Hotter" as I too need the wide-width option - I will have to look at the new options!
ReplyDeleteI too could cut back on my Cable TV payment but while I can afford it I'll keep it (but I do check for any new options each year).
You're right! Feeding the birds can be expensive! I wish the weather would get a little better as they seem to eat less. It's been so horrible here I think they are all worried and eating far more than usual. I would feel bad if I stopped now, besides when the weather's bad they make good entertainment for me. Perhaps I shall write off their expensive to entertainment lol. Heating here has been an extra expense this month. Usually by now the heating is off more than it's on, but not this year!
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