My Busy Life

NuttyBird

Hi Sidneysmum - I love reading your diary. You said your trying juicing. I was going to a few years ago , but then I went I to Costco and they were demonstrating a vitamix - I had a few samples and they were fab. - I waited another year until I bought on in 2010 (not very money saving to buy one). But I have to say it is used every day (we all have breakfast smoothies) you put whole fruit/veggies in - its fantastic. They also make very nice hot chocolates / coffees .

sidneysmum

Nuttybird – Hi and thanks for posting. Vitamix…..I will be looking into one of these and see how much they are.

Had quite a nice day yesterday despite being let down again by a so called friend. I was up early and went to the gym. I love going on a Sunday morning as it’s the usual crowd of people and we have a good laugh. Came home and made a great big lasagne as some of the family were coming for their tea. Also sorted out some of my ebay packing as about 8 items sold yesterday and I want to get them posted ASAP. Anyway I was furious as my so called friend let me down again. We were supposed to be going for a dog walk together and she waited till 20 minutes before she was due to arrive to ring up and cancel. She said she was too busy. Anyway I have made a few decisions. Firstly I only want people in my life who don’t let me down….so I am pressing the delete button on her. I won’t be making any more arrangements. Anyway that’s the end of that chapter in my life. Things did however improve as I decided to nip to Asda for a browse round as I was at a loose end. I didn’t buy anything but on my way home I was passing a house very near to mine which had loads of junk outside waiting for the scrap man to collect. Anyway I went and knocked on the door and asked if I could take some of the items. The answer was yes, so I came away with a small 2 wheeler bike with stabilisers, a scooter and a couple of 3 wheeler bikes. They are just perfect for my oldest grandchildren. They are now sat at my back door awaiting a good clean.
At tea time 2 of my sons arrived, plus one girlfriend and eldest granddaughter. We had the lasagne, plus carrots, cabbage and peas. Most enjoyable. Also did some strawberries in strawberry jelly. Very nice. Just had time to clean up after they had gone before I dropped into bed.
Anyway hope everyone is having a great moneysaving day

sidneysmum

Yesterday was a work day for me. I managed to keep busy so things went quite fast. On my way home I called at the post office and posted this weeks ebay sales. I just love getting rid of all this stuff. My house isn’t cluttered but my 4 sons have left things behind which can be disposed of and also I have clothes to sell which are no longer my size. This week saw me selling some old cutlery, some M&S shoes and a couple of bits of pottery. Next week I have some jumpers listed which are doing really well. I am being quite ruthless with items in my home. If it hasn’t been used in the last 12 months or so then it goes on the ebay pile. It’s really quite liberating getting rid of stuff no longer used, although the spare front bedroom looks like a bomb site. I am actually really glad of the extra funds as the money will be put to good use and not frittered away.
After collecting Sidney from my neighbours I had a couple of free hours so I did a bit of tidying up and some juicing. I really love the taste of both the fruit and vegetable juices. However I am going to reserve judgement about whether I will continue with it as it could be rather expensive. I need to find an outlet for cheap vegetables! At teatime I went out for a walk with my friend/neighbour. I really like going out with her and we do loads of networking whilst we walk. Spent the rest of the night on the phone which I really enjoyed. I just love a catch up with my friends.
Anyway I hope everyone had a great moneysaving day.

sidneysmum

Yesterday was work again for me. Luckily it was over quite quickly so I could get home and start living !!! I was out last night for a meal at the home of some friends. We had a nice healthy meal - fresh plaice, new potatoes and peas.......then a not so healthy dessert - loads of ice cream plus sauce and a few glasses of rose! Anyway it was a nice night out.
Today has been rather busy. I was up quite early and took Sid to the park before going to visit my aunt in the nursing home. Called at Sainsburys and bought a tunic top (£18) which will look great with skinny jeans. I used a gift card so it was a no spend for me. Went into town and did a bit of shopping. Bought my eldest grandaughter some slippers from Primark at the huge cost of £2.50 ! She needs some when she stays at my house as my hallway is tiled and its awfully cold with no shoes / slippers on. Next stop was the gym where i did my usual 60 minutes on the treadmill followed by my zumba class which was great fun. When i got home my neighbour who does my jobs for me came round for a cuppa. No sooner had he gone home than it was time to pick up my grandson and baby grandaughter. I agreed to babysit tonight as their mummy is going to see James Arthur. I have still managed to get some jobs done around the house as the baby is fast asleep in her cot. So I have done all the ironing and made a big pan of cauliflower soup to keep in the fridge.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day

sidneysmum

Its been a busy couple of days for me. Yesterday morning i took the children home early so i could get on with my day. I went straight to Aldi and had a good shop. Only spent just over £17 but bought loads of fruit and veg, plus other stuff, but nothing processed. I am trying to carry on with my juicing and eat well. Drove straight to the gym and did 60 minutes in the gym followed by my dance aerobics class. I took Sid to the park when I got home. Most of the afternoon was spent with eBay listings. I only put about 6 items up for sale but its enough. I am still finding loads of things in the house which are perfect for getting rid of on eBay. At teatime i went to zumba (new class last week) and it was really great. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. I spent last night doing a few chores and cooking. I did some juicing (spinach, cucumber, carrot and sharon fruit) and I also made a spiced dish which is very dry 9no sauce) using potatoes and cauliflower. I am trying to use up the food I already have in the house. Even though i am buying a lot more fresh fruit and vegetables, for some reason i dont think i am spending as much money as when i was buying more junk food. Bizarre !
Today has just flown by. I was up quite early and went to the out of town gym and did my 60 minutes on the treadmill. When I came home i ordered a calor gas bottle for my heater and then went with my neighbour to get a very cheap tyre for my car - £15 and a bargain. Next job was taking Sid to the park followed by a visit to another neighbour Jane who is about 15 years older than me and great company. I have just got back from her house. I helped her rig up her tablet !! Anyway the plan for the rest of the day if all goes well is to do a few chores, go to the teatime zumba then pick up 2 of my grandchildren who will stay the night.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day.

sidneysmum

The weather in the North West has been dreadful these last few days and yesterday was no exception. I got up at 7 and was at the gym for 8. I just love going on a Sunday morning as all the regulars are there and we have fun. Came straight home and jumped in the shower, paid this weeks gas and electric at British gas and had a nice healthy cooked breakfast. The afternoon was spent out with my cousin shopping. We had a nice time and had a little treat – cake and skinny latte. I actually wore a full length vintage brown suede coat I had bought from the vintage shop last year and it looked great with skinny jeans. I was really happy with it. I didn’t spend anything whilst I was out, just my spends for the coffee and cake. When I got home I spent pretty much all the rest of the day dealing with my ebay packing. It seems a bit of a bind sometimes but I have now got a few hundred pounds sat in my PayPal account and I intend to use it either towards the roof fund or towards my yearly bills when they arrive. I still have tons of stuff to ebay and I can see me spending most of this year listing it in my free time. Really I need to be a bit more focussed and instead of spending a spare hour on the internet, I should get some more listing done !!
Anyway I hope everyone had a great moneysaving day .

sidneysmum

i have had a productive couple of days. Yesterday was a work day for me but i was all done and dusted quite early. I called at the post office on my way home and got rid of a mountain of ebay parcels. Next stop was the out of town gym where i did another 60 minutes on the treadmill. After collecting Sidney from my neighbours house, I decided knuckle down to listing a few more ebay items as they are not items that need a lot of packing up when they sell. Its the packing i hate. I dont mind the listing part.
Today I didn't go to work and I just managed to get the last place on a dance aerobics class at the gym. I am so predictable - did my 60 minutes on the treadmill as well. I got a bit of time to take Sid out for a walk before heading off out to the cinema. I saw "Inside Llewyn Davies". It was OK....but not brilliant. Anyway i have been rather productive since i got home. Making 2 big pans of soup - spicy parsnip and butternut squash soup. I will put some in the fridge and put the rest in the freezer. I have also made a huge serving of juice - spinach, celery, carrot and apple. Its actually delicious. Once all my cooking is done I will be having an hour or so on the computer.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day.

sidneysmum

I really enjoyed yesterday. Its the type of productive day i like. I was up quite early and took Sid to the park first thing. On my way home I noticed that a neighbour was throwing out a huge garden gate which will be a great replacement for mine when it finally gives up the ghost. My neighbour saw me looking at it and brought it home for me. I was really pleased. Anyway its sat in my garage now waiting for when I need a new gate. Its very old fashioned looking and will be in keeping with my property.
Next stop was the nursing home to see my aunt. I really do not like going as she just hasn't got a clue who I am and she doesn't seem to recognise me at all. Anyway.............I go and do what i think is right. Straight to Sainsburys where i managed to get a nice pair of jeggins and a top for about £20. I am really pleased with them especially as they are quite "dressy" and I will be able to wear them when I go on a bit of a smarter night out. I did a bit of shopping in the town and my green grocer saved me some leaves for the piggies. He gave me a huge bunch of coriander (which has now gone in the freezer) and which wont be being fed to guinea pigs. I finally made it to the gym where i did my 60 minutes on the treadmill followed by my lunchtime zumba class. I decided on my way home to call at the local Asian supermarket where i spent £5.67. I have decided to stock up on a few store cupboard items when i see a bargain. I bought garam masala (small packet), a 2kg bag of red lentils and a huge sack of potatoes which i will be splitting with the children. I am going to try and buy a couple of things extra each time i go shopping.
After a quick lunch i spent a couple of hours in the garden just doing a bit of cutting back and a bit of tidying up. It looks really neat again and i am so glad i spent a couple of hours on it. A few weeks ago a neighbour of mine was burgled so one of the things i did yesterday was put up some big "beware of the dog" signs. I fastened them to 2 of my garden gates. I have never been burgled, nor want to be and i hope they might act as some sort of warning to any potential burglar. Just before tea I went for a walk round with my neighbour who is doing slimming world. So far she has lost 9lb so is really pleased and she maintains that our walks are a big help. Anyway just had time for tea and a quick browse on the internet before it was time for bed.
Anyway I hope everyone had a great moneysaving day

sidneysmum

Its been another good day for me today .......although i feel really tired now. Started early and was at the gym before 8. Did my usual 60 minutes on the treadmill (how predictable) followed by my dance aerobics class. I bought 2 huge bargain caulis off my greengrocer. I shall use the leaves for the piggies, one will be made into cauli soup and the other will be used for spicy cauli and potato which i love. I went straight to Aldi before coming home and bought a few basics. Only spent about £10. At the moment i am just buying "good food". Tons of fruit and vegetables, some chicken, fish (tinned and fresh). I haven't had any cakes or chocolate for a few weeks and am feeling good. However I need to keep my eye on my weight as i dont want to be any thinner.
I took Sid for a quick once round the park then had a spot of lunch. For a change I had fried eggs (used frylight) and poached mushrooms on toast. Delicious. Anyway I spent this afternoon cleaning. Mainly the kitchen, hall, morning room (where I mostly live) and my bedroom. The house is looking nice and clean at the moment!! I also pressed a few buttons on my phone and listed quite a few items on ebay which i had saved as draft listings. I still have tons of stuff to sell but i am slowly chipping away at the massive heap of stuff in the front bedroom. I have listed more than normal today as I have got quite a few vintage magazines for sale and they take up little time with packaging, assuming they sell. I have also listed a few items for home collection. I am rather enjoying watching my funds grow in my paypal account. Its a nice bit of fun !! After a little break I went to my new zumba class at 5.30. I am still learning all the dances so its good fun ! I am just going to chill out tomorrow and hopefully have a lie in tomorrow.
Anyway I hope everyone is having a great moneysaving day,

sidneysmum

I have had a nice few days. Friday morning was a quiet. I just took Sid for a walk round the park then spruced myself up as i was meeting my friend for a carvey dinner. Spent £6 ! I like meeting this particular friend as we have a good old laugh. Only had about half an hour before my teatime zumba class started. This Friday marked a real change for me. I didn't have the grandchildren stay over as I was going out for a curry with a group of ladies to celebrate one of their birthdays. We had a great night and i thoroughly enjoyed myself. We all stuck to the "house" menu which was 5 course for £10. Great value. I was driving so only had a soft drink. Cant believe i had 2 meals out in 1 day....but spent less than £20 in total. It did feel strange not having the grandchildren staying over, but I decided at the end of last year that i was going to try and do a bit more going out.
Saturday morning saw me at the cinema with my eldest grandaughter. We went to see Smurfs 2 whilst her mum went to work. I was nodding off all through the film after my late night on Friday. We called at the pet shop and got a giant bag of guinea pig food and also filled up with petrol. The little one went home at tea time and i settled down to a quiet night as i was really tired. Unfortunately I noticed at bed time that i had broken one of my back teeth. A massive chunk of it just broke off. I think a visit to the dentist will be in order quite soon.
Today had been quite nice. I was up early and paid my weekly amount to British Gas. Went to the gym at 8am and met up with the usual weekend crowd who i love spending time with. Came home and took Sid to the park for her usual run round. This afternoon I decided to go to the cinema and watch August, Osage County, which was really amusing. Meryl Streep was great as usual. Since getting home i have packed up this weeks ebay sales all ready to post those which have been paid for. I cant believe how much stuff I have sold. I have also made a few more draft sales all ready to list later in the week. Lets hope they sell as well as everything else. In about 8 weeks i have made about £400 profit just from selling unwanted items so its been worth doing.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day.