I've broken so many nails this week, so glad I'm not one that cares about my nails though!
Tesco order is due, no substitutions! First time I've had that I think. Need to do a meal plan once it's all put away. I did look in the cupboard and freezer before I ordered though so I should be good to make it last. Ordered duck for Christmas as it was on offer.
I need a central heating control that has a timer built in. My current one only has a thermostat and turning it down when I was away ended up costing me money. I have had to have the heating on for much longer than I would have needed if I had been home just to get the place back up to temperature.
I need a central heating control that has a timer built in. My current one only has a thermostat and turning it down when I was away ended up costing me money. I have had to have the heating on for much longer than I would have needed if I had been home just to get the place back up to temperature.
How does that hive work? The app that you can use to set the heating.
Not that it makes any difference to me I just don't have the heating on at all.
Got all my food shopping yesterday so the freezer is full again and I'll just need little bits throughout the rest of the month.
I might go over to zero waste to see what they are giving away today.
NotASlayerIt's not even an app, just a wireless box that connects to another wired to the boiler. Set the temperature on it and the heating stays on until the temperature where the box is reaches what it's been set at.
ended up costing me money. I have had to have the heating on for much longer than I would have needed if I had been home just to get the place back up to temperature.
I have no idea about central heating cos thats not a thing here, but they do tell us its less cost/energy to keep the air con wall units going all day vs turning them on and off in hot weather.
No need to on a the second floor 😜 if downstairs has heating on, you're covered!
Its gona be an air con day today. I see a lot of articles now saying it is inhumane not to have air conditioning in rental houses. Sometimes I like that the world has gone a bit soft, its certainly more comfortable!
I didnt win lotto last night, but next week is 50 million. So I plan on winning that. I had my house picked out, but it was sold by the end of the day. So I gotta pick another one for next week. Walking distance to shops is the number 1 priority! Mum said it would be better to be out here if there is another war, but I said we'd starve to death if petrol got much more expensive. We've already run out of water a few times this year!
So, my car/home insurance has gone up $162, or 50 percent.
I have had no accidents, filed no claims and gotten no tickets.
I genuinely don't know how I am supposed to absorb the alarming rapid rising cost of living. I feel completely helpless, stressed and despondent most of the time now.
We need relief. This is not sustainable.
thrasherpixMy "favorite' is how they then gaslight us in saying the economy is getting better despite growing tent cities and mind boggling rising prices. I guess as long as we little people make sure profits remain high for those at the top then "economy good"
Ethan ReignsThe insurer is playing the game of "how long can we boil the frog before she signs up with another insurer?" Look around and see if you can get a better deal. Maybe check with an insurance broker.
So, my car/home insurance has gone up $162, or 50 percent.
I have had no accidents, filed no claims and gotten no tickets.
I genuinely don't know how I am supposed to absorb the alarming rapid rising cost of living. I feel completely helpless, stressed and despondent most of the time now.
We need relief. This is not sustainable.
I hear ya. Its incredibly stressful when there is not enough money to cover the roof over your head. It is very, very difficult and harder when no one you know (in real life) is in the same situation. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, you're doing your best. A 50% rise is a big increase, its understandable to be a shock to the system.
I know you have mentioned that you earn too much to get assistance, and you work a lot of hours, but I am wondering now in terms of food - are there any soup kitchens or similar in your area? I used to volunteer in places like this in exchange for food. More so because I lived out of the area they covered, but it did mean I got meals without no hoops to jump through, if I was a volunteer rather than guest.
There was a place in the city that does free meals via an Indian religion, I cant remember which one, but they do a lot of vegetarian stuff. They had no hoops or paperwork to do either, just turn up at lunch time and they feed everyone there. Perhaps you can google and see of there is a similar place near you?
I have also had success with church based charity. Even just for someone to chat to. Some have vouchers they can give in short term times of need outside of official documents. They have also helped me set up electricity/gas payments when I needed help with that in the city. Some companies will let you pay off bills over a longer period if you chat to them. They should have hardship programs, but only tell them the bare minimum that you need to to get onto these plans.
Its hard to know whats available to you when we're in different countries, and I know it is a LOT of work. I hope it doesn't overwhelm you, but just some ideas for another day.
I think they said it's going up by a similar about here. I'll soon find out as mine is due next month.
Thankfully I'll have a bit extra money next month as I'm working more this month. We're opening longer hours, and because of the school holidays I'll probably do a few extra days as well.
I do usually get a Christmas bonus as well, which I'll use to pay off some of my cruise, reducing that payment down. I need to check how much I have left on it. I'm hoping to have it paid off by March, then I'll just need spending money. That won't be much though, just enough for a few drinks and any gift items.
I have no idea about central heating cos thats not a thing here, but they do tell us its less cost/energy to keep the air con wall units going all day vs turning them on and off in hot weather.
It is the lack of a timer that causes problems. When the thermostat is set, the heating will maintain that temperature until it's turned down. When I am not in, that means it will likely be on 2-3 times or longer than when I am at home, if set at a normal temperature. But if I turn it down when I am away, at this time of year you then need it on longer to bring the house up to temperature again. Neither is good. The heating remotes with timers are not that expensive ("only" £100-£200 or so), but then you need someone to fit them.
So, my car/home insurance has gone up $162, or 50 percent.
I have had no accidents, filed no claims and gotten no tickets.
I genuinely don't know how I am supposed to absorb the alarming rapid rising cost of living. I feel completely helpless, stressed and despondent most of the time now.
We need relief. This is not sustainable.
This sounds like a good time to explore other companies. Assuming you don't have a horrific record many insurance companies will offer pretty good initial quotes. And when the price starts getting jacked you look for another one.
Heck, my parents threatened to go to another company and their current company lowered their rate by 20%.
I hear ya. Its incredibly stressful when there is not enough money to cover the roof over your head. It is very, very difficult and harder when no one you know (in real life) is in the same situation. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, you're doing your best. A 50% rise is a big increase, its understandable to be a shock to the system.
I know you have mentioned that you earn too much to get assistance, and you work a lot of hours, but I am wondering now in terms of food - are there any soup kitchens or similar in your area? I used to volunteer in places like this in exchange for food. More so because I lived out of the area they covered, but it did mean I got meals without no hoops to jump through, if I was a volunteer rather than guest.
There was a place in the city that does free meals via an Indian religion, I cant remember which one, but they do a lot of vegetarian stuff. They had no hoops or paperwork to do either, just turn up at lunch time and they feed everyone there. Perhaps you can google and see of there is a similar place near you?
I have also had success with church based charity. Even just for someone to chat to. Some have vouchers they can give in short term times of need outside of official documents. They have also helped me set up electricity/gas payments when I needed help with that in the city. Some companies will let you pay off bills over a longer period if you chat to them. They should have hardship programs, but only tell them the bare minimum that you need to to get onto these plans.
Its hard to know whats available to you when we're in different countries, and I know it is a LOT of work. I hope it doesn't overwhelm you, but just some ideas for another day.
Thank you for the support and for all these ideas. I know we are all struggling here but it was a real shock. I know I'm doing the best I can - constantly hustling with my side hustle, looking for new jobs daily, and also picking up any shift I can - but I'm getting more and more behind and becoming increasingly more stressed out. I've always been very independent and supported myself. It makes me feel very helpless that I can't do this now.
I feel like there is something really wrong with the way things are if a single working woman with two jobs, no kids, living a modest lifestyle AND in a low cost of living area can't pay her bills.
I've been with State Farm for a long time and am sad this is happening. I am going to look into not bundling anymore. I thought his would save me money but now I'm not so sure. I'm going to shop around and see if I can get home insurance separate from my auto. I used to use Geico for the later and loved it.
I've actually got cooking cheaply down to a science. Food isn't really the issue, I'm eating fine on about $25 a week, and also get free food at work often. But I could go to the food bank if needed. And no I don't qualify for any assistance at all. The income limit is very low here. I don't make much, but I make more than is allowed.
What I'm struggling to pay most is with my car payment and utilities. I can't refinance my car because my payments are behind. I'm narrowly keeping it out of being repossessed by borrowing money from my mother. As for my utilities, the rates have been raised twice in one year. There' is a lot of talk about it around town.
As for charity, I was referred to the Salvation Army for utility assistantance. I plan to go in there soon. The good news is I have qualified for one-time assistance from my employer, so that is a huge relief and will pay my gas bill.
Almost done with my TA application, which pays $17 an hour, and would be a Godsend. But I heard they don't do new hiring until March.
I put diesel in my car last night and it's finally under £1.50 a litre, okay it was £1.49.9 but still it feels like it's coming down in price when you don't see the 5!
I'm definitely cancelling one of my charity payments next month. It's a £5 a month one that I was mostly doing as you get heritage seeds with it, but I got the list yesterday for which seeds to try and was disappointed with the range, so I know not to bother next year.
$120 on chocolate. That is impressive 🙂
I have recently switched to more expensive chocolate to try and stop me guzzling so much cheap chocolate and see it as more of a small treat. But so far I am still eating too much chocolate and just paying more for it !
NovemberIts wasnt ALL on chocolate but it was all on junky food! Haha. I know i eat less dark chocolate... But that is not what I got lol
Got the results from the last few saving sessions, on average I'm getting £1.20 per session. Not a huge amount but it's a little extra credit for next year's energy bills.
I might clean out the air fryer today and then bake some brownies. I need to do a meal plan as well.
Rent inspection did not go well. I do need to be scrubbing the mould on the ceiling back with a broom. Also gotta use weed killer on a bunch of dandelions (i figured summer would kill them, but not fast enough obvs) and gotta replace the front gate and fix the back gate. Also need to trim back a few big trees somehow. Not sure how I will do it all, but Im sure I can manage the scrubbing now because Instagram heard the email and gave me a bunch of Vietnamese reels where they scrub their whole house with a broom. I can do that.
I am planning to go to the coast/city this weekend for an assembly thing, can get groceries while I am down there although I am not keen to tackle Aldi on a Saturday so will probably go get ripped off at Woolies instead. Might go for takeaway or junk stuff so Im not wasting so much energy on cooking and cleaning and can get more gardening done.
Won $17.70 on lotto tonight. So next weeks $70million is mine!
Well, I spent an hour on the phone yesterday with my auto loan lender and we have worked out a payment plan that will save my truck from getting repossessed, so that's a relief. Making the payments will be very hard though. And I can't miss one or the plan is void. Once I'm caught up, I'm hoping to radiance and lower my payment to make it more manageable.
I'm still applying for jobs and have got only one callback, and it was for a bar back job, which woudl definitely be going backwards for me but it's something I guess.
Pretty burnt out, stressed and tired. Planning to spend tomorrow at home, making some curry in my crockpot, cleaning my house and doing some minor repairs. Then watching some more Buffy in the evening. I'm hoping to have enough energy to tackle racking some leaves too, but we'll see how I feel.
Though everything is really expensive at least gas is pretty low here now, only $2.45/gallon. That's the lowest I can seen it since I moved here to Oklahoma last October.
Had another energy saving session last night, but won't get results for a few days yet. Hopefully it'll be another £1 or more.
Just did the sums and once again I'm going to have to dip into the pot to pay the bills. It's not too bad this month, considering how much I have spent on extras. Definitely need to plan Christmas better though next year. Almost half way through the month now though, so getting closer to making that last credit card payment. Which will make things easier for me.
Depending on where you live and holidays your area celebrates, the best time to buy candy is the day after the holiday. Easter is a great one. We get Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs at 40% off. We can usually get enough to last us until Halloween.
Got an electric bill today but its in credit so I didnt have to pay and probably wont have to pay next bill either. Have to be careful not to get used to it because the credits dont last forever! Its so easy to let the lifestyle slip up.
When my mum was here, I had put a bit of water in the almost empty tomato sauce bottle to really use it all up but mum wanted the new bottle opened haha. I remember her doing that sauce thing all the time growing up, but I get it, its hard to go back to living like crap.
TV news tonight was all about the housing crisis, increased crime and how the poor are finally doing their bit - we have to exist to slow down inflation lol. Finally, worthwhile for something!
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