Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

Another dodgy night with dd coughing and fidgeting. We even had 3 duvets between us! Dh has gone to work but I am keeping dd off for another day - suits me as I am a wreck. Have sent work in and called in, so just need to email dd's school now. Then crawl back to bed...

apple_muncher

So, several coffees later...

What is Feb all about?

Ø Grain free

Ø Sugar free

Ø 290,000 steps

Ø 8 books

Ø 290 minutes of exercise

Ø 13 days at work

Ø 29 craft – 1 hour per day @ 7pm

And also the NST challenge:

NST: February: Back to Basics.

• We have 29 days on this challenge together. From the 1st February all the way to the 29th. It is not really a ‘short’ month this year.
• What is important to you? That is what you will naturally focus on and that is what will take up most of your energy, so choose wisely. Keep your eyes on that goal this month. What will you fill your head with this month? Remove excuses, unsatisfying filler activities (tv, FB, PC time) and dedicate time to your chosen focus.
• Cut back to the basics. Be austere.
• When is your Debt Free Date? How much do you need to pay each month to achieve this? Can you bring this date forward? What are the consequences of not meeting this date?

Food: If your cupboards are stuffed, then you are to hone and tone them. Be creative in your concoctions. Downshift brands. Set your budget and stick to it. Can you reduce it by 10%
Every penny has a purpose and a job. Allocate a role to them all. Pay to your debt/savings first. Do not give your money to coffee shops, canteens, vending machines, corner shops, takeaway outlets. Budget before the month starts and ensure you compensate for food, vehicle malfunctions, birthdays, travel, outings. And cut it back to the bone.
Buy a homeless person a tea/coffee; donate to a foodbank or the trussell trust; volunteer.
Recharge your batteries. The lighter days are coming. Do what you need to do to lift your mood (that involves no spending…!) Do it 5 times per week. So, clear stuff out and recycle it/give it away/donate it; sort out the paperwork that bothers you; exercise; listen to music; dance.
Use what you have before replenishing eg toiletries, cleaning products. Use up your freezer and cupboard stocks. Plan your meals. Take your lunch to work every single day you are there.
Avoid the virus that puts the over-riding feeling of ‘want’ beyond what you actually ‘need’, that makes us spend, waste food, accumulate debts. Weigh up every spend and if you decide to buy it, keep a note of it in your notebook.
Reduce your outings. You cannot afford to go out every weekend! Arrange them before the month starts and cut by 1. Can you do it cheaper?
Yellow stickers are your friend. If you need to use these or can get to a supermarket at the right time, then set yourself no NSD target (but keep within your budget). For those who prefer rules, you have to get 16 NSDs (not lost if you need medication, fuel, regular activities that need paying weekly or only buy reduced items)


Frugality is key this month. And eating well but not excessively. I used my new Indian recipe book a couple of times last month, with yummy results, so that is worth repeating. Alongside AGCJ. Cutting back on the 'treats' and puds will help too. Okay, so aldee does 5x small bars of choc for £1.19; but approx 500g mince is only 60p more!

With 1 week of half term and 3 weeks with dh around 24/7, it will definitely be a 'different' month...:D

apple_muncher

A run of 4 days without venturing outside has ended with a parents evening. I had to take dd with me as dh had the temerity to have an internal job interview!

She is officially worn out, which means that getting to sleep may take some time... However, the plan is for her to return to school tomorrow.

I did get 6 bunny bodies and limbs all sewn up, which is satisfying, and a good start. They do all need turning the right way round and then stuffing, which can be tomorrow's task at bedtime.

Also completed a few more rows of dd's cardi. Will be glad to reqch the armhole bit, as am rather bored of just going straight up...

Dd did some lovely paintings which she is very proud of - quite rightly too.

Not yet asked dh how the interview went. He may hear by Weds.

NSD 1 under my belt

apple_muncher

Don't know why I thought I'd get more crafting done tonight, as it is brownies night. Which means get home - but park far side of dd's school - feed dd, check for letters, do spellings, take to brownies, walk back, eat, walk to collect dd, walk home, get her ready and into bed. !

But I did turn all the limbs round whilst watching the french telejournal replay at work .

And I did get another NSD.

And I did get over 13k steps - signed up to Bounts and it must've been thinking I was a joker as my steps have been so paltry.

Dd is on the mend, I hope I've no further down to go, and dh is just starting with it.

Pearla*Merle

Glad to hear your DD is on the mend & sending good luck vibes to your DH!

I've just signed up to Bounts too

Loving the NST challenge, it's definitely food for thought - think I'm going to batten town the hatches this month and see how clever I can be with storecupboard meals etc. Oh, and loved the recharge the batteries section, must get my thinking cap on for that one...

Pearla*Merle

PS. I reread my first post all the time, lol.

PPS. I don't think I knew you'd lived in Sheffield! So did I No wonder you like running up hills, there's not much else there

apple_muncher

Steady on pearla! I loved Sheffield!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Dh didn't get the job he had an interview for on Mon. And he is now full of the cold that dd and I have (or had in dd's case) so has taken the day off work. Not a cause and effect thing there, honest!

My classes have all chosen to sit as far away from me as possible today, although several have joined in with the 'let's see if we can fill the bin with used tissues' challenge...

I did make a start on cutting out some bags yesterday - smallish and squarish, at dd's request/demand. Handles too. Today I hope to at least sew up the handles... It is using some licorice allsorts fabric that I got last week and which has made me happy just looking at it .

Did another quick life lesson with my y11s - got them to note down what outgoings they would have once working. They got quite a list! Have told them to look up MMM, MSE and google stoozing soa. One boy wanted to add 'shoe insurance' to his list :eek:???!!!! Thankfully the rest were as incredulous as I was

greent

Hope you're feeling a bit better, Apple - and hope DH gets better soon, too!


xx

apple_muncher

I hit the ch shops + 1celand after work. Needed tatoes and dh wanted some biscuits to take to work tomorrow, his last full day.

I got a Cath Kidston book - 'sew!' - complete with the bag and materials for the project, for...10p! In brand new condition, rrp of £16. Happy face. And a duvet cover to use for bunnies and bags for another £3.

Didn't get any sewing done, but have pinned 7/8 bag handles together and stuffed a dozen bunny arms. Think my brain is full of stuffing tonight...

Pearla*Merle

:rotfl: I meant that there's loads of hills and no flat bits there, don't know how it came out like that! Teaches me not to speed post

Wow on the 10p CK haul!