Saturday 9 April 2016

Frugal living for dummies

Frugal Living For Dummies, Deborah Taylor-Hough. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=qwrTTZsGgoUC

Thursday 31 March 2016

April 1 Friday 2016 day 32

I hope hard work pays up.
Cleaning up every thing.
Garden, balconies,  and even street.
That was yesterday today is clean inside house.
Been keeping a very low budget all week.
On Monday it may go up because I need to go to nursery to get plants.
But if I keep this up I'll notice a big difference in the way of saving on food.
Couldn't imagine that food was so easy to plant if you have time.
I think I'm falling in love with this.

Monday 28 March 2016

Day 19- Saturday March 19 2016

It's almost lunchtime.
And no house work been done.
I woke up at 6:15 am.
I was thinking about the poor.
The very low income families.
But we seem to be one of them.
Living under the poor lines.
Our income is very low, but we seem okay for this week.
What makes us different from them.
We have a little garden, My mom has chickens.
We live off hand me downs.
I buy some new ones from flee market.
But mostly for me and my little girl.
Our numbers are hard to find.
Maybe if we had some help we would be good.
You don't need fancy dresses to be able to make it through.
You need to be able to be frugal.
Wasn't this frugal all my life.
Wish I was now.
But you can't turn time back.

Cleaning up my clothes and putting them in boxes so when I need them I can find them.
Allot of clothes and more at my mom's house.
11:30 am
Allot of clothes.
Still at it.
Some are as old of when I was a teenager.
Most still fit.
Might need all weekend and a couple of weekdays.
Starting to see clothing everywhere.
Time to take a break.

Sunday 27 March 2016

March 28

Haven't left the house since Friday morning.
Gone nowhere.
At least I have my TV.
Nothing good playing.
But at least I'm not spending.
But I need to lose weight.
To many things to do and think of.
Or is it depression.
Don't know yet.

2:30 pm
I need a job, but do I want to.
Nope lost my hope.
With taxes in Greece.
Maybe by tomorrow it will pas.

I like being frugal but.
I also like going out to see people.
I like going out for a couple of drinks.
But money finishes fast.
What should I do.
We are not frugal because we want to anymore but because we have to.
It's been a long time since I was frugal because I wanted too.
There is a big difference.
Hope rest of day goes better than morning.
Feeling sad.

11:00 am
Made some home made laundry liquid.
Super Easy super fast.
2 cups graded soap flakes from natural green olive soap
1 cup washing soda
Half cup borax.
Add everything in pot add 2 litres water and heat and mix till everything is disolved.
In a big bucket add 8 liters water.
When first is ready add to second.
Mix well.
Let rest for 24-48 hours.
Add half a  cup.
Big savings.
I use less with a little bit of help from washer  I add the washer to warm.
Might be a bit more expensive but it is amazing.
Whites might need some bleach from time to time.
1:00pm
Went to garden,  after so much rain.
So many days,  we are full of weeds again.
But the good news  beet roots have big roots.
My hubby loves eating them.
For dinner we're having boiled beetroot leaves and potatoes  with garlic paste and pollock fillets in this paste I make before I fry them.
We might even have Internet access tonight.
A friend has and is giving me some for five euros per month.
Better than paying full price.
Now I only need a job.

Greece what I think.

I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Is there any way to survive in Greece.
Are they taxing me for not working.
Why would I work if what I make goes to fuel.
And the rest to taxes.
The end result would be almost zero.
So what is the point of going to work.
When will troika wake up and see that Greek families are going broke while working.
Wake up people.
I've never taken unemployment.
I've never received any money from the Greek government.
So why are they trying to tax us to poverty.
If I go to work I would earn 400 euros a month.
They would tax me a 26 - 36 %
Plus fuel to and from work 6 days a week.  So what is left.
Ops I spent more than what I make.

Example
I would make 400 euros minus 26 percent.
That would leave me with  297 euros for the rest of the month.
Back and to work the fuel is in the best way  60 a week.
60 fuel × 4 weeks a month is 240 .
We have 57 euros left.
For one month of working.
Prices for food are the same here as in Canada.
Really expensive.
So with 57 left is for my home made sandwiches that I would bring from home for lunch.
At the end of the month the budget would be zero.
What is the point of working for nothing.
Either way they are not thinking responsibly about the average Greek family.
I wish they would wake up and think about us.

March 25 - Friday March 25 2016

Can't say I'm doing bad but can't quite say I'm doing good.
I'm stuck in the middle.
I can't get myself to stay at home every day, and watch TV .
I like going out for a couple of drinks.
I'm only human.
And I can surf the Internet.
Things are boring in small villages.

Friday 18 March 2016

Day 18- Friday March 18 2016

Wanted to walk again this morning, for the third day in a row.
But little one has no school today.
Will walk in the afternoon when I drive them to English school.
Will be doing some house work.
Better something than nothing.

5:30 pm
No walking, no nothing.
Didn't even reach my calories.
Over ate and it's only afternoon.
Went over again.
Will try harder tomorrow.

Day 17 - March 17 Thursday 2016

I did it.
It's 9:30 am.
Went for a 4 kilometres walk and lunch in oven.
Didn't smoke for one and a half hour.
If I don't listen to my mom and friends I will surely be on track very soon.
Why do people try to sabotage you?
Never will figure them out.

12:15pm
Had stuffed veggies for lunch.
I didn't even smoke that much till now.
I wonder how the rest of the day go.

The rest of the day I mostly ate.
Went over my calorie balance.
Went payed the rest of my electrical bill for the store.
Still have water and rent.

Day 16- March 16 2016

Did badly a couple days.
Got drunk and had to much to eat.
The weather was bad since Friday and I went nuts.
Today trying to get myself together.
Get over the hangover.
Walked for an hour.
Trying to track my eating habits and exercise.
I'm falling of the wagon a lot.
But I get back on.
I'm trying to do too much.
With no help from the boys.
Today's good frugal thing I did.
When I drove to the meet point with my friend to take the kids to English school,  I didn't drive  back home.  But instead parked the car and walked for exercise.
Now I've been resting half an hour in cold car.
Can't wait for them to come back so I can go home to warm myself up.

Tuesday 8 March 2016

Day 9- March 9 2016

9:00am
What a great day yesterday.
They are also starting a elder soccer team in my village.
Most of them are 40-55 years old.
Yesterday they had there first meat up.
They trained,  so I went with hubby.
He is one of the soccer players..
While they were training I was walking around the fields.
Little one was playing with an other kid.
Got a good exercise .
Made me think about what I love to do.
I love to walk.
Next training is Thursday.
My car will go anyway, so why don't I go along.
Might even get fit.
Time to continue house work,
I'm off.
Also need to go to store for last things. Urgggg.
Wish I could skip that.
But I'm an adult.

10:00am
Root beet leaves are ready.
Boiled them and will put olive oil and vinegar.
Garlic spread is ready.
I only need to fry my fish.
Will do that last minute.
Bought the fish and garlic.
Old stale bread I had in freezer.
Olive oil is ours, we have many olive trees .
Root beet leaves from garden.
Salt and vinegar I bought.
And flour that I'm going to dip fish in before frying.
I might even make a salad from garden.
Money saved.
You bet.
And veggies have no poisonous things on them.
Way to go Me.

6:40 pm
Little one at English school.
Also made some bread in bread machine.
Fish were yummy  , and root beets with garlic paste even better.
For dinner we are having the same plus fresh bread .
It is raining out side.
Won't need to water my garden.
Feel so sleepy.
I  could easily sleep now, but my day isn't over yet.

7:10 pm
No it's a  storm.
When we get to village, I'm going for coffee with my boys .
Not going home alone in this thunder storm.

Day 8.- March Tuesday 8 2016

It's 10:00 am.
Boy an I out of shape.
Went to garden for one hour.
Actual work thirty minutes.
But weeds are on there way out.
Someone more experience would need 5-8 hours to clean up the garden.
But not me , I'll need twenty hours.
At least  I'm learning.
Have to start a chicken coop.
I'm bad with my hands.
Hope my boys will wake up and start helping out.
They are at work today.
But I mean wake up and think frugal.
We can grow our own food to some point.
Maybe even a couple of chickens.
For meat and eggs.

Day 6- March Sunday 6 2016

Lazy day.
Went and watched the local soccer team play.
Went to mother in law for lunch.
And now home.
Watch some TV.
Give the little one a bath.
And some chores.

Day 5- March 5 Saturday 2016

8:00 am
Almost finished my coffee.
Went to bed early last night.
But all three kids are here today.
Ages 1st is 24 boy,
2nd is 22 boy,
3rd is valentine 10.
Weekends are hard.
With 5 people in house.
My hubby plus the boys eat as if there is no tomorrow.
They are bone thin.
But eat way too much.
Each need 2-3 servings for lunch and the same for dinner.
9:00 am
Lunch is on the stove.
Pork with veggies.
Cheap and delicious.
But it takes hours to boil.
Well can't have it all.
Time to start house work.
Making beds and the rest.
Here goes an other day.
12:00 noon
Yeah, food ready.
Vacuumed half the house.
Kitchen is starting to look like a kitchen.
At this rate house and old store will be done till next week.
Need more energy.
I'm glad I don't have Internet.
Here I was playing offline on my phone, imagine a waste of time if I had Internet.
4:00 pm
One most two loads left in store.
Almost done. Saturday afternoon is here.
Time to watch TV and be lazy.

Went out had some tsipouro. .. The 2€ drink.
Had 2.

Day 4- March 4 Friday 2016

8:00 am
Couldn't wake up.
Had 3 drinks.
Hubby had 5.
He even bought marlboro smokes 4€.
I went for 1 but he kept asking for more.
Now I feel awful.
I think I have a hangover.
But I will survive.
.
9:00 am
House is empty.
Just me yeah.
Need to get up and start my actual day.
We have English school in afternoon.
I have to get on track.
For meal planning.
For chores in the house.
For reading the little one.
For dog time.
Need to finish the store and start getting my life in order.
Must get up and start my day.
Enough lazy time.
10:00 am
Individual spinach cheese pies in fringe.
Time to start preparing stuffed tomatoes with rice.
And leave for store.
More moving today.
And English class and reading.
I'm up for the challenge.
11:00 am
Stuffed tomatoes in small oven cooking.
Almost all pots and pans in sink cleaned.
Trying to get people to think this lifestyle isn't easy.
Especially for people in Greece.
We have a great economic crisis going on.
So every penny does count for us.
But we need to have fun too.
6: 00pm
Waiting for little one to finish English school.
Rainy day.
My food turned out great.
In my future posts I'll give recipes.
Had one drink during lunch and took a nap but I'm still very tired .
No waking up early tomorrow.
I hope.

Thursday 3 March 2016

Day 3 - March 3 Thursday 2016

Today seems good .
It's still morning.
To be honest it's 7:30am.
Waiting for little on to get ready.
Then my day will start.
Let's see what my day brings.
8:45 am.
Brought mom for bank and shopping.
Waiting in car for her to finish.
Hate driving 30 minutes on these roads.
But what can I  do.
When I had store she would get a cab, now it's you don't want to take me to do my jobs.

8:55 am
Just discovered why I  spend too much fuel when with my mom.
She doesn't walk.
She wants to be driven everywhere.
10:30 am
Still on the road.
Dreaming of afternoon,  of coffee and a smoke in front of TV.
I do smoke as I  drive.
Maybe in summer I'll quit again.
Too much on my mind right now.
1:00 pm
Just finished caring another load in house from store.
Dead tired.
At least my mom is making me & valentine lunch.
Nice juice pork chops and rice.
Time to relax a bit.
2:00 pm
Just got home.
My body is telling me to rest.
Little stayed at grammas
Time to lye on coach and watch TV.
Too tired.
3:00 pm
Got up from couch smoke and make coffee, but I'm still dead tired.
My body's hurting.
Being a mom and daughter at the same time is tiring.
Don't worry if you are reading this won't be posting so much in a couple of days.
While I'm waiting for the water to heat, I'll inform you about morning.
My mum bough us some pork meat and some grinded meat and some cheese.
Fueled my car with  10€ of fuel.
So I guess we are good for now.
Won't be missing meat.
Went and saw my garden.
Starting to look like one .
Mum bought me some baby lettuce.
That little bin cost 2,
If I have any energy will plant tonight.
I'm happy I'm out of store but money is already tight.
5:00 pm
Got up had half the coffee.
Went planted my new lettuce, 
Watered the garden and pulled out some more weed.
Hard work. All this till 6:15 pm.
Now up at house to start dinner.
Thank god we have no homework for school today.  Way to tired to do homework and housework.
7:00 pm
Just finished bagging meat and spinach pie filling to freeze.
My filo pastery is still frozen so
Dinner plans are off.
Forgot to take it out of the freezer.
No planning can help these days.
Way to much going on.
Maybe when I'm totally finished with the store and house  (putting everything back in order )
After 2 years of letting the house for the store.
I can get back to planning meals.
For tonight ham sandwich anyone.
Some TV.
And a drink out.
Or maybe 2.
I'm human after all.
Don't want to be too much of a cheap stake.
And maybe I'll find a  few people to ask for work. 
And upload my posts.
I don't have a land line or Internet at home.
I write my posts through my smartphone.
Can't have it all .

Day 2 - March 2 2016

Today we have English class in the afternoon.  Will need to fuel car.
All morning been moving things from store in village  ( the one I had rented  to my house ) and I'm dead tired.  No gardening today. My muscles are a little soar.  Asking people I know if they need a person for hire so I can support myself.  I hope I find something thing fast.  Bills are running and I am sitting. Good thing I am frugal.  The good news is that there was allot of groceries left from the store,  enough so I didn't do any shopping last week.  This week well I have to start shopping.  Grocery store very far. It's a 30 minute drive from home.  Even English class is a 30 minute drive.  Elementary school is a 20 minute drive.  It takes me 20 minutes to go to school and 20 back.  I  need allot of fuel every week.
Starting today at the end of my posts I'll be adding my money spent. I'm already tracking in my budget book. 
But this time I will do it public.
Bad news is i smoke and like to have a drink once in a while.
Nothing fancy like a vodka which they charge you 5 euros a drink,  but a villagers drink they make here.  And they charge it 2€, a drink. 
Brought my coffee (the plastic water bottle ) from home because I'm writing this as I wait for valentine to finish English school.  As I said we have English school 3 times a week.
Todays spending is 
7 euros for  2 toast and 2 store brand salami packages and 1 package store brand cheese .
Packages are small.
And 10 fuel for car. 
Can you imagine 1.50 a litre for fuel,
I think things will be a little hard this summer and winter coming up.
But will do my best.
For dinner we had free range eggs and toast I bought.
Hubby being unfrugal like always.
Some drinks during lunchtime and now in the cafe enjoying some coffee with friends and later more drinks.
At least me and my daughter are the frugal ones.

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Day 1 - March 1 2016

What a day.
Did tons of work.
Cleaned a little bit of my garden.
Cleaned up a little bit of my home.
It was kind of chilly here in Greece.
Winter garden starting to look and feel like a garden.
Needs more work to be done
But I'm still moving my things from the store I had rented.  Feeling very sad about my store and that I'm out of a job.
At least I have my health as they say in Greece.
My days this past week were full.
Moving and all plus cooking plus little one to school  ( I drive her,  it's too far away. )
Taking valentine to English school in afternoon.
I think that after the move and with my schedule I will need time to relax.
But I'll be on the lookout for a job.
On Monday I made some bread and burgers with lemon sauce and potatoes in the oven. 
Today we had macaroni and cheese.
Homemade of course.

I guess getting on track will need some work.

Tuesday 1 March 2016

A new beginning February 28 2016

A new beginning is on it's way.  My store went bust. Living in Greece is hard.
Money is very tight.
There is no thrift stores here.
You have to realise that your sources are almost none.
Planting a garden is very important.
At the beginning of winter I had planted one. But with the store we had no time for us. We  ( mostly me ) missed out on so many things. My garden almost went dead.  Just in time I saved it from the weeds and from dehydration.  I lost so much valuable time from my kids.  And making no real money.  Working double shifts and making 5-10 euros a day.  My time is more valuable than that.
So here goes to a new way of life.
Wishing my self good luck.